- Learn to Play - Play to Learn
Creative Activities
15 April 2015
A passion for music is something that everybody should have. There is such a vast array of musical styles out there that there is sure to be something for everybody. When you are a parent, you should introduce your child to the world of music. If, at first, it seems as though your little one does not like music at all, you should keep at it. Over time, they will start to adore particular songs […]
1 March 2015
Ideas for celebrating St Patrick’s Day with kids St Patrick’s Day can be lots of fun for your toddler. Make the most of the rainbow, pot of gold and shamrock images to create some festive decorations and cakes. Saint Patrick’s Day Lá Fhéile Pádraig is an annual holiday celebrated on 17 March. It is named after Saint Patrick ( AD 387–493), the most commonly recognized of the Patron Saints of Ireland. Originally a Christian holiday, it became an […]
23 December 2014
This festive season my children were invited to a Kids Christmas party at their cousins. Ages ranged from 6 month old twins to my almost 9 year old daughter. Ages 2,4 and 6 were covered by the 4 boys between. That’s 6 boys and one girl! Christmas Party Ideas My cousin arranged the event, I just had to show up and help out. Bonus! These are some of the lovely Christmas party ideas we enjoyed […]
19 December 2014
The adventures of Jingle, Our Christmas Elf Day 19: Jingle obviously decided we had not decorated our home enough for his liking. We found him in the kitchen sitting in a cupcake tower stand and he had left a pile of paper shapes ready to be assembled into a paper chain. He had very thoughtfully made sure the colours of the papers were in keeping with the colours we had chosen for our decor this […]
16 December 2014
Make your own Wreath Get a circular wreath shape. There are ones made from florists foam, willow sticks, polystyrene, and plastic. All you need to make sure of is that it can have wires poked into it. I have also used old tights-the leg bits-filled with empty carrier bags before and shaped into a circle. Great for decorating if you are not going to need to poke anything into it for attaching . It works […]
12 December 2014
The Adventures of Jingle , Our Christmas Elf Day 12 Today Jingle was found sitting on the windowsill in the kitchen inside a sleigh ornament. He had put Christmas hat chair covers onto the 5 chairs and left 3 super shiny Christmas party hats and a pack of Christmas stickers on the table. He invited us to decorate and personalise our party hats using the stickers. It was a lovely start to the morning and […]
11 December 2014
Each of my children has their own collection of decorations for the Christmas tree. Every year they are allowed to choose a new one from the shops to add to their collection. They get to hang their own decorations on the tree and one day, when they leave our family home and move into their own homes, they will have a box full of decorations from their childhood to put onto their first tree. This […]
3 November 2014
These are really simple but effective candy cane decorations to make. Great for even your youngest child to help out with.
29 October 2014
13 Fantastic Face Paint ideas Gallery Does your child like having their face painted? Mine do. So much so that whenever we go to any festivals and fairs we end up standing for ages in the queue waiting for our turn to get painted. This annoyed me, as did the price tag at times that I decided to invest in a few packs of good quality face paint to keep at home. Now we paint […]
28 October 2014
Pumpkin Bats are easy to make. Follow the instructions below for a fun and simple activity. These super cute and scary bats are perfect for a rainy autumn day. Easily made from small pumpkins and craft foam, they will look great on your Halloween display.
13 October 2014
At this time of year it is great fun to be indoors doing arts, crafts and baking. This post pulls together all the harvest/ autumn/Halloween inspired activities from this site in one easy collection! Although it says 31 days of crafts and activities, there are a lot more as some posts have loads of ideas in them too! I hope you enjoy this time of the year as much as I do and that you’ll […]
11 October 2014
This craft project is one your kids will quickly get enthusiastic about. Almost anything can be shaped. Once your dough shapes are dry, they can be painted and used as great table decorations or even for hanging on trees or branches. It is cheap and uses ingredients you most probably already have in your food cupboard. Make up a batch and let the kids have fun…and what’s great is that unlike play dough, you’ll have […]
9 October 2014
Do you find it too difficult to carve a pumpkin? Here are some kid-friendly ways to decorate your pumpkin without using a knife. These ideas use paper scraps, paint, glue and other crafty bits and bobs. You can even use those cheaper, less than perfect looking pumpkins for these as you are going to cover them anyway.
1 October 2014
For a brief few days pumpkins during October, jack-o’-lanterns will flicker across many countries, the happy result of wicked imaginations, fun-filled family afternoons and lots of elbow grease. If your family is raring to carve a pumpkin this year, we’ve got the scoop on how to do it right. Below you’ll find a step-by-step carving guide, tips for novice and veteran sculptors. After a fun afternoon searching through the pumpkins on display at our local […]
22 April 2014
St George’s Day is a time to celebrate the patron saint of England. It’s a super excuse to enjoy or learn about some of England’s customs and traditions, and also to think about knights and castles and dragons! For England, St. George’s Day also marks its National Day. Many countries which observe St. George’s Day celebrate it on April 23, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George’s death in 303 A.D. St George’s Day was a […]
15 April 2014
As a mother of 3 children, I occasionally get to hear these two highly irritating words: ” I’m Bored!” I detest it so much that it is now banned in our house and we have a poster up on the fridge with a few ideas. Growing up, I was told, that being bored was a sign of a boring person. I decided that I was not having boring people in my home! With young children, […]
1 April 2014
>Are you teaching your children about eggs? Or is it near to Easter and you’re looking for an egg related craft to do with even your youngest child? This is a really effective and simple activity that will suit all ages.
31 March 2014
Creating a sensory tub for different themes is a fabulous way to get your little one interested and learning about different special days, colours, textures, sizes, shapes and theme related objects. Try to keep it simple, focusing on what the children are currently interested in – fitting things inside other things and filling and emptying. Ideas of things to add to your Easter sensory tub Use any size tray or container to […]
21 March 2014
The skies are bluer, the breeze is warmer, the flowers are blooming and cute, cuddly baby creatures are being born. Along with all these marvelous changes to our environment, it means that once again, our children have a break from school. And so, us parents find the arduous task of keeping them meaningfully occupied. But don’t panic, put a relaxed spring in your step by looking no further than our BizzyBabes and Yummy Mummy pages. To […]
5 February 2014
It can’t get simpler than this. A paper heart for any occasion from Valentines Day to just a everyday show of love, this love heart is sure to please the recipient. Age group: 9months + How to make love hearts What you need: Paper or card (coloured or plain) Tissue/crepe paper (tear and scrunch or roll into balls) glue (PVA is good) glitter What you do: Cut out a paper or card heart shape. Cover […]
4 December 2013
In this section you will find stimulating and fun activities for your 0-6 year old. Use them to challenge and entertain your little ones while they learn. Many of these are easily adaptable for your older children too and I am sure they will enjoy these activities as much as your toddler! There are activities designed to develop early reading, writing and math skills. Activities to improve logical thinking and concentration and activities to help […]
1 December 2013
Do you have a stash of leftover bits from wrapping paper? Don’t like to throw them out but have no idea what to do with them? In this article I have some fabulous ideas to help you make use of leftover scraps of paper after Christmas. I also added a little tip for making your own wrapping paper-or rather, getting your children to make it! Here are some crafty, practical and environmentally conscious ideas for […]
19 October 2013
Are you tired of the usual carrot left for the reindeer? Tired of answering the “Do the reindeer come inside to eat the carrots?” question. The “why do we only leave one or two carrots when there are so many reindeer?” Well this is how my family feed the reindeer. A few quick and easy store cupboard items and you’ll have magical, sparkly reindeer food.
3 January 2013
Cold, wet and rainy days usually mean we head for cover and warmth indoors, but snow is a different story. Snow , for the most part, is greeted with excitement and anticipation. With winter well on it’s way, I thought I’d jot down a few ideas to keep you and your little ones occupied and entertained through the snowy days ahead. This article includes activities to do indoors and out when the snow is about.
15 December 2012
If our last list of ideas wasn’t enough to get you started, here are 25 more!
9 November 2012
This is a great way for you to help your child to celebrate themselves. Children enjoy making and creating things about themselves. Children usually have a sense of pride in what they do and love showing that off. Here’s a way for your child to record all that is special (or not) about themselves in an All About Me poster. With a few simple materials you can create a lovely visual reminder for your child […]
5 November 2012
We have decided to do a series of activity and crafts articles to help you and your toddler make the most of the Nursery Rhymes we all know and love. Here we are looking at Pat a Cake, Pat a Cake. “Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man”, “Pat-a-cake”, “patty-cake” or “pattycake” is one of the oldest and most widely known surviving English Nursery Rhymes.
30 September 2012
Have you ever tried to make a boat? Not a real one of course, but a simple play boat for your child. No? Well, here’s how to make a cute and easy boat for all your little sailors.
29 September 2011
This Leaf Bunting makes a great display for a Harvest Festival, Autumn or Thanksgiving, experience the fun of leaf collecting and rubbing too!
5 July 2011
Here is a good seaside activity to do using coloured sand to make an original artwork. Sand Painting is a fun and easy way to create something rally worth treasuring. Have a look at the instructions below and I’ll bet you’ll be heading down to the beach for some sand really soon!
4 July 2011
Here is a simple and fun craft to do with your preschoolers, either upon returning from a beach holiday or take the ingredients with you and make it while at your holiday spot!
1 February 2011
Valentine’s Day is often considered a more adult celebration. But it need not be. Have some lovey dovey fun making hearts, homemade heart shaped cookies or sweets and decorating the table with reds, pinks and whites.
13 December 2010
The kiddies will love making these in all sizes and shapes. They smell really great and look gorgeous on your tree…and if anyone is really starving after Christmas lunch, they can attack your tree! Christmas Cinnamon Ornaments What you need: 1 cup Applesauce puree 1 oz (30g) Ground Cinnamon 1 oz (30g) Ground Cloves 1 oz (30g) Ground Nutmeg 1 oz (30g) Ground Ginger Icing Sugar or glitter for decoration Cookie cutters in Christmas shapes […]
8 December 2010
I’s only Twelve days until Christmas. Here are 12 fun things to do with your children. One for each day from now til Christmas Eve. Let the Christmas countdown begin! Pick and choose the order you’d like to do these activities…have fun and may your Christmas be a blessed one. Click on the crafts below to see how to make them… Here’s a cute and easy way to get your littlest ones involved in making […]
11 November 2010
Now that the rain keeps falling, I thought you may like to learn some fun and funny poems about rain with your toddler RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY Mother Goose Rain, rain, go away, Come again some other day, Little Johnny wants to play. Rain, rain, go to Spain, Never show your face again I’m waiting for a rainbow I’m waiting for a rainbow I’m waiting for the sun. I’m waiting for the rain to stop. […]
24 October 2010
Children do not often get many opportunities to use scissors; either because we forget about them or because we are too scared to let them have a go. However, cutting is an essential skill. Children need to practice often to hone their ability and what’s more , they love it. How to improve Scissor Skills Age group: 3 years+ What you need: Scrap paper, store catalogues, phone books or old magazines Child sized safety scissors. What […]
19 October 2010
Kids love things that are slimy and ooze. Here is a safe and easy recipe for perfect slimy goo. Age Group: 2+ years Slime Recipe What you need: Cornstarch water food colouring What to do: Help your child measure a one to one ratio of water to cornstarch. Let her stir it to make the slime. Add a dash of food colouring for fun. If your child is really small, make the slime and just […]
18 October 2010
Make this cute little hooty owl branch to decorate your Harvest table or just to liven up your home this Autumn. What you need: Pine Cone(s) Worn, smooth wood or branch (make sure it can sit evenly on a table top as it will form the base) Felt (preferably brown and orange) googly eyes feathers in natural colours Craft Glue (PVA works well) Scissors What to do: Lay the base wood or branch so it […]
17 October 2010
Autumn is a fantastic time to make leaf rubbings and this craft is a lovely way to use them. Create a whole group of magical fairies using this technique! Autumn Leaf Fairy You will need: Crayons Paper Skin-tone or white card Leaves Glue stick Pens What to do: Put the leaves under the paper, with the veins facing up, and, holding them still, rub over the paper with the side of your crayon so a […]
15 October 2010
Hedgehogs are adorable. Out in the countryside where we live, hedgehogs are a normal part of our world. There are even miniature signs warning motorists to slow down for hedgehogs crossing the roads and our community page on social media posts messages asking residents to leave water and dry cat food out for them. We thought it would be fun to celebrate this little creature through crafts. In this activity, you will be making a […]
14 October 2010
Scarecrows are a common sight around planting and harvest time. Children enter their scarecrows in competitionThis cheerful fellow looks great decorating your home this Autumn. You will need: Orange and white paint Paper plate Scraps of coloured paper Glue stick Instructions: Mix together some white and orange paint to make a peach shade. Paint the back of your paper plate and leave to dry. Take some yellow paper and cut two arches. Snip either side […]
18 August 2010
Children love collecting little things on outings. From shells and stones to feathers and leaves, and all the treasures need a place to be kept safe. This simple box made using leftover boxes, some self adhesive plastic and embellishments is perfect for collecting those holiday treasures. Age group: 2+ years Simple Treasure box What you need: An empty box with a flip top lid. Such as those used for washing powder tablets or pizza or […]
16 August 2010
This fun and cute creation is guaranteed to get your budding artist inspired. Using discarded clothing and a simple notebook, you can make a wonderful and educational tool for your toddler. This portable sketch pad is perfect for taking along in the car on road trips, in the plane to pass some time and to restaurants to occupy the kids while they wait for their food. Age group: 3+ years Portable Sketch pad What you need: Old […]
14 August 2010
Beans are fun to plant and watch grow, are yummy to eat and even make great art materials. Try this quick and easy art activity using a variety of different types of beans and lentils. Age group: 3years+ Bean Art What you need: An assortment of dried beans and lentils Cardboard or stiff paper (the stiffer the better as the beans can be heavy) Glue (PVA is best) Marker pens/ Felt tips What to do: […]
10 August 2010
Going away on holiday? Before you leave, get out the paints and get messy. Make these lovely postcards to send to friends and family far and near. Postcards Age group: 1 year+ What you need: Large piece of plain card (or cheat and buy ready cut plain postcards) paints sponges, brushes or fingers scissors or paper trimmer What to do: Have your toddler decorate the entire sheet of cardboard with patterns created through sponging, fingers […]
6 August 2010
With this simple Pasta and Rice Paint recipe you can make all kinds of different colours of pasta and rice to make many different craft projects. Coloured pasta and rice can add so much texture to children’s art and they will love the opportunity to use a different material for creating their masterpieces. Colour Rice and Pasta What you need… • Rice and/or pasta • Zipper bag(s) • Water • Food colouring in the colours […]
17 July 2010
Simply talking, singing, playing sound and word games, reading, writing and drawing with your child are easy ways to build a firm literacy foundation. Your usual everyday activities, like going to the shop or library, as well as those special treats –like museum or zoo trips – all provide opportunities to develop literacy.
15 July 2010
You know how you get stickers that you can scratch and sniff? Well here is my version of fun and smelly homemade paints! Well technically it’s not homemade paints, but altered paints since you use existing paints but turn them into smelly versions. That sounds odd, but what I mean is that you can make the painting session one that stimulates your child’s sense of smell by adding powdered drinks to the coloured paints to […]
10 July 2010
For many parents, the idea of six weeks of summer holidays is terrifying. How will you keep your children amused and happy? What can you do to make sure they are entertained and busy? Here are a few simple holiday activity ideas to get you started! Holiday Activity A: Aquariums, Art Gallery, Activity centres, Acting workshops/classes, Animal farms B: The Beach, Baking, Bowling, Ballooning, Badmington, Boat rides, Balloon games C: Camping, Climbing centres, Children’s centres […]
23 June 2010
This homemade Pavement Paint is really easy to make and is eco-friendly so now need to worry about using it in your garden! Make it in different colours and it washes right off with water.
4 June 2010
Every office needs a funky and functional desk tidy. Make this for your home office or as a gift for your desk at work. using a few readily available supplies, this project is sure to delight whoever is on the receiving end… Age group: 2 years + What you need: A thick piece of cardboard Paints (in as many or few colours as you want) PVA Glue Plate (to use as a template for the […]
1 June 2010
Developing your child’s Imagination and therefore their Imaginative play ability is easier than you think. Young children should be provided with opportunities to explore and share their ideas, feelings and thoughts through a variety of activities. Below are some age appropriate activities to help you stimulate your baby or toddler’s imagination.
22 May 2010
This spaghetti art idea will excite any child! What child doesn’t like to smoosh their hands in squidgy colourful noodles and then make a unique design that can also be hung up?
20 May 2010
Having a lazy Saturday morning? Have some fun with your breakfast by painting it first with our edible paint mix; then eat it!
18 May 2010
Thinking of doing a Farm theme? Well this simple rooster will have pride of place in any farmyard.
14 May 2010
This is a simple craft for young children. Using some basic materials and inspiration from nature, you can create a beautiful blossom branch to welcome the arrival of Spring.
13 May 2010
This bright and cheerful Sunflower craft will liven up your display. Children love all the painting, gluing and different textures created. Why not create a few and make a pretty sunflower garden?
15 April 2010
What better way is there to get your little ones thinking about our planet than by filling a week with activities about it. We have put together some practical ideas to help you teach your toddlers about looking after the environment. Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment and is held on April 22 each year. It is similar to World Environment Day. Earth Day falls during spring in […]
9 April 2010
Nursery Rhymes series: We have decided to do a series of activity and crafts articles to help you and your toddler make the most of the Nursery Rhymes we all know and love. Here we are looking at Humpty Dumpty.
4 April 2010
This activity is really simple and lots of fun. It can provide a platform for teaching your child about insects and other creepy crawlies, as well as exploring shapes in nature. It is also a great way to get your little ones imagination going when you introduce imaginary bugs.
1 April 2010
Nursery Rhymes Series Part 3: We have decided to do a series of activity and crafts articles to help you and your toddler make the most of the Nursery Rhymes we all know and love. Here we are looking at the three most common rhymes about sheep: Baa Baa Black Sheep, Mary Had a Little Lamb and Little Bo Peep.
29 March 2010
You can make this farmyard favourite using cotton wool and paper. It is great as part of a display or just as a sweet activity to do with your young child.
27 March 2010
It’s always fun to make butterflies as a craft activity. In this post I will be sharing a few ideas of different ways to make butterflies with your small children. These cute and unusual butterflies are great fun to make and use a variety of different techniques. Get your little one exploring natural materials and shapes as well as using paint, glue and paper.
21 March 2010
Home made gifts are always the best! And this one is no exception. Mother’s and other relatives will love receiving this bright, cheerful and useful present.
20 March 2010
These adorable chicks are a great way to celebrate Springtime.
19 March 2010
You’ve heard of Easter Bonnets…well here is a fun and fresh alternative. Using card and a little glue and celotape, you could soon be the best dressed at your Easter parade.
15 March 2010
Here are some quick and easy shamrock decorations for your St Patrick’s day celebrations.
15 March 2010
Toddler friendly rainbow themed activities to use for weather projects or as St Patrick’s day activities
15 March 2010
Rainbows are a great way to teach colours, to reinforce the story of Noah’s ark , to learn about weather or to enjoy around St Patrick’s Day. Here are some rainbow foods for you and your pre schooler to make together.
28 February 2010
Saint David’s Day is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and falls on 1 March each year.
8 February 2010
Here is a really quick and easy way to make a cute Heart-shaped person.
1 January 2010
Did you know that all you need to keep you toddler smiling is a can of shaving foam? Try this activity for lots of messy fun.
30 December 2009
Nursery Rhymes series Part 1: We have decided to do a series of activity and crafts articles to help you and your toddler make the most of the Nursery Rhymes we all know and love. Here we are looking at Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
29 December 2009
Here’s a fun and colourful way to make fake cupcakes. We made them to go with our Pat-a-cake nursery rhyme theme so that we could display them in our pretend bakery and serve them to our ‘customers’.
13 December 2009
Ping pong balls are easily available, lightweight and the perfect size to be transformed into baubles for your tree. Take a look at our ideas for a variety of pretty baubles to make.
9 December 2009
These adorable Snowmen are easy and inexpensive to make. Make a whole group of them and display them together for maximum effect.
7 December 2009
Everyone loves Santa’s reindeer so here’s how to use your toddler’s foot and handprints to make this adorable reindeer face.
5 December 2009
Using hand prints are a fun, and easy way to get your little actively involved in creating a satisfying decoration. This activity is easy to do with only a few or with lots of children and can be done with any age group. The result is a fun and effective Christmas tree which looks great as part of your festive decorations. Christmas tree using hand prints Age group: 6 months+ What you need: A lot […]
30 November 2009
It’s getting to that time when you are starting to think about getting your Christmas tree and decorating it. We like to get our toddlers involved in making decorations and it is usually it’s the simple ideas that are the best. It’s that’s true with these homemade glittery ornaments. Use cookie cutters to make paper cutouts, then cover in glitter to make pretty hanging ornaments for the Christmas tree.
20 November 2009
Toddlers love gluing and this craft project will give them the opportunity to stick wooden lolly sticks onto a hedgehog body shape to create their own little woodland friend.
11 November 2009
Using dried up twigs to make trees for various celebrations is great fun and so easy. Children love making the decorations and seeing them displayed.
10 November 2009
Use a few simple items to create magical miniature winter scenes in old glass jars. These make cute gifts for friends and family too.
5 November 2009
The 3in1 Harvest basket is an simple, adaptable craft which can be used to make a free-standing decoration for your sideboard, a greetings card, or even a set of place-card holders for your Harvest table.
3 November 2009
Use chocolate fingers to make edible sparklers! This is simple, quick and your toddlers will love them!
3 November 2009
A craft for even your youngest to enjoy. Even if they are still in the scribble stage..scribbles look great as fireworks!
29 October 2009
I don’t know about the area where you live but it seems that at the moment, where I live, every village has an apple or harvest festival scheduled. With many wonderful products to buy, eat and taste. In this activity, try printmaking using apples and other fruits.
29 October 2009
Creating these cute and funky monsters is as easy as 1,2,3. Follow the instructions for a monsterously good time!
28 October 2009
Be environmently friendly when making your Monster hat by using old plastic food containers.
28 October 2009
If you are keen to do some modelling and to make a decoration which will last a little longer than paper or card crafts, try making salt dough models. This is much like playing with playdough, only you get to keep the final product!
28 October 2009
Apples are a plenty at this time of year and for those looking to celebrate Harvest, here are some creative ideas to do just that with your toddler. This craft is easy to do with even your youngest!
27 October 2009
This is a very easy way to make a realistic looking leaf, using a real leaf as the template , a piece of paper and a crayon (or crayons). Read on to find out how to make them and check out the ideas for cute Autumn crafts using your rubbings.
26 October 2009
During Harvest our thoughts turn to pumpkins, apples and squashes. Here is perfect toddler craft that is easily adapted to suit all three!
26 October 2009
This craft project is one your kids will quickly get enthusiastic about. Almost anything can be shaped. Your dough shapes can be painted and used as great table decorations or even for hanging.
26 October 2009
Stage a spooky scene by assembling a colony of these winged creatures made from miniature pumpkins and craft foam.
23 October 2009
Some seriously simple and cheap spider craft ideas for you to make with your preschooler.
22 October 2009
Nursery Rhymes Series Part 1: We have decided to do a series of activity and crafts articles to help you and your toddler make the most of the Nursery Rhymes we all know and love. Here we are looking at two that refer to spiders: Incy Wincy Spider and Little Miss Muffet.
22 October 2009
Have some fun with Spiders. Enjoy creating these webs with your little one.
20 October 2009
Use your toddler’s favourite songs and change the words to an autumn theme. These are from a toddler group we attend…