If you have blocks, legos or anything that stacks in the house, I'm sure your child has tried to build something.  Playing around with engineering ideas and principles helps kids to better understand the world around them and how things work (it's an early introduction to the world of physics!)

This week's Discover & Explore linky is featuring Build It: Ideas for Little Engineers to encourage kids to create, play and explore the concepts of engineering.

We love spending time outdoors during the summer!  Well, I LOVE to be outside no matter what!  The kids really enjoy it as long as there's something fun to do. 

During our Discover & Explore Backyard Games linky, we had some absolutely AWESOME ideas shared for how to make your backyard a creative fun zone this summer!

Are you looking for some creative, colorful and just down-right awesome crafts for the kids to do this summer?  Boy do I have a few to show you!

We had some really amazing posts shared at our Discover & Explore Flowers linky post and many of them will entice your child to create something beautiful.

 

Today we are wrapping up our Discover & Explore Moon, Stars and Nighttime Sky linky. 

We had some really creative ideas for teaching kids about the moon so I wanted to feature some fun hands-on science posts for our features.

 

This week's theme for the Discover & Explore linky is Flowers!

 

I love to mix in nature items when we create art projects.  There's something about the contrasting textures that I think look so cool when the picture is complete.  And when flowers are included in the project, there is also some wonderful sensory and science learning that happens too!

 

I'm so excited about today's post!  For a few reasons -- first, we had a great time creating it and second, it's a post about SUMMER!

For the past few weeks, we've been working on our Summer Adventure List - a.k.a. the summer bucket list. 

We've created a list of fun things to do during summer for the past 12 years.  Once my oldest turned 4, he had a lot of ideas for things he wanted to do and places to visit during summer vacation.  About the same time, my husband and I realized that we wanted to experience a variety of things with our kids while they were still young.  So, we started our annual tradition.

Most years, we just have a list, sometimes colorful or worthy of a place on the fridge, but mostly it's just a list of fun things we'd like to do (along with a few new things to learn too).

But this year, we got creative!

 

I'm a toss-the-kids-out-the-door kind of parent.  Children (along with teens and adults for that matter) just don't get enough time outside these days. I can remember enjoying some wonderfully long days climbing trees, skating, creating, digging & exploring.

But I grew up with siblings and neighbors that were all close in age.  My daughter doesn't have the luxury of playmates knocking at her door. 

So lately I've been looking for ways to entice her to spend more time outside.  Since she really enjoys crafts and also likes to be surprised, we decided to create an Outdoor Activity Jar.

I'm very excited to introduce a new series to the blog beginning next week! 

I will be co-hosting Discover & Explore, a weekly themed linky with Shaunna from Fantastic Fun & Learning.

Welcome to our first post in the Poppins Book Club! 

This online book club is for kids from preschool to highschool - kids who love to do more than just read a book!

Each month, a new theme will be introduced and we encourage you to choose your own book (or two) to read.  Parents and teachers will find lots of fun activities each month based on the theme - this month's theme is Knights, Princesses & Castles.  If you're a blogger, connect your books to an activity or craft and share it during our link-up each month.

Welcome to our February Online Book Club for Kids where we're enjoying the wonderful stories of Dr. Seuss! 

If this if the first time you're joing us, welcome!  You can learn more about the Online Book Club and join us on our facebook page to keep up with all the books & activities this year.

 

 

Not sure what to get the kids (your kids, nieces, nephews or grandkids) this year? 

Skip the electronics and go for a classic gift

that will inspire them to be creative. 

Some of these ideas will also work as fun stocking stuffers!

 

Halloween's almost here and the kids still aren't sure what they want to be that day?!? 

Not to worry - here are a few SUPER EASY & super cute ideas for inexpensive costumes! 

 

 So your kids have told you they want their pumpkin carved like Spongebob, Princesses or Bubble Guppies, right?!  Or maybe you have older kids who want a really cool design this year.  Check out this list of more than 101+ FREE designs for kids of all ages!

 

Connect with us on Facebook for more fun ideas!!

 

My kids just LOVE countdown calendars!  "How many more days until..." -- it's always so much easier to wait if you have something fun to do :-)  

So, a few years ago, we created a countdown calendar for Halloween.

We received a Kiwi Crate in the mail last week and the craft/activity included was a firefly.  Fireflies are so summer -- spending a warm night outside trying to scout out their little lights in the dark.  Many kids love to spend a summer evening hunting, catching and releasing them.

Fun, easy and useful ~ that's the type of DIY projects that I love to do!  Here's a quick caddy you can make for your July 4th table - to hold a plethora of items.  Grab an old, empty paint can along with a few pieces of paper and you can make a quick, holiday decoration.

 

The Easter Bunny has visited our house for more than 14 years, each time hiding a bunch of (plastic) eggs.  I hate throwing things out -- so with more than 100 of these crazy things in the house, I really needed to find some good ways to put them to use. 

Here are some fun & practical ways to reuse plastic eggs.

 

As a child, I loved the idea that 'little people' might be living in our house.  Books like "The Borrowers" and "The Littles" allowed for much imagination and creative thinking on my part. 

When "The Secret World of Arrietty" was released as a movie this past year (a film based on "The Borrowers" series), I made sure to dig out some of the old books that I loved as a child so I could share them with my kids. 

Here are a few fun ways to explore the world of tiny people in your own home:

February 2^nd is Groundhog's Day - the halfway point of winter. 

If you've got kids, you know that there's some quirky draw to that furry, little creature who pops his head out to see if it will be a longer winter. 

Here's a list of some fun ways to celebrate along with Phil!

Kids love BIG! Kids love art! Give them a chance to do both together and you’ll be their Hero!

Instead of drawing on paper, or painting on an easel, think outside of the box for other ways to allow your kids to express their creativity.