100 Activity Ideas for Busy Kids & Toddlers

I have two kids that I must keep busy, especially my 3yr old son; so I thought I'd keep a running list of activities & craft ideas for the kids that I can refer to when needed!

I have found a bunch of inspriation from multiple sources on the internet, and I will provide the original links (in red) whenever possible.  This is a work in progress page and I will be updating this list with new activities & links when I can.

See below for a free printable version of this list, or click here to download now!

Check out my "Kids" Pinterest board for lots more ideas!! Also, see the "Resources" page (top menu bar) where I will be listing a ton of websites and resources for you!

1. letter crafts 
2. paper plate animals
3. paper plate aquarium (like this one)
4. leaf turkey
5. handprint turkey
6. leaf people/flower fairies
7. leaf printing
8. paper snowflakes
9. handprint/footprint artwork (check here, here & here for inspiration)
10. corner bookmarks
11. toilet paper tube train
12. toilet paper tube owls
13. toilet paper tube butterflies
14. duster name painting
15. tissue paper butterflies wall canvas
16. pirate for a day - check out these cool pirate flags
17. fall button branch
18. button butterfly canvas
19. kleenex box monsters
20. kleenex box monster feet
21. homemade slime
22. paper flowers canvas art
23. imagination/pretend play - store, kitchen, dress-up, puppets/finger plays, mail
24. build a fairy house
25. make your own neighborhood playmat (like this one on Etsy)
26. balloon ping-pong
27. rock bugs
28. story stones
29. DIY shape matching game
30. color tray
31. color matching - try out a nature color hunt!
32. sensory bins (items can include: magnefying glass, pinecones, leaves, dried corn on cob, rocks, small buckets, "bugs", fish nets, seeds, rice, chains, large beads/laces) No Time For Flashcards has terrific ideas!
33. sound surprises game (for early readers) - The Classroom Kit has great reading & phonics games here
34. lock & keys (co-ordination/fine motor skills)
35. make glimmer paint
36. colored ice castles (using paper cups or buckets)
37. drawing (house, people, shapes...)
38. playdoh
39. puzzles
40. magnet fun
41. listen to music/sing
42. play with musical instruments
43. walking & exploring around the neighborhood
44. play game
45. build a fort - click here for some awesome inspriation or here for instructions to build your own fort kit!
46. printable worksheets (Homeschool Creations has some great ones)
47. cardboard box play (make a boat, plane, rocket ship...) - check here & here for inspiration
48. water table (items can include: water creatures, colored water, bubbles, small rocks, coral, shells, cups, funnels, water wheel, sponges...
49. building with lego (use these lego construction cards for inspiration or make your own)
50. make paper airplanes
51. building with large foam blocks
52. treasure ice block
53. scavenger hunt (can use pictures for younger kids)
54. hammering golf tees into styrofoam
55. beachcombing (collect items to put in jar at home)
56. make seasonal crafts
57. paper bag puppets
58. rent a movie
59. go to the theatre
60. ice skating
61. swimming
62. gymnastics/gym time
63. bowling
64. visit the SPCA
65. make glittery playdoh
66. bake
67. have a picnic (inside or out!)
68. have a tea party
69. visit friends/family
70. plant a veggie garden/flowers
71. lemonade stand
72. library
73. camp in livingroom/backyard
74. wash the car or outside toys
75. sidewalk chalk/paint
76. make sidewalk chalk roads for toy cars
77. make face masks
78. catch bugs
79. paint with vegetables & fruit (brocolli, celery, apples...)
80. make pinwheels
81. make a play garden for kids (don't forget the bug habitat!)
82. create friendship bracelet kit
83. DIY birdfeeders
84. make jumbo paperclip bookmarks
85. PVC water sprinkler fun
86. make a pen pal kit/write to penpal
87. DIY jet pack
88. make windsocks
89. make paper flowers
90. read
91. make mustache straws (like these ones here)
92. make kid-size cleaning caddy & clean! (my kids love cleaning windows with a spraybottle filled with vinegar and water!)
93. create mini activity kits for travelling
94. bubble painting
95. build something with items in your recycle bin (robot...)
96. sandbox fun, build a sandcastle or build a construction site
97. conduct a science experiement
98. go out for icecream/treat
99. check out local activities (i.e. Butterfly World)
100. inside bowling

100 Activity Ideas for Kids & Toddlers (click here for free download)


Check out the Activity for Kids page for an updated list!

What are some activities you like to do with your kids?  I'd love to hear! 

10 Things I Love About You Valentine's Day Project

First off, I do need to apologize for getting this posted so late in the month; however, I have been very ill and am just now starting to feel better.

The inspiration from this post comes from Cristi at howdoesshe.com.  Her pocket was made using a pre-made set from Hobby Lobby, which we don't have here.  So when I saw these free printables offered from I DO Invitations by Michelle (offered exclusively through Living Locurto), I knew what I wanted to use them for!  So with a few little tweeks, here is the result:

Now I just need to fill out the numbered slips and give it to my Valentine!  :)

I had so many other things I wanted to do & make with the kids this Valentine's Day, but was unable due to being ill.  We plan on having a quiet dinner in with the kids, and hopefully spending some alone time together in the evening.  We have both been very ill, so even that will be a stretch.  We'll just have to wait and see!

I have loaded my Pinterest Valentine's Day Board with lots of inspiration!

Also, check out my previous Valentine's Day themed posts:

• Valentine's Day Banner & Cupcake Party
• Valentine Love Mini Album in a Box with Instructions
• EllyKids Giant Valentine

Are you making anything special this Valentine's Day for your Valentine?  What are your plans?

 

Construction Theme 3rd Birthday Cupcakes!

My boy sure knows how to party!!  He celebrated his birthday not once, but twice!  Lucky guy!  I posted yesterday about his Construction Themed 3rd Birthday Party; that was his family party which was held on his actual birthday.

The weekend before, he had a special party with a few of his little friends at a local place with a great indoor playing structure. However, not 15 minutes into the party the electricity cuts out due to the storm we were having at the time. This was a huge disappointment, but one of the Mum's suggested trying McDonald's as they have a small playing structure inside. So we packed everything up and headed on over in the wind and pouring rain! We made the best of it and the kids had fun!

Instead of making a cake for both parties, I decided to make Construction Themed Birthday Cupcakes using miniature versions of the big cake I had in mind for his family party.

The cupcakes were topped with a chocolate icing "dirt pile" on one side and grass on the other then I sprinkled "dirt" cookie crumbs over the top and added chocolate rock candies!  YUM!

The three tiered tray was fitted with handcut yellow cardstock with black stripes, and a sign made with my Silhouette machine reading DANGER!  LEE TURNING THREE!  And was topped with a personalized road sign with the number 3.  I also printed off lots of little road signs to decorate throughout the tiers.

Sometimes having to make two cakes for two parties is a bit much; but I do enjoy it!  Am I the only one that has two separate birthday parties for my kids, one family and one friends?  What do you do?

Construction Theme 3rd Birthday Party!

My "little baby" turned three today!!  So bittersweet for me.  Since he is in love with large machinery, I decided that this year we would have a construction birthday party theme for him!

I scoured the internet for days weeks trying to find some great cake ideas.  I started this Pinterest board for that purpose; and boy were there ever tons of ideas out there!

Here is the cake and the Birthday Boy in all his glory!

As for the construction birthday decorations, I could have easily went crazy with beautiful printables from etsy or making my own banner, etc.  But with my husband away the week leading up to the party and my daughter ill, I figured I'd just go with a basic birthday banner, balloons, black/yellow streamers, some stray traffic cones and construction decoration pieces from the local party supply store.

And what was most important was that my son loved it, he didn't care if Mummy made it or not!
Sorry I couldn't share more photos!  I was much too busy to take many photos, and the ones my husband snapped with our simple point-and-shoot turned out very poorly.

Check out the Thomas the Tank Engine birthday party theme I did for his 2nd Birthday last year!

What themes have you done for your children?  Which were their favorites?

Things to Do With a Toddler - Water Table!

Most days Everyday I have a hard time trying to keep my almost three year old busy!  He has always been super active, so I sometimes have a hard time keeping up with him!  I have been doing a lot of searching on the internet for ideas (see my Pinterest Boards here) and have finally decided that this is the year I will implement more fun, more education & more meaningful play.  Since his birthday is in January, he won't be starting kindergarten for another 2 1/2 years; so I must find ways to help keep our days busy!

Today Lee is having a blast with the water table I set up for him.  I really didn't have much to put in as it was just a spir-of-the-moment idea, but he is having so much fun with it and I love watching him use his imagination.  I do have an outside water table for the kids, but it's just too cold to play with it outside this time of year!  Brrrr!

I started off with our sensory bin and added warm water with some soap bubbles; the bubbles don't last too long, but it's always fun to start off with a bunch of bubbles!!  I cleaned off the water wheel from the outside water table, and added some measuring cups, a pitcher & a cup from their play kitchen, a mini ladle and a few other items to make it a bit more interesting including some decorative rock I've had sitting around for years!

After that it was tool time, then we had to grab a healthy snack, then back at playing with building blocks this time!

I hope you are having a wonderful day!  If you have children, what activities do you like to do with them?

School Lunch Ideas for Kids - Free Printables

School Lunch Ideas for Kids - Free Printables

 
So the kids have been back in school for all of three days here (after a wonderful Christmas break!) and I have already noticed my daughter is bringing home half-eaten lunches if not more!  She has been eating (and loving) her cheese sandwiches for as long as I can remember, but lately she hasn't touched anything else in her lunch kit.

It seems as though her tastes are changing, so I decided to sit down with her to go over some school lunch ideas.  I'm so glad I did!!  It's nice to know that I will be sending her off with school lunches she will love!

I came up with so many other options that were turned down by my daughter, so I thought I would share some of my ideas in hopes you can use them for your kids  (see below)!  I have created a PDF version you can download here.  As well as a blank School Lunch Ideas for Kids PDF for you to download here; just list your own favorite lunch ideas! Have fun!



School Lunch Ideas for Kids - Free PDF (click image to download)



School Lunch Ideas for Kids - Free Blank PDF (click image to download)

I love my lists and this will make a perfect reference to keep on the fridge or in my Household Family Binder when I make her school lunches!

What are some of your kids' favorite school lunches?  I'd love it if you shared some of your ideas as well!

Check out a list of other Free Printables available!