Books and Giggles
Seasonal and holiday ideas for kids
I love seeing smiles on kids’ faces when they receive a new book. Add a toy that enriches that book, and my heart swells even more. With the holidays fast approaching, I’ve spent hours searching for perfect book-toy pairs so that you can feel that joy of giving too. …Or at least the joy of…
These cinnamon Christmas ornaments are easy enough for toddlers, but still fun for older kids. Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments First, Another Hurricane Story Our Christmas tree sat incongruously in the muddy garage, next to a soggy box and bits of wet drywall. I probably walked past it twenty times before I made myself look. I hoped…
These 10 engaging Halloween books for preschoolers are perfect for October storytime. Count, rhyme, and giggle together as you look forward to the big day! The apples have been picked and the leaves have fallen off the trees. It’s now time to stock up on candy, carve our Jack-O-Lanterns, and get ready for Halloween. We’ve…
I’m excited to share our favorite educational summer activities for kids ages 2-8. I hope they’ll soon be your favorites too! Learning outside can be so engaging for kids. There’s plenty of space for playful and creative activities, and you don’t have to worry about making a mess. Plus, you get to be outdoors in lovely hot weather!…
These outdoor educational activities will surely make learning fun this summer! Sometimes changing the environment is all you need for little minds to absorb what you’re trying to teach. These 15+ Outrageously Fun ideas are perfect for spending tons of time outside this summer yet still preventing the dreaded summer slide. 15+ Outrageously Fun Outdoor Educational Activities When I…
These water learning activities are a fun way to work on letter recognition or sight words over the summer! I love hot weather, and so do my kids. Every year we look forward to playing in water in the summer time. From water table to swimming pool, they’ve always enjoyed water play in our hot Texas weather. So if…
This story extension activity is just right for warm weather! I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own. Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and…
These beach learning activities will keep your kids learning and having fun all summer long! Beach Learning Activities Kids learn everywhere! You can enrich a day, or a week, at the beach and still have loads of fun. We live close enough to the beach to make a day trip of it. That means we go pretty…
This week we’re kicking off our summer fun learning series with 30 AWESOME sidewalk chalk games for literacy learning. Whether your kids are working on letter recognition, letter sounds, handwriting, or sight words, we’ve got you covered. Time to get outside and LEARN! Super Fun Sidewalk Chalk Games When the weather is warm, I love being outside with…
This Easter egg alphabet activity is a fun story extension for a cute book. You can set it up as an invitation to play or as a more directed activity. Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to…
Spring is finally here in full force, and I’ve been thinking about Earth Day activities for kids. These kid-created, storybook-inspired wildflower field guides were a lot of fun for all 3 of my elementary aged children. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed…
Spring comes early in Texas. Last week, I decided to take advantage of the perfect weather and take the kids on a nature hike with me. The twins are 7 now, and Liam is 10. They definitely have their own ideas about how to spend their time. But I had a great plan! When…
This open-ended children’s wildflower craft celebrates springtime and a famous first lady. We spotted wildflowers blooming along the road last weekend. Thanks to a mild winter, the annual chorus of colors has started a month early. Wildflowers are serious business here in Texas. Highway medians are roped off to protect delicate flowers from mowers. A spring…
If you have kids who’ve been swept up in the water bottle flipping craze, this is the Valentine card for them! My tween has been known to try his hand at bottle flipping, and so we made up these crazy straw kids Valentine cards for him to give to his classmates. Kids Valentine Cards I’ve been thinking…
These Earth Day literacy activities integrate important science and citizenship lessons with letter learning, sight word practice, writing letters, and word work such as ABC order. My kids have always been naturally interested in Earth Day. The idea behind it is easy for them to relate to and understand. We spend a lot of time teaching…
This free printable Christmas ornament craft is quick and inexpensive – just right for classroom holiday parties, at scout meetings, or at home when time is short. We were late putting up our Christmas tree this year. I always aim to do it the weekend after Thanksgiving, but life sometimes gets in the way. This…
This gingerbread name activity uses our homemade gingerbread scented play dough. You’re going to love it! (Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.) We’re joining in with the…
This fun-to-make dog wreath goes along with Enzo and the Christmas Tree Hunt by Garth Stein. You can also make a smaller version to use as an ornament. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn…
My three kids argue with each other about as much as most siblings do. Which is to say, a lot. So when we all pile in the car for a long drive to visit family, I need a plan. Keeping sibling peace in the car is critical for my sanity! We’re a road-tripping family….
One of our most popular fall posts is the Thanksgiving placemat craft we created to go with the book Bear Says Thanks. If you want a quicker version on the same concept, these free printable Thanksgiving placemats are for you. My girls love Love LOVE to color. Any time I make or print out something…
This simple bear craft — well, really a bear paw print craft — goes with a Thanksgiving story, but you could adapt it to use any time of year. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites…
This Christmas tree craft goes with the new picture book Maple & Willow’s Christmas Tree, by Lori Nichols. It can be set up as either a craft or an invitation to play. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for…
It’s never too early to plan a kids’ Christmas craft idea or two – so that you have them ready to go when life gets busy. This upcycled photo frame ornament is made with a jar lid! I’ve never actually had a white Christmas. I experienced snow on Thanksgiving one year, visiting family up north. I don’t…
I’m in love with this pilgrim turkey craft! If you have toddlers or preschoolers, this would be fun to do after reading about the first Thanksgiving. I wanted to make another Thanksgiving craft this year, but was stuck for ideas. I asked my local friend Megan for help, and she definitely delivered. She was inspired…