Books and Giggles
Winter kids activities & crafts
This easy Christmas tree craft for kids is perfect for class parties. It’s also a great choice for a simple craft station at a children’s holiday event. (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 advertising fees by…
These printable polar bear hats are perfect for motivating children re-tell the story Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle. (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…
This DIY trivet hot plate is a practical yet sentimental gift for kids to make. And, of course, it’s inspired by a book! (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 advertising fees by advertising…
These “Peace on Earth” ornaments are fun and educational to make at Christmas or really any time of year. They can go along with a new book that I think you’ll love. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means…
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…
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…
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….
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…
Nothing brightens up a dreary winter window like a suncatcher. Heart-shaped Valentine suncatchers are even more cheerful, especially when kids help to make them. I’ve rounded up 18 gorgeous examples, made with a variety of methods. There’s something for every age child and every taste. When I created my own Valentine suncatcher, I did a…
Today I’m sharing a Valentine box inspired by favorite children’s book character Pete the Cat. Making it was easier than it looks, and I’ve put together a free printable template for the hardest part. In case you don’t know, Valentine boxes are a fun tradition in U.S. schools. Every child decorates a box for…
Here is a fun little Valentine’s Day game you can play with little kids. You can play it during a classroom party or at home. The idea is to get kids talking about what they LOVE. I tested this game out on my girls, and they adored it. I wish I had a picture…
We’ve been busy creating kids’ Valentine crafts! This heart-shaped suncatcher was fun and easy to make. You can brighten up a winter window with it, or make several suncatchers and hang them from a mobile. The method to make this is inspired by the crayon shaving snowflakes we made last week. Just like last…
This winter themed snowflake craft is also a fun science activity. Plus, it’s an opportunity to work on fine motor skills. Preschoolers will enjoy seeing the colors melt together, and older kids will appreciate learning about symmetry as well. Yes, we made these snowflakes using just crayon shavings and waxed paper. Older children love learning to cut snowflakes. If…
Here are some fun rhyming games just right for kindergartners. Each game has a snow theme. Learning to read is so much more exciting when it looks like playing, don’t you think? Rhyming games, besides being fun, help kids learn phonics. So, for winter, I’ve come up with a few simple rhyming games using snowflake cutouts. All you…
Where we live in Texas, it almost never snows. My kids have learned more about wintry weather from Frozen than from being frozen. And they’ve learned more about snow from Frosty the Snowman than from making snowmen. Although… last weekend we went to a local festival. The big draw? A pile of fake snow. My kids…
Today I’m sharing simple Popsicle stick ornaments for kids to make this Christmas, and a story to go with them. You can make the ornaments without the story, or read the story without the ornaments – but they’re fun to do together. The story is Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney (affiliate). It’s about a Mama llama…
Here is a simple way to bring literacy into your home at Christmas time. I’ve put together a free printable mini word wall for your little reader’s room or playroom. Kids who aren’t quite reading may like to look at the holiday words and pictures too. My girls made a stack of shiny Christmas cards last…
My crew had so much fun making their own shiny kids’ Christmas cards recently. They loved decorating and personalizing each holiday card. We now have handmade cards for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a best friend. It was a great rainy day activity. I love that making kids’ Christmas cards isn’t just a craft…
We do a lot of picture book-inspired crafts here, but this Christmas one is special. On one hand, it’s a fun holiday craft for kids. On the other hand, it’s a lesson in art and observation. (Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to…