Books and Giggles
Kids love watching caterpillars transform into butterflies – it’s a fun and educational activity — even more so when they keep a butterfly journal. Since I’m not much of a gardener, butterflies for kids in this house means a special cage bought just for observing butterflies up close. (Disclosure: Books and Giggles is a participant…
Inside: An Earth Day craft for kids that uses plastic from your recycling bin! Earth Day is around the corner. I’m joining with a group of talented bloggers to share upcycling activities for kids. This week’s theme is Plastic. Earth Day Craft for Kids We’ve been crazy for strawberries and blueberries here lately. I put blueberries…
If you’re looking for an easy way to give your kids the chance to hammer and saw, for not much money, this easy kids’ pallet project may fit the bill. It all started when we visited an old friend who’d moved across town. She’d had something delivered that arrived on a wood pallet. Rather…
The picture book One by Kathryn Otoshi has a simple yet powerful anti-bullying message. While it’s appropriate for younger kids, the concepts are a little abstract. Here is an activity box that children can use to retell the story and begin to internalize its lessons. I remember when Liam first started kindergarten at our local public school….
Here’s a fun, Easter time activity for learning letters, sight words, spelling words, or math facts. It’s perfect for kids who crave movement. Pretty much all you need are plastic Easter eggs and the free printable in this post. You can have multiple kids play it together, even if they’re working on learning completely different things. If you’re a…
Inside: 8 fun and educational activities to do after reading the book If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff. If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff is fun for kids of all ages. The story is a sequence of events that fall in place like a row of dominoes set…
Learning ABC’s and their sounds takes time and practice. If your child likes stickers, he or she might enjoy this simple letter sticker activity. I chose foam stickers because children can feel the shape of the letters as well as see them. All you need are some foam alphabet stickers and paper. You can…
The notable children’s book If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson is a sweet story that teaches kids about kindness. To go along with the book, you may like to do a special kindness activity. This one is perfect for spring. (Or even late winter.) (Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services…
I originally wrote this pretend play library post way back in 2016. Amazingly, people are still finding this and reading it. So, I decided to give it a little update… and brand new adorable library dramatic play printables. When your kids are stuck inside on a lousy weather day, the last thing you want to…
Alphabet stamps are a fun way to practice all sorts of literacy skills, from ABCs to phonics, sight words, and writing. You can make stamping even more fun by letting the kids make their own stamp pads. It’s easier than you think. All you need is a sturdy paper towel and some paint. Oh,…
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 of…
Books and Giggles is full of screen-free, educational and fun activities for kids. Sometimes you also find parenting insights and tips. Today we’re recapping the top five non-seasonal posts of the year, all in one place. The most popular post by far was 10 Instant Fun Car Trip Activities Your Kids Will Love These are ideas that you…
When you have an active child who needs to move, practicing sight words can be challenging. Santa Claus can help! This activity for kinesthetic learners is a fun way to motivate kids at Christmas time. My son, Liam, needed extra motivation to work on sight words. He isn’t the type of kid who will sit…
If your toddler or young preschooler loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, I have a fun, educational toddler Christmas activity for you. It will help them learn about numbers and one-to-one correspondence. It will also introduce them to Christmas and winter themes. (Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,…
A book exchange party is a fun activity for kids at the holidays. You can do one as part of a classroom holiday celebration, with a scout troop, or for a play group. You can even throw a Christmas book exchange party at home just for friends. I love the unwritten message of giving books as…
Today I’m sharing a fun and simple set of fine motor skill activities. You can do it with toddlers, preschoolers, or elementary aged kids. All you really need are dried beans from your pantry. Montessori-Inspired Toddler Activity My kids all attended a Montessori preschool. One of the earliest activities they learned there was spooning beans….
The first year I tried to teach my kids about Thanksgiving didn’t go very well. We did an activity where they took pictures, with my help, of things they were thankful for. The trouble was (and I didn’t realize this until we were done), all the pictures were of toys. Not exactly what I was…
Today I’m sharing another one of our favorite picture books, and a storytelling basket to go with it. There’s a free printable template, too, so that you can make your own. These pieces could also be used on a felt board. (Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate…
Halloween is coming up quickly! Wouldn’t it be fun to plan a last-minute kids Halloween party? If you keep your preparations simple, you can do it! I’ve got you covered with simple kids’ activities, easy Halloween food ideas, last-minute decorations, and no-fuss invitations. (Books and Giggles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an…
I remember picking my girls up from preschool once, and seeing that the teacher had written a letter on Isabella’s hand. I was taken aback at first. Writing on a little kid’s skin didn’t seem like a good idea to me. Yet, my sweet girl was so proud and excited to show me she had learned a letter and…
Twenty minutes past bedtime, my daughter asked me to read her a story. We’d gotten home late from soccer practice, and I hurried everyone through their evening routines. Finally, I turned out the light and went to kiss Isabella goodnight. “Mommy, you have to read me a story,” she announced. I took a deep breath. …
My son has wanted to make a solar oven ever since he saw one on a Curious George episode a few years ago. This year, as we started planning our summer, the kids and I brainstormed a list of what we wanted to do. High on my son’s list: make a…
Inside: a process art thunderstorm craft for kids After reading stacks of picture books about storms, my kids and I wanted to create a thunderstorm craft to go with the stories. My first thought for making clouds, probably like yours, was cotton balls. I wanted them gray, so we tried painting them. Let me just say…
Even big kids can enjoy sensory play. Children of all ages love digging their hands into a tray full of beads. They adore the feeling of the beads, and the sounds they make rattling together. They like the imaginative possibilities beads hold. I didn’t always know this. (All the product links in this post are…