Elementary: 5-9 years

The secret to keeping your kids entertained, especially through this interminable winter, is a well stocked craft closet.  You’ll often notice in my At-Home Activity posts, I mention that an activity was free or cost me a $1 because I already had everything else in the craft closet.  So what…

It seems crazy to be thinking about summer when temperatures are still sub-zero and there is snow falling outside, but many local camps have already opened registration for their summer camp programs.  Below we have compiled a list of Connecticut Summer Camps, including links to their brochures, websites and registration…

How many conversation hearts did your child get in their Valentine box this week?  Instead of consuming all those little sugar bombs, you can make a great learning experience with them.  Big M has enjoyed two great activities this month using two different types of candy hearts: Graphing with Sweethearts Conversation…

Do your kids pick the same book at the library over and over?  We go to our local library fairly regularly to check out books and participate in story time.  I always let the girls select their own books, and they always seem to gravitate toward the same handful of…

One thing crafting with young toddlers has taught me… the more you plan a project, the more likely they will decide to create something wholly and entirely different!  These Valentine Relief Paintings emerged last year out of a planned shaving cream art project that went totally awry.  And if there’s…

Big M’s paper plate wreaths are beginning to become a fixture in our kitchen.  As soon as we remove one at the end of one holiday season, she asks to make another one for the next!  So far for Valentine’s Day, we have made 3 easy Valentine wreaths… two paper…

From the second I set foot in my first yoga class six years ago, it was love at first sight.  The gleaming hardwood floors, the zen-like music, and most importantly, the amazing instructor.  She could teach to a class ranging in age from 18 to 80, and manage to modify…

More than 50 years have passed since the Civil Rights Act was first enacted in 1964, and yet race seems to be as hot a topic today as it was in the 1960s.  In honor Martin Luther King Day and his leadership in the advancement of Civil Rights, Big M and…

As the temperatures have remained sub-freezing this month, we have kept busy and warm indoors.  We have celebrated the snowy season with 6 winter crafts so far… Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? Our snowman busy box keeps Big M quiet while Lil’ M takes her afternoon nap. Marshmallow Snowflakes Quick and…

At 3 years old, Big M has developed a few major infatuations: ballet, princesses and horses.  She lives in a tutu as long as we are in the house, asks to watch The Nutcracker at least once every day, and now requests her ballet slippers so she can dance along…

For years now, we’ve all sent around the Elf Yourself videos.  And this year, at Big M’s preschool, we actually ‘Elf’d’ the kids as a craft to create a bulletin board at our local library to give the town ‘The Gift of Laughter.’  While brainstorming ideas for the board, I…

On Fridays, we offer financially savvy advice for the household CEO – from household budgeting, to saving for college, to where to find the friendliest deals for your wallet.  This week – where to find FREE, or very affordable, engaging activities for your kids, no matter where you live. Nationwide…

This time last year, I was stuck indoors with a newborn and a 2 year old who was chomping at the bit to put on her snow pants and go play in the feet of snow that seemed to keep falling without end.  I did my best to bundle her…

Big M took a nap the day after we got home from visiting the in-laws for Christmas for the first time in literally months!  It was a reminder to me that her napping days are essentially over.   And if I plan to get any work done (and let Lil’…

Fancy New Years Crafts for Kids As many of you may have noticed from our photos, Big M pretty much lives in Orange Tutu and Snowflake Crown (she refers to them as though they are people, hence the capitalization!).  As long as we are at home and she is awake,…

We are days from Christmas, and if you live long distance from family like we do, chances are, large boxes are descending upon your house.  The shipment from our Texas Santa arrived late this week.  I waited until the girls were asleep to unpack everything… and when I opened the…

I can’t remember the last time I made a gingerbread house… but Big M has become quite Christmas-obsessed this year, and taken especially by gingerbread houses.  Given her propensity to meltdown over a collapsed Lego tower, I knew this could be a treacherous undertaking. So when my mom showed me…

My Instagram project sneak peeks put the pressure on to get these posted!  We first saw these on PopSugar as gifts for Mother’s Day, and like many of you clamoring for the How To…, we fell in love at first sight.  We finally got the chance to make them ourselves,…

Big M is obsessed with making ornaments for the Christmas tree this year… we are going to need a bigger tree soon, and I’m on a quest for more ideas!  I remembered these candy cane mice my Mom made with us as kids and has made them with her kindergarten…