Preschool: 3-5 years

Any Daniel Tiger fans out there?  My girls are and one of their favorite episodes, which they often quote in real life, is when Daniel and friends build “the tallest tower in the world!” This week’s Architecture and Engineering series activity invites them to build a tower and do just…

This was Big M’s first year at preschool.  She goes to a partially co-operative school, which means, that we as parents contribute to the school beyond just sending our child every day and paying tuition.  We give our time, signing up for required Parent of the Day sessions throughout the…

My girls love math games – especially when they involve lots of shiny, new loose parts.  But official math manipulatives can be expensive, ranging anywhere from $10 to upwards of $30 for larger sets.  The good news is you can play and teach all sorts of arithmetic with math manipulatives that…

I’m always on a quest for activities that engage both my toddler and preschooler at the same time.  This one was originally set up for my toddler to work on her color sorting and identification, and to prevent my preschooler from taking over, I made a few modifications to create…

Confession.  Children’s books can be a bit tiresome, especially when your preschooler wants to read the same one for the 100th time.  Therefore, I really appreciate clever ones, like The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale which put an intelligent twist on classic children’s literature.  It portrays the architectural greats – Frank Lloyd Wright,…

After the mudroom, my next favorite room in our new house is the playroom!  Getting the toys out of our family room was huge. Having a place for all the kids’ stuff AND in sight line of the main living space was a double win. But a playroom can also…

We have been on a quest for indoor entertainment this winter, and this (mostly) Indoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids definitely provided it! Last week in my Architecture and Engineering for Kids series, the girls Made Monuments with Mega Bloks, learning about the majesty of famous and historic architecture.  This week, by…

Nothing makes the one you love feel more special than a unique, customized gift. MY M&M’S let’s you do just that!  This Valentine’s Day, I am creating a special gift for my husband from our own little M&Ms, featuring MY M&M’S with silhouettes of the kids and framed portraits to…

Preschoolers are natural scientists.  Their insatiable curiosity and inquisitiveness set the perfect stage for basic science experiments.  This week, Big M (age 4) and I are exploring science experiments with candy, featuring SweetTart hearts and custom My M&Ms for Valentine’s Day, but you can use any candy you have on hand.…

The toughest part of any preschool party is planning the entertainment!  If you are in charge of your preschooler’s parties this year, I’ve got you covered… with these Top 10 Valentine’s Day Party Games.  And don’t miss the over 200 Valentine’s Day ideas to go with them at the end…

Are you excited?!? Today marks the first activity post in our Architecture and Engineering for Preschool series!  To kick things off, I turned our neglected Mega Bloks into famous monuments even my toddler and preschooler can build. Making Monuments During my Art History for Preschool series last year, some of…

I had a huge mommy fail this weekend.  Every morning, I let the girls watch one show while I get breakfast together, lunches made and feed the baby.  These days, it is usually Sofia the First.  And for weeks, Big M (age 4), has been begging me to write her…

Does the next Frank Lloyd Wright live under your roof? Last week, I launched my latest series: Architecture and Engineering for Preschool.  Over the coming weeks, my girls (ages 4 and 2) will explore a great list of books and activities, featuring the toys and supplies below.  If you have…

“…27, 28, 29… Mom, what comes after 29?” This became a recurring conversation with Big M (age 4) over the holidays. She has mastered counting to 20, and quickly caught on to the pattern thereafter. When she starts asking repetitive questions on a subject, I like to seize on her enthusiasm.…

After all the fun we had in 2015 with our Art History for Preschool series, I decided to explore some of the other STEAM categories.  Introducing our newest series – Architecture and Engineering for Kids: STEM for Preschool.  To kick things off, today I am sharing a great list of…

Here on the Playground Parkbench, I share everything I would talk about with my fellow parents sitting on the parkbench as our kids play on the playground.  That mostly fits into the broad categories of Parenting and Kids Activities. As my kids have gotten older, where we talk may vary – the…

Even if your toddler can’t stay up to ring in the New Year with you, they can still help you decorate. This is a super simple, sparkly and festive New Year’s Craft for Toddlers.  The end result is so fun though, you might want to make it for grown-up party…

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HolidayMoments #CollectiveBias There is no holiday tradition more observed across my extended family than holiday baking!  What I seemed to block from memory is the massive clean-up that follows.  But don’t let the stress…

Have you been following our Nutcracker holiday mini-series? This marks the final post in our Plan the Perfect Nutcracker Party series with activities, decor, and favor ideas, paired with festive food contributions from Eats Amazing.  Today’s Jingle Bell Ribbon Sticks will have your tiny dancer party-goers dancing along like Sugar Plum…