When I was teaching Kindergarten we had a dramatic play area that had different themes throughout the year. One of the most popular themes was a vet’s office. My students always had so much fun taking care of animals and I was amazed at all learning that took place in this dramatic play area. I decided…
Panning for Gold Activity
We have lots of rocks in our backyard and I having been trying to come up with fun ways for the kids to use them such as our Garden Sensory Bin. Recently, we collected some rocks, painted them and incorporated them in our sand play. This panning for gold activity is a fun way to…
10 Simple Animal Activities from The Kids Weekly Co-Op
My kids are big animal lovers, so anytime we do an animal activity, I know it will be a hit. If your kids are equally obsessed with animals, then they will love these Simple Animal Activities. For more animal fun check out this Paper Craft Spring Dog. Simple Animal Activities Vet’s Office with Free Printable from Mess for…
Playdough Play
Are your kids tired of playing with ordinary playdough? Well, these playdough play ideas will give your child a chance to explore their creative side while using playdough as a prop in their imaginative play. These activities will breathe new life into your playdough. So take it off the shelf and lets get started! Playdough…
Enjoy Outdoor Activities with Kids
Disclosure: I’m proud to be working with CVS Pharmacy to help spread the word about how to #BeGreater with #SensimistAtCVS. All opinions expressed are my own, and all product claims or program details shared should be verified at CVS.com or with the appropriate manufacturers. With spring in the air and the weather warming up, my…
Messy Play Ideas
Here at the Mess for Less house we are big fans of messy play. As something of a neat freak, I have had to work my way up to messy play activities. Most kids just love getting dirty while they play, and while there is some clean up associated with these Messy Play Ideas, it is…
10 Sick Day Activities
Cold season is just around the corner. Those words send fear through the hearts of many moms. Just when it seems like your child is settling into a school routine – BAM – they get hit by a cold. I was surprised to learn from the CDC that school aged kids get between 8-12 colds…
Back to School Activities for Kids
Where did the summer go? Is it just me or did it just fly by? Are you ready for your kids to go back to school or will you miss lazy summer days? I think my kids are ready for a routine and some structure. But before they head off to school, we are going…
30+ Pretend Play Ideas
Do your kids love to pretend and make believe? When I taught Kindergarten, the dramatic play center was on of the most popular parts of the classroom and with good reasons. Kids could go in there and transform into a fire fighter, teacher, builder or anything they could dream up. Pretend play ideas help kids develop…
10 Ice Play Activities
We are always looking for ways to stay cool during the hot summer months. One of our favorite ways to cool off is ice play. Kids love playing with ice and these activities are simple to set up. These 10 Ice Play Activities are great for a hot day. Some are experiments where kids can learn…