Math can be fun, and these free printables prove it! We’ve rounded up math worksheets for kids, from kindergarten math worksheets and math worksheets for 1st grade to early elementary level math problems. Whether you’re homeschooling or just want some extra math practice for the kids, check out these free printables.
Work on telling time with this clock printable. You'll have to cut out the hands and attach them to the face for nonstop time-telling practice! Get your copy from 2ndGradeworksheets.net here.
Have your tiny mathematicians practice finding the place values of the underlined numbers in this printable from 2ndgradeworksheets.net. You can grab your copy of it here.
Your kindergartener will love matching the numbers to these fun pictures. And Math-Salamander.com has tons more to choose from. Find this printable here.
This intro to word problems from Dadsworksheets.com is perfect for elementary schoolers. Having a visual to help with addition helps kids find the solutions. Get your copy here.
Preschoolers will love the fact they can color and count these fun pictures. Math-Salamanders.com has a bunch of printables to choose from. Get this one here.
Little Dots makes it super easy for kids to break down different shapes, like with this circle practice sheet. Find other shapes on their site to round out the lesson.
Math-Salamanders.com helps the littlest students practice number sequences with these fun sheets. Count to five and download your copy of this sheet here.
Many of these can be organized in seconds and promise lots of fun
When we’re all just trying to get through the busy week juggling deadlines, after-school activities, and somehow making a quick dinner (a few times, at least), spending quality time with the kids usually takes a back seat. But, no worries! It’s easier than you think to carve out just 10 minutes a day with one of these super-quick activities for kids. You can fit every one of these fun ideas into your daily schedule, and none of them require much planning or technology.
1. Play a Minute to Win It Game (or Two)
What's better for filling a few minutes than a game designed to be no longer than a minute long? Pick one or two of these simple but exciting minute-to-win-it games for kids and have your players go through a few rounds of each; you'll be amazed at how fast time flies.
2. Read a Book
We're betting that you can read at least two picture books in 10 minutes or, with an older child, a chapter of their current reading choice. Need to freshen up the bookcase? Check out our ultimate book list and our picks for the best books of 2023 (so far).
3. Tell a Heart-Felt Story
Literally, tell the story with felt. Cut craft felt shapes out. Cover a piece of cardboard with a felt sheet, taping it on the back. Your child can puzzle together the felt shapes, create pictures, and tell a story. When your time is up, toss the shapes into a bag, stash the activity, and reuse it later.
4. Play I Spy
It’s a time-tested classic and a traditional game that just about every child plays at some point or another. It’s also easily adaptable, requires no materials, and takes almost no time to complete. Put a twist on the same old game and set up your “I Spy” with a theme. Pick a letter (all things that begin with “B”), a color (only purple objects), or any other focus that your kiddo can dream up.
Sneak in 10 minutes of cardio with your child. Create a 10-minute playlist (or check out our ultimate dance playlist), put on the music, and dance until the songs run out.
6. Act Like an Animal
What’s your child’s favorite animal? Go ahead and ask them. Now use that creature or critter as part of a quick animal action game. Challenge your child to move like the animal, running, crawling, leaping, lumbering, or slithering like a furry, feathered, or scaled friend.
7. Play with Tape
Your kiddo can’t stop peeling the washi tape off of everything crafty that you create. So turn it into a 10-minute activity for kids. Don’t stress about making “something.” This artsy activity from Mama.Papa.Bubba. is entirely exploratory.
8. Create a Family Tale
Only 10 minutes of family together-time? Yes! Sometimes a few minutes can be worth more than you’d think. That is if you’re actually communicating and interacting with one another. Sit in a circle and start a story. Go around the circle, asking each family member to add to the tale. It's simple and effective!
9. Play Follow the Leader
Get creative with the classic “follow the leader” game. Choose a theme (such as acting like animals or moving like snowflakes), create super-silly walks, or explore outside with a follow-the-leader nature walk.
Race to see who can build the tallest tower that still stands. Use blocks, pillows, ice cubes (yes, ice cubes), or anything else that can stack up to skyscraper heights.
11. Microwave Some S'mores
There’s no rule stating that you have to build a full-on campfire to toast a few s’mores. Ten seconds in the microwave will give you fluffy, puffy, totally melty marshmallows kids can sandwich in between graham crackers and chocolate. Get creative and add sprinkles, a scoop of ice cream, a hint of chocolate sauce, or sliced fruit!
12. Make a Sock Puppet
Old socks, a marker, and creativity are all the child needs. They can take these out anytime and reuse them. Put on a puppet play, act out a favorite story, or just talk—through the puppets.
13. Mix Colors in a Bag
So your kids want to paint. But you have 10 minutes of free time left in your day. Okay, no problem here. Add a dab of each primary-colored tempera paint into a clear zipper baggy. Tape the end after closing it. Your child can mush and swirl the colors through the outside of the bag.
14. Let Them Thread a Strainer
Your kids are about to explore and experiment with shapes and lines while building fine motor skills and learning about colors. Yep. It will seriously take only 10 minutes to do all this. Hand out a rainbow assortment of pipe cleaners and the spaghetti strainer, and let your kids thread all those fuzzy little chenille stems through the holes and slats. Easiest. Activity. Ever.
15. Make a Popsicle Stick Alphabet
Hey, why stop with one letter? Why not build an entire popsicle stick alphabet? All you need is a box of craft sticks, or whatever is left over after a freezy-fun snack, and a little creativity. Stash the sticks in a zipper bag and take them out anytime your child wants to build.
Spend an afternoon on a safari, in a restaurant, or in a time machine
The end-of-day sprint is sometimes the hardest for parents with young kids. They’re tired; you’re tired. All that stands between you and the sweet relief of bedtime is about an hour and a half, but you’re fighting the good fight and have resolved to keep them off the screens and making memories. What’s a parent to do? Enter: pretend play. You’ll win at parenting for the day, and they’ll use their creativity, develop social, emotional, and language skills, and learn to express themselves. The best part? None of these make-believe prompts require a lot of supplies or planning, so it’s easy to pull them out at a moment’s notice.
Play house, but change roles with your children. They’ll love telling you to pick up your room and get ready for bed.
Climb Mt. Everest! The stairs become your journey, and the summit is (surprise) a bedroom! Along the way, you might need oxygen. You might slide down the mountain. You might even need to be pulled up the stairs on a sheet.
Set the stage. Get promoted to Prima Ballerina and prepare for your first performance, which happens to have the King and Queen of the Universe in the audience.
Find a buried treasure. Watch out! Pirates are on your trail. Outsmart them by creating a plan to hide, transport, and escape with your bounty. Don’t forget to create a hide-out where you can plan your escape.
Be a pioneer who must set up a homestead before winter sets in. Build a barn for your animals, a cabin for your family, clear a “field” of “rocks” (pillows, if playing indoors), and overcome all sorts of rustic challenges.
Plan your space travel itinerary. Start with “We’re headed to the moon,” and work out all the details: what you need to wear (mixing bowl helmets are excellent, here), what you should pack, what you need to watch out for, and what to do when you get there.
Go on safari. Turn your backyard into a wild place with a rare breed of animal you’re on a mission to photograph. But watch out! The wild animal can’t see you, so you better be super sneaky.
Visit a restaurant. Serve up fun using pretend play food or Play-Doh. We love the free, printable menu from AmyJDelightful, or create your own. Cut pictures of food out of magazines to jazz up your homemade menu.
Get a visit from the postman. Snail mail is the best! With a play setup like this one from Buggy and Buddy, your littles can become letter carriers who address, stamp, and deliver packages and notes. Or use your mailbox and decorate a ride-on to look like the mail truck.
Be a superhero! The best part of this idea? Figuring out each superhero’s back story. What’s your superpower? How did you get it? Are you a good guy or a bad guy? Who is your enemy? What’s your name? Once you get the specifics nailed down, you can create scenarios where the villain is up to no good, and your little superhero saves the day!
Create a sidewalk community. Fill your driveway with an imaginary city, including a library, a school, a train station, a grocery, a farm, and shopping. Choose roles and watch your little village come to life.
Pretend your child is Cinderella. Give them a bottle of Windex and a paper towel—they’ll think it’s hilarious when their mean “stepmother” (you) barks orders… and you get the lower windows washed.
Act out a story. Start with a storyline like There once was a magical frog and a mean old witch who had captured the frog. Include as many characters as you have kids playing, and tell a story as they act it out.
Play adventurer. Set them up with magnifying glasses and a journal (nothing fancy here… just a few sheets of printer paper folded in half). Dedicate each page to a drawing or a rubbing of something interesting that catches your kids’ eyes.
Play hide and seek, but add a plot. Pretend the “it” person is a bird, and the “hiders” are different types of things birds might eat, or maybe make the “it” person a police officer and the “hiders” graffiti artists (even more fun if you have some silly string on hand).
Play charades. The mother of all pretend play games is probably the most simple idea on our list. No explanation needed for this one!
Build a story. Find an empty box and create a diorama from found objects in your yard or house. As you make the diorama, layer in story elements. Before long, you’ll have a scene with characters, plot, period, location, and motivation.
Have a spa session. Let your kids “pamper” you (bonus here: you get to sit or lie down with your eyes closed).
Run a customer service call center. Complete with dissatisfied customers and solutions to retain their business, this might be as fun for you as it is for the kids, especially if you get the play the dissatisfied customer.
Pretend the floor is lava. This pretend play idea is an oldie but a goodie. Use pillows, furniture, and clothing to navigate the house without falling in.
Play “company.” Don’t forget to have a boss, a company mission, and remember: factory work is the key to a kid’s heart. Make something!
Run a cleaning service. Have them offer different services, like vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, and emptying trash. Be sure to check quality control because the fun is doing a good job and being praised by your “employer.”
Act out nursery rhymes. You’ve never laughed as hard as you will when your kids pretend to be Jack and Jill.
Create a news broadcast with information from the day. Report on new restaurants that have opened up and what they served for lunch, emergencies, local interest pieces, and the weather.
Extra, extra! Read all about it. Write a newspaper together, and deliver it to a neighbor or another parent.
“Invent” a Time Machine. Pretend to travel through time and let your child pick where to go. Beds make great dinosaurs, and hoses make terrifying prehistoric snakes. Just don’t forget how to get back to 2023.
A Moana-themed luau or an ice cream sundae social sounds about right
Adventurous spirits and long, sun-soaked days make summer the best time to throw an awesome birthday party. You can take it easy and go with something simple or do it up with a theme to fit your kiddo’s taste. Not sure where to start? Be inspired by the below summer birthday party ideas guaranteed to be a huge hit.
Mermaid parties are always popular and in the summer, you can add water games or pool games (for older kids who can swim well) for extra fun. It’s also fun to decorate in an ocean theme and if you can swing it, a visit from Ariel will be unforgettable.
A great party doesn’t have to be fussy or elaborate! Get your kids playing and laughing with a field day party—we’ve got a roundup of our favorite classic yard games to get you started.
There's nothing more classic, or in demand, than a water play party. From cup races to paddle pools, there's no end to the refreshing fun! Check out our list of ultimate water games for ideas.
It really wouldn’t be summer without a trip to the movies to watch a blockbuster. Bring the big screen to your backyard with a film fanatic’s bash fit for an award. Toss a few blankets and cozy pillows around the lawn, then put together a popcorn bar and project your favorite family-friendly flick on the side of your house or on a sheet while you relax under the stars.
There’s something magical about those when the sun is still shining long past most kids’ bedtime. Sprinkle your party with a little bit of that magic and invite the faeries and forest creatures to create an unforgettable summer birthday party. Pass out fairy wings and flower crowns to party guests, paint faces, and make nature-themed crafts.
With its tropical, floral setting, a Moana party is a gorgeous one, especially if you use some of these fun ideas from Catch My Party founder Jillian Tobher Leslie. Her Moana party recommendations include a layered hibiscus flower cake, frosted flower cookies, and adorable crab-shaped croissants. If you're looking for activities, check out this fun (and free!) printables from Virtually Yours.
Picnic Celebration
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Take advantage of bright days to throw a summer birthday party outside at your favorite park. From packing simple picnic food (we love finger foods you can make ahead) to coordinating fun outdoor games, click here for ideas that can last you well into fall.
Camp Out Adventure
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Kids who love to explore will have a blast at a camping-themed adventure party. Set up tents to give party-goers a shady spot to enjoy their s'mores. Pass out magnifying glasses as take-home favors, and create plenty of engaging entertainment with a nature scavenger hunt.
Nothing says summer to sports fans like a day at the ballpark. Serve up hot dogs, Cracker Jacks, and baseball cupcakes. Have gloves and balls handy for kids to toss and don’t forget to have all the party guests sign a baseball as a special token for your baseball-loving birthday kid to cherish.
It really wouldn't be summer without a trip to the beach. Set up a sandbox and let the kids dig for buried treasure. Play hot potato with a beach ball. Serve up refreshing beachy treats, like popsicles and watermelon. Give the guests sand buckets and shovels, or this adorable sandcastle kit from Mama Papa Bubba, as take-home favors.
Cast your line and reel in some excitement with this summer birthday party idea. You don’t have to have access to a lake to catch fish, instead set up a kiddie pool and play go-fish with DIY fishing poles with magnets. Don't forget to serve kid classics, like worms in dirt!
Ice cream and summer go together like… well, ice cream and summer. This match made in birthday party heaven will not only give guests a sweet treat, but it will also keep them cool in the heat. Set up an ice cream bar like the ones featured here and they’ll have a blast coming up with their own concoctions.
Glow in the Dark Birthday Party
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Take advantage of those warm summer nights with a party after dark. Set up your party space with black lights and pass out glowing accessories, like bracelets and glasses. Set up glow-in-the-dark games, like hopscotch, and let your guests get creative with glow chalk, like this DIY recipe from Growing A Jeweled Rose. Check out these dark play ideas for more glowing activities.
Music & Karaoke Party
Jolie Loeb
Summer is packed with music festivals, so why not turn your party into a birthday-palooza with a backyard music fest? Instead of hiring a band, let your little crooners take the spotlight with a karaoke party. Pass out party invites that look VIP concert passes. Set up a stage with a sparkly backdrop and mic stands and get ready to jam while the kids rock the day away. While the guests wait their turn, they can deck themselves out like rock stars with wigs and costumes
Kite-Flying Party
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Send your summer birthday party soaring to new heights. Serve up kite-shaped cakes and cookies. Give each child a kite (this counts as your party favor!), and if the wind is in your favor, your guests can spend the rest of the day flying kites in the summer sun.
Your little bookworms will have a blast throwing a summer reading party, especially when you pack it with fun activities like book bingo, trivia games, and a book swap. Click here to read up on how it’s done, courtesy of Nerdy Book Club.
Floral themes scream summer, and what better way to celebrate your kid than with a custom-designed flower party? Alice's Table is a professional service that brings everything you'll need (flowers, clippers, water, and more) to create a flower crown right to your home. They'll even provide a party page and invites if needed! Available in 31 states.
Show Dad the L-O-V-E this year with a crafty card made at home
Father’s Day is nearly here! To celebrate the amazing job your special dad does every day, why not celebrate with one of these homemade Father’s Day card ideas? You don’t have to be a master crafter or daring DIYer to make one, so dust off your crafting stash and check out some genius Father’s Day cards!
This adorable handmade Father’s Day card idea is pretty easy, and it’s definitely one he’ll want to keep. Have your kids pick out the character they want to use, and have fun with it.
This Bomb Pop card is a super cute and easy way to make a card your kid’s “pop” will love! Also, take the perfect opportunity to follow it up with actual yummy Bomb Pops afterward.
This homemade Father’s Day card idea perfectly fits the bill for the handyman in your life.
Cricut-Made Father's Day Card Idea
Karly Wood
Is the dad in your life into everything? This DIY card is the perfect fit! Made with a Cricut Joy, we snagged this completely free design and let this mini machine do all the work. Peppered with images of outdoor activities, and typical dad icons, this card will perfectly communicate about your fave father.
For DIY-obsessed dads, we love this easy idea from Lil’ Luna. It’s a free printable, so all you have to do is print it out, cut it out and stick it on the gift card of your choice.
Get your little one involved in making this simple homemade Father's Day card idea from Solis Plus One. Tots can go to town filling the page with color.
Emojis are so yesterday. Use sign language to tell Dad how you really feel about him. Delia Creates has designed stylish (and free) downloadable templates that your sidekick can use to choose just the right message to tell Dad how much he means to everyone. It’s almost too easy!
Timepieces like this creative fill-it-out-yourself booklet designed by Hello, Wonderful are what memories are made of. Your guy will forever cherish the innocently hilarious answers his kiddos give to creative questions like, “the most fun thing I’ve done with my dad is…” and “my dad smells like…”.
Surprise Dad when he walks through the door on his special day with this colorful card that doubles as a banner. Let him slowly pull out the greeting, like a magician pulling an endless string of hankies from his sleeve. Then hang it across the mantle, so Dad really gets the message. Skip over to Modern Parents Messy Kids for the tutorial.
This coloring superhero card by Alpha Mom is an easy-breezy option that ranks high on the cuteness factor—the best combo if we say so ourselves. The kids can customize the fill-in-the-blank section to make it their very own.
Chalk, check. Driveway, check. Adorable kids that make your photo come to life, double check. That’s everything you need to make this sweet Father’s Day card we spotted over at Crafty Texas Girls. Looking for a gift too? Have the photo turned into a mug, mousepad, or keychain!
Between a great meal, a nap, a chance to cheer for his favorite team or dad-on-kid quality time, you can keep it simple when deciding on Dad's gift this year. This printable card from Julep is ready for him to spin the wheel of wish lists and decide just what he wants most for Father’s Day. Card AND gift completed.
Celebrate the spider-killing, boo-boo-kissing guy who waits patiently at the bottom of the slide so his cutie pie can slide confidently down, knowing he’ll be there, with this well-earned jar of goodies. Let your little one decide what to fill it with. And find the free printable at Tatertots and Jello.
This bow-tie card is a keeper, especially when you take a photo of your little one holding it and turn it into a gift or (even better!) dad’s new screen saver. The template and tutorial are available at Julep. This a perfect DIY card for the three and under set—easy-peasy—just the way we like it!
Turn open after-school time into a creative adventure in a flash
It’s a weekday afternoon between school and whatever practice is on the family calendar. Kill a few minutes with a quick and easy art activity for kids. With minimal supplies and almost zero set-up effort, we promise you won’t be holding back the urge to scream over complicated steps or time commitments. After all, when it comes to crafts, we’re all about less is more (most of the time).
We love this one because there’s no need to wash brushes when the kids are done. You can also use a pencil eraser and stamp pads for even less mess and easier cleanup!
Making tie-dye shirts is a multi-day process, so this activity from Little Bins for Little Hands incorporates all the fun of tie-dying without the hassle. Coffee filters are the perfect canvas to watch colors spread and combine, and they dry out pretty quickly too.
You can make these ice cubes ahead of time and have them ready to go. This art activity for kids is ideal if you have loads of those teeny tiny chalk nubs hanging around the bottom of your art bin. Grind them up, add some water, freeze, and let your child draw her afternoon away.
Ziploc Finger Painting
Shelley Massey
It doesn't get any easier than this, friends. With nothing but a ziplock baggie and paint, you've set your pint-sized Picasso (and yourself) up for endless fun. Another option is to tape the bag to a window or a door so you can see light filter through the designs, or add glitter to bags for extra sparkle.
Clay Finger Paint
Mini Monets and Mommies
You want your creative kid to go wild with rainbow finger paints. Um, but you’re not into the idea of spending your Monday night cleaning Jackson Pollock-esque splatters from the walls. Swap in soft modeling clay for the actual paints. Pull it into pieces and “paint” it onto cardboard. It’s a totally low-mess art activity that lets your little one create a textured "painting."
Reuse those old worksheets, tissue paper, and anything else in a collage. Glue these onto a cardboard base, creating textures and patterns. Kids can practice scissor skills, explore through their senses and create collages that are either abstract or look like “something” real.
If you've got Saran Wrap at home, you're halfway there with this art activity for kids from Buggy and Buddy. Even better, you'll need to leave the paper alone overnight to dry, so there's less chance of a wet mess.
Paintbrushes, who needs them? Not your child. Get some fresh air after school and gather a few natural items. When your child has plenty of pinecones, stems, sticks and other nature-y items ready, paint like Hands On As We Grow did!
Felt Patterns
Cut shapes out of craft felt in different colors. Your child can press the shapes against a full felt sheet to create patterns. Oh, and this one is reusable too.
Foam Prints
Reuse Styrofoam plates or trays. Use a craft stick to ‘draw’ a design, add tempera and press onto a piece of construction paper. Wash the plates and reuse them, making as many prints as your child wants—in different colors. When the prints are dry, add onto them with paint, chalk or markers.
They deal with fourth-grade math so you don’t have to
They keep our kids all day and teach them all the things we might not remember (and probably lack the patience to explain). Yes, we’re talking about educators, and it’s time to say “Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!” If you’re looking for creative ways to spoil your kids’ teachers, we’ve got great ideas that range from gifts you can get at the grocery store to e-gifts delivered right to their inboxes, so get ready to thank your favorite teacher today.
Grab a Last-Minute Gift from the Grocery Store
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We get it, we can't all give our favorite teachers a Pinterest-worthy gift basket. Lucky for us, there are plenty of great gift ideas waiting for you at the grocery store. From gift cards to candles and even a good beach read, say happy Teacher Appreciation Week with one of our favorite items here.
A picture is worth a thousand words of thanks—especially when your kids hold photo props featuring customized messages of appreciation. Head over to Hello Wonderful for the free word bubble printables, made even more adorable with the Elephant and Piggie props, and then customize them for your favorite teachers. Set up a photo shoot inside, and send those pics to your kids' teachers. Bonus: you can erase the boards and have your kids write messages for their core teacher, art teacher, and PE teachers, too!
Sometimes it's fun to get the whole class or a group of kids involved with a big teacher appreciation gift. But, the hassle of collecting money, making sure everyone is included on the gift tag, and getting the gift to the classroom can be overwhelming. Group Together allows you to collect money from others, have them sign a digital card, and then you choose from dozens of gift card options like Amazon, Target, The Container Store, Wayfair, and more. Your teacher will receive the card and gift all in one. Talk about efficiency!
A gift card to a local restaurant shows your teacher you care and supports small businesses, too. Ask your teacher what their craving these days, and email a gift card for sushi, burgers, or samosas their way. It'll give your child's teacher a night off from cooking and show your appreciation.
Send your teacher a little love by filling out this free teacher thank-you printable. Simply print it out, and help your child answer each prompt, then scan and email it directly to your kiddo's favorite educator. If you're up for it, you can also share this template with the other parents in the class, so that your child's teacher receives a book full of love. Visit Paper Heart Family to get your free printable.
Let your favorite teacher enjoy a relaxing night off and catch a movie at home. Send them a Netflix gift card, which they can use to add more months to an existing account or to subscribe. If you'd like to add a few snacks to go along with their favorite movie, send popcorn to her doorstep.
Keep your teacher's pantry full with an electronic gift card for groceries. Whole Foods will email or text a gift card to your favorite teacher as soon as you order it. Groceries are a tangible gift they'll appreciate, and your show of gratitude will keep your teacher fed, and ready to tackle whatever challenges teaching throws at them.
Instead of flowers, use a company like Bloomscape to pick and have a new green plant sent to your kids' teachers. Whether they leave it at home or bring it to class, it's a lasting way to say thank you.
Most teachers have all the cute mugs that they need—but they can always use more snacks, coffee, or wine. You can put together your own teacher appreciation basket customized to your teacher’s favorites like the ones seen above from @angelarichhome.
Old-fashioned letters are a great way for kids and teachers to stay connected. Have your kiddo write something and send it with a gift card and a supply of stationary like this adorable set.
Add to Their Library
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Teachers always need more books for their classrooms—and their bedside tables. As a show of appreciation for your favorite teacher's hard work, send them a gift card to your local bookstore or Barnes and Noble. Or, ask your teacher for a list of books they need and order a copy from Bookshop, which lets you shop online and supports indie bookstores, too!
Send a Thoughtful Thank-You Note
Oz Spies
Your child can write a thank-you card themselves, or you can put your thoughts down on the page and let your child's amazing teacher know what a difference they've made. You can even share a copy of this note with your teacher's principal, who might not know about all of the great things you see. Don't forget to write "Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!"
Get crafty with your child this Mother’s Day. While your little one may not be able to create a masterwork of art just yet, that doesn’t mean they can’t add a special touch to the perfect gift for you or Grandma this Mother’s Day. Whether you and your baby make a mess or not, you’ll be making memories with these Mother’s Day infant crafts.
A cupcake liner adds a 3D effect to these framed smile blossoms, and all your little one needs to add is the beautiful smile for the photo. Visit the Paging Supermom blog for the tutorial and a free printable of the blue polka-dotted background.
Heart-shaped, finger-painted flower petals are the centerpiece of this bouquet of love from Toddler Approved. Once the finger painting is done, test out your mini artist’s scribbling skills for the stems and then cut and paste to create a beautiful arrangement.
An admittedly messy craft for the slightly older baby or toddler, these papier-mâché bowls from the Happy Hooligans blog are sure to be a hit on Mother’s Day. They can be given on their own, or you can place an additional gift inside. They are as useful as they are one of a kind!
Craft a garden of love with baby’s hand and footprints on an adorable handprint apron from the Little Page Turners blog. Add in a yellow thumb and a few red fingertips for the bee and ladybugs. It's the perfect gift for grandmas who like to cook with their grandkids.
Catch some rays with these rainbow heart suncatchers from Fireflies + Mud Pies. Either cut the tissue paper or have baby rip it up before letting them go to town on gluing the pieces in place.
An ice-cube tray of watercolors, coffee filters and pipe cleaners are all you need to make beautiful colored coffee-filter flowers that will never wilt. The Hands On As We Grow blog has instructions on painting or dipping (depending on baby’s dexterity) the filters for a gorgeous Mother’s Day bouquet.
This clever idea for making Mother's Day cards combines hand-scribbled art with photos of the artist in action: Take photos of your child while they're creating their card masterpiece and attach the photos to the front of the card. If your child isn't ready to manage a paintbrush or marker, give them finger paints. You'll find instructions for the card (and a DIY envelope to put it in) at The Mombot.
Let your little one lend a hand to create this custom handprint memory box from Mama.Papa.Bubba. Draw a heart around the handprint to emphasize the shape, and feel your mom heart melt every time you add a memento to it. If you're giving this as a gift, add a little treat inside the box for an extra surprise.
This flower family picture from Domestic Mommyhood showcases cute faces surrounded by real flower petals for a natural touch. Tiny fingerprints make for perfect leaves on the stems. This craft is also great for babies with older siblings and is sure to brighten mom's day.
Every mom loves flowers on Mother's Day, but showing them off in this mason jar vase makes them extra special. This project can be done almost for free using items you probably already have around your house. It’s fast, easy and yet another idea that lets your mini-me stick their hand in paint, which they'll love. Get the how-to at Christina's Adventures.
If you have salt, flour, water, an oven and some paint, you can make these adorable footprint hearts. If your baby can hold and use a paintbrush, they can help with the painting, or you can guide their hand as they paint. The result is a memorable decoration that can be used indoors or out. Visit HubPages for the instructions.
This incredibly simple project turns a sloppy mess into a piece of fine art. Grab a piece of canvas, a few jars of finger paint, and some shape stickers or die-cut vinyl lettering and let your child work their artistic magic. Your little one will get to play and learn about texture, color mixing and creativity, while the letters elevate their design into something pretty special. See more at The Desperate Craftwives.
Decorate a candleholder with the help of those tiny little piggies. All you need are a few dabs of glue and some rainbow craft sand to cover a mason jar with adorable finger or toe prints. Check out some of the photos of the finished, illuminated project at Sugar Aunts.
This project requires a little extra work on Mom’s (or Dad's) part, but the result is a unique heart-shaped pendant featuring your babe’s fingerprints. Find the full craft idea, along with links to all the materials you'll need (including oven-bake clay and cookie cutters), at That's What Che Said.
Another spin on the handprint art concept, this craft creates a handprint out of sand. The reminder of just how tiny baby's hands are make it a memorable Mother's Day gift. Steps to make one yourself can be found at Crafting a Green World.
—with additional reporting by Katie L. Carroll
Make sure to capture all the messy fun—and share it with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
When it comes to crafting with kids, there’s one magical material that always comes through—paper. Whether it’s construction paper, computer paper, or yesterday’s newspaper, your art supply drawer isn’t complete without this particular DIY ingredient. That’s why, from paper painting to garlands and festive hats, we’ve gathered up 33 paper crafts for kids that spotlight this staple supply in a big way.
Kids can get artsy with negative space and fall leaves. If your creative kid wants to keep the leaves they'll remove from her negative space painting, they can always collage them onto another piece of paper or hang them together with yarn to make a garland. Get the full instructions from Mini Monets and Mommies.
This cardboard airplane is a simple way to get your budding aviators up and flying. Let them decorate it with markers, and then the construction is simple. Head over to Hands On As We Grow for details.
Finger Puppets from Wee Gallery
Wee Gallery
How cute are these finger puppets from Wee Gallery? The hardest part will be cutting them all out after the kids color to their heart's content.
Set out enough materials so each kid can paint their own pig! It's very easy, and you probably already have everything you need. We love the easy tutorial from Oh Creative Day.
A 3D rainbow is a perfect and easy St. Patrick's craft. Creative mama Arena of The Nerd’s Wife provides a tutorial even a preschooler can master. Got a kid who likes to mix it up? Tell them to arrange the strips of paper in their own rainbow form.
If your kids are fans of The Little Mermaid, they’ll have a blast making this adorable origami from Pink Stripey Socks. Pop the movie on in the background while you make them, and you’ve got a great afternoon in store.
Who says your crafty kid needs a brush to paint? This paper art activity celebrates spring with a paint print and a fringe of green grass. Learn how to make these cute tulips with Growing Up Gabel’s tutorial.
Take to the skies when you engineer flying dragons. To complete this simple project, you need paper plates, paints or markers and a template designed by Pink Stripey Socks. Print, cut, color and play! If your kids love dragons, check out these other crafts you can make.
We’re obsessed with these transforming ninja stars from What Do We Do All Day?, and chances are your kids will feel the same way. You’ll first make eight parallelograms into a wheel, then push and pull on the sides to turn it into a star. We've got more perfect origami for kids right here.
If you’ve got a budding bookworm in your family, you’ve got to make this adorable project from Easy Peasy and Fun. There’s lots of room for creativity; you can add eyes, teeth, horns... the sky’s the limit.
This warm fireplace from Crafts by Amanda is a homey addition to a dollhouse or a kid's room to make them feel like real grownups (without the fire hazard, of course!). It will be fun for the little ones to search out sticks in the woods or at your local park for their very own mini fireplace!
Upcycle this year's holiday cards, turning them into this year's crafty presents! Follow the directions from Hands On As We Grow and learn how to make these artfully amazing bookmarks. Keep a few of your kiddo's creations for yourself or give them out as holiday gifts.
Get creative and mix things up with this Picasso-inspired collage. Your kiddo can create the perfect plump pumpkin, and then cut it into puzzle-type pieces. Place the rearranged jack o' lantern on a larger piece of paper, creating a cool collage that looks entirely artsy. Get more artsy, spooky paper ideas for Halloween here.
These crafty cardboard and paper bats from Buggy and Buddy are 3D cuties that can hang almost anywhere. Decorate a party table centerpiece with these winged creatures or turn this Halloween craft into an imaginative accent to your fall foliage or floral arrangement.
File this under “coolest idea ever”: origami you can wear! These modular bracelets from Paper Kawaii are so much fun to make and can be made in any color combination or size your little ones desire. And if you like origami, check out these awesome origami projects for kids.
Make sweet sheep with paint, paper and a few of your child’s other favorite art materials. This springtime craft is perfect for preschoolers. And bonus, it’s easy to adapt to your toddler or grade-schooler. Get the details on how to get artsy with DIY stamping from Buggy and Buddy.
Hop to this hat craft that you can make any time of year (not just Easter!). Directions from our friend Alpha Mom call for scissors, one pink marker, and one paper plate. The site offers other great ideas for paper plate hats like decorative crowns and heart hats so check it out. For more great simple and fun hat crafts click here.
We love this jumbo-sized paper airplane the crafty mom behind Fireflies & Mudpies made for only $1! Have the kids decorate the wings before heading outside for an afternoon of flight lessons.
This craft involves a little bit of twist and a little bit of curl. And remember there are many fruits out there that you can jazz the branches up with. Maybe add a bird or a squirrel or two! Check out Creative Jewish Mom for the full low down on how to twist, curl, and create this fun paper bag craft.
This craft from First Palette is fit for the pint-sized royalty in your life. With construction paper, crepe paper, and as much sequin bling as you can find, you'll have a new addition to the dress-up bin.
Paper doll chains are a pretty classic paper craft and we think this one from Mer Mag has a particularly irresistible charm. It's perfect for your aspiring prima ballerina's room decor or next birthday party.
Props to Handmade Charlotte, who came up with this super cute and easy idea for critter-inspired masks. All you need is repurposed paper bags, sharpies, and some imagination to get a house full of wild animals.
For more easy masks that'll transform your day, click here.
This one goes out to all the itty bitty kitty lovers out there. Thanks to A Subtle Revelry, you can whip up a DIY garland that's totally cat-tastic. The shapes and gluing are pretty simple and you can customize colors and whiskers too.
Okay, so this craft is less crafting-with-paper and more make-your-own-paper. It’s an educational combo of art, science, and design and a great way to teach the littles about where paper comes from. Head here to Babble Dabble Do for step-by-step instructions for all kinds of homemade paper.
Here’s something to roar about: an ultra-easy dinosaur hat from Cutting Tiny Bites. It's a great craft for when you need a quick prop for pretend play or a special accessory a dinosaur party.
For nine more dinosaur activities for kids, click here.
Your budding architects will get a kick out of creating their own paper town. After some adult prep (for the x-acto knife steps), this turns into a paper coloring and gluing activity that’s sure to entertain for an afternoon. Snag the free house template at Babble Dabble Do here.
Your teatime will be extra stylish with a DIY newspaper hat. This is a great way to use up old newspapers–and your little miss can go wild with whatever flowery, feathery toppers she wants. Find out more here.
For more fun and easy hat craft ideas for kids, click here.
This idea from Create in the Chaos is one of those deceptively easy crafts. It only needs a few materials, there’s a free printable involved, and we’re willing to bet that your kid will be glad to color away.
This idea from Babble Dabble Do is one part science lesson, one part paper project, and totally amazing. It involves paper flowers that expand in water–mimicking the real-life natural phenomenon. Click here for the full instructions.
From Trekaroo to 2 Travel Dads to The Bucket List Family, this list of the best family travel blogs will help you plan your next vacation with kids
Travel and kids in the same lifetime? We say yes, please! For parents determined to keep the travel adventures coming—even if it means with the kids in tow (and possibly flying with a baby)—we looked to our favorite family travel blogs. After all, there are massive benefits to traveling with kids! Each one of our picks promises to inspire you to take that trip already (even if it’s just to granny’s house and back).
In this list, you’ll find families that are big on outdoor adventure, ones who know what it’s like to travel with a disability, national parks fanatics, and Disney parks fanatics. We know you’ll find inspiration for your next family travel adventure from this eclectic list of family travel blogs.
2 Travel Dads Not only do we love accompanying this adorable family on their adventures via their awesome IG account, but we love their tips for schooling kids on the road and their open-minded approach to travel.
Our Vie Inspired by the 100th Anniversary of the National Park System, husband and wife duo Cees and Madison decided to hit the road and see every single one. Once "out there" they decided they loved the adventure too much to return to normal life. Their son Theo (named after Theodore Roosevelt!) was born in 2016 and continues to accompany his parents across the country in Vie, the family rig (a Toyota motorhome build).
She Buys Travel This site is created by moms for moms and their families. Filled with real-life experience and TONS of info on Disney adventures, you can get great content from all over the country, as well as discounts and packing tips.
National Park Capable Amanda is a mom with Cerebral Palsy and an avid hiker. She explores National Parks and advocates for more accessibility. She also gives tips for those with mobility issues and moms of toddlers.
Insider Families This Colorado-based family will inspire even the most reluctant to get out and experience the great outdoors. From skiing and hiking the majestic peaks of Colorado to exploring the rainforests of Costa Rica and the fjords of Norway, the stories and photos of their adventures are sure to inspire you and your family to get outside. Readers will also find some great tips on traveling and adventuring with kids.
Angelica Kajiwara Looking for a practical family travel blog about trekking across America with young kiddos? Angelica's blog might be for you. With kid-friendly hiking suggestions and content about campgrounds and RV travel, this blog is perfect for families that want to keep it simple and make incredible memories together.
Trips with Tykes Traveling with little kids can be a little daunting, so be sure to check out this site's helpful information that ranges from how to handle car seats on airplanes to hiking with toddlers, there's plenty of content to inspire and help you take the leap. Plus, this CA-based blog has an incredible archive of information about how to survive Disney with kids!
ROAM This website is dedicated to the kind of travel you thought got put away with your backpack after the kids were born. But ROAM founder, Maryann Jones Thompson, has spent more than 15 years traveling with her own family and wants to share what she's learned with a new generation of parents. With content written by and for parents (that includes the good and the bad!), you'll find advice on how to navigate places as far and wide as Croatia, Peru, and even Mount Everest.
Carful of Kids Mom Catherine has logged over 70,000 miles behind the wheel while exploring North America with her kids. Her blog has detailed info, especially for outdoorsy-type who enjoy skiing, National Parks, and road trips. Follow her on IG for more fun!
Bay Area Family Travel Don't let the name fool you; this blog is for anyone visiting the Bay Area, but also offers excellent reviews of trips around the world. From hidden gems in Northern California to the arts and culture of Hong Kong, you'll find plenty of practical tips from someone who has done it themselves.
The Bucket List Family Touting over two million IG followers, this family of five has been traveling the world since 2015. Follow along for good clean fun and breathtaking scenery.
Wonders within Reach This family of five shares wheelchair-accessible adventures for all types of families. You'll be inspired to get out there and explore when you follow along with them on their next national park visit or international trip.
Local Passport Family You'll just love following along with this adorable family on their world travels, RV adventures, and NorCal day trips. Mom Preethi is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and you'll often find her sharing diverse children's books and ways to be better global citizens.
LA Family Travel The perfect family travel blog for Southern California families looking for everything from local adventures, weekend trips, exciting destination travel, and everything in between. Don't miss the travel survival trips that parents need to keep packed away for emergencies!
Suitcases and Sippy Cups There is nothing extraordinary about Jessica Bower, her husband, and four kids. This is why this blog is so special. It's the diary of an ordinary, middle-class family who put their suburban life on hold to travel the world—on an average American middle-class budget. From tips on weekend camping trips to roadschooling kids Suitcases and Sippy Cups is filled with awesome resources for families who don't have a travel agent on speed dial.
La Jolla Mom Okay, so maybe luxe travel isn't on the itinerary this year (more like road trips to the local lake/beach/watering hole), and that's okay. Get your fix for all things glamorous by checking out La Jolla Mom. Luxury travel writer Kate Dillon provides gorgeous pics and daydream-worthy adventures as well as giveaways, lifestyle trends and insider tips on her home city of San Diego, Ca.
Walking on Travels For parents who don't want life to stop when the kids arrive, Walking on Travels is a bookmark must. From real-life tips on breastfeeding while traveling to the adorable Friday Postcard Series—a digital "postcard" from some cool spot that shows up every Friday—it's a go-to resource for parents on the go.
Ciao Bambino! Discerning travelers take note! With travel portfolios covering Europe, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and other popular tourist destinations, this is a great resource for family-focused advice, directions, and accommodation information. It was founded based on the belief that traveling as a family shouldn’t mean lowering your expectations or standards. They will also plan your entire trip for you, check out their travel agent services.
Pitstops for Kids The title of this site says it all—and boy, are we thankful for this much-needed resource! Pit Stops for Kids is a place to share your reviews of the places you’ve stopped during various road trips (whether you’ve been there once or one hundred times), and to take advantage of the experience and information other parents have to offer. It’s a community of parents who share a goal—finding kid-friendly detours and pit stops—and a philosophy: it’s about the journey and the destination.
The Mom Trotter This full-time traveling family of three lives in an RV when they are at "home" and heads off to all sorts of exotic locales when they are on the road. In addition to travel inspiration, you'll get budgeting tips and loads of ideas for becoming better global citizens while traveling with kids.
Gone with the Family Lisa Goodmurphy has been traveling with her kids since her oldest daughter was four months old. Fast-forward eighteen years—family adventures include playing with sled dogs in Alaska, getting lost (in a good way) in Mykonos, standing on the Prime Meridian, and hanging out at Catherine's palace in St. Petersburg. Goodmurphy is a regular contributor to Lonely Planet, Family Travel Magazine, and Travelmamas.com. FYI: If there's a devoted Harry Potter fan at home, be sure to check out the extensive info on Potter-themed travels!
Have Baby Will Travel Yes, babies and traveling can go together … and this online guide for travel with babies, toddlers, and small children proves it. Founder and mother of two Corinne McDermott is a passionate advocate of the value traveling can have for everyone in the family. Her site is a collection of travel advice, trip reports, and helpful tips, tricks, and resources for traveling with small children (Psst …the particularly helpful “Flying with Baby” section even breaks down travel by airline!).
Trekaroo The Trekaroo blog is an offshoot of the Trekaroo website—an invaluable resource for discovering activities, hotels, and restaurants, booking accommodations and flights, and contributing to reviews and discussions. The blog is more of the same great content and can-do attitude: resort reviews, “off the beaten path” guides, museum suggestions, weekly digests, and much more!
The Vacation Gals Jennifer Miner, Kara Williams, and Beth Blair are three professional travel writers—and moms—who share their favorite destinations for family trips, girlfriend getaways, and romantic escapes. They also discuss tried-and-true travel gear, the latest travel news, and helpful travel tips. Their writing typically covers North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, but the sky is the limit for these awesome Vacation Gals—they take at least 45 trips a year! Whew.
No Bedtimes No Borders This family of five decided to leave their normal lives behind and travel around the world for 180 days. Follow along as they share the places they experience along the way and get inspired by their "no bedtimes" philosophy that allows them to experience life as it comes, even if that means a few lost hours of sleep.
3 Kids Travel Follow this family with three girls as they travel from their home in SLC all over the world. They are always sharing helpful tips like how to get your kids to carry their luggage at a young age (hooray) and what you do and don't need for a long-haul flight.
Family Travel Magazine From theme parks to European vacations, Family Travel Magazine has something for everyone. Their goal is to help make travel more accessible to families—readers can find killer packaged deals at affordable prices. There are downloadable packing lists, the very latest on Disney destinations, and of course, founder Jodi Grundig's tips and tricks for heading off into the sunset with the whole family in tow.
Travels with Baby Shelly Rivoli launched Travels with Baby as a modest site with answers to many of the real questions parents ask when planning to travel with babies and toddlers. Today, it has evolved into a full-fledged trusted voice among traveling parents. Shelly is also the author of several award-winning travel guidebooks.
The Educational Tourist Natalie Tanner is a teacher by trade, so her travels always include learning somewhere along the way (she can't help herself!) Hit up her family travel blog for great ideas on making every trip an educational learning experience, pop by her online shop to purchase one of eight e-books she's written, or, if you want to leave the planning to a pro, engage her services by signing up for the new Concierge Travel.
Travel Mamas This site is for mamas (and daddies and grandparents!) who need a break from their everyday lives, want to see the world, experience new cultures, and maybe even indulge in a spa treatment or margarita while away. Travel Mamas is a community of regular women and men who want to learn and share not only how to survive a trip with children, but also how to love exploring the world with their families.
Wanderlust and Lipstick Here you can find travel stories to whet your appetite for adventures around the globe: join a women-only or co-ed tour to Bhutan, India, Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, or Santa Fe; peruse posts from the ever-expanding group of WanderBloggers; read travel tips from experienced globetrotters, and learn about recommended travel gear.
No Back Home Mom Karilyn and son Cian make the most adorable travel duo and you'll love following them on their national park adventures all across the world. Looking for info on how to expand your travel adventures by homeschooling your kids? This blog is for you!
The Mother of All Trips This family travel blog is part travelogue, part memoir, part meditation on motherhood, with just a dash of how-to. The mother behind The Mother of All trips is Mara, who emphasizes the potential for learning and fun when it comes to traveling with kids. With each post on her family’s excursions, both big and small, and helpful advice gleaned from real first-hand experience, she “brings the world to your kids and your kids to the world.”
Mini Time This site is dedicated to making family travel planning easier, cheaper, and less stressful with in-depth reviews of kid-friendly accommodations, expert strategies for traveling with kids, insider city guides, and advice on where to find money-saving deals on family vacation packages. As if that weren’t enough, the site also has free printables like packing lists and car and travel games for kids, and a Trip Planner tool that helps you create an individual itinerary and travel journals.
Suzette Mack Travel As a Family Travel Advisor, Suzette Mack’s specialty is creating memorable vacations for families with children of all ages. As a blogger, she offers readers her expertise (for example, travel insurance is a must when planning a family cruise) and personal experience (a la if she could do it all again, she’d buy the Paris Museum Pass).
This mom has been traveling and backpacking ever since she was in her teens. Now with two kids strapped to her side, she's still insistent on making the world her oyster. From Europe to Asia, Jetlag and Mayhem will make your flying and planning an easier process. Plus, if you're looking for travel and kid-friendly gadgets, mom-blogger Nicola has a list of recommendations just for you.
FamiliesGo! How much time do you spend planning your vacation when you should be enjoying it? FamiliesGo! takes the guesswork out of organizing family trips with one simple site run by a community of savvy travelers (who happen to be parents). They share their advice on everything from hotel accommodations to how to pack your suitcases.
Jet Set Family Jet Set Mom Nicole Standley cut her teeth on luxury PR, so when Jet Set Tot came along, it only seemed natural to bring her along for the ride. What started as an online diary of one family's travels became a luxury travel/lifestyle with contributors with the same passion for quality travel with kids. We love the Invitation Only series. With glam coverage of LA premieres and Hollywood glitz‚ it's an instant getaway without leaving home.
The Family Adventure Project If you had to pick between white-water rafting in Costa Rica and checking out the latest art exhibit in Paris and you chose the former, The Family Adventure Project is the travel blog for you. Filled with incredible ideas for kid-friendly adventures at home and abroad, it's kinda crazy how many cool options there are for families. From taking a road trip in Patagonia to a tree-top adventure in Wales, thrill-seekers will find plenty of inspiration here.
