Have you ever considered making your own book for your baby? Most people would say "no" to this question. (and until this post I would have said no too!) It's really easy and fun to do, plus it's special because YOU made it! It requires little money too! BONUS! Here is all you need: a camera a photo book To make your own counting book you simply find things around the house and lay them out and snap a photo. Once you are done with that (and you can go up as high as you want) you simply upload your photos to a photo editing site like: Picnik and add words to it. Print the photos and add them to a photo book. I got mine at the dollar store! Score! Making a color book is a little more work because you have to find multiple things for each color and so many things come in different shades of a similar color. You can even make your own "I Spy" book!  Simply put a bunch of stuff together, snap the photo then write a list of what they are suppose to find in the … [Read more...]

I don't know about your kids but mine love play-dough!  The problem is, it can get expensive because they keep accidentally letting it dry out.  Simple solution: make your own for much cheaper.  Personally, I like the homemade stuff a little better anyway. Here's what you'll need: 1 cup flour 1/2 cup salt 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 cup water 4 Tablespoons oil food coloring Step 1)  Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in the pot. Step 2)  Add the water, oil, and food coloring.  Food coloring is to desired color. (At this point in time my camera ran out of batteries and I was not about to leave my 5 and 3 year old alone by a hot stove to find new batteries.  Excuse the lack of photo(s) for the next part.) Step 3)  Cook on medium heat until the mixture is able to remain a ball in the middle of the pot.  The mixture will be liquidy and clumpy at first (and you'll wonder how in the world it is going to turn into play-dough) but it will get firmer as it … [Read more...]

When I was younger my mom used to surprise my sister and me with treasure maps.  We would get so excited when she would pull them out and we would have to gallivant all over the yard to find the hidden treasure.  As we got older, my sister and I made maps for each other, our mom, and our friends.  It was just as much fun to make the maps as it was to follow them! Obviously this activity with your kids requires some planning ahead on your part.  You'll need to make the map and hide the treasure without your kids knowing. As far as the map goes, you can get as simple or as complicated as you want.  It somewhat depends on the age of your kids.  In the above map I made my girls walk, skip, run, or hop during different sections.  You could simply count the steps or combine counting with skipping and hopping...it's totally up to you!  Make it colored or just draw in pen.  It makes no difference.  As an added touch to your map, crinkle up the paper then burn the edges and some holes … [Read more...]