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blowing fire breathing dragon craft

How to make a fire breathing dragon using a cardboard toilet roll

May 9, 2016 by Kate 21 Comments

Do you know how to make a fire breathing dragon using a cardboard toilet roll? They are seriously very easy for children to make and wonderful way to help children develop their oral motor skills. This adorable handmade toy will have kids playing and engaging in pretend play and would be suitable to make with kids for […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Art & Craft, Celebrate, Craft Tagged With: animal, blowing, chinese new year, craft, preschool, toddlers, toilet roll

Pom pom challenge using a straw and tape

April 26, 2016 by Kate 5 Comments

If you ever need a quick and simple activity to keep the kids busy, set up a pom pom challenge using a straw and tape. It’s great fun for kids of all ages and something children can do independently or as a group.  Don’t you just love those activities that keep the kids entertained for ages? […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for children, activities for preschoolers, Fine Motor, Indoor play, Play Tagged With: fine motor, games, indoors, simple set up

kids making in the kitchen mixing ingredients

How to give your child free rein in the kitchen

April 18, 2016 by Kate 10 Comments

Could you do it, could you allow your child the freedom to make whatever they wanted? I thought I’d try it out and see what happens and share with you how to give your child free rein in the kitchen. Yes, call me crazy, but I’m aware that so much learning can happen when you strip […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers Tagged With: cooking, sensory

Simple sewing shapes using paper plates and yarn

Learn about shapes using paper plates and yarn

April 2, 2016 by Kate 27 Comments

This is a super fun preschool activity that will help your children learn about shapes using paper plates and yarn. You can add a bit of painting to the activity if you want to too! It basically rolls everything that a preschooler loves. This activity has been on my ‘to do’ list for a long time and Possum […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers Tagged With: colours, fine motor, painting, paper plates, shapes, threading

Easter salt dough ornaments

Salt dough Easter ornaments kids can make and paint

March 16, 2016 by Kate 8 Comments

Salt dough is so fabulous because, if you’re using my recipe, it only requires 3 simple ingredients to make and sets rock hard in the oven. We made some wonderful salt dough Easter ornaments that kids can make and paint themselves and hang on display for the whole family to enjoy. They would make great […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Art, Celebrate, Easter, Paint Tagged With: decoration, ornament, salt dough

Quick, easy, no-bake chocolate mint slice recipe

March 1, 2016 by Kate 7 Comments

I love cooking with my kids and here is a quick, easy, no-bake chocolate mint slice recipe that you’ll want to try with your kids too. It is wonderful because it only uses 4 basic ingredients and allows children to mix, stir, pour etc. This simple recipe can be served an enjoyed at birthday parties when you a special guests coming […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Cook, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: birthday, cooking with kids, no bake, recipe

dinosaurs in playdough is great for sensory play bins and uses only 3 ingredients.

3 ingredient Dinosaur Dough

February 23, 2016 by Kate 19 Comments

You’ll absolutely love making my silky soft 3 ingredient dinosaur dough. It’s so insanely easy to make, yes you only need 3 ingredients (possibly 2). It will have your children playing for hours because playdough is so open-ended and wonderful. Seriously, make this. You guys have loved my fairy dough recipe, it has been my most popular post […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers Tagged With: 3 ingredients, dinosaurs, playdough

How to make rainbow oats for sensory play

February 18, 2016 by Kate 3 Comments

I thought you might be interested to learn how to make rainbow oats for sensory play. Of course the texture of oats is very different from your typical sensory bin, which can include rice or beans. So if you have some stale oats at the back of the kitchen pantry, colour them and get your kids […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, Sensory Play Tagged With: food colouring, sensory play

drop pompom for toddlers

Pom pom drop activity for toddlers

February 10, 2016 by Kate 20 Comments

This pom pom drop activity for toddlers is so simple to set up and is sure to entertain them for a long time. It’s great for helping them develop fine motor skills and an understanding of cause and effect.  You might recall this activity, which I did with Possum (aged 4) a few years ago. It’s a classic and […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Fine Motor

Simple face painting design of a lion

February 2, 2016 by Kate 9 Comments

Here is a simple face painting design of a lion that your kids are sure to love. You only need a few basic colours and this design only takes a few minutes to do, so it will suit those children who struggle to sit still for long periods of time.  Possum (aged 4 years) absolutely […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, activities for children, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Art, Pretend Play

Paper plate lion mane using hand prints and paper plates.

Paper plate lion mane

January 27, 2016 by Kate 16 Comments

Sponsored by Disney Junior  I know I’m not alone when I say that ‘The Lion King’ Disney movie would have to be one of my absolute favourites. I adore the characters, storyline and please don’t get me started on the music. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Due to its overwhelming success, The […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Craft, Fine Motor, Giveaway, Review, Sponsored Post

Playdough inspired by Chinese New Year

January 21, 2016 by Kate 12 Comments

Chinese New Year is on February 8th this year and can go for as long as 15 days. Many families will be celebrating in various ways, but large feasts of food and exchanging money in red envelopes are a common tradition. As an activity for kids to enjoy we made some playdough inspired by Chinese New […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for children, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Celebrate, Playdough Tagged With: chinese new year, colours, playdough, traditions

FB sydney opera hat made out of paper plates and great craft activity for kids to do on Australia Day

Sydney Opera House hat made from paper plates

January 13, 2016 by Kate Leave a Comment

We made a Sydney Opera House hat made from paper plates! It’s actually very simple to make and would be great to wear around Australia Day, which is on 26th of January. You only need a few basic materials to make it too.  Indulge me for a minute as I share a little Australia pride with you. […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Celebrate

fine motor skills with washi

Simple musical shakers for kids

January 10, 2016 by Kate 2 Comments

Handmade instruments can be lots of fun to make and these simple musical shakers for kids are no exception. You only need a few materials to make them and they’ll keep your kids occupied as they decorate and play with them. It has been very hot and so we have been looking for some simple ways to entertain ourselves […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Fine Motor Tagged With: homemade, music, toilet rolls, washi tape

Close up of koala in a creek for Australia Day

Fun food idea for Australia Day – koala in a creek

January 5, 2016 by Kate 18 Comments

I’m a very proud Australian and so I find Australia Day an important one to celebrate with my family and friends. For a bit of fun, I have put together a delicious Australia Day food idea that kids (and adults) will absolutely love, it’s a koala in a creek!  Of course real koalas are usually found […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for toddlers, Celebrate, Recipes Tagged With: Australia Day

5 day play dough challenge

Top 10 most popular activities shared on Laughing Kids Learn in 2015

January 3, 2016 by Kate 6 Comments

I’m so excited to share with you the top 10 most popular activities shared on Laughing Kids Learn in 2015. It was certainly a wonderful and very busy year. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.   It’s always a tricky to put this type of list together because when I look back […]

Filed Under: 0 - 12 months, 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years Tagged With: round up

Playing

Photos of Play challenge for 2016 – #52weeksofplay

December 31, 2015 by Kate 2 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I take a lot (and I mean, a LOT) of photos of my kids and their everyday play. I know that I’m also not alone. So with this in mind I have decided to start an exciting weekly photo challenge in 2016. I’ll also be using the hashtag – #52weeksofplay‘ […]

Filed Under: 0 - 12 months, 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Parenting Tagged With: #52weeksofplay, photo a week challenge

Reindeer food recipe and printable bag topper

December 22, 2015 by Kate 7 Comments

Children love making reindeer food at Christmas time as it attracts Santa’s reindeers when it is sprinkled outside on Christmas Eve. Here is a simple reindeer food recipe and printable bag topper that you might like to use. Of course children can make them for themselves or give them as gifts to friends.  Can you name […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, Christmas, Gift Idea, Printable, Uncategorized Tagged With: bag topper, Christmas, gift idea, recipe

One little christmas craft of a tree using a cupcake patty pan.

Little Christmas tree craft made from a cupcake liner

December 21, 2015 by Kate Leave a Comment

Here is an adorable little Christmas tree craft made from a cupcake liner and a few other bits and pieces. Gorgeous on a Christmas card or on display, it’s perfect for preschoolers or prep-k and beyond to make with quite a bit of independence. This Christmas craft using cupcake liners also helps children develop skills in […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, activities for preschoolers, Art & Craft, Christmas, Craft, Making Tagged With: Christmas, craft, cupcake liners, cutting and pasting, preschoolers

Decorating Minnie Mouse bows with gems

Minnie Mouse threaded garland

December 19, 2015 by Kate Leave a Comment

This is a fun craft activity that preschoolers will love to make over Christmas and that has been inspired by the world famous Minnie Mouse character from the Disney Junior channel, which can be viewed over on Foxtel. It’s a threading activity that will help develop fine motor skills and improve children’s understanding of patterns.  It […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Craft, Fine Motor, Sponsored Post

Art and craft activity printing with sponges

Disney inspired Christmas wrapping paper

December 13, 2015 by Kate 6 Comments

Possum (aged 4 years) absolutely loves Minnie Mouse. She has a mountain of dress up costumes but the Minnie Mouse costume gets the most use. To be honest, I don’t blame her. I adore everything about Disney and their many wonderful characters.  For me, Disney Junior is a wonderful example of how beautiful and exciting storytelling […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Christmas, Craft, Gift Idea, Paint, Sponsored Post Tagged With: Disney Junior, giving, paint

Pretty hanging Christmas ornament with a surprise gift inside

Surprise Christmas ornament

December 11, 2015 by Kate 27 Comments

Here is a Christmas ornament like no other. It’s a Christmas ornament with a special hidden surprise inside. Your children will be kept guessing what special gifts are hiding inside and they will not be able to find out until Christmas Day when they can remove them from the tree and unravel them.  This is sponsored by Australia […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Celebrate, Christmas, Gift Idea Tagged With: Christmas, gift idea, sponsored

Candy Cane Chocolate Christmas bark

Candy Cane Christmas Bark

November 30, 2015 by Kate 1 Comment

Christmas is very exciting and of course it’s a time that chocolates and candy lollies are overflowing. For a bit of fun I made candy cane Christmas bark. It’s really yummy and make a gorgeous gift idea for friends and family. Even better, kids can help make it!  Christmas bark is wonderful because it’s so simple and […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Christmas Tagged With: Christmas, cooking

Christmas activities calendar that's a free printable

Free printable of a simple Christmas activity calendar 2015

November 26, 2015 by Kate 1 Comment

The morning of Christmas Day is such a highlight of the year for me, however, I have to admit that I also love the whole build up to the special day. With this in mind, I’ve made us a free printable of a simple Christmas activity calendar 2015 that has a wide variety of simple Christmas activities children can do. It will keep […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Christmas Tagged With: Christmas, printable

Writing a letter to Santa on free Christmas printable

Free printable children can use to write their Christmas wishes

November 17, 2015 by Kate 2 Comments

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is so close. To help your child get into the spirit and excitement of this wonderful time of year I have created for you a free printable children can use to write their Christmas wishes. At the start of this year I had a goal, which was to create my […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Christmas, Printable

Learning about number formation with Sumblox

Sumblox maths teaching tool

November 13, 2015 by Kate 37 Comments

Just when you thought wooden blocks couldn’t get any better, I introduce you to SumBlox wooden number blocks. SumBlox maths teaching tool takes learning maths to a whole new level. They are fun and educational and a great gift idea for kids. I’m also offering a special voucher giveaway to our Laughing Kids Learn readers, so be sure […]

Filed Under: 0 - 12 months, 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Numeracy

jar of fairy dandelion wishes

Dandelion wishes in a Jar

November 11, 2015 by Kate 5 Comments

These beautiful dandelion puffs are so beautiful. Do you have any in your garden? They can be a lovely decoration when placed in a jar, investigated individually under a microscope or loving offered to a child who might like to make a special wish. Who wouldn’t want some dandelion wishes in a jar?  Okay, so my garden […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Growing, Outdoor Activity, Parenting Tagged With: investigation, nature

How to make a simple Christmas craft using paper plate as a Santa beard

Simple Christmas Santa Beard craft

November 7, 2015 by Kate 14 Comments

Here is a simple Christmas Santa beard craft that your kids, especially young preschoolers, will love to make. Using only a few basic materials, your children will love engaging in imaginary play and you’ll do doubt hear them call, “Ho, ho, ho”.  Before you roll your eyes for me already getting into the swing of Christmas […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Art & Craft, Christmas, Giveaway, Pretend Play Tagged With: area, Christmas, competition, cotton balls, craft, fractions, giveaway, paper plate, preschool, toddler

Digging for pipe cleaner worms. Fun activity in pretend mud.

Digging for worms

November 4, 2015 by Kate 14 Comments

Children seem almost programmed to love digging and seeking out interesting things in the ground. I remember as a child I would love digging for worms from the garden. Whilst getting hands dirty outdoors is lots of fun, this is a cute little indoor activity that will tap into your child’s imagination and help them […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Fine Motor, Sensory Play, Sponsored Post Tagged With: beads, patterns, pipe cleaners, rice

Wooden toys with stacking rainbows make great gifts for kids

Wooden toys children would love to receive as a gift

November 3, 2015 by Kate 3 Comments

I recently received an email from someone asking what wooden toys children would love to receive as a gift and if there were any that I’d recommend. Wooden toys are certainly a great choice to make over plastic toys. I’m not rejecting children playing with plastic toys, all play is beneficial, but if budget allows then there are some reasons for […]

Filed Under: 0 - 12 months, 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Christmas, Gift Idea, Parenting Tagged With: Amazon, creative, gift ideas, wooden toys

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Welcome
Hello and welcome!
My name is Kate and I am a mum to two little girls, Possum and Boo. We have lots of fun together learning with play at home and are pleased to share some of what we do with you.
Read my about page to find out more.

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