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How to make felt star wands that are easy to make and lovely to give as a gift from a child.

Star felt play wand

July 18, 2016 by Kate 11 Comments

Handmade gifts are by far the best gift to give and receive. If you’re looking for a simple craft project to do yourself or one for your older child to make then have a go at making a beautifully whimsical star felt play wand. This homemade, hand stitched star felt play wand will ignite the creativity […]

Filed Under: 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Craft, featured, Gift Idea, Pretend Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: creative play, felt, gift idea, hand stitching, imaginary play, school aged, thread

Simple science activity making Olympic Ring crystals

July 13, 2016 by Kate 8 Comments

Here is an activity your children will love to do in the lead up to or during the Summer Olympic Games. It’s a simple science activity making Olympic ring crystals! It’s very easy to do and your child will be able to observe crystals growing within the hour.  I’m sure you’ll agree that these crystals are […]

Filed Under: 5 - 10 years, Science, Special Events Tagged With: colours, crystals, Olympic Games, science

ABSs and 123 ebook by Laughing Kids Learn

ABCs and 123 ebook

July 8, 2016 by Kate Leave a Comment

It is with great excitement that I announce the released of my latest downloadable ebook, which I have contributed to with a group of other wonderful play based bloggers. It’s called ABCs and 123s. This fabulous resource for parents, teachers, grandparents and carers is packed full of over 40 tried and tested play activities that  your children will love and […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for children, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Art & Craft, Craft, ebook, Literacy, Numeracy, Parenting, Sensory Play, Video Tagged With: ebook, literacy, numeracy

yellow passionfruit playdough

How to make passionfruit scented playdough

July 6, 2016 by Kate 7 Comments

Gone are the days of getting the kids to play with boring paste scented playdough. YUCK. Let me share with you how to make passionfruit scented playdough that your children will struggle to keep their hands off. It is infused with passionfruit and completely irresistible. You’re children will ask for it over and over again.  […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Playdough, Recipes Tagged With: playdough, recipe, scented

FB Olympic Torch

Simple Olympic Games torch craft for kids

June 30, 2016 by Kate 1 Comment

The Rio Summer Olympic Games are fast approaching (5th August) and so I thought I’d share with you a simple Olympic Games torch craft for kids. It’s really very easy to make and children can personalise them however they wish.  There is just so much to love about the Olympic Games, especially when it comes […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Art & Craft, Celebrate Tagged With: classroom, home, masking tape, Olympic Games, preschool, sticky tape, tin foil, tissue paper

friendship fairies

How to make a small world mobile fairy garden for indoor and outdoor use

June 20, 2016 by Kate 89 Comments

Sometimes the weather changes and changes often, in which case I thought I’d show you how to make a small world mobile fairy garden for indoor and outdoor use. Children just love fairy gardens because there are no rules to constructing them, they ignite creativity and are so great for imaginative play. Fairy gardens are also wonderfully open-ended […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Outdoor Activity, Play, Sensory Play, Sponsored Post

Free printable number cards for learning with kids. Great for helping them to count, recognise numbers, 1 to 1 correspondence and more

Peg the dot number counting cards with free printable

June 13, 2016 by Kate 82 Comments

Here is my much anticipated peg the dot number counting cards! Yes, I’m giving you a super cool freebie that will have your child enjoying the experience of learning to count numbers 0 – 10, identifying and ordering numbers 0 – 10, identify colours, improve their ability in matching and developing 1 to 1 correspondence.  As a thank you to […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, busy bag, Fine Motor, Giveaway, Numeracy, Printable Tagged With: counting, fine motor, free printable, numberacy

Nature wands to make for outdoor play with children

Nature wands for outdoor play

May 30, 2016 by Kate 23 Comments

Okay, seriously, these nature wands for outdoor play are so adorable. They are also so simple and fun to for children to make. They can make them from anything they find in their own backyard and it is an activity that really can be done at any time of the year. What a wonderful way to have children […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Autumn / Fall, Spring Tagged With: Autumn, imaginary play, nature, outdoor, pretend play, spring, summer

making an Autumn or Fall sensory bin

Exploring and learning about nature in Autumn

May 13, 2016 by Kate 3 Comments

Children love a good treasure hunt and exploring and learning about nature in Autumn. It is a wonderful season for discovering and a great way to have your child connect to their natural environment and recognise the significant changes that can come about from one season to the next. We made a wonderful sensory bin full […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for babies, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Autumn / Fall, Natural Materials, Outdoor Activity, Sensory Play Tagged With: all ages, Autumn, Fall, natural materials, outdoors, sensory bin

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 22 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 18 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

collection of chinese fortune cookies for chinese new year

Chinese fortune cookies with notes of encouragement for kids

February 6, 2016 by Kate 5 Comments

Using cupcake liners you can make these adorable Chinese Fortune Cookies with notes of encouragement for kids. They are fun to make and children will love being inspired by the little messages inside that warm the heart. I’ve included free printable notes you can cut out and use with prewritten or space for you to […]

Filed Under: 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Celebrate, Fine Motor, Making Tagged With: chinese new year, fine motor, pretend play, social skills

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

Wattle Pompom in yellow

Golden Wattle Pompom craft activity for Australia Day

January 14, 2016 by Kate Leave a Comment

Inspired by the beautiful Golden Wattle tree is this craft activity making pompoms with a simple cookie cutter. This unique way of making pompoms is great for small hands and creates lovely pompoms that look much like the blooms found on a Golden Wattle.  One of my loves about Australia is our gorgeous flora and fauna. Have you […]

Filed Under: 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Celebrate, Craft, Uncategorized Tagged With: Australia Day, pompoms, wool

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 1 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

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 17 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

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

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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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