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Giveaway of the garden classroom

‘The Garden Classroom’ book review and giveaway

April 14, 2015 by Kate 29 Comments

Cathy James, UK creator of blog NurtureStore, has just launched her wonderful book called, ‘The Garden Classroom‘. Aimed at children aged 4-8, it includes pages and pages of fun and creative ways to use the garden for learning.  I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a copy of Cathy’s new book and I expected it […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Giveaway, Growing, Outdoor Activity, Review Tagged With: book, giveaway, review

Bicarb and vinegar reacting

Fizzy science experiment for kids

April 9, 2015 by Kate 7 Comments

Here is an easy, fizzy science experiment for kids that requires only a few commonly found household ingredients. This science experiments, which uses baking soda and vinegar, teaches children about chemical reactions. As children conduct this science experiment they also develop a greater understanding of colours while building on their fine motor skills.  Kids love science. Their gasps as […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Fine Motor, Science Tagged With: colours, fine motor, science

Easy to bake with kids chocolate cupcakes

Easy chocolate cupcake recipe

March 31, 2015 by Kate 11 Comments

Congratulations, you’ve found it! Here is a delicious, quick and easy chocolate cupcake recipe that you can whip up at a moments notice. They are also wonderful to make with kids. These cupcakes are diary and egg free, so perfect for children who suffer from food allergies (or have friends that do) and are moist and delicious.  Our […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Cook, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: cooking, cupcakes, dairy free, egg free, party, recipe

Easter bunny craft using paper plates

Easter bunny paper plate craft

March 24, 2015 by Kate 34 Comments

Children will love making simple Easter bunny craft using paper plates. Using very few materials, they can be made into masks and used in imaginary play or displayed in a way that will create some Easter cheer.  How adorable is this Easter bunny paper plate craft! It’s so easy for children to make and can […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Celebrate, Easter, Making, Pretend Play, Special Events Tagged With: craft, easter, painting, pretend play. paper plates

Playing with Easter bunny whiskers

Easter bunny whiskers

March 14, 2015 by Kate 1 Comment

If you’re looking for a quick and easy to make Easter craft then look no further than these adorable Easter bunny whiskers. Some children don’t like to wear full face masks and so this makes a great alternative. It’s also ridiculously cute!  Don’t you just love when things are simple? It’s almost like a huge […]

Filed Under: 0 - 12 months, 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Celebrate, Easter, Pretend Play, Special Events Tagged With: craft, easter, imaginative play

Fine motor exercise using newspaper

Fine motor exercise using newspaper

March 10, 2015 by Kate 6 Comments

Here is a simple and fun fine motor development exercise you can get your children to do at home or in the classroom. All you need is a single sheet of newspaper! It’s a fine motor exercise using newspaper!  As a classroom teacher of ten years, I’ve come across many children who need help in […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Fine Motor Tagged With: fine motor

Kneading playdough using three ingredients

Fairy playdough recipe

March 5, 2015 by Kate 203 Comments

This fairy playdough recipe with 3 ingredients is so easy to make and great for fine motor development and open-ended play. We called this ‘fairy dough’ because of its unique, soft texture. Possum (aged 3 years) loves all the fabulous resources I create for my online store, but play dough is certainly one of those things […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, featured, Fine Motor, Indoor play, Playdough, Recipes, Sensory Play, Video Tagged With: 3 ingredients, fine motor, playdough

Balloon used in science experiment

Blow up a balloon using science

February 24, 2015 by Kate 10 Comments

Science is lots of fun and conducting experiments with kids really taps into their curiosity and wonder. Did you know you can blow up a balloon using science and it won’t leave you short of breath? It’s true. This is a fantastic and safe experiment you can do with children.  Possum (aged 3 years) is […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Science

kale chips

Cook healthy kale chips with kids

February 19, 2015 by Kate 7 Comments

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would have heard of kale. It’s a super vegetable that boasts as being one of the healthiest available. Fortunately it’s now easy to buy and possible to cook healthy kale chips with kids that they will eat by the bowl full. Give it a go!  It can […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Cook, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: cooking

making wrist bands

DIY duct tape bracelets

February 16, 2015 by Kate 14 Comments

Children love to make jewellery and these DIY duct tape bracelets are fun and easy. With the many different varieties of colourful tape available these days, the possibilities are endless.  Possum (aged 3 years) has started to really love jewellery. Bracelets, necklaces, rings are all the rage for her at the moment and she became very […]

Filed Under: 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Craft, Making

Fun kids activity - Valentine's Day doily hearts

Valentine’s Day Doily Hearts

February 13, 2015 by Kate 4 Comments

Simple Valentine’s Day activity that children as young as two years old can do! These Valentine’s Day doily hearts make gorgeous bunting when strung together or can be displayed individually on a window as a stunning sun catcher. These can be done any time of the year, but you might like to make it a […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Celebrate, Paint Tagged With: display, food colouring, Valentine's Day, water

Yarn wrapped shapes for learning

Yarn wrapped shapes

February 4, 2015 by Kate 4 Comments

Children will develop a greater understanding of basic shapes and their features with this fun and simple wrapping activity. Yarn wrapped shapes will also help children develop their fine motor skills.  I love when learning activities are educational, simple and fun. Possum (aged 3 years) likes talking about commonly found shapes and has a developing understanding of […]

Filed Under: 5 - 10 years, Fine Motor, Numeracy Tagged With: colours, maths, shapes

Paper Plate Birds

Paper Plate Birds

January 28, 2015 by Kate 3 Comments

There really is so much to love about the humble paper plate. They are easy to get and can be used in such a wide variety of craft activities. I’d seen paper plate birds floating around the internet, in fact Jackie from Happy Hooligans made these adorable ones, which inspired me to give them a go […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years Tagged With: painting, paper, paper plates, preschooler, toddler

Vegemite and cheese scrolls

Vegemite and cheese scrolls

January 22, 2015 by Kate 8 Comments

These bite-size vegemite and cheese scrolls will have you making a baking them with your children time and time again. They are quick to make and are a great addition to any school lunch box. Perfect for any Australia Day gathering too!  I wouldn’t dare tell you how many of these delicious Vegemite and cheese […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Celebrate, Cook, Party, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Australia Day, cooking, lunch box idea

how to make Aussie damper bread for Australia Day

How to make Damper Bread

January 19, 2015 by Kate 17 Comments

Do you know how to make damper bread? Damper is a traditional dense Australian soda bread that long ago was made by stockmen traveling long distances and carrying only basic food rations. It’s a bread that is typically cooked on the ground and over hot coals but can be made using a few simple ingredients at home, […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Celebrate, Cook Tagged With: Australia Day, cooking

learning about numbers through play with kids

Number matching activity for kids

January 15, 2015 by Kate 15 Comments

Simple to make number matching activity that toddlers and preschoolers can do at home or in the classroom. Great for developing number recognition and matching skills.  Possum (aged 3 years) has shown a wonderful curiosity for numbers for quite awhile now. She recognises them when we are out and about and regularly asks us to write […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Numeracy, Uncategorized Tagged With: homemade, matching, math, number, numeracy

Chrsitmas angel for toddlers to make craft

Christmas angel using a paper roll

December 14, 2014 by Kate 1 Comment

When Christmas arrives it’s always ridiculously chaotic and busy. It is for this reason that I find myself choose fun activities that aren’t going to add extra stress with lots of different materials, mess or be something that takes days to complete.   This adorable little Christmas angel using a paper roll is one such activity […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Christmas, Making, Paint, Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas, craft, paper rolls, toilet rolls

How to make chocolate crackles for kids. Great food treat to have at kids parties.

How to make chocolate crackles

November 10, 2014 by Kate 9 Comments

Do you know how to make chocolate crackles? They are a delicious sweet treat for children that use very few ingredients are usually gobbled up quickly at kids birthday parties. What’s even better, they are so simple that children can get involved in the making process!  Chocolate crackles take me back to my childhood. I remember them always being […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Cook, Party, Recipes Tagged With: cooking

Paper plate poppy craft for kids to make for veterans or remembrance day

11 simple Poppy Crafts for Kids

November 6, 2014 by Kate 5 Comments

Remembrance Day or ANZAC Day  is a memorial day  It’s a day that recognises all the members of the armed force who died in a line of duty since World War 1. The blood red poppies are a significant symbol of this day as they were the first flower to grow from the battle fields and […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Craft, Special Events Tagged With: Anzac Day, art, craft, Remembrance Day, special events

Colour painting with droppers

Dropper Painting for Kids

October 28, 2014 by Kate 19 Comments

If you’re looking for an activity for your little one that is simple to set up, will have them engaged in learning about colours and developing fine motor skills then I present this fun and creative approach to painting. It’s dropper painting for kids.   Possum (almost 3 years old) absolutely loved, loved, loved this painting activity. She really didn’t want […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art, Art & Craft, Fine Motor, Paint Tagged With: fine motor, indoors, learning colours, outdoors, painting

float or sink activity

Sink or float experiment with nature

October 13, 2014 by Kate 23 Comments

There seems a natural curiosity for kids to add things to water. A sink and float experiment with nature is always lots of fun and a great way to teach them about  predicting and testing ideas. It’s also a delight watching their face react to the surprise of the expected and unexpected. 🙂  Whilst a sink or float experiment […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Outdoor Activity, Science Tagged With: experimenting, nature, outdoors, science

Daisy chain flowers

How to make a daisy chain headpiece

September 24, 2014 by Kate 20 Comments

Did you ever learn how to make a daisy chain headpiece as a child? I think it should be on every bucket list. In this post I thought I’d share with you simple instructions that your older children could do at home themselves.  We are experiencing some beautiful Spring weather and the flowers that are popping up […]

Filed Under: 5 - 10 years, Craft, Fine Motor, Spring Tagged With: fine motor, outdoors, spring

finger painting with edible and shiny 2 ingredient paint

Homemade edible finger paint recipe

September 15, 2014 by Kate 14 Comments

Here is a homemade edible finger paint recipe using 2 ingredients. Your children will love the silky sheen this paint leaves behind and the fact that it’s edible adds to the fun of finger painting with it.  My little Possum (aged 2.5 years) loves to paint and spreading lots of colour over a blank page makes her day. This […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art, Art & Craft, Messy Play, Paint, Uncategorized Tagged With: activity, art, colours, fine motor, homemade, paint, painting, recipe, sensory

Paper cupcake flower craft for kids to make for spring

Cupcake paper flowers

September 12, 2014 by Kate 35 Comments

Cupcake paper flowers is a simple craft for kids and is great way to teach them about Spring and the many changes we can experience in a season.  The Spring season would have to be one of my favourite times of the year. I just love watching the buds of growth start to appear in the garden and […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Spring Tagged With: art, craft, cutting, paper, seasons, spring

how to fly a kite tutorial for a windy day

How to fly a kite

September 7, 2014 by Kate 5 Comments

Do you know how to fly a kite? There are a few simple steps you can do to make flying a kite with your children successful and lots of fun.  We have recently enjoyed a coastal holiday on Australia’s north eastern beaches. The weather can be relied upon to be perfectly warm, however, we did experience […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Outdoor Activity, Play, Uncategorized, Video Tagged With: how to, outdoor activity

playing with homemade glittery oobleck goo

Glittery Goo

August 18, 2014 by Kate 20 Comments

This glittery goo was so very easy to make and can be whipped together using only 3 ingredients. Often called ‘oobleck’, this sparkly oozy recipe is great fun for children to play with independently or as a group.  This type of activity is wonderful for children of all ages to engage in and great for their sensory development. The oozy goo […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Messy Play, Outdoor Activity, Recipes, Sensory Play Tagged With: all ages, messy play, recipe, sensory

Simple Book Week Costumes for kids to wear to school

Simple book week costume ideas

August 17, 2014 by Kate 3 Comments

Every year since 1945, Australians have enjoyed celebrating Australian authors and their books. A nation wide book week is typically part of a preschool or primary school calendar and special events are organised to help inspire children to read and love books. One common approach schools take to celebrate national book week is to have children dress us […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Making, Parenting Tagged With: pretend play

Simple and easy weetbix slice recipe kids can help make

Weetbix slice kids can make

August 15, 2014 by Kate 6 Comments

Weetbix slice kids can make I love getting into the kitchen and cooking with Possum (2.5 years) whenever I can. I admit I’m not a fancy cook, but fortunately kids are far from fussy when it comes to pouring in the flour or mixing everything into a bowl. Cooking is also a great indoor activity. Here […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Cook, Indoor play, Recipes Tagged With: cooking, eating, food, recipe

mixing and changing colours in this magic milk science experiment for kids

Magic Milk Science Experiment

August 3, 2014 by Kate 83 Comments

Here is a magic milk science experiment that your children will want to do again and again! Read on to learn how to do the magic milk science experiment and why it happens.  This particular science activity is lots of fun and a great introduction to those children who haven’t had much experience in observing […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Science Tagged With: colour, indoors, preschooler, science, toddler

handmade wrapping paper with cardboard shape stamps

Cardboard shape stamps

July 30, 2014 by Kate 11 Comments

    We always have lots of painting activities on our ‘to do’ list and I was pleased to finally get around to doing this one, cardboard shape stamps. It’s not a new activity, in fact Mama, Papa, Bubba inspired me with this post, but it was one I knew little Possum (2.5 years) would have […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art, Art & Craft Tagged With: colours, indoors, outdoors, paint, painting, recycling, shapes

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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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