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Octi the plush octopus toy for developing find motor skills and more.

My plush zip, grip and buckle toy for fine motor skills and development

October 25, 2019 by Kate Leave a Comment

My friends, I’m shaking with excitement. After many, many months I’m thrilled to introduce you to Octi the octopus! He is my plush zip, grip and buckle toy for developing fine motor skills. You guys, I’ve always dreamed of selling my own unique toy, which I’ve designed myself and feel crazy, super proud of. I […]

Filed Under: #12monthsofplay, #52weeksofplay, 0 - 12 months, 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for babies, activities for children, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, busy bag, Christmas, Fine Motor, Gift Idea, Indoor play, Parenting, Sensory Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: Amazon, baby, fine motor, preschool, toddler

christmas bauble for kids to make

DIY sequinned Christmas bauble kids can make

December 11, 2017 by Kate 2 Comments

* For your convenience, affiliate links are included within this post  Christmas trees are popping up everywhere and with so many gorgeous decorations. Here is a simple DIY sequinned Christmas bauble you might like to make with your child. The sparkle on the tree and last a life time.  I’m always taken back to my […]

Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for preschoolers, Art & Craft, Christmas, Craft, Fine Motor, Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas, fine motor, preschool

sensory play Christmas contact paper activity for kids

Toddler Christmas activity using sticky contact paper

December 3, 2017 by Kate 2 Comments

I love Christmas for many reasons, but one big reason is because it’s something that the whole family can enjoy and get  involved in. The Christmas crafts and activities are a highlight for our family. This toddler Christmas activity using sticky contact paper was one we enjoyed doing yesterday.  Toddler Christmas activity using sticky contact […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Christmas, Sensory Play Tagged With: Christmas, contact paper, fine motor, sensory

Painting gift wrapping paper for christmas gifts

Painting Christmas gift wrapping paper

November 22, 2017 by Kate 1 Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission from any purchases made.  Christmas is a time for giving and our family loved to go to the effort of painting Christmas gift wrapping paper. It’s so simple and children as young as toddler age can do it.  I was at the store […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, activities for children, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, Art, Christmas, Messy Play, Outdoor Activity, Paint Tagged With: Christmas, paint

Sensory bottles for Christmas play

Christmas sensory bottle for babies and toddlers

December 6, 2016 by Kate 16 Comments

Here are some adorable Christmas sensory bottle for babies and toddlers. They are super easy to make and will captivate and delight your little one. Sensory bottles are great for developing visual and audial senses, which is how we learn about the world around us.  Christmas is such an exciting time of year and it’s […]

Filed Under: Christmas, Sensory Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: baby, Christmas, sensory, toddler

Reindeer food recipe and printable bag topper

December 22, 2015 by Kate 6 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 and beyond to make with quite a bit of independence. This craft also helps develop skills in them following step by step instructions and […]

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

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

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

Simple Christmas Santa Beard craft

November 7, 2015 by Kate 13 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

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

Chrsitmas angel for toddlers to make craft

Christmas angel using a paper roll

December 14, 2014 by Kate Leave a 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

Random Acts of Kindness: Visiting an Aged Care Facility

December 21, 2013 by Kate 2 Comments

I am a parent and with that I have such an overwhelming sense of responsibility to teach Possum (2 years) good values. She is growing up so fast and I know that the window of opportunity is well and truly open to teach her about the importance of compassion and how simple it is to show an act of […]

Filed Under: Christmas

Create a Christmas Scene with Rice

December 16, 2013 by Kate 1 Comment

Christmas is such a visual time of year. It brings joy to my heart to see lights appear on indoor Christmas trees at night and community decorations make their yearly show on telephone poles and shop front windows.  Here is a great activity that you can do with children. Using coloured rice (tutorial can be […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art & Craft, Christmas, Fine Motor, Sensory Play

Christmas playdough and cookie cutters

December 12, 2013 by Kate Leave a Comment

  Christmas time is such a wonderful time of year and it’s nice to be able to break free a few seasonal cookie cutters that have been hiding at the back of my over packed cooking utensil draw.    Each year I try and bake some cookies for friends and family but this year I […]

Filed Under: 0 - 12 months, 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Christmas, Playdough, Sensory Play

Mess free Christmas sensory activity for kids. Playing with Santa snot will have them in fits of laughter.

Santa Snot

December 8, 2013 by Kate 3 Comments

Lets be honest, kids love things just that bit gross and disgusting, so for a bit of fun get them to have fun with some Santa snot. It’s a mess free sensory activity that will have them in fits of laughter.    Let’s be honest, kids love to play and experiment with things we might […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, Christmas, Fine Motor

Share It Saturday – Candy Cane activities and science experiment

December 7, 2013 by Kate Leave a Comment

The simple look of a candy cane brings Christmas cheer to a room. They are the special little treat that can be enjoyed only for a short time of the year and have inspired bloggers and crafters alike to be creative.  Thank you to all those who linked up this week. I look forward to seeing […]

Filed Under: Christmas, Share It Saturday

Christmas Gingerbread Recipe you can make with kids. It's egg free too.

Delicious Christmas gingerbread recipe

December 6, 2013 by Kate 2 Comments

  Gingerbread is wonderful to make with children over Christmas time. Here is a delicious Christmas gingerbread recipe that your sure to want to keep in the recipe book to make year after year.    Growing up we didn’t have many traditions but one we did have was to share a store bought gingerbread house […]

Filed Under: Christmas, Recipes

Milk Carton Christmas Ornaments

December 3, 2013 by Kate 2 Comments

  There is a real air of excitement around this coming Christmas Day. Possum will have turned 2 years old and its already becoming very clear to us that she is quickly working out what all the fuss is about.     She loved helping her daddy bring our Christmas tree to life (yes, it’s fake) […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Art, Christmas

DIY Christmas Sleigh Bells

December 3, 2013 by Kate 3 Comments

These Christmas sleigh bells take only minutes to make. They can become great gifts and create a cheery sound when they are used by children. It will guarantee to put a smile on your face when you hear them.    I recently came across a post by ‘My Nearest and Dearest’ where Ann had made […]

Filed Under: Art & Craft, Christmas

Invitation to explore wrapping paper and introduce the concept of ‘area’

December 2, 2013 by Kate Leave a Comment

  It has only just ticked over to December and we are already enjoying the thrill of gift giving and receiving. Of course that means that we are also swimming in lots of gift wrapping paper! LOL    As usual, I find it hard to simply throw out the scraps of paper that can simply […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Christmas, Numeracy

10 Christmas Ornaments to make & hang

November 29, 2013 by Kate Leave a Comment

It is an exciting time of year for those who celebrate Christmas.  Here are 10 really great Christmas ornaments that you and your child could make and hang on the tree.  Thank you to all those who contributed.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Button Christmas Tree Ornament – Happy Hooligans Personalised Star Ornament for Kids – Powerful Mothering […]

Filed Under: Christmas, Share It Saturday

Tinsel Playdough

November 21, 2013 by Kate 2 Comments

I love the shiny sparkle that comes with Christmas tinsel. It only seemed like a great idea to add it to some lovely white playdough and have Possum enjoy it as a great sensory experience. Give tinsel playdough a try.   I just love the gorgeous, colourful stands of shiny tinsel that gets used at […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Christmas, Making, Playdough Tagged With: Christmas, play dough, recipe

Reindeer Food

December 21, 2012 by Kate 1 Comment

It is so wonderful to watch children enjoying the magic of Christmas.   Here is a simple little recipe to make reindeer food using only two ingredients! Of course it’s an incredibly special mixture that will tempt even the fussiest of reindeers. 😉 Recipe 1 cup of Rolled Oats Sprinkle of glitter I love that […]

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, 3 - 5 years, Christmas, Making

Disappearing Candy Cane science experiment

December 4, 2012 by Kate 3 Comments

Here is a fun and simple Christmas science experiment that you’re children are sure to be amazed by. Did you know that it is possible to make a candy cane disappear?  It always seems the way, Christmas comes around and there is candy everywhere. Didn’t we just recover from Halloween? Hahaha We are not huge […]

Filed Under: Christmas, Play, Science Tagged With: Christmas, observational skills, science, water

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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