Are you giving your children the same snacks day after day? Well, if you’re looking to offer them something a little different, and within keeping of Halloween that’s fast approaching, I encourage you to read on and learn how to roast pumpkin seeds for a crunchy snack idea. Pumpkin would have to be one of my favourite fruits! […]
Sequined CD spinner
These beautiful sequinned CD spinners is such a wonderful and simple craft for toddlers or preschoolers to make. Your child will only need a few bits to make them and once finished, they absolutely glimmer in the sunlight and spin when hung from wire. Are CDs still used these days? It’s hard to keep […]
Paper plate bee craft activity
Inspired by ‘Bee Movie’ on Netflix, we did a simple craft activity that uses a paper plate to make a bee! Aside from it being ridiculously adorable, the process in making this bee has toddlers and preschoolers cutting, tracing, tearing and sticking various pieces in order for it all to come together. A real fine motor […]
Playing with nuts, bolts and washers
Your children will love playing with nuts, bolts and washers. Sure they aren’t something you’d first think to offer your child to play with but they really are fun and great for developing fine motor skills and other important mathematical concepts. One of Possum’s (aged 3.5 years) favourite places to visit is our local hardware […]
Sensory baby play activity using a muffin tin
I know this isn’t a knew idea by any stretch, but it’s so fabulous and babies just absolutely love it. So here is a fun sensory baby play activity using a muffin tin. It is so easy to set up and will have your baby playing and exploring for a long time. Of course this […]
Simple homemade lacing board
I’m so excited to share with you my simple homemade lacing board for kids. It’s so easy to make you only need a few things that you’ll have around the house. When your child plays with this simple lacing board they will develop fine motor skills while building an understanding of basic sewing skills. This simple lacing board […]
Simple counting activity for children
Here is a fun and simple counting activity for children. It’s very easy to set up at home or in the classroom, can be designed to suit individual needs and will help children build and consolidate their understanding of identifying numbers and how it’s represented using pompoms. Numbers are everywhere and it isn’t until your 3.5 […]
Teach children to tie their shoelace
Tying our shoes is something we do as adults and often without thinking. As children get older they also need to learn how to tie their own shoelaces independently. It can be challenging. Here is a simple tool that you can make at home can help teach children to tie their shoelace and have fun […]
Fizzy science experiment for kids
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 […]
Fine motor exercise using newspaper
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 […]
Fairy playdough recipe
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 […]
Dropper Painting for Kids
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 […]
Sticker Matching Activity
Here is a fun sticker matching activity for kids. It’s great to do with children who are beginning to recognise similarities and differences and making connections between objects and pictures. It’s wonderfully easy to set up too! Possum (almost 3 years) has quite an obsession with stickers! Are your children the same? It’s an obsession […]
How to make a daisy chain headpiece
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 […]
Peach scented play dough
Play dough is great fun for kids, especially when you know how to make peach scented play dough. It’s so easy to make and the delicious scent will have your children playing with for a whole lot longer than you ever expected them to. The learning benefits of children playing with play dough is really quite endless. Anna […]
Homemade edible finger paint recipe
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 […]
Decorating party hats
Children love to get creative using odd of bits and pieces found from around the home. Here is a simple activity in decorating party hats, which children as young as toddler age will have fun doing. Perfect and easy to set up for birthday parties or playgroup sessions. Possum (aged 2.5 years) loves to decorate […]
DIY threaded straw necklace
Possum (2.5 years) is very much into making things at the moment, especially things that can be worn. The weather has been very cold lately and so we have found ourselves indoors and getting creative what whatever we have on hand. For a bit of fun I thought we could make a threaded straw necklace. […]
How to make mint scented play dough
Here are the instructions on how to make mint scented play dough. It’s simple to make and smells amazing. Such a fun play dough for kids. Mint is such a strong and fresh scent that I thought it would be wonderful to include it in some play dough. A new batch of scented play dough […]
Dragonfly craft for kids
There is something so wonderful about dragonflies, something magical and interesting. Possum (2.5 years) was interested to learn more about them when we came across a poster, which illustrated a dragonfly, amongst other things. So to tap into her curiosity I decided to make a simple dragonfly craft for kids, which also turned in to […]
Fine motor velcro chains for kids
This has been an activity that has been swimming around in my head for awhile, fine motor velcro chains for kids. Such a simple idea that is great for building hand strength, fine motor skills and confidence with basic dressing requirements for toddlers and preschoolers. Recommended Age: 2.5/3 years + To be honest, my challenge and what has […]
How to colour pasta for play
Keeping things simple You can find just about anything and everything to do with play on the Internet, which is fabulous but can also be quite daunting. For me, I like to keep things as simple as possible. When I’m wanting to set up a fun play idea for Possum (2.5 years), I want to get […]
DIY zipper board for kids
I love making my own toys. My DIY Tugging Box and Sensory Board for Babies would have to be two of my most popular posts on Laughing Kids Learn. Don’t forget to check them out at the end of this post. Possum (aged 2.5 years) has very much entered the stage of independence and wanting to do […]
Easter Egg Suncatcher
Easter is just around the corner and Possum and I have been having fun making this Easter egg suncatcher! It was so much fun for her to make and right now it’s hanging proudly on our window at home receiving lots of comments from visitors. Recommended Age: 3+ years To make an Easter egg suncatcher […]
Pasta threading activity for toddlers
Here is a simple fine motor activity that I think your toddler will really enjoy. It’s very easy to set up and it involves them threading pasta onto straws, with the support of some freshly made play dough. Importance of fine motor skills in toddlers Fine motor skills involves the development of the smaller muscles […]
How to make a string bowl with kids
Here are the instructions on how to make a string bowl with kids. It’s a great craft activity that is great for developing fine motor skills, especially in older children. I find it really rewarding to transform simple items into something useful. My husband has almost stopped rolling his eyes at the moments his found […]
Silky and stretchy playdough
I’m very excited to share with you how to make silky and stretchy playdough. It’s wonderfully soft, much like touching a cloud, and can be super stretchy for added fun for the kids. You also only need to use 2 ingredients to make it so it’s really easy. Possum (aged 2.2 years) loves playdough and will often request […]
How to make paper weaving placemats
I have such great memories of weaving paper placemats when I was young at school. Making them again for this blog post reminded me how fabulous they are as an indoor activity and how few materials it requires. It is also great for developing fine motor skills and creativity. Age – 3+ (This activity is open to […]
DIY Strawberry Scented Play dough
Once you’ve tried this gorgeous DIY strawberry scented play dough, you’ll make it again and again! As a child I always loved things that smelt great. Strawberry was a favourite, I remember. Now, there are lots of great scented play dough recipes on the Internet but I decided to share with you my fabulous recipe. […]