Looking for an inexpensive and fun activity?  Make a sensory bin.  Sensory bins are great for exploring and learning. You can find a lot of bin fillers at home and at your local Dollar Tree.  You can even ask your kids to help you create your own sensory bin.   Here are a few ideas to get you started.

-sand and seashells

-water and rocks

-toy/Lego wash station

-ice cubes and measuring cups

-water, foam letters, and scooper (Alphabet soup)

-water assorted things from around the house that can get wet (color sorting)

-popcorn kernels, rice, beans, and pom poms

You can use just about anything for a bin. Things like plastic containers, old pots, small plastic swimming pool, bath tub, and etc.  The great part about sensory bins….you can add and take away anything you want!  These can be played with inside on a rainy day or outside in the sunshine. Get creative and have fun!

Who says you have to spend lots of money to have a fun summer with your kids? Sure it’s nice to go to a water park or the movie theater once in a while but you don’t need to do that all the time.  I don’t know about your kids but mine get so excited over a simple water balloon fight or a new box of chalk.  Here are a few simple outside activities to do with your kids.

1. Obstacle Course- You can use hula hoops, wood pallets, buckets, etc…use your imagination!
2. Painting Rocks- You can display them in your landscape, garden or give them away to a neighbor.
3. Bubble Station- Set up a bubble station with an unlimited amount of bubbles:)
4. Go Camping- Pitch a tent in your back yard or in your house if you are limited on outdoor space.  Your kids will love “camping” inside or outside!
5. Play Marco Polo- Set up a designated area in your yard (so kids won’t trip over things).
6. Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest- This speaks for itself!
7. Red-light, Green-light- This is great for young children.
8. Simon Says- Your kids will love to see you act silly.
9. Duck, Duck, Goose- An oldie but a classic!
10. Monkey in the Middle- You can include all the neighborhood kids in this one:)

Summer time is a great way to show your kids how you used to play when you were their age.  Ditch the IPADS and screen time and get outside!  Invite friends over, make a pitcher of lemonade, and head outside for a great day of play!!

 

Spring time is a perfect time to teach your kids about flowers and gardens. You don’t have to live in the country to plant a garden.  There are several ways to plant flowers or vegetables inexpensively.  You can plant seeds in plastic cups, pots, garden boxes, or just in your yard.  Your kids can help decide what to plant.  Before choosing seeds/plants, you can read a story about seeds.  The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle is a great one! This will give your kids an idea of what will happen to the seeds. Next, figure out how and where you will plant your seeds. Make sure your plant will get enough sun.  Prepare a list of supplies you will need to buy. Things like cups, seeds, soil, garden tools, and vegetable stands are a good starting point.  After you buy your supplies, show your kids step by step how to plant a seed.  They should be gentle with the seeds/plants and will need watered right after you plant them.  Explain that the sun helps the seeds grow big and strong.  Your kids will love watching them grow!

Challenges:  Price out your items ahead of time and show your kids how much each item will cost.  Give them the money to pay the cashier when checking out.

If you are growing vegetables or fruit, look up new recipes to use them in .  Ask your kids for ideas.

After your seeds/plants start growing, ask your kids to draw a picture of the plants.  Display their artwork on the fridge or wall.

Happy planting:):)

Hello friends!  Isn’t the warmer weather amazing?  We hope you have been able to play with your kids outside:)  This time of year is a great opportunity to notice all of the changes taking place outside. Take a walk with your kids and talk about what you see.  Take a minute to pause and listen to your surroundings.  If you come across rose and lilac bushes, let your kids smell them.  Notice trees, grass, and flowers changing colors.  Listed below are a few simple facts you can talk about with your kids.

1. Spring is one of four seasons.
2. Spring comes after winter and before summer.
3. The temperature gets warmer.
4. Trees and bushes start budding.
5. Grass turns green.
6. Flowers start blooming.
7. Animals start having babies.

To expand on any of these facts, check out the link at the bottom for more information.  You can also visit your local library to learn more about spring.   Here is a spring poem you can teach your kids:)

Spring Time Fun

Spring is coming,

Spring is here,

The flowers bloom the sky is clear.

Birds are flying all around,

Bugs are crawling on the ground,

I love spring it’s so much fun.

Playing outside in the sun.

by preschoollearningonline.com

 

 

Resource link: https://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/what-happens-in-spring-when-is-spring-spring-facts-for-kids/

 

Hello everybody!  We are starting a series of blogs called Back to the Basics.  Parenting is complicated as it is, so our focus is to keep our tips and tricks as simple as can be.  We are excited to get back to the basics of parenting and hope you are too!  Today we are going to list simple things you can do to bond with your kids.  Our culture sometimes exaggerates on how we should bond with our kids.  No, we don’t always need to take them to an amusement park or to the movies to spend time with them.  Don’t get us wrong, those are both awesome things to do with your kids but it doesn’t have to be the “only” way we can bond with our kids.  Below is a list of simple things you can do with your kids!

1. Color/Paint a picture and display it on the fridge
2. Sing a new song
3. Do a puzzle and keep it out for everyone to see
4. Go on a walk
5. Bake cookies
6. Read a book….or five
7. Play dress-up
8. Match socks
9. Shovel snow/rake leaves/pick up sticks
10. Create using Play-Dough

One of our favorite sayings at before5 is “Kids need your presence not  your presents.”  It’s okay if you can’t spend hours each day playing with your kids.  But when you are with them, be with them.  These activities are so simple yet so powerful.   We challenge you to do one thing on this list today with your kids!  Happy Parenting!