Preschooler (3-5yrs) Stage • Thanks Mommy Blog

Q Tip Skeleton Craft As Fun Halloween Art Or Cute X-ray Craft

Both my kiddos really enjoyed a lovely morning of making their very own q tip skeleton crafts. This craft is very easy for toddlers as well as big kids of all ages. This q tip craft always comes out so beautiful and is totally adaptable! We did this activity as one of our Halloween crafts this year but it's also perfect for any x-ray themed learning activity. Check out this post for more ideas on how to celebrate Halloween all month long. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Materials Black Construction Paper ScissorsSchool GlueQ-tipsOptional: white crayon, pencil, or chalkMom hack: bowl…

6 Comments

September 26, 2021

Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Product Reviews

Preschool Workbook Review: Building Thinking Skills, Beginning 2

With the pandemic, a lot of parents are resorting to homeschooling their young children. We're in year two of Florida Virtual School with my first grader, but it's all up to me for my preschooler. When I discovered the Building Thinking Skills workbook I was thrilled! Now I feel more comfortable and confident in preparing my 4-year-old for Kindergarten next year. This will be our main guide for Pre-K homeschool learning this year.In exchange for our honest review, we received a complimentary copy of Building Thinking Skills, Beginning 2. * This post includes Affiliate Links. What is the Building Thinking…

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September 6, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Super Cute Tissue Paper Shark Craft for Preschool Kids That Will Make You Smile

Kids love sharks and kids love crafts. For this activity, we did a shark craft! This shark craft requires some fine motor skills but is great for preschool-aged kids as well as big kids. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Learning While Crafting and Playing You might be surprised to find that crafting and playing are some of the most important ways young kids learn. A preschool-aged child is still developing various skills in their fine motor development, logic and reasoning, patience, and creative expression. Crafting and playing not only boosts mood but it helps children develop these skills. That…

2 Comments

August 23, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

How To Make An Exciting Kids Eric Carle Inspired Craft

So many of us have been impacted by Eric Carle at some point in our lives. As part of a Kindergarten art lesson, we did a few Eric Carle-inspired texture collage craft activities. * This post includes Affiliate Links. The Freedom to Create Adults often envy a child's ability to be so creative and free and this craft actually brought me back to my own childhood. As I was explaining the first steps in creating this art collage to my kids, they became a bit confused. At 4 and 6 years old, they are already developing a standard form of…

5 Comments

August 3, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Preschooler (3-5yrs)

Fun And Unique Paper Popsicle Craft Activity For Kids – How To Guide

Looking for a fun summer craft? We spend a lot of time making paper crafts over the summer on rainy days or just to avoid the heat. Popsicles are the perfect summer snack for cooling off, but also a fun craft to make and play with. Your family will love this paper popsicle craft! The fun part about this craft is that you can decorate it however you want. And then you can use them to play ice cream shop, how fun! * This post includes Affiliate Links. Paper Popsicle Craft Materials Popsicle sticks Cardstock paper (to make it sturdy)…

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July 14, 2021

Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Reviews / Toddler (1-3yrs)

My Big Wimmelbook: Fire Trucks! Review – Great for Pre-Reading Skills

My kids have always been fascinated by books. As infants, they loved flipping through board books and as toddlers and grade-schoolers they love cuddling up with me for a great story. In their free time, they also love retelling the stories based on the pictures or actually practicing reading (or at least my 6-year-old). Books are a huge part of our lives so introducing a My Big Wimmelbook into our little library seemed perfect! Both of my kids, aged 4 & 6 and at different stages of learning, truly enjoyed this open-ended activity book. Any child between the ages of…

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July 6, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs)

How To Make A Paper Graduation Cap (Fun 10 Minute Craft)

Summer is basically here because it's graduation season! I'm super proud of my kids' academic growth this year. My oldest is graduating from virtual kindergarten so I wanted to do something special and made this fun graduation cap craft for us. I figure we might even make it a yearly tradition. The craft itself is fairly simple and requires materials you'll likely have at home anyway. I've put together step-by-step instructions and pictures below as well as a template. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Materials for Your Graduation Cap Craft Graduation Cap Template (below) Cardstock Paper for Cap (traditional…

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May 31, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Fun And Simple Turtle Art For Kids Using A Potato Masher

Art with kids is always so much fun. Printmaking is a really fun art technique where you use different objects to transfer shapes and patterns with ink. It's also a wonderful way to show cause and effect. For this activity, we made a simple turtle art piece using a potato masher and the kids were thrilled! * This post includes Affiliate Links. What is Printmaking? Printmaking is a technique for making art by printing, or recreating, the same picture multiple times. This means that you can recreate the same pattern multiple times using existing objects or objects you create yourself.…

5 Comments

May 23, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Parenting Solutions / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

30+ Sensational & Mom-Approved Educational TV Shows for Toddlers

As a stay-at-home mom, I've come to realize that screen time isn't all that bad. For starters, it gets my kids to sit still while I accomplish other tasks or simply take a breath. But it's been really educational for them as well. I was one of those people who swore I wouldn't let my kids have too much screen time, but then I became a mom and reality kicked in! So, instead, I made sure to monitor the things my kids have access to on the screens and made sure to choose great educational tv shows since they were…

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April 16, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Easy Color Exploration Water Activity That’s Guaranteed To Actually Entertain

Young kids have short attention spans, which makes it hard to keep them entertained for long periods of time. And it's no secret that kids love playing and exploring with water. But playing with plain water can often get boring so why not add a pop of color... or three? In this water activity, your toddler will not only be entertained for a long time but will also be learning color mixing fundamentals! * This post includes Affiliate Links. Benefits of Water Play Not only does water entertain for hours but children gain a range of rich and valuable benefits.…

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April 6, 2021

Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Reviews / Toddler (1-3yrs)

How To Grow Toddler Scissor Skills With Adorable And Fun Practice Books

Most kids love the idea of using scissors, mine will literally leap for them. If you're a nervous parent like me, you'll probably keep all scissors out of reach to avoid wild haircuts and chopped blankets throughout the house. But it's important for toddlers to develop scissor skills by the time they begin elementary school. And there are many fun ways to introduce fun and supervised activities for your toddler. Let's start with some basics, like when to introduce scissors, what scissors to start with, and how to hold scissors. * This post includes Affiliate Links. What Age Should Toddlers…

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March 25, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Product Reviews / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Colorful And Unlimited Fun With Easy Dot Marker Activities For Toddlers

If you haven't heard of dot markers by now, you should definitely check them out. There are countless uses and activities for making dot marker art and playful learning with toddlers and that's what makes them so exciting. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Chalkola Dot Markers Dot markers are basically markers but they print big dots. It might sound silly to skeptic but it's actually a great way for younger learners to grasp and tune their fine motor skills. Plus, there are so many things you can do with them that make them exciting for all ages. We also…

5 Comments

March 5, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs)

Teach Diversity with Beautiful Diversity Craft For Kids – MLK Day

Schools and many businesses are closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day. This year, we decided to be proactive and discuss the importance of diversity and the history behind Martin Luther King Jr and finished our conversations with a cute diversity craft for kids. We started our discussion and activity in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day but it is also perfect for introducing black history month in February. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Deciding to Teach About Diversity to Toddlers It's 2021 and there is still a lot of hate in this world. We live in a…

5 Comments

January 18, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Seasonal Fun / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Simple Penguin Craft for Kids and Toddlers – Paper Handprint Activity

My kids and I have been super into doing crafts lately. But simple is always the best way to go to make things easier for me to set up, clean up, and for them to feel like they can do it all by themselves. This winter-themed penguin craft for kids is the perfect activity to do together. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Back to School Penguins Lesson With school back in session this winter, my son was learning about penguins in school. We've been doing virtual classes at home so my daughter and I can participate too and we…

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January 14, 2021

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Easy DIY Bowling Game to Improve Motor Skills for Kids

When you're stuck indoors for so long you start to get a little creative with what you have. This fun and simple diy bowling game uses toilet paper rolls, a ball, and tape. With two semi-uncoordinated toddlers bowling could go either way but we gave it a shot anyway and it was a lot of fun for all of us. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Playing Games to Improve Motor Skills and Coordination Playing games and introducing sports are always a good way to work your mind and your body as well as to improve motor skills and hand-eye…

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January 10, 2021

Baby (0-12mo) / Gift Ideas / Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

The Ultimate Guide To Fun Gift Ideas For Kids Under 5 Years Old

Best gift ideas for kids under 5 years old, broken down by age and developmental milestones. Including: babies, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5-year-olds.

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December 8, 2020

Baby (0-12mo) / Gift Ideas / Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Reviews / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Bookroo Subscription: A Fun Book Club For Kids From The Comfort Of Home

These past few months have gotten a little bit brighter with our Bookroo subscription. Bookroo is a subscription service for families to grow their little one's libraries from the comfort of their own home. And I absolutely love that it's run by three moms! * This post includes Affiliate Links. Bookroo Book Club Ages Bookroo has options for board books, picture books, and chapter books, ranging from ages 0-10. Board Books for ages 0-3. This subscription comes with three sturdy board books ranging from 8-14 pages. Picture Books for ages 3-6. This subscription comes with two hardcover picture books ranging…

10 Comments

November 10, 2020

Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Seasonal Fun / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Exciting Ways To Celebrate Halloween At Home This Year

This pandemic really has had everyone on their toes and parents have been trying to be extra creative when planning special events. We'd hoped social distancing measures wouldn't be necessary so many months later but here we are, planning to celebrate Halloween at home. Even though none of us really wanted so many things canceled, it doesn't mean everything has to be eliminated. Sure, most of us won't be trick or treating from door to door like we used to or gathering for epic Halloween parties with our friends, but we're getting super creative with our socially distant Halloween alternatives.…

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October 9, 2020

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Parenting Advice / Parenting Solutions / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

6 Practical Ways to Improve Your Kids Room Organization for Good

There's something about so satisfying about seeing an organized space. Having kids comes with a lot of... 'stuff,' and no one wants to see stuff all over the place. It's definitely a challenge to keep all the kids' 'stuff' in order but it is possible. I've always been an organization method addict so I'm sharing some of my favorite kids' room organization tips and ideas. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Before You Start Organizing There are a few things to consider before beginning the organization process. Assessing the problems is part of the first step. Where are the problem…

4 Comments

October 3, 2020

Baby (0-12mo) / Parenting Advice / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Swim Instructor Tips You Can Use at Home

We all want our children to learn to swim – it keeps them safe, and it’s an activity they’ll enjoy for a lifetime. If possible, it’s best to enroll kids in a formal swimming lesson program because swim instructors are experts at introducing water skills safely. Since that’s not always possible, here are a few tips and tricks from seasoned swim instructors you can use at home. * This post includes Affiliate Links. When to start getting kids used to water Some babies are born with an affinity for water, but others take their time adjusting. Learning to swim is…

1 Comment

September 22, 2020

Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Reviews / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Timberdoodle’s Bunny Peek-a-Boo Review

Timberdoodle’s Bunny Peek-a-boo is a game for children of ages 2 and up for building spatial perception skills, important for reading and mathematical reasoning. You can find it on Timberdoodle.com or part of Timberdoodle's Preschool curriculum kit. The Bunny Peek-a-Boo game is made up of three parts. 1, three sturdy wooden pieces. 2, a wooden bunny. And 3, a set of cards. The idea of the game is to sort the wooden pieces in a way that matches the picture in each card. It's like a 3D puzzle, with multiple difficulty levels, or challenges, within the cards. * This post…

3 Comments

September 14, 2020

Kids Education / Parenting Advice / Parenting Solutions / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

How to Help Your Child Understand Their Feelings & Emotions With Excellent Children’s Books

It's hard for anyone to understand their feelings and emotions, especially a young child with limited communicative skills. Reading is an excellent way to help our children understand things from a different perspective, including their own feelings and emotions. Learning to understand them will help children learn how to deal with them and reduce poor behavior. So I've compiled several children's books that express various common feelings and emotions as well as examples of how to or how not to react. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Toddler Tantrums Children aged between 1-3 years old tend to have temper tantrums.…

3 Comments

August 4, 2020

Kids Education / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Reviews / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Usborne’s Little Children’s Drawing Book for Preschoolers Review

A lot of parents are learning how to homeschool this year, including me. My 5-year-old son starts Kindergarten this fall and I'm making sure to balance out our lessons with some fun. The Little Children's Drawing Book is a perfect coloring book for little ones. * This post includes Affiliate Links. This drawing book is ideal for preschool-aged children, where they are given the opportunity to complete patterns and shapes on different animals and activities. I love that it's not your usual, color within the lines type of coloring book, but instead, a drawing book where little ones can express themselves…

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July 27, 2020

Baby (0-12mo) / Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

How To Make Tear Free Bubble Foam For Kids

My kids love exploring with their hands so I set up a fun sensory activity for them, tear-free bubble foam. Who doesn't love a great sensory play activity? * This post includes Affiliate Links.This activity is so simple and fun that there really are no limits to how you can play. We mostly just felt the textures, played with mixing colors, and did a little splashing. You can also add toy figures and a toothbrush and pretend to clean them off. For more ideas on fun activities to do this summer, check out How To Survive Social Distancing With Kids…

10 Comments

July 20, 2020

Kid's Activities / Parenting Advice / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

How To Survive Social Distancing With Kids

It's already been two months and things are just starting to reopen. We are one step closer to normal. But it will be a long time until things will truly go back to our regular way of life. With a new normal headed our way my family will continue social distancing as much as possible this summer. So how will we, as parents, stay sane while we continue social distancing with kids this season? Some of the major things we've all taken from these crazy times is to take things more slowly, value the essentials, and spend time with our…

8 Comments

May 22, 2020

Gift Ideas / Kid's Activities / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Outstanding Free Resources For Kids While Social Distancing

Right now we are all struggling to maintain new lifestyles of social distancing. With kids, it's a whole new ball game. We're all looking for resources and ideas for keeping the kids entertained while continuing their education from home. For us stay at home moms, it's not much different than our usual routines, but now we can't take the kids anywhere. We can't take them to the store for a free cookie while we grab our groceries, we can't take them to the park to meet their friends, and we definitely can't take them out to eat at a restaurant.…

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April 9, 2020

Kids Education / Parenting Advice / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

How To Teach The Fundamentals Of Time With Simple Calendar Download

Teaching the concept of time to a child is not an easy task. However, with a daily routine, this interactive kid's calendar is the right tool for any parent. Free Resource Library Get direct access to download freebies all at once in the Free Resource Library. Email First Name Free Resource Library Free Resource Library Your information will be kept safe and spam-free. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Concept of Time I created this tool for my child when he started asking about his birthday. Every day he would ask "is it my birthday?" At first, it was funny,…

11 Comments

April 2, 2020

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

70+ Fun Kids Activities You Need At Home Right Now

Parents are always running out of ideas for keeping their kids busy and entertained. Compiled below is a list of the best toys, games, and fun kids activities on Amazon for toddlers and preschoolers at home. For us stay-at-home moms, these are our everyday tools while staying sane. It's not easy to find time to do things like showering, cooking, or cleaning. But I've managed independent playtime with the best tools and now we're cycling through all of them as well as enjoying some outdoor fun, family activities, and some play-based learning. I hope this list helps you find a…

16 Comments

March 22, 2020

Parenting Advice / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

How To Find Perspective Parenting A Strong-Willed Child

Sometimes dealing with the power struggles of a strong-willed child leaves us with that feeling that our child needs to be "fixed." But what we really need is to change our parenting perspective and find appropriate solutions to communicate with our strong-willed child. * This post includes Affiliate Links. What Is A Strong-Willed Child? A strong-willed child is often described as "difficult" or "stubborn." Some of the common characteristics include: Determined Passionate Persistent Spirited Constant desire to "be right" Desperately need to be "in charge" Questions everything Free Resource Library Get direct access to download freebies all at once in…

15 Comments

February 19, 2020

Baby (0-12mo) / Parenting Advice / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

How To Encourage Communication Development In Your Young Child

Raising a little human is a tough task for any parent. We are responsible for teaching our children how to walk, talk, and be overall good human beings. A young child, as young as infancy, already begins to understand forms of communication, both verbal and non-verbal. There are several ways parents can encourage communication development in a young child. Free Resource Library Get direct access to download freebies all at once in the Free Resource Library. Email First Name Free Resource Library Free Resource Library Your information will be kept safe and spam-free. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Two…

9 Comments

September 9, 2019

Gift Ideas / Preschooler (3-5yrs)

Finding The Best Gifts For Four Year Olds

This summer, my oldest baby turned four- cue the tears! Inspired by my kids and their favorite things, this is a list of best gifts for four year olds. As parents, we love to spoil our kids on their birthdays. Some of us like celebrating for a full week or month and some of us like giving them an awesome gift or experience we know they'll love. I'm the type that does both or as much as possible. This year, we had three birthday celebrations between friends and family amongst the course of a week, each with a buttload of gifts-…

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July 22, 2019

Parenting Advice / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

How to Teach Valuable Manners to Your Toddlers

Manners take a lifetime of learning because there are always more ways to apply them. That's why it's important to teach manners to children while they're young, as toddlers, so that they can develop them with time. When To Teach Manners to Toddlers The best time to start teaching manners is within the toddler stage. At this stage, children can follow simple directions and are more eager to please adults. It is also the time when they develop habits and patterns, and you'll want them to pick up on good ones.The toddler stage is when children begin to understand the…

11 Comments

June 26, 2019

Gift Ideas / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

DIY Days of the Week Wooden Peg People

I don't know about you but I absolutely love these little DIY wooden peg people. I started making them for my 22-month-old a few months ago and I just can't stop making them :)Wooden toys can get a little expensive so why not making them yourself? If your child is old enough, you can even make them together and it'll be an amazing rainy day activity.They are super easy to do and you don't need a lot of supplies. I am certain that you might already have some of these at home. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Hey everyone,…

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June 24, 2019

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kid's Activities / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Seasonal Fun / Toddler (1-3yrs)

50 Easy and Creative Pool Noodle Activities for Toddlers You Need to Try

Living in the 21st century, pool noodles are no longer as exciting for their intended use. People have gotten more creative with this amazing invention, particularly when coming up with pool noodle activities for toddlers. There are tons of creative ideas for pool noodles nowadays. They're so affordable and easy to find in the summer, only $1 at the dollar store or in bulk online. When cut into smaller strips, the opportunities for their use become endless. With one main tool, the pool noodle, we can have loads of fun with exciting and educational toddler activities. In this post, I've included…

10 Comments

June 17, 2019

Mom Life / Parenting Advice / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Practical Toddler “Chores” That Encourage Independence

As a stay-at-home-mom, I'm responsible for maintaining our home while taking care of our children. People don't realize that just these two tasks are full-time jobs. But I've learned that sometimes there's a way to implement doing house chores with your toddler or preschooler. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Free Resource Library Get direct access to download freebies all at once in the Free Resource Library. Email First Name Free Resource Library Free Resource Library Your information will be kept safe and spam-free. Children Mimic Everything - Even Cleaning I often feel guilty when my kid asks me to…

6 Comments

May 16, 2019

Gradeschooler (5-12 yrs) / Kids Education / Mom Life / Preschooler (3-5yrs) / Toddler (1-3yrs)

Easy Way To DIY A Quality Chalkboard Your Kids Will Love

Kids love playing with chalk outside, but did you know you can diy your very own chalkboard wall? They're perfect for any playroom, bedroom, or nursery design.Chalkboards are so versatile that they make awesome room decor as well, it's up to you how you paint the wall or draw on the chalkboard. But chalkboards aren't just for walls, there are a lot of ways to do a DIY chalkboard project and it can be fairly easy. * This post includes Affiliate Links. Chalk Surface There are many cool ways to have a chalk surface for both kids and adults to enjoy.…

11 Comments

January 19, 2019