Some of these Halloween food ideas turned out ridiculously cute. Others looked much better in my head. The kids did not care. If anything, the foods they could decorate themselves were usually more fun than the picture-perfect ones.

So this isn’t a list of foods that have to look exactly like the photos. Think of it more as an idea bank. Start with the easy version, use something pre-made when it makes sense, let the kids take over the decorating, or turn one of the ideas into a whole afternoon project. I’ve included some of the Halloween foods we’ve actually made along with easier variations, ways to change them, and other ideas you can make using the same basic ingredients.

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Easy Halloween Breakfast Ideas

Halloween breakfast doesn’t need to involve baking something from scratch before everyone is awake. A regular breakfast with one silly detail is usually enough to make it feel special.

Halloween Cinnamon Rolls

One of the easiest things we’ve done is take regular cinnamon rolls and make them Halloween-ish with orange sugar and Halloween sprinkles. Homemade cinnamon rolls would work too, but refrigerated ones make this an incredibly easy Halloween morning surprise. Bake them, frost them, add the decorations and you’re done.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: Yes
Shortcut friendly: Very

Kids can take over the decorating once the cinnamon rolls are cool enough. Put a few decorations on the table and let them decide what goes on each one. A Halloween sprinkle mix with pumpkins, ghosts and different colors makes it easy to decorate a whole batch without buying several separate containers.

The same shortcut works with store-bought muffins, donuts, pancakes or waffles. A little colored icing, Halloween sprinkles or a couple of candy eyes can make something you were already going to serve feel completely different.

Banana Ghost Toast

This one barely qualifies as a recipe, which is exactly why I like it. Spread peanut butter on toast, cut a banana lengthwise and place the pieces on top like ghosts. Mini chocolate chips work for the eyes, and we used raisins for the mouths.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: Independently, depending on age
Shortcut friendly: It is the shortcut

It works just as well as an afternoon snack. If your kids are old enough to spread peanut butter and cut a soft banana safely, this is also something they can put together themselves.

For more simple foods kids can gradually take over making, I have more ideas in Easy Foods Kids Can Make Themselves.

Halloween Stencil Toast

This was one of those simple ideas that looked much more impressive than the amount of work involved. I cut a bat shape out of aluminum foil, placed the foil shape over a piece of bread and toasted it so the uncovered bread browned around it. When I removed the foil, the lighter bat shape was left behind.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: With making the stencil; an adult should handle the toaster or hot appliance
Shortcut friendly: Yes

The bat is only one possibility. You could make a ghost, pumpkin, cat, witch hat or another simple silhouette. The key is choosing a shape that is recognizable without needing tiny details.

Once it’s toasted, serve it as regular toast or add butter, cream cheese, peanut butter or whatever your kids normally eat. Sometimes the easiest Halloween food is just regular food with one little trick added to it.

Clementine Pumpkins

Peel a clementine or mandarin and stick a short piece of celery into the center for a stem. That’s it. These are especially nice when the rest of the Halloween food table is covered in chocolate, frosting and candy.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: Yes
Shortcut friendly: Completely

We’ve served ours individually in Halloween cupcake liners, but they’re also cute piled together on a platter. You could do something similar with other fruit by using the color or shape that’s already there instead of trying to transform it completely.

Easy Halloween Snacks Kids Can Help Make

Not every Halloween snack needs to be dessert. Fruit, cheese, crackers, vegetables and familiar snack foods can all get the Halloween treatment without becoming another bowl of candy.

Fruit Made a Little Spookier

The clementine pumpkins work here too, but fruit gives you plenty of other options. Banana pieces can become ghosts with mini chocolate-chip faces, grapes can become caterpillars or monsters, and strawberries can get little faces or decorations.

You don’t necessarily need to cover the fruit in chocolate either. Sometimes a few candy eyes or an unusual arrangement is enough. Older kids can also build fruit skewers using Halloween colors such as green grapes, blackberries, blueberries and orange melon.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: Yes
Shortcut friendly: Very

If kids are making their own snack, give them a few ingredients and let them invent the creature rather than giving them something they have to copy exactly.

Halloween Cheese and Crackers

Cheese and crackers are another regular snack that’s easy to change for Halloween. Cut slices of cheese with small Halloween cutters and serve them with crackers, pretzels, fruit or deli meat.

Pumpkins, bats and ghosts are especially easy shapes because they remain recognizable when they’re small. You can also sandwich the shaped cheese between crackers or let kids assemble their own combinations.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: Yes
Shortcut friendly: Very

A small set of Halloween cookie cutters can work for cheese, sandwiches, refrigerated dough and cookies, so they’re useful for several of the ideas in this post instead of just one project.

Make-Your-Own Halloween Snack Plates

This is probably the easiest way to turn Halloween food into an activity. Put out a few familiar foods—fruit, pretzels, crackers, cheese, vegetables, mini marshmallows or whatever you already have—and add a couple of Halloween decorations such as candy eyes or themed picks.

Kids can build monster faces, skeletons or completely unidentifiable creatures on their own plates. There’s no finished example they need to reproduce, and snack disappears while they’re playing with it.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: This one is for them
Shortcut friendly: Completely

This fits naturally with the independence we try to encourage around everyday food too. The Little Things That Teach Kids Independence Before We Realize It talks more about how those small opportunities to do things themselves add up over time.

Chocolate-Covered Halloween Treats

Once you have melting chocolate or candy coating and a few decorations, you can Halloween-ify almost anything. I clearly went through a pretzel phase one year, but the same basic method works with fruit, cookies and plenty of other snacks.

Chocolate-Covered Halloween Pretzels

We’ve made white ghost pretzel rods, green monster pretzels, orange pumpkin pretzels and several versions covered in Halloween sprinkles. Pretzel rods are especially good for characters because they give you enough room to make a face, while pretzel twists work well for pumpkins and smaller bite-size treats.

Effort: A little hands-on
Kids can help: Yes, with help around hot melted coating
Shortcut friendly: Yes

White coating can become ghosts or mummies, green works for monsters and Frankenstein, and orange can become pumpkins. Add candy eyes, mini chocolate chips, sprinkles or a contrasting drizzle before the coating sets.

Candy melting wafers in Halloween colors make this much easier because you get the coating and color in one step without having to tint chocolate yourself.

Chocolate-Covered Halloween Fruit

Fruit uses the same basic technique but gives you a lighter option among all the cookies and candy. Strawberries dipped in white coating can become ghosts, while orange or green coating can turn them into pumpkins or monsters. Banana pieces can become ghosts or mummies with a drizzle of contrasting chocolate.

Grapes are trickier to dip individually, but they can be threaded onto a skewer and decorated as one long monster or caterpillar. Another option is simply drizzling chocolate over a fruit skewer rather than completely coating it.

Effort: Easy to a little hands-on
Kids can help: With decorating
Shortcut friendly: Yes

Chocolate-Covered Cookies

Sandwich cookies are particularly easy because they’re already round and sturdy. Dip the whole cookie or only half of it, then use the coating as the base for pumpkins, monsters, mummies or eyeballs.

Plain sugar cookies, graham crackers and wafer cookies can work too. There’s no need to bake another recipe if the decorating is the part you actually want to do.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: Yes
Shortcut friendly: Very

This is one of the places where edible candy eyes are genuinely useful to keep on hand because one or two can turn almost any dipped treat into a Halloween character.

More Foods to Dip and Decorate

Once you have melting chocolate ready, it’s easy to keep going with whatever you already have in the pantry. The same basic idea works with several different foods, and kids can help choose the colors, sprinkles and decorations.

Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallows: Large marshmallows are especially easy for kids to decorate. Put them on a lollipop stick or paper straw, dip them in colored chocolate, and turn them into ghosts, Frankenstein faces or colorful little monsters.

Chocolate-Dipped Rice Crispy Treats: Cut the treats into rectangles and dip one end in melting chocolate, then add sprinkles, candy eyes or a chocolate drizzle. Green works well for Frankenstein-inspired treats, while white can easily become ghosts or mummies.

You can make several of these from the same bowls of melted chocolate and decorations, which is especially useful if you’re setting everything out as a Halloween food activity rather than making one perfectly coordinated dessert.

If you want to make several different dipped treats at once, a small set of chocolate dipping tools can make the process much easier. The different shapes work well for lifting pretzel twists, cookies and fruit out of the coating without making quite as much of a mess.

Savory Halloween Party Food

Savory Halloween food can be just as fun as the desserts, and it keeps a party table from becoming entirely sugar. A lot of these ideas use food you’d serve anyway—the Halloween part comes from how you shape or arrange it.

Mummy Hot Dogs

Mummy hot dogs are one of those Halloween foods that look more complicated than they actually are. Wrap strips of dough around hot dogs, leaving some gaps so they look like bandages, then bake until the dough is cooked and golden.

Effort: A little hands-on
Kids can help: With assembly
Shortcut friendly: Very

Refrigerated crescent or pizza dough is probably the easiest option. Homemade pizza dough makes it more of a cooking project, while puff pastry gives you a flakier mummy. You can also spread a very thin layer of mustard around the hot dog before wrapping it if your family likes mustard, or simply serve ketchup and mustard on the side.

A rolling pizza cutter makes it much faster to cut dough into the long, narrow strips needed for mummy hot dogs, and it’s something you can use for regular pizza and quesadillas the rest of the year.

For the eyes, use tiny dots of mustard after baking or edible eyes if you want a more obvious face. The wrapping doesn’t have to be neat; the uneven strips actually help them look more like mummies.

Jack-o-Lantern Quesadillas

Quesadillas are another regular meal that’s surprisingly easy to turn into Halloween food. Make them the way you normally would, but before assembling, cut a jack-o-lantern face out of the top tortilla. The melted cheese underneath shows through the eyes, nose and mouth once it’s cooked.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: Older kids can help design or cut the face
Shortcut friendly: Very

A pumpkin face is the obvious choice, but the same stencil idea could work for a ghost, skull or simple monster. Keep the shapes fairly large so the tortilla doesn’t tear. Larger shapes are also easier to recognize after cooking. For detailed faces, a small sharp paring knife makes it much easier to cut the design into the top tortilla. If the kids want to help, small Halloween cookie cutters are an easier option for simple bats, ghosts or pumpkins.

Mini Quiches and Savory Bites

We’ve also served mini savory tarts and quiches with spiders on top. You can make the filling yourself, use frozen mini quiches or start with another bite-size savory food and concentrate on the Halloween presentation.

For edible spiders, black olives are an easy option. Use a larger olive piece for the body and thin pieces for the legs. If you’re using plastic spiders or other decorations instead, keep them on the serving tray rather than mixed into the food so it’s obvious they aren’t edible.

Effort: Easy with premade food; more involved homemade
Kids can help: With arranging and edible decorations
Shortcut friendly: Yes

Other bite-size foods can get the same treatment. Mini pizzas, savory puff-pastry bites or small quesadilla wedges can all become part of a Halloween table without requiring an entirely new recipe.

Halloween Dips

Dips are probably one of the easiest party foods to transform because the recipe itself doesn’t have to change. We’ve used guacamole in several completely different Halloween arrangements over the years.

Puking Pumpkin Guacamole: Place a small jack-o-lantern at the edge of a platter and arrange the guacamole so it looks like it’s spilling out of its mouth. Surround it with blue corn chips for an easy, delightfully gross Halloween dip.

Witch Guacamole: Shape guacamole into a face, then use a pickle for the big witch nose, shredded carrots for orange hair and purple tortilla chips for the witch hat. Add olives or other vegetables for the facial features.

Frankenstein Guacamole: Shape guacamole into a rectangular face and use black olives for Frankenstein’s hair and facial features. Add vegetables or chips to create the mouth, bolts and other details.

Mummy Hummus: Use your favorite hummus and add thin lines of sour cream or another light-colored topping across the surface like mummy bandages. Add sliced olives for eyes.

Ghost or Skull Dip: A white ranch, yogurt or cream-cheese-based dip gives you an easy starting point for a ghost or skull. Use olives and vegetables to create the face rather than changing the dip itself.

Effort: Easy to a little hands-on
Kids can help: Definitely
Shortcut friendly: Very

You can also let the serving pieces do some of the decorating. Skeleton hand serving tongs can be placed around the bowl or platter so the hands look like they’re reaching toward the dip, while still being useful for serving other Halloween party food. It’s an easy way to add something playful without changing the recipe itself.

Halloween Veggie Platters

A veggie platter is another easy one to make as simple or elaborate as you want. You can use vegetables your family already likes and let the arrangement do most of the Halloween work. A bowl of dip can become part of the design, or you can build the whole picture directly on a large serving platter.

Veggie Skeleton: Our version used cucumber slices, peppers, celery, tomatoes, mushrooms and cauliflower arranged into a body, with dip forming the head.

Pumpkin Veggie Platter: Arrange carrots or orange peppers into a pumpkin shape, then use cucumber or celery for the stem. Dark olives or another contrasting vegetable can create a jack-o-lantern face.

Monster Veggie Face: Start with a bowl of dip for the face and arrange vegetables around it as hair, ears or other features. Candy eyes aren’t necessary here—olives, cucumber, tomatoes and other vegetables can make the entire face edible.

Effort: More of a project
Kids can help: Absolutely
Shortcut friendly: Yes, especially with precut vegetables

You don’t have to make a skeleton. Arrange vegetables into a pumpkin using orange peppers or carrots with cucumber or celery for the stem. Make a monster face with vegetables surrounding a bowl of dip, or create a simple jack-o-lantern face across an orange vegetable tray using olives or dark vegetables for the features.

Shortcut idea: If you don’t want to build the face from vegetables, a small skull-shaped serving bowl can become the skeleton’s head. Fill it with ranch or another dip and arrange the vegetable “body” underneath it. The serving piece does some of the decorating without adding more work to the food.

Halloween Charcuterie and Snack Boards

A Halloween board is useful when you want the table to look festive without turning every individual food into a project. Combine a few of the ideas you’ve already made with completely ordinary food and let the whole arrangement carry the theme.

Start with a dip or small bowl, then add orange cheese, dark crackers, blue corn chips, green or purple grapes, black olives, pretzels, sliced vegetables and clementine pumpkins. Fill gaps with nuts, popcorn, deli meat, dried fruit or whatever your family actually eats.

Then add one or two obvious Halloween elements. Cheese cut into bats, candy eyes on a few items, ghost pretzels or mummy hot dogs are enough to make the entire board feel intentional.

Effort: As easy or elaborate as you make it
Kids can help: Yes
Shortcut friendly: Extremely

A pumpkin-shaped charcuterie board makes even a pretty ordinary mix of cheese, crackers, fruit and snacks feel seasonal, and it can keep getting used through the rest of fall.

You also don’t have to turn every food on the board into something Halloween-themed. Halloween food picks are an easy way to make ordinary cheese, fruit, olives or other bite-size foods feel like part of the theme without doing anything extra to the food itself.

Halloween Desserts and Baking Ideas

Desserts are where kids can really take over the decorating. They can also range from opening a package of cookies to baking something completely from scratch, so choose the version that sounds fun rather than automatically choosing the most complicated one.

Colorful Halloween Eyeball Cookies

We’ve made colorful eyeball cookies using a kit, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that shortcut. You could also start with refrigerated cookie dough, homemade sugar-cookie dough or another cookie recipe that holds up well to food coloring.

Divide the dough into a few colors, combine pieces without fully mixing them together and add candy eyes before or after baking depending on the decorations you use. The uneven colors and randomly placed eyes are part of what makes them look like monsters.

Effort: Easy with a kit; more involved from scratch
Kids can help: Yes
Shortcut friendly: Very

If you’d rather skip the baking completely, start with plain bakery cookies and let kids turn the decorating into the activity.

Vampire Teeth Cookies

For these monster mouths, we used chocolate chip cookies cut in half with colored frosting between them. Mini marshmallows become the teeth, and pointed candies or slivered almonds can become fangs.

Effort: Easy
Kids can help: Yes
Shortcut friendly: Very

Store-bought chocolate chip cookies make these incredibly easy, but homemade cookies work too. Crooked teeth and uneven frosting actually help here, so there’s no reason to make every mouth match.

Make-Your-Own Monster Cupcakes

Monster cupcakes are another good example of something that can be a baking project or simply a decorating activity. We’ve used a premade Halloween kit and let the kids make their own monsters with different frosting colors, candy eyes, sprinkles and decorating gel.

Effort: Easy to more involved
Kids can help: Definitely
Shortcut friendly: Very

You can make cupcakes from scratch, use a boxed mix or buy plain cupcakes and skip directly to decorating. If you want something homemade underneath the frosting, my chocolate chip muffin recipe could also work as a base. Store-bought frosting is completely fine; divide it among a few bowls and color each one differently.

Gel food coloring works well for frosting because a small amount can turn one container of white frosting into several monster colors. For melted chocolate or candy coating, use oil-based candy coloring instead so you can add color without causing the coating to seize.

Give each child a plate or small tray for decorating and let them decide what a monster is supposed to look like. Ours certainly did not all look alike, which was much more fun anyway.

More Easy Halloween Desserts to Try

You don’t necessarily need to bake something specifically for Halloween. Regular brownies, store-bought donuts or crispy rice treats can become Halloween food with a few decorations, which makes these especially useful when you want something festive without starting another full recipe.

Halloween Brownies: Make or buy brownies and add candy eyes, Halloween sprinkles or simple piped spiderwebs. You could decorate the entire pan before cutting it or let kids decorate individual brownies themselves.

Halloween Donuts: Store-bought donuts are one of the easiest shortcuts. Add candy eyes and icing to make silly faces, turn powdered donuts into ghosts, or use the hole in the center as part of an eyeball design.

Halloween Rice Crispy Treats: Cut them into rectangles and decorate them as Frankenstein faces, mummies or ghosts with colored melting chocolate, icing and candy eyes. You could also use cookie cutters to make simple Halloween shapes if the treats are thin enough.

Another easy way to make an ordinary treat feel more Halloween-specific is to let the shape do the work. Halloween silicone molds can be used for things like molded chocolate or gelatin, with shapes like skulls, tombstones, brains and other Halloween designs doing most of the decorating for you.

A Halloween baking or decorating kit is another easy option when you want the activity without collecting every ingredient separately. We’ve used kits like these for both cookies and cupcakes, and they’re especially convenient if you don’t already keep frosting, sprinkles and decorating supplies at home.

The easiest option is simply buying the dessert and adding one Halloween detail. It still counts.

Let the Kids Make Some of It

Not every Halloween food needs to be something you make for the kids. Some of the best ideas are things you set up for them to make themselves.

Younger kids can add sprinkles, candy eyes and decorations, arrange pieces of a veggie skeleton or create their own monster cupcake. As they get older, they can take over more of the preparation—spreading frosting, cutting soft ingredients with an appropriate knife, assembling mummy hot dogs or designing an entire snack board.

That gradual handoff is something we do with regular food too, not just Halloween treats. I talk more about it in The Little Things That Teach Kids Independence Before We Realize It, and there are more practical ideas in Easy Foods Kids Can Make Themselves.

The finished food may not look quite as Pinterest-ready when kids are in charge, and that’s okay. A three-eyed cupcake with a questionable amount of frosting still tastes like a cupcake, and they get the satisfaction of saying they made it.

Choose the Version That Fits the Day

You could spend hours making an elaborate Halloween spread, and I clearly have photographic evidence that I’ve done exactly that. You could also peel a clementine, stick celery in the top and call it a pumpkin. Both are Halloween.

For a quick school-morning surprise, the banana ghosts, stencil toast or cinnamon rolls are easy choices. An October afternoon at home is a good time to pull out cupcakes or dipped treats and let the kids decorate. Hosting a party gives you an excuse to choose one of the bigger savory ideas and fill the rest of the table with simple fruit, chips, pretzels and store-bought food.

The goal doesn’t have to be recreating a perfect photo. Pick the amount of effort that sounds fun, use shortcuts where they actually help and let the kids ruin the symmetry if they want to.

If you need something to do after everyone has eaten, I also have 25+ Cute Halloween Crafts for Kids with more Halloween projects we’ve made over the years.

The post Cute Halloween Food Ideas for Kids: Easy Snacks, Treats & Party Food appeared first on Thanks Mommy Blog.

Ours has always been much simpler.

That wasn’t because I researched the perfect bedtime routine or intentionally created some brilliant sleep system. We mostly figured out what worked for our family—and what we realistically had the energy to repeat every single night.

Our kids are older now, but a lot of the basic routine has stayed surprisingly similar over the years.

We get cleaned up, eat something simple, spend some quiet time together, brush teeth and eventually send everyone to bed. We say goodnight, give hugs and kisses, and that’s basically it.

No elaborate bedtime ritual, nightly story requirement or hanging out beside their beds until they fall asleep.

And one of the biggest things I think helped was something I didn’t really recognize as a “bedtime strategy” at the time:

We did most of our winding down together before bedtime actually started.

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Our Bedtime Routine Was Never Very Complicated

When the kids were younger, evenings usually followed a pretty predictable rhythm.

Dinner in our house also tends to be lighter than what many people might picture as the big meal of the day. Culturally, we’re much more likely to have our larger cooked meal around lunchtime and something simpler at night.

Bathing didn’t necessarily happen right before bed, either. Sometimes I’d get that out of the way earlier, before my husband got home from work. That left more of the evening for the four of us to actually spend together instead of using family time to work through baths and bedtime tasks.

And we moved away from baths fairly young.

Our kids were not particularly interested in treating a bath like a quiet spa experience. There were toys, splashing and playing, and suddenly something that was supposed to get everyone clean had become another whole event.

We had a large shower, so when they were little, sometimes the easiest solution was honestly for us to shower together. They loved it, everyone got clean, and it was one less production for me to manage.

Eventually, showers became their normal. Get clean. Pajamas on. Done.

Then we’d spend time together before bed. And this is the part of our routine that would probably make a lot of bedtime-routine lists unhappy:

Sometimes we watched TV.

Yes, Sometimes Our Wind-Down Included TV

A lot of sleep advice recommends avoiding screens before bedtime. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends keeping screens out of bedtime routines, and screens can make it harder for some kids to wind down.

So I’m definitely not going to tell another parent that their child should watch television before bed. I’m just going to tell you what happened in our house.

For us, sitting together on the couch and watching something calm was often exactly that: sitting together. Nobody was running around the house, starting a big project or getting increasingly wound up right before we expected them to suddenly lie still in a dark room.

We’d cuddle on the couch, watch something together and let the day start slowing down. I noticed pretty quickly that if the kids got really excited or physically active right before bed, getting them settled afterward was harder.

So the goal wasn’t really “screen time before bed.” The goal was quiet time before bed. For our family, television sometimes happened to be part of that.

Quiet Mattered More Than the Exact Activity

As with most things involving kids, I think knowing your own child matters. If watching something makes your child more stimulated, starts arguments about turning it off or makes bedtime harder, that’s obviously not much of a wind-down.

For us, calm family TV time worked very differently from handing everyone a tablet and sending them off into separate corners. It was something we were doing together, and more importantly, it was quiet.

That part of our routine hasn’t really gone away as the kids have gotten older. The location has changed—we’re more likely to pile onto our bed now instead of the living room couch—and sometimes we’ll play a video game together before watching something.

The point is still the same: we’re together, the day is winding down and nobody is expecting bedtime itself to provide another round of entertainment.

We Put the Family Time Before Bedtime

Looking back, I think this may be the most important part of why our routine worked for us. Bedtime wasn’t when we suddenly tried to squeeze in all of our connection for the day. We had already been together. We ate together, talked, cuddled and watched something. The kids could tell us whatever random thing they needed to tell us.

So when it was time for bed, bedtime could just mean bedtime. Go pee, go to your room, get your hugs and kisses. Goodnight, love you.

Sometimes there are tickles mixed in because apparently those are still required. Sometimes someone remembers something extremely important the second they’re supposed to leave our room. Kids are kids.

But we never built an expectation that going to bed meant another 30 or 45 minutes of parental entertainment. That distinction ended up being really useful.

I Didn’t Want Bedtime to Become Another Hour-Long Parenting Job

A lot of our simple routine came from necessity. I had two kids under two, and while I was breastfeeding, I dealt with migraines almost every night. Even after that period passed, migraines remained a regular enough problem that some nights I genuinely needed to go to bed early myself.

We were tired parents with two little kids, so I needed a bedtime routine we could still manage when neither of us had much left. I also didn’t want to create a long list of things the kids expected every single night if I knew there would be nights when I couldn’t deliver them. Keeping those expectations simple meant less disappointment and less room for bedtime to become a fight when something had to change.

That doesn’t mean a longer routine is a bad thing. A parent who has been at work all day might genuinely look forward to bath time, books and that quiet one-on-one time before bed. For another family, that may be one of the best parts of the day.

For us, what mattered was having a short routine everybody understood and that we could realistically repeat. The predictability mattered more than the number of steps.

That simplicity also made the occasional night away easier. If someone else was putting the kids to bed, there wasn’t a long list of things that had to happen exactly the way Mom or Dad did them. The kids already knew the routine and what was expected of them, which meant there was less for them to push back on with a sitter—and a better chance everyone would actually get a full night’s sleep.

It was one of those benefits I didn’t necessarily plan for when they were little, but really appreciated later.

We Didn’t Make Bedtime Stories a Requirement

This is another part of our routine that may sound strange because reading is practically synonymous with bedtime when kids are little.

We absolutely read to our kids, we just didn’t make reading something that had to happen at bedtime. Books were always around, and we read together during the day. As the kids grew, reading became something they could also do independently.

But I never wanted to reach the end of an exhausting day and feel guilty because I didn’t have enough energy left to read three books beside someone’s bed. So I didn’t make that promise to myself—or to them.

Again, I completely understand why another family would make bedtime reading non-negotiable. For some parents and kids, that’s their favorite quiet time together.

For us, reading was part of childhood. It just wasn’t a required step between brushing teeth and going to sleep. Separating the two worked well for us.

Showers Made More Sense for Us Than Nightly Baths

Baths are often included in bedtime routines because they can create a predictable transition into the evening. For us, they created playtime. Once showers became practical, they were simply easier. They were also easier to move around in the schedule. A shower didn’t have to signal that bedtime was happening immediately afterward.

Sometimes getting everyone clean earlier meant that when my husband got home, we were done with that part of the evening and could just be together.

As the kids got older, this part of the routine changed in another way too: they stopped needing us to do it for them.

When children are little, getting them clean can be a whole parental production. Eventually they can shower themselves, get dressed, brush their own teeth and take care of most of their nighttime routine. That’s one of those parenting transitions that happens so gradually you almost don’t notice it.

The routine stayed, but our role in performing it kept shrinking. That is probably one of my favorite things about simple family routines. When the steps are predictable and manageable, kids can eventually take ownership of them.

Our Bedtime Routine Grew With the Kids

Our bedtime routine now doesn’t look exactly like it did when they were little. It shouldn’t. They’ve gotten older, and more and more of the routine belongs to them instead of us.

These days, they usually shower earlier, and we have a quick dinner that they’re now old enough to help with too. Sometimes that means helping us; other times it means making one of the Easy Foods Kids Can Make Themselves. After dinner they take care of the dog and whatever else needs to be wrapped up before we settle in together.

Then we usually end up together again—often piled onto our bed watching TV, and sometimes playing a video game together first. Eventually we tell them it’s time, they go pee, head to their rooms, and we say goodnight to each of them.

Sometimes there’s a little talking or a few tickles mixed in. Other nights it’s basically, “Goodnight, love you, go to bed.”

The details changed as they grew, but the rhythm didn’t. The house slows down, we spend time together, everyone knows what they need to do, and then bedtime is bedtime.

That’s why I’ve never been very attached to one perfect sequence. The routine should work for the kids you have now, not the kids they were three years ago.

A Few Small Things Helped Them Take Over the Routine

Of course, they didn’t go from us managing everything to suddenly handling bedtime on their own. A lot of those responsibilities shifted little by little.

Brushing their teeth is a good example. When they were younger and still learning what “brush for two minutes” actually meant, a simple toothbrushing timer gave them something concrete to follow. Instead of me repeatedly telling them they weren’t finished yet, the timer told them. Eventually they didn’t need that help anymore; brushing their teeth simply became one of the things they knew they were responsible for.

They also needed enough independence to actually use the bathroom on their own. For us, that meant sturdy two-step stools when they were little because a single step wasn’t high enough for them to comfortably reach the sink. Eventually they grew out of needing the stools, just like they grew out of needing the timer. Brushing their teeth simply became something they knew how to handle themselves.

The same thing happened with showering, getting dressed and other everyday personal care skills. We helped, then supervised, then reminded—and eventually didn’t need to be involved in every step.

I think that’s one reason I’ve come to appreciate simple routines so much. When kids know the basic rhythm and have practiced the individual skills along the way, eventually you realize you’re not running the whole routine anymore. They are.

A Few Bedtime Things That Can Grow With Kids

We’ve never needed a lot of special products for bedtime, but I do like things that can serve more than one purpose and keep being useful as kids get older.

Helping Kids Understand Bedtime and Wake-Up Time

A wake-up clock + night light can be especially helpful during that in-between stage when kids are becoming more independent but aren’t always great at judging time yet. A visual cue helps them understand when it’s still time to be asleep and when it’s actually time to get up, and ours can play a sound at wake-up too. That can help on both ends—deep sleepers who need a little more help waking up and early risers who might otherwise wander out of their room at what they think is morning and accidentally wake up the rest of the house. The night-light is useful too because they can easily turn it on and off themselves if they wake up in the dark.

Creating a Calmer Bedroom

We didn’t have our space projector when the kids were little, but we have one now and it completely changes the feel of a dark room. The soft moving lights can make the room feel calm and soothing without needing a bright lamp on. Ours also has a timer, which I especially like for bedtime because it can shut itself off after they’ve settled instead of staying on all night.

Calming sounds were something we did use when the kids were younger. At the time, we had a small device that played different sounds while projecting lights onto the ceiling, and it had a timer so it would shut off on its own. The sounds were helpful, although if I were choosing something specifically for that purpose now, I’d probably go with a white noise/sound machine. There are much better options now that can provide consistent background sound without the extra lights or movement, which some kids may find distracting. And unlike a lot of baby sleep products, a sound machine can continue being useful as kids get older.

None of these are things I think every child needs to sleep. They’re simply tools that can make the room itself work a little better for bedtime—and, especially with the wake-up clock, help kids gradually manage more of the routine themselves.

What Our Simple Bedtime Routine Actually Looks Like Now

So what does bedtime actually look like at our house these days? It’s still pretty simple, even though the kids are older and much more responsible for getting themselves ready.

Showers usually happen earlier in the evening. We have a quick dinner, the kids brush their teeth and take the dog out, and then we settle in together. Most nights that means all of us watching something, usually piled onto our bed. Sometimes we’ll play a video game together first.

When it’s getting late, we tell them it’s time to wrap up. They go to the bathroom, head to their rooms and we go say goodnight to each of them. There are hugs and kisses, sometimes tickles, and then it’s some version of, “Goodnight, love you.”

That’s really it. The exact timing changes and the details aren’t identical every night, but everybody knows the general rhythm. That’s probably what has made the routine last more than any individual step.

If You’re Trying to Simplify Your Own Bedtime Routine

I don’t think simplifying bedtime necessarily means removing everything your kids enjoy. I’d start by paying attention to which parts actually help everyone wind down and which ones have quietly become expectations that make bedtime longer or harder.

If your child loves a bedtime story and you love reading it, there’s no reason to take that away. The same goes for cuddles, a bath or anything else that genuinely works for your family. But if you’re exhausted by a routine you’ve accidentally built, it may be worth asking which parts really need to happen at bedtime.

Could baths or showers happen earlier? Could family time happen on the couch instead of beside the bed? Can an older child start taking responsibility for brushing teeth, getting pajamas on or setting an alarm?

Those are also some of the Little Things That Teach Kids Independence before we necessarily think of them that way. A child taking over one small part of the bedtime routine may not feel significant in the moment, but eventually those little responsibilities add up.

That’s essentially what happened in our house. We didn’t remove the connection. We separated it from the expectation that getting into bed needed to be an event.

A Bedtime Routine Doesn’t Have to Look Like Everyone Else’s

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from routines in general, it’s that the best family system isn’t necessarily the one that looks best written out on Pinterest. It’s the one your family can actually repeat.

Some families genuinely love a long bedtime routine. Maybe that’s when everyone reconnects after being apart all day. Bath time might be fun instead of another thing on the to-do list, or reading together before bed might be everyone’s favorite part of the day. Keep it.

Other families need bedtime to be simple. Maybe you have multiple little kids and you’re exhausted. You might be dealing with work, headaches, a baby who still wakes up at night or just the normal reality that parenting doesn’t leave everyone with the same amount of energy at 8 p.m.

A short routine doesn’t have to mean less connection. For us, it mostly meant moving the connection somewhere else.

The point isn’t to copy somebody else’s checklist. It’s to figure out what helps your household move from daytime to bedtime without turning the transition into a nightly battle.

For us, that meant spending time together first, keeping the actual bedtime expectations low and letting bedtime be what the name suggests: Time for bed.

And after years of doing it that way, I wouldn’t make it much more complicated than that.

The post Our Simple Bedtime Routine for Kids (And Why We Keep It Short) appeared first on Thanks Mommy Blog.

For years, we regularly made roughly 11-hour drives as a family. Our daughter was the one who struggled with car sickness. We learned some lessons the easy way and a few very much the hard way—including one memorable stop at a McDonald’s bathroom to clean up and rinse vomit out of her clothes.

Eventually, though, we figured out what seemed to make the biggest difference for her.

Some of it was surprisingly simple: leaving ridiculously early, skipping screens completely, being careful about what she ate and keeping a few basic cleanup supplies within reach. We also used children’s motion-sickness medication as needed.

Every kid is different, so these aren’t guarantees or medical advice. They’re the things that helped our carsick kid—and a few things I wish we’d had at the time.

* This post includes Affiliate Links.

Why Do Kids Get Carsick?

Car sickness is a type of motion sickness. It can happen when what a child’s eyes see doesn’t quite match the motion their body and inner ear sense. Children between about ages 2 and 12 are particularly susceptible to it. 

Younger kids may not always tell you they’re feeling nauseous right away, so things like suddenly looking pale, getting restless, yawning or breaking into a cold sweat can be early signs.

That also helps explain something we learned pretty quickly: looking down at a screen was absolutely not a good idea for carsickness.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and Mayo Clinic both recommend having kids who are prone to motion sickness look outside rather than focusing on books, games or screens.

For us, eliminating screens became one of the best changes we made—and eventually, for reasons that went beyond car sickness.

You Don’t Have to Entertain Them the Entire Drive

When you’re preparing for a long road trip with kids, the instinct is to pack all the things. Tablets. Games. Books. Activities. Anything that might keep everyone occupied for another hour.

We still brought a few things for the kids to use once we reached our destination, but we stopped planning entertainment that required them to look down while we were actually driving. If our daughter stared at a screen in the car, she was much more likely to feel sick.

It wasn’t only about avoiding screens, either. Looking out the window—especially farther ahead or toward something in the distance—gave her eyes something more stable to focus on than whatever was happening inside the car.

And since she couldn’t use a tablet, that generally meant her brother wasn’t sitting beside her watching one either. Looking back, I’m really glad it worked out that way.

They looked out the windows, talked and slept. We listened to music, pointed things out along the way and sometimes played simple games that didn’t require looking down at anything. Sometimes they were probably bored—and they learned that being bored for a while was okay.

It also meant less stuff scattered around the car and less stuff to gather every time we stopped.

We weren’t trying to create a philosophical screen-free childhood. We were trying to keep one kid from throwing up. The other benefits were a really nice side effect.

Plan Part of the Drive Around Sleep, If You Can

This was probably our biggest road-trip trick, although it didn’t actually start because of car sickness.

For our roughly 11-hour drives, my husband preferred leaving around two in the morning. He’s naturally an early riser and didn’t mind starting a drive in the dark. He actually preferred it to driving late into the night. It felt a little strange at first, but eventually it just became our normal.

For our carsick daughter, it turned out to be a blessing.

We’d get the kids into the car while they were still sleepy, and she’d usually fall back asleep. Suddenly, she was comfortably sleeping through several hours of the drive instead of being awake long enough to start feeling sick.

Once she was asleep, we also tried not to disturb her unnecessarily. Of course we’d stop when we needed to, but we weren’t making extra stops just to break up the drive or entertain the kids.

Obviously, leaving at two in the morning isn’t going to work for every family. The helpful part for us wasn’t really the exact time—it was getting a big portion of the drive in while she naturally wanted to sleep. If your child tends to sleep well in the car, it may be worth planning your departure around that instead of around how you’ll keep them entertained for the entire drive.

As she got older, she understood that sleeping helped her feel better, too. On some trips she’d drift in and out but keep trying to rest because she knew she was less likely to feel sick that way.

These days, she can stay awake for much longer stretches without feeling carsick. I can’t say whether she’s grown out of some of it or simply become less sensitive, but long drives are definitely easier now.

Pay Attention to What Your Child Eats Before the Drive

For our daughter, an empty stomach sometimes worked better than giving her the wrong thing before getting in the car.

Yogurt was a lesson we learned the hard way. I’ll leave it at that.

When she did need something, small, plain foods such as Cheerios were sometimes easier for her to tolerate.

This is one of those areas where I’d pay attention to your own child’s patterns. One rule isn’t going to work for everybody. Current pediatric guidance generally recommends avoiding a large meal before a trip. When food is needed, a small, bland snack such as crackers may be easier.

Once we realized food could make a difference, we became much more intentional about what she ate before a long stretch in the car—and how much.

Motion-Sickness Medication May Be Another Option

For longer road trips, we also used Dramamine Kids, and I usually kept some in my purse when we traveled. It’s a chewable motion-sickness medication made for kids ages 2–12 that helps prevent and treat nausea, dizziness and vomiting.

For us, it was another tool that helped make long drives easier. We gave it before getting on the road rather than waiting for her to already feel sick. The current directions say to give the first dose 30 minutes to an hour before travel.

It can cause drowsiness, which is worth knowing. You’ll want to follow the age-specific directions on the package or check with your child’s doctor if you have questions about whether it’s appropriate for them.

What to Do If Your Child Starts Feeling Sick Anyway

Even when you’re doing all the things that usually help, sometimes you still hear those dreaded words from the back seat: “My stomach hurts.”

If we could safely stop, giving her a break from the motion was always better than just hoping she’d make it. Getting out of the car for a few minutes, getting some fresh air and letting her stomach settle gave us a chance to reset before getting back on the road.

This is also a good time to cool things down. Keeping the car comfortable, removing a jacket or heavy layer and getting some cool air can help when a kid is already feeling hot and nauseous. A cool cloth on their forehead can be soothing, too.

And this is when you want the vomit bag within reach, not packed somewhere in the trunk. If your child is old enough, show them where it is before the trip and make sure they know to tell you as soon as their stomach starts feeling weird—not when they’re already about to throw up.

Be Prepared for the Mess, Too

Even after we figured out what helped, I still wanted to be prepared in case she got sick.

For a long time, I kept Ziploc bags within reach of our daughter. They were cheap, easy to keep in the car and could be sealed immediately afterward.

Thankfully, once we got better at managing her car sickness, I don’t remember her actually needing to throw up into one again. But I always worried about a little kid trying to hold a floppy bag open. What if the weight made it slip out of her hands at exactly the wrong moment?

If I were doing those road trips now, I’d still pack Ziplocs, but I’d also keep a few disposable vomit bags  in the car. The ones with the rigid opening are much easier to hold in place and are actually made for the job.

The Ziplocs would absolutely stay, though. They turned out to be useful for something else entirely.

When the Mess Ends Up on Them Instead

Our daughter did throw up all over herself once or twice before we figured out what worked for her. On one particularly memorable trip, we stopped at a McDonald’s so I could take her into the bathroom, change her clothes and rinse out what she’d gotten sick on. Then we still had hours left in the car.

That’s where the Ziploc bags really earned their place. Wet or dirty clothes could go straight into a larger bag and get sealed up, which kept the smell contained until we reached our destination.

Wet wipes and a couple of small towels helped us clean up whatever we could along the way. And because we traveled with our dog, we already had dog poop bags with us. Those were surprisingly useful for tying up used wipes, tissues and anything else gross until we reached a trash can.

A backup outfit needs to be complete and easy to reach. Shirt, bottoms, underwear, socks and a jacket if the weather calls for one. I’ve definitely remembered the “extra outfit” and still managed to forget one of the pieces we actually needed. I usually packed the clean clothes inside a Ziploc, which kept them protected and gave me an empty bag for the dirty clothes afterward.

Keep the Cleanup Supplies Within Reach

After a few trips like that, this became our pretty simple cleanup kit:

• Disposable vomit bags
• Gallon-size Ziploc bags
• Wet wipes and tissues
• Dog poop bags
• One or two small towels
• A complete change of clothes, packed in a Ziploc

When the kids were younger, I kept these kinds of things in a small, skinny basket between them during long drives. Mine wasn’t anything special—I think it came from Target or the dollar store. It just meant the things we might suddenly need were within reach instead of buried in our luggage or up front with us.

Eventually, they got big enough to reach the car’s built-in storage themselves and we didn’t need the basket anymore. But for younger kids, some kind of small backseat storage bin that can be secured in place can do the same job without taking up much room.

For the Messes That Make It Past the Bag

Sometimes the mess makes it past all of your preparation anyway. Kids spill things, have potty accidents and, yes, sometimes throw up directly onto the car or car seat. And those smells can really settle in.

For deeper cleaning of the car’s upholstery and carpet, something like the BISSELL Little Green Mini is handy to have around. It’s a small portable upholstery cleaner that sprays, scrubs and suctions up the mess. That’s useful for the kinds of kid stains and smells that wipes alone aren’t going to handle.

Obviously, that’s more of a when you get home solution. On the road, the goal is really just to remove as much of the mess as you can, contain anything dirty and keep the smell from taking over the car until you can clean it properly.

For the child’s actual car seat, always check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions first. Padding and especially harnesses can have specific cleaning restrictions. I wouldn’t automatically use a wet vac or cleaning solution on them.

One other thing that makes kid messes much easier to deal with is having rubber floor mats, if that’s an upgrade that makes sense for your car. Vomit aside, kids spill drinks, track in mud and somehow manage to get all kinds of things onto the floor. Rubber mats can usually be pulled out and washed instead of trying to scrub a mess—and the smell—out of carpet.

Getting the Smell and Stains Out of Clothes

Sometimes the clothes need more than being rinsed out and thrown in the wash, too. If we were still on the road, a stain stick or spray would be handy for treating whatever I could until we got home—especially if those clothes were going to spend several more hours sealed inside a Ziploc.

Once we’re home, I usually start with rinsing the mess out and washing the item on its own. If a regular wash isn’t enough for the stain or lingering smell, an oxygen-based laundry booster is my next step. I’ve been using one for hockey gear and towels lately, too, so it’s the kind of product that’s useful well beyond one unfortunate road-trip incident.

The Unexpected Benefit of Screen-Free Road Trips

Our no-screen rule started because of car sickness, but it’s one part of those years of road trips that I’m especially glad we kept.

The kids still had their devices and activities with us for the vacation itself. We just didn’t use them to fill every minute in the car, and eventually that became normal.

A long drive meant looking out the window, talking, listening to music or sleeping. Sometimes it meant noticing something interesting outside. Other times, it meant simply sitting there for a while.

There’s something valuable about kids learning that every quiet moment doesn’t have to be filled for them. That made the drive feel more like part of the experience, too—not just time we had to distract everyone through until we arrived.

It reminds me a little of the small ways kids build independence before we realize it—sometimes giving them a little less to rely on is what gives them room to figure things out for themselves.

That wasn’t why we started doing it, but it may have been one of the best things to come out of having a carsick kid.

Long Road Trips Eventually Got Easier

Looking back, there wasn’t one magic solution. It took some trial and error to figure out what worked for our daughter. Once we did, those long drives became much easier for all of us.

Eventually, the dramatic vomiting episodes stopped being part of our road trips.

But I kept the Ziploc bags.

Because once you have kids, there is apparently no situation in which an extra Ziploc bag isn’t useful.

And if you’re currently in the stage where you’re nervously listening for “Mom, my stomach hurts…” from the back seat, I hope some of what we learned makes your next drive a little easier.

The post Carsick Kid on a Road Trip? What Actually Helped Us appeared first on Thanks Mommy Blog.

We got to find out when my daughter needed to build a pizza box solar oven for a school project. On paper, it sounded pretty simple: turn a pizza box into a mini oven, set it outside in the South Florida sun, and let solar energy do the rest.

The weather had other plans.

At the time, we were in the middle of a major home renovation project for work, and for a stretch our whole family was spending most of our days at the jobsite. We specifically set aside two days so we could stay home long enough to build, test, adjust, and document the solar oven before the assignment was due.

Somehow, both days were overcast.

So instead of a perfectly successful little science experiment, we got a much more realistic lesson in solar energy: changing angles, trying to trap more heat, waiting for clouds to move, checking our food, and figuring out which parts of the design actually mattered.

And yes, we eventually melted the chocolate.

Would I recommend eating the resulting s’more? That’s another story.

Here’s how we made our pizza box solar oven, what we learned while troubleshooting it, and some easy ways to turn the basic project into a bigger STEM experiment.

* This post includes Affiliate Links.

What Is a Pizza Box Solar Oven?

A pizza box solar oven is a simple homemade solar cooker that uses sunlight to create and trap heat inside a cardboard box.

The basic design uses aluminum foil to reflect sunlight into the box, a dark surface to absorb that energy, and a clear covering to help keep the warmed air inside.

It’s a great way for kids to actually see solar energy doing something rather than only reading about it.

And because you can make one mostly from things you probably already have at home, it’s also a pretty accessible STEM project.

What You Need to Make a Pizza Box Solar Oven

For our solar oven, we used:

• A clean pizza box
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic wrap
• Black construction paper
• Tape
• Scissors and/or a utility knife
• A pencil, skewer, or similar object to prop up the reflector
• Food to test inside the oven

You’ll also want a sunny outdoor spot where the box can sit undisturbed for a while.

Most of these are basic household or craft supplies, so I wouldn’t buy a bunch of special materials just for this project. If you’re already restocking supplies for kids’ projects, I keep some of the art and craft materials we use in my Amazon Kids’ Art & Craft Supplies list.

Optional: Add an Oven Thermometer

One thing I wish we’d incorporated into ours is an oven thermometer.

We could tell the inside of the box was getting warm and could watch the chocolate change, but having an actual temperature reading would have made our troubleshooting much more useful.

A small oven thermometer like this one can stay inside the box while kids track how the temperature changes over time—without repeatedly opening the solar oven and letting the trapped heat escape.

More on how to turn those measurements into an experiment below.

How to Make a Pizza Box Solar Oven

You don’t need a complicated design for this to work. The goal is simply to reflect sunlight into the box, absorb as much of that energy as possible, and keep the resulting heat from escaping too quickly.

1. Make the Reflector

With an adult’s help, cut a flap into the top of the pizza box, leaving one side attached so it can fold upward.

Cover the inside surface of that flap with aluminum foil. Try to keep the foil fairly smooth and shiny so it can reflect sunlight down into the box.

2. Create a Clear Window

Cover the opening you created with clear plastic wrap.

Seal the edges as well as you can with tape. The sunlight needs to pass through the clear covering while the warmed air stays trapped inside.

This became particularly important for us once we started troubleshooting our oven.

3. Add a Dark Surface

Place black construction paper inside the bottom of the pizza box.

The dark paper absorbs energy from the sunlight and helps turn it into heat inside the box.

4. Set Up Your Food

Place whatever you’re testing inside the oven.

I recommend putting food on a food-safe surface rather than directly on the construction paper. A small piece of parchment paper or foil, or a shallow disposable aluminum tray, makes the food easier to remove and keeps things cleaner.

Maybe seasoned campers are less bothered by these things than I am, but melted chocolate directly on construction paper wasn’t particularly appealing. 

Close the pizza box.

5. Aim the Reflector Toward the Sun

Prop up the foil-covered flap and adjust its angle so that it reflects as much sunlight as possible through the clear window and into the box.

Then…wait.

Depending on the weather, the intensity of the sun, your oven design, and what you’re trying to warm, this can take some time.

In our case, quite a lot of time.

Our First Problem: The Sun Wouldn’t Cooperate

If there was one thing I thought we could count on for this project, it was South Florida sunshine.

Apparently not.

The two days we’d managed to set aside for testing were both overcast. And because we had a deadline, simply waiting another few days for perfect weather wasn’t really an option.

So we experimented.

We changed the angle of the reflector to catch as much sunlight as possible and worked on sealing the box better so less warm air could escape. Then we repositioned it and left it outside for hours. Every so often, we checked the progress, made another adjustment, and tried again.

In hindsight, that troubleshooting was probably more educational than having the project work perfectly on the first try.

It made it very obvious that a solar oven doesn’t simply need heat outside. It needs solar energy reaching the oven efficiently, and the design has to capture and retain as much of that energy as possible.

How Does a Pizza Box Solar Oven Work?

There are several simple pieces working together.

The aluminum foil reflects sunlight into the box.

The black paper absorbs that solar energy and converts some of it into heat.

The clear plastic allows sunlight to enter while helping slow the escape of the warmed air.

And the closed box helps hold that warmer air inside.

That’s also why adjusting the reflector and improving the seal made sense when ours wasn’t getting as hot as we’d hoped.

The project becomes a really tangible way to talk about reflection, absorption, heat transfer, and solar energy without those concepts feeling quite so abstract.

If your kids like learning by actually building and testing something, we had a very different experience with our Paper Roller Coaster STEM Project, where we experimented with gravity, momentum, and lots of trial and error.

Did Our Pizza Box Solar Oven Actually Work?

Technically? Yes.

As an actual kitchen appliance? I wouldn’t cancel your oven delivery just yet. 😂

We chose to test ours with s’mores because the chocolate only needed to soften and melt rather than truly cook.

And eventually, it did. The problem we hadn’t really considered was humidity inside the box.

We were deliberately trying to trap warm air inside our homemade oven. That also meant trapping moisture. Our graham crackers became soggy.

The chocolate melted, so from an experiment standpoint we had accomplished what we needed to accomplish. From a snack standpoint, nobody was fighting over the finished product. We threw it away.

I was also very aware that we were leaving food outside for an extended period of time and didn’t particularly want ants discovering our science experiment before we did.

So if I repeated this project, I’d be thinking less about making the perfect solar-powered snack and more about choosing foods that provide a clear, visible change.

The Accidental Solar Oven We’d Been Using All Along

There was also some irony happening in the background of this entire project.

While we were at the renovation jobsite every day, some of the workers would bring their lunches with them in the morning and leave them on the dashboard of their vehicles. By lunchtime, their food was warm.

Meanwhile, we were taking time off from the jobsite to sit at home repositioning a foil-covered pizza box and begging the clouds to move. Apparently we’d been parking next to a pretty effective demonstration of solar heat the entire time.

It also gave us a very relatable real-world example of the same basic idea: sunlight enters through the vehicle’s windows, surfaces inside absorb that energy, and heat builds up inside.

Want to Turn It Into More of a Science Experiment?

Building the oven demonstrates the basic concept, but changing one variable at a time turns it into a much more interesting experiment.

This is where I’d use an oven thermometer if we did the project again.

Kids could record the starting temperature inside the oven, check it at regular intervals, and then change one part of the setup to see whether it makes a measurable difference.

Try experimenting with:

• Different reflector angles
• Sunny versus partly cloudy conditions
• Different times of day
• A better-sealed versus loosely sealed window
• Black paper versus a lighter-colored surface
• Additional insulation around the box
• Different locations around the yard
• Different foods of similar sizes

Have kids make a prediction before each change, record what happens, and compare the results afterward.

Even if the oven doesn’t get particularly hot, the data itself becomes part of the project.

What Foods Can You Try in a Pizza Box Solar Oven?

After our soggy-s’more experience, I would approach this less as “What can we cook?” and more as “What can we watch change?”

A homemade pizza box oven isn’t going to maintain the consistent temperatures of a real kitchen oven, so foods that only need to warm, soften, or melt make much more sense.

Chocolate

Chocolate is probably where I’d start. You can simply watch a piece soften or turn it into an experiment by comparing different types or sizes of chocolate.

Which melts first? Does a thin piece melt faster than a thick one? What happens if you move one piece closer to the reflected sunlight?

Cheese

Cheese gives kids another very visible change without needing to actually cook something through. Try comparing shredded cheese with a thicker slice and have kids predict which one will soften first.

Again, place it on parchment, foil, or another food-safe surface rather than directly on the paper lining the box.

Marshmallows

Marshmallows can soften and change texture in the heat, although we didn’t get the browned, toasted exterior you’d get over a campfire.

You could even put chocolate and a marshmallow side by side and compare what happens to each over the same amount of time.

The point doesn’t have to be creating something delicious. Sometimes the better experiment is simply asking, “What do you think will happen?” and then finding out.

If Your Kid Wants to Keep Experimenting With Solar Energy

One of the nice things about this project is that you really don’t need a special kit to explore solar energy. A cardboard box, some foil and a stubborn willingness to wait for the clouds to move gave us plenty to experiment with.

But if your child finishes the project wondering what else sunlight can actually do, there are some fun ways to take that curiosity further.

See Solar Energy Create Movement

Our pizza box solar oven used sunlight to create heat. A solar-powered robot gives kids a completely different way to see that energy at work.

The Sillbird 12-in-1 Solar Robot Building Kit lets kids build and rebuild different models that can actually move using solar power. I especially like this as a follow-up because the solar panel isn’t just part of the theme. It’s part of what makes the finished build work, so kids can see the connection between available sunlight and what their robot is able to do.

It also has a battery-powered option, which would have been particularly useful during the two cloudy days we spent trying to convince our solar oven to cooperate.

Go Deeper Into Green Energy

For a kid who becomes really interested in how we can turn natural energy into usable power, Snap Circuits Green Energy takes the idea much further.

Instead of focusing only on solar power, kids can work through more than 125 projects involving solar, wind, hydro, hand-generated power, rechargeable batteries and other forms of alternative energy. It gives them a chance to build, test and compare different ways energy can be generated and used rather than completing one experiment and being done with it.

This one is definitely a bigger step beyond the pizza box project, but it’s also the kind of kit a curious kid can keep coming back to as they start asking bigger questions about where energy comes from and how it works.

More STEM Tools for Curious Kids

I’ve also put together a growing list of STEM Projects & Hands-On Learning for Kids with engineering kits, science tools, building projects and other resources that pair well with the hands-on learning activities we do at home.

I’m adding to it as we find worthwhile ways to extend the projects we’re already doing, rather than filling it with every STEM toy we come across.

If The Food Science Was The Fun Part

Not every kid is going to finish a solar oven project fascinated by renewable energy. Some are going to finish it wondering what other foods they can experiment with.

I completely understand that direction too.

Experiment With the Science of Ice Cream

The KiwiCo Science of Cooking: Ice Cream Kit takes the same combination of food and science in almost the opposite direction. Instead of using sunlight to create heat, kids experiment with ice, salt and ingredients to explore what happens when things get cold.

Kids can make their own ice cream and sorbet while learning about things like ice crystals, freezing and the science behind the texture of the finished food. I like this as a follow-up to the solar oven because both activities start with something kids already understand and care about—food—and use it to make the science much easier to see.

Ready to Graduate to the Real Kitchen?

Of course, kids don’t need a science kit to keep experimenting with food.

If the cooking part of this project was the biggest hit, there are plenty of simple things kids can learn to make in the regular kitchen without starting with complicated recipes or needing a parent to do every step.

That’s exactly why I put together Easy Foods Kids Can Make Themselves: Simple Snacks, Meals & Kitchen Ideas. These are realistic foods and kitchen skills kids can gradually learn to handle more independently as they’re ready.

Because as fun as melting chocolate with the sun can be, sometimes you just want lunch before the clouds roll in.

More Hands-On Learning Ideas

If your child likes projects where they get to build, test, and figure out why something works—or why it doesn’t—try our Paper Roller Coaster STEM Project next. We built a working roller coaster completely from paper and learned quite a bit through trial and error.

For kids who are always building, experimenting, solving puzzles, or asking how things work, you can also browse my Gift Ideas for Curious Kids Ages 8–12 for more learning toys, books, games, and creative tools.

The post Pizza Box Solar Oven STEM Project: What Happened When We Tried It appeared first on Thanks Mommy Blog.

Some of these are actual crafts we’ve made together over the years, while others are simple variations you can create with the same supplies and techniques. I’ve also included a few easy Halloween activities for the days when you want something festive without committing to a full craft.

Most use basic art supplies we already keep around the house, and several can be adapted depending on your child’s age or whatever you happen to have available.

* This post includes Affiliate Links.

Easy Halloween Craft Supplies to Keep Around

You definitely don’t need to buy a new set of supplies for every Halloween project. A pretty basic kids’ art stash can make most of the crafts on this list.

Some of the supplies we use over and over include:

• Construction paper and cardstock
• Washable tempera paint
• Paint sticks
• Watercolors
• Washable markers and crayons
• School glue
• Kid-friendly scissors
• Paintbrushes and sponge brushes
• Googly eyes
• Tissue paper
• Q-tips
• Yarn
• Perler/fuse beads
• Paper plates
• Toilet paper rolls and other clean recycled cardboard

If you like keeping a basic craft stash ready to go, I put together our kids’ art and craft supplies we actually use in one place. It includes the paper, paints, scissors, glue, googly eyes, Perler beads, and other supplies we reach for again and again.

Tip: Save clean cardboard, toilet paper rolls and scraps from other projects. They’re surprisingly useful for kids’ crafts, and you’ll see several ways to use them below.

Cute Ghost Crafts for Kids

Ghosts are probably one of the easiest Halloween themes to turn into a kids’ craft. They don’t need to be perfectly shaped, which also makes them especially good for letting kids make their own versions.

1. Colorful Scrape-Painted Ghosts

These might be some of my favorite Halloween ghosts because there’s no reason Halloween art has to be black and orange.

Add several colors of paint to paper, then use a piece of scrap cardboard to pull or scrape the paint across the page. Once it dries, cut the painted paper into rounded ghost shapes and add simple faces.

We added little bows to ours, which made them even cuter.

You’ll need: paper, washable paint, scrap cardboard, scissors and markers.

2. Leaf-Print Ghosts

Paint the surface of a leaf white and press it onto colored construction paper. The leaf texture creates an imperfect little ghost shape all by itself.

Once the paint dries, add googly eyes and a small painted or drawn mouth.

It’s a fun way to combine a fall nature activity with Halloween.

You’ll need: leaves, white paint, construction paper and googly eyes.

3. Yarn Ghosts

These yarn ghosts are one of the Halloween projects that eventually became decorations in our house. They’re made by wrapping and tying white yarn, shaping the head and adding simple details like googly eyes and ribbon.

You can make one or make several and turn them into a garland.

I already have the complete step-by-step instructions, photos and a little trick I used to help the ghosts keep their shape in my yarn ghost craft tutorial.

4. Watercolor-Resist Ghost Art

Draw ghost shapes using a white crayon or another resist medium and paint watercolor over the page. As the paint moves across the paper, the hidden white design begins to appear.

You can use the same idea for candy corn, spiderwebs, pumpkins, bats or Halloween words.

You’ll need: watercolor paper, white crayons and watercolor paints.

Pumpkin, Bat & Fall Art Projects

5. Paint-Stick Pumpkin Art

Paint sticks are one of those supplies that make it ridiculously easy to pull out an art project without setting up cups of paint and brushes.

Draw or lightly outline a pumpkin and let kids layer orange, red, yellow, brown and green paint-stick colors to fill it in. The chunky texture works especially well for pumpkins.

6. Paint-Stick Fall Leaves

The same paint sticks can become a completely different art project.

Fill a sheet with overlapping fall leaf shapes and use bold fall colors inside each one. Kids can add veins and outlines afterward or simply experiment with the colors.

This works as a general fall activity too, so it doesn’t have to disappear the minute Halloween is over.

7. Patterned Fall Leaves

For kids who like drawing details, divide paper leaves into different sections and fill each section with its own lines, dots, waves, grids and other patterns.

We paired our black-and-white leaves with a bright red, orange and yellow background.

There really isn’t a right pattern to use — that’s part of what makes this a good open-ended art activity.

8. Colorful Bat Art

Cut bat silhouettes from colored paper or use them as a resist while kids create colorful backgrounds around them.

Our bats ended up surrounded by bright brush strokes rather than traditional Halloween colors, which is exactly why I like this project.

9. Halloween Watercolor Art

Watercolor also works beautifully for simple Halloween shapes. Pumpkins, ghosts, bats and candy corn are all recognizable enough that kids don’t need complicated drawings.

Let them draw their own shapes first or provide a simple outline and let the painting be the main activity.

Halloween Crafts Using Paper

10. Witch Hat Cutting Practice

Cutting simple witch hats is an easy way to turn basic construction paper into a Halloween activity.

Draw or provide several triangle-style witch hats and let kids practice cutting around the shapes. Older kids can decorate them afterward with patterns, buckles, stars or whatever they come up with.

You’ll need: construction paper, pencil/marker and kid-friendly scissors.

11. Tissue-Paper Halloween Mosaic

Cut tissue paper into little squares and glue them onto a simple Halloween outline.

A pumpkin, candy corn, ghost, bat or witch hat would all work. Kids can completely fill the shape or layer colors to create their own pattern.

We’ve used this mosaic-style technique for other projects, and it’s easy to adapt to practically any season.

12. Torn Paper Halloween Characters

Instead of cutting everything into perfect shapes, let kids tear construction paper into pieces and use them to build a Halloween character.

A pumpkin, ghost, monster or black cat can all be made from simple torn shapes. Younger kids can work from a basic outline, while older kids can build their picture from scratch and add details with markers or googly eyes.

This is an easy one to adapt to whatever paper colors you already have.

You’ll need: construction paper, glue, markers and optional googly eyes.

NO IMAGE NEEDED.

13. Build-a-Monster Paper Craft

Give kids a pile of colorful paper scraps and let them build the silliest monster they can imagine.

Start with a larger shape for the body, then cut or tear paper to add arms, legs, horns, ears, teeth or whatever else the monster needs. Add googly eyes—or several of them—and use markers to finish the face and other details.

There’s no example to copy and no right way for the monster to look, which is part of the fun. It’s also a good way to use up the random construction paper and cardstock scraps left behind from other projects.

You’ll need: construction paper or cardstock scraps, glue, scissors, markers and optional googly eyes.

Easy variation: Instead of building the monster entirely from paper, have kids create the body with paint, a handprint or another art technique first, then add the paper details once it’s dry.

Recycled Halloween Crafts

14. Halloween Toilet Paper Roll Characters

This is one of those activities where one material turns into an entire afternoon of ideas.

We’ve made Halloween characters from toilet paper rolls including a mummy, ghost, monster, vampire, pumpkin, Frankenstein, bat and witch. The basic roll becomes the body and kids can completely change the character with paper, paint and little details.

Rather than repeating all eight tutorials here, you can find the complete ideas in my Halloween toilet paper roll crafts for kids post.

15. Egg Carton Halloween Creatures

Don’t toss an empty cardboard egg carton—it can become a whole collection of little Halloween creatures.

Cut the individual cups apart and let kids paint and decorate them as pumpkins, spiders, bats, ghosts or silly monsters. Add googly eyes, pipe cleaners, paper wings or other craft scraps depending on what they’re making.

For a spider, poke small holes in the sides and add pipe-cleaner legs. A pumpkin only needs orange paint and a little green paper stem, while monsters can have as many eyes, teeth and weird little details as kids want to give them.

You’ll need: a clean cardboard egg carton, washable paint, glue, scissors and whatever extras you have around—googly eyes, pipe cleaners, construction paper, pom poms, or markers all work.

Halloween Crafts With Everyday Supplies

16. Q-Tip Skeleton Craft

Q-tips make surprisingly convincing little bones.

Kids can arrange them into a full skeleton, skeleton hand or another X-ray-inspired shape on black construction paper. Cutting some Q-tips into different lengths gives them more pieces to work with.

We made skeleton hands, and I have the complete instructions — including the much-less-messy way we applied glue — in my Q-tip skeleton craft tutorial.

17. Halloween Perler Beads

Perler beads are especially good when kids have moved beyond some of the younger paper-and-glue crafts but still enjoy making things.

Pumpkins, ghosts, candy corn, spiderwebs and other small Halloween designs work well because they’re recognizable without requiring enormous patterns.

18. Halloween Googly-Eye Art

Sometimes the googly eyes are basically the whole craft.

Paint or print simple Halloween shapes — ghosts, monsters, pumpkins or even leaf prints — and let kids choose mismatched eyes to give each character its own expression.

This is particularly good for using up assorted googly eyes left over from other projects.

Halloween Sensory & Play Activities

19. Halloween Sensory Bin

A sensory bin doesn’t need to be complicated to feel seasonal.

Start with a base such as dried beans, rice or another sensory material and add Halloween pieces, little containers, scoops, tongs and measuring tools.

Kids can scoop, sort, hide objects, count pieces or simply play.

20. Halloween Play Dough

Turn regular play dough into a Halloween invitation-to-play by adding orange, purple or black dough along with Halloween cutters, googly eyes or small accessories.

Kids can make pumpkins, monsters, ghosts and whatever else they invent.

Easy Halloween Activities & Printables

Not every Halloween activity needs glue, paint and a cleanup afterward. These are good options for quieter afternoons, learning breaks, restaurant activities or simply when you need something you can print and use.

21. Free Halloween Activity Sheets

I made a small set of printable Halloween activity sheets that combines seasonal fun with simple reading, counting and observation.

The five-page pack includes:

• Halloween word search
• Count and match
• Read and match
• Which one doesn’t belong?
• Halloween I Spy/counting activity

The free printable pack includes all five Halloween activities shown above. Download it below, print the pages you want, and you’re ready to go.

22. Free Halloween Coloring Pages

For something even easier, print out a few Halloween coloring pages and put out crayons, colored pencils or washable markers.

I have two free Halloween coloring collections to choose from, depending on the age of your kids and how much detail they enjoy.

The first collection includes a mix of simple and more detailed Halloween designs, from a pumpkin and candy corn to witches, monsters and other playful Halloween characters. The variety makes it easy for kids to choose a page based on how much detail they feel like coloring.

I also have an older collection of eight simple Halloween coloring pages. These have larger designs and less detail, making them an especially good option for toddlers, preschoolers and younger kids.

23. Draw Your Own Halloween Characters

Give kids blank paper and a few Halloween prompts instead of a template:

Can you draw a silly monster? A friendly ghost? The weirdest pumpkin ever? A bat wearing a costume?

It’s incredibly simple, but sometimes removing the example produces much more interesting artwork.

Use markers, crayons, paint sticks or whatever you already have out.

24. Halloween Color Challenge

Pick a Halloween shape and challenge kids to make it using completely unexpected colors.

Pink ghost? Blue pumpkin? Rainbow bat?

It’s a tiny twist, but it’s a fun way to move away from always giving kids an orange-and-black example to copy.

And considering how many of our own Halloween projects ended up pink, purple, blue and neon, I’m clearly not very committed to traditional Halloween colors anyway.

25. Create Your Own Halloween Art Station

If you have several of these supplies already, you don’t even have to choose one craft.

Set out construction paper, paint sticks or markers, scissors, glue, googly eyes and a few scraps of paper and let kids decide what Halloween creation they want to make.

You may end up with ghosts and pumpkins — or something you never would have thought to put on a craft list.

That’s part of the fun.

Keep Halloween Crafts Simple

You don’t need elaborate craft kits or perfectly planned projects to make Halloween feel fun.

Some of our favorite activities over the years came from things we already had around the house: Q-tips became skeleton bones, leaves became ghosts, cardboard became a painting tool, toilet paper rolls became an entire collection of Halloween characters, and regular art supplies became whatever the kids imagined that day.

If you want to try several of these throughout October, keep a small basket of your most-used supplies somewhere accessible and rotate the activity rather than buying something new every time.

And if you’re looking for more ways to make the season fun beyond crafts, I also have a collection of Halloween-at-home ideas and activities. The article was originally written during the pandemic, but several of the activities still work for any Halloween at home.

A Few of Our Favorite Halloween Crafts

If you’re not sure where to start, I’d pick:

• For an easy art project: scrape-painted ghosts
• For older kids: Halloween Perler beads
• For little hands/fine-motor practice: tissue-paper mosaic
• For recycled materials: toilet paper roll Halloween characters
• For almost no setup: free Halloween printables
• For something you’ll actually decorate with: yarn ghosts

The best Halloween activity isn’t necessarily the fanciest one. Pick something that fits the supplies you already have, your kids’ ages and — maybe most importantly — how much cleanup you’re willing to deal with that day.

Happy Halloween! 🎃

The post 25+ Cute Halloween Crafts for Kids & Easy Activities appeared first on Thanks Mommy Blog.

When they were little, helping might have meant pouring something into a bowl, rolling dough, adding a handful of spinach to a pan while I stood right there, or spending five minutes cutting fruit with a plastic knife before losing interest. As they got older, those little jobs gradually turned into things they could make more independently.

Now they’ll make themselves toast or bagels, put together snacks, cut fruit and vegetables, bake, experiment with the toaster oven, or randomly decide they want to freeze something just to see what happens.

The foods themselves have never needed to be complicated. In fact, the easiest foods are usually the ones they return to most.

So rather than a collection of elaborate “kid recipes,” these are easy foods kids can make themselves, plus some of the simple kitchen projects and skills that have worked well in our house over the years.

* This post includes Affiliate Links.

Start With Helping, Not Making a Whole Meal

Before my kids could make food themselves, they helped. Sometimes that meant actually working through a recipe together. Other times, I gave them one very small part of whatever I was already doing.

They could add an ingredient. Stir something. Sprinkle cheese. Roll dough. Tear lettuce. Put toppings on something.

When they were little, I actually preferred this. Their attention spans were short, and I was nervous about having them around a hot stove for too long. They didn’t need to participate in every step for it to count.

Over time, those tiny jobs added up. Measuring, spreading, scooping, cutting, reading a recipe and cleaning up stopped feeling like completely new skills every time they entered the kitchen. And eventually, “Can I help?” started turning into “Can I make this?”

Easy Foods and Kitchen Activities Kids Can Make

Once kids are ready to do a little more on their own, there are plenty of simple foods and kitchen activities they can try. These are some of the ones that have worked well for us at different stages.

1. Toast, Bagels and Crackers

This is probably one of the most realistic places to start because there’s almost no recipe involved.

We reach for breads a lot, especially when we need something quickly. The kids can change what goes on top depending on what we have and what they’re in the mood for.

Some easy combinations:

• Bagel + cream cheese
• Bagel + Nutella
• Toast + peanut butter
• Toast + peanut butter and banana
• Crackers + cheese
• Crackers + deli meat and cheese
• Toast or bagel pizzas
• Toast with melted cheese
• Bread or crackers with avocado

Bagel pizzas have been an especially easy one here: sauce, cheese, whatever toppings they want, and into the toaster oven.

Ollie has also started experimenting more with our toaster oven lately and discovered the broil setting—mostly because melted and browned cheese makes just about everything better.

Obviously, appliance use depends on the child. This is one of those skills we introduced gradually rather than deciding that reaching a certain age suddenly made someone ready.

2. Fruit, Parfaits and Easy Snack Bowls

Fruit is another easy place for kids to start because they can do as little or as much preparation as they’re ready for. A bowl of berries requires almost nothing. Older kids can wash and cut strawberries, bananas, apples, oranges or whatever fruit you keep around.

When mine were younger, we started with serrated plastic knives before gradually teaching them to use regular knives. Even now, Luna sometimes grabs the plastic one because it works perfectly well for what she’s doing.

Parfaits are another favorite because there really aren’t rules. Start with yogurt and let kids add things like:

• Fresh fruit
• Granola
• Cereal
• Chocolate oats
• Sprinkles
• Chocolate chips
• Honey
• Crushed crackers or cookies

You can use the same idea for smoothie bowls, oatmeal or even just a bowl of fruit with toppings.

It’s less about creating the perfect snack and more about giving them ingredients they can combine themselves.

3. Snack Skewers and Foods on a Stick

Putting food on a stick somehow makes completely ordinary ingredients more interesting.

We’ve done things as simple as orange slices on a stick, but you can mix and match whatever your kids actually eat:

• Tomato + cheese
• Fruit combinations
• Cheese + deli meat
• Banana + strawberry
• Cucumber + cheese
• Fruit + mini pancakes or waffles
• Sandwich pieces

Reusable food picks or small cocktail skewers are especially handy for this, and they can also make a basic lunch or snack plate more fun without creating an entirely different meal.

For younger kids, choose picks appropriate for their age and supervise as needed.

4. Wraps, Quesadillas, Tacos and Mini Sandwiches

This category can become as simple or complicated as your refrigerator allows.

Ham and cheese roll-ups require almost no preparation. Tortillas can become pinwheels, wraps or quesadillas. Sandwiches can be cut into strips, squares or small pieces.

Quesadillas were a regular around here for a while because they’re so easy to customize. Start with cheese and add chicken, ham, beans or vegetables if you have them.

Tacos work the same way. Younger kids can help fill and assemble their own, while older kids can take on more of the prep—cutting toppings, making guacamole, warming tortillas or eventually helping cook the filling. Putting everything out separately also lets everyone build theirs however they like.

A pizza cutter is surprisingly useful for more than pizza too. We use ours for things like sandwiches, dough, quesadillas and other foods that are easier to divide with a rolling blade.

5. Simple Salads and Vegetable Prep

A salad doesn’t have to mean handing a child ten vegetables and asking them to make dinner. Start with two or three ingredients they like.

Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, cheese, avocado, leftover chicken, corn, carrots or deli meat can all work. They can tear lettuce, cut softer vegetables, add toppings and toss everything together.

This is also where all that earlier cutting practice becomes useful.

There’s a big difference between a young child carefully sawing through a banana with a plastic knife and an older child independently chopping vegetables, but one can eventually lead to the other. And neither needs to happen on a particular timeline.

6. Pizza Is Basically a Kitchen Activity

We’ve made pizza more than once over the years, and it’s one of those foods that grows with kids.

You can start incredibly simple with English muffins, bagels, naan, pita or premade crust. Give them sauce, shredded cheese and a few toppings and let them assemble their own. Or make it into a bigger project with pizza dough.

Making dough introduces measuring, mixing, kneading and rolling. Making individual pizzas also means everyone can choose their own toppings—which helps when everyone suddenly has very strong opinions about what belongs on a pizza.

A rolling pin, baking sheets, parchment paper, silicone brush and pizza cutter are all tools we use for projects like these. I keep these and some of our other favorite kitchen tools in my Family Baking Essentials list on Amazon.

7. Easy Doughs and Baking Projects

Baking has been one of the easiest ways to let my kids practice kitchen skills because so many of the jobs can be separated. One child can measure. Someone else pours. They can take turns mixing, rolling, scooping or decorating. And you don’t always need to make everything from scratch.

Premade cookie dough, crescent dough, pizza dough and other ready-to-bake options can give kids practice shaping and baking something without requiring a long recipe first.

As they get more comfortable, they can follow more of the recipe themselves. We use cookie scoops all the time because they make portioning dough much easier. The kids have used them for cookies and other mixtures where we want reasonably even portions.

If you want an easy recipe to make together, our Snickerdoodle Cookies are one of the recipes already on the blog.

8. Eggs and Other Simple Stove Foods

Eventually, helping at the stove can turn into actually cooking. Eggs are a good example because kids can learn several separate skills: cracking eggs, whisking, seasoning, pouring and stirring.

This obviously isn’t where we started. When the kids were younger, standing near me and tossing an ingredient into a pan was enough. Stove safety and independence came later as we saw what each child could handle.

That same progression can work with foods like:

• Scrambled eggs
• Grilled cheese
• Quesadillas
• Pancakes
• Simple pasta
• Heated leftovers

The goal isn’t getting kids cooking independently as quickly as possible. It’s letting their responsibility grow along with their skills.

9. Let Them Read the Recipe

One of the things I like about cooking and baking is how many other skills sneak into it. Recipes involve reading directions, sequencing, measuring, fractions, timing and figuring out what to do when something doesn’t look quite right.

Eventually, you can step back a little.

Mine still ask questions. They still forget things. Sometimes their interpretation of a direction is…creative. But that’s part of figuring it out.

Following a recipe independently is very different from simply helping me make one, and it’s another little step toward being able to take care of themselves.

10. Pudding, Jell-O and Other Easy Desserts

Not everything has to be a full baking project. Pudding mix is ridiculously simple, but kids still get to measure, whisk, pour and add toppings. Jell-O gives them another chance to follow directions and watch ingredients completely change form.

Put out toppings like:

• Sprinkles
• Fruit
• Crushed cookies
• Cereal
• Chocolate chips
• Whipped cream

…and suddenly making pudding becomes an activity.

These are also good choices when kids want to “make something” and you do not particularly want to spend the afternoon cleaning flour off every horizontal surface in the kitchen.

11. Freeze Something and See What Happens

This may be one of my kids’ favorite categories because it feels more like experimenting than cooking. They’ve frozen sliced bananas, fruit and different mixtures in ice molds and silicone molds just to see what happens.

Sometimes it turns into a snack. Other times it’s more of an experiment. And occasionally we learn that we absolutely do not need to make that again. All three are acceptable outcomes.

Try things like:

• Frozen banana slices
• Yogurt + fruit in silicone molds
• Fruit in ice cube trays
• Juice or flavored water ice cubes
• Chocolate + fruit combinations
• Yogurt bites
• Smoothie leftovers frozen into small portions

Thin cutting boards are handy here because ours can fit into our very packed freezer when somebody has created yet another experiment that needs to stay flat. Silicone molds and ice cube trays are fun for experimenting with different shapes and small portions, while reusable zip bags work well for things like frozen banana slices and fruit.

12. Make Ice Cream in a Bag

We’ve done ice cream in a bag several times, and this one lands somewhere between snack, kitchen project and science experiment. You put the ice cream mixture in a smaller sealed bag, surround it with ice and salt inside a larger bag, and shake. A lot.

Kids get to watch a liquid mixture gradually turn into something resembling ice cream—which is much more exciting than pulling a carton out of the freezer. It’s also the kind of activity where the process is at least as important as the final food.

13. Let Them Experiment

As the kids have gotten older, this has probably become my favorite part. They start wondering what will happen if they change something.

Can I put this in the toaster oven? What if I broil the cheese? Can I freeze this? What happens if I add this topping?

Not every experiment is delicious. That’s okay. Being comfortable enough in the kitchen to try something, mess it up and try something different next time is part of learning too.

Kitchen Tools That Have Actually Helped

You definitely do not need a kitchen full of special children’s cooking tools.

A lot of what my kids use is exactly what we use: bowls, forks, baking sheets, a pizza cutter, cutting boards, measuring cups and our regular appliances.

There are a few things that have been especially useful at different stages, though:

• Serrated plastic knives for beginning cutting practice
• Regular cutting boards, including thin ones that fit easily in small spaces or the freezer
• A sturdy step stool
• Cookie scoops
• Rolling pin
• Silicone pastry brush
• Pizza cutter
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Baking sheets
• Silicone or ice molds
• Reusable zip bags
• Reusable food picks/skewers

I put many of the kitchen tools we actually use—or similar options—together in my Family Baking & Kitchen Essentials list, including tools for baking, simple meals, snacks, and all the random kitchen experiments that happen around here.

I’d rather have a handful of tools that get used for ten different things than a drawer full of gadgets designed for one specific kid activity.

What Kids Can Make Depends on the Kid

I hesitate to attach ages to most of these ideas because kids are different. One child may be perfectly capable of following a recipe but not ready to safely handle a hot pan. Another may have excellent knife skills but still need reminders to actually read the next direction.

We introduced things gradually. Plastic knives came before regular knives. Tiny jobs near the stove came before cooking at the stove. Helping with a recipe came before following one independently.

And even now, independence isn’t all-or-nothing. Sometimes they make something themselves. Other times, we cook together, or I do most of it and ask them to help with one thing.

That still counts.

Easy Food Ideas Kids Can Grow Into

If your child is just starting to help in the kitchen, you don’t need to begin with an entire recipe.

Let them spread cream cheese on a bagel. Cut a banana. Put toppings on their pizza. Scoop cookie dough. Add something to the bowl. Then build from there.

A lot of the things my kids make now started as one tiny job I gave them years ago because I was already standing in the kitchen making something anyway. And somewhere along the way, helping became knowing how.

More Ideas for Building Independence With Kids

If you’re working on giving kids more opportunities to do things themselves, you may also like:

• The Little Things That Teach Kids Independence Before We Realize It
• Practical Toddler “Chores” That Encourage Independence
• Personal Care Skills for Kids: How We Build Independence as They Grow

The post Easy Foods Kids Can Make Themselves: Simple Snacks, Meals & Kitchen Ideas appeared first on Thanks Mommy Blog.

My son, Ollie, originally built his roller coaster for a second-grade Advanced Academics assignment. The challenge was to create a working roller coaster using paper tracks and a marble, which turned out to involve a lot more engineering and problem-solving than you might expect from a pile of paper.

There was plenty of building, testing, adjusting, rebuilding…and chasing runaway marbles. But that trial and error ended up being one of the best parts of the project.

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Our Paper Roller Coaster STEM Project

We used paper roller coaster templates from Science Buddies to create the different tracks, curves, loops and supports.

Ollie used a cardboard box as his base and planned a course with multiple levels, drops, turns and loops. A plastic cup at the end served as the finish line for the marble. The goal wasn’t just to build something that looked like a roller coaster—the marble actually had to travel through the entire course and make it into the cup.

That was considerably harder than it sounds.

What You Need to Build a Paper Roller Coaster

Our version used pretty basic supplies, and we already had most of them at home:

• Paper roller coaster templates
• Paper or cardstock
• Cardboard box or another sturdy base
• Scissors
• Tape
• Marble
• Cup or container for the finish

Your exact supplies will depend on the design your child creates and the templates you use. We used colorful paper for ours, which made the finished roller coaster really fun and colorful, but it was also fairly flimsy. If we did it again, I’d probably use this thicker cardstock instead, especially for the tracks and supports. It’s from the same brand we used for the original project, but sturdier and better suited for something that needs to hold its shape.

A sturdy base was also especially helpful because the roller coaster became fairly large and three-dimensional as Ollie added more sections. And you’ll want more tape than you think you need. Paper roller coasters are not the place to be precious about tape.

How the Roller Coaster STEM Challenge Works

The basic idea is simple: build a track that allows a marble to travel from a starting point to the finish using gravity. Once kids begin adding hills, curves, drops and loops, however, they have to consider whether the marble will have enough speed to make it through each section without stopping or flying off the track.

That turns the activity into an engineering challenge. Instead of simply assembling pieces according to directions, kids can experiment with the layout, test different ideas and make changes based on what actually happens.

What Kids Learn From a Paper Roller Coaster

This project combines quite a bit of learning into one activity. Kids can see concepts like gravity, potential and kinetic energy, speed and momentum in action while also working through an engineering design problem.

For Ollie, a big part of the experience was troubleshooting. When the marble didn’t make it through the course, he had to figure out where it went wrong and what needed to change. Sometimes that meant adjusting the height of a track, reinforcing a support or reworking a section that looked good but simply didn’t work.

That’s one of the things I liked most about this project: the mistakes were actually part of the learning. The goal wasn’t just to make a cool-looking roller coaster. He had to make it work.

Want to see it in action? Watch the paper roller coaster test in my Instagram Reel.

What Was Harder Than We Expected

Paper is obviously lightweight, which is convenient for building but not always convenient for engineering. Tracks can sag, supports can shift, and a curve that looks perfectly fine can send a marble straight off the side.

We also found that getting one section to work didn’t necessarily mean it would still work once everything was connected. Changing the height or angle of one track could affect what happened farther along the course, so there was a lot of testing and adjusting as the coaster grew.

The more elaborate the design became, the more important the supports were too. Ollie’s coaster ended up going up, down and around itself several times, so keeping everything sturdy enough for repeated marble runs became part of the challenge.

Tips Before You Build Your Own

If your child is trying a similar paper roller coaster STEM project, these are the things I’d keep in mind after doing it ourselves:

• Start with a sturdy base. It makes the finished coaster easier to build, test and move.
• Test as you go. Don’t build the entire course before trying the marble. It’s much easier to troubleshoot one section at a time.
• Expect to make changes. A track that looks right may not actually work once the marble reaches it.
• Pay attention to height. The marble needs enough energy to make it through whatever comes next, especially loops and more complicated sections.
• Reinforce the supports. As the coaster gets taller and heavier, small shifts can change how the marble travels.
• Let kids troubleshoot. If you immediately fix every problem for them, they miss one of the most valuable parts of the project.

How much help a child needs will obviously depend on their age and the requirements of the assignment. Ollie was in second grade when he made his, so this was very much a kid project with support when he needed it—not something I expected him to engineer entirely alone.

The Finished Roller Coaster

Eventually, after plenty of adjustments, the marble could travel through Ollie’s course and reach the end. The finished roller coaster was colorful, slightly chaotic and definitely not structurally elegant—but it worked.

And I think that’s part of why I still like this project years later. The crooked tracks, excessive tape and obviously adjusted sections show the actual process of figuring something out. It wasn’t supposed to be a perfect model made by an adult; it was supposed to give a kid a problem and let him work through it.

It’s also apparently one of those school projects I felt the need to photograph from approximately 47 different angles before we finally got rid of it. In hindsight, I’m glad I did.

If Your Kid Wants to Keep Experimenting

One of the nice things about this project is that you really don’t need a special kit to try it. Paper, tape, a marble and a cardboard box gave Ollie plenty to experiment with.

But if your kid finishes a project like this and immediately wants to build another one, there are some fun ways to take the same ideas further without starting another school assignment.

Try a More Advanced Roller Coaster Build

If your child really likes the roller coaster part of the challenge, a reusable roller coaster engineering kit is a fun next step. Instead of working with paper tracks, kids can build and rebuild different coaster designs while experimenting with things like height, speed, force and motion.

Thames & Kosmos makes a Roller Coaster Engineering kit that caught my attention for exactly this reason. We haven’t tried this particular kit, but we do have another Thames & Kosmos engineering kit that Ollie loved, so it’s a brand I’d personally look at again for this kind of hands-on project.

Keep Building, Testing and Rebuilding

If your child liked testing the track and watching what happened each time, a marble run takes that same trial-and-error idea in a different direction. Kids can build a course, run the marbles through it and keep changing the design to see what works.

The National Geographic Motorized Marble Run is a fun option because kids can create different layouts, while the motorized elevator carries the marbles back to the top to keep the run going. I like that it still leaves plenty of room for experimenting rather than having just one finished configuration.

For kids who enjoy a more involved build, the LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Space Roller Coaster is another interesting way to continue the idea. Kids can build a working roller coaster, then take it apart and rebuild the same pieces into a drop tower or carousel. I especially like the 3-in-1 concept here because the fun isn’t limited to completing one model—they get another reason to take it apart, rebuild and see how a completely different ride works.

Explore Real Roller Coaster Engineering

Some kids may finish a project like this and become more curious about how real roller coasters are designed. That’s where a book can be a nice next step, especially for a kid who wants to know why the coaster works instead of immediately building another one.

So You Want to Be a Roller Coaster Designer (Theme Park Engineer) takes kids into the real-world design and engineering behind roller coasters, including physics, G-forces, materials, safety and the process of taking a coaster from an idea to a real ride. I especially like that connection here because so many of those concepts start with the same basic questions kids run into while trying to make a paper coaster actually work. The publisher positions it for ages 10–14, so I’d think of this one as a follow-up for older or especially curious kids. 

If your kids enjoy learning by building, experimenting and figuring things out for themselves, try our Pizza Box Solar Oven STEM Project next. It’s another hands-on project where the experimenting—and figuring out what isn’t working—is part of the learning.

I’ve also shared more ideas for encouraging that kind of curiosity in my  Curious Kids post, or you can browse my STEM Projects & Hands-On Learning for Kids Amazon list for more building kits, science tools and hands-on learning ideas. And if you’re curious about the bigger picture, you can see  what learning at home actually looks like for us, including the supplies, tools and resources we still use as the kids get older.

The post Paper Roller Coaster STEM Project: What We Learned Building One at Home appeared first on Thanks Mommy Blog.

There isn’t one day when they suddenly wake up knowing how to get themselves ready, make something to eat, take care of their things, or handle a responsibility without us standing nearby.

It happens so gradually that sometimes we don’t even notice it happening.

When my kids were toddlers, I thought of independence in much smaller terms. Putting dirty clothes in the hamper. Trying to dress themselves. Helping me load the washing machine. Picking out their own clothes. Cleaning up a spill.

At the time, those things felt like toddler activities—or sometimes just a way to keep a little kid occupied while I was trying to get something done.

Now that my kids are older, I can see those moments differently.

Those tiny opportunities to help, practice, make choices, struggle a little, and try again were doing more than I realized. They were slowly teaching them how to take care of themselves.

And I think that’s one of the strange things about raising kids: we’re often building independence long before we can see the result.

* This post includes Affiliate Links.

Independence Starts Much Earlier Than We Think

Toddlers want to do everything themselves.

Anyone who has ever tried to leave the house while a two-year-old insists on putting on their own shoes knows exactly what I mean. It can be incredibly inconvenient.

But looking back, I think there was something important happening during all of those painfully slow attempts.

When my kids first started walking, they wanted to copy almost everything I did around the house. If I wiped up a spill, they wanted a rag. If I swept, they wanted to sweep. They helped carry clothes to the laundry room and put things into the washing machine.

I wrote about many of these things years ago in my post about practical toddler chores that encourage independence.

Back then, I mostly saw them as simple, age-appropriate ways for young kids to participate in our home. Years later, I can see the longer story.

Putting a cup in the sink eventually becomes putting away your own dishes. Helping load the washing machine eventually becomes knowing how laundry works. Picking out clothes eventually becomes getting yourself ready without asking Mom what to wear.

The task changes as they grow, but the foundation is surprisingly similar.

Sometimes Helping Them Means Letting Them Take Longer

This is probably one of the harder parts of encouraging independence. Because sometimes it would be so much easier to just do it ourselves.

A toddler might take forever to put on a shirt. A preschooler folding a towel may somehow make it look worse than before they started. A child making their own snack will probably use too many dishes and leave crumbs everywhere.

And when you’re already tired, busy, or trying to get everyone out the door, letting a child “help” can feel like creating more work for yourself. Sometimes it actually is more work.

But there is a difference between doing something for a child and teaching them how to eventually do it without you. That usually requires accepting that the learning stage is slower and messier. It also requires practice.

I see this even now with my kids. Knowing how to do something doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll do it perfectly—or remember to do it without being reminded.

Independence isn’t the absence of reminders. It’s gradually needing us a little less.

Everyday Responsibilities Become Life Skills

I don’t think every childhood responsibility needs to be turned into a formal chore. Some of the best opportunities for independence are just part of everyday life.

Young kids can put toys away, carry their dishes, help feed a pet, put dirty clothes in a hamper, or help prepare something simple in the kitchen. As they get older, those responsibilities naturally grow with them.

The child who once helped you put groceries away can eventually find and prepare their own snack. The child who carried their clothes to the hamper can learn to sort or fold laundry. The child who helped set the table can eventually prepare part of the meal.

It doesn’t have to follow a perfect schedule or an age-by-age checklist. Kids are different. Families are different. And sometimes one child is ready for a responsibility much earlier than another.

What matters more to me is noticing when they’re capable of taking the next little step—and giving them the opportunity to try.

The kitchen has been another really natural place for this, especially as they’ve learned to make some easy foods and snacks themselves.

Independence Isn’t Just About Chores

This is something I understand much better now than I did when my kids were little.

Independence isn’t only learning how to clean something or make your own sandwich. It’s also making decisions. Solving problems. Remembering responsibilities. Speaking up when you need help. Figuring something out before immediately asking someone else to do it for you.

Even something as simple as choosing clothes gives a young child a chance to make a decision and live with it. They learn what feels comfortable, what works for the weather, what they like, and eventually what they need.

The stakes are tiny when they’re little, which makes childhood such a good time to practice. They won’t always make the choice we would have made. That’s part of it too.

Sometimes We Have to Let Them Struggle a Little

I don’t mean leaving kids to figure everything out alone. There is a difference between letting a child struggle through something they are capable of learning and expecting them to handle something they aren’t ready for.

But there are so many moments when our instinct as parents is to immediately step in.

They’re frustrated with a zipper, so we zip it. They can’t open something, so we open it. They’re struggling to make something work, so we show them exactly how.

Sometimes they genuinely need the help. Other times, they need another minute.

I’ve had to learn to give my kids enough room to be frustrated without immediately removing the frustration for them. That’s not always easy—especially when they’re upset.

But learning something new is frustrating. Sometimes the frustration isn’t a sign that we need to take over. It’s just part of figuring it out.

We can still be there. We can talk them through it, offer a hint, demonstrate part of it, or help when they really need us.

The goal isn’t to make them do everything alone. It’s to slowly shift from doing it for them, to doing it with them, to eventually watching them do it themselves.

Potty Training Taught Me This the Hard Way

One of the clearest examples for me was potty training my son, and I documented a lot of our potty training struggles and what eventually worked for us while we were living through them.. It was not one of those magical stories where a child decided they were ready and we were done in a weekend.

We struggled.

There were times when I wondered whether he was ready, whether I was pushing too much, whether I should stop, and whether anything we were doing was working.

At one point, I realized he was already showing independence in so many other areas. He was picking out clothes, dressing and undressing himself, putting dirty clothes in the hamper—and had even figured out how to change his own pee diaper in the morning.

That realization changed the way I looked at his readiness. He was capable of more than I was giving him credit for, even though this particular skill was hard for him.

Our potty-training journey still wasn’t easy. We stopped and restarted. There were accidents, frustration, and plenty of trial and error. But eventually it clicked.

Looking back, I think that experience taught me something too: independence isn’t always a straight line.

A child can be incredibly independent in one area and need much more support in another. They can know how to do something and still resist doing it. They can make progress and then temporarily go backward.

That doesn’t erase everything they’ve already learned.

The Things They Suddenly Don’t Need You For

This might be the part of independence that catches me off guard the most now.

At some point, the things that required so much of your attention just… stop requiring it. You don’t necessarily notice the last time.

There’s a last time you put on their shoes because they couldn’t do it. A last time you spoon-feed them. A last diaper. A last time you buckle them into a car seat. A last time you wash their hair because they can’t do it themselves. Eventually, even the personal care skills you’ve always helped them with start becoming theirs to manage.

And usually you don’t know it’s the last time while it’s happening. One day you just realize, Wait. I haven’t done that in a while.

The toddler who desperately wanted to help with everything eventually becomes the older kid who can actually do those things.

Maybe not always without reminders. And definitely not always enthusiastically. But they can.

We Don’t Have to Rush Independence

There’s another side to all of this that I think matters. Just because our kids can do something themselves doesn’t mean we can never do it for them again.

Sometimes helping is still an act of love.

I can teach my child to make food and still make something for them. I can expect them to take care of their belongings and occasionally pick something up for them. I can encourage independence and still help when they’re tired, overwhelmed, frustrated, or simply need their mom.

The goal isn’t to make children need us as little as possible. It’s to give them the confidence and skills to handle more of life themselves while knowing we’re still here when they need us.

Those two things can exist together.

The Little Things Really Do Add Up

When my kids were toddlers, I couldn’t see where all those tiny moments were leading. I was just trying to get through the day.

Let them put the spoon in the drawer. Let them wipe up the spill. Wait while they try the zipper again. Let them order their own food when they’re ready.

Give them a small responsibility. Let them make an age-appropriate decision. Show them how, then give them a chance to try.

None of these moments feels particularly important while it’s happening. But years later, you start seeing the connections.

The independence we hope our kids will have when they’re older isn’t something we suddenly teach them when they’re ten, fifteen, or eighteen. We’ve been teaching it all along. One tiny, imperfect, sometimes painfully slow “I can do it myself” at a time.

These are also the kinds of little moments I find myself noticing more now that my kids are older. I share a lot of our everyday family life on Instagram — the responsibilities, learning, routines, and ordinary moments that don’t always need an entire blog post but are still part of this bigger story.

The post The Little Things That Teach Kids Independence Before We Realize It appeared first on Thanks Mommy Blog.

Our version of school at home is virtual school, so my kids complete most of their regular schoolwork independently on their laptops now. But learning in our house has never been limited to what happens on a computer. While we follow our virtual school’s curriculum, I also think a lot of learning happens through regular life—extracurricular activities and clubs, learning a sport, spending time with friends, playing games as a family, building with STEM toys, creating things, and following whatever happens to spark their curiosity. There are books everywhere, projects taking over tables, puzzles and building sets, random recycled materials being saved because someone might need that for something, and plenty of trips to the library.

This isn’t meant to be a list of everything you need to homeschool or do virtual school. It’s simply what we’ve actually found useful over the years—and what we still use now. And while I’ll start with the technology we use for virtual school, most of this list applies to learning at home in general, from basic supplies and books to art, building, STEM, games, and other hands-on resources.

* This post includes Affiliate Links.

Technology We Use for Virtual School

Technology is obviously a big part of our setup because my kids attend virtual school.

They primarily use Apple laptops for school, and having their devices connected through our family accounts makes it easier to access files and keep things organized. We use iCloud Drive for files we want available across devices, while Google Chrome, Gmail, and Google Drive handle a lot of their actual school-related work.

An iPad isn’t necessary for us, but it has been a useful extra. With an Apple Pencil and a sturdy case or stand, it can become a notebook, drawing surface, research tool, reading device, or simply another screen when a project calls for one.

Things we use:

• Laptops
• iPads
• Apple Pencil
• Protective iPad case/stand
• Headphones with a microphone

Our Shared Calendar Might Be One of Our Most Useful Tools

This one isn’t something you need to buy.

We use shared Apple calendars for school meetings, extracurricular activities, appointments, playdates, and family plans. As my kids have gotten older, I’ve encouraged them to add their own meetings and check the calendar themselves instead of relying entirely on me to tell them what’s happening.

Does that mean they always remember?

Absolutely not.

I’m still reminding them to check it all the time. But learning to look ahead, recognize that they have something scheduled, and start managing their own time is part of becoming more independent.

Basic School Supplies We Still Use

Even with virtual school, paper hasn’t disappeared from our house.

We don’t keep an elaborate classroom full of supplies, but there are a handful of basics we continue reaching for:

• Binders with dividers
• Printer paper in bulk
• Pencils and highlighters
• Small magnetic whiteboards
• Dry erase markers
• Whiteboard erasers (magnetic)
• A good home printer

Small whiteboards have been especially useful over the years. They’re easy for working through a math problem, spelling something out, drawing a diagram, practicing something quickly, or explaining an idea without using another sheet of paper.

We currently use a Brother printer at home, and I usually order our printer paper online. Between school assignments, projects, activities, and things I need for work, our printer definitely earns its space.

I’ve also put many of the school supplies, games, STEM toys, and learning tools we actually use in one place on my Amazon Learning + School Favorites list.

Learning at Home Doesn’t Always Look Like School

Some of the things I consider most valuable for learning don’t look like traditional school supplies at all.

We’ve always had a rotating collection of logic games, puzzles, building sets, and educational toys around the house. They aren’t necessarily assigned as “school.” They’re simply available.

Over the years, some favorites have included:

• Magnetic tiles
• Snap Circuits
• KiwiCo kits
• Apitor robotics sets
• Building sets, like LEGO and K’NEX
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Shape and pattern tiles, like Pentominoes or IQ Digits, and Match Madness
• Classic strategy and word games, like chess and Scrabble

I like having things around that don’t necessarily have one correct way to use them. Building, testing, taking something apart, trying again, following complicated instructions, or figuring out why something isn’t working are all forms of learning too.

One of my favorite examples of this was Ollie’s paper roller coaster STEM project, which involved a whole lot of building, testing, adjusting and figuring out why the marble wasn’t doing what he expected.

And as kids get older, these don’t have to disappear. The type of challenge just changes.

You can find more of our favorite games, building toys, STEM activities, and learning supplies on my Amazon favorites list.

RELATED: 50+ Best Gift Ideas for Curious Kids Ages 8–12

Art Supplies—and a Lot of Random Stuff

We’ve always kept basic art supplies accessible.

Paper, markers, colored pencils, paint, scissors, glue, tape and other basics get used for school projects, but they also get used for whatever idea someone suddenly decides they need to make.

I also save certain recycled materials for creative projects. Cardboard, containers and other random pieces can sometimes be more interesting than an actual craft kit.

You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect craft closet. A container or organizer that keeps the basics reasonably easy to find is enough.

One surprisingly useful supply in our house is blue painter’s tape. Besides its intended purpose, we’ve used it to temporarily display the kids’ newest artwork on walls without committing to permanent frames everywhere.

At our previous house, we also used a magnetic display strip for rotating the kids’ artwork, which was an easy way to let their latest creations have their moment.

Books, the Library & Digital Reading

If I had to choose one learning resource we’ve gotten the most value from over the years, the library would be very high on the list.

We own some books that make sense to keep around—things like encyclopedias, atlases, and favorites we want to return to—but we don’t try to own everything.

Instead, we make regular library trips and bring home a lot.

I actually prefer having plenty of options available because kids don’t always know what they’ll be interested in until something catches their attention. A stack of library books lets them explore a subject without every passing curiosity becoming another purchase.

We also use Libby for digital library access.

Another resource we’ve used since the kids were little is Epic. What started as a useful reading app when they were much younger has continued to be useful as they’ve grown, which is pretty impressive considering how many children’s subscriptions get outgrown quickly.

Resources we use:

• Library cards
• Libby
• Epic
• Atlases and encyclopedias
• A rotating pile of library books

A Few Things That Make the Day Easier

Not everything we use is technically a school supply.

Insulated water bottles are one of those things. We use both Simple Modern Summit bottles and Owala FreeSip bottles, and because they’re useful for school days at home and everything we do outside the house, they’re something I don’t mind investing in.

We also use alarm clocks to help the kids manage their mornings more independently. Ours are older sunrise-style clocks that gradually light up before the alarm, and while our particular model had a few limitations, we’ve really liked the concept. If I were buying them now, I’d choose a sunrise alarm clock with separate weekday and weekend settings so their alarms don’t have to follow the same schedule every day. Another option for older kids is an Echo Spot with Alexa, which works as a bedside clock while also letting them set alarms and reminders and manage more of their own routine. Either way, having their own alarm instead of depending on me to wake them has been another small step toward managing their routines independently.

Those little systems matter more to me now than accumulating more “educational” stuff.

Things We Used More When They Were Younger

What works for learning at home changes dramatically as kids grow.

During the toddler, preschool, and kindergarten years, we used things like magnetic alphabet letters, hands-on manipulatives, and a printable calendar I created for practicing days, months, weather, and routines.

We obviously don’t use those things in the same way anymore.

I actually think that’s worth remembering when buying educational supplies. Some things are wonderful for a particular developmental stage and then their job is done. Others—art supplies, books, building toys, puzzles, technology, and open-ended materials—can keep evolving with kids for years.

What We’ve Learned After Years of School at Home

The longer we’ve done this, the less interested I am in having the “perfect” learning setup.

My kids don’t need every educational toy, a dedicated classroom, or an elaborate organizational system to learn well at home.

They need the tools required for their actual schoolwork, access to information, opportunities to explore things they’re curious about, and enough independence to learn how to manage some of it themselves.

Sometimes that’s a laptop and an assignment.

Other times, it’s an atlas pulled off the shelf because a question came up.

Sometimes it’s a robotics kit, a pile of LEGO, a library book, a whiteboard covered in math, or cardboard that was supposed to go in the recycling.

That’s what learning at home has looked like for us—and it’s changed right along with the kids.

Looking for the things we actually use? I keep many of our favorite learning-at-home supplies, games, STEM activities, and everyday school essentials together in my Learning + School Favorites Amazon list.

The post What We Actually Use for Learning at Home appeared first on Thanks Mommy Blog.

Instead, we’ve gone through stages. First I do something for them. Then I show them how to do it. We do it together for a while, then I supervise while they try it themselves. Eventually I’m nearby but not actively helping, and finally it becomes something I trust them to handle independently.

And then, occasionally, years later, I find myself explaining how to properly brush your teeth again. Or I’m asking whether anyone remembered to wash their ears and wondering how we somehow ended up back at step two.

I’ve also learned that independence looks different for every child. One kid might be ready to manage something surprisingly early while another needs more practice, reminders, or reassurance. I don’t think there’s a perfect age for most of these skills. For us, the goal has simply been to hand over more responsibility as they show they’re ready for it.

* This post includes Affiliate Links.

Teaching Personal Care Skills Takes Time

When my kids were little, independence started with small things. They chose their clothes, got dressed, and learned to put on their own shoes. As they got older, the responsibilities grew with them. Each new responsibility requires a different level of coordination and maturity. Showering, hair care, brushing teeth, and clipping nails don’t necessarily become independent at the same time.

What has worked best for us is not expecting independence all at once. I prefer to teach the skill and then slowly remove myself from the process. That gives them a chance to practice without suddenly being expected to know exactly what they’re doing.

It also means accepting that being capable of doing something and remembering to do it properly are two different things. Kids are still kids. Mine can know perfectly well how to do something and still need three reminders to actually go do it.

The same thing I’ve noticed with personal care skills for kids applies to so many other things they learn. Having opportunities to practice matters more than expecting them to get it right immediately. Even everyday play can give kids chances to make choices, solve problems and do more for themselves. I also have a big list of fun activities for kids at home with ideas that can grow with them.

Learning to Shower Independently

Showering was one of the bigger personal care skills for kids we started working on when mine were around five.In the beginning, I stayed in the bathroom while they showered and guided them through what they needed to do. There are actually quite a few steps to something that feels completely automatic to an adult.

As they became more comfortable, I started giving them more privacy while staying close. I could leave the door cracked and stay nearby in case they needed help. I no longer had to stand there through the entire shower. Eventually they got the hang of the process and no longer needed me there.

Hair was definitely one of the hardest parts. Shampoo gets in their eyes, it can be difficult to tell whether they’ve rinsed everything out, and long hair adds another layer to the whole process. Conditioner can be particularly easy to forget or not rinse properly.

Even now, there are occasional conversations about whether they actually washed everything. Ears? Belly button? Did you use conditioner? Sometimes the answer makes it very obvious that a reminder was needed. We can laugh about it now, but I also think those little check-ins are part of the process. Independence doesn’t have to mean parents stop paying attention altogether.

Shower Products That Can Make Independence Easier

A few simple shower products can make learning to shower independently a little easier, especially while kids are still getting used to washing and rinsing their own hair.

• Conditioner we love — This is the conditioner we use and have had good luck with, especially for longer hair.
• Shower hair brush — A shower brush can make it easier for kids to work shampoo or conditioner through their hair themselves.
• Shower cap — Helpful on days they need a shower but don’t need to wash their hair. It also removes one of the more complicated parts of showering independently when they’re first learning.

Hair Care Can Take a Lot More Practice

Learning to wash your own hair is only part of learning to take care of it. Brushing and drying long hair have probably required more practice in our house than I originally expected.

When my daughter was younger, hair came with a completely different set of challenges. I shared some of what we learned in my guide to styling little girls’ hair, especially for tricky growth patterns and those early hair-care years.

For brushing, I taught them to start at the ends rather than pulling a brush straight through tangled hair from the top. Dividing longer hair into sections or moving it to one side can make it easier to see and manage. This is especially helpful when they’re still learning. A mirror helps, and having a good detangling spray available can make the whole process considerably less frustrating.

Learning to Dry Their Own Hair

Hair drying is another story. That’s one of the areas where I still help more often. Using a blow dryer effectively on your own hair requires coordination that doesn’t necessarily come as quickly as brushing it. We’ve practiced using a small portable vanity so it’s easier to see what she’s doing, but sometimes having me dry it is still the easier option.

When neither of us has the patience for that, wrapping wet hair in a microfiber hair towel and letting it finish drying naturally works too. Not every personal care skill has to become completely independent at the same time.

Short hair has been a much easier transition in our house. A comb and a little hair product can be managed independently fairly early. Of course, knowing how to do your hair does not necessarily create any desire to spend five minutes actually doing it. Sometimes the personal-care lesson isn’t the skill anymore—it’s remembering that yes, you still have to use it.

Brushing Teeth Independently

Teeth brushing followed a similar progression to showering. We started by doing it for them, then showed them how, watched them do it themselves, corrected things when necessary, and gradually backed away as they became more capable.

The funny part is that you can reach the point where you haven’t thought about how your child brushes their teeth in years, only to discover one day that apparently a refresher course is needed. Suddenly you’re demonstrating something you could swear you thoroughly covered a very long time ago.

That’s one reason I don’t view personal care independence as a finish line. Kids may know how to do something, but they still benefit from occasional check-ins. Sometimes they rush. Other times they get lazy. And sometimes they genuinely forget part of the process. A reminder doesn’t erase all the independence they’ve gained.

Learning to Cut and Care for Their Nails

Clipping their own nails came later for us because, frankly, handing over the nail clippers made me more nervous than handing over a hairbrush. This is one of those skills where I think readiness matters much more than reaching a particular age.

We started working on it more recently, including both fingernails and toenails. I also gave them a nail file with different grits and showed them how to smooth rough edges rather than continuing to pick at or tear a nail.

Nail care has also given us opportunities to talk about paying attention to their bodies. They also need to notice when the skin around a nail becomes sore, swollen, irritated, or difficult to clean. If something doesn’t look right, I’ve taught them to tell an adult rather than ignore it. The goal isn’t just knowing how to use nail clippers. It’s gradually learning to notice when something about your own body needs attention.

What Helps With Nail Care

• Small grooming/nail set — I like having good clippers and tweezers together in one small set. The one I use was actually purchased for myself, but it’s also been useful while teaching the kids to manage their own nails.
• Nail file or buffer — especially helpful after clipping. I taught them to smooth any sharp or rough edges so they’re less likely to scratch themselves—or the rest of us.

Getting Dressed and Ready Independently

Some personal care skills for kids begin much earlier than showers and nail clippers. Choosing clothes and getting dressed were things I encouraged when mine were toddlers.

Giving young kids control over their clothes can produce some interesting fashion choices, but I loved seeing that independence develop. One of my favorite memories is my son laying a yellow shirt, yellow pants, and socks out on the floor and calling me over to show me that he’d made “Ollie” out of his clothes.

He was always particularly determined to do things for himself and started taking care of certain tasks much earlier than I expected. It was a good reminder that kids often show us what they’re ready for if we give them opportunities to try.

Learning to choose clothes, get dressed, manage buttons and zippers, tie shoes, and brush their hair may seem like ordinary childhood milestones. Together, though, those little skills create a pretty significant amount of independence.

Personal Care Changes as Puberty Starts

As kids get older, personal care starts changing too. Suddenly there are new things to think about like body odor, changing skin, and eventually periods. These conversations don’t necessarily happen all at once, but I’ve found it helpful to introduce things as they become relevant rather than waiting until they feel like a big deal.

Starting New Personal Care Habits

Deodorant is a good example. Starting with a gentle deodorant made for kids can make it feel like just another normal personal care habit. As they get older, they may need something different or stronger. We’ve already gone through that transition in our house, moving from a kid-friendly starter deodorant to a regular deodorant that works better for an older kid.

Skin care can start simply too. Early pimples don’t necessarily mean kids need an elaborate skin-care routine. Learning to gently wash their face and having a basic cleanser available is a good place to start. It’s another one of those habits that takes some reminding before it becomes automatic.

For girls, I also think being prepared for a first period is part of learning to take care of themselves. Keeping a few pads or liners somewhere discreet can remove some of the anxiety around what if it happens when I’m not home? A small pouch can work, or they can keep supplies tucked into a backpack along with the other things they normally carry.

A Few Helpful Products for the Early Puberty Years

As kids get closer to puberty, a few new things start making their way into their personal-care routines. We’re still pretty early in this stage, so I’m keeping things simple and introducing products as they’re actually needed rather than creating a complicated routine.

• Aluminum-free deodorant for kids — This was an easy place for us to start. The one we use is made for kids, aluminum-free, and even has fun packaging that makes it feel a little less grown-up.
• Deodorant for older boys — As those first kids’ products stop being enough, we’ve started transitioning to a regular men’s deodorant. It’s a simple next step without adding anything complicated to the routine.
• Gentle facial cleanser for kids — We use a gentle gel cleanser that was recommended by a dermatologist as those first little pimples and skin changes started showing up. I actually transfer some into a foaming bottle with a tiny bit of water. It’s easier for the kids to dispense themselves and helps keep them from using way too much at once.
• Flexible panty liners — These are the same ones I used myself, and I happened to already have extras at home. I like that they’re very thin and flexible, which makes them an easy option to have available as girls start preparing for their first period.
• Small zippered pouch — A simple little pouch can keep a few period supplies together without them floating around loose in a backpack or bag. I’m linking one that I think would work well, although you certainly don’t need something specifically marketed as a period pouch.

Having Their Own Personal Essentials

As kids get older, they also start having a few things they may want or need to carry themselves. They don’t necessarily need a purse every time they leave the house, but having a small bag of their own can be a fun way to start taking responsibility for those things.

I got my daughter a small purse-style backpack a few years ago, and she still takes it with her sometimes. It’s big enough for a few essentials without feeling like she’s carrying an actual school backpack. She can throw in things like lip balm, tissues, hair ties, a snack, or whatever else she wants to have with her that day.

As girls get closer to their first period, it’s also an easy place to discreetly keep a small pouch with a couple of liners or pads. It’s one more little step toward learning to think ahead and be prepared without Mom having to carry everything.

What Personal Care Skills Can Kids Learn?

There isn’t one schedule that will work for every child, and some of these skills require much more supervision than others. But these are some of the everyday personal care skills we’ve gradually worked toward in our house:

• Choosing clothes and getting dressed
• Putting on and tying shoes
• Showering and washing their body
• Shampooing and conditioning their hair
• Brushing and detangling hair
• Basic hair styling
• Brushing and caring for their teeth
• Washing their face
• Using deodorant when appropriate
• Clipping and filing nails
• Keeping personal-care supplies organized
• Recognizing when something about their body needs an adult’s attention
• Remembering when everyday hygiene tasks need to be done

I think the last one may actually be the hardest.

Knowing how to take care of yourself is one skill. Learning to notice what needs to be done, remember it without someone telling you, and fit it into your day requires a completely different level of independence.

Independence Doesn’t Mean They Never Need Us

As my kids have gotten older, I’ve realized that my role is shifting more than disappearing. I don’t need to physically do nearly as many things for them anymore, but I still teach, remind, answer questions, troubleshoot, and occasionally step back in when something is harder than expected.

That’s especially noticeable now because the same transition is happening beyond personal care. They’re learning to manage school more independently, do their own laundry, and keep track of schedules. They’re also learning to prepare what they’ll need when they leave the house and eventually make more of their own food. Each new responsibility seems to follow a similar pattern: we teach it, practice it together, give them room to try, and gradually back away.

And they don’t progress evenly. A child can be incredibly independent in one area and completely oblivious in another. That’s normal in our house, and I’ve learned not to treat independence like one big milestone that kids either have or haven’t reached.

For me, teaching personal care skills for kids is really about giving them enough practice to become capable while still being available when they need me. Sometimes that means stepping back. Sometimes it means showing them again. And sometimes it means asking, for what feels like the hundredth time, “But did you actually wash your ears?”

Personal care is only one part of the bigger transition toward independence. As they’ve gotten older, we’ve used the same gradual approach with chores and everyday responsibilities, schoolwork, schedules, and managing more of their own routines.

The same gradual approach applies to other everyday skills, from getting ready independently to helping and making simple foods in the kitchen.

Looking for more ideas as your kids grow? I share more of our real-life experiences with growing independence, everyday responsibilities, learning, activities, and family life here on Thanks Mommy. Take a look around—you might find something that fits the stage your family is in right now.

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