Knowing how much fun my kids had doing our DIY marbled paper from shaving cream, I knew a Valentine version would go over well. This marbled Valentine heart with shaving cream was the result. Just like the original version, my kids loved creating these. I know my audience has loved the concept too because this video has been viewed over 6 million times. I hope you enjoy the Valentine’s Day… {Read More}
Tie Dye Coffee Filter Valentine Heart Craft
Looking for a great but simple Valentine’s craft that will be fun for all kids – toddlers and beyond? This tie dye coffee filter Valentine Heart Craft is super easy and very enjoyable. It’s also inexpensive to do, which makes it a complete winner. If you are looking for more ideas, why don’t you try this Valentine Cereal Box holder or these marbled hearts. My sister-in-law gave me a bunch of… {Read More}
Fun with St. Patrick’s Food
Today I bring you fun with St. Patrick’s food. We have had a great time with our “Fun with Food Days” in the past. There was the original “Fun with Food” day and then the “Valentine’s Fun with Food.” Well, I just had to do it for St. Patrick’s Day. It has become a tradition. Do you like to tranform food for holidays too? You are in the right place.… {Read More}
Paper Pumpkin Craft Tutorial
It’s fall, and this paper pumpkin craft tutorial is the perfect pumpkin craft for kids. Can’t you just imagine a whole classroom filled with these hanging pumpkins. They are beautiful as they twirl in circles. With very few supplies needed, it’s so easy to make these with kids. Working on how to measure can be another component of this craft. This cute paper craft is so easy, but I love the… {Read More}
DIY Garden Markers
I wanted to come up with some great garden markers for the garden we planted this past weekend. I looked online for some ideas, but I didn’t feel inspired. I rummaged through the garage to find something that might inspire me in terms of materials. I was at a loss browsing through things there. Finally, I thought up this idea. I went the craft store to collect all the things… {Read More}
Your Kid is a Brat
“Your kid is a brat.” I hope it is a phrase you never hear, but what do you do if your kid really is turning a bit spoiled? I want to talk to you today about a way to prevent this attitude but introducing the idea of “Substitution Parenting.” It might be time to travel the harder path in parenting so that your kids can grow in character. Here is… {Read More}
Teaching Kids to say, “I’m Sorry”
They need to learn how to make relationships right again. I have done another brief post about apologies, but I feel like a follow-up is needed. I also did a post about being willing to model apologies with your children. That is essential in teaching. Our earthly relationships with our kids, friends, spouse and family are supposed to model the gospel message of reconciliation, grace, change and forgiveness. Therefore, teaching… {Read More}
Mosaic Cross Craft for Easter
I wanted to come up with an Easter craft that speaks to the true meaning of Easter. This Mosaic Cross Craft for Easter was the result, and it is perfect for kids of all ages. I am not opposed to bunnies, eggs, candy and Easter egg hunts. However, I do want the meaning of Easter to shine through more than that. A part of that is making it an every… {Read More}
1 Corinthians 13 DIY Heart Garland
Love “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 Today we made a Heart Chain with 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,… {Read More}
Teaching Respect through Role Playing
Respect, as I mentioned in my last post, comes in lots of different forms. We need to have respect for God’s laws, our elders, our peers, our belongings, this planet, ourselves, etc. One way that children learn is through role playing, so I have tried to incorporate this activity into my character development series in a variety of ways. Teaching respect through role playing is one of the many ways… {Read More}
Working with Kids on Consistency of Attitude
Consistency “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadiest, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” – 2 Corinthians 15:58 Consistency is the word of the week in our character development series. I decided to focus on working with kids on consistency of attitude. We have had some major ups and downs when it comes to attitude. I have… {Read More}
“God is Love” Tambourine – Cubbies Bear Hug #1 Craft
Exciting news! I am starting a new series, which will provide craft ideas for AWANA Cubbies. Even if your child is not doing Cubbies, these will be great crafts for you to do at home with your kids or in a Sunday School class. Today I bring you our first craft, “God is Love” Tambourine – Cubbies Bear Hug #1 Craft. AWANA Cubbies is a great program run in… {Read More}
Tooth Fairy Ideas
We had our first lost tooth with our 6 year old, and so I wanted to give you some tooth fairy ideas by letting you know how the tooth fairy visits our house. It is funny how excited kids (at least my Abby) get about losing their teeth. Is it because it is some sort of rite of passage or just proof that they are, indeed, growing older? I would… {Read More}
Marshmallow Picking
Have you ever been marshmallow picking? You haven’t? Shocking. It is a rare experience when the marshmallows come out to bloom. They are only ripe for such a short period of time that you may miss them all together. They really only bloom for a day, and then they are gone, so you need to act quick. Marshmallow picking is such a fun and whimsical idea. I wish I could… {Read More}
How do you remove Desitin from hair?
How do you remove Desitin from hair? Now, this is a topic I would have preferred to never have the privilege of writing about on this blog. I would have been just fine not having this first hand knowledge and experience. No such luck. I try and share these not-so-fun moments with Instagram, Facebook or Google+. I know some day I will laugh. Who am I kidding, it takes just… {Read More}
Re-Usable Magnetic Countdown Calendar
A countdown calendar is such a great way to build anticipation for special events. I wanted to be able to create a re-usable magnetic countdown calendar for my refrigerator, and this was the result. We have a couple exciting things coming up. The kids keep asking me, “How many days until we get to go on our trip?” We would look at the calendar on my phone and countdown the… {Read More}
Teaching Leadership to Kids
Leadership “Whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a randsom for many.” – Matthew 20:27-28 Teaching leadership to kids is something that can begin happening at a young age. We want our kids to learn to be people who can make a difference in our world… {Read More}
Noah’s Ark Craft Teaches Submissiveness
Submissiveness “Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.” – Ephesians 5:21 This Noah’s Ark craft teaches submissiveness to kids. It is a great craft for your own kids or a group of Sunday School children. In our character development series, submissiveness is the word of the week. I know that word can hit people wrong, and to some it feels like a four letter word. I really hope you… {Read More}
Straw and Paper Shooters
Straw and paper shooters are very simple to make, and kids of all ages will love them. Just ask my husband. It is one of those easy crafts that takes minutes and then is enjoyed over and over again. I found this idea a while back at Life at the Zoo. I pinned it for later use, and I finally got around to making them. Above is the simplified visual… {Read More}
Water Obstacle Course
Summer means sun, and what better way to cool yourself down than water games? I came up with a fun water obstacle course for my kids to do on one of our hot summer days. I am excited to be one of the camp counselors at Disney Babbles Virtual Summer Camp. This was the summer fun activity I thought readers of Babble might really enjoy. This was not the kind… {Read More}
Tessellation Art for Kids
Tessellation artwork has always been so interesting to me, and I was happy to discover a way to make it accessible as art for kids. M.C. Escher has inspired some of the ideas you see today. When I was in college I learned the importance of teaching art to kids. I have a degree in education and my class on teaching art had to be one of my favorites. One… {Read More}
Teaching Responsibility and 10 Great Chore Charts
Teaching responsibility to kids is really important. These 10 great chore charts may help you find a solution to giving your children more responsibility around the home while making it fun for them. In my post, Confessions of a Meaningful Mama, I came clean about a lot of the areas that could use improvement in our lives. There’s nothing more humbling then putting out a bunch of your own weaknesses… {Read More}
Teaching Beginning Reading Activities & Giveaway
Beginning reading can be challenging to teach if you don’t have the right resources. I wanted to provide you with fun reading games and activities for you to do with your kids. This is also a giveaway, and I am able to provide you with the opportunity to win books for your family. I did a similar post for teaching kids their letters. Once your children have their letters down,… {Read More}
American Flag Craft with Dot Paints
This dot paint craft with printable is a lot of fun. It is an easy kid craft that makes a beautiful American flag. The Fourth of July is quickly approaching. I definitely wanted to give you some ideas for making this holiday special. If you have dot paints, this is going to be so easy for you to do with your kids. All of my kids, age 2 to 5,… {Read More}
DIY Robot Mask
This DIY robot mask is a craft that kids of all ages will enjoy. It is made from a simple paper bag, covered in foil and adorned with their own choice of decorations. It was a really fun craft to do together, and we all loved the results. Now I have kids walking around saying, “I am a robot” in a robot voice. Abby was disappointed that she didn’t get… {Read More}
Virtual Summer Camp – Crafts, Activities, Recipes and More
We are excited to be a part of this camp that Babble/Disney has going on this summer. And you can join in one of two ways by linking your summer fun activities below and your craft may get featured on Babble/Disney and/or joining our Facebook Virtual Summer Camp Online Community. Are you ready for a fun challenge? It is simple, we want to encourage each other to be intentional this… {Read More}
Infinity Tube Scarf from Pajama Pants Tutorial
Are you loving the infinity tube scarf fashion trend as much as I am? This is a fun and simple sewing tutorial that will teach you how to turn men’s pajama pants into a tube scarf. My sewing skills are limited. This is definitely a sewing project that can be done by a novice. I was kind of making it up as I went along. As I was writing… {Read More}
Andes Mint Cookies
Andes Mint Cookies are really good. If you like the flavor profile of Girl Scout’s Thin Mint cookies, then I can’t imagine you would be disappointed with this recipe. I am a browser in the grocery store. I like to find products I haven’t used before. Although this sounds like a sponsored post, it isn’t. I happened upon the Andes Mint baking chips. Knowing that I enjoy Andes mints and… {Read More}
Creative Painting Window Art
I love this creative painting window art project. Art is often experimentation. I wanted to paint with my kids and try out new techniques that worked with texture, blending and different tools. The results were really cool. The process was fun for all. Another great thing is that it is a pretty low-mess situation. I let the kids choose their own colors. I gave a bunch of options, and they… {Read More}
Fourth of July Crepe Paper Flag Craft
Fourth of July is coming up around the bend. It’s time for me to start doing crafts and decorations that teach about our country, our history and the meaning behind the symbols. This is a great craft to teach about the symbolism behind our flag. We had a lot of fun making this American flag out of crepe paper we bought from the Dollar Tree. This is done on tag… {Read More}
Oil Suncatchers
Oil suncatchers are an easy craft to do with kids of all ages. The results are fun as they hang in the window and catch the light. It is an easy craft to do, but I do have an important tip to help them turn out well. The main materials for this craft are baby oil, q-tips and construction paper. I actually used some after shower body oil I had.… {Read More}
Stop & Go Game – Running Errands with Kids
The “Stop & Go” game is a simple game I made up to help when running errands with kids. There are a few challenges when being out with kids. One of them is that they move quickly and might be hard to keep wrangled. The opposing problem is the slow speed of children. I think the phrase, “Stop and smell the roses,” was intended for moms. It is a phrase… {Read More}
Mile High Manners – Teaching Kids to be Courteous
Courteous “Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous.” – 1 Peter 3:8 It is the courteous week here at Meaningful Mama. I hope you are aware of my character development series, and if you aren’t please take time to poke around under the character development tab. I consider this series as the heart of my blog and of huge importance in raising children to be contributing… {Read More}
Teaching Music to Kids – A Lesson in Rhythm
Music is an important thing to teach your children. Here is a lesson in teaching your children about basic rhythm. It is recommended to get your children in 10 years of music lessons as it aids in brain development. You can check out my post on the subject or go somewhere to teach your child how to play the guitar. When I first got married and moved to a new town… {Read More}
Teaching Diligence with the Ant and the Grasshopper
Diligence Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. – Colossians 3:23 Are you wanting to work on the character of your children? The word of the week in our character development series is “diligence.” We explored this concept with the old Aesop fable “The Ant and the Grasshopper.” The first thing I did was find a good version of this… {Read More}
DIY Marble Maze
I love marble mazes. This is a project where you can make your own with straws, glue and a box lid. Growing up, my grandpa used t0 have a marble maze made out of wood. I remember always having g0-to things at my grandparents house. I see it in my kids too. They go to grandma and grandpa’s house and they know exactly what is meant for them, and they… {Read More}
Teaching Courage Through Esther and a Nature Crown
As I was considering how to teach my children about courage, the Biblical story of Ester came to mind. As you are teaching courage through Esther and the nature crown, your kids will learn a beautiful story. Esther was a Jewish woman who became queen. Out of her bravery, she was able to help save the Jewish people from destruction. If you are unfamiliar with the story, I would encourage… {Read More}
Peace on Earth? A Lesson and Craft for Teaching Kids
Peace “Make every effort to live in peace with all men.” – Hebrews 12:14A Peace. It seems to elude us. Why is that so? I hope this craft and some thoughts I have help you learn to teach about peace to your kids. This is the peace week in our character development series. The word “peace” is our focus and then the bombings and now manhunt in Boston happen. We also… {Read More}
Bumble Bee Pineapple Treats – Spring Birthday Party
These bumble bee pineapple treats were a great addition to Kenzie’s spring birthday party. I wanted to create bumble bees with the food somehow, and this fun snack made from pineapple, Candy Melts and potato chips were the solution. They were pretty easy to make. Have you worked with Candy Melts before? They’re easy to use, and I have a tutorial here if you are hesitant. I hope this gives… {Read More}
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