Save Packaging For Frugal Play Food
I have many times bought the kids those play food kits, and I always found they tired of the stuff quickly. Now I save empty boxes of food and keep switching the stuff around so they always have different play food.
When you buy real make up for young kids, it's messy. You can make faux make up by using nail polish in your old make up containers. Just clean your make up containers then pour nail polish in and let dry.
For kids who like to dress up you can fill up a box of dress up items from a thrift shop. Also add some accessories from the dollar store. You can also find Halloween reduced costumes in stores.
Keeping Child Occupied at Outdoor Event
Back when my son was in band and my youngest child was very small, we spent a lot of time at the football field. Our daughter would get so bored and would be a real nuisance.
Lacing Project for Preschoolers
I take care of a couple of preschoolers a few hours each week. Lately they are into "lacing". I made my own lacing boards. Store bought ones run from $2 to $12.
Set A Routine for Your Toddler
There is nothing more calming to a child then having a more or less constant routine. Here is what I used to have as a day's worth of learning and fun when my little ones were too young for school.
I filled a tray with snow, which then became my cake. I filled containers with a few drops of food coloring and some water. I gave my 2 year old a paint brush and told her to decorate her cake how ever she liked.
Ideas for Making an Activity Birthday Card for a Two Year Old
I am looking for ideas for an activity birthday card for a 2 year old. I make my own cards and would like to make the card with some kind of activities in it that my 2 year old grandson would be able to understand. Thanks for any input.
Store Puzzle Pieces in Ziploc Bags
My toddler grandson loves puzzles. We have many boxes of them - 35-55 pieces each. So the pieces don't get mixed up with other puzzles, I bag each puzzle in a zip locked baggy (sandwich size) and place it back into the puzzle box.
Instead of buying expensive decorations for a toddler birthday party, put your child's crib mattress inside a small tent for a play area. For safety reasons, don't zip up the side door.
Now that is is getting so hot and also rainy here, I am going to buy a dishpan at the dollar store and some play sand at Walmart (the $2.50 kind) and give it as a present to the little ones who come over to play.
To keep a preschooler amused and creative, you'll need a gallon press-lock bag and a couple different colors of finger paint. Put a tablespoon of each color in the bag - the more color, the more fun.
Cut Up Advertising Magnets for Children's Activities
Entertain your kids by giving them cut-up vinyl magnets that come stuck to the front of your phone book!
It is hard to get the house clean with little ones under your feet. I put my 2 year old daughter, standing in a chair, at the kitchen sink, with old towels all around the floor. I give her measuring cups, spoons, bowls, etc.
After kids parties, there are inevitably left over themed plates, napkins, cups, and decorations. I saved these all together, then one rainy day we had an impromptu birthday party. My kids were bored, so I reminded them it was one of their dolls birthday!
When my son turned 5, he wanted to have a moon party. So we found all the sheets and blanket in the house, turned our furniture in the living room upside down and transformed the living room into the moon! There were caves, and tunnels, and lots of of laughs and fun.
Have Bathing Children "Paint" With Soap
Let your small children clean the tub! when they are taking their bath at night, they love to play with something in the tub, give them the little tiny sponge paintbrushes, and let them (paint) clean the tiles on the tub with the colored soap bubbles you buy at Walmart!
Make Matching Socks Into A Game
My three year old loves to play matching games. So when I am sorting and folding the laundry, I plop a large pile of socks in front of her to match up. She thinks it is a game and I get my laundry chore done faster!
I run an after school program. For a group contest we made mini scarecrows out of my two year old's clothes. The kids stuffed them with newspaper an used balloons for heads.
Granddaughters, Grandmothers, Crayons and Staying in the Lines
While sitting down with our granddaughter, Shayla, with a box of crayons (not the baby ones), a coloring book about going to the apple farm, I told her "to color within the lines". I let her pick the page, the color of crayon, and off she went.
Set A Routine for Your Toddler
There is nothing more calming to a child then having a more or less constant routine. Here is what I used to have as a day's worth of learning and fun when my little ones were too young for school.
Saving Money on Preschool Activities
Daycare is an enormous expense, but preschool isn't any cheaper. We were lucky enough to have family members watch our son in his early years, but we soon learned that the transition from a family home to kindergarten would be a tough one.
Baking Tin Primary Colour Game
Attach the hook and loop to the back of the tin and hang it at kid level. Place one magnet in each cup. Help your toddler arrange them so the each colour is all together in line.
