Easy Hamantaschen for the Busy Parent

dough recipe

Hamantaschen are part of the Purim celebration. These triangle-shaped holiday cookies are perfect for your kiddo's Purim carnival, family dinner or any other holiday celebration. If you're not exactly the best baker, don't worry. You can still make these holiday treats with ease. Take a look at the simple ways to cut the complication factor. Doughy Shortcut  Making the dough is the most challenging part of a hamantaschen recipe. Getting that perfect blend of lightness, yet solid structure (to create the triangle shape), isn't always easy for the novice baker. Instead of struggling with a homemade recipe, substitute the lengthy...

Shamrock Art Activities for Kids

shamrock shapes

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with an easy shamrock kids' craft. Start with card stock shamrocks. Trace the shape onto the paper, using a stencil or a cookie cutter. Cut the shamrocks out and try one of these artsy ideas! Shamrock Bouquet  Your child can glue the shamrocks onto a piece of poster board, creating a flower bouquet-style design. Add stems with green tempera paint or a green marker. Shamrock Garland Punch one hole in each side of the shamrocks. Tie the shapes together with green yarn. That's it! Now you have festive holiday décor. Shamrock Pattern Play Instead of making...

DIY Easter Holiday Decor for Kids

art ideas

As the winter weather winds down and the spring sun starts shining, the Easter holiday gets closer. If you're looking for a creative way to decorate your home for the holiday, without spending too much, check out these easy kid-created Easter art activity ideas! Easter Garland Trace a bunny face onto card stock paper, using several different pastel colors. Use a stencil, cookie cutter or your own template (draw the bunny onto cardboard and cut it out). Your child can cut the bunny tracings out, punch two holes in the paper (one on each side) and tie the rabbits together...

Easy St. Patrick’s Day Kids’ Treats

holiday treat

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with plenty of green-themed treats. If you don't have time to create a full menu of Pinterest-worthy goodies, you can still whip up a few yummy ideas with the kids. Whether you're having a holiday party, helping out at your child's classroom St. Patty's Day bash or are just looking for a few ideas to try out at home, these ideas are easy (and fun) to make! Holiday Cupcakes Don't worry if you're not a from-scratch type of baker. Simply add a few drops of green food coloring to a boxed white cake mix and you...

Mardi Gras Crafts for Kids

kids crafts

Even though Mardi Gras celebrations may seem more like adult activities, you can mark this holiday with your family too. Celebrate with a  cute craft that kids of all ages can make. Get the whole family in on the artsy action, creating together for the holiday. Mardi Gras Beads This is an easy-to-make activity, that can also help kids to work on their fine motor skills. Simply start with a piece of yarn. Tie a knot at one end, then start stringing beads. When you get to the end, loop the necklace together and tie it tight. Repeat to make...

Read Across America Day Book Cover Art Activity

kids art

March 2nd marks Read Across America Day. It's also Dr. Seuess's birthday. Celebrate this day with a Seuss-inspired art activity! Your creative kiddo can craft book covers for each of their favorite reads—by the beloved author of course. They can make a multi-media collage, using everything from felt and paper to paint and crayons. Materials You'll Need Cardboard (reuse the front and back of an old cereal or cracker box) Scissors Markers Clear-drying school glue Craft felt Construction paper Crayons Tempera paint Paintbrushes How-To Steps Cut a book cover-shaped piece of cardboard (rectangle). Create the design. Your child can re-create...

Valentine’s Day Glitter Activities for Kids

art activity

Celebrate with sparkles! If your kiddos love glitter (which they most likely do), then these Valentine's Day kids' art activities are perfect. Whether your little loves want to make heartfelt cards, decorate the house for the holiday or are just looking for a themed way to craft, check out these easy ideas. Glitter Heart Start with a plain piece of 8x10-inch card stock paper. Fold it in half. Your child can draw half a heart, starting at the center. Cut the shape out and open it completely. Paint the entire front of the heart with clear-drying school glue. Now it's...

Preschool Portrait Project for Lincoln’s Birthday

president's birthday

Celebrate Lincoln's Birthday with a portrait project for your preschooler. Introduce President Lincoln to your young learner with picture books, stories and child-friendly articles online. After a brief historical discussion, show your child pictures of the former president. Ask your child to describe Abraham Lincoln. Talk about what they need to create a portrait of him and how they'll start the drawing process. Materials You'll Need Card stock or construction paper Crayons or markers Cardboard Scissors How-To Instructions Start with a geometry lesson. Cut out an oval, a square and other shapes from the cardboard. Give the shapes to your...

Easy Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Treat Ideas

cookie treat

It's almost Valentine's Day and you're in charge of bringing the treats for your child's school party. But you don't exactly have the time to spend an entire day in the kitchen baking. And buying ready-made goodies isn't an option either. What can you do? Try an in-between alternative, adding your own homemade touch to a store-bought Valentine's Day sweet! Heart Cookies The local bakery is sold out of heart-shaped cookies. Instead of baking your own, buy your child's favorite flavor of cookie. Don't worry about the fact that the cookies are round. Make sure to choose semi-soft to soft baked...

National Freedom Day Kids’ Activity

kids' art

February 1 marks National Freedom Day. This very special day commemorates the signing of the 13th Amendment by Abraham Lincoln. If you're looking for a way to help your child better understand why this day is important, and what having freedom means, check out this educational activity for kids. Materials You'll Need Poster board paper Crayons or markers Scissors Child-friendly magazines or print-outs from websites Clear-drying school glue or a glue stick Scissors How-To Instruction Steps Discuss what freedom means to your child. If they're not sure, talk about what you think freedom means or read children's books on the...

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