The Queen's Word

Get the free template for this Flip Sequins Quiet Book page. Toddlers and preschoolers will be entertained by these mermaid sequins and practice writing letters and numbers.

Flip Sequins Quiet Book Page | Free Template

August 26, 2018

Are your kids just as obsessed with these flips sequins as mine? Everywhere you look there are shirts, pillows, backpacks, pencil pouches, etc. with this awesome fabric. So I thought, why not make a quiet book page?! It's so simple, yet the mesmerizing mermaid sequins (as they are also known as) will keep your little on...

Get the free template to make this Fish Tank Quiet Book Page. The fish is a finger puppet your toddler or preschooler will enjoy feeding with the glitter fish food.

Fish Tank Quiet Book Page | Free Template

May 09, 2018

Do you have a pet fish? We don't, but now my kids can feed this fish! They can also play with the finger puppet and sing songs such as "Slippery Fish" by Charlotte Diamond. Get the free template and instructions to make this Quiet Book page.

New Year's Eve at Home with Kids

December 26, 2020

This year many more people will be spending the last day of the year at home, and if you have kids these activities will make staying in on New Year's Eve even more memorable. Count down the new year with these crafts, games, learning activities, and reflections every hour. It will be a day spent having fun as a family!

Valentine's Day Playdate Plan

January 30, 2020

I started these crafty play dates with my group of friends when my kids were little because I love the themed crafts and snacks, making memories with my kids, having some mom to mom time while the kids play, and sharing the load! I've done all the planning for you. All you need to do is share the sign up sheet with your friends!

Halloween Playdate Plan

October 18, 2019

When my kids were little, I would plan pot-luck style themed play dates with our friends (moms need play dates too!). The kids weren't in school yet to have all of the fun activities, so we created our own!

Books and Bites Play Date

August 28, 2019

We found a new back to school tradition! Have you ever heard of a Books and Bites party? It is such a fabulous way to end summer, get geared up for school, and celebrate our love for books with friends and family! Of course, I added my twist to it by making it a swap style play date with book themed snacks, activities, and eve...

New Year's Eve Fun with Kids

December 29, 2018

Plan a fun filled last day of the year for your kids and spend time together. There are crafts, games, coloring pages, science activities, and more! You will start a New Year's Eve tradition that everyone will look forward to. See our exact schedule with links to plan your own!

Contact Paper Turkey

November 17, 2018

Here's a vertical wall activity perfect for Thanksgiving. Have your toddler or preschooler make a turkey on contact paper using paper scraps and feathers! When something is hanging up on a wall, children are required to stand or kneel and raise their arms often. This strengthens their muscles, especially their shoulders. These vertical activities also help with b...

Get a group of friends together for some St. Patrick's Day themed food and fun! Get my free organizer to plan your own.

St. Patrick's Day Play Date

March 03, 2018

Get a group of friends together for some St. Patrick's Day themed food and fun! Everyone who comes will bring the supplies for one activity or snack (use my free sign up sheet with a list of ideas). Then you will have several fun crafts and yummy food for a few hours of play. I'm a believer that play dates are...

Kids are missing out!

August 30, 2023

Are we all (yes, adults too) settling these days because screens entertain us well enough and there is no motivation to try new things? There is not nearly as much empty time to fill with exploration of new hobbies. What opportunities are kids missing out on?

How to Approach a Teacher About Screen Time in Class

August 17, 2022

Screen time is now deeply entwined in public school education and teachers are dealing with a lot! So how do you go about talking to the teacher about this topic? Here's my advice as a former teacher and a parent who approaches the topic every year.

Easy Screen-Free Activities for Babysitters

June 22, 2022

As a parent, my dream sitter would be someone who would come play with my kids. Like actually get down and play. They’d follow my child’s lead or they’d know fun activities to do with my kids. I’d come home to creativity, imaginative play, or some learning activity with my child so engaged they didn’t miss me one bit! Here are some easy activities sitters can do with kids. You only need paper ...

10 Tips for a Successful Screen Time Detox and Reset

May 25, 2021

Have your children become screen zombies that want nothing else? Or do they whine or become irritable after screen time? Or do you just want to reel in how much they are spending on screens? Then it’s time for a reset so you can get back in control of your tech!

This doesn’t mean giving up screens forever. That is unrealistic. B...

Activity Ideas When You are Stuck at Home

March 14, 2020

Most everyone is being affected by Coronavirus right now. As a community, we are being asked to stay home and practice social distancing. I have created this list of over 75 activities that you can do when you are stuck at home. They are screen free and don't require much!

Could Blue Light Be the Cause of Bedtime Struggles?

June 10, 2019

Ahh the bedtime process. Sometimes it can be quite an ordeal. And by the end of the day, I. am. done. Many times kids are tired, they just like to hold out as long as they can with the bedtime shenanigans. But if your little one has had screen time right before nap or bedtime, this may actually be the problem and your child can't help it!

The Rise of a New Disorder: Electronic Screen Syndrome

April 05, 2019

In her book Reset Your Child's Brain, Dr. Victoria Dunckley has coined the term Elect...

New Study Links High Levels of Screen Time to Poorer Performance on Development Screening Tests

March 18, 2019

Parents this is BIG! This study just came out from the Journal of American Medical Association of Pediatrics (JAMA), and is "the FIRST to provide evidence of a directional association between screen time and poor performance on development screening tests among very young children".

50 Screen Free Activities for Summer

July 10, 2018

It's so easy to let screen time fill the voids of those long summer days. You have to try hard not to fall back on that temptation. Kids need to play, create, get tired out, and even get bored (it's not a bad thing). I've compiled a list of 50 screen free activities for you to reference all in one spot. Next time you're needing an activity to pass those summer ho...

Farmer's Market Stand DIY Tutorial

May 08, 2019

This stand is the perfect little set up for dramatic play in your classroom or home. I love how versatile it is - going from farmer's market stand to lemonade stand to pizza shop with just a change of fabric or signs. I also love how it can easily be taken apart for transport or storage!

The Secret to Cutting Felt Without Tracing Marks

November 06, 2019

Sounds too good to be true right? Those black ugly lines from a marker seem to never go away, no matter how much you keep cutting in on them. And then those special pens that are supposed to disappear on their own?! Don't get me started. They are better than a marker, because you can at least get them off with water. But disappea...

Valentine Chocolate Shapes Matching | Felt Board Activity

February 04, 2019

Chocolate anyone? Make a fun learning activity for your felt board just in time for Valentine's Day! Toddlers or preschoolers can match the loose felt shapes to the ones attached to the heart. You can also work on identifying the names of each shape.

DIY Felt Board Tutorial

January 17, 2019

Felt boards are such a fun, interactive, and SCREEN FREE activity for children of all ages. Felt naturally sticks to felt, so you can use this board for so many activities. One year olds may just like to stick felt pieces to it, while 2, 3, 4, 5, 6+ year olds can create imaginative stories, play learning games, or just have some creative fun with pieces!

Felt Animal Pumpkins | Free Template

October 07, 2018

Here's an idea to spruce up those fake pumpkins you see in all the stores! It's not quite kid related (although they can definitely help you make it!), but I just have a love for felt decorations. Not only is it very simple to make, it's also a nice fall theme that can last from September to November.

Get the free template to make this Easter Egg Matching Activity. Use felt and plastic eggs to work on colors and fine motor skills for your preschooler or toddler.

Colored Egg Matching Activity

March 15, 2018

This activity has entertained my kids each year for quite a while, at all different ages (1-5). It's simple and inexpensive to put together - who doesn't have an abundance of plastic eggs and felt at home?! Maybe the felt is just me, but it is only about 40 cents per sheet to buy.

Valentine's Day Learning Activity

February 06, 2018

This is a fun, versatile way to incorporate crafts and learning! Not to mention that it is super EASY to make. You basically cut hearts. Want to make it even easier on the preparation side? Just trace hearts and have your child practice their cutting skills.

Indoor Fun Preschool Activity Book Resources

September 03, 2021

Here are some free printables you can use with the activities in my book, Indoor Fun Preschool Activities. It has over 80 activities you can do with your preschooler for some indoor fun and learning through play. Enter your email and they will be sent right away!

Easter Basket Treasure Hunt Clues

March 23, 2021

The 2021 Easter Basket Treasure Hunt Clues are here! The Easter Bunny has been bringing my kids this fun way to find their Easter Basket since 2015! And yes, each year is different because that Easter Bunny wouldn't hide baskets in the same place twice! My kids totally remember from year to year.

Toddler Science Book Resources

March 14, 2021

These are free printables to use with the activities in my book The Curious Toddler's Science Activity Book! But, you don't have to have the book to download them. Print them out and then head out to nature to explore!

Birthday Treasure Hunt Clues

February 26, 2021

Make your child's birthday just a little bit more special by sending them on a hunt around the house for a surprise using these free Birthday Treasure Hunt clues. A birthday gift, a cake, or the included coupon for a Yes Day can be options for the surprise at the end!

Valentine Treasure Hunt

January 27, 2021

You are DINO-mite! You have a PIZZA my heart. We BEE-long together. I put the best Valentine puns into a treasure hunt for your little ones! This screen free activity will delight kids of all ages as they go on a hunt around the house for a Valentine's Day surprise!

Holiday Treasure Hunt Clues

December 03, 2020

Send your kids on a race around the house with the Holiday Treasure Hunt Clues printable. The treasure can be anything from a candy cane to a big ticket gift! You can take credit for the fun or let that Elf on the Shelf or even Santa leave the first clue. Not only will they make memories, they will learn a little about other holidays people celebrate in December!

Halloween Candy Treasure Hunt

October 16, 2020

Did Covid-19 spoil your trick or treating plans? If so, I made you something that will still have your kids going place to place to collect candy in your own home! There are 18 different clues in this Halloween Candy Treasure Hunt. Put a piece of candy with each clue or a whole bowl! Not big on all the sugar? Trade s...

Halloween Scavenger Hunt Printable

October 09, 2020

It's a socially distanced activity for October! Take your kids on a walk or on a drive through different neighborhoods to see if they can find everything on the list.

Reading BINGO Challenge

April 24, 2020

My kids are avid readers, but we are currently social distancing due to Covid-19. Schools and libraries are closed, and we are left with what books we have in the house! It's been over 30 days in this unique situation, so I decided to create a fun challenge for them to mix things up.

Easter Basket Treasure Hunt Clues

April 10, 2020

It's an annual thing! Here are the Easter Basket Treasure Hunt Clues for 2020. This is Coronavirus Quarantine Easter, so why not make it a little extra memorable by having the Easter Bunny send your kids on a Treasure Hunt to find their basket?

The Queen's Word