Category: Child Development

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Side Hustles for Kids

When it comes to making money, the only prerequisite you need is a good idea. Adults aren’t the only ones with great ideas to make some extra bucks, kids have some pretty good ideas for their own side hustles. This creativity can help them with their earning potential clear into adulthood. A side job will also help them develop people skills, problem solve, and learn how to manage money once they’ve earned it. If you are stumped and want some help thinking of a few ways to make a dollar, here is a list of money makers that might spark your imagination.

Most of us probably had a lemonade stand in our front yard when we were growing up. Mowing the lawn, babysitting, and shoveling snow were popular ways to make some extra dough too. And after you completed the job, did you skip to the nearest candy store? Or did you save it for a new skateboard? Whatever your end goal, learning the value of a hard day’s work to get the pay was surely a life lesson that you still can live by. With a side job you can teach your kids this too.

Here are 10 easy side hustles for kids who want to make a buck.

Lemonade Stand

We are starting with this one because it works! Take advantage of your mom’s garage sale and set up a table by the entrance. Chances are she has already hung signs around the neighborhood, you just need to add one by the front of your table. You can earn more profit by selling bottled water out of a cooler too.

Donut Stand

Those early garage sale shoppers just might be hungery as well. You can add a few dozen to your display and sell them for a profit. I’m sure you will sell out in no time.

Dog Walking

A lot of people in your neighborhood work during the day and do not have time to take their dog for a walk. You could hand out flyers offering dog walking services. Learn leash laws. Be sure to take something with you to clean up their messes.

Dog Treats Sale

If you like to cook, maybe you can bake some dog treats and sell them. Kind of like a bake sale, just not as savory. @cozycook.com has a fun recipe for a homemade strawberry banana dog treat.

Doggie Dooty

Here’s another job people don’t have time for or just don’t like to do. They will pay you to come by once a week to pick up poo. All you need are gloves, double bags, 5 gallon bucket, and a scooper. You can bring some of your fresh baked doggie treats for the customers too!

Produce Stand

This was one of my kids favorites! Their Grandma had a huge excess of tomatoes from her garden every year. They would load up these yummy red veggies and sell them to all of the neighbors. If you grow a large garden, you can sell your home grown bounty up and down the block out of a little red wagon. If you don’t normally grow a garden, it might be a fun family project to start. Here is a post from @growingfamily.com on how to garden with children.

Recycling Cans

Your child can earn some money by collecting aluminum used cans. Ask friends and family to save their cans and you can help your child pick them up once a week. What a great way to teach them all about the recycling process and how important it is to our world. Here is a great teaching idea about recycling from @learningmole.

Make YouTube videos

My grandson loves watching YouTube videos of other kids playing with toys. Some of the videos are of people opening toys and giving their opinions of it. As silly as this sounds, it is the new craze. Everyone is doing it! These kid entrepreneurs are making tons of money with these side hustles largely through sponsored videos and affiliate links.

If you are worried about your children being on Youtube, they can still do this without showing their faces. There are various child Youtubers who do not show their faces – they just focus the camera on the toys.

Yard Sale

When it’s time for some spring cleaning, help your child go through his own toys, games, and clothes to find things that he isn’t using anymore and sell them. Separating, organizing and then selling can be a great cleaning project to do with you child.

Selling Used Books

While you are getting things ready for the yard sale, begin collect all of the books that you have outgrown or no longer read. Use an app like Bookscouter to see which ones are worth something and then sell them on Amazon or eBay. To boost up your inventory of books, go to other garage or yard sales, or used book sales at the library. I love to find gently loved books at the thrift stores too. Here is my post on Amazing Thrift Store Finds. And My Favorite Secondhand Stores in St. Louis.


Side hustles are a great way for kids to bring in some spending money. As they learn the hard work it takes to make money, they also learn the value of a dollar. These jobs are perfect for kids to obtain responsibility skills as well as to take pride in themselves. ~ Susie Pea

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Fun With Kids at the Public Libraries

St. Louis County offers 19 library branches around the area. They volunteer amenities such as interactive children’s areas, private study rooms, and comfortable seating and quiet reading areas.

Public Libraries are not what they used to be. Now these libraries are offering new and innovative programs like Sensory Story Time for families with children on the autism spectrum, Listen Up STL a collection of local music available to stream on the library’s website, and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, a program designed to give kids a head start in school by encouraging them to read. 

Children’s Area at St. Louis County Library – Grant’s View Branch

Library Programs For Kids

Here is a short list of some of the many programs they offer for kids. With so many, you are sure to find a few that you and your children will find interesting and fun to check out.

Discovery Zones

Select SLCL branches now feature Discovery Zones for children. These spaces are designed to encourage children to explore, play and learn. The Discovery Zones have several unique features including pneumatic tube displays, interactive light walls and large format touch screens where kids can play games using educational apps.There’s also an area for younger explorers with features designed for small children such as reading nooks, magnetic walls and interactive literacy panels.

Kids Area at Grant’s View Branch

Discovery Zones are located at the following locations: 

FLIP Kits

FLIP Kit

FLIP (Family Literacy Involvement Program) kits are fun, interactive, free of charge and easy to use. Each kit contains a book and activities. FLIP Kits are available for checkout at all St. Louis County Library branches.

Browse the list of available kits. Each kit can be checked out for two weeks.

Kindergarten Prep

Get an overview of what is expected before your child enters the classroom. SLCL offers a Kindergarten Prep workshop for parents and children who will be 5-years-old by July 31, 2019. Families who participate will receive a free backpack, a book and school supplies. Space is limited. Registration required.

Launch Pad, Audio Books & Computers

You can check out Launch Pads, Books on CD, or play games and read on the child friendly computers. The libraries are set up to make learning and reading enjoyable at an early age.

Parent Packs

Parent Pack

Parent Packs are designed to help young children and their caregivers have meaningful, age-appropriate conversations about important topics. Each includes books and a resource list on a specific theme, such as First Day of School, Death, Potty Training, Friendship and Where do Babies Come From. Adults are encouraged to read the books first, then share with their children.

The kits can be checked out for two weeks. Packs are geared towards families with children in second grade or younger.

These are available at the following locations: Bridgeton Trails, Cliff Cave, Daniel Boone, Florissant Valley, Grant’s View and Library Headquarters.

Sci-finder kits

Sci-finders kits contain everything parents and kids need to engage in hands-on activities at home. The kits can be checked out for a period of two weeks by anyone with a valid, adult SLCL library card. Each kit comes equipped with learning activities and experiments centered on a variety of science and technology topics.

You can find Sci-finders at:

  • Bridgeton Trails
  • Cliff Cave
  • Daniel Boone
  • Florissant Valley
  • Grand Glaize
  • Grant’s View
  • Headquarters
  • Indian Trails
  • Jamestown Bluffs
  • Lewis and Clark
  • Prairie Commons
  • Samuel C. Sachs
  • Thornhill
  • Weber Road 

Sensory Story Time

St. Louis County Library offers Sensory Story Time for families with children ages 3-9 who are on the autism spectrum or who have multi-sensory needs. The program provides a welcoming environment for children to enjoy a story and other fun activities.

Story Time

Stories, songs and other fun activities to help develop early literacy skills. Each branch offers different story times geared towards particular ages. There are even lap time story times for those between the ages of 0-36 months.

STEAM

St. Louis County Libraries offers a variety of art and science-related resources and activities for families. Explore all the great programming at your local branch.

We Stories

The We Stories collection at St. Louis County Library features culturally diverse children’s books and discussion kits to help parents initiate conversations about race.

The kits include 4-6 different books, suggested activities and a discussion guide. Each kit is centered on a different theme such as “Everybody Counts,” “Girl Power,” “Celebrating the Skin You’re In” and “Who are the People in Your Neighborhood.” The We Stories kits are designed for parents and children ages 3-8 and can be checked out for two weeks.

Learn more about the We Stories organization at www.westories.org.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

1000 Books Before Kindergarten encourages families and caregivers to read 1000 books with their young children before they enter kindergarten.

Studies have shown that families who start reading aloud to their children at birth help strengthen language skills and build vocabulary–two important tools when children begin learning to read in kindergarten.

How does it work?

  1. Register at any St. Louis County Library branch and take home a reading log.
  2. Track your reading by marking a circle every time you read a book with your child.
  3. Visit your local SLCL branch each time you read 100 books and receive a sticker. When you reach 500 books, your child will receive a free book and a small prize. When you complete 1000 books, your child will receive a free book, a drawstring bag and other fun items.

FAQs

Can we really read that many books before kindergarten? Yes! If you read one book a day you can complete the program within three years.

Can other people read to my child besides me? Stories read by parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. all count. You can also count books read at story times.

But my child wants to read the same book over and over! The good news is that repetition is important to learning and you can count that book multiple times.

Educator Bundles

Educators interested in requesting books to supplement their collection on a specific topic(s) can complete the form below.

  • Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance of needing the material.
  • The quantity requested may be altered by staff due to the availability of items in the system.
  • Once the material has been gathered a notification will be sent.
  • Pick-up and return of the material should be completed by the dates given.

If you have any questions, please contact the Youth Services Department at 314-994-3300 or kidzone@slcl.org.

There is something for everyone at your local public libraries these days. With so many great opportunities for kids, can you imagine what they have lined up for adults! Stop by and check out all that they have to offer. ~ Susie Pea

For more great ideas to do with kids, check out my post on Mud Kitchens. You can teach kids about how animals live with my post on Habitats to Make with Kids. My Christmas Camp post has even more fun packed in! Also read about my Snackle Boxes that I pack for my grandbabies when we are out playing all day.

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Summer Survival Series DAY TWO – Chores, Behavior, & Rewards

Hey there!  Welcome back to my Summer Survival Series! Are you ready to get your next set of Summer Survival Tips? 

Now that you took time for yourself, and Step Number 1 is hopefully in the making. It’s time for our next step for Summer Survival!


NUMBER 2. CREATE A SYSTEM FOR CHORES, BEHAVIOR, & REWARDS.  

Summer Survival Tips – Chores

I’m a BIG supporter of chores for kiddos. Listen, they are CAPABLE. I am a BIGGER non-supporter of the FIGHTING that comes along with making them do chores. So let’s make it FUN this summer, shall we? 

To help combat this chore war, I downloaded a relatively new app called “S’Mores Up.” You create an account and you add each child to that account.  Next, you  create chores (or choose from the chores they have already preprogrammed).  Then, you come up with some rewards for doing said chores.  Finally, YOU GET THEM TO WILLINGLY HELP AROUND THE HOUSE! WHAAATTTT!?!? 

Summer Survival Series - S'mores Chore chart
Summer Survival Series – S’mores Chore chart

Summer Survival Tips – Rewards

 When Little Curtis takes out the trash, he gets a point, which the app has cutely nicknamed a “s’more.”  When he saves up enough “s’mores,” he can cash them in for awesome prizes!  Like staying up late, extra screen time, a batch of his favorite cookies, or a toy from the dollar store!  

Summer Survival Series - S'mores Reward Chart
Summer Survival Series – S’mores Reward Chart

The littler kids, like my Griffin, really don’t care about the points, but they love to be doing the same things as the big kids!  AND *DUH* while they’re cleaning, you can be cleaning!  This was a huge “AHA” moment for me several years back.  I didn’t have these expectations for my kids and I felt this huge mom guilt while trying to clean as they entertained themselves (which usually involved following behind me and undoing all of my hard work…).  

In addition to the chores app, I’ve also created this “Chore Board” so my bigger kids can earn some money and do some jobs that I just really don’t want to do! Check it out. 

Summer Survival Series - Chore Board to help promote good summer help and habits with children
Summer Survival Series – Chore Board

SNEAKY, right?  I remember thinking that my parents had kids just so we could clean for them.  Obviously, I now realize how much I DIDN’T do as a child.  But I also realize that this is indeed a BONUS to having children!!! BAHAHA!  

Summer Survival Tips – Behaviors


BUT HOLD UP.  Let’s get real.  None of this is going to happen if we allow misbehavior.  My parenting style mostly falls under the Authoritative category.  Check out this information from Strictly Stress Management to learn more. I believe our kiddos need to see us giving them consistency, strength, expectations, practical life skills, and deep, unconditional love.  I believe in natural consequences, but also consequences that are consistent. When my child does behavior A, they should already know what punishment B has always been.  At a very young age, they’ll start developing the LIFE SKILLS needed to be able to weigh their behaviors with the risk of the consequences.  

I already have a good handle on this in my home.  I taught kindergarteners for 5 years.  So this summer I’m really focusing on Quality Character.  We are going to use a ticket system for this behavior plan.  The kids will earn a ticket when they display excellent character.  Tickets can be lost when poor character becomes a problem.  They’ll go “shopping” in the treasure box once a week!  

Good Character Poster to promote good behavior and reward system

If you are interested in a printable of the Character Counts PDF Click Below

https://susiepeas.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Character-Counts-1.pdf

Summer Survival Series - Treasure Box & Tickets. Ways to promote good behavior and rewards.
Summer Survival Series – Treasure Box & Tickets

Now, I didn’t say today’s topic was going to be an easy task.  One thing I know for certain is that these transition times (like the upcoming transition from school year to summertime) are IDEAL for making changes.  So let’s practice our MOM VOICES and perfect THAT LOOK that means business.  We can do this, Momma!  #bosslady #queenbee  ~Boo


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Amazing Bean Box Fun!


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Bean Box Fun - Sensory Boxes
Little “I” loves playing with his Bean Box. Making messes is part of the fun.

A Bean Box is a great way to work on fine motor development and wrist turning skills. This helps children when learning to feed themselves and prepares them for eventually writing. Yes, we all need to be working on this now. Hand and wrist strength is an important milestone.

Inexpensive plastic tubs with lids are great for stacking and storing your Bean Boxes.

How to Make A Bean Box

I made this Fireman box with a plastic bin with lid for easy storing. I added beans. Other ideas for fillers could be lima beans, corn, shredded paper, kinetic sand. I included plastic firemen, red and yellow pompoms for the “fire”, firetruck🚒 and safety cones, and a scoop for pouring. And that’s it!

Little “I” loves getting crazy with scooping and pouring. He is still learning the rules of keep the beans in the box, but the amount of joy he has playing with it and the fact that he is working his fine motor skills makes it a great activity for him.

More Ideas for Fillers

Bean Box Fillers from mrsdscorner.com

A Few of My Boxes

Fireman Bean Box

Here are some theme ideas for Bean Boxes

  • Construction Site Bean Box. backhoes 🏗and dump trucks, kinetic sand and scoops.
  • Bugs, Bugs, & More Bugs. beans, plastic bugs🦗🕷, magnifying glass🔎 and scoops.
  • Farm Bean Box with corn as my filler, farm animals🐖🐄🐑 tractors🚜, and a scoop.
  • Flower Garden. Potting soil, small flower pots, plastic flowers, scoops.
  • Cooking Bean Box. Rice filler, kid cooking pans and spoons, plastic food.
  • Ice cream Bean Box. Cotton balls for filler, sequence “sprinkles”, spoons and small cups to serve ice cream.
  • Dinosaur & Fossil Bean Box. Kinetic sand, plastic dinosaurs, magnifying glass, scoop, rocks, plastic trees.

The examples above are what I would consider “clean” play. 😉

Messy Bean Box Ideas

  • Clean Mud Worm Sensory Bin. Use clean mud, plastic worms from the fishing dept. and kid tweezers to dig them suckers out, magnifying glass.
  • Pond Box. Water beads, plastic frogs, turtle, fish, etc.
  • Artic Animal Box. Ice cubes, plastic penguins and polar bears.
  • Rainbow Box. Colored Spaghetti noodles. let them dig in a mix the colors of the rainbow.
  • Aquarium Box. Water, aquarium rocks, plastic greenery, fish, fish net.

There are so many fun things to do. And these are inexpensive to make. 👍 For more fine motor fun, see my post on Toys that Promote Fine Motor Development. And How to Make an Animal Habitat. Also, Mud Kitchen Ideas. ~Susie Peas

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Snackle Boxes For Kids

Heading out the door with your little guys has never been so easy. Prep a Snackle Box for each of the kiddos and you’re set. Perfect for the zoo, doctor appointments, or just running errands around town.

Give each kid their own Snackle Box (I found mine at Walmart in the fishing/sporting goods section) filled with some healthy snack options for them to munch on in between meals. So easy to meal prep and store in the fridge. Grab one and toss it into the diaper bag/back pack on your way out the door.

These small life savers would also be perfect when you travel. Have one for each kid packed in the cooler (or not if you don’t have foods that need to be chilled). They could also easily fit in your carryon when flying. (Check out this carryon back pack, big enough to hold your laptop or to use as a diaper bag so you can have your hands free to handle the little one.) A great way to ensure a calm flight for you and the other passengers!


Snack Ideas for Snackle Box

  • beef sticks
  • goldfish
  • cheese cubes
  • raisins
  • grapes
  • berries
  • cheese sticks
  • apples
  • pepperonis
  • ham cubes
  • cookies (those are cookies in the pictures – not dog bones) 😉
  • fruit snacks
  • trail mix
  • nuts
  • baby carrots
  • veggies
  • teddy grahams
  • yogurt chips
  • puffs
  • cheerios/cereal
  • pretzel sticks
  • ritz bits
  • dried fruit
  • candy (ugh) 😉
  • and so much more!

As you can see, the sky is the limit with these little Snackle Boxes. Cater to whatever your little one loves. The key is that they are portable and work as a perfect “tray” when they are cramped in their car seat and screaming. For the love of God – give them their Snackle Box and ride in peace! ~Susie Pea

Check out my ideas for a Keto Friendly Snackle Box here. See some Ideas for playdates with my grandbabies here. And fun mud kitchen ideas here.

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Toys that Encourage Gross Motor Development in Toddlers


Gross motor development is the ability required in order to control the large muscles of the body for walking, running, sitting, crawling , and other activities. It is gaining strength and learning to move arms, legs, and torso.

For toddlers, walking is the biggest milestone. But really the whole period is about learning balance, control and coordination.

There are tons of fun and simple ways to promote gross motor development in your toddler.  One of the best ways is through play with toys.

Kids at this age (between 1-3) are curious about everything, which makes it easy to get their attention and engage in exploration, climbing, and learning about how their bodies move in space. Throw in some toys and make it even more fun!

Milestones For Toddlers

Between the ages of 12–18 months, your toddler should:

  • Start walking independently
  • Attempt to run, or runs with stiff posture
  • Squat down to pick something up
  • Crawl up stairs and creep back down
  • Step on stationary ball when trying to kick the ball
  • Seat self on small chair
  • Pull a toy behind themselves while walking
  • Throw underhand when sitting

Between the ages of 18 months – 2 years, your toddler should:

  • Walk up and down the stairs while holding your hand
  • Run fairly well
  • Jump with feet together, clearing the floor
  • Jump down and forwards
  • Squat to play
  • Stand on tiptoe with support
  • Start to use ride-on toys
  • Throw a ball into a box
  • Kick a ball forwards

Between the ages of 2 – 2 ½ years, your toddler should:

  • Stand on tiptoes if shown first
  • Jump from bottom step
  • Begin to ride a tricycle, moving forward with feet on the floor
  • Stand on balance beam with 2 feet and attempt to step forward
  • Catch a large ball with arms straight out

Between the ages of 2 ½ – 3 years, your toddler should:

  • Stand on 1 foot momentarily
  • Walk up the stairs alone with alternating feet
  • Downstairs with 2 feet on same step
  • Walk on tiptoe
  • Start riding a tricycle using the pedals
  • Catch a ball with arms bent
  • Kick a ball forwards

Help Them Reach Their Milestones

To help your child get the most from her playtime, give her the time, space and resources she needs to be inspired. Here are some of my favorite toys that promote gross motor development.

Core strengthening is essential for the progression of other developmental skills because the core is the center of control for everything else the body does. There are lots of easy ways to strengthen the core through simple play at home

Practicing crawling or walking over pillows is awesome for strength, balance, body awareness, and coordination.

Tunnels

Tunnels offer a child a fun and interactive way to play, plus another great way to work on their core. They can crawl and move through them. Or they can hide in them. Play can get more exciting when you add some throw pillows, rolled blankets and other soft obstacles underneath the tunnel. Little kids love activities such as puzzles or ball/car ramps positioned at one end of the tunnel when they crawl out.

Athletic Gear

Balls, bats, hockey sticks, & pucks are all great toys to bring into their play that encourage use of their arms and legs, and coordination. Now that they are toddlers, they are becoming more aware of what their body can do.

Play back and forth with them, even rolling a ball not only works gross motor skills, but teaches them to take turns – their first lesson in playing games.

When you teach them to throw, show them both overhand and underhand. Start with a stuffed animal, or a softball, and play catch. Make it large enough that they can catch it with minimal effort to boost their egos, and have some fun with this.

Cardboard Blocks


Large cardboard blocks are a great way to get your child stretching and moving. They love to stack these jumbo blocks as high as they can reach. And the giggles when they knock them down! Extremely popular at grandma’s house right now, and anything that is both made of cardboard and can survive my grandson is pretty impressive in my book. You can make your own out of empty shoeboxes. Here is a DIY from @sunnydayfamily.com.

Ride On Toys

When you’re just a toddler, the entire world is an adventure waiting to be explored. Climbing on a toy on wheels promotes adventure in a safe and secure environment you can control. It enables your little one to work on coordination to push forward with their legs and hang on with their arms. It also develops strength in their legs as they move the toy around the room. Even just pushing the toy around the room without riding on it works their big muscles.

Washing Cars

Carwash

Line up the riding toys, fill up a tub of bubbles, add sunscreen and you have yourself a carwash. This is a great way to get outdoors for fresh air and burning some energy while they work those muscles. Sit back with a glass of sweet tea and watch them play.

More Gross Motor Toys

  • Balloon play
  • ball
  • balance beam
  • ribbon dancers
  • hoola hoop

Gross Motor Play without Toys

There are tons of other ways to work on gross motors without using toys. Bringing these types of activities into their daily play also encourages gross motor development, as well as turn taking, and listening skills.

  • tag (or just chasing them)
  • dancing
  • Simon says
  • red light green light (stop and go)
  • acting like animals (jump like a frog)
  • go on a nature walk
  • explore the zoo
  • yoga (tree, frog, mountain, boat, resting)
Animal Play

Helping to Clean Up

Walking and squatting/bending to pick up objects helps little ones learn how to regain their balance when they’re on the move!  Simply cleaning up the toys around the room in this way is great for balance and strengthening.

Keep Introducing

Keep in mind that your child’s capabilities will change drastically throughout the year, so their response to activities will be different depending on their age. Things that they couldn’t do at 1 1/2 they will be able to do at 2.

Focus on play, not success. Play is a process, not a result. If they don’t play with the toy the way it was intended, it’s ok as long as it is not a safety issue. When things don’t go the way she wants them to, it gives her the chance to find her own solutions. By using their bodies, children begin to gain an awareness of which body parts are working, left-right orientation and their place in space. Plus play helps to work those skills that we need to encourage them to develop. And more than anything – let them have fun!! ~ Susie Pea

More gross motor ideas are on my Pinterest board Gross Motor Activities for Kids. For information on Toys that Promote Fine Motor Development , go here. To learn how to get toys like these for less, go to my post on My Favorite 2nd Hand Store in St. Louis.

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Ultimate Guide of What To Do on a Snow Day

When you live in the Midwest you can pretty much guarantee that your school year has a snow day or two built into it. On average, our part of the woods misses 2-5 days of school for inclement weather each school year.

With your kids stuck at home, what is there to do to keep them from bouncing off the walls? Or the dreaded “I am bored!” Here are a few ideas to help keep you from losing your mind!

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Building a snow man is probably the top snow activity across the planet. A scarf, a carrot, and some good packing snow are really all you need for this activity. Roll out 3 balls. Stack them one on top of another. Add your props and your done. Time for some selfies with your new little Olaf.

  • Man and his best friend.
  • The easy way to build a snowman.

Now let’s step it up a notch. How about a snow family? Or snow animals? Or maybe build an igloo if you are really ambitious. @hamiltonsrv.com has a post on How to Build an Actual Igloo that can give you some great pointers on your snow day structures.

How to build an actual igloo.

Snow Day Painting


Your kids will have a great time painting the snow this winter on their snow day. with snow paint. @craftymorning.com has a recipe for snow paint that is super easy. All you need is a few drops of liquid food coloring and cold water. Mix in a squeeze bottle for easy writing. How great it is to have a huge blank canvas to design their works of art. Bonus – the mess stays outside!

You can also use kool-aid packets if you don’t have food coloring. The more you add the stronger the color will be. Use spray bottles for a different effect.

*Be careful, food coloring stains.

Sledding

There is something about coasting down a hillside with wind in your face and snow dusting your eyelashes that brings back your childhood. And introducing children to the sledding experience is truly magical. There are several store bought sledding apparatuses that will ensure a fast, fun thrill ride. But in a pinch, a sled made with duct tape and cardboard will work just fine. Here are a few sled building ideas to check out.

Snowball Fight

If the neighbors are off school too, get them all together and break up into teams for a big snowball fight. What an awesome way to run around and work those gross motor skills, plus burn off some energy.

If your fun is inside, here is a tutorial on how to make snowballs for an indoor fight from @themormonhome.com. If you’re not that crafty, order premade indoor snowballs from Amazon here.

More Outside Fun

  • Make frozen bubbles.
  • Make snow angels.
  • Go ice skating.
  • Put out bird seed for birds.
  • Shovel the driveway.

Moving It Inside

From snowball fights to snowball stacking, these 7 indoor snowball games & activities will get the kids moving and playing indoors (without getting cold) from @amomwithalessonplan.com.

Indoor snowball activities

Playdough

Kids will jump at any reason to dig their hands into playdough. This is an easy way to add some fine motor development into their snow day. @aspectacledowl.com has a great playdough snowman kit idea that I love.

More Indoor Fun

  • Have a scavenger hunt.
  • Color or make a craft.
  • Have a dance party.
  • Put on a play.
  • Bake cookies.
  • Play board games
  • Make a fort
  • Have a pajama day
  • Movie marathon
  • Make hot chocolate

Warming Up With Some Hot Chocolate

There is nothing better than warming your sweet peas up with a mug of hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows melting on top. This could be my favorite memory of snow days when I was a child. @mymommystyle.com has an easy homemade hot chocolate recipe you should try.

I hope that you get to enjoy their snow day as much as they do. It’s one of the biggest reason to act like a kid again. Be sure to take tons of pictures! ~Susie Pea

For more fun ideas with kiddos , check out my post on Geocaching with Kids. Or my post on How to Host a Successful Grandma Camp.

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Easy Animal Habitats to Make with Kids

Look how proud Jase was when we finished his lizard habitat. He couldn’t wait to take it home and show his mom and dad. Even though he is young, this was a great opportunity to teach him about habitats of animals. About what animals need to survive. How to be nurturing? And about responsibility. All important skills that we need to share with our little people.

Listen for Things That Interest Them

My day didn’t start out planning to make habitats. Like most things with Jaserbugs, he brought it up. He found a rubber lizard at the bottom of the toy box. Since he has an amazing imagination (we have worked on helping him grow his imagination – get ideas here) his whole afternoon became about this lizard.

After hearing all about his new lizard friend, I decided to jump on the opportunity and turn it into a teaching moment. He was already interested so I had half the battle won.

Add a Variety of Teaching Resources

Books about Lizard and their Habitats

Books are a great place to start when you want to introduce an activity or concept to children. I had a couple of books about lizards on hand. We relaxed in great grandma’s rocker, and enjoyed some cuddle time. The local library is another resource for finding information on what your kids are excited about.

The internet is a fascinating visual for them as well. (I do have a terrible story on rotten teeth for kiddos that are fighting the whole toothbrush thing! I learned the hard way to view videos myself before I share with them. WARNING!)

Guide Their Learning

Jase and I worked on a list of what lizards need to survive. What do lizards have in their natural habitats? I asked him guided questions to help him when he couldn’t come up with some ideas. “What do you need when you are hungry?” “What about if you’re thirsty?” He was 3 when we completed our habitat. Use questions geared to the child’s age. @thecornerstoneforteachers.com does a good job of explaining this strategy here.

Making Habitats

We found supplies for our lizard habitat around the house. Easy Peasy!

  • Stick from the backyard for lizard to climb on
  • Grass clippings for a soft bed
  • pompons for ‘food’
  • a ping pong ball – Jase thought his lizard needed a toy for exercise – and that’s ok! 😉
  • a small plastic container as our cage

Other Habitat Themes

  • Farm Animals
  • Artic Habitats
  • Rain Forest Animals
  • Desert Habitats
  • Pond Life
  • Ocean

What a fun, short little mini lesson. Be on the lookout for these opportune times to throw in some knowledge and wisdom with your child. It takes a village… If you liked this post, you might want to check out Mud Kitchen Ideas . Also click on over to Fun With Kids at the St. Louis County Public Libraries. And Amazing Bean Box Fun! ~Susie Pea

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Geocaching with Kids

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a real life treasure hunt that is all around us, just waiting to be found. It is a scavenger hunt for all ages. Geocaching is a true game of Hide and Seek. There are people all over the world that geocache as a pastime. There are more than 3 million registered geocaches hidden in more than 190 countries. Geocaching newbies are amazed at how many caches are hidden right in their own town. And it’s so much fun, why not go Geocaching With Kids!

This fun GPS tracking game encourages us to get up off the couch and head outside for some sunshine and fresh air. It is like hiking with a purpose. A prize is waiting for you, if you can solve and follow the clues. The more caches you find, the more addicted you get.

As much fun as it is for phone toting adults, geocaching is also a mode to get kids going too. Introducing them to this exciting hobby is a great way to promote an active lifestyle. In addition, you will be teaching them lessons in GPS technology, map reading, and geography skills.


To begin Geocaching, download the Geocache app on your GPS phone. It’s free, but offers upgrades. Find caches in your area on the app. I suggest reading over the description of the cache first. You will find out if cache is small or larger and easier to find. You can also see how rough the terrain will be. There are tons of kid friendly caches out there as well. You can also find them on the geocache app. Checking these things out especially in the beginning for your tiny hunters, will help guarantee a fun time.

Terms

  • cache – the prize at the end of the hunt. It could be so minute that the cache is only a tiny log book. Or it can be a container full of trinkets to exchange and share.
  • log book – a scroll or piece of paper in the cache that you sign when you find to show that you were there.
  • muggle – a passerby that has no clue what you are doing/searching for. be careful not to let them see what you are up to. 😉
  • traditional cache – cache of container and log book.
  • multi cache – cache with usually 2 or more location, the last location holds the container.

My Tips for Geocaching with Kids

  • Wear closed toed shoes that you are ok with them getting dirty.
  • Long pants or tall socks. You normally search off the path and will come in contact with bushes and twigs.
  • Bug spray and sunscreen. Another tip, wash hands and change clothes when you are done. You may come in contact with poison ivy.
  • Water bottle and Snack. Being active makes us all hunger and thirsty.
  • No strollers. Easier for walking kiddos or carry them on your back.
  • When you get close to the coordinates, let kids have phone and find the cache.
  • Bring notepad and pen to write down clues, etc especially for multicaches and to log your information.
  • Educate kids on the “take one, leave one” ethic of caching.

Take One, Leave One.

Buggles

In most of the containers that you find, there will be trinkets or prizes inside that you can have. Cache etiquette requires that you place something in the cache if you remove something. This is an exciting part of geocaching for kids. I have seen coins, dice, pompons, stickers, tiny compasses, clothespins just to name a few. Before you head out, have kids DIY some bauble of their own to place in the cache. I have included some fun ideas to inspire you.



Look at these cute little Buggles from @makinglifeblissfull.com. The googly eyes make these tiny guys so darn cute.

They have included a DIY to carry your bug collection – in an altoid tin! This is an easy and inexpensive craft idea that wouldn’t be too heavy to tote around while hiking. Plus small enough to fit in the cache container.


Smilies

Here are some more fun ideas for geocache swag. These are small and I love how they put them in a film canister for easy carrying purposes.

If you are looking for something fun and exciting to do with your kids this summer, definitely check out geocaching. They will love it and you will too! If you liked this you might want to check out my post on A Fun Way to Celebrate a Special Birthday, Mud Kitchens or What to do on a Snow Day. There is also a fun one on Family Traditions that Bind Us. ~ Susie Pea

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Teach Them Young

22 Too Many memorial at Jefferson Barracks Park

It is our job to teach our young children to be respectful as well as appreciative to soldiers. The people that have protected us and our freedoms with their service. As caregivers, it is our responsibility to share how to be courteous towards these protectors. It is not enough to have children memorize the Pledge of Allegiance. Instill in them mindfulness of what that Pledge means. In addition we need to lead by example when honoring our past and present servicemen.

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic
for which it stands,
one Nation under God,
indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

Programs Helping Our Soldiers

There are many projects that can help us personally thank the soldiers and their families for their service and sacrifices. I have listed just a couple here that are great ways to be supportive and encouraging in their lives.

Adopt A Soldier

Adopt A Soldier program is a non-profit organization. It helps to show the brave men and women fighting for our freedom that their sacrifices will not go unnoticed. It connects supportive civilians with deployed troops. Adopt a Soldier offers a channel by which to communicate encouragement and express gratitude to the United States Armed Forces.

There two different ways to support the deployed troops through Adopt A US Soldier.  You can adopt an individual military troop member. You support him through sending weekly letters/cards, and optional care packages for the length of their deployment. OR you can sign up for Project Frontlines for a one-time or short-term support only. I am looking forward to doing this with my grandchildren as our Grandma Camp service project. Both programs will help you show your support for deployed troops. These servicemen and women appreciate your support more than you can imagine.

Wounded Warrior Project

Warriors return home from duty and often discover an entirely new battle: recovery. Through donations, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is able to stand ready to serve them along their journey. Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) provides free programs and services to address the needs of wounded warriors and fill gaps in government care.

22 Too Many

22 Too Many is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that cares deeply and passionately about our nations military community. This group seek to serve as a living memorial, increases public knowledge and awareness of PTS, share helpful resources, and provide support and comfort to the grieving families left behind.

Teach Them to be Thankful of Our Veterans



Even a child can learn to show their support for our military troops. They do not have to work with any of the above projects/programs. You can visit a veterans home and spend some time with a retired soldier, asking questions about his life. Or making cards and posters to give to veterans.

12 Ways to Help Your Children Honor Veterans from @momlifetoday.com is a great resource. Here you can find ideas for to teach your kids ways to thank the men and women that have served for our country.

I hope that you take the time to share with your kids how great our Nation is. And how we can thank the men and women that helped make it that way. ~Susie Pea

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