Joyful Parenting
Welcome to my blog! I'm MaryAnne, and I write about building a rewarding family life through mindful parenting, hands-on learning, and creative family activities. Learn more.
These DIY shaker eggs are easy to make and help kids explore rhythm and sound. They are great hands-on music accessories for preschoolers! I think egg shakers are a great exploratory learning tool to have in any preschool or home – and visually interesting shaker eggs are even better! We’ve made fancy shaker eggs before, and they have been so popular that I couldn’t … [Read more...] about Fancy DIY Egg Shakers to Make with Kids
Learn how to make your own DIY weighted blanket with this weighted blanket sewing tutorial. Step by step instructions for the perfect sensory blanket. This weighted blanket sewing tutorial has been updated several times to reflect feedback on how best to make a weighted blanket from my readers. I would love to see your photos if you make a blanket using this … [Read more...] about How to Sew a Weighted Blanket Sewing Tutorial (Sensory Friendly)
Rubber band helicopters are easy and fun to make. Learn how you can make one a home, and learn tips to really make them fly! Explore more STEM themed fun for kids. I am always looking for fun STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities for my kids. I was thrilled when Galileo Camps sent me this fun rubber band helicopter kit. Update: This post … [Read more...] about Rubber Band Helicopter STEM Activity for Kids
Do you have kids who love to play in the snow, but they don't feel well or you just can't keep dressing them up to go out for two minutes? Try bringing in snow to play with indoors! Winter sensory play brilliance! We don't see much snow since we moved to sunny California, but back when we lived in Massachusetts it was a fixture of our lives for months on end. The kids loved … [Read more...] about Winter Fun for Kids: Bring in the Snow for Winter Sensory Play!
Visiting Miramar Beach and Setting Goals for May 2017. Setting goals each month makes it easier to stay accountable. April was a hard month, so it was pretty amazing to end it by dropping the kids off for a one-night sleepover with cousins while Mike and I escaped to Half Moon Bay. This was our first time child-free since Emma was born in 2006! The kids had a blast with … [Read more...] about Visiting Miramar Beach and Setting Goals for May 2017
