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Mama Smiles

Joyful Parenting

MaryAnne at Mama Smiles 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.

fine motor skills

This Cool Geo Lacing Toy for Kids Builds Fine Motor Skills

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This geo shape lacing toy helps kids solidify shapes while developing fine motor skills. An educational toy that allows kids to learn through play. I love fine motor skills toys, so  I was happy to receive this Geo Shape Lacing Toy to review. Lacing toys are great for building fine motor skills and developing spatial reasoning skills, and this one looked especially lovely. I … [Read more...] about This Cool Geo Lacing Toy for Kids Builds Fine Motor Skills

Owl Sewing Project for Kids

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Six-year-old Lily really honed her sewing skills this month! It all started with this owl sewing project for kids. You might wonder why I would buy an owl sewing kit when I could easily put together the pieces myself? The short answer is that Lily was willing to earn it for herself. The longer answer is that I find that, sometimes, these pre-built kits motivate kids to learn … [Read more...] about Owl Sewing Project for Kids

Beginner Crochet Project: Make a Dishcloth

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Nine-year-old Emma has wanted to learn how to crochet for  quite a while, and over winter break she finally had the break-through that she needed to get going! We picked making a dishcloth as the perfect beginner crochet project. Dishcloths can be made using any stitch, they are absolutely love to wash dishes with, and - since they are utilitarian in nature - they do not have … [Read more...] about Beginner Crochet Project: Make a Dishcloth

ARCKIT Review: Engineering, Design, and Art Combined

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My daughter Emma spotted ARCKIT sets in an educational catalog a few months back and immediately added them to her wishlist, so when the opportunity arrived to review this product she was thrilled! ARCKIT is designed for kids aged 12 and up, so at not-quite-10 Emma was pretty young to be building with it but her enthusiasm helped make up the difference. ARCKIT is a STEAM tool … [Read more...] about ARCKIT Review: Engineering, Design, and Art Combined

Create a Qixels Pixel World! {Kids Crafts}

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Have you heard of Qixels? This pixel-inspired craft is created by fusing little cubes together with water. As you can see, my kids have been crafting up a storm of Qixels creations thanks to a few sets we were sent to review! We loved this toy so much that we put it on our 2015 holiday gift guide. Create a Qixels Pixel World The pieces stick to the board, kids don't have … [Read more...] about Create a Qixels Pixel World! {Kids Crafts}