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.
How do you catch the tooth fairy? Help the kids make a tooth fairy catching kit, plus more creative tooth fairy ideas. We especially love these tooth fairy crafts for preschoolers! How do you memorialize losing that first tooth? I love seeing each child's unique approach on how to catch the tooth fairy. My six-year-old was telling me that the tooth fairy forgot to leave … [Read more...] about How Do You Catch the Tooth Fairy?
Learn why kids thrive when they get opportunities to engage in open ended crafting. I love the tips in this post for getting started! School is out for the year for my family, and in our house that means plenty of time for open-ended creative projects. I'm a huge believer in open-ended crafting for kids! I find that this type of creating allows children a safe space to … [Read more...] about This Is Why Open Ended Crafting Helps Kids Thrive
Today I'm updating this older post in honor of this week's Virtual Book Club for Kids theme, Space. There are loads of great space activities for kids - I've even shared a couple others on this blog. This one is my especial favorite because of the hours of imaginative play it inspired. The book for this week is How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. I featured a non-fiction … [Read more...] about DIY Cardboard Space Shuttle + More Fun Space Activities for Kids
Learn about open-ended play, and why it is so important for children - especially in early childhood. Five reasons learning through play is critical in early years. What Is Open Ended Play, and Why Is It So Important? I find that giving children time and space for open-ended play is one of the most important thing parents can do to raise children who are happy, resilient, … [Read more...] about What Is Open Ended Play, and Why Is It So Important?
Cute Color-me heart valentines to sew. Color-me Heart Valentines Sewing Tutorial These color-me heart stuffies, inspired by our decorate-a-monster stuffies, are my all-time favorite Valentine's Day craft for all ages! We sent one to my then-teenaged sister years ago, and she loved it so much that she now has it with her at college. If the kids look a little young, it's … [Read more...] about Color-me Heart Valentines Sewing Tutorial
