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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.

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Growing Grass and Other Earth Day Learning Activities for Preschoolers

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Growing grass and other Earth Day themed learning activities for preschoolers. This is a fun activity to try alongside The Earth Book by Todd Parr, paired with an Earth learning theme. You can also read What Does It Mean to Be Green for this week. All of the activities are wonderful ways to celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd. Growing Grass: A Fun and Easy Earth Day … [Read more...] about Growing Grass and Other Earth Day Learning Activities for Preschoolers

Simple Experiments for Kids: Plants and sunlight

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Did you know that plants crave sunlight so much that they will bend to follow it? Kids love this simple visual plant science experiment, and it's one of our favorite simple experiments for kids. Our summer gardening experiment led to several questions about plants. I explained that plants get energy from the sun, and designed this simple experiment to teach my kids how … [Read more...] about Simple Experiments for Kids: Plants and sunlight

Caterpillar to Butterfly Craft and Recommended Books and Activities

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An adorable caterpillar to butterfly craft for preschoolers, plus more activities to go along with Eric Carle's book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Caterpillar to Butterfly Craft for Children This caterpillar to butterfly craft is my favorite of the many cute crafts my son Johnny has made in preschool. It pairs beautifuly with Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. To make … [Read more...] about Caterpillar to Butterfly Craft and Recommended Books and Activities

Vibrant Nature At Wakulla Springs State Park {Florida’s Best}

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Planning a visit to Florida? The Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is a must-see! Our kids loved the boat ride, and we spent hours playing in the springs. The Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is a stunning nature preserve about 14 miles south of Tallahassee, where the kids and I went to visit my parents last fall. We spent an entire day there, and I know the kids … [Read more...] about Vibrant Nature At Wakulla Springs State Park {Florida’s Best}

DIY Terrariums: Gorgeous as Gifts or For Your Own Home

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All of my kids had incredible teachers this year! I wanted to help the kids come up with a thank you gift they could make for their teachers that would be meaningful for both them and the teacher. These DIY terrariums were easy to make, and they were a gift my kids adored making and giving to their teachers! Update:We kept one terrarium for ourselves. Our terrarium thrived … [Read more...] about DIY Terrariums: Gorgeous as Gifts or For Your Own Home