Number Pound
After doing the Pound-a-Sound activity with Big Brother, I knew I wanted to utilize our Pound-a-Peg toy to try and engage Little Brother in some learning as well. This is one of the most versatile toys we own…and has obviously gotten…
“One is a Feast for Mouse” Read-Aloud & Relay
My friend Susan recently suggested this book to me and the boys have really enjoyed it! One is a Feast for Mouse is about a little mouse who finds himself a feast at the dinner table with the leftovers…
Alphabet Balloon Touch
This was a super-simple activity intended to help Little Brother learn his letters using his strongest area of development, gross motor development. Our Alphabet Balloon Touch game didn’t last long, but it was a great way to practice recognizing these…
Bean Bag Stomp & Catch
When we went to the Open House at my son’s preschool, the P.E. teacher had these awesome little boards where the child launches a bean bag by stomping on the opposite end and then attempts to catch it. After a…
Pounding Golf Tees into a Pumpkin
This was one of those ideas that I had on a whim that ended up being a HUGE success (as far as engaging the boys, anyway). Big Brother worked on pounding golf tees into a pumpkin for OVER AN…
Tug-a-Toy: Gross Motor Game for Babies
Contributing Post from Jennie Picture yourself sitting peacefully on the couch playing sweetly with your baby, then – ouch! – those tiny fingers grab a big chunk of your hair and hold on for dear life! Sound familiar? We all…
Name and Sight Word Smash
I love activities that can be easily differentiated for the content/level of multiple children. Our “Name and Sight Word Smash” did just that–we worked on a few simple sight words with Big Brother and the letters in Little Brother’s name….
Stretchy Band Shapes
If you want to include a little learning in your gross motor play, try making (and playing with) some of these Stretchy Bands. They are super easy to make and can be used for a variety of purposes! I found…
Balloon Badminton
Balloons are always a hit with kids. Add some paper-plate rackets and it transforms a simple balloon into an Olympic sport! Here’s what you’ll need for 2 “Rackets”: 2 paper plates, packing tape, and 4 jumbo craft sticks (which we…
Hurdle Run
When I was thinking of fun Olympic Games we could play with the kids, I immediately knew I wanted to make hurdles of some kind. I remembered a post from the May 2012 issue of Family Fun magazine that used…
Javelin Throw
When I told my rough-and-tumble, daring husband that we were doing a javelin throw for one of our Olympic activities, his eyes got as wide as saucers. Our boys + Javelins = Assumed Extreme Harm. Don’t worry, this isn’t your…
Olympic Balance Beam
The gymnastic events are my absolute favorite part of the Olympics! I enjoy watching the floor routines, but I especially love to watch the vaulting and balance beam routines. Although we certainly won’t be doing any handstands or back handsprings,…
Olympic Ring Toss
With a little imagination, simple diving rings can be transformed into an Olympic event! Here’s what you’ll need: diving rings; a 2-liter bottle filled with water, sand, or any other liquid (I used one filled with oil and water from…
How To Make Wooden Stilts
For Christmas last year, my cousin and his wife gave the boys these awesome stilts that they made (they got the idea from Made by Joel). Not only are these tons of fun, they also work on balance and…
Angry Birds in 3D
Whenever Big Brother sees his Uncle Chris, he always asks to play “Angry Birds” on his phone. And as a doting uncle does, Uncle Chris will always oblige. Because of Big Brother’s love for Angry Birds, Uncle Chris thought these two…
The ’15 Minutes Outside’ Challenge
I just started reading 15 Minutes Outside by Rebecca P. Cohen. I planned on doing a book review but instead, I’m turning it into a challenge…for myself and for whomever else would like to join in! The challenge is this:…
The Gingerbread Man Game
Prince Charming made up a fun game to play with the boys. Watch the video to see how it works… Can’t see the video? Go here. The boys LOVE it and Big Brother frequently asks me to reenact it while…
The Secret Benefit of Fishing
Big Brother and Prince Charming went camping last weekend. They both had a blast, but I think Big Brother might now be obsessed with all things CAMPING! Big Brother loved fishing while they were on the campgrounds. Prince Charming, probably…