Kid Stuff

10 DIY Swings to Keep Kids Entertained All Summer

December 18, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

Summer is on the way, and this means that your kids will need something to do. Why not tempt them to enjoy the great outdoors with one of these 10 DIY swings for kids? Any one of these swings is sure to keep them entertained all summer.

DIY Swings For Kids

Skycurve Swing

If you have more than one kiddo, consider hanging a Skycurve swing. It features a curved platform, one that can support as many as four kids. Your kids can lie down, stand or sit on this fun and unique swing.

Hugglepod Hideaway Swing

Hugglepods are cozy little hideaways that are sure to keep your kids happy and entertained for hours. When you hang them from a sturdy tree branch, they become a magical swing. Don’t forget to pick up a few sturdy clothing items for your kids to play in this summer from Gymboree. The site has clothes for boys and girls.

Swinging Lounger

A swinging lounger is ideal for your little bookworm. Hang this lounger outside so your kid can feel the warm breeze while tucking into a good book. Designed to cushion the natural curves of the body, this lounger is comfortable and good for the soul.

Web Swing

For something a bit more industrial, hang a web swing. Your kids can hang out on their bellies or sit up for a leisurely ride. The size and shape of the web swing allows several kids to swing at once, decreasing fights and inspiring inclusive playtime.

Skateboard Swing

If you’ve got an old skateboard lying around, turn it into a swing with a little bit of rope. You’ll need a drill bit and a couple of dowels. The dowels make the swing safer because they give your kids hand support.

Airplane Swing

When it comes to DIY kids crafts, homemade swings are especially fun. To inspire your kids’ creativity, hang an airplane swing. Your kids will spend hours flying through the air as they pretend to be a stunt double or a commercial pilot.

Slated Wood Swing

A slated wood swing adjusts to the shape of the person sitting in it, making it perfect for kids and adults. This type of swing is easy to put together. It’s also safe and strong.

Round Wooden Swing

If you prefer to install something with a traditional appearance, then make one of these round wooden swings. Paint it bright colors to add a touch of stylistic whimsy to your yard. A round wooden swing is sure to keep your kids busy for hours.

Huge Platform Swing

PVC pipe and rope can be used to construct a huge platform swing, one that is sure to delight your kids. Not only is a huge platform swing the perfect outdoor DIY project, but it is also the perfect place to take a nap.

A Tire Swing

Traditional tire swings offer hours of fun. Affordable and easy to install, this DIY kids craft project can be completed in a few hours since all it requires is a chain or a rope and a tire. To make it unique, paint the tire a bright color.

We came across amazing swings at What Moms Love and Cute DIY Projects. Which one of these DIY swings for kids will you add to your yard?

5 Memorable Things To Do With Your Kids During Christmas Break

December 17, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

This Christmas break, be prepared for the possibility of bored kids with ideas of things to do with them. Christmas break is a great time to capitalize on family time and make memories with your kids to last a lifetime. Here are 5 memorable things to do with your kids during Christmas break.

Things To Do With Your Kids During Christmas Break

Not everything you do with the kids during Christmas break has to fun and games. In fact, some of the things you can do involve organizing after the influx of new toys. Here are some ideas!

If you're looking for things to do with your kids during Christmas break, you're in the right spot! Sledding is one of the funnest things you can do during their break from school.

If you live in a snowy climate, be sure to take time for winter sports during Christmas break. It’s the perfect time for skiing, snowboarding or sledding. If an ice skating rink is near your home, that’s a fun activity too.
One family takes the opportunity to build a giant snowman every New Years Eve day–provided the weather cooperates. After your snowman building activity, head back inside for hot cocoa and a favorite family movie.
After Christmas and before New Years is a great time to remember those who aren’t as fortunate. One of our favorite things to do with the kids during Christmas break is to head to a soup kitchen and help serve meals to the homeless. Another idea is to visit a local retirement home and entertain the residents.
A favorite family tradition is to open a new puzzle and spend the lazy, cold afternoons putting it together. It’s especially fun to find a puzzle with special meaning to your family, such as a picture of a favorite travel spot or activity.
Before Christmas, spend time collecting an assortment of new recipes the family wants to try. During Christmas break, take the kids shopping for the ingredients. Then spend time cooking and baking together and enjoying new foods!

Can you think of additional things to do with your kids during Christmas break?

Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Kids’ Friends

December 16, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever reached the last day of school before Christmas break, only to have your child announce that he needs some gifts to give his friends, you know how frustrating that last minute shopping trip can be! So today’s post is all about helping you be prepared for little emergencies with Christmas gift ideas for kids friends.

Christmas Gift Ideas For Kids Friends

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Get your craft on and help your kids make felt ornaments for their friends. It’s always nice to give and receive a homemade gift, and that goes for kids too. Teach them how to make something new and learn the art of giving gifts with heart.

No one would complain about receiving a gift bag of chocolates, of any kind! My kids also like to buy giant sized bars of chocolate, wrap them in cute wrapping paper, and attach a cute tag. Their friends love it!

If you are planning to make homemade cookies for the neighbors this year, just make another batch or two while you’re at it. Let the kids help decorate the ones that they’ll give to their friends. It’s a tasty gift that took just a little bit of thought and effort.

Purchase giant mugs and fill them with all the things needed to make a really great cup of hot chocolate. That could include hot chocolate mix packets, marshmallows, peppermint sticks, and chocolate chips. This is a fun gift for your kids’ friends that they can enjoy all winter long.

Tween and teen girls love to make and give homemade bath bombs. It’s also a great teacher gift idea! You’ll find some good bath bomb recipes at Sunlit Spaces.

For gifts for your kids’ friends on a budget, don’t be afraid to check out Dollar Tree. They’ve got fun stuff for kids’ Christmas gifts, including 300 to 500 count puzzles, sets of Army figures, bubble bath and body lotions, and more. Give your kids a set amount and let them do the shopping!

Simple And Easy Holiday Decor For Kids Rooms

December 15, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

If your kids are like mine, they want to decorate their own rooms for the holidays every year. Once I discovered the secret of simple and easy holiday decor for kids rooms, I felt fine about letting them do it on their own. Here are some fun ideas to inspire you and your kids!

Simple Holiday Decor For Kids Rooms

Most kids love to decorate their bedrooms for the holidays. You will love these holiday decor for kids rooms, and so will the kiddos!

Even when your kids are small, it’s incredibly fun to bring a little of that sparkling holiday spirit into the nursery. A small string of lights brings magic into anyone’s room, and a giant Christmas stocking hung on the crib is just plain adorable. A few fun holiday figures on the dresser finishes the decor. Best of all, it all took just a few minutes to set up!

If you're looking for ideas for holiday decor for kids rooms, why not try out this adorable Christmas wall calendar. Your kids will love the countdown!

One of the really fun ideas in holiday decor for kids rooms is to use a giant advent calendar to decorate one wall. This particular example is made of square envelopes. Mount the envelopes in a Christmas tree shape. Not only is the room decorated in a festive way, but your kids get to have fun opening one envelope each day in December.

If you're looking for fun and easy holiday decor for kids rooms, why not put a small Christmas tree in their room. They will love it!

Most kids love the idea of their own mini Christmas tree to decorate however they want. An older child loves to choose the ornaments they like to use and where to set up the tree. Doing this doesn’t have to be expensive! Let your child choose ornaments at Dollar Tree. If any of them break it’s not a big loss. It’s also a great idea to let your kids make Christmas tree crafts for their own tree.

If you're looking for easy holiday decor for kids rooms, why not keep in simple by adding some garland around the room? They will love it!

Here’s an adorable example of how to incorporate holiday decor into kids rooms. A simple pine garland dresses the shelf and the teepee. And a small potted Christmas tree adds holiday flair but also fits the woodsy decor of the room. Such a cute room and simple holiday decor you can set up and take down in minutes.

How To Tell Your Kids About Santa Without Looking Like A Liar

December 12, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

As kids get older, it gets harder to keep the Santa secret. But how to tell your kids about Santa without looking like a liar? That’s a tough one, and a lot of parents are afraid of approaching the subject for fear of their kid’s reaction. Today we have some good advice for talking to your kids about Santa, so you can be prepared instead of scared.

How To Tell Your Kids About Santa

Look for the signs that your kids are ready to talk about it

Have you been getting questions from your kids about who Santa really is? Or have they just out-and-out asked you if you are Santa? These are telltale signs that it is time to talk to them about Santa. It’s definitely easier said than done, though! We all like to keep belief in Santa alive and strong, because it’s fun. But it’s also a good idea to let them in on it before they hear it at school, or get teased for still believing.

It’s helpful to know that the average age when a child starts to question whether or not Santa is real is somewhere in the years between 7 and 10, depending on the child. When your child does ask you if Santa is real, ask him what he thinks before you answer. Your child’s thoughts can help guide your discussion.

Santa is a big deal to kids, so it can be hard trying to figure out how to tell your kids about Santa. It will make the whole process so much easier.

Be ready for a range of possible emotions

When your child hears that Santa isn’t real, her reaction may vary from anger or sadness to excitement. She may feel anger that you lied, or she may feel sadness that Santa isn’t real. Some kids feel like being let in on the secret is a sign that they are growing up–you can help them feel some responsibility to help keep the secret from younger siblings!

Are you stressing over trying to tell your kid that Santa isn't real? Here are the best tips on how to tell your kids about Santa. They'll help so much!

Help your child transition from believing in Santa to becoming Santa

How to tell your kids about Santa is a question some parents love to take on, and actually look forward to it. Plan ahead for this important talk. Take your child somewhere special, just the two of you–such as out for lunch or a shopping trip. Explain that she is getting old enough to “help” with Santa, and this is a big responsibility! Little kids get to experience the magic of believing in Santa, but older kids and adults get to be Santa–and that’s the most fun of all!

Not only do your kids now get to help be Santa at home, but in the community. Challenge them to think about the spirit of Santa Claus and how they can help spread it around to those who really need it. Teach them to notice the people around them, and watch for opportunities to “be Santa” to people who need it.

Great news–if your older kids help with Santa, they can also help with your Elf on the Shelf!

12 Days of Christmas Activities for Kids

December 10, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

This year, make amazing memories with 12 days of Christmas activities for kids. With something to look forward to each day, the kids will remember the 12 days of Christmas with fondness for the rest of their lives. And if you prepare ahead of time, it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Check out this list of suggested activities the kids will love!

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Use paper plates and construction paper to create paper wreaths. You can also get the whole family in on creating a more permanent wreath for the front door.
Talk about the needs of the homeless population in your area. Look for a clothing, gift, or food drive where the family can purchase or donate goods this Christmas.
Bake and decorate Christmas cookies. And to make it extra meaningful, decide as a family who to share them with.
Have a Christmas movie night and watch a favorite show everyone can agree on.
Create some fun 12 days of Christmas popsicle stick puppets. If you’re really motivated, make some to match each verse of the 12 Days of Christmas song. “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me….”
Challenge the kids to go about their day today doing secret acts of kindness for others around them at school or at home.
Time for Christmas cards that the kids design and make for their friends. Here are some fun ideas to inspire you!
Get out the Legos and have a 12 days of Christmas Lego challenge. On slips of paper, write down things featured in the song, or other Christmas-themed objects. Everyone has to draw a paper and try to build that item out of Legos in a specific time limit you set. Have fun with it!
Craft some paper Christmas ornaments for the tree. Check out our post featuring 10 Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids.
Cut out snowflakes and hang them from the ceiling over the kids’ beds. They make going to sleep more magical every night!
The kids will love playing with glitter slime! Add sparkly colors to make the slime look like ice, or make white snow slime. It’s all fun for kids!
Time for a holiday light tour to get everyone really into the spirit of Christmas. Check out spots in your area where the lights are irresistible. In my area, the zoo is one place to go!

These are just some of the possible 12 days of Christmas activities for kids. Do you have some activities you love that aren’t listed? Please share with us in the comments!