ENERGETIC INDOOR ACTIVITY: ACTIVE JENGA FOR KIDS

ACTIVE JENGA FOR KIDS – AN INDOOR GAME THAT HELPS KIDS BURN ENERGY WITHOUT DESTROYING THE HOUSE

Kids are crazy. A good, active, energetic kind of crazy. I love my kids, but sometimes they are just… A LOT. My zombie mom, sleep deprived self just can’t keep up with all that boundless bouncing energy.

But, if I can’t help them channel that energy, more often than not, the above jumping off the furniture scenario is just a matter of time. Or maybe it will be wrestling match this time. Or possibly a game that includes throwing a ball at my glass picture frame riddled walls.

But this Active Jenga for kids game is the perfect way to harness that energy and use it up – safely. Without destroying the house.

THIS ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS IS THE PERFECT KIDS GAME FOR ALL OCCASIONS

I love a good kids activity, but a lot of them are ‘one and done’. We do ‘one and done’ activities all the time, but there is a certain appeal to knowing that after spending 30-60 minutes on making this game, it will be ready to play over and over again. This game is perfect when:

• it’s too cold outside.
• it is too hot outside.
• it’s raining or snowing or hailing
• you have lots of kids
• you only have one kid
• the kids need to play alone for a few minutes

It’s easy to take with you. It easy to play and still fun for a variety of ages. Set up is easy. Clean up is easy. And it’s still fun when you go back to play again. This game is definitely not ‘one and done’.

3 SUPER EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS

Truth bomb. Ready? The hardest part of this project is coming up with ideas of what to write on each block. But, there is a silver lining.

Silver lining: I made a set of 60 questions and activities that are ready to print. If you want an easy peasy project, you can find those in my Etsy Shop. There’s even an editable PDF file to help you customize your game as simply as possible.

Extra Shiny Silver Lining: If you have a cutting machine, you get the SVG files included in the game files! Use your print and cut feature to literally open it in your cutting software, print the page with registration marks and then cut it with your machine. Then, it’ll be as easy as slapping stickers on blocks.Kids Active Jenga Game Template Page

One last insider tip –> Print on sticker paper and it will cut your prep time in half or more! As quick as you can say peel and stick, your stickers will be adhered to your Jenga game blocks and you’ll be ready to play with zero drying time needed.

Okay, let’s do this!

ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS MATERIALS:

• Jenga Block Template – Download this from the button below. This is simply the blank colored labels you’ll put on the wooden blocks. If you want to quickly and easily customize your game with a professional look, get the Editable PDF template or the Ready-to-Print labels in my Etsy shop.
• Jenga Game – Get it on Amazon. You can find knock off versions and they will work (I used a knock off version), but the quality isn’t as good, some of the blocks were misshapen and the blocks were not all the same size. Knock offs work, actual Jenga blocks look better.
• Paper and Printer – I recommend sticker paper to make this project even easier! But standard printing paper is sufficient too. If possible, I also recommend a laser printer to help with longevity, but ink jet will work too.
• Paper Cutter or Scissors – love my Swingline SmartCut. I used both it and a pair of scissors. (Only need if you aren’t using a cutting machine)
• Glue – wood, white glue or tacky glue will work best. I used white glue. (Only need if you aren’t using sticker paper)
• Pen or Marker or image editing software – If you’re going to write the questions and activities by hand, I recommend Sharpie Art Pens. The ink is smooth, doesn’t bleed and won’t smear if it gets wet. You can also open the Jenga Block Templates in an image editor and type out your questions and activities before you print.

STEP #1: DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR JENGA BLOCK TEMPLATES

• Download the free printable templates with the green button below. Save the file to your computer and print with the “actual size” setting. This file is designed to fit a name brand Jenga block, but will work on other blocks too. You will need 2 copies of the template to cover an entire set of Jenga blocks.

* PRO TIP: If you’re going to fill in your block template digitally (on the computer), do it BEFORE you print your template.

* PRO TIP: Check your game for a count of how many blocks you’ll need to cover. Name brand Jenga has 54 blocks. My knock-off set had fewer. Each template page has 30 rectangle labels. You’ll need 2 pages (give or take a few) to cover an entire game set.

STEP #2: FILL OUT AND CUT OUT THE BLOCK TEMPLATES

• If you are writing your game prompts out by hand, write one question or activity on each rectangle. You can make these a mix of questions and activities – or do all questions for a get-to-know-you style game OR do all active challenges for a real energy buster. I did a combination and even through in some math practice!
• Cut out enough labels to cover every block. I used my Silhouette Cameo and printed on sticker paper – it made this a million times easier. If you want the cut files already to go, they are included in the files in my Etsy shop.

STEP #3: ADHERE THE ACTIVE JENGA GAME PROMPTS ON THE BLOCKS

• If you used sticker paper, just peel and stick one label on each block. Easy Peasy.

  
  If you used standard paper, glue one game prompt label on each block. A thin strip of glue on all 4 edges of the blank side of each label will give the best results. Smooth out the label with your fingers and let the glue dry completely. This part isn’t hard, but it does take a little time. 

* PRO TIP: You just need a thin strip of glue. Don’t use a lot or your labels will wrinkle.

* PRO TIP: Clean up any glue that seeps from under the edges of the labels with a damp cloth or paper towel before it dries. 

* PRO TIP: If any of your corners come unglued, secure them back down with a little bit of glue stick or white glue.

ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS: A GAME FOR ALL AGES!

In just 3 steps and an afternoon, you’ll be ready to whip out an awesome activity the whole family will love. Use it when you need a minute, when the kids are getting a bit too crazy, or for family game night! Active Jenga for Kids is the PERFECT simple, inexpensive, fun and easy way to help the kids channel all that energy into some fun memories. So, what are you waiting for? Put this together in a snap and get those kids who are jumping on the beds to come play this fun game!

MAKE THIS PROJECT EASIER WITH MY READY-TO-PRINT ACTIVE JENGA GAME BLOCK LABELS IN MY ETSY SHOP!

Like this idea? Want to spice things up for your next date night? Check out my Couple’s Jenga bedroom game for a more adult version of this game.

The post Active Jenga for Kids appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Mom hack: print extra copies – even scale them down if you want – and keep them in your purse for waiting rooms, restaurants, church meetings or other places you need the kids to sit for a few minutes!

JUST PRINT AND PLAY THESE SPRING WORD GAMES!

Life is busy and crazy and fast and loud! At least, it is at my house. With 4 kids, and 3 of them boys, silence is a rarity. So rare, in fact, it’s usually cause for concern.

Finding activities my older boys can – and will! – do quietly is a tall order. But nap time is still a daily occurrence at our house and it isn’t going anywhere for a few more years. Finding quick and easy activities is even more difficult.

But these 5 Spring Word Games will be ready in 5 minutes. Seriously. #momwin

3 TYPES OF SPRING WORD GAMES IN VARYING SKILL LEVELS

Included in this word games packet are 3 types of games. There are 2 versions of the games: in color and in monochrome. All the games are different, it’s not a color version and a monochrome version. The puzzles are all different. This means you should be able to find an activity suitable for your elementary-aged child(ren), no matter their age or skill level. I do recommend these word games for 1st grade and up because they will need a basic knowledge of letters and words.

Activities include:

• Word searches
• Crossword puzzles
• Mad libs

WILL THESE WORD GAMES CHALLENGE, ENTERTAIN AND EDUCATE YOUR CHILD?

In order to successfully solve these word puzzles, your child needs a basic understanding of letters and words. These word games are perfect if your child:

• Knows letter shapes and sounds
• Can sound out and read basic words
• Has enough vocabulary to figure out spring-related words
• Understands different parts of speech (noun, verb, past tense, etc)

Second semester 1st graders (who work at grade level) should be able to do these games, but may need some help. Some of the games may be more difficult for younger kids. Take a look at them first and see if you think your child can complete them.

BUSY MOMS AND BORED KIDS WILL LOVE THESE SPRING WORD GAMES

Seriously. 5 minutes. That’s all you need to have these ready to go.

Just download and print.

With 6 activities, some in color and some in monochrome options, you can choose what works best for you and what equipment you have access to for printing.

Because busy moms with bored kids, this is for you!

These Spring Word Games are perfect for:

• quiet time activities
• waiting rooms, restaurants and other meetings
• lazy afternoons during spring break
• a quick distraction while mom makes dinner
• a fun car game for your next road trip

SPRING WORD GAME PRINTABLES

STEP #1: Download and save your Spring Word Games

Choose which you’d like to print – color or monochrome – and click the corresponding links below to access those files.

The color and monochrome puzzles are NOT the same. You can download both file sets and have 6 different games.

And, yes, you can print the color files in monochrome and they will still be usable.

COLOR GAMES | MONOCHROME GAMES

STEP #2: Print your Spring Word Games

Print the games. Each game is formatted to fit on a single 8.5″x11″ US letter page.

If you use Adobe Reader to print, you can format the pages as a booklet and it will print two activities on each 8.5″x11″ page. These are perfect for putting in your purse!

MAKE YOUR SPRING WORD GAMES REUSABLE!

If you’d like to make your activity pages reusable, you can laminate the pages or put them inside a clear page protector. Use dry erase markers or crayons on the pages. Then just erase and play again! Or switch games with a friend!

I started with – and still use and LOVE – the older version of THIS LAMINATOR STARTER KIT for making reusable pages. And I love that the thermal pouches aren’t super expensive to replenish. Because I laminate all. the. things.

THESE PAGE PROTECTORS work well too. I prefer the thicker page protectors to help with durability. And with 50 of them, you’ll have plenty to make lots of reusable pages!

We like THESE DRY ERASE MARKERS the best. There’s lots of colors and everyone can pick their favorite. My kids like that they are skinny and fit in their hands well.

And THESE DRY ERASE CRAYONS are nice for littler kids who don’t have as much hand coordination and have a hard time staying on the paper when they draw. Just don’t leave them in the hot car!

AND YOU’RE READY TO PLAY SOME FUN SPRING WORD GAMES!

Because when you’re busy and the kids are bored, you need something quick and entertaining to save the day. And it doesn’t get quicker than downloading and pressing print.

Keep these fun games on hand for those times when you need a quick distraction!

FOLLOW MY SPRING LEARNING ACTIVITIES BOARD ON PINTEREST FOR EVEN MORE PRINTABLE SPRING ACTIVITIES AND GAMES!

The post 5 Spring Word Games for When You Need to Entertain the Kids appeared first on While He Was Napping.

THANKSGIVING ACTIVITY PLACEMAT

I tried to include at least one activity that almost all ages could complete.  Hopefully, with a word search, maze, fill in the bubble and a word match game there will be something that everyone can enjoy. When the kids get wiggly again, turn the paper over and make turkeys by tracing their hands and making the fingers into feathers.  That’s one of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving with my grandma.

All you need to do to get your copy of this Thanksgiving Activity Placemat is to download the file to your computer and save it. Hit that big green button above to open the file on Google Drive. You can then save it to your computer. Then, print off as many copies as you need. This printable is free for personal use. Do not sell, share or reproduce any part of this image. Thanks.

Hand out the crayons and watch what happens. We often have more than just the kids try out these Thanksgiving activity placemats. Which means there are usually other adults around to help keep an eye on the kids while I finish kitchen preparations.

Happy Thanksgiving… I can almost taste the mashed potatoes now!

This While He Was Napping original printable first appeared on AskAnnaMoseley.com in a guest/contributor post. It has been updated and re-posted here for accuracy and relevancy. Enjoy!

The post Thanksgiving Activity Placemat Printable appeared first on While He Was Napping.

EVERY TOY CAR NEEDS A TOY CAR ROAD!

Now that we have all these super cool cars to play with, I was itching for some fun play road time. Giving kids the chance to free play is high on my list, but sometimes it’s fun to have a little guided play too. This DIY is the perfect way to combine the two. Make your car-loving kids this printable toy car road track set for their cars, because what’s a race car with nowhere to race?

The best part? It’s reusable and there is no right or wrong way to play. When my kids feel like they are in control of play time it tends to lead to longer and more engaged play, which means I can cook dinner without tripping over little boys in my kitchen. Between their imaginations and this DIY toy car road, they should be happy for quite a while.

MAKE YOUR TOY CAR ROAD IN 5 EASY STEPS

Life with kids is great, but play time can get rough and tough. A paper toy isn’t bound to last long in my house. Yours either? Well, I’ve got a few tips so you only have to print this toy car road once and to help it last as long as possible once you let the kids loose. Ready? Let’s do it!

Toy Car Road Materials:

• Printable Track Pieces in Color | Track Pieces in Monochrome
• Scissors
• Laminating pouches or self-laminating sheets | I recommend these pouches. I haven’t used the self-laminating sheets, but these ones have been recommended to me
• Laminator (if using thermal laminating pouches) | this is the new version of the one I use and love
• 5/8″ hook and loop fastener dots | get them here

Toy Car Road Assembly Instructions:

1. Print the track pieces. I suggest a card stock or other thick paper for durability. You may want to print more than one copy of the pieces, so there will be more to play with. This tutorial uses 2 sets of the color track set.
2. Cut the track pieces out with the scissors, getting as close to the edge of the road as you can unless you want a white border on the edges.

3. Laminate the pieces. I prefer a thermal laminator, but you can use self-laminating sheets too. Follow the directions on the packaging to get the best seal. A thicker sheet or pouch may help your track pieces last longer. I use these thicker 5mm ones and love them.

4. Cut around the track pieces with the scissors. Make sure to leave enough border so the seal stays intact.

5. Attach the hook and loop fastener dots to the ends of each piece. Put the hook pieces on the front side of the track pieces and the loop pieces on the underside. This makes it so you can rotate the track pieces. Repeat for each track piece, trying to get them as close to the center as you can so they will line up.

That’s it. You’re ready to play! Store pieces in a ziptop bag or other container with a couple of cars so you’re always ready for some race time play! Not much room to play? Only get out a few track pieces out for a compact track. Or go all out and try to use all the pieces!

NEED A TOY CAR ROAD THAT WILL LAST?

Let’s admit it, this version is pretty simple and not terribly expensive. A year later, ours is still in pretty good shape, all things considered. But, it definitely has some wear and tear on it. I’ve had to replace a couple of the hook and loop pieces and we’ve had things spilled on the pieces, like half a bottle of bubbles… So, if you’re looking for a toy car road set that will hold up just a bit better you should really check out this Felt Road Track. It takes slightly longer to create, but the pieces will hold up better – and just toss them in the washer if they need a quick cleaning.

RACE ON, MY FRIEND!

The post The Printable Toy Car Road Race Track Set your Kids will Love appeared first on While He Was Napping.

KEEP THE KIDS FROM FIGHTING AND CREATE SOME AWESOME MEMORIES THIS SUMMER

If the thought of all your kids all together ALL SUMMER LONG makes you a little nervous, I get it. My boys have kicked their sibling rivalry into high gear lately and the idea of being with all of them all of the time for 8 weeks makes my eye twitch a little. While I’m a firm believer that kids shouldn’t be entertained all of the time, I also know from experience that bored kids are bickering kids. In order to keep the peace – and my sanity – I plan to have a few activities that I can turn to when things get a little too crazy.

These summer printables are perfect because they mean less work for me. Sure, I could design similar ones myself, but time is worth something to me. When all I have to do is print them out, some minor prep work and they are ready and waiting for when I need them most, I am willing to spend a few dollars. These are all printables offered by The Dating Divas so you know the quality is awesome, the designs are gorgeous and I love that I can save them on my computer and use them again and again.

SUMMER PRINTABLES THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE

These summer printables aren’t just for the stay-at-home mom who now has to fill day after day with memory-making activities. There are a huge variety of printables that will fit into just about every kind of summer plans you can imagine. Find the set – or sets – that best suit your family and make it a great summer! There’s something for:

• Stay-at-home moms and dads
• Family camping trips
• a Stay-cation you won’t soon forget
• anyone looking for a way to serve others and brighten someone else’s day
• families celebrating summer birthdays
• anyone looking to spend more time with their kids
• anyone wanting to make some great summer memories

9 SUMMER PRINTABLES YOU NEED TO ENJOY AN AMAZING SUMMER BREAK

Make this summer a summer of memories! All you have to do is download your favorite summer printables, save them to your computer, print them out and do some minor prep work and you’ll have a fun project waiting for you and your family to enjoy together. Click through on the images below to see complete details on what’s included in each printable pack. Ready to check these out?

SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS PACK

If you don’t know where to start, this is for you. This Summer Boredom Busters Pack has activity cards to keep that boredom monster at bay! Have a lemonade stand, do some random acts of kindness, or write letters to family and friends. There’s an adventure journal to keep track of all the awesome things you do this summer. Reading trackers, summer schedules, calendars, chore chart bingo and road trip games are some of the other great activities included in this pack. Beat the “I’m boooorreed” with these great summer printables. 

ROAD TRIP ADVENTURE PRINTABLE PACK

This was included in the Summer Printable Bundle and I am super excited to use it when we hit the road this summer. The Road Trip Adventure pack includes something for everyone in the car – yep, even the grown-ups! A new activity every hour will get you there before you know it. There’s games and printables for the kids and there are printables for your next getaway with your sweetie too!

FAMILY CAMPING ADVENTURE PACK

If you’re headed out camping, this fun kit will help keep everyone happy… and out of the fire pit! There’s some fun activities to help your family acclimate to life in the great outdoors. You’ll get a packing list and a to-do list to make sure you take everything you’ll need for an awesome adventure, a camping menu, camping games, scavenger hunt and a fun s’mores kit to make the best part of camping just a little bit better.

FAMILY STAY-CATION ADVENTURE PACK

If staying home is more your speed this summer, make your next staycation one for the books with this Family Staycation Adventure pack. Officially invite your family to your special family time with some fun invitations. There’s a fun bucket list and a customizable itinerary you can fill out together so you’ll be sure to make the most out of your vacation time. Activity ideas to help you make sure it feels like vacation, instead of being stuck at home will come in handy if you need some help coming up with ideas to keep everyone happy and entertained. Plus, there’s a little something special for you and your sweetie after the kids are in bed. Ooh-la-la!

BABYSITTER IN A BAG: COOKING ADVENTURE PACK

If you just need something to do for an evening, the Babysitter in a Bag ideas are perfect. While designed for you to leave with the kids and sitter while you go out, there’s no reason you can’t stay in and do it with the kids! I think I’d probably want to watch my kids enjoy these printables, they look like a ton of fun! The Cooking Adventure includes a kid’s recipe booklet, a DIY chef hat, printable games, activity place mat, a clean up list and more! Your kids will get to explore the kitchen while they learn and play! I am going to save this one for an afternoon and do it with my kids!

BABYSITTER IN A BAG: CAMPING ADVENTURE PACK

If actually going camping isn’t in your plans, bring the camping to you! Everyone will enjoy the best parts of camping and they will still sleep like little babies in their own beds with this Camping Adventure pack. Camping without my kids up at the crack of dawn? Yes, please! This pack includes scavenger hunt, games and other great camping ideas, plus a recipe for easy indoor s’mores. It’s the best of both the indoor and the outdoor worlds!

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION PACK

Do you have a summer birthday in your family? Celebrate in style with this fun Birthday Celebration pack. There are printables for both the kids and the grown-ups, so you’ll have what you need no matter what. You’ll get decor, activity ideas to fill the day with amazing memories, gift embellishments and fun photo booth props too! Everything you need for an unforgettable birthday!

CHEER UP PRINTABLE PACK

If you are looking for something nice to do, a way to pass a little bit of time doing something kind and productive, this Cheer Up pack is exactly what you need. It’s bright, fun, and happy and is sure to help you put a smile on someone’s face. You’ll get a card to put all your well wishes in, tags to fancy up any special goodies or treats you want to include, decor to make your box extra cheery and more! The best part is this is designed to go in a box, so it’s perfect for mailing if your recipient lives far away.

MINI MOM & DAD DATES PACK

My middle little guy asks me every so often, “Mom, when can you and me spend some time together? Just us.” It pulls at my heart strings every single time and that dreaded mommy guilt starts gnawing away. I try to make time for all my boys, but it can be hard when you’re outnumbered. That’s why I love this last pack.

If you want to spend quality time with your kids, this Mini Mom & Dad Dates pack will help you do just that. Make it a big deal and give your child an invitation to the date. Not sure what to do? There are mini questionnaires that will help you figure out what you child is most interested in. There’s tools and resources to help you plan your little dates and there’s even 5 ready-to-go mini dates to help you get started. Summer is the perfect chance to take a little extra one-on-one time with your kids and this printable pack will make it a snap!

GET YOUR SUMMER PRINTABLES NOW TO CREATE A SUMMER TO REMEMBER

There’s 9 ideas to help you keep the chaos under control and the memories sweet and happy all summer long. My boys laughing and giggling together is one of my favorite sounds in the whole wide world. I’m so excited for school to finally end so we can focus on playing together. It’s crazy how fast they grow up and I want to squeeze all the memories and fun in that I can while they are still little and want to spend time with me.

I know their bickering makes the days long, but they are numbered. I’m doing my best to make them count. And, yes, that even includes having memories prepped and ready to be made. I’m so glad these summer printables will be part of our summer break!

Which summer printables do you want to try first?

The post 9 Summer Printables You Need to Enjoy an Amazing Summer Break appeared first on While He Was Napping.

SPRINGTIME BINGO IS FOR EVERYONE!

My kids’ favorite thing about playing Bingo is that I let them use food as their place markers. Even if it’s just craisins or cereal, they still get excited. Maybe it’s a boy thing? But when we combine a game and a snack, they are in heaven!

My favorite thing about Bingo is that it’s a learning experience that keeps my kids busy for 10 minutes – sometimes longer! And I love that they can all play together. They range in age from 5-10 now, but we’ve played with them as young as 3, with a bit of help. Bingo is a great game for kids. What do you get out of Bingo? How about:

• encourages cooperative play
• develops observation
• practices matching skills
• practices taking turns and sportsmanship.

Everyone loves a good game of Bingo, right!? So, get out the cereal and let the games begin!

ARE YOU READY TO PLAY SPRINGTIME BINGO?

SPRINGTIME BINGO GAME MATERIALS:

• Springtime Bingo game printables. Click the link to get your own set of the game. A new window will open. Download and save the PDF file of the game to your computer. You can then print it right at home.
• Scissors
• Place markers
• A gallon ziptop bag to store your game in after you play

SPRINGTIME BINGO PREP DIRECTIONS:

1. Download and print the three game boards and the draw cards from the link. If you need more than 3 boards, print extras.
2. When everything is printed, use the scissors to cut out the draw cards. Note: To prolong the life of your game, you can laminate the boards and draw cards. But, that’s totally optional.

SPRINGTIME BINGO GAME PLAY INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Distribute a Springtime Bingo board and 16 place markers to each player.
2. Place the draw cards face down in a pile in the middle of the table.
3. Take turns drawing a draw card from the pile and sharing it with the group. Each player marks off the matching picture from the draw card on their board.
4. First player to get four in a row yells “BINGO!”

We let the winner eat their winning place markers and then replace those that get eaten – and any other ones that have “magically disappeared” during the game, but that’s totally optional. It keeps my ever-starving boys happy and engaged longer. Yes, sometimes it’s worth trading a handful of cereal for another 10 minutes of entertained boys while I’m trying to get dinner finished.

YOU’RE JUST 10 MINUTES FROM A GREAT KIDS ACTIVITY

Until the weather starts warming, the trees start blooming and the snow melts this is probably the best springtime you’ll find. Entertained kids, learning and playing, and a few minutes to actually get something done. Yep, the best you’ll find. For now.

This Springtime Bingo game first posted on Whatever Dee-Dee Wants in April 2015 as a guest post written by Krista. The post has been republished here after being updated to maintain accuracy and relevancy.

The post Springtime Bingo Game Printable appeared first on While He Was Napping.

We are all about super heroes in this house. And LEGO® bricks. So, when my boys saw these Super Hero LEGO® sets, I nearly lost my hearing. There was a lot of squealing and dancing going on for the better part of 20 minutes. They weren’t the only excited ones though. I’ve always loved the Spider-Man comics and my husband was mildly surprised when he found out I’m a bigger nerd in the comic book world than he.

Who doesn’t love a little LEGO®!? There are many, many things I love about LEGO® bricks – there would have to be to counteract the shocking pain and rage that bubbles up every time one of the little demons is underfoot in the middle of the night, am I right? But that just tells you how awesome these toys really are. One of my favorite things about them is that they encourage imaginative play. I walked in on my boys smack in the middle of an all out battle of good and evil this morning – Wonder Woman and Superman were trying to save the kitty from the evil “Dr. Deafstoke”.

I love that LEGO® has so many options that fit all of my kids, no matter their ages. LEGO® DUPLO® offers an unlimited source of creative play as young children explore the world around them with their growing imagination. Double the size of the iconic LEGO® bricks, yet 100% compatible, DUPLO® bricks grow alongside your child as they curiously create and discover many ways to play. Age appropriate minifigures allow even the youngest builders to role play. And LEGO® JUNIORS delivers fun, age-appropriate building sets with easy-to-follow building instructions, colorful photos and playful guidance to help to ensure a smooth transition to independent building. Quick start elements and modular bricks, such as walls and archways, facilitate easy builds—giving children out-of-the-box success. Storytelling and creative play is inspired by a variety of iconic themes. While LEGO® Super Heroes: MARVEL and LEGO® Super Heroes: DC UNIVERSE bring characters from comic books and new movie releases to LEGO® brick form for older kids.

Our DUPLO® set had some great basic pieces, two fun bridge pieces, a boat, four minifigures and Wonder Woman’s bike! My two youngest fight over the bike and the kitty all the time! Go figure, right?! The DC Comics set made two fun vehicles that my boys like to pretend can fly and three minifigures, plus a few more accessories. Big J loves the vehicles and that he can change them easily. But that’s not the only kind of playing we do with fabulous LEGO® bricks. Here are five ways we play with our bricks that encourage learning:

1. Counting. I have REALLY struggled getting Little J to learn. He doesn’t have the hunger for learning like his older brother does. He wants to play! LEGO® bricks let us do just that. We often count the connector knobs on the blocks when we’re building.
2. Size. This one is Little J’s favorite learning LEGO® game. Because bigger is always better… right? We have been working on sequencing and size comparisons.
3. Patterns. And here’s Little J’s least favorite. This one is the most obvious learning I guess. You can do simple patterns or more complex ones. You can even incorporate counting and size into the patterns.
4. Color recognition. This was the only way I could get Little J to practice colors. As we would build, we would say the color of the brick we were adding to the tower. The anticipation of knocking the tower over was enough to help me keep him engaged.
5. Shapes. This is one I do with both Little J and Big J. Most of the bricks are square or rectangular, but there are some with irregular shapes too.
6. Following directions. This one is pretty easy for Big J. I just give him the instruction booklet and set him to it. He is analytical enough with his thinking that he can usually handle the instructions with minimal help. For Little J, I will usually give him verbal instructions. “A four, a two, then a six.” The numbers refer to the number of connector knobs. He stacks them like towers.
7. Free building. We like to have competitions – we are a household full of testosterone over here. Someone will come up with an object to build (a car, a house, a helicopter, a motorcycle, etc) and then everyone does their best to build that object. Little J usually gets help from someone. Sometimes we’ll vote on who created the best one, usually we don’t. Daddy would win all the time.

I’ve included a printable below that you can use to help guide you through some of the learning activities we like to do with LEGO® bricks. It’ll open a window where you can download the full quality version. Save it to your computer and then print.

Click to download

I love LEGO® because they help my kids grow. As children play, they grow confident in their ability to bring stories and ideas to life. LEGO® Super Heroes is a perfect way to introduce the entire family to the land of make-believe & open-ended play. With something for every age, you are never too young or too much of an adult to build your own version of a superhero with LEGO® bricks. What special power does everyone in the family wish they had?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post LEGO® Super Heroes for All Ages appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Since it’s also November and I’m trying to remind my kids that it’s the season of gratitude, we’ve been doing a few activities that focus on what we have instead of what we want. Today, we tried this printable activity. I asked Little J what are some of the things he was thankful for and then we wrote them in the right spot with the letter it started with. Little J will also be helping me teach the rest of the family what it means to be thankful and what some of his blessing are. The rest of the family will then fill out their own ABC printable – kind of like Scattegories, but all the letters will be played at once. We will compare and see if we can get the entire alphabet filled out together.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

If you’d like to try and fill out your own alphabet of blessings, you can print your own high resolution copy of the Thankful for My Many Blessings ABC Printable when you click on the photo above. A download window will open and you can save the file to your computer. After you save it, you can print it on your home printer. And here’s the legal shtuff: Feel free to print as many copies as you like, but please pin the image on this page and give your friends and families this link address – not the download page. This image is free for personal, classroom or group use. No commercial use for profit is allowed. Do not change or modify this image in part or in whole. Use it, don’t abuse it. Thanks!

What are you thankful for?

The post Thankful for My Many Blessings ABC Printable appeared first on While He Was Napping.

HALLOWEEN BINGO PRINTABLE GAME

HALLOWEEN BINGO MATERIALS:

– Halloween Bingo Boards Click HERE to Download
– Board Markers – I let my kids use candy pieces a couple times and they were in heaven!
– Scissors
– Laminator and laminating pouches – optional
– Halloween-themed scrapbook paper – optional
– Glue stick – optional

HALLOWEEN BINGO DIRECTIONS:

DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE GAME BOARDS

1. Print the Halloween bingo game boards from the link above. It’s a single PDF file, so there’s only one file to download. Save it to your computer then open the file. There are five different game board layouts. You will need one extra board than you have players, as you’ll use one board to create the draw pile pieces. Print off the number of game boards you need, plus one extra.

CREATING THE DRAW PILE PIECES

2. If you are going to use scrapbook paper to line the back of your Halloween Bingo draw pile pieces, use the glue stick to glue the extra game board and the scrapbook paper together. Place the papers back to back and glue.

3. Cut apart the squares on the extra board you printed. If you’re not going to laminate your boards, you are now ready to play. I chose to laminate the boards for one reason: so my kids could use dry erase markers to mark off their boards and I didn’t have to supply candy or other markers every time they wanted to play. It’s a bonus that the boards are a little more protected too.

LAMINATE FOR DURABILITY

4. Turn on your laminator and let it warm up (I use and love an older version of this laminator). Place each board inside a laminating pouch, centering it in the pouch. Place the draw pile pieces, one at a time and not touching, inside a laminating pouch. Be sure there is enough space between each piece for the pouch to seal and stay sealed once you cut the pieces apart.

5. Run the pages through the laminator, one at a time. Let cool to the touch.

6. Cut the draw pile pieces apart.

READY, SET, PLAY THE HALLOWEEN BINGO WAY!

That’s it! You’re now ready to play Halloween Bingo! It’s the perfect activity for a Halloween party, in the class room or just a fun game for a laid back afternoon with the kids.

My 18 month old had a great time drawing a card and matching it to the boards. Of course, he liked the version with candy better, but I can’t blame the boy there? He definitely got my sweet tooth.

The post Halloween Bingo Printable Game appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Hey there! I’m thrilled you’re here today! Are up to your eyeballs in Halloween spirit yet?

Today, I have a fun Jack-O-Lantern printable for you. I have been trying to take more teaching moments with Little J. He doesn’t have nearly the itching desire to learn like Big J seems to and it’s been harder to take educational moments with him and it’s been frustrating.  Not to mention, I have an 18-month old who’s daily mission seems to search-and-destroy. I think he’s succeeding. Ah, well, we need to get rid of stuff before Christmas gets here anyway, right?

BUILD A JACK-O-LANTERN PRINTABLE

The post Build a Jack-O-Lantern Printable appeared first on While He Was Napping.