Stay at Home Activity Mom

Brooklyn asks for this one over and over ⭐ Comment STARS and I’ll send you the free star printable!

Washable markers + foil + a spray of water = the prettiest patriotic art. Just draw, spritz, press your paper down, and peel back for the reveal. That little “whoa” gets me every time.

No printer? No problem…this works on plain paper too. Perfect for the 4th!

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tried to be the cool mind-reading mom. austin had me convicted in under 20 seconds. 💀

if you want to try this with your kids, here’s how it works:

grab 3 index cards. tell them you’re a mind reader and you’re going to write down your guesses before they answer. ask them to think of an animal — but instead of writing an animal, you write an arrow (and fold it up). ask them to think of a fruit — but you write down the animal they just said. ask them up or down — but you write the fruit they just said.

at the end you reveal the arrow first (it matches up or down), then the animal, then the fruit. they’re supposed to be completely mind blown.

keyword: supposed to.

apparently my 11 year old has seen every magic trick and i never stood a chance

our family summer reading challenge starts THIS WEEK 📚☀️

130 books before school starts. hit the goal together and we get a full YES day…and my kids have NO idea this is actually happening. we’ve talked about it, but the official challenge? total surprise that I’m telling them after school today.

I’m reading too this summer, which honestly never happens because life always gets in the way. but I think the best way to raise readers is to actually be one — so I’m carving out the time.

Parker gets audiobook credit (20 minutes = 1 book). no pressure bud 😂

want the printable reading chart? join my email list, link in bio! I’ll be sending everything out to my subscribers later this week 🤍

drop your favorite book recs below! I love a good mystery or historical fiction and my list needs a refresh 👇

CRAFT | SUMMER | READING | KIDSACTIVITIES | SUMMERFUN | FAMILYCHALLENGE

this started as an idea in a carousel I posted a few weeks ago — summer traditions worth starting this year 🤍 and we’re actually doing them.

week one: mint fudge brownie. the verdict was… chaotic 😂

here’s the full list of traditions you can try this summer…save this so you don’t forget!

🍦 try and rate a new ice cream flavor every week
🎬 friday night backyard movies
📓 summer journal — one entry a week
🌿 farmer’s market mornings
✅ yes day once a month
📸 end of summer photos as a family
🎵 make a summer playlist together
🌽 one big family meal outside every week
💦 run through the sprinklers at least once

none of these cost much. none of them require much planning. they just require showing up 🤍

which one are you stealing first? drop it below 👇

3 balloon games that will actually keep kids busy (save these for summer)

balloon volleyball — use painters tape on the floor to make the net

balloon tennis — tape a popsicle stick to the back of a paper plate for a racket

keep it off the ground — classic for a reason

save this for the next time you need a quick activity that gets their energy out!

This is one of those activities that sounds too simple to work, and then it totally does and it’s magic every time!

This is what I share here- simple activities that kids actually want to do. Follow along with us for more!

Simple. easy. fun.

Draw an outline of something and use different color washi tapes to decorate the inside. The end result is adorable and works on fine motor skills!

Save this idea to try and make sure you’re following us for more simple activity and craft ideas for kids!

these are the afternoons I’ll think about when he’s grown 🤍

we collected sticks from our yard, taped them down to watercolor paper with clear tape, and painted around them. the sticks become part of the art…raised right off the paper. cardstock works too if that’s what you have!

Parker was so focused and into this. we both signed ours and hung them on the kitchen door.

save this for your next slow afternoon with your kids 🌿

No toy budget needed. A bin, some water, and whatever they could find outside…rocks, leaves, flowers, sticks. That’s it. My kids were completely in their own world for the longest time.

Former teacher and mom of three- the simplest setups are always the ones they love the most and remember.

Follow along for more easy, low-prep ideas your kids will actually love!

Want 50 more activities your kids will actually beg to do?
Comment KIDS and I’ll send them straight to your DMs for free.

This one I pull out when I need everyone occupied and happy…baking soda in a tray, colored vinegar in an ice cube tray (vinegar + drop of food coloring makes the vinegar colored 🥰), droppers in their hands.

I grabbed baking soda for $2 and already had vinegar and food coloring at home. That’s it. The colors mixing as the fizzing happens is genuinely one of the most satisfying things to watch. My kids have done this probably 50 times and still lose their minds every single time! Save it to try.