Developmental Stage

Styrofoam Printmaking

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This project uses materials that you probably already have at home, or can easily find in your drug store. The only specialty item is a brayer, but without it you’d never expose your kids to the experience of true printmaking. Printing from styrofoam plates can help children learn that they can upcycle everyday materials into beautiful objects [...]

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A Scientific Experiment with Celery and Food Coloring

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The following post is from the archives. It originally appeared in April, 2011.   While I’m an art educator by trade, having small people pulling at my pants has turned me into a mini-alchemist who’s suddenly found herself reading books to her kids about Galileo (The Magic Schoolbus and the Science Fair Expedition) and brewing [...]

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Diet Coke Mentos Experiment

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My 4-year old and our neighbor enjoyed witnessing this explosive soda and Minty Mentos experiment. Have you tried it? It doen’t require a huge set-up, and the show is pretty awesome. I have to warn you that the explosion itself goes by quickly, so you might want to have an arsenal of soda containers on [...]

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Make Your Own Birthday Cake

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If you know a little bit about me and my parenting philosophy, you’ll know that I welcome opportunities to get my children into DIY mode. The only way they’re going to learn how to do something is by getting involved, so I may give them a few pointers and then I’ll step back and let them [...]

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Make a Music Basket to Encourage Rhythm and Movement

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Do you enjoy having music in your home? Do you have an instrument kit for your child to explore? If you do, I’d love to hear about what’s inside your kit. And if this is new-to-you, pull up a chair and let’s talk music! When my older child was just a few months old she [...]

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Toddler Watercolor Painting, Keeping it Neat

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I’m not afraid of messes, but I’m also not looking for them. Are you with me? So when my almost 2-year old said that she wanted to paint, I was ready with my spill-management toolbox: an ice cube tray and a wooden serving tray. In case you’re wondering how the wooden tray is paint-free (I’d wonder [...]

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Capture Fall Memories with Kids

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Last year, my 3-year old fell in love with the Fall season. We visited the pumpkin patch (multiple times), planned and re-planned Halloween costumes, collected leaves, made leaf art, visited an apple farm, and the list goes on! After Halloween I purchased an old typewriter and N dictated a Fall-inspired poem that beautifully captures her [...]

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Make a Terrarium

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Today I’m joined by my friend and colleague, Amanda E. Gross, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with at the San Francisco Children’s Creativity Museum. She has an incredible eye for all things related to creativity and kids, and today she’s here to share some tips on how to make a terrarium. I’ve wanted to make one [...]

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Sticker Resist with Watercolors

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Do you have a set of watercolors? If not, this fun project will give you reason to pick one up. My kids and I have been keeping sketchbooks for a few months, and we enjoy the challenge of testing out new techniques, materials, and ideas as we move through our books. Painting over stickers (and [...]

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