Are you suddenly finding yourself homeschooling your child or children? Do you feel overwhelmed by what’s to come? Before starting elementary school, my children were largely homeschooled, and I’m trying to harness that energy and recall all of the things that worked for me. Two initial thoughts come to mind:
- Stay calm
- Follow your child’s interests
The first thing that comes to mind: stay calm. You’re going to figure this out and you don’t have to do it all, right out of the gate. Just take your time, let your kids watch shows if that’s how you’re leaning, and be flexible. Kids are resilient, creative, and inventive, and they’ll thrive with a new set of rules and options.
The second thing I’m thinking about: follow your child’s interests. I’ve had numerous conversations this week with friends who homeschool their children, and also with friends who have been homeschooled. One piece of advice comes up over and over again: Give children some direction, and then allow them to follow their own curiosities. We have a post on this topic you may like reading: Eight ways to follow a child’s curiosities.
With our focus here at TinkerLab on learning through art, science, and creativity, I’m sharing 35 blogs that will inspire creative action. Find a project that you think your child will like (or have your child find a project he or she is interested in), and then invite them to investigate, explore, and make. If things move in an unexpected direction, that’s great because it means they’re curious and interested!
Here we go, 35+ blogs filled with art, science, and tinkering inspiration, in alphabetical order…
Adventure-in-a-Box
Explore science, history, and other subjects with children (preschool to grade 6) through printable board games, crafts and hands-on projects!
Art Bar Blog
A gorgeous blog dedicated to raising creative thinkers through art-making, with a special focus on process art, nature art, and recycled art.
The Artful Parent
Inspiring parents to raise creative kids through easy & fun art activities. A must-stop destination with art activities for kids of all ages.
The Art Kit Blog
Simple + fun art, activities, crafts, and free printables for kids. If you’re new to homeschooling, you may also enjoy reading some of their helpful homeschool articles.
Artsy Fartsy Mama
Lots of craft activities and educational printables that will help you organize your life (checklists, schedule planners, menu sheets, etc.).
Babble Dabble Do
Connecting families through creativity. This site is dedicated to science, art, and engineering. I’ve known Anna for years. She’s trained as a furniture designer, and you can trust that she knows her subject!
The Craft Train
Art, craft, creative play and printable activities for kids. They also have a great collection of math and science projects.
From Engineer to Stay @ Home Mom
Kids learn to be an engineer with hands-on science experiments and STEM activities!From Engineer to Stay at Home
Fun a Day
Fun-A-Day is full of fun and engaging ideas for children in preschool and kindergarten, including art, crafts, and science.
Happy Toddler Playtime
Happy Toddler Playtime has creative and fun learning activities, crafts and sensory play ideas for children 0-6 years old.
Inspiration Laboratories
Inspiration Laboratories has a variety of science, nature, and STEM activities for preschool and elementary.
JDaniel4s Mom
STEM and coding activities many with recording sheets.
The Joy of Sharing
Lots of easy art and STEM crafts ideas for kids of all ages.
The Keeper of the Memories
One of my favorite things about this site are the ideas for setting up a creative space for kids. Also! Printables and activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners.
Left Brain Craft Brain
Left Brain Craft Brain is filled with hands-on STEM and STEAM activities for ages 4 to 12. From science experiments, to art, to tech, and more, their activities will keep your kids engaged and learning.
Little Bins for Little Hands
You’ll find plenty of hands-on science and STEM activities that incorporate math and literacy as well. Using everyday supplies, you can easily transform your kitchen into a science lab. We also offer free printable resources!
Mama Smiles
I’ve been following this blog for years. It’s a great parenting blog and offers helpful ideas for sewing with kids.
Messy Little Monster
Messy little monster is full of fun art and craft ideas and hands on science activities for kids of all ages from toddlers upwards
Natural Beach Living
Natural Beach Living is packed with fun educational ideas and hands on activities for kids. Focus on toddler, preschool, and lower elementary at home.
No Time for Flashcards
STEM activities and art projects for preschoolers. This site has been around for a long time, and the content is solid. It’s also nicely organized by age.
Nurture Store
NurtureStore has a whole 20 day+ program of stay-at-home, screen-free activities you can do using stuff you already have, for children aged 2- 12.
Our Family Code
STEAM website with free worksheets and activities with an emphasis on coding and technology for Pre-K through 8th grade
The Preschool Toolbox Blog
The Preschool Toolbox offers activities to immerse kids ages 2-7 in learning through play. They offer a large collection of science activities.
Preschool Toolkit
Crafts and activities including science, art and pretend play for preschoolers.
Projects with Kids
Projects with Kids offers fun and creative arts and craft projects for elementary school-aged kids and tweens!
Red Ted Art
Cute and easy crafts for kids. Red Ted Art also hosts a YouTube playlist of crafts that use simple, everyday materials.
Rhythms of Play
This site offers a creative collection of arts, crafts, activities, and nature play ideas that will keep children (toddlers to teens) busy learning and having fun!
Science Sparks
Jam-packed full of easy hands-on science experiments using materials you probably already have around the house.
Steam Powered Family
STEAM Powered Family is all about STEAM and Children’s Mental Health. Focusing mostly on Elementary to Teens.
The STEM Mum
The STEM Mum has lots of play based STEM activities you can do at home for kids aged 2-6 years.
Still Playing School
Still Playing School has playful educational activities for birth to school age!
Swoodson Says
Ideas designed to help kids (and adults!) make sewing and embroidery projects
Sun Hats and Wellie Boots
Sun Hats & Wellie Boots is packed with hands on activities, crafts & nature play for children 3-8yrs.
Teach Beside Me
Lots of art & science & homeschooling ideas.
TinkerLab
Well, that’s us! Here you’ll find open-ended and process-based art activities, that inspire creative thinking. Also a handful of science investigations for preschool and early elementary.
The Wise Owl Factory
Lots of free instant downloads (no sign in required) mostly elementary, and also Pre-K through HS. Find the science printables here.
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[…] you can find inspiration and ideas about science experiments for kids at home! Her focus is on art, science, and tinkering blogs for home and homeschool, but classroom teachers could benefit from the ideas […]
Here is a great homeschooling video I found for first grade https://youtu.be/ol7AT18_Gpk
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Great content! Found another article on art and science and how they’re related! Very fun to read- do check it out https://bit.ly/31w0Ufg
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