"I had no idea what I was doing."


Hey Reader!

Have you ever felt like a mom who didn't really have any idea what your kids really needed aside from the basics?

Ashley considers herself a "plain Jane first time mom. She tried going back to work and having her son in daycare after the first year at home with him. But, that wasn't the right fit for her.

"I was overwhelmed knowing that he had been in day care and then me taking over as a new mom, a new stay at home mom. This is all new to me. I had no idea what I was doing."

This felt so familiar to me. I remember feeling this same way as a new mom.

Ashley wanted to learn how to teach her son at home. And encourage his development but really didn't know where to start.

"Everyone's like, just Pinterest. Everyone. That's everybody's answer. Just Pinterest. Well, that is a rabbit hole that I don't want to go down."

Ashley discovered The Activity Room through a friend on Facebook and thought, "I could do that."

She looked into it and discovered our FREE Activity Challenge. (You can take it too! -- or invite that mom friend that is struggling right now.)

"You mean someone's going to give me a list of supplies that I need and activities to do and I just have to put it together?? I can do that."

She joined The Activity Room® soon after.

At first Ashley was excited, but nervous. She didn't have a lot of craft supplies and no experience. And wondered how she was going to do it.

How simple the activities were and how easily she could find the supplies surprised her.

"And I was like, OK, I can do this. This isn't so scary. It's not. You know, these are supplies that I have."

I challenge you TODAY to help a mom friend out. Forward this email to them.

Encourage them.

Tell your friends "You got this."

It feels good to hear that, not matter where you're at in motherhood.

"I feel successful. I feel prepared. And I know that I am the envy of a lot of other moms on my personal Facebook page. I feel like my son can look back and we can have these special memories of doing these super simple things. Where it's just him and I."
Ashley, Member of The Activity Room

~ Jamie
Hands On As We Grow®
Engaging our kids with simple, fun activities, every day.

P.S. Ashley also shared her story in an interview -- you can listen to her here.

P.P.S. And do the activity she shared about! Candy Sink or Float!


Top Physical Activities for Toddlers!

Get moving with simple physical activities toddlers really love that double as easy ways to build gross motor skills through play!

More on Hands On As We Grow:

Try this Cotton Ball Transfer Challenge

Upcycled Christmas Tree Craft

Favorite Color Activity for Preschoolers & Toddlers

Shredded Paper Snowman Sensory Bin

Plan the week with your Free Blank Weekly Activities Planner! DOWNLOAD HERE.

Make it easy on yourself and get our pre-planned activity plan eBooks done for your age of child. Or have activities planned for you, every single week! Enjoy!

This email is being sent to you because you subscribed to Hands On As We Grow's newsletter at handsonaswegrow.com.

If for any reason you do not want to receive any more activities to do with kids, or tips for doing activities, you can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. Really, there will be no hard feelings!

Thanks again!

PO Box 128, Elkader, Iowa 52043
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Hands On As We Grow

Hands On As We Grow has activities, crafts and art projects for kids up to school age, and even into their beginning years of school. You’ll find fun things to do with them, crafty ideas, and easy ways to make learning fun.

Read more from Hands On As We Grow
Things to do over Winter Break

Hi Reader! I've decided to give you a little challenge over winter break so we don't lose momentum over the holidays. Winter break was always such a fun time as a kid for me -- so I've always wanted to ensure that for my own kids too :) What did you do over winter break as a kid? “ At first I was a bit surprised by the simplicity of your suggestions, but then I realized that easy was precisely what I needed." — Sarah K, Activity Challenger Here is a quick list of the fun things you can do...

Celebrate eBook

Hey Reader! Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays—but sometimes the kids get a little too cozy with the boredom bug, and I freeze trying to make the season magical. Have you heard of the B.O.R.E.D acronym? Post this somewhere. B - Been creative, or built something?O - Outdoor play?R - Read a book?E - Exercised?D - Done something helpful? Sometimes outdoor play can be difficult this time of year for some of us up North. Now is the time to put those outdoor clothes on Santa's list! Make sure...

Christmas Activities

Hey Reader! The holiday season is such a magical time, and I know you’re probably just as excited as your kids are to make this Christmas unforgettable. 🎄✨ To help you get (or keep!) the holiday fun rolling, I’ve gathered some of my favorite Christmas ideas from Hands On As We Grow®—simple, creative activities both you and your kids will love! Explore Christmas Ideas Here “ What a blessing Hands On As We Grow has been to my family. Thank you!" — Amber Price Here are a few of my favorites to...