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Hands On As We Grow

Engaging our kids with simple, fun activities, every day.

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.

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Start cutting safely and confidently with fun, easy materials kids can handle — no straight lines required!
Featured Post

Snip snip! These cutting ideas are perfect for beginners

Snip Snip, Reader! Handing your child a scissors is sometimes a scary thing. But trust me on this -- I bet they can do it. Just don't expect them to do it right. Don't expect your child to hold the scissors with their thumb up, or even with one hand. Don't expect straight lines, or even lines at all. Don't expect a lot. Give them the rules -- no running with scissors. Point down when walking with scissors. And scissors are meant for cutting.... and that's it. Notice - I didn't restrict it to...

14 days ago • 2 min read
Simple activity ideas for active kids who need to move, think, and stay engaged—without forcing them to sit still.

Reader... My kids are busy kids. Moving. All. The. Time. Letting them be bored can be good... but it can also be oh-so-bad. Crafts are not their thing. Sitting is not their thing. What do you do when you have a kid that's always super busy? By busy, I mean that they don't like to sit still, they may fidget a bunch, they just have to always be doing something. My kids just bounce -- a lot. Below are some quick ideas that might work to keep your busy kid... well, busy! Keeping Kids Busy...

21 days ago • 3 min read
Easy water balloon games your kids will love—plus clever ways to sneak in learning while they play.

Reader... If it's getting hot where you are, we've got you covered with some sizzling summer activities. Simply grab some water balloons and let the fun begin. I love it so much that we can now fill up 100 water balloons in like 30 seconds with those doodad thingies... remember the days when it took hours at the faucet and tying each one? We have a ton of water balloon target games, water balloon learning activities, and more water balloon fun. Note: Balloon activities can be educational and...

about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Bring back those summer camp vibes with 30 easy, nostalgic crafts your kids will love doing—just like you did years ago.

Reader... Is there anything more nostalgic than summer crafts? Whenever I think of crafts for kids, I remember making crafts as a child out in the sun at summer camps or Vacation Bible School. Even just the smell of things like paint and Elmer's glue can bring back all the good memories. Making crafts with your kids is a fun way to pass on the traditions you grew up with in a way that’s fun, creative, and collaborative! I’ve created a special list of 30 Classic Summer Crafts you are likely...

about 1 month ago • 2 min read

Hey Reader! Congratulations! Well Done! You did it! The end of one chapter, will allow the doors to open to another. It is the end of the chapter for The Activity Room membership. 2025 will be The Activity Room's final year. After December 31, 2025, the membership will officially close as I move my focus to other projects and priorities. But that means there’s still a few months to join and enjoy everything The Activity Room has to offer! When you join through the end of the year, you’ll have...

about 2 months ago • 2 min read
From sparkly slime to edible sandboxes—these sensory ideas are fun, simple, and made for curious little hands.

Reader... I want to share with you the top sensory-type of activities found on Hands On As We Grow®. While pretty much all activities are sensory related activities in some fashion (there's so many types of sensory!) -- these are much more "obvious" types of sensory.. Some of the fun sensory activities you'll find on Hands On As We Grow: Connect the Dots Shaving Cream Fun Sticker & Tape Sticking Activity Soapy Jars (Calm Down Jars) Slimy Eyes Sensory Bag (you can make this around any theme...

about 2 months ago • 2 min read

Reader... Do you love making crafts with your kids, but hate trying to decide if you should keep them or throw them away? My homemade nature suncatcher wind chimes will be a no-brainer to keep at your house to use as a real, beautiful decoration. I always have friends asking where I got these, and I love telling them that my kids made them! This craft is an awesome way to get some time outdoors, learn about flowers and plants together, and create beautiful, eco-friendly decor without having...

2 months ago • 2 min read
Let go of the Pinterest pressure. Messy, creative, different? That’s exactly how kids learn—and it’s what makes activities meaningful and fun.

Reader... There is pressure. Way too much pressure these days for the "perfect" look, the "perfect" kids, the "perfect" craft. The "perfect" Easter outfit... I blame Instagram and social media in general for this mostly. But seriously, why do we put this pressure on ourselves? Have you ever scrolled Instagram to find an activity that looks amazing to do? ... but then think of YOUR reality and how it would really happen. YOUR REALITY: Your kid would do the activity differently than how it...

2 months ago • 3 min read
No need to scroll endlessly—these 4 simple Easter crafts are fun, easy, and use supplies you likely already have on hand. Just pick one and go!

Hey Reader - Happy Springtime... gosh I hope it's here to stay! I get a lot of feedback from readers about being overwhelmed with too many activities (we think we want all the ideas... but then get paralyzed with "which one should i do" or it takes forever to look through them all to see what supplies you might have on hand). If you celebrate Easter, it is already this weekend! I'd like to take down your overwhelm with Easter crafts and activities and choose my top 4 crafts or activities for...

3 months ago • 3 min read

Hi Reader - Do your kids have a lot of energy that they really need to burn, but the rainy, muddy, windy, cold spring days are stopping you from heading outside as long as you'd like? Let's grab some tape and your imagination! I’ve made it easy for you to play this fun color matching game that can be adjusted to the materials you have in your house. Not only will your kids love hopping across the colored paths, but they'll learn about colors and grow their mental skills. All you need for this...

3 months ago • 2 min read