Looking for a simple and fun holiday activity that’s perfect for kids of all ages?  

Send them on a candy cane hunt.  

This Christmas themed scavenger hunt is one of our favorite Candy cane activities  of all times. 

It’s guaranteed to get the kids laughing and giggling this holiday season.  And we all could use a few more giggles this year.  

Years ago, when my kids were just in preschool/kindergarten, we started this tradition as one of the activities in our Christmas Countdown Calendar.   

I can still picture them, giggling and laughing, as they raced around the yard, helping each other find the red and white striped candy.   It was magical to watch them as they raced around the yard in their coats and mittens, lost in the excitement of the hunt.  

It is still one of their favorite activities each year.  (Tweens like to have fun this time of year, too!)

Having a candy cane scavenger hunt is a fun kids Christmas activity for all ages.

If you are looking for more ways to bring the joy back this season, you may also like:

Candy Cane Fishing —  The whole family will have fun fishing for ornaments in this simple Christmas Minute-to-Win-It Game.

Melting Snowman STEM Activity —  This low-prep STEM activity will keep kids of all ages busy and having fun. 

Elf on the Shelf STEM Activities —  Have an elf?  Try out some of these elf-themed STEM projects with the kids.  

Affiliate links have been used below. See my full disclosure for more info. 

Candy Cane Hunt

Hosting your very own backyard scavenger hunt for candy canes is easy to set up.

First, you will want to have plenty of candy canes.  

You can use real candy canes or plastic candy cane ornaments for your hunt.  We usually use a mix of the two.

Red and white pipe cleaners twisted together can make quick and easy candy canes for this activity as well.  And, the kids will have fun helping to make them.  Just twist a red and white pipe cleaner together, and form a hook to create your very own candy cane.  

Once you have your candy canes ready, head outdoors to hide them. 

Try hanging them from various tree limbs and shrubs.  You could also hang them from flower pots, swing sets, bird feeders….  Be creative with whatever space you have available.  

You might even want to surprise them with a few super big candy canes standing around.  

If the weather isn’t cooperating, or you don’t have an outdoor space to use, you can hide the candy canes indoors.  Going on a candy cane hunt is a fun activity when you’re stuck inside in the winter.  

Once you’ve hidden the candy canes,  it’s time for the scavenger hunt!

Bring the kids outside and challenge them to see how many candies they can find.  

It is truly magical watching kids race to find candy canes that are hidden among the otherwise barren branches.

Now, grab those candy canes and get ready to hear some excited giggles!

Having a candy cane hunt is the funnest candy cane activity around.

The post Go on a Candy Cane Hunt! first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

Once the dough starts to dry out, it just gets too hard for little ones to work with.   So, what do you do, pitch it?

Don’t toss that can yet! 

You can turn that old play dough into colorful homemade Play Doh ornaments. 

Yes, you can still use it to make some fun Homemade Ornaments Kids Can Make.

Affiliate links have been used below for your convenience.  See my full disclosure for more information.

This play dough craft is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.   You may also love these other play dough ornaments.  

Older kids will have fun making these beaded Christmas ornaments.  

Play Doh Ornaments

You can use any of your child’s favorite colors of Play Doh to make your own play dough Christmas ornaments.  For a quicker drying time, use a can that is starting to dry out.  

Our playdough was particularly stiff, so I rolled it out for the kids.  

Once the dough is rolled out to 1/4 inch thickness (6 mm), have your child use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.  

You can use Christmas shapes, or to personalize them even more, let your child cut whatever shapes they want.  

We wound up with a few pink and lavendar kitty cats and a blue car.  Years later I still treasure these ornaments because that’s what my kids were in to when they made them as preschoolers. 

Want to add a little sparkle to your play doh decorations?

My daughter had so much fun adding glitter to our pine cone ornaments, that I decided to get out the glitter to add to these.  She had fun pressing the glitter onto the surface of the dough.  

Once your child is finished with their creations, use a toothpick to poke a hole at the top of each one so you can add a ribbon to it later for hanging.  

Then set the Play Doh in a safe place to air dry.  

Depending on how old the dough is that you used, it should only take a couple days.   Flip them over after a day or two to speed up the process.

Can You Bake Play Doh

If you want the playdough ornaments ready sooner you can bake them in the oven.  

Set the oven to 200 degreees Fahrenheit and bake them 5-10 minutes.  

Once they are dry, add ribbons to each ornament for easy hanging.  

You can also use permanent marker to personalize ornaments if desired.  We added names and the year to several of ours.  

Got some old cans of Play Doh hanging around? 

Give this easy playdough craft a try, and make a few Play Doh ornaments for the tree.  

You could also tie them on packages for a simple addition to any gift.  

You may also like:

• Craft Stick Ornaments — Easy homemade ornaments kids can make
• Jingle Bell Bracelets — Preschoolers will love this simple Christmas craft.
• Playdough Monsters — Kids will have fun making these silly monsters.

Originally published December 19, 2011.  

The post Play-Doh Homemade Ornaments first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

I love watching the kids get excited about their gifts, but sometimes the amount of toys and clutter in the house can feel overwhelming.  This can be especially true after birthdays or holidays, when the kids receive presents from multiple people.

Instead of junk toys that will soon be forgotten,  we love educational gifts for kids the family can enjoy together.

Sneak in a little learning with these fun Lesson Plans for Disney Movies.  

If you are looking for some awesome educational gifts for children this year, you’ve come to the right spot.   

I’ve asked some of my favorite fellow homeschool families what their favorite presents have been, and used their responses to create a list of the best gift ideas.   

Whether you’re looking for gifts for homeschoolers, or present ideas for all the kids in your life, you’ll find something for everyone below. 

Affiliate links have been used below, meaning I may receive a small commission.  See my full disclosure for more details. 

Educational Gifts for Kids

Microscope

Microscope Slides—  Check out the pre-made slides for viewing things like a bee’s wing and a cross-section of a flower stem.  Blank slides are great for older kids who are ready to prepare their own slides.  

Telescope

Binoculars

Robotics Kits—  Know a child that loves robots?  Give them some hands-on fun with one of these kits.  

Solar Power Car— Can the sun power a car?  Discover just how power the sun is with this kit.  

Magnatiles—  Kids of all ages will have fun builting with these colorful tiles.  

Snap Circuits—  These are a great way to introduce circuits, while letting kids get hands-on experience with electricity.  Working doorbells, lights, and other features make them lots of fun.  

Monthly Subscription Kits —  Check out  MyTek Bot Kit, Raddish Cooking Club for Kids, Little Passports, or Steve Spangler Science Box .

Scrambled States of America —  Kids will have fun learning basic American geography with this quirky game.  

Perplexus Puzzle Balls — These 3-D mazes are so much fun!  The small ones make great stocking stuffers.

Fun Math Board Games—  Who says math isn’t fun?  These games will leave kids laughing as they work on math facts, counting, and money skills. 

Lego Chain Reactions  —  This 80 page STEM book is the perfect gift for Lego fans.  It comes with 30+ Lego pieces to combine with the bricks you already own to build 10 different machines.   

Genius Lego Inventions   —  This awesome book shows kids how to turn their bricks into a wind up car, pinball game, and more.  Complete with full directions and colored illustrations.  

Legos—  Whether you buy a kit with directions, or just a tub of the colorful building bricks, Legos are always a popular gift for kids.  

K’Nex Roller Coaster Building Kit —  Kids will learn plenty of physics as they engineer their very own miniature roller coaster.  

Logic Games (Try Qwirkle, Blokus, Gravity Maze, Dr. Eureka, or IQ Twist.)

Catapults and Crossbows Science Kit—  Kids will have a blast learning about the energy, motion, and force while making their own catapults, crossbows, and trebuchets.  

Klutz Craft Kits— You just can’t beat the Klutz brand when it comes to craft kits.   And they have such a wide variety, such as making soap, sewing mini stuffed animals, and making bracelets.

Chemistry Set—  Seriously, there are so many fun ones to choose from out there.  You can get kits that grow crystals, ones that do a variety of fizzing experiments, and, of course, your standard set with booklet that walks you through several experiments to try at home.  

Make Your Own Bubble Gum Kit—  What a fun way to explore chemistry! 

Mr. Root Beer Home Brewing Kit

Sewing Machine —  I suggest a real sewing machine, not one of those “kids sewing machines” which don’t really sew.  (Trust me, they are a disappointment.)  

Butterfly Growing Kit—  Kids will be fascinated as they watch their caterpillars turn into butterflies that you can then release into the wild.  

Story Cubes— These are a fun way to get kids writing and telling stories.  

Metal Detector —  A good metal detector doesn’t have to be expensive.   There are lots of good ones that are the perfect size for kids.  

Kindle Fire (or other reader) — Encourage reading with a bit of technology.  A tablet makes it easy to always have a book (or 2 or 3) with you, wherever you go.  

Kids Cookbooks  —  Even preschoolers can help in the kitchen.  Older kids can start learning to cook simple meals on their own, a necessary life skill everyone should learn.  

Fort Building Kit—  Take that blanket fort further with this building kit.  This is awesome on snow days.  

Slack Line Kit—  Get kids outside and working on balance, concentration, and coordination.  

Plasma Car—  No pedals, just wiggle power to get this moving.  And since it holds up to 150 pounds, it’s perfect for big kids, too, and those of us that are kids at heart. 

More Gifts for Homeschool Families

Nice Globe

Large White Board and Dry Erase Markers  

Boogie Board— Better than a white board, because the ink won’t smudge.  These are perfect for doing math problems on, practicing spelling words, and doodling without wasting paper.  

Ink Cartridges for the Printer  —  Homeschool families go through a lot of printer ink.  This is one gift that will definitely be appreciated.

Museum or Zoo Membership  —  Membership to a local museum or zoo is a wonderful gift for the whole family.  

Planetarium Tickets 

Subscription to a Child’s Magazine (We love Highlights and Ranger Rick!)

Gift Card to a Local Book Store

Art Classes (Check your local YMCA or Fine Arts Groups.)

Music Classes —  Check local high schools for opportunities when it comes to learning an instrument.  There are also online piano and guitar lessons that are perfect for busy homeschoolers.  

Tickets to Children’s Theater

Tickets to the  Symphony

Subscription to Netflix

Subscription to Amazon Prime

Whether you are looking for gifts for homeschool families, or you just want some educational gifts for kids this list is the perfect place to start for birthdays and holidays. 

You’ll also like:

• Awesome DIY Gifts for Kids
• Mermaid Gifts for Girls
• STEM Supplies for a STEM Lab at Home

Originally published November 2, 2017.

The post 50 of the Best Educational Gift Ideas for Homeschooling Families first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

After going through the line, she asked if we could go back because “it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”  Of course I took her again.

Her love for all things mermaid inspired this mermaid gift guide, packed full of the perfect mermaid gifts for girls that love mermaids.  You may also want to check out these 15 homemade gifts for kids.

Mermaid Gifts for Girls

Whether your child is a toddler or a tween, this list will help you find the perfect mermaid gifts for kids of all ages.

Affiliate links to the products have been provided for your convenience.  See my full disclosure for more details. 

Mermaid  Stuff for Kids 

Tail Blanket —  Beautiful crocheted blanket that looks like a mermaid tale.

Mermaid Blanket with Matching Doll Blanket — Kids will love snuggling into this soft, sleeping bag-styled blanket.  I love that their favorite doll can snuggle into her own matching tale.

Mermaid Swimwear — Let her live out her fantasy and be a mermaid with this fun swim set.

Mermaid Hooded Towel — This towel is more than just a way to dry off after bath time.

Monofin Flipper — The swim flipper that lets them swim like a mermaid.

Mermaid Pendant Necklace — With the rainbow colored stones on the tale, this necklace is sure to be a hit with that special little girl.

Seashell Locket — Perfect necklace for any little mermaid.

Mermaid Dolls

Rainbow Colored Mermaid Barbie — She will love the colors on this rainbow mermaid doll.

Ariel Doll — Every girl needs their own Little Mermaid to play with.

Magic Swim Mermaid — This doll magically swims when placed in water.

Mermaid Plush — This doll is perfect for snuggling.

Favorite Moments Mermaid Pack — 7 miniature mermaids with color-changing tops, including Ariel and her sisters, perfect for water play.

Mermaid Books

Three Little Mermaids — A beautiful board book with moving parts that toddlers and preschoolers will adore.

Pinkalicious and Aqua, the Mini-Mermaid — Pinkalicious meets Aqua in a beautiful cove full of rainbow colored shells.  With gorgeous pictures and all the fun that Pinkalicious books contain.  (Grade level 1-3)

Lacey the Little Mermaid Fairy — We love the fairies in the Rainbow Magic books series, and this one was an extra special hit.  A chapter book that will keep mermaid fans reading.  (Grade level 2-5)

Disney Princess Ariel:  The Birthday Surprise — A fun chapter book for girls that love Ariel.  (Grade level 1-3)

Mermaid Tales Sparkling Collection — The perfect book collection to get reluctant readers excited about reading.  5 exciting undersea adventures.  (Grade level 1-4)

The Tail of Emily Windsnap — When 12 year-old Emily’s mom finally lets her take swimming lessons she makes a startling discovery.  This book is perfect for every girl that ever dreamed of being a mermaid.  (Grade level 3-7)

Mermaid Arts & Crafts

Mermaid Paper Doll Kit — With 6 beautiful mermaids, 3 seahorse friends, and over 200 punch-out fashions, this paper doll kit is perfect for mermaid fans.

Melissa & Doug Magnetic Mermaid — You just can’t beat the quality of Melissa & Doug toys.

Glitter Mermaid Paper Doll — Small enough to toss in a purse for your child to enjoy when stuck at the doctor’s office or at a restaurant.  Perfect for a stocking stuffer.

Paint Your Own Wooden Mermaid — What’s better than mermaids?  One that you get to decorate yourself!

Shrinky Dink Mermaids — Your child can have the fun of decorating their own Shrinky Dink mermaids to display.

Scratch and Sketch Mermaid Adventure — Using the stylus reveals a rainbow of colors in this twist to a coloring book.

Mermaid Coloring Book — Simple mermaids to color for the youngest of fans.

Puffy Mermaid Stickers — Reusable puffy sticker play set with 65 colorful stickers.

Mermaid Jewelry Kit — Create your own sparkling jewelry with plenty of sea-themed beads, such as starfish and dolphins.

Mermaid Doll Making Kit — Give your child the chance to make her own cuddly mermaid without having to sew.

Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle — This is a 48 piece heavy duty puzzle with storage case.

100 Piece Mermaid Puzzle — This puzzle has a beautiful scene with a mermaid surrounded by fish, perfect for ages 6 and up.

I will always treasure the memory of taking our daughter to see the mermaids.

She was right, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.  After all, I know she won’t always believe they are real.

This year I’m going to keep some of that youthful innocence alive with a few of these mermaid gifts for girls.

You may also like:

• Gifts to Keep Them Learning
• How to Make a Teapot Cake
• The Best Preschooler Games

Originally published November 13, 2016. 

The post Magical Mermaid Gifts for Girls of All Ages first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

December is perfect for using those candies for some candy cane games, like this Candy Cane Fishing Game.

It’s a fun Christmas minute to win it game the whole family can enjoy. 

Affiliate links have been provided below.  See my full disclosure for more details.

Candy canes can be found in so many fun Christmas crafts and activities for kids.

Last year we had a blast with our Candy Cane Hunt.   It was a fun, low-prep candy cane activity.

We couldn’t wait to try a few more fun activities with candy canes.

Candy Cane Fishing Game

Materials Needed:

• Candy Canes
• Yarn or String
• Wooden Dowel Rod or Unsharpened Pencil
• Tape
• Large Plastic Container
• Unbreakable Christmas Ornaments

Prepare for this Christmas game by first creating your fishing poles.

Tie a 2-3 foot length of yarn to the straight side of a candy cane to make your hook.  Use a small piece of tape to secure the candy cane.  

Tie the other end to a wooden dowel rod.

Select a variety of unbreakable ornaments and place them in your large container.  Homemade ornaments are perfect for this game.

Challenge your child to see how many ornaments they can pick up using only their fishing pole.

Ways to Play Candy Cane Fishing:

• Play with friends. Make 2-3 fishing poles and see who can catch the most ornaments.
• Turn it into a Christmas minute to win it game for kids.  Set a timer for 1 minute and challenge kids to see how many ornaments they can get in that time.  Can they pick up 6?  8?  Can they get more the next time they try?
• For younger kids, try making the string shorter so the candy cane doesn’t sway as much.

Candy Cane Fishing is a simple Christmas activity that is easy to set up as an after school activity.

This Christmas fishing game would also be fun at a Christmas party.

Sign up for our newsletter and get a free printable Christmas Scavenger Hunt!

You’ll also like:

• Simple Candy Cane Beaded Ornament
• Homemade Christmas Sweatshirt 
• Melting Snowmen STEM Activity 
• New Year’s Fizzy Science 
• Fun Games for Kids

Originally published December 6, 2016. 

The post Candy Cane Activity: Fishing for Ornaments first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

Doesn’t your elf deserve a cute little space of their own?

Challenge your child to create a cozy elf on the shelf house in one of our favorite elf on the shelf STEM activities.

This week your kids will have fun with this simple STEM activity, as they build a house for Elf on the Shelf.   

You may also enjoy a few of these Christmas STEM activities.

Build an Elf House

To inspire your little engineer, be sure to have plenty of building materials on hand.

Materials You May Want:

• Small Cardboard Boxes
• Brown Packing Paper (Works great for covering it to look like a gingerbread house.)
• Scissors
• Glue/Tape
• Stickers
• Crayons/Markers
• Coloring Books (Good for getting pictures to help decorate the house.)
• Pipe Cleaners
• Craft Sticks
• Fabric Scraps
• String/Ribbon
• Tape Measure

We do our elf a bit differently here, and the kids are allowed to touch him.

If yours is an official Elf on the Shelf, then a piece of string or a tape measure may come in handy.  Your child can hold it up close to the elf to determine how big to make the door, how high up to make windows, or even to make a bed the right size.

Let your child design the house however he/she sees fit.  They may chose to make a simple one room treehouse like ours, or they may want to use several boxes to create different rooms.

For younger kids you may want to have them draw where they want the doors and windows so you can cut the cardboard.

Who knows?  Maybe the elf will decide he/she has to explore their new house if you leave it under the tree.  Or, place the house on the tree, and then create an elf on the shelf zipline to help him get down. 

Making an elf on the shelf house is one of our favorite Christmas activities.  

Originally published December 19, 2016. 

The post Christmas STEM: Build an Elf House first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.