To calm the chaos on the overexcited days and also spark play on the quieter ones, try planning a play date on a specific theme. Here are some great ideas for a spring gardening play date.

Dedicate a corner of your own garden or patio for your kiddos. 
Fill a large container  with  topsoil, provide  kid-size tools  and a variety of seeds. Let the kids plant and water as they wish. It doesn’t have to be perfectly planted–remember you’re aiming for fun not perfection. 
 
For lunch ideas; You could  serve sandwiches cut into flowers , cookie cutters are good for this, carrot sticks and other assorted veggies  and of course a gummy worm .

A fun dessert would be dirt cups;

Nothing more than three ingredients required and the pots can be customized by the kids. Bring out some markers or tempera paint and let them be creative. By using the terracotta  your showing  eco-friendly way to serve it up.  

Small terracotta plant pots, washed well with soap and hot water

Ice cream, any flavor
Oreo cookies crumbs
Gummy worms

After washing and drying your plant pot well, fill to the top with the ice cream of your choice. Cover the ice cream with Oreo cookies crumbs and stuff with gummy worms. 

 



What is gardening without water? Grab the  Watering Cans and feed all the plants in your yard.
For a quick and easy water can Punch holes in the lid of a milk jug. Fill with water and you have an instant watering can. You an determine the amount of water flowing by the number of holes you punch.

After exciting and physical activities like gardening and running through a sprinkler, it’s a good idea to have a quieter, relaxed activity before it’s time to head home. I love the idea of a chill-out tent, and the Tent is a great place to cozy up and read some garden-themed books or do a puzzle–like this that fits in perfectly with your theme.

I can’t guarantee that the kids won’t still find a way to explode toys all over your playroom, but I can guarantee they won’t be bored! Using themes can change an everyday play date into something really amazing and different.

 

With School almost out we thought it would be fun to post some fun ideas you can do at home with little or no cost this summer.

I love all the different bugs, animals, people, and other designs you can make  by just finger painting. In my own experience I have tried  many variety's  of stamp pads,  painting pads,  the list can go on forever with the variety of items you can purchase in todays market.
When working with kiddos I found the end result most times ended up with a muddled mess that didn't showcase the true colors.

 

So we set out to make our own and here's how we did it;



I found these great shimmy's at our local Dollar Tree.  I   cut the shammy into small manageable  pieces. I sprayed them down with a water bottle to lightly moisten. The first time I over wet them so be sure to just mist. Add a small amount of tempera paint , about a quarter sized to each square,  using a brush or fingers you then can paint with ease.  As the paint thins out it really turns into a unique stamp pad.  You can wash out the shammy when your done and reuse .

www.kidslutter.com

Using this idea for finger paint is simple, cost effective way of making your colors pop and setting your kiddos up for success
visit;
www.kidslutter.com for more ideas and tools to help your child be successful in school and at play.




 

we used minimal paint for this effect

May, the month of Transitions

Did you ever stop for a moment and think about the number of transitions our families make in the month

of May?  Especially our children who are in school. Whether they are just beginning school, changing grades or graduating from preschool, elementary school, middle or high school and college, they are all making a transition to something new.  And let’s not forget all the end of the year celebrations for clubs, sports and other activities.  Our schedules are insane during the month of May!

And has anyone else started recognizing that with each of these milestones comes more extravagant parties?

If we are not going to something our own children are doing, then we are certainly going to a friends or relatives for someone else’s.

When do we slow things down over this month?   How do we teach our children and family members to simplify the things we can? Some days I feel like I have all the gifts lined up for the next function and if there is not some sort of order, someone will be missed.  And, if I do not plan the perfect celebration then something will truly be missed.  The real question is will it be?  When did we lose sight of keeping things simple on the smaller milestones so that the larger ones are a big deal?  Have we have lost sight of small family gatherings or simple parties?  Have we bought into keeping up with others until it seems out of  control?

Milestones and memories come all the time.  If we work on keeping things simple all around then when we do plan a big event for something major, it will truly be more meaningful to all those around.  Find some time to sit down and evaluate how that looks for your family and what you want to be most memorable along the way. The best memories are the simplest and easiest of ones!

At kids klutter we hope that you find the fun in your month of May.  Out of manageable transitions, comes

enjoyment that will last for a long time.

If we can help you with fundraising for your school, club or event, please jump on our website and check us out at www.kidsklutter.com.  We can simplify efforts in so many ways.

As summer approaches us quickly, we wish everyone a safe, healthy, fun filled few months!
Your kidsklutter team!