I am so excited to introduce you to The PLAY Group! The PLAY Group is a group of moms and teachers who blog about kids play and learning activities. These are some of the most creative kid bloggers around and they share creative ideas for having fun and teaching your kids. I am honored to be part of this group. To kick things off, we will be sharing a zillion (more or less) activities in areas we are especially passionate about. At the end of this post are links to all The PLAY Group lists. Literally, thousands of activities. What more do you need?
Be sure to follow The PLAY Group on Pinterest for your one stop shop for all kids activities:
Join The PLAY Group on Google+ for even MORE ideas and inspiration!
Now on with the show!
If you have been a regular reader at Mess For Less then you know I am somewhat frugal. I hate to spend lots of money on things to entertain and teach the kids. I try to find items I already have around the house to use in new and unexpected ways to create memories and fun. I am hoping after browsing through the list and visiting some of the great ideas you will be inspired and look around your house and for items you can use for play.
1. Counting Game with Buttons and Muffin Cups From Mess For Less
2. Creative Magnets and a Marble Run From Growing a Jeweled Rose
3. DIY Microfiber Cleaning Slippers From Housing a Forest
4. Sidewalk Chalk Paint From Train Up A Child
5. Sponge Bowling with Word Families From Toddler Approved
6. Shower Sponge Painting From Learn With Play at Home
7. Early Learning Magnetic Alpha Bath From Bath Activities for Kids
8. Snowflake Valentine's Craft using Coffee Filters From B-Inspired Mama
9. Make Homemade Bouncing Balls From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
10. Thrifty Arts and Crafts Supplies From In Lieu of Preschool
11. 20+ Ways to Use Contact Paper with Kids From Mess For Less
12. DIY Magnetic Chalkboard From Growing a Jeweled Rose
13. Rainbow Bubble Snakes From Housing a Forest
14. Tips and Tricks for Messy Play From Train Up A Child
15. Swimming Pool Scrabble From Toddler Approved
16. Soft Toy Toss From Learn With Play at Home
17. Kool Aid Scented Sensory Baths From Bath Activities for Kids
18. Marble Painted Heart Garland From B-Inspired Mama
19. Faux Tie Dye Spring Window Flower Display From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
20. Exploring Michelangelo with Preschoolers From Rainy Day Mum
21. Birthday Party Playdough From Mess For Less
22. DIY Light Table and Shapes From Growing a Jeweled Rose
23. Painting With Jelly Beans From Housing a Forest
24. Frog Pond Small World Play From One Perfect Day
25. Building with Spices From Toddler Approved
26. Playdough Imprints Texture and Pattern From Learn With Play at Home
27. Glowing Water for Kids From Bath Activities for Kids
28. Snowflake Drop Baby Activity From B-Inspired Mama
29. Penny Experiment From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
30. Thrifty Scissor Practice From In Lieu of Preschool
31. 3 Ideas for Straw Games and Crafts From Mess For Less
32. Black Light Sticky Table From Growing a Jeweled Rose
33. Stamping Dice From Housing a Forest
34. Two Ingredient Baby and Toddler Safe Paint From Train Up A Child
35. Sponge Tower Time From Toddler Approved
36. Gooey Flour Fun From Learn With Play at Home
37. Ice Cream Parlor for Kids From Bath Activities for Kids
38. Dissolving Peeps Experiment From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
39. Twig Nest Centerpiece From B-Inspired Mama
40. 3 Simple Numbers and Counting Activities From In Lieu of Preschool
41. Paint a Tree with Q-Tips From Mess For Less
42. Giant Sponge Sensory Play From Growing a Jeweled Rose
43. Shamrock Sprouts From Housing a Forest
44. Glow in the Dark Water Beads From Train Up A Child
45. Silly Magnet Monsters From Toddler Approved
46. Comb Painting From Learn With Play at Home
47. Bath Paint Recipe Collection From Bath Activities for Kids
48. Egg Experiments From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
49. 5 Tips for Setting Up Play Kitchen From In Lieu of Preschool
50. Easy DIY Fine Motor Skills Activity From One Perfect Day
51. Paper Bag Donkeys From Mess For Less
52. 30 Ways to Play with Kool Aid From Growing a Jeweled Rose
53. Ivory Soap Experiment From Housing a Forest
54. Counting and Sequencing with Peas From Train Up A Child
55. Clothespin Fireworks From Toddler Approved
56. Building with Books From Learn With Play at Home
57. Erupting Kool Aid Bath Paint From Bath Activities for Kids
58. Exploring Gas with Balloons From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
59. Shamrock Cookie Cutter Paint Stamping From In Lieu of Preschool
60. ABC Rock Fun From Parent Teach Play
61. Homemade Finger Paint From Mess For Less
62. How to Make Play Dough From Growing a Jeweled Rose
63. Cup Stacking From Housing a Forest
64. Painting Rainbows with Marshmallows From Train Up A Child
65. Make a Cereal Bracelet From Learn With Play at Home
66. Scented Bubble Painting Bath From Bath Activities for Kids
67. A Garden Treasure Hunt with Painted Rocks From One Perfect Day
68. DIY Cooking Sensory Bin From In Lieu of Preschool
69. Mosaic Rainbow Art From Parent Teach Play
70. Homemade Puffy Paint with 3 Ingredients From Train Up A Child
71. Tracing with Yarn From Mess For Less
72. Alligator Stick Pals From Growing a Jeweled Rose
73. Tinfoil and Sharpies From Housing a Forest
74. Paper Plate Dino Craft From Train Up A Child
75. Experimental Cooking From Learn With Play at Home
76. St. Patrick's Day Art - Rainbows From In Lieu of Preschool
77.Glowing Ice From Train Up A Child
78. Playdough Candy Pops From Parent Teach Play
79. Rainbow Discovery Bottles From Growing a Jeweled Rose
80. Messy Car Wash From Train Up A Child
81. Giant Fly Swatter Painting From Growing a Jeweled Rose
82. Credit Card Art From Housing a Forest
83. Peppermint Oatmeal Sensory Play From Train Up A Child
84. Painting with Seasoning and Spices From Learn With Play at Home
85. Storm Fort From Parent Teach Play
86. 11 Ways to Make Bathtime Glow From Bath Activities for Kids
87. Erupting Snow Recipe From Growing a Jeweled Rose
88. Hot Glue Crayon Rubbings From Mess For Less
89. The Smell Eraser From Housing a Forest
90. Shaving Cream Play Pool From Train Up A Child
91. Paint the Sky Activity From Growing a Jeweled Rose
92. Pretend Cooking with Food Scraps From Train Up A Child
93. Exploring Sense of Touch From Train Up A Child
94. Glowing Oobleck From Train Up A Child
95. Making Flowers with Scrubbing Sponges From Mess For Less
96. Erupting Pumpkins Experiment for Kids From Growing a Jeweled Rose
97. Yogurt Spice Sensory Play From Train Up A Child
98. Dripping Salt Painting From Mess For Less
99. A New Way to Make Paint From Bath Activities for Kids
100. Apple Scented Cloud Dough From Growing a Jeweled Rose
101. 5 Simple Sensory Bins for Babies and Toddlers From Train Up A Child
102. Homemade Glowing Paint From Train Up A Child
103. Exploring the Sense of Sight From Train Up A Child
104. Sensory Painting with Kool Aid From Growing a Jeweled Rose
105. 5 DIY Manipulatives From Train Up A Child
106. Water Beads and Babies From Train Up A Child
107. Egg Crack Painting From Growing a Jeweled Rose
108. Pretend Play Perfume Concoctions From Growing a Jeweled Rose
109. Coconut Volcano Science Experiment From Parent Teach Play
110. Outdoor Obstacle Course From Train Up A Child
111. Spooky Spaghetti Spider Webs From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
112. Using Empty Paint Bottles for Sensory Play From Train Up A Child
113. Bath Time Water Wall From Growing a Jeweled Rose
114. Dry Erase Tiles From Housing a Forest
115. Potato Pumpkin Prints From Growing a Jeweled Rose
116. Bubble Wrap Sensory Sliding Fun From Growing a Jeweled Rose
117. Melted Crayon Easter Eggs From Housing a Forest
118. Edible Face Healthy Lunch From Train Up A Child
119. Mess Free Finger Painting Housing a Forest
120. Tornado in a Bottle From In Lieu of Preschool
121. Early Math with the 3 Bears From Learn With Play at Home
122. 20 Art and Craft Recipes for the Busy Mama From Growing a Jeweled Rose
123. Dancing Oobleck From Housing a Forest
124. Wash and Learn Turkey Basting Bath Time From In Lieu of Preschool
125. Paper Plate Pumpkin Crafts From Train Up A Child
126. Toddler Sewing Activity From Housing a Forest
127. Exploding Art From Housing a Forest
128. Glowing Pasta Necklaces From Growing a Jeweled Rose
129. Crock Pot Playdough From Train Up A Child
130. Sensory Pudding Paint From Train Up A Child
131. Simple Valentine's Stamp From Housing a Forest
132. Painting with Pool Noodles From Train Up A Child
133. Slide Painting with Balls From Growing a Jeweled Rose
134. Tot Preschool - D is for Dinosaur From Train Up A Child
135. Dino Dig Fossil Art From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
136. Pretend Cooking Using Real Ingredients From Growing a Jeweled Rose
137. Mixology 101 From Train Up A Child
138. Ice Skating in the Living Room From One Perfect Day
139. Rainbow Jello Sensory Bin From Train Up A Child
140. Glowing Clean Mud Ivory Soap Explosion From Train Up A Child
141. Pumpkin Oobleck From Train Up A Child
142. Easy Homemade Faux Lava Lamps for Kids From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
143. 40 Ways to Play with Items in Your Pantry From Growing a Jeweled Rose
144. Lorax Themed Sensory Box From In Lieu of Preschool
145. Glowing Jello From Train Up A Child
146. Tie-riffic Fun with Twist Ties From Learn With Play at Home
147. Learning the Alphabet Sensory Style From Growing a Jeweled Rose
148. Autumn Jello Sensory Bin From Train Up A Child
149. Pretend Play Sensory Tea Party From Growing a Jeweled Rose
150. Exploring the Sense of Taste From Train Up A Child
151. Baby Discovery Bin From Train Up A Child
152. Rubber Cement Resist From Housing a Forest
153. Even More Fun Activities for Kids Using a Turkey Baster From In Lieu of Preschool
154. Making Snowmen with Hair Curlers From Mess For Less
155. Nail Polish Art From Housing a Forest
156. Homemade Silly Putty From Train Up A Child
157. DIY Prayer Pail From In Lieu of Preschool
158. Sponge Painting From Train Up A Child
159. Coffee Filter Pumpkins From Mess For Less
160. Toilet Paper Knockdown From Mess For Less
161. Fine Motor Work with Golf Tees From Mess For Less
162. Elastic Band Launchers From Housing a Forest
163. Monster Truck Sight Word Mash From Train Up A Child
164. I Did It All for the Cookie Tray From Mess For Less
165. Penguin Sensory Bin From Train Up a Child
166. Q-Tip Painting and Number Learning From Learn With Play at Home
167. Kool Aid Pumpkins From Housing a Forest
168. 25 Ways to Play with Goop From Growing a Jeweled Rose
169. Bell Pepper Shamrocks From Train Up A Child
170. Perfect Hush Bottles From In Lieu of Preschool
171. Exploring Playdough with Kitchen Tools From One Perfect Day
172. Colored Rice Sensory Play From Train Up A Child
173. Two Ingredient Multi Sensory Cloud Dough From Train Up A Child
174. Sight Word Discovery Bottles From Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
175. DIY Microwave Puffy Paint From One Perfect Day
176. Rock Collection Fun From In Lieu of Preschool
177. Dinosaur Small World From One Perfect Day
Check out these fantastic lists from The PLAY Group:
And please be sure to visit Nature and Play for some wonderful ideas about how you can playfully explore the outdoors with kids.
I link to these great parties.
Oooh love all the cool ideas. Exactly how does one become a member :) I would love to join
ReplyDeleteThanks! Just follow the links above to follow The PLAY Group on Pinterest and join the group on Google +.
DeleteGreat roundup! Love giving things another life! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah! I am too cheap to just use things once.
DeleteWow what a fantastic lis, thanks for compiling and sharing all these wonderful ideas! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Wag Doll! Hope they keep the kids busy.
DeleteLove it! Pinned.
ReplyDeleteReally appreciate it Erin.
DeleteSuch a great reminder that some of the best play items are not actually toys! I love using household items in a new way. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTammy, Whenever I am at the dollar store I stroll through the kitchen aisle and think about how I can use the items for play. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThere are so many ways for kids to experiment and learn without it costing heaps of money. I love your ideas here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carolyn. This is a big part of the "less" part of Mess For Less.
DeleteWow, this is fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing all these wonderful ideas. I found you at Whatever Goes Wednesday and I am a new follower on Pinterest. Darlene, http://darlenebnemeth.blogspot.ca
ReplyDeleteThis is quiet the collection! Thanks for sharing :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat collection!!
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