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By: Molly Schwichtenberg

Life during COVID-19 looks a lot different then it used to. With most families working and schooling from home, education and work now relies heavily on technology and virtual experiences. Below you will find seasonal holiday printable worksheets, coloring pages, and educational quizzes and lessons. Teachers and parents a like are sure to get some use out of these at home activities, no matter what the occasion! Enjoy!

Fall

The autumn season officially starts on September 22nd.

Halloween

Halloween is on October 31st.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in America is typically celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

Winter

The winter season official starts on December 21st.

Christmas

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights and begins on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa, the celebration of African American culture, is celebrated from December 26th through January 1st.

New Year's

New Year's is celebrated on January 1st.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday celebrated in the USA on the 3rd Monday of January.

Presidents' Day

Presidents' Day is celebrated in America on the third Monday of February.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th.

Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th.

Spring

The Spring season begins on March 20th.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is celebrated on a different date every year. Easter Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon (the full moon after the vernal equinox.)

Earth Day

Earth Day, the environmental movement created in 1970, is celebrated on April 22nd.

Fourth of July

As its name reveals, this American holiday is celebrated on July 4th.

Summer

The summer season begins on June 20th.

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Seasonal Holiday Printable Worksheets and Activities for Kids

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By: Molly Schwichtenberg Life during COVID-19 looks a lot different then it used to. With most families working and schooling from home, education and work now relies heavily on technology and virtual experiences. Below you will find seasonal holiday printable worksheets, coloring pages, and educational quizzes and lessons.

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The Tangled Ball of Emotions

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Protecting Kids' Mental Health During This Pandemic

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Protecting Kids' Mental Health During This Pandemic

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Our kids have had to be troopers as we find our way through the pandemic. But as they spend more days in isolation, take in more bad news, and adjust to distance learning, it's clear that life in quarantine is taking its toll. Depression, anxiety, fear-they're not always easy to detect in tweens. And that's what's agonizing: How do parents protect kids' mental health during this uncertain and scary time? Our latest poll uncovers clues to the answer. But first it reveals some hard truths.

Common Sense and Survey Monkey polled over 800 U.S. teens to find out how they're coping with having their lives upended by the coronavirus, and what they do for connection. Not surprisingly, they're stressed out. They also:

Worry about school. Ninety-five percent of 13- to 17-year-olds have had their classes canceled, 41% have had no school at all, and more than a quarter say it's hard to find a place to study at home.

Fret about their families. They not only fear that a loved one will become infected, they fret about finances, especially Black and Latinx kids.

Feel lonely and disconnected. About four in 10 teens feel "more lonely than usual" right now, nearly the same number as those who say they feel "about as lonely as usual." And, even with texting and social media-which they turn to even more now-they miss close association with friends.

Follow the news. Compared to pre-pandemic times, more kids are going directly to news organizations for information instead of learning about it from friends and family.

It makes sense that tweens would have similar stressors; school, family, friends, and staying informed are also super important for this age group. And those feelings are heightened for kids who are already prone to negative feelings. The few bright spots in the survey offer some ideas for what you can do to support kids' well-being during rough times:

Family is more important than ever. Teens say they feel more connected to their families than usual. You don't have to do anything special. Watch a show, play a game, or take silly photos and decorate them.

Texting and social media are lifesavers. Teens say these activities are helping them get by. If your kids aren't texting or using social media yet, you can let them use your phone to FaceTime with a friend or relative. You can even set up regular times to video-chat with important people in their lives. Keeping these connections is vital.

Talking helps. Teens say they're connecting with family or friends by talking on the phone. Whoever thought that would come back into style?

Feeling anxious is a natural reaction to having your whole life upended for an undetermined period of time. At the same time, we can't underestimate the role of news and social media on our kids' emotional states. A certain amount of Snapchat and Instagram makes kids feel connected, and being informed makes them feel knowledgeable about the world. But when their worlds are reduced to these sources-and it's all corona, all the time-scary feelings can result.

If your family's been healthy, and lucky enough to avoid some of the collateral damage the virus has inflicted, then you're in a unique position to help relieve some of that pressure kids are feeling. You can set the emotional tone, talk to them about their media, and dig into their feelings. Here are ideas that can help:

Create new routines that provide a sense of stability. Schedule regular family movie nights, game tournaments, and video chats with family and friends. Make mealtimes fun to look forward to with themed nights like breakfast for dinner, meals based on puns and songs (the internet has no shortage of ideas), or food that's all one color. Let kids pick ideas and help plan them.

Foster a connection to learning. There's no question that schoolwork is taking a back seat right now. If your kid's classes are continuing, find out whether the school is offering more resources for learning and connecting. Some teachers are holding "office hours" (video chat sessions kids can log into).

Acknowledge loss of important milestones. Kids are missing out on many occasions they were excited about, from graduation ceremonies to dance recitals to birthday parties. These are the things that define a kid's life! Reassure them that this will end at some point, and promise you'll celebrate when it does. Put a date on the calendar for something to look forward to in the future.

Tell kids how you feel, and ask how they're doing. Tell your kids when something on the news makes you mad or sad, and connect your emotion to the specific trigger. You can even narrate your reactions. This gives your kid permission to identify and express emotions, plus the vocabulary to do it. Listen actively. It's natural to want to make your kid feel better, but it's important to just hear them. Say, "You feel sad. I understand."

Look for positives. There may not be a silver lining to every cloud, but try to be optimistic. Say, "A lot of people are acting like heroes to fight the coronavirus." Or, "Let's find ways that we can help." Or, "At times like this, I like to think of what I'm grateful for."

Encourage discussion. Kids are going to pick up a lot of information and misinformation (especially if they're getting their news from YouTube and social media). Ask, "Have you heard anything on the news today?," "What did you hear?," and "What do you think about it?" If you think the information is dubious, say, "Let's verify that by checking other sources."

Set an example by taking news breaks. Model self-care by avoiding news for a while. Explain to kids why it's healthy to just say no for a while. It'll all still be there when you get back. When kids take breaks, ask them how it felt.

Revel in warm-and-fuzzy stuff. Celebrities are doing their part by reading bedtime stories on Instagram (@savewithstories), releasing new music (Daniel Glover and Lin-Manuel Miranda), or just sending some positivity into the world (watch Some Good News by John Krasinski on YouTube). Soak up the good vibes.
Just ... be.
Honestly, all your kids really need from you right now is to be their parent. You don't have to be superhuman. Emotional support goes a really long way toward helping kids feel safe, secure, and loved. School, friends, good news-it'll all come back in time.

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How to Protect Kids' Mental Health During the Pandemic

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Our kids have had to be troopers as we find our way through the pandemic. But as they spend more days in isolation, take in more bad news, and adjust to distance learning, it's clear that life in quarantine is taking its toll. Depression, anxiety, fear-they're not always easy to detect in tweens.

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Parent Guide - Ages 3-12

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Activities and Videos of Performances

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TCT Everywhere - The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

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The nation's oldest professional theatre for young audiences

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Four years ago, I took an eight-week intensive Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at Anne Arundel Community Hospital. The course was approved by and modeled from Jon Kabat-Zinn's incredibly successful program at the University of Massachusetts. I often refer to the wise chapters of Kabat-Zinn's book, Full Catastrophe Living (which we used as a text book). Here are a few of the strategies he offers:

Hold Your Feelings with Awareness

One of the key concepts of mindfulness is bringing awareness to whatever you are experiencing - not pushing it away, ignoring it, or trying to replace it with a more positive experience. This is extraordinarily difficult when you are in the midst of deep pain, but it can also cut the edge off of the suffering.

"Strange as it may sound," explains Kabat-Zinn, "the intentional knowing of your feelings in times of emotional suffering contains in itself the seeds of healing." This is because the awareness itself is independent of your suffering. It exists outside of your pain.

So just as the weather unfolds within the sky, painful emotions happen against the backdrop of our awareness. This means we are no longer a victim of a storm. We are affected by it, yes, but it no longer happens to us. By relating to our pain consciously, and bringing awareness to our emotions, we are engaging with our feelings instead of being a victim to them and the stories we tell ourselves.

Accept What Is

At the heart of much of our suffering is our desire for things to be different than they are.

"If you are mindful as emotional storms occur," writes Kabat-Zinn, "perhaps you will see in yourself an unwillingness to accept things as they already are, whether you like them or not."

You may not be ready to accept things as they are, but knowing that part of your pain stems from the desire for things to be different can help put some space between you and your emotions.

Ride the Wave

One of the most reassuring elements of mindfulness for me is the reminder that nothing is permanent. Even though pain feels as though it is constant or solid at times, it actually ebbs and flows much like the ocean. The intensity fluctuates, comes and goes, and therefore gives us pockets of peace.

"Even these recurring images, thoughts, and feelings have a beginning and an end," explains Kabat-Zinn, "that they are like waves that rise up in the mind and then subside. You may also notice that they are never quite the same. Each time one comes back, it is slightly different, never exactly the same as any pervious wave."

Apply Compassion

Kabat-Zinn compares mindfulness of emotions to that of a loving mother who would be a source of comfort and compassion for her child who was upset. A mother knows that the painful emotions will pass - she is separate to her child's feelings - so she is that awareness that provides peace and perspective. "Sometimes we need to care for ourselves as if that part of us that is suffering is our own child," Kabat-Zinn writes. "Why not show compassion, kindness, and sympathy toward our own being, even as we open fully to our pain?"

Separate Yourself from the Pain

People who have suffered years from chronic illness tend to define themselves by their illnesses. Sometimes their identity is wrapped up in their symptoms. Kabat-Zinn reminds us that the painful feelings, sensations, and thoughts are separate to who we are. "Your awareness of sensations, thoughts, and emotions is different from the sensations, the thoughts, and the emotions themselves," he writes. "That aspect of your being that is aware is not itself in pain or ruled by these thoughts and feelings at all. It knows them, but it itself is free of them."

He cautions us about the tendency to define ourselves as a "chronic pain patient." "Instead," he says, "remind yourself on a regular basis that you are a whole person who happens to have to face and work with a chronic pain condition as intelligently as possible - for the sake of your quality of life and well-being."

Uncouple Your Thoughts, Emotions, and Sensations

Just as the sensations, thoughts, and emotions are separate from my identity, they are separate from each other. We tend to lump them all in together: "I feel anxious" or "I am depressed." However, if we tease them apart, we might realize that a sensation (such as heart palpitations or nausea) we are experiencing is made worse by certain thoughts, and those thoughts feed other emotions.

By holding all three in awareness, we could find that the thoughts are nothing more than untrue narratives that are feeding emotions of fear and panic, and that by associating the thoughts and emotions with the sensation, we are creating more pain for ourselves.

"This phenomenon of uncoupling can give us new degrees of freedom in resting in awareness and holding whatever arises in any or all of these three domains in an entirely different way, and dramatically reduce the suffering experienced," explains Kabat-Zinn.

6 Ways to Use Mindfulness to Ease Difficult Emotions

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Four years ago, I took an eight-week intensive Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at Anne Arundel Community Hospital. The course was approved by and modeled from Jon Kabat-Zinn's incredibly successful program at the University of Massachusetts. I often refer to the wise chapters of Kabat-Zinn's book, Full Catastrophe Living (which we used as a text book).

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Part of our mission is to empower children and adults with social-emotional skills that help them realize their goals in the classroom and throughout their lives. In keeping with that, and in an effort to help educators engage with their students and reinforce the social-emotional skills they're teaching, we've created this Free Classroom Activities Page.

Here you'll find materials that have been developed for preschool through middle school classrooms by our Second Step team of experts. These activities align with the Second Step K-5 Suite-which includes Second Step SEL, the Child Protection Unit, and the Bullying Prevention Unit -and with Mind Yeti for Schools, a mindfulness program designed for elementary-aged students.*

Bookmark this page and share it with your colleagues because we'll be continually adding activities for you to use at your school.

* Mind Yeti is not accepting new users at this time.

Early Learning

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Part of our mission is to empower children and adults with social-emotional skills that help them realize their goals in the classroom and throughout their lives. In keeping with that, and in an effort to help educators engage with their students and reinforce the social-emotional skills they're teaching, we've created this Free Classroom Activities Page.

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Be creative with paper

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If you are a beginner at paper folding and would like to learn how to make origami, then this site is for you! There are some great simple models for you to try, and some harder ones for when you get more confident, as well as all of the favourites: the Crane, Pelican, Lily, Butterfly...
Click Here for Origami Instructions But let's not get ahead of ourselves!
If you're looking for a place to start, then start here: Find some paper! Very simple!

Any paper will do, you can use special origami paper if you like, or ordinary printer paper. Some models work better with origami paper, but most will look just as good with plain paper. And here's a tip: If you have some, use gift wrapping paper.

Gift wrap comes in many thicknesses; so some might not be practical, but if you have some spare gift wrap, give it a try: you can get some beautiful effects from patterned paper, and most types are a little thinner than printer paper, which is a plus when you are learning how to make origami. It makes the folds easier, and the model stays intact better.

So let's get started! First choose a model that you think you would like to make. Below are my recommendations for a starting model...

But before you go anywhere, please read some of these tips for better folding: they will make the folding easier, if you know these few things:

Origami Folding Tips

1. Fold each crease very well. Every crease needs to be flattened quite well for a successful model (unless of course the instructions tell you not to crease it well!) You can reinforce a crease by running the side of your thumbnail along the fold, or even use some sort of tool. I sometimes use the end of a plastic ruler, that works well without damaging the paper.

2. Follow the instructions. Every part of the instructions is important, so read each description carefully, and look at each picture closely. If you miss a piece of information, it could make the model more difficlt than it has to be!

3. Be patient. If you are just learning how to make origami, you have to realize that it is contemplative and relaxed activity, that is, you can't go rushing through the instructions as fast as you can! It won't take long for you to be very good at origami especially with the diagrams on this site, but when you are just starting give yourself a lot of time to work it out.
4. Have fun!
Okay, I'd like you to try one of these models first, and if you find them too easy, well, simply go on to a harder one! On the Origami Instructions page, there is a rating system so you can choose a more difficult model if you need to.

Origami Twirling Bird Origami Triangle Box How to make origami: try folding some other models

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Good snacks

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We all know the feeling - it's mid-morning or a few hours after lunch, and a food craving hits.

It might seem easiest to reach for convenience foods or head to a vending machine, but don't let a sneaky snack attack derail your health and fitness goals. Snacks can be healthy! Nutritious choices can also help you feel energised throughout the whole day.

A little bit of meal prep goes a long way, and there are lots of recipes you can make ahead of time so you've got healthy snacks on-the-go.

Whether you're a sweet tooth or prefer to keep it savoury, I've got you covered. You'll discover some of my favourite easy healthy snack recipes - they're ideal for sharing too!
Find out:
What makes a snack healthy

Snacks are an important part of your daily nutrition - they help provide you with enough fuel to perform at your best.

However, a lot of snacks can be high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, and offer little nutritional value. Don't let your snacks derail your progress towards your health and fitness goals!

It might be helpful to think of your morning snacks as a way to meet your daily nutritional needs - adding an extra serving of fruit, vegetables or grains.

It's also a good idea to try and choose snacks that won't leave you hungry. To feel satiated (or satisfied), you should aim to eat afternoon or mid-morning snacks that have a good mix of macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and good fats.

If you've read my guides, or you follow the weekly meal plans in the Sweat app, it is recommended that you eat six serves of grains per day. A snack of rice cakes with canned tuna, or some toast with blueberries and ricotta will help you reach your daily goal of grain serves!

The best sweet (and healthy) snacks

Homemade Granola Bars

This is also a really simple and quick recipe, but don't let that fool you - these Homemade Granola Bars are SERIOUSLY delicious!

You'll get 9 bars out of each batch, or you can cut them into smaller squares for sharing. They're also a great source of protein, fibre and complex carbohydrates.

Don't forget to leave them in the oven for a few minutes longer if you want some extra CRUNCH!

Mint Choc-Chip Nice Cream

Nice cream is perfect for when you feel like reaching for the ice cream but want a healthier snack option. This nutritious ice cream alternative is made by blending frozen bananas.

Mint Choc Chip is a classic refreshing ice cream flavour pairing, but I know that not everybody loves mint, so I've got plenty more Nice Cream Recipes with flavours like coconut or mango and macadamia.

Chocolate Orange Overnight Oats

Overnight oats aren't just an easy, healthy breakfast, they're a great snack too!

Oats are a really versatile grain - they keep you full, boost your energy and can help keep your cholesterol in check.

There are so many things you can do with oats, but I love this recipe for Chocolate-Orange Overnight Oats.

You can prepare a batch the day before and refrigerate, so they're ready when you're feeling peckish!

Delicious savoury snacks

Falafel Balls with Yoghurt Dip

I often snack on fruit in the morning, but when an afternoon craving hits, I'll usually reach for something savoury, and Falafel Balls with Yoghurt Dip are a favourite!

This classic recipe is perfect for sharing if you like eating Mediterranean-style, and a great option if you're after a healthy snack while you're at work.

Black Bean Hummus

Dips are a great go-to option for me because you can make a big batch and then eat it over the course of the week as a snack or an accompaniment for main meals.

One of my favourite dips is hummus because you can add so many different ingredients to mix up the flavour.

My Black Bean Hummus tastes SO good, and it is absolutely packed with nutrients.

Labneh with Pistachio Zaatar

If you've never tried labneh before, you are SERIOUSLY missing out!

It's a soft cheese made from yoghurt, and it is a really versatile ingredient.

My Labneh with Pistachio Zaatar is an excellent savoury snack if you want to try something different - try it with vegetable sticks, pita bread or as a toast topping.

Snacks if you're on-the-go

Being prepared is the real secret to having healthy snacks whenever you need them.

While there are lots of recipes you can prepare in advance, sometimes it's more practical to keep it simple.

If you're really busy, these are some great on-the-go snacks that require minimal preparation:

Greek yoghurt

Frozen berries (a really refreshing snack in summer!)

Nuts

Seasonal fruits

Canned tuna. It's great as a toast topper, or on its own if you're really short on time.

Vegetables (to cut into vegetable sticks)

Eggs. Hard-boiled eggs are a great snack any time of day!

Chickpeas - try a small serve of chickpeas with dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano and salt and pepper for a quick and tasty snack!

You can always make small portions of leftovers to have as a snack the next day, or to freeze for future use when you're really busy.

Post-workout snacks

Refuelling after training is SO important.

Eating healthy post-workout snacks means your body is getting the energy and nutrients it needs to recover and build muscle.

Make one of these delicious snacks to recharge after completing one of my workouts - you can try a FREE full-body session from High Intensity Zero Equipment with Kayla today!

Watermelon Smoothie

There's nothing more refreshing than watermelon after a workout in summer (it gets SO hot in Australia!) and a cold glass of this Watermelon Smoothie is a great way to beat the heat, rehydrate and recover.

I love summer fruits like watermelon, and this recipe pairs it with strawberries. This smoothie is vegetarian, gluten-free and nut-free.

Vegan Protein Bars

You don't have to go savoury to get an extra serve of protein in your post-workout snack!

These delicious Vegan Protein Bars are a great option if you're a sweet tooth.

They're quick to make, don't require baking and are gluten-free!

You'll never go hungry with these healthy snacks!

Having healthy snacks ready for hectic days is a great way to make sure you stick to your health and fitness goals.

These nutritious snacks will also give you enough fuel to power through the day and get more out of your workouts too - I hope you enjoy them!

I want to hear about your favourite healthy snacks - share them in the comments below!

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We all know the feeling - it's mid-morning or a few hours after lunch, and a food craving hits. It might seem easiest to reach for convenience foods or head to a vending machine, but don't let a sneaky snack attack derail your health and fitness goals. Snacks can be healthy!

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"The MindPeace partnership has considerably increased student access to quality mental health supports, especially for families that experience barriers to accessing treatment. MindPeace has worked tirelessly to establish and improve school mental health teams by collaboratively identifying local needs and unique barriers to treatment, as well as facilitating team problem solving for these issues.

The mental health network, established by MindPeace, has created a much-improved system for easily accessing services. These services have helped to improve school culture, behavior support, and understanding of mental health throughout our district. CPS's partnership with MindPeace has enabled me to perform my role of school psychologist more effectively, as I can easily connect families with ongoing mental health treatment that is part of available supports in each Cincinnati Public School."

Sara Maurer, Lead Psychologist
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Mental Health Access Point (MHAP) exists as the front door to the Hamilton County public mental health system. MHAP, a division of Central Clinic, provides assessment, support, and connections for children and adults residing in Hamilton County who are in need of mental health services.

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Sarah Habib, founder of Mission2Move-a chronic stress prevention program that seeks to improve academic performance and the social and emotional behavior of kids through movement and mindfulness-is sharing a meditation tool for kids to use at home to reduce stress and maintain control.

We will be posting Mission2Move videos every Monday and Friday for parents and kids to use at home to help center themselves during these confusing and uncertain times. If you have a video you would like to share to help #spreadlovenotgerms and #bemindfulnotfearful during this Coronavirus season, reach out in our DMs on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

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Journaling with your kids can be a great way to bond over a shared interest. Some kids love it right away, while others resist. Try these 5 easy tips for journaling with kids. Let the fun begin!

5 Game-Changing Tips for Journaling with Kids

Today, I have a very special post from my oldest son, Blue (not his real name). He's seven years old and has been begging me to put him on the website. As a general rule, I don't put my kids online, but my son was so patient that I had to find a way to include him. So, we put our heads together and decided to help parents and kids embark on journaling together! Aunts, uncles, grandparents and babysitters are also welcome.

1. Let Them Choose

My son really loves his Mead Primary Journal. He'll be going into first grade, so he still needs the red and dotted lines to help him form his letters. He's also a lefty and has trouble with his grip. The best pencils I've found for him are My First Ticonderoga Pencils.

Older kids might prefer to have adult supplies. Unless cost is a concern, you might even let them choose a Leuchtturm1917, Rhodia, or Moleskine notebook. They'll probably take it as a sign of confidence that you are willing to invest in their journaling practice.

Most of these notebooks come in a variety of colors, so they'll be able to choose one that reflects their personality. If a fancy notebook isn't in the cards, make your first journaling adventure all about decorating the cover. You can find inexpensive vinyl decals on Etsy. Putting a personal touch on the journal can help your kids connect with it. This is their personal space to dream, think, and be whatever they want.

You can also look for other kid-friendly supplies like crayons, stamps, and erasable colored pencils.

2. Share Your Supplies

While it's important for children to have their own journals, you probably won't want to buy them too many supplies. My son likes to use my "special supplies." Ordinarily, I don't like sharing my toys. Each time he asks, I have to release my white-knuckle grip on my favorite pens, take two deep breaths and tell myself, "It will be ok." I have to live with some cross-inking on my color box stamp pad, but hey, it's worth it.

Kids know it's a treat to use these supplies. They'll look forward to your journaling sessions together if they feel they get special privileges. Plus, if you're like me, you love your supplies enough you'll want to supervise. My son asks for my stamps, but what he's really asking is for me to spend time with him. You bet, lil' bud!

3. Respect Their Journaling Style

It's tempting to prompt your kids in their journaling (and school, and sports, and life, and everything). Goals, daily to-do lists, dreams, self-discovery...those are your journaling topics. Let your kids journal their way. They might draw something fictional and describe it. Maybe they'll simply draw. Or scribble.

Encourage them in whatever style they seem to enjoy. Older kids might want you to stay out of it completely; that's ok, too. Maybe they'll benefit more from solo journaling. Just because you're not pouring over spreads together doesn't mean you can't bond through a mutual interest.

4. Make a Mess

Perfectionists, I'm looking at you! (and me). If you're particular about your own journal, you may have to sit on your hands to keep from interfering with your kids. Does it matter if they write the wrong date or misspell everything? Those childhood errors are a huge part of what gives kid journals their charm; you'll look back at these little notebooks and cherish each little quirk.

Plus, kids love messes! Let them go a little wild and explore their creativity. We rarely encourage our kids to be untidy, but that freedom can light a fire in them. "Messy Journaling" will probably become their favorite part of the week.

5. Emphasize Your Time Together

When all is said and done, I don't care what kind of journal pages my son produces. Who am I kidding? I think everything he makes is dipped in miracle oil and dusted with sunshine. I'll save anything he makes.

What matters to me is that we spent time together. We created, laughed, and learned together.

Blue's Journaling Tips for Kids:

I already mentioned that I don't normally let my kids appear on the website. Since he finally has a chance, Blue asked if he could pass along his journaling wisdom. So, here are some (verbatim) tips from my very wise 6 -oops!- I mean, 7-year-old...

Think of a plan for what it should look like at the end.

Get all the colors you need.

Make sure you know what to write about.

Ask for help with spelling.

Make the outline of your drawing.

Color your picture.

Put on the finishing touches.

Make sure you didn't forget anything.

Put the date on the paper.

Remember to put your name on it.

It's okay if you make a mistake.

You can always remake it on a new page if you need to.

Have fun!

Have you tried journaling with your kids (or nieces/nephews/grandkids/step-kids, etc.)? Comment below to share your tips for encouraging happy journaling.
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5 Game-Changing Tips for Journaling with Kids | Page Flutter

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Journaling with your kids can be a great way to bond over a shared interest. Some kids love it right away, while others resist. Try these 5 easy tips for journaling with kids. Let the fun begin! Today, I have a very special post from my oldest son, Blue (not his real name).

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Journaling for kids isn't just about writing what you did yesterday.
One of the kindest things you can do for your children in homeschooling is to show them that journals can be for self-exploration and freedom of expression.
There are some wonderful benefits to journaling that apply to both adults and children. Let's take a look at what they are - and how to get started with your own journaling project.

Keeping a journal doesn't necessarily mean just writing about things that happened to you - that's more of a kids diary.

Instead you can write about your thoughts and feelings, or work through a problem you may be having.

So what are the benefits of Journaling, and how should you get started with your children?

I got into journaling (although I had always journaled a little) after reading The Artists Way by Julia Cameron.

She advocates the use of morning pages - 3 pages to be written every morning. About absolutely anything that comes into your head. A lot comes into my head (most of it rubbish!) and I enjoyed having an outlet for it.

But it isn't easy to write with 2 toddlers 'helping'! So I bought them journals too - and that began a rewarding journey for us.

Of course, at first the children couldn't write (in any legible way!) - I supplied them with a large tub of stickers, pens and glitter sticks.

Sometimes we would paint or cut and paste straight into the books, or take them to the zoo with us to draw pictures of the animals (we still do that!!). I love to look back on those early journals - I think some of their little drawings may have been lost (or thrown out!) it they had been on separate pieces of paper, but in a little book they are a treasure.

'Free writing' whatever comes into your head has long been recognised as bringing great benefits to adults - and children can have all those same benefits too.

Journaling for kids is a wonderful way to open up new horizons. A journal can be a friend, a confidant and a mentor.

You can use them to be creative, find out more about yourself, develop intuition and solve problems. By getting thoughts out of your head and down on paper, you can gain insights about yourself that you'd otherwise never see.

Journaling is a way to process and think things through very effectively - helping you to make decisions. It strengthens your sense of self and helps your realise your potential. It is a great way of clarifying goals and learning to trust yourself. And it gives your child a safe place to play around with their creativity and writing capabliities.

For me, journaling keeps me grounded and focused. Or even more theraputic - it gives me a place to have a really good moan!

For my children, it gives them a way to explore who they are now, and who they want to be.

Teaching children how to journal can be one of the greatest gifts they ever recieve. Those empty blank pages can become a tool that will stand by your child in their darkest moments - and cheer them on during their triumphs.

One of the easiest ways to introduce children to journaling is to begin yourself. When they see you scribbling away in a lovely blank notebook they are almost guaranteed to want one for themselves!

Encourage them straight away to use their journal as an expression of who they are, with felt pens, glitter sticks and a box of stickers. Help them to see a journal as a place where they can draw, glue and paste, write freely or just make lists. This 'no rules' approach will help them get the most benefits. Let them use it as a place to write (or draw) memories, storys, wish lists, ideas and musings.

I think children are naturally good at this anyway - so you only need to encourage this absence of rules!

Here are some top tips;

Keep it fun. Keeping a journal should be a fun and enjoyable activity. It isn't something we feel we 'have' to do every day. Take your journal out and about with you for when you feel you have something to say.

Get nice pens. Seriously. Biro's just don't write nicely. They are hard to push around the page and make your hand ache. Go to a stationery shop and let your children try out all the pens (we like gel pens). Then buy them a nice one.

Try out different books. My children have become extremly fond of certain types of notebooks (bound, no lines, hard-cover!). We have tried larger and smaller journals, spiral bound, thin paper. There is a lot of choice in notebooks, so let your children experiment.

Keep it private. To really get the benefit of journaling for kids, your children need to feel comfortable that they can write freely. If you think you won't be able to resist the temptation, then buy them a cash box with a lock to keep it in.

Journal for yourself - If you want your children to journal, then the best way to encourage them is to write (or draw in) one yourself. This would be a great activity to try if you have homeschool burnout. Journal to the Self by Kathleen Adams, is filled with ideas of journals to keep, and different ways of journaling. She believes journaling is a therapy and a way to achieve greater self-awareness. A very interesting read.

Now, the children use lots of journals for different things - holiday journals, book reviews, general drawing and painting, nature journals - there are so many ways of using journaling as writing projects for kids.

I hope they keep up the habit of keeping a journal as they get older. They have both recently set up their own blogs and enjoy uploading photographs of their artwork, but I still think there is something very wonderful about thinking with a pen in your hand!

As your children get older you may like to introduce them to 'journaling tools' to help expand their writing awareness.

For example, one idea we have used was to make a list of 13 topics to cover (one topic a week, covered four times a year). We used each weeks topic as a 'theme' for journaling that particular week. So one week we may have the topic 'family' and another week 'dreams and goals' or 'kindness'. We ponder that weeks theme during our writing.

Another great way to explore journaling for kids is through journal writing prompts. These are questions or pictures that will 'prompt' them into writing about something new and different. Pictures especially can evoke quite strong emotions, and this is a great place to start in exploring your feelings about things.

If your children are visual, then why not try 'visual' or 'art' journaling. How can I do this justice in words? Here are some pictures!

Journal writing books for children- I have recommended some books on my Journal Books for Homeschooling page. These would be great to use for finding writing prompts.

Homeschooling Ideas Daybook - another one of my creative writing activities for kids is an Ideas Daybook. Keep a track of all your study ideas and other creative notes.

Poetry - a great way to develop language skills and creativity would be to keep a poetry journal. Either copy your favourite verses, or write your own. Getting the children to illustrate a short verse on each page would create a wonderful keepsake.

Making books with children - free projects on bookmaking. Her blog is here and has lots of journaling ideas.

Famous journals - have a look at the Online notebooks of Blake and Leonardo da Vinci (among others). Very inspiring.

I hope I have inspired you to give journaling for kids a try.

Homeschooling Encouragement

I will finish with a story. One day my daughter showed me some scribble writing she had made in her journal. "Wonderful" I said, "What does it say?" "How would I know?" she said puzzled, "I can't read yet!!"

› Journaling for Kids

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Journaling for Kids - Journal ideas for children

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Journaling for kids isn't just about writing what you did yesterday. One of the kindest things you can do for your children in homeschooling is to show them that journals can be for self-exploration and freedom of expression. There are some wonderful benefits to journaling that apply to both adults and children.

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Meditation and mindfulness are great practices for kids. They can help children adapt to stress, anxiety, and other frustrating situations. But many kids need help focusing and calming their mind. Guided meditations are great to help your kids with their mindfulness practice, however, you can't quite sit them down with a meditation written for adults and expect success. Fortunately, there are plenty of guide meditation videos for kids available. These videos treat meditation like a story or otherwise design the guided imagery to keep your children engaged. These meditation videos for kids are perfect to help your child relax before bed or nap time or just to teach them the principals of meditation and mindfulness. Check out our recommendations below.

Balloon Guided Meditation for Kids

This 6 minute guide relaxation for kids from Peace Out features the gentle voice of Jamie paired with cheerful illustrations. Jaime is great at taking the principles of mindfulness and guided relaxation and making it accessible for kids. This meditation features a red balloon that takes the kids on a flying trip through a beautiful countryside.

Their meditation videos for kids are perfect for a quick morning or afternoon meditation session.

Breath Meditation for Kids

If your child is an older kid or you're looking to introduce your son or daughter to more traditional guided meditations, this 5 minute video from the Meditation Channel is great. This meditation focuses on the breath, teaching your child to turn their attention inward and creating good habits for future meditation. While this video doesn't feature fancy music, it's very accessible for children and allows them to really focus on their breath.

Guided Gratitude Meditation for Kid's

This guided meditation video for kids is a story that focuses on gratitude. This story is less of a traditional meditation, but instead a relaxing story that teaches children about being grateful for what they have or who they are. It does guide your child to breath in and repeat gratitude mantras. At 20 minutes long, this video can be listened to at any time of day, but it's particularly good for bedtime. Cory's voice is very relaxing and can help lull your child to sleep.

The Butterfly Meditation for Kids

Here's another guided meditation great for elementary school aged kids. Breethe offers a variety of guided meditation videos for all ages and even has an iOS app. This meditation starts out with a focus on the breath and continues with the visualization of a butterfly to guide your child through a body scan meditation. At 7 minutes long, this meditation is great for any time of day.

Forcefield of Protection Guided Meditation for Children

New Horizon makes a ton of meditations specifically for kids. From story meditation to relaxation exercises to help with stress and anxiety, they offer something for every child. This meditation is for the Forcefield of Protection, which is great for nervous or anxious children. In visualizing a protective forcefield of light, it helps give kids confidence to deal with tricky situations that make them nervous.

If you enjoy this guided meditation or prefer to listen to MP3 you can purchase their guided meditations for kids on Amazon or iTunes.

Save on Pinterest

Looking for more ways to teach your children about meditation? Check out these DIY meditation jars.

Help your children practice mindfulness with yoga by using these yoga DVDs for kids.

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5 Best Meditation Videos for Kids - Awake & Mindful

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Teach your children mindfulness and help them deal with negative emotions like nervousness, stress, and anxiety, with guided meditation videos for kids. These guided meditations and relaxation exercises are specifically designed for children. Stories and breathing exercises help them calm their minds and learn tools to apply to everyday life.

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8 Videos to teach and practice mindfulness with kids

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It's good for kids, and adults, and it's quickly become a new catchphrase and a popular teaching strategy to incorporate into all classrooms and settings.

Mindfulness is gaining some good research, too, on how it can be important for kids' cognition and stress reduction.
Check out this 2018 article from the Harvard Gazette on the science of mindfulness. I teach mindfulness to my students as often as I can during the day.
Mindfulness can be taught to kids in many ways. It works well in a whole class setting (with partners!) , small break out groups, and even with kids and students one on one.
I've especially noticed the benefits of how to help calm a child who is upset or anxious. Here's how I start teaching mindfulness to my students, ages Kindergarten through 6th grade! Breathing techniques explained as well:
The important thing to do before (or after) playing a mindfulness video or doing any mindfulness activities, is to teach your kiddos WHY it's important.

You need a little bit of investment in the WHY in order to really get kids interested.
In kid-friendly language:

Mindfulness helps us learn to recognize how we are feeling, and not react to it.

Which means it can help us calm down more quickly, or stay calm during tricky times.

It also gives our mind a little "break" when it is full of stuff, and can help us relax.

This mind break then gives our brain a little more "space" so that we can fill it up with things that are important.

Mindfulness is NOT emptying your mind of all thoughts, it's more like letting go of the ones that we don't need.

( Check out this amazing tool for teaching the difference between craziness and stillness)

Mindfulness is like a little mini vacation for your brain.

It's a little break to give your thoughts a chance to rest, so you can let new ones in for more learning later. Mindfulness also gives you some more space in your brain so you can help figure out your emotions and feel calm.

If you choose to show any videos to your kids or class, set them up for success by letting them choose a comfortable way to sit. Maybe lead them through a couple gentle stretches, use a Hoberman Sphere to help them breathe deeply, and then help them find stillness.
Take deep breaths try to let your body be still.
I also prep them for a mindfulness session by saying something like this,

"Reach up to the sky, interlace your fingers, then flip your palms up to the ceiling. Stretch to one side, now the other side... then reach your arms out to the side and sparkle glitter down to the floor... now hands on your hips and twist one way, then the other... hands on your ears, rub your ears... hands on your head, hands in front of you, fold your hands one way. Now, switch your fingers and put your opposite thumb on top... switch back.... press each finger in the back of your other hand one at a time... and now gently place your hands in your lap or on your knees. Back straight and tall, eyes up."
That whole dialogue technically leads them through a mini mindfulness session, because it forces them to focus on your specific directions and think only about their hand positioning (ideally). So, it's a good warmup to the video, or could be done on its own.
Get more tips and advice on how to start teaching kids mindfulness with this video:

I've seen and looked through lots of videos on YouTube to teach mindfulness and attention focusing techniques to kiddos. There are some amazing ones and a few that aren't that great.

Here are my favorite mindfulness videos that work well for kids ages 5-10 (and older, too!).

The videos below are listed, in my opinion, in order of age appropriateness, starting with the younger ones. Read the descriptions to figure out which one would be best for your setting and situation!

A breath-focused video by a cute British owl. Best for younger kids.

A good introduction about the reasons for mindful breathing and why mindfulness is a good tool in many situations.

About 1 minute of actual mindful breathing, but still a nice way to focus in.

This is a good video in the Cosmic Kid's Zen Den video series. Jamie leads you through about 6 minutes of a mindful practice, including the preparation and actual mindful listening.

She does talk to the audience in a way that makes kids want to respond out loud so keep that in mind if you choose this one.

I find it's better for kids ages 4-7, though it is on the long side for holding attention in a group.

A beautiful 2-minute affirmation song for listening to and breathing along with.

I tell my kids to breathe in as the colors appear, and breathe out as they start to disappear. It works pretty well with the rhythm of the song.

Go Zen Online has some other good videos for kids ages 7 and up, some of them would work well for middle school kids, too.

A good 4-minute breathing video that leads kids through physically tracing the rainbow with their arms in a slow and visually appealing video.

Go Noodle's flow videos are all good for calming down, and many of them use mindful practices like this one. It's a little slower and harder to maintain slow movement for some younger kids. Kids can sit or stand for this one.

This a longer mindfulness meditation for kids, this one works well for kids ages 7+ or once they've done a little bit of practice with mindfulness already.

Meet me and see how I teach!

Great for dealing with anxiety, we talk through listening mindfulness, noticing our breath, and noticing how our body feels.

A great introduction to the importance of using breath to help calm our big feelings. It doesn't walk them through any exercises but is a calming video in itself.

Told by kids themselves, it's very powerful and shares a little about why mindfulness is important, how it helps them, and what it feels like. A beautiful video by Mindful Schools.

A true guided meditation, this 5-minute video is a nice way to help kids focus mindfully on the space around them, their bodies, and their emotions.

Prep the kids to sit comfortably and listen the whole time (answer any questions IN your head not out loud). They can close their eyes or keep them open to watch the pictures on the screen.

Another song video, this video is a repetition of "Mmmm's and oooooo's" telling you to breathe in and out with the music and visuals. It's 4-minutes long, and I bet you could use it to fall asleep if you wanted.

The breathing instructions and music are very soothing and get the job of mindful breathing done! Make sure to prep the kids so they know to sit comfortable and are ready to breathe in and out through their nose (otherwise it gets loud really quickly).

A short video just for breathing, though this one has no music.

Again, prep your kiddos so they know to breathe in and out through their nose: in as the shapes expand, and out as they collapse.

I personally love the image of the shapes growing and shrinking, and I think this works better for older kids who have had some experience with mindful breathing already.

Well, those are my favorite mindful videos that I have found out there so far!

Of these, the channels that have even more to offer are Cosmic Kids Yoga, GoZenOnline!, and Go Noodle.

Cosmic Kids and Go Noodle have other active movement and yoga videos too (I use them ALL THE TIME for quick breaks with kids when I am out of energy myself). Check those out and let me know what you think!

Also, subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more mindfulness meditation videos for kids, plus yoga stories for kids too!

Don't forget to take a look at how I start teaching these techniques to kids in this video here:

What else do you use to help teach mindfulness to kids?
Thanks for being here, let me know what else you need! (post updated January 2020)

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Mindfulness for Kids: 8 Amazing Videos to Teach Kids Mindfulness

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It's good for kids, and adults, and it's quickly become a new catchphrase and a popular teaching strategy to incorporate into all classrooms and settings. Mindfulness is gaining some good research, too, on how it can be important for kids' cognition and stress reduction.

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Meditation - 12 minutes

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New Horizon - Meditation & Sleep Stories

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Guided Meditation for Children | THE GRATITUDE TREE | Kids Meditation for Happiness

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Self care has become an expected phrase in everyday conversation and for good reason: Our lives are becoming even more busy and complicated by screens and social media, and bogged down by a lot of work responsibilities. Because of that, has become more and more important. But what about our kids? As we think about the impacts of screen time on our adult lives, it's important to consider the effects of screen time on children . Additionally, as we become more busy, there's a natural impact that those cluttered schedules have on our kids. That's why it's also important to teach your children about self care and how they can create healthy habits that will see them into adulthood.

Explaining Self Care to Kids

Self care is just as important as academics for growing, developing kids. When taught correctly, self care will help kids identify their physical needs and begin to take care of them, before emotions can ever get in the way.

Oftentimes when parents are in a hurry (and if they're a parent, they likely are), they do tasks a child. When this happens, children aren't taught to think independently, problem solve or assess what their needs are.

So, if a child comes to you and asks for help, first ask yourself if this is a task they can realistically accomplish on their own. If it is, encourage them to tackle it first on their own by saying:
I believe in you and that you can do this by yourself. I'll be here if you get stuck, but try it first on your own.
Here are ways to put that into practice.

Teach Kids to Take Care of Their Bodies

One of the most important aspects of self care is taking care of your physical health. The same applies for children. There are a lot of ways to encourage healthy habits for children, such as:

Exercising in fun ways like playing in the park or playing catch

Deep breathing, going for a long walk or doing stretches together

There are also smaller tasks that a child can accomplish on their own that will make them feel empowered to take care of their bodies, like:

Teach Kids About Fun That Isn't on a Screen

Yes, kids their cartoons, super heroes or favorite video game. But the truth is, kids can start to rely on what's on the screen as their central source of entertainment. This could negatively impact their happiness and stress levels in the long run.

It's important to teach kids how to have fun away from a screen. Take a few ideas from these activities that teach kids about self care:

Develop a Healthy Family Routine

Routine is incredibly important for developing children. They give kids a sense of security, and having tasks or events they can predict throughout the day will limit anxiety and make day-to-day transitions easier.

As you look for ways to teach your children about self care, look for ways to develop a healthy family routine. Build in a "slow down" time into each day. The slow down time can be a time where the family is device-free, where the TV isn't on and everyone is either reading a book, drawing, playing a quiet game or practicing meditation. These calm activities can help wire a child's brain for mindfulness.

Even creating structure around meal times can dramatically help your child understand the importance of giving themselves time for healthy essentials. Have a set time for , lunch and dinner, and work to keep those meals as distraction free as possible.

Find What Works for You and Your Family

Every child and family unit is different. While there's no exact formula for self care for you or your child, it's important to start having conversations about the best ways your child can take care of their mental and physical health. If you're able to help them create those habits now, they'll be more inclined to stick with those habits when they're adults.

As always, we're here to help. If you want to talk with our pediatrician about ways to teach your children about self care, simply call for an appointment.

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How to Teach Your Children About Self Care - Community Access Network

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As we become more busy, there's a natural impact that those cluttered schedules have on our kids. That's why it's also important to teach your children about self care and how they can create healthy habits that will see them into adulthood.

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If you build it...

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Play Line Rider for free! Line Rider is a classic sandbox game where you draw a track for the sledder to ride on. Simple concept, endless possibilities, oddly addicting!

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Virtual Tours

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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

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The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. Visitors can also access select collections and research areas at our satellite support and research stations as well as past exhibits no longer on display.

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Flying: Relaxing Sleep Music for Meditation, Stress Relief & Relaxation by Peder B. Helland

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Print and Color

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Crafting and Colouring - Van Gogh Museum

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Have fun with free colouring pages of famous Van Gogh masterpieces

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Song Maker, an experiment in Chrome Music Lab, is a simple way for anyone to make and share a song.

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Welcome to The Story Generator, a fun way to create funny stories from words you supply!

Simply add the words you want to use in the boxes below, select the type of story you want, click the button at the bottom of the page and we will do the rest! It's like magic, only with lots of coding in the background!

Let's get some words!

The Story Generator is copyright ©2014 Zoë Kirk-Robinson. Template stories used in The Story Generator are the copyright of their respective authors. All rights reserved.

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Welcome to The Story Generator, a fun way to create funny stories from words you supply! Simply add the words you want to use in the boxes below, select the type of story you want, click the button at the bottom of the page and we will do the rest!

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Young learners can explore the subjects of art, history, science, archaeology, and more through children's museums that offer a virtual window into real-time curiosities via webcams, live streams, computer-generated tours, and 360-degree photographs. (By the way, for adults, plenty of world-class art museums have created similar virtual offerings.)

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10 Children's Museums You Can Visit Virtually

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Young learners can explore the subjects of art, history, science, archaeology, and more through children's museums that offer a virtual window into real-time curiosities via webcams, live streams, computer-generated tours, and 360-degree photographs. (By the way, for adults, plenty of world-class art museums have created similar virtual offerings.)

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14 Easy Recipes For Cooking With Kids

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Discover ancient people and places with facts, games and activities.

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Enter the world of history for kids. Discover ancient people and places, and fascinating facts with our selection of games and activities.

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Press play on podcasts: Whether you're new to podcasts or looking for something fresh to add to your queue, our (screen-free!) picks keep kids of all ages listening and learning.

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Here you can paint in color by numbers coloring books online, right from your web browser. Every picture is available in three modes: easy, difficult, and numberless. Besides, it's impossible to color the coloring books incorrectly. For example, you cannot color an element with color number 4 if it is marked with the number 2. And if you try, you will see a hint telling you which color you should choose. Children really like this and it helps them remember numbers. If you don't like the designated colors, you can change them to your own.

Testimonials

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A Mama's Two Cents Worth...

"Color It By Numbers is great for any preschool age child who is learning either their numbers or colors. It is also great for older children who enjoy the creative aspect of choosing their own colors and using their imagination."

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Here you can paint in color by numbers coloring books online, right from your web browser. Every picture is available in three modes: easy, difficult, and numberless. Besides, it's impossible to color the coloring books incorrectly. For example, you cannot color an element with color number 4 if it is marked with the number 2.

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Here you can paint in color by numbers coloring books online, right from your web browser. Every picture is available in three modes: easy, difficult, and numberless. Besides, it's impossible to color the coloring books incorrectly. For example, you cannot color an element with color number 4 if it is marked with the number 2. And if you try, you will see a hint telling you which color you should choose. Children really like this and it helps them remember numbers. If you don't like the designated colors, you can change them to your own.

Testimonials

"I thought this program would be too simple to entertain my daughter. Surprisingly, though, she said, "It's fun!" She enjoyed mixing her own colors and playing around with different combinations. I love the fact that this isn't some mind-numbing time waster but instead a way for her to explore color and art."

"What I really liked was the fact that if a wrong colour was chosen the paint tube of the correct number/ colour would jump until you chose it. It was very easy to use and user friendly."

A Mama's Two Cents Worth...

"Color It By Numbers is great for any preschool age child who is learning either their numbers or colors. It is also great for older children who enjoy the creative aspect of choosing their own colors and using their imagination."

If you've enjoyed our site, please share it with your friends.

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Here you can paint in color by numbers coloring books online, right from your web browser. Every picture is available in three modes: easy, difficult, and numberless. Besides, it's impossible to color the coloring books incorrectly. For example, you cannot color an element with color number 4 if it is marked with the number 2.

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Toddlers to Tweens

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felHere is a select, yet giant list of indoor activities for kids and projects that I have posted. ( I will be adding to this list as I write new posts.) Although I have sorted them by category, categories are not mutually exclusive. An Artsy activity can easily filed under Motor Skills, or a Geometry activity under Science.

Nearly all are free or super-cheap, can be easily set-up ( a few are more complicated) and many, depending on the age of your child, do not necessarily require intense parental involvement ( Hurrah!). Of course, engaging in the activity with your child is never discouraged.

Have fun and to let me know which ones are your favorites!

Arts and Crafts Indoor Activities for Kids

I've separated these indoor art activities by general age range, but there is a lot of cross-over, of course! Start out by exploring our Art Supply List.
Best for toddlers: Best for preschoolers: Ages 5 and up:

Science Indoor Activities for Kids

Most of these ideas are easily adapted for preschool aged children on up, and a few are even suitable for toddlers. Older children can extend scientific exploration by recording and comparing observed results. Younger children's natural curiosity will benefit from simple free play.

Gardening Indoor Activities for Kids

Teach science through gardening! Yes, you can garden indoors.

Beansprouts
Paperwhites and Book
Planting Paperwhites (full tutorial)
Indoor Root Vegetable Garden
Plant Misting
Regrowing vegetable scraps
Indoor plant race with pantry items

Literacy Indoor Activities for Kids

The best activity you can do to encourage literacy learning is to read aloud to your kids. You'll find more than 100 themed book lists in our book lists index - books for every interest! Use these simple literacy play ideas to have fun learning with your kids.

Free play is so important! Allow plenty of time everyday for kids to explore their world on their own terms. These simple pretend play, games and free play ideas act as prompts to get kids busy playing - the real "work" of childhood.

Pretend Play

Games and Free Play

Motor Skills and Sensory Indoor Activities for Kids

Water Indoor Activities for Kids

Kids LOVE to play with water! It's also a great sensory activity. Don't be afraid to play with water indoors. Grab a few towels and you're all set.

Number and Math Indoor Activities for Kids

My kids LOVE math! Never say "I'm not good at math to your kids!" Instead, instill an early love of mathematics with these ideas.
Best for toddlers and preschoolers: Best for ages 5 and up:
More Indoor Activities Ideas

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Giant List of Indoor Activities for Kids

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felHere is a select, yet giant list of indoor activities for kids and projects that I have posted. (I will be adding to this list as I write new posts.) Although I have sorted them by category, categories are not mutually exclusive. An Artsy activity can easily filed under Motor Skills, or a Geometry activity under Science.

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Gecko and Blippi - Learning Videos for Kids

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Welcome to our free home programming. We're here to help during this difficult time, so please help yourself to any and everything that we have. And, if there's anything else we can do or if you want to learn more or just reach out to us, use the CONNECT button at the top and we would love to hear from you.

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Welcome to our free home programming. We're here to help during this difficult time, so please help yourself to any and everything that we have. And, if there's anything else we can do or if you want to learn more or just reach out to us, use the CONNECT button at the top and we would ...

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360° Underwater National Park | National Geographic

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Try These Mindfulness Videos For Kids-They're Free!

How to Get Started

1. Start by picking a program

The programs are designed to teach kids how to quiet their minds, find calm when challenged, mute negativity, gain focus & learn more easily.

2. Choose a video

Each program contains themed of videos that can be played in any order you like or in the order provided, starting with the first.

3. Get the kids ready and press play

Kids can do these videos deskside or on a communal rug. Play these videos anytime you want to see a shift in focus in your classroom.

4. Watch the kids change

When kids move or meditate their whole mindset changes for the better, both immediately and over time as they gain mindfulness skills!

Special thanks to our partner, Scholastic, for connecting us to schools and classrooms!

Jumpstart Mindfulness With One of These Videos

Find flexibility & stability by working both sides of the body

A simple breathing exercise to help kids slow down & shake off stress

Kids learn how to respond instead of react in this visualization exercise

About Alo Gives

Alo Yoga's nonprofit Alo Gives is dedicated to bringing movement and mindfulness to kids of all ages-this is Alo's mission, our reason for being, to bring yoga to the world.

What is Alo Gives?

Free, Scholastic-approved videos designed to be used in classrooms or at home to help introduce kids to the skills necessary to calm their minds and bodies, mute negativity and promote learning. You'll find fun, inspiring yoga and mindfulness programs containing 5-minute videos as well as creative, thought-provoking printable worksheets.

Who is Alo Gives for?

Giving children of any age the skills to move and breathe helps them learn to confront challenge, amplify the positive, and be present, calm and clear-headed and in the midst of challenge, fear or frustration.

What are the benefits of using Alo Gives?

These are powerful life-altering skills, which is why we are so passionate about sharing them with the leaders of tomorrow. Feel free to start at the beginning of a program and work through it or pick any video that's inspiring in the moment. We can't wait to move and meditate with you!

Testimonials

A little bit of mindfulness goes a long way - just ask an educator. Here's what teachers (and kids!) had to say about the impact of Alo Gives in their classrooms.

"This program has really changed the way my students interact with each other and those around them."

"Yoga is a great tool to help students relieve stress and be relaxed."

"Kids need to do well in heart, body and mind before learning can begin. Thank you for sharing these!"

"I like the ease of the program's use...you can really fit the lesson into your instructional time."

"I know once I begin using it, it will help my students focus and learn calming techniques."

To Top

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Try these mindfulness videos for kids! The programs are designed to teach kids how to quiet their minds, find calm when challenged, mute negativity, gain focus & learn more easily.

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Michael is an enthusiastic learner. He is 16 years old, and he lives in Singapore with his family. He has been homeschooled since 10 years ago. He joined Galileo in June 2019.

He is passionate about computer science, technology and has chosen to cover the contents of a typical US/Canadian 10th grade year.

He is motivated to improve his language fluency in French and Spanish and is also exploring several different future career opportunities in business. He is especially captivated by economics.

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Galileo - Online Self-Directed Global School

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Michael is an enthusiastic learner. He is 16 years old, and he lives in Singapore with his family. He has been homeschooled since 10 years ago. He joined Galileo in June 2019. He is passionate about computer science, technology and has chosen to cover the contents of a typical US/Canadian 10th grade year.

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Please follow this link to view Mrs Brown's shared Google Drive

This is the actual google drive that I work from, and it is constantly changing and growing. There may occasionally be school specific info, or important dates, embedded within a lesson. Feel free to duplicate the lessons, and edit them within your own google drive. Please reach out if you have any questions!

amy@mrsbrown.art

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Mrs. Brown * Art ® - Shared Google Drive

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Please follow this link to view Mrs Brown's shared Google Drive This is the actual google drive that I work from, and it is constantly changing and growing. There may occasionally be school specific info, or important dates, embedded within a lesson. Feel free to duplicate the lessons, and edit them within your own google drive.

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If you're stuck indoors for whatever reason, try these educational activities to crack boredom.

Disclaimer: Some of the following links are affiliate links. I make a small commission from some of the links on this site. You can read my full disclosure here.

75+ Educational Activities for When You're Stuck Indoors
1. Watch historical movies (check out my lists for kids and teens)
Sign up for Curiosity Stream, which is like an educational Netflix, for only $2.99/month or a yearlong membership for only $20. They have so many great programs!
2. Play a board game (Life and Disney Monopoly are favorites) 3. Build famous landmarks from LEGOs 4. Learn about the basics of music theory with these apps 5. Create a song/rhyme/poem/rap/TikTok of what you're currently learning about in school 6. Make your own Apples to Apples 8. Learn about the phases of the moon with Oreos 9. Create a marble run 10. Re-enact a famous historical event 11. Make your own board game 13. Create your own podcast 14. Make a food common in a foreign country 16. Create interactive notebooks 17. Try educational games 18. Build a fort 19. Trade video games/movies with a friend 20. Have a math scavenger hunt around your home (you can use it with newspapers or magazines) 23. Put together a puzzle 24. Start learning a foreign language (my Spanish learning journey) 25. Make a ninja warrior course 26. Try drawing with this 30 day challenge 28. Have a photoshoot. Edit photos. 29. Make a shadow box 30. Make edible play dough 31. Make a music video. Edit it. 32. Build a website (here's how I started my website when I was 14) 33. Read historical books 34. Learn secret spy codes 35. Try cup stacking 36. Watch these cool science movies/documentaries 37. Try Jenga with random objects 38. Look at ads from different historical time periods (sorted by category) 39. Make golden ticket cookies, then watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! 40. Start coding 41. Make a kindness tree 42. Make an obstacle course 43. Cook or bake 44. Try these faith-based object lessons 45. Make a stop motion video 46. Get creative with sight words and handwriting 47. Have a coloring contest 48. Try bowling at home 49. Create your own escape room 50. Make constellation maps 51. Try these free educational online games/activities Please note: These are just websites I have used in the past or have had them recommended to me. Some may have memberships or free trial periods. Learn in Color is not affiliated with any of them. If you have problems with the below sites, please contact the individual site. 52. Have a blindfolded candy taste test
Blindfold the kiddos and have them guess the candy flavor, chip, soda, or candy bar!
53. Learn Braille 54. Try these free 14 day challenges for cooking, photography, drawing, and more
FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

These experiments are fun, easy, and don't require too many items.
55. Make magic milk 56. Make fluffy slime 57. Create color changing flowers 58. Learn about vortexes (with glitter) 59. Learn about the electrolysis of water 60. Try the elephant toothpaste experiment 61. Learn about sound by creating a DIY phone speaker 62. Learn about the layers of the ocean 63. Make a heart pump model 65. Create a rain cloud in a jar 66. Make a classic baking soda volcano 67. Make a tornado in a bottle 68. Try this How well do you wash your hands? experiment
For Tweens and Teens
69. Play Scrabble, Life, chess, or Monopoly 70. Learn a new skill 71. Try magic tricks 72. Learn the alphabet in sign language 73. Binge watch a new show These are some of my favorite YouTube series which are both entertaining and educational. They're overall clean, perhaps some bleeped out language, but they're very interesting! 74. Wired's "One Concept at Five Levels" is also interesting. They have a neuroscientist, musician, physicist, and more. 75. CrashCourse's channel has fun and entertaining videos that are 10-15 minute "crash courses" on topics. 76. Watch the most-watched Ted Talks (they're great!) 77. Wired has a series of fun videos where experts break down clips from famous movies, like a lawyer watching courtroom scenes, a forensic examiner watching crime clips, a pro chef watching cooking scenes, or Bear Grylls watching survival scenes. 78. Learn how to budget If you're struggling with helping your students in grades 4-8 understand terms, I created these cheat sheets to help break concepts down in a visually beautiful way.
The "cheat sheets" concept began with colored pens in my notebook in elementary school! 🙂

Samantha is an entrepreneur and a former homeschool student from Indiana, USA. When not blogging, Samantha can be found reading about WWII, trying to speak Hebrew, and wasting time on Pinterest. Her work can be found on Free Homeschool Deals, Unigo, True Aim Education, Encouraging Moms at Home, and more.

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75+ Educational Activities for When You're Stuck Indoors

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If you're stuck indoors for whatever reason, try these educational activities to crack boredom. Disclaimer: Some of the following links are affiliate links. I make a small commission from some of the links on this site. You can read my full disclosure here. 1.

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Updated on March 16 at 1:56 p.m. ET. This comic has been updated. Click here for the newest version.
Kids, this comic is for you.

It's based on a radio story that NPR education reporter Cory Turner did. He asked some experts what kids might want to know about the new coronavirus discovered in China.

To make this comic, we've used his interviews with Tara Powell at the University of Illinois School of Social Work, Joy Osofsky at the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and Krystal Lewis at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Print and fold a zine version of this comic here. Here are directions on how to fold it. To read this comic in Chinese, click here.To read it in Spanish, click here.

Malaka Gharib is an NPR editor and the author and illustrator of I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir, about being first-generation Filipino Egyptian American.

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Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus

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You may have heard the word "coronavirus" online or on TV. You probably have a lot of questions. Check out our comic to get some answers - and print out a zine version at home.

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Get Your Kids Moving & Practicing Mindfulness with GoNoodle®. Start Watching Now & Get Access to Hundreds of Videos! Active Learning. Healthy Kids. Active Kids. Boost Learning.

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"kids yoga" "yoga for kids" "yoga for children yoga story for kids" "children's yoga" "yoga adventure for kids" "kindergarten yoga" "preschool yoga" "kids me...

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YOGA | MINDFULNESS | RELAXATION FOR KIDS! Screentime that gives kids SUPERPOWERS! ⬇️ D O W N L O A D T H E C O S M I C K I D S A P P ⬇️ 🍏Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cosmic-kids/ 🛍️Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cosmickids 🖥️ Desktop (great for teachers!): https://app.cosmickids.com/ 📺 Roku: https://rb.gy/44r8d -------------------------------------------------------------------- Why watch on the App?

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Omnimax Movies at Home

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Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater - Cincinnati Museum Center

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Immerse yourself in epic adventures in our five-story domed theater, from the untamed beauty of our natural parks, to the red surface of Mars.