Young children learn through play; it’s how they experience their world.  It’s why you’ll often see them putting things in their mouth (things that should never, ever go in a mouth) or find toys crammed in your vacuum cleaner attachment or toaster.  It’s why they love to eat things with their hands and play in the dirt.

Give those busy little hands something to do!  Sensory play is a wonderful way to teach toddlers math (sorting, measuring), creativity, gross and fine motor skills, cognitive skills, and social skills.  Plus, it’s a good way to create boundaries…

This post is part of an ongoing series titled “DIY.”  Every few weeks we’ll feature a craft or do-it-yourself item.  We’d love to see pictures of your take on these projects and hear about your DIY ideas!

Chore Board

It can be tough to keep track of which chores your kids (and you) have done or still need to do, especially when you’ve got a lot of other things going on.  A Chore Board is an easy way to keep track of everyone’s weekly responsibilities, and there are lots of ways to make your board…

Your kids have probably done a few of the quintessential Thanksgiving crafts; hand-traced turkeys, paper cornucopias, and feathered headbands are a few common ones. This year, why not try a few of these unique Thanksgiving crafts? Just make sure to put newspaper down over your working space before you get started!

Paper Bag Pumpkin

This is a fun and wonderfully easy craft to do as a family. You can use these pumpkins as decorations, and they make the perfect gift bags for jars of homemade apple butter.

What you’ll need:

• Brown…