Category Archives: Hints and Tips

Find parenting tips, craft ideas, and yummy recipes to cook with your family. Have family fun with the helpful ideas from our hints and tips.

Say Cheese! Toy Camera for Mini Photographers

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fridiy toy camera

Say cheese and smile! There are so many ways little ones can use their imagination while being creative. This month, we’ve created a craft that incorporates artistic and pretend play! All of the supplies are products that you may already have in your home. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

  • Empty tissue box
  • Wrapping paper
  • 3 Paper cups
  • Tape
  • Non-toxic glue
  • Sponge
  • Scissors
  • Black marker
  • Pen or pencil (optional)

toy camera supplies

With these household items you’ll be able to make a toy camera for your budding photographers! Kids can pretend to take pictures with their camera inside or outside. The best feature of this camera is that it’ll never run out of batteries because it’s fueled by imagination!

  1. Trace the base of the cup onto the bottom of the tissue box.
  2. Cut out the traced circle.
  3. Cut out the base of the cup (repeat this step for the other two paper cups).
  4. Place one of the cups inside of the tissue box. Ensure the mouth of the cup is sticking out of the box.
  5. Cover the tissue box in wrapping paper. Make sure the cup on both sides of the box remains unwrapped.
  6. Glue the other cups inside of the first cup, one at a time. This will make the lens of the camera longer. It’ll take about two hours for non-toxic glue to dry.
  7. Cut a portion of a sponge into a square.
  8. Glue the piece of the sponge onto the side of the tissue box that will be the considered the top of the camera. This will be the button that kids press to take pictures! It’ll take about two hours for non-toxic glue to dry. You can also draw a flash area diagonal to the button.

toy camera tutorial

Now your little photographers are ready to start snapping pictures! To promote make believe fun, ask your kids to describe the pictures they have taken with the camera to you.

toy camera pin

Will you be making this toy camera with your family this weekend?

Manufacturer’s Note: Adult supervision is required.

King Me! DIY Checkboard Table

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FriDIY Checkerboard Table

This month, we’re challenging little ones with a DIY gaming table! We’ve created a checkerboard table from a kid’s picnic table. This craft will keep little minds active as they hang out with their playmates. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

  • Kid’s picnic table (we used the Sit & Play Picnic Table)
  • White wrapping paper or construction paper
  • Markers
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Ruler or measuring tape
  • Plastic or paper cups in two different colors

With these materials you can create a checkerboard table in three easy steps! Plus, this activity table can be used inside on a rainy day or outside to keep your children entertained during a barbeque.

DIY supplies

  1. Measure the width and height of the tabletop, cut the wrapping paper to those dimensions and tape the wrapping paper to the table.
  2. Use a marker and ruler to draw the squares of the checkerboard (we created a simpler version of checkers with 24 total squares).
  3. Place three cups on the colored squares closest to the edge of the table on each side of the board. Use different colored cups for each side.

checkerboard tutorial

Now your little gamers are ready to play some checkers!

CheckerBoard Table

Will you be creating this craft with your family this weekend?
Manufacturer’s Note: Please make sure children are the recommended age to play with the product featured in this blog post. Adult supervision is required.

4 Ways to Make Going Back to School Fun!

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Can you believe that summer vacation is over? Neither can we! Although the summer has flown by, that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. It might be difficult to get your kiddos excited about school, but we have some tips that will make going back enjoyable for the whole family.

going back to school tips

  1. Play school at home: To get little ones used to the idea of going to school, grab the art desk or easel and play school! Mom and dad can pretend to be the students while kids act like the teachers. You can even switch roles so everyone gets a turn being a teacher and student. This is a great way to teach your children what teachers do and why learning is important.
  2. Reuniting with friends: Summer can be a time for family vacations, which means that sometimes kids don’t get to see their friends from school during those months. Get your kids enthused about school by reminding them they will get to spend time with their friends during the day.
  3. Building new friendships: Explain to your children why making new friends is important and teach them friendship skills that will help them to bond with others, such as sharing, caring and listening.
  4. Looking forward to the weekend: Reassure your little scholars that the weekends will be merry! Plan family time and schedule play dates with their friends early in the week so they can anticipate all the fun they will have on the weekend during the week.

little girl going back to school

We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe school year! Do you have any tips for making back to school fun?