It's Playtime! Time to Recycle!

I've been on the lookout for some fun ways to get some use out of our recycling.

The 34 Recyclables to Upcycle is only the beginning of what can be done with recyclables! Its so fun to see what everyone comes up with to do with stuff that most find as trash!

Above, clockwise from top-left:

• Picklebums had fun with a box and created a tunnel for the kids!
• Learning to tie shoes with a recycled tissue box. A brilliant idea from Green issues.
• Sense of Wonder checks out dental hygiene with egg cartons & bottle bottoms as the molars!
• The Educator's Spin On It makes some baby music shakers with some recycled containers! Nifty!

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It's Playtime is a community for play loving bloggers to share ways to play.

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It's Playtime! Get Moving Indoors!

This time of year...
Even though its been a mild winter in Iowa.
We're still itching to get outside more and run!

We're finding creative ways to burn off energy in the house.
And so our some of our It's Playtime playdates!

I love the ideas that you guys have been coming up with to get active indoors.

[Crafty Moms Share: Indoor Snowball Fight!]

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It's Playtime! The Heart Project Features

The Heart Project has been kicked off great.
A week into it and we've raised well over our initial goal over $1,000 for the American Heart Association. We've now re-evaluated our goal, and lifted it to $2k, will you help us make it?

The Heart Project is a book [The Heart Book] full of heart projects for kids to do! So many great ideas to get crafty and artsy, even get the kids in the kitchen with you, or play with some hearty items!

A few were found last week on It's Playtime. I thought I'd give you another sneak peek of the hearts in the book.

I don't mind giving you these sneak peeks of the heart projects that are in the book. Because there are well over 100 heart projects in the book. So this is just a slim choosing of them!


Plus, they're pretty awesome and I just have to show them off!

[A Little Learning for Two: Stacked Rainbow Hearts]

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It's Playtime! Activities for My Toddler

This year is the year for George.
Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

He's 16 months right now.
So he still can't do a lot of the activities that Henry and I get into.

We have a lot of time to ourselves, just the two of us.
Some nice Mommy and Me time.

But we rarely set out to do something.
We just play.

I want to start getting him involved.
Be hands on with him.

I found a few activities from last week's It's Playtime to get me started.
[I also have a few bookmarked on my Toddler Activities Board on Pinterest for more inspiration.]

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It's Playtime! Science Experiments for Preschoolers!

After doing our lava lamp experiment, I've been on the lookout for more fun with science!

Especially experiments that my preschooler will find fun to do!
Here are a few experiments I found just on last week's It's Playtime! from my playdate friends!

[Science Sparks: What's Heaviest?]

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It's Playtime! More Snow Activities!

We're getting snow tonight!

Time to get busy with some of those snow activities I posted about yesterday!

And here's five more snow themed activities!
So, now you have 37 snow ideas for the kids to do!

The It's Playtime! players have been getting creative with their snow activities since no one seemed to have any snow.

[My Oatmeal Kisses: Poofs of Snow]

No snow? Make it!

My Oatmeal kisses creates snow two ways! First with diapers [yes, diapers] and then with powdered sugar and marshmallows! I'm seriously so excited about these ideas!

Have some fun with a snowball fight!

Above, from left to right:

• A salty snowman piece of art at Dinosaurs and Octopuses. All you pretty much need it glue and salt!
• A small world sensory bin of wintery items found at Criss-Cross Applesauce [by the way, I absolutely love that name]. Just the look of the bin gives me chills!
• Oakley Childcare makes a chilly looking snowman from paper plates! The scarf and hat are so adorable!
• Cloud dough for a snow sensory day. Rainy Day Mum adds pipe cleaners, googly eyes and much more to the cloud dough for some snowmen play!

High Five to these play friends!

[Go leave them a playful comment!]

[Please grab the featured badge on the right if you were featured]

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It's Playtime is a community for play loving bloggers to share ways to play.

Head on over to my playtime co-hosts:
The Imagination Tree, Messy Kids, Quirky Momma, Let the Children Play.

New to It's Playtime? Read How to Play to get all the details. 
Basically, share your play ideas at the party below and browse for more play ideas from others! 

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Brrrr!

Do you go out in the snow with your kids? 

[No blog? You can leave a comment here to share, too!]

Be sure to LIKE your favorite play ideas!

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Henry is 3 years. George is 1 year.

Current sponsors :  Fudoo Boards  :  A Mom with a Lesson Plan  :  CraftProjectIdeas.com

Design your own party invitations at Vistaprint.com

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It's Playtime! Indoor Activities

Its that time of year.
When we all duck our heads and hibernate for a couple of months.

Granted, we try to get outside as much as we can.
But most days its not for long, if at all.

So...
What indoor activities can we do on these cold days coming up?
[Really, its been pretty nice here lately, I can't believe its in the 40s in January in Iowa...]

[Make Do & Friend: Playing in the Dark]

A flashlight does wonders!

Make, Do & Friend Found a way to calm a fear of the dark! Play in it! Take a flashlight and find lots of things shiny and see how it reflects! My kids loving playing with their flashlights, adding shiny objects would definitely be a hit!

Above, from left to right:

• De tout et de rien shows learning in a spot I never thought of , and we all probably all have one. Adding beads to a baby bottle drying rack! There's so much learning that could be done... it could go on and on, and plus keep the kids' hands busy, busy, busy!
• Play with plastic! Drawing on and cutting plastic, a definitely time-waster for the kids, I'm sure! Happy Little Messes has more in store for these plastic creations on a light machine!
• Another dark post, but this time with the aide of a black light! The Mommies Made Me Do It when on a glow hunt in the dark! Shut off the lights!
• Play dough is a go-to activity, especially when we're stuck indoors. Here's some yummy chocolatey play dough! Make birthday cupcakes from play dough and add pasta for candles! A sweet idea from What's Fun Today?

High Five to these play friends!

[Go leave them a playful comment!]

[Please grab the featured badge on the right if you were featured]

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It's Playtime is a community for play loving bloggers to share ways to play.

Head on over to my playtime co-hosts:
The Imagination Tree, Messy Kids, Quirky Momma, Let the Children Play.

New to It's Playtime? Read How to Play to get all the details. 
Basically, share your play ideas at the party below and browse for more play ideas from others! 

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[No blog? You can leave a comment here to share, too!]

Be sure to LIKE your favorite play ideas!

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Henry is 3 years. George is 1 year.

Current sponsors :  Fudoo Boards  :  A Mom with a Lesson Plan  :  CraftProjectIdeas.com

Design your own party invitations at Vistaprint.com

read the full article →

It's Playtime! Christmas Treats

Some last minute treats for Santa?
Or for our family get together!

Try these Christmas sweets and goodies with the kids this year!

[Crystal & Co. : Christmas Cookies]

Have you made cookies to set out for Santa yet? Its getting close! Time to get baking! We have yet to start this tradition, but I think this year might be the year to do it. This Ranger Cookies Recipe from Crystal & Co. look great for a Santa treat!

Above, from left to right:

• Aren't these the most adorable gingerbread men you've ever seen? Chicken Babies adds a candy cane to these sweet men!
• Um, YUM! This is a Christmas Treat I've never seen! White Rocky Road Recipe from Sassy's Sanity.
• A cute gingerbread tree at NurtureStore! Just icing and candies to decorate!
• You'll Thank Me One Day has these sweet reindeer sandwiches! Made with peanut butter and a couple pretzels and M&Ms!

High Five to these play friends!

[Go leave them a playful comment!]

[Please grab the featured badge on the right if you were featured]

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It's Playtime is a community for play loving bloggers to share ways to play.

Head on over to my playtime co-hosts:
The Imagination Tree, Messy Kids, Quirky Momma, Let the Children Play.

New to It's Playtime? Read How to Play to get all the details. 
Basically, share your play ideas at the party below and browse for more play ideas from others! 

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Happy Holidays!

Have a very merry Christmas everyone!

The Playtime gang is taking a break next week.

We'll be back in the New Year!

[No blog? You can leave a comment here to share, too!]

Be sure to LIKE your favorite play ideas!

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Henry is 3 years. George is 1 year.

Current sponsors :  Fudoo Boards  :  A Mom with a Lesson Plan  :  CraftProjectIdeas.com

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It's Playtime! Let it Snow!

The Creative Christmas Countdown is well under way.
Kitchen Counter Chronicles has today's advent activity, Making Snowflakes!

Looking around the It's Playtime posts has gotten me in the mood for snow [okay, just a little though]! So, bring on the snow!

Let it Snow!

[Adventures at Home: Snowflake Mobile]

Adventures at Home makes paper snowflakes into a pretty mobile for the winter season!

Above, from left to right:

• A Childhood List made these beautiful pasta snowflake ornaments that are so sparkly!
• Another homemade ornament from Let Kids Create. Snowflakes grown from Borax! A great science experiment!
• Snow paint! We gotta try this one. A shaving cream and glue mix. Great idea from Beansprout Preschool.
• A twist on bowling - make snowmen to knock over with a giant snowball! Imagination Station reuses Danimals containers as the snowmen [I bet Puffs containers would work great too]!

High Five to these play friends!

[Go leave them a playful comment!]

[Please grab the featured badge on the right if you were featured]

---

It's Playtime is a community for play loving bloggers to share ways to play.

Head on over to my playtime co-hosts:
The Imagination Tree, Messy Kids, Quirky Momma, Let the Children Play.

New to It's Playtime? Read How to Play to get all the details. 
Basically, share your play ideas at the party below and browse for more play ideas from others! 

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Happy Holidays!

Time to Play Away! - Link up your Play Posts!

[No blog? You can leave a comment here to share, too!]

Be sure to LIKE your favorite play ideas!

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Henry is 3 years. George is 1 year.

Current sponsors :  Fudoo Boards  :  A Mom with a Lesson Plan  :  CraftProjectIdeas.com

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It's Playtime! : Paper Holiday Decorations

The Creative Christmas Countdown is well under way.
Mama Pea Pod has today's advent activity, Making Paper Decorations!

I found a few inspirational ideas from last week's It's Playtime to get us in the mood to get creating some wonderful paper decorations for today's Christmas Countdown activity!
 [Gratefully Growing in Grace: Paper Advent Activity Chain]


A classic paper decoration from Gratefully Growing in Grace. A paper chain garland, complete with activities on each link for the holidays!

Above, from left to right:

• A cute button wreath! Ready. Set. Read! created this brilliantly simple craft for the holidays!
• Collage together odds and ends wrapping paper and make some seriously cute ornaments! Love this idea from Toddler Approved! [Kind of reminds me of our wrapping paper stockings we did last year!]
• Create a snow globe with your very own snow scene! A pretty art decoration from I Heart Crafty Things.
• My Little Princess World made a tree of handprints and decorated it! 

High Five to these play friends!

[Go leave them a playful comment!]

[Please grab the featured badge on the right if you were featured]

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It's Playtime is a community for play loving bloggers to share ways to play.

Head on over to my playtime co-hosts:
The Imagination Tree, Messy Kids, Quirky Momma, Let the Children Play.

New to It's Playtime? Read How to Play to get all the details. 
Basically, share your play ideas at the party below and browse for more play ideas from others! 

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Happy Holidays!

Time to Play Away! - Link up your Play Posts!

[No blog? You can leave a comment here to share, too!]

Be sure to LIKE your favorite play ideas!

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Henry is 3 years. George is 1 year.

Current sponsors :  Fudoo Boards  :  A Mom with a Lesson Plan  :  CraftProjectIdeas.com

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It's Playtime! : Christmas Countdown

It's the beginning of the Christmas countdown.

There's 24 Days before Christmas!
Add to that a collection of 24 Kid Bloggers.
And that means there's a Creative Christmas Countdown!

Creative with Kids has organized an activity a day from 24 creative kid bloggers to countdown to Christmas! I'm very excited for this, and I'm taking part! I'm day 12! Yay!

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30 Days to Hands on Play : Playful Fun

DAY 24 CHALLENGE:

PLAYFUL FUN!

And the weekly It's Playtime! Party!

DAY 24 CHALLENGE:
Spend [at least] 15 minutes getting down on the floor with the kids and have some fun! Start tickling, chasing, or maybe even some safe rough housing!

Happy Thanksgiving play challengers!
This is a great challenge for today, because you could get multiple members of the family involved[uncles, grandpa, dad would be great at this challenge!]! So instead of lounging in the recliner after dinner, get some fun in first!

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It's Playtime! : Hands on Play

Today's challenge is to create a reading nook! I can't wait to make one [this is something we don't generally do with the boys]. Head over to The Imagination Tree for some ideas and more info on the challenge!

Today, for It's Playtime, I'm sharing some of the fun things you've been up to with the 30 Days to Hands on Play Challenge. We've had loads of participation from readers, as well as other bloggers. Below are just a few of the bloggers that have taken the time to write about their challenge experiences. Thank you!

I love seeing everyone's take on our challenges, so keep your experiences coming! Let us know how they go!

Oh, and I have a HUGE thank you for challenge participants! An awesome giveaway - an Alex Toy Wooden Parking Garage - enter to win it in the giveaway here!

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30 Days to Hands on Play : Concoctions

DAY 10 CHALLENGE:

MIXING CONCOCTIONS

Mixing together a few ingredients, creating a concoction that does wonders.

Your kids will love this challenge!
And learn a little about science in the process.

Vinegar and Baking Soda.
Oh the magic.

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It's Playtime! : Sorting

I'm ecstatic with the response for the 30 Days to Hands on Play Challenge that I'm doing with The Imagination Tree. For Day 3, Anna's challenging you with some Block Building!

Back to It's Playtime though... I was overwhelmed with the amount of Halloween activities you guys do! I thought we were busy being spooky and creepy, but you guys completely outdid me!

However, Halloween has passed and now I'm onto featuring regular old fun filled activities.

Today I'm looking at sorting, collecting, matching activities.
These kind of activities can be adapted to almost any developmental level.
I love those kind of activities!

Here's what I found on last week's It's Playtime after I sorted through it all:

[A Sunny Home: Color Collecting]

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It's Playtime! : Get Moving this Fall

I know it's almost Halloween and I should be featuring all the great Halloween ideas that have been linked up.

You can check out previous It's Playtime Halloween features on Googly Eyes and A Spooky Halloween.

This week, I'm thinking about what to do to get the kids moving yet this fall before it gets too cold outside to go run around!

[Gratefully Growing in Grace: A Leaf Maze]

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It's Playtime : Halloween Googly Eyes

We've been having a blast with the googly eyes that we received from CraftProjectIdeas.com.

Googly eyes were used to make our yarn monsters, as well as being added to a spooky sensory gel bag, and to top it off, we made pumpkin mummies with them!

Googly eyes make everything fun and adds a spookiness to it too!

Here's some Halloween ideas for googly eyes found on It's Playtime last week:

[My Creative Family: Googly Eyes Spider Mask]

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It's Playtime! : A Spooky Halloween

Halloween is coming up fast!

Oh so fast....
I need to make Henry's costume yet... and George's... oh man.

What are your kids going to be for Halloween?

Here are some crafty, playful ideas, oh and spooky too, to get you in the mood for Halloween:

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It's Playtime! : Creative Fun Art

Some creative and fun art that's sure to brighten everyone's day!

The colorful art I found on It's Playtime brought a smile on my face, so I hope it does to you too!

Take a look at the beautiful kid's creations!

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