Free Printable Preschool Crafts Activities Lesson Plans

When I write on free printable activities, crafts, cut and paste and coloring pages, I demand a lot from websites: ease of navigation and searchability, working links, safety, nothing to download (besides pdf tool, like Adobe), user ID and password optional and used only for email updates, and quality free printables. Here are websites that meet my stringent requirements. Bookmark and sign up for email updates or visit daily for new activities and crafts.

www.first-school.ws Printable lesson plans, crafts, activities, puzzles, games, worksheets. All curriculum from math, reading, holidays, history, religion, social studies, science.

http://www.leehansen.com/printables/index.htm#.U8wg0_ldVqU Great variety. Easy to use.

www.partysupplieshut.com caters to all different religious holiday supplies. Diversity of free printable activities. Party games, decorations, greeting cards, invitations, puzzles, crafts.

http://www.freekidscrafts.com/printables-t68.html I like this site for several reasons. Easy to use. New craft featured daily. Huge variety of free printable paper crafts.

My blogs at freeprintablelessonplans.blogspot.com and freecoloringpages4u.blogspot.com

Play Free at Webkinz Pets Online, No Code or Toy Purchase Required

Remember the Webkinz craze a few years back? Webkinz are stuffed animals, similar to Ty Beanie Babies, with secret code tags that let kids

play online at the Webkinz website. The child played with an animated version of her pet. The Webkinz fad is mostly over. But that means good news for fans. Now children can play online at Webkinz free--no need to buy a toy or have a code. Here's how Play Free at Webkinz Pets Online, No Code or Toy Purchase Required

Free Printable Father's Day Cards to Color

Preschool children love to make crafts for people. Why not have kiddos color free printable Father's Day cards as homemade gifts and for dad, grandpas, stepdads, uncles, teacher. Save yourself big money printing cards. Print in black and white to save ink and make coloring pages. Children will love the cute cartoon images and they'll like personalizing their cards for daddy. Plus it keeps them productively occupied--which gives to you quiet time to get work done. Score you!  Free Printable Father's Day Cards to Color

Free Printable Mother's Day Cards, Crafts, Gifts

Mother's Day, second Sunday of May (May 11, 2014) is a great holiday for kid-made crafts. Here's a whole list of free printable crafts, greeting cards, decorations, activities, games and presents for children to make for moms for Mother's Day. Don't forget grandmothers, aunts, Godmothers, teachers, day care providers, all the special ladies in kids' lives. Any woman will love the homemade, kid-created gifts of love.  Free Printable Mother's Day Craft Activities

Recycled Arts and Crafts Using Kids' Valentines

 Little Miss took her neatly-labeled valentines to school and arrived home with reciprocal Valentine cards from friends. So now, what to do with these prized missives? Clean freaks will surrepititiously toss them when she isn't looking. Sentimental (ahem, packrat) parents will encouraging saving. Artsy (aka messy) moms won't know what happens to them as valentines will filter into the child's general room litter. None of these is very satisfying considering cost and work put into valentines. Here are five cheap, homemade recycled ways to repurpose kids valentines. 5 Repurposed Uses for Valentines--Art Projects, Crafts, Gifts

Attachment Parenting: Bonding with Your Preschool Toddler

 The "attachment parenting" catch phrase has infiltrated common parlance. Speaking as a 25-year attachment parent, I think the term is often misunderstood. I knew a gal who had no kids say she was an attachment parent because she babysat her brother's children occasionally. It isn't part-time; it's a lifelong, all-invasive commitment. Here's how we did it when kids were toddlers and preschool age.  Attachment Parenting: Bonding with Your Preschool Child or Toddler

Best Pre-K-Grade 2 Kids' Books for Black History Month

February celebrates Black History Month in U.S. history. In schools, students learn about significant people and events in the African American timeline. As a teacher and homeschool mom, I've designed and taught black history throughout the curriculum. Here's my preschool-second grade recommended reading list for Black History Month with free printable lesson plans. This is not a definitive list--if it were, it would fill a book in itself. There's so much great African American literature. These just happen to be my favorites. Best Pre-K-Grade 2 Kids' Books for Black History Month

Free Printable Science Lessons, Worksheets, Charts, Graphs, Diagrams

In researching science worksheets, I came across a comprehensive free science activity site that I just had to share it in a separate article. TSLBooks has close to 100 free printable science worksheets, activities, fill-in charts, games, puzzles and lesson plans. Each free printable science activity is available to print, simply by clicking the labeled link. Not all worksheets are preschool level but there are many that could be used for early childhood. And don't be afraid to try kids out on activities written for older kids. Grade levels are suggestions only. If your kids are gifted, early readers, don't hold them back. Preschool Science Worksheets

Toddler Child-minder Activities for Holidays

As a 10-year homeschooling mom of four, I know about multitasking with kids. The hardest age of child to keep productively occupied is toddler. Maybe I should rephrase "productive" to "occupied in parent-approved ways." Our kids were always productively employed, at least in their minds. From a parent's view it looked like mess-making. And during the holidays it only gets worse. More work, antsy kids, abnormal schedules, added events make it more challenging to keep a toddler in check. Here are parent-friendly, child-minder holiday activities. Read more

Best Christmas Gifts for Toddlers, Preschool Children

Choosing gifts for preschool children isn't always easy. You want a toy that's sturdy, multi-use and will stimulate creativity. If a child has Autism Spectrum Disorder, choosing the right gift may seem impossible. I teach autistic and emotionally impaired children and here is my list of best gifts for children with autism. Actually, these gifts are  appropriate for any toddler or preschool child. These toys build developmental skills (fine motor, gross motor, eye hand coordination). They also provide tactile, kinesthetic and oral stimulation so needed by young child. Best Gifts for Autistic Children

Free Printable Halloween Coloring Pages

Got antsy preschoolers looking forward to Halloween? Need some activities to keep them occupied as they count down to trick or treat? Here are free printable Halloween and trick-or-treat coloring pages for children. Not too scary and lots of fun, these coloring pages are geared for preschool and elementary age children. Great for home, homeschool, school or day care (hint: homeschool families, use these free printable crafts to keep younger kids actively engaged while you work with older kids). Free Printable Halloween Coloring Pages 

Montessori mom: At-home preschool practical life learning center

I'm a certified special needs teacher and a former home school parent. I also taught in a Montessori school. Both Montessori and special education follow a learning center-based classroom model. Learning centers (also called areas or stations), engage children in hands-on, multi-sensory tasks. Each center focuses on different activities: reading, math, science, building, gross motor, art, dramatic play and practical life. When I taught our kids at home, I brought the learning center concept into our home. If you've got preschool kids or are a home school parent, why not try the learning center approach? Here's how this Montessori mom set up a practical life learning area.  Montessori mom: At-home preschool practical life learning center

Preschool DIY Cardboard Knight Suit of Armor

Kids going back to school equals bored preschool siblings. Summer may get a little crazy, but at least with big sisters and brothers at home, the not-yet-in-school one is entertained. Now he sits by the window moping and waiting for the bus to bring them home. And if you're a WAHM, a preschooler or half-day kindergarten kid with ennui means less productivity.

Fear not. Your helpful fairy schoolteacher is here to help. Use your recycle bin and get junior busy making a super-cool cardboard knight costume (complete with arsenal of safe "weaponry). Kid will be happily occupied, you can work and siblings will be drooling with envy. Here's a guide to make a suit of armor worthy of any knight. read more

Free Printable Preschool Car Games, Kids Activities

Are we there yet? This has to be the most oft-asked question from kids on car trips or vacations. When these questions start, it can make for a very long, tedious ride. That's why smart parents plan ahead in order to circumvent the complaints on car trips. Games make good boredom-busters and whining-stoppers. Here are free printable car games to stave off ennui and keep kids happily occupied on road trips. Free Printable Children's Car Games, Activities, Puzzles