The fields that surround our home are in full bloom. Wild Bee Balm, Black-eyed Susan, Goldenrod, and Wild Carrot blow in the breeze,

Learn how to make a fun popsicle stick leprechaun craft with our step-by-step directions and video tutorial. It's the best St. Patrick's Day craft for kids!

Ah, coffee. Everything about it—the smell, the taste, the warmth of a steaming mug between my hands—relaxes me. But when the weather

I'm excited for another guest post for our Beginning Photography series! Today, Melissa from Fireflies & Mud Pies is sharing tips for photographing

Valentine's Day is the perfect holiday for heart crafts! Whether kids are learning about hearts, friendship, gratitude or simply enjoying a Valentine's Day activity at home, this open-ended Valentine's Day craft is a fun way to extend your February unit. This Heart Hedgehog is a fun homemade Valentine for kids to make for friends and family! Pair it with: Books about friendship, Valentine's Day, February, hedgehogs, or love A February writing prompt Valentine's Day parties Lessons about patterning When you are printing this template, be sure to have “actual size” checked in your printer menu. You May Also Enjoy: Owl Valentine Craft Sweet and Simple Woven Heart Craft Fall Hedgehog Craft Paper Flower Bouquet Card Craft Easy Paper Bird Craft Visit my blog at www.firefliesandmudpies.com for more easy kids craft and activity ideas! Find me on Facebook here! TERMS OF USE: This file is the property of FIREFLIES AND MUD PIES, LTD. It may be used in the classroom or at home. It may also be used at residential/senior living centers, camps, or at free community programs (e.g. library or nature programs). Do not sell, alter, or electronically distribute this file. Do not store or share this file in social media groups or where other people may download it. Placing any part of this file online in any form is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All materials sold by FIREFLIES AND MUD PIES, LTD. may not be altered, re-sold, distributed, or translated into any other language for re-sale.

Inside: Summer is the perfect season for creating ocean-themed art. In this post, learn how to make a colorful upcycled CD and

Have you seen those funny Facebook status updates that say, “I know nobody will read my status, but sometimes, when I’m bored,

A darling bunny family lives under our house. My boys enjoy watching them hop about in the yard, nibbling on greens and birdseed.

This easy, inexpensive, and cute Paper Cup Valentine Card Holder craft is perfect for school parties, community programs, and home. Fun for ages 2 and up!

Rainy days inspire and invigorate me. The air smells clean, everything is green, and the next morning life seems so fresh. If

Yesterday afternoon, the boys were playing “King and Knight of New Hampshire.” Of course, my oldest declared himself King and requested a crown!

Is there anything more magical to a child than a cloud of shimmering bubbles floating up towards the sky? I don’t think so!

Inside: Kids of all ages will enjoy making Bark Owls from bark, acorns, twigs, and seeds after a fall nature walk. Nature is

Soothing, calming, and appropriate for any season, an epsom salt tray is the perfect sensory activity for kids who need to wind down, relax,

Strawberries welcome summer vacation in the sweetest way. Picking them is one of our very favorite family traditions. Usually I can strawberry jam, but

Happy unofficial kick off to summer! What a fun way to combine two classic summer time activities outdoor painting and shooting squirt guns. Pop on over to the blog Fireflies and Mud Pies for her a…

My husband and I are advocates of wooden toys, so it’s only natural we let our boys play with sticks. I don’t

These water blaster games are perfect for school picnics, summer birthday parties, or lazy afternoons at home. What a fun way to beat the summer heat!

Learn how to attract butterflies to your garden, how to set up a caterpillar habitat, how to raise butterflies, and how to release butterflies.

Bust summer boredom at home, school, or camp with Squirt Gun Painting, an amazing art experience for kids of all ages.

Chocolate Spritz Cookies are delicious anytime of year with cold milk! Use the Y shaped disc that came with your cookie press to

This easy and fun polar bear craft for kids includes a free printable polar bear outline, making this project perfect for school or home!

Have you ever froze Ice Jewels with your kids? They are simple to make and perfect for winter imaginary play! We started by

Spring is here, and with it comes nesting birds and green things pushing up through the earth. Bring a bit of the fresh, new

Summer is the perfect season for engaging children in creative, messy art. Last summer, my boys created dozens of gorgeous Squirt Gun Paintings in our

The cookies shared below, commonly known as Haystacks, are given a nest-inspired twist when decorated with creamy chocolate eggs.

Inside: Just in time for Thanksgiving, learn how to use Gratitude Stones to cultivate a sense of gratitude in kids. A sense

Practical nature walk tips, tricks, and fun nature walk activities for families with toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age kids.

This easy and fun CD & Button Turtle Craft for kids includes a free printable turtle template, making it perfect for home or school.

It’s easy to make excuses to stay indoors this time of year. Encourage kids to get their daily dose of fresh air by taking them

This cute paper leaf hedgehog craft is perfect for fall! Kids of all ages will enjoy using the printable hedgehog template at home or school.

Learn how to use a simple family motto or family slogan to help manage behavior, inspire unity, reinforce family values, and choose what matters.

Summer is the perfect season for starfish crafts! Whether kids are learning about starfish, ocean life, shapes or simply enjoying a summer activity at home, this open-ended summer craft is a fun way to extend your sea life unit. This Starfish Texture Art is the ultimate boredom buster. Kids get a kick out of experimenting with textures and colors while creating life-like 3D starfish. Pair this craft with: • Books about starfish, the ocean, or summer • A writing prompt • Summer parties • Lessons about patterns and symmetry When you are printing this template, be sure to have “actual size” checked in your printer menu. Visit my blog at www.firefliesandmudpies.com for more easy kids craft and activity ideas! Find me on Facebook here! TERMS OF USE: This file is the property of FIREFLIES AND MUD PIES, LTD. It may be used in the classroom or at home. It may also be used at residential/senior living centers, camps, or at free community programs (e.g. library or nature programs). Do not sell, alter, or electronically distribute this file. Do not store or share this file in social media groups or where other people may download it. Placing any part of this file online in any form is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All materials sold by FIREFLIES AND MUD PIES, LTD. may not be altered, re-sold, distributed, or translated into any other language for re-sale.

In my last post, I shared how I get a kick out of introducing my boys to things I enjoyed as a kid. This

Do the kids have the winter blues? Do they long for summer days, playgrounds, and sandboxes? If so, they might enjoy sinking

Perhaps a cardboard box’s true purpose, rather than packing and shipping, is to remind parents that kids don’t need much to play happily. Our most

Every summer in America, more than 11 million children attend camp. At summer camp, kids develop independence, self-confidence, responsibility, and interpersonal skills. They are free to

Hello! Welcome to Fireflies and Mud Pies. I’m Melissa Lennig, the craft designer, author, and photographer behind this award-winning kids craft and activity

A Special Way to Connect to Your Child Using storytelling and sharing snapshots of who you were as a child makes your children feel closer to you and can

Follow along with our easy step-by-step directions and video tutorial so you can make your own mesmerizing Galaxy Glitter Jars! Simple and fun for kids!

This past weekend, our region experienced extreme sub-zero temperatures that resulted in hundreds of school closings. With the kids home and schedules

Learn how to use a simple family motto or family slogan to help manage behavior, inspire unity, reinforce family values, and choose what matters.

Our favorite homemade apple crisp is bursting with sweet apple and cinnamon flavor. This fall treat is best served fresh from the oven, so get ready to bake some right now!

Have you seen those funny Facebook status updates that say, “I know nobody will read my status, but sometimes, when I’m bored,