Lena Hoschek: Spring / Summer 2014

I'm sort of obsessed with Lena Hoschek dresses.  If I was a celebutante, Lena's stuff is probably all I'd wear, like, maybe everysingleday for. ev. er.   I love how her collection from this past spring is extra girly & spring-like, and loaded down with twirl-friendly garden pastels, novelty prints, and florals. What say you?

Toddler Art: Painted Pasta Print Flowers On Clay

How easy, pretty, and perfect for spring is this idea?

Spring Fine Motor Activities: Lacing Doily Flowers

When shopping for a canvas for our Flower Fields Project, I found these crocheted flower doilies in the dollar bin at Michaels, and I thought they'd make for a super pretty springtime lacingcard-type activity. When finished, we taped them to the window, and when this session is up, I'll remove the lacing and we can use them year after year.

Tie off one end of a length of yarn to your doily.  Wrap a bit of tape around the other end to make a more needley, unfrayed, kid-friendly point for sewing...

...when the child finishes lacing, tie off the end to the doily.  Then, if you like, you can add on another length of yarn in a different color and layer on additional lacing.

Preschool Sensory Nature Art: Spring Sticky Flower Crowns

Love this idea.

Abstract Flower Field Preschool Paintings

Loving how these three activities combine sensory play and art:

Tissue Paper Painting on Bubble Wrap

Painting with Feet Using Washable Temperas

Watercolor Painting with Flowers

FREE Printable: Spring Nature Scavenger Hunt

Get Yours Here.

Super-Simple Spring Seed Nature Art Activities:

I love these ideas. They're sensory-fueled & easy enough for toddlers:

Painted Honey Locust Tree Seed Pods

Dandelion Wish Paintings

Painted Glittered Pokey Seed Pods

DIY Little Letter Block Bead Garden Markers

I think I might need to make some of these.

Upcycled Plastic Bottle Flower Mobile

Isn't this is one of the most cheerfully lovely upcycling craft ideas you've seen all year?

DIY Upcycled Flower Spoon Mirror

How pretty is this crafty mirror?

Preschool Spring, Egg, & Bunny Books

My Top Five Favorites List:

An Egg is Quiet




The Sun Egg




Everything Spring




Marshmallow




First The Egg

Etsy Treasury Treasures #26

Easypeasy Paint Chip Easter Egg Garland

How cute is this idea? Visit Modern Parent Messy Kids for all the details.

Spring Things Pretty Pretty Playlist

Fats Waller and Massive Attack CAN SO be on the same playlist...

*Photo via Dior 2010*

Tricksy Tiny Mammal Tactics

FREE! Earth Day Pretty Pollinator Nature Booklet

Download your own beesy, butterfly-y, read-with-mom-type booklet from Little Humbugs. It's filled with printable activity worksheets, coloring pages, games, and lots of fun naturey stuff.

Sesame Street Sing-Along Earth Songs

This was a superfun/superfunny video that came out in the early 1990s. Sososocute (and educational, too!) Your kidlets will love it :)

Calling All Kidlets: The Great TV Rebellion

April 22 is Earth Day, and the Biomimicry Institute is sponsoring a wonderful week filled with greenish fun for kidlets. There's a fantastic, free activity workbook for teachers & parents, and a free companion Nature Journal for kids. Kids can also take the TV Rebellion pledge (complete with an official color-in-able certificate.) There are three animaly rebel levels:


1) Eagle TV Rebel: I will turn off my TV and electronic devices for Earth Week (April 19-25), go outside to experience nature, and complete each activity in my Nature Journal.

2) Fox TV Rebel: I will turn off my TV and electronic devices for Earth Week (April 19-25) and explore nature while the sun is out, then keep them off all day on Earth Day (April 22).

3) Rabbit TV Rebel: I will turn the TV off for all of Earth Day (April 22) and play outside in the natural world.

Download your materials now, and prep for an upcoming fun-filled week of Earthy exploration.

FREE! Nature Rocks Spring Activity Guide

Visit the always-wonderful Nature Rocks for your own downloadable Spring Activity Booklet, filled with lots of fun, outdoorsy ideas for families.

Matchy Music: Nature Boy mp3, cover version by Coconut and the Duke (via Cover Me)

YAY! Children and Nature Awareness Month

Get yourself outside, and if you haven't already, visit Richard Louv's Children & Nature Network for details & celebratory links galore :)



"Listen to the music of the wind and the birdies sing. We're just one big family, and all of nature deserves to be loved-love-love-love-loooved!"