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DIY Harry Potter Wand

August 31, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy Homemade Harry Potter Wand With Chopsticks

Last month my youngest turned ten (I can’t believe how fast he is growing up!).  He asked for a Harry Potter themed birthday party.  I’m pretty sure he decided on this idea from our recent Universal Studios trip….but I wasn’t complaining!  Once we decided on the theme I knew we couldn’t have a Harry Potter themed party without having wands (amiright??).  So, with a little bit of DIYing and patience we whipped up a few budget friendly wands!  My son and I had so much fun making these DIY Harry Potter Wands!  They are SO easy and addicting to make!  I seriously didn’t want to stop creating!

These homemade Harry Potter wands with chopsticks are the perfect craft for any Harry Potter lover, including kids and adults!  And, do you want to know the best part????  They were also really cheap!  The only thing I had to buy were the chopsticks and some hot glue!  Fortunately, I had paint and paintbrushes at home, but luckily they are both really cheap to buy if you need some!

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How to Make DIY Harry Potter Wands

The first thing you need to do before making these homemade wands is to gather your supplies.  You will need:

  • Wooden Chopsticks
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Glue Sticks
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Paintbrushes

1.  Squeeze Hot Glue Onto Chopstick

The first thing you will need to do to make your DIY Harry Potter wand is to warm up your hot glue.  I like to place the hot glue gun over a paper plate, so that the melty glue will drip onto the plate as it warms.  This makes for easy clean up!

Once your hot glue is warm and melty, it’s time to make the design of your homemade wand.  I love this part!!

All you have to do is take your hot glue gun and slowly squirt hot glue onto the handle part of one chopstick.

This is the part when you can let your creativity shine!  You can put a lot of hot glue on the end for a nice, thick handle.  Or, you might choose to only put on a small amount of glue.  Feel free to add some swirly glue designs too.   I tried to cover about 1/3-1/4 of the chopstick with glue, just depending on the design I was going for. Whatever you think will look good!  

One of my favorite things about these homemade wands is that no matter how your glue comes onto your chopstick, the finished product will still look good!  I worried a few times that I had messed up a wand with clumps of hot glue, but once I was done, it always looked just as good as all of the other wands!

2.  Let The Hot Glue Dry

Next, you will need to set your chopstick onto a paper plate and let the glue dry.  Hot glue dries fairly fast, so it shouldn’t take very long before being able to move to the next stop.

3.  Paint Chopstick

Once the hot glue is dry, you can start painting your chopstick/wand!  We all decided we preferred the dark and moody colors for the wands, but really anything goes!  It was so fun to mix colors together and make something magical and unique!

This step is so easy, just dab a little bit of glue onto your paintbrush and paint the wand!

Once you are done painting your wand set it onto a paper plate to dry.

Most of our wands needed two coats of paint.  So, make sure to check the wand once the paint is dry to see if it will need to be painted again.

Enjoy!

That’s it!  Your DIY Harry Potter wand is complete!  See how easy that was???  It’s the perfect craft for adults and kids and everyone in between!  All that’s left to do is to spend hours casting magical spells (Acio wand!).

 

You might like these other easy crafts:

  • Easy Toilet Paper Pumpkin Craft Tutorial
  • Nature Bookmark Tutorial
  • How to Make Tissue Paper Pom Poms

 

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Have fun making your own DIY Harry Potter wand!

Gift Ideas for Toddlers Under $25

August 30, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Check Out These Budget Friendly Gifts for Toddlers.

Toddlers are honestly one of my favorite people to shop for!  They are so fun, cute and excited about almost anything!  Their toys are always bright and colorful and just bring me a lot of joy.  I also think toddlers are perfect for budget friendly gifts.  They do not need anything fancy and will be happy with a free, empty box!  Here are a few budget friendly gift ideas for toddlers all under $25.  I hope you find just what you’re looking for!

gift ideas for toddlers - christmas gifts for toddlers

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LeapFrog Learning Book:

There is so much learning that happens during the toddler years.  This LeapFrog Learning Book is the perfect way to enhance this important learning by teaching new words to your child.  It has lights, songs, pictures, and everything that any kid could want in a book.  Plus, it’s affordable!  Yay!

 

Melissa & Doug Safari Chunky Puzzle:

Little hands will love this Safari Chunky Puzzle.  The pieces are easy to maneuver and a great toy to help with fine motor development.

Drum Set: 

With over 10,000 positive reviews this Toddler Drum Set is a sure to be a favorite.  It comes with different melodies to play with, or has other options for free play, letters, and numbers.  We all know toddlers love to make noise and this drum set is perfect for doing just that!

Matching Eggs Set:

Help toddlers learn colors and shapes with this STEM toy.  The Matching Eggs Set helps toddlers develop fine motor skills as they learn and practice matching items together.

 

 

Lego Duplo Alphabet Train

I love this cute LEGO DUPLO Alphabet Train.  It makes a perfect educational toy as it will help kids learn their letters.  Plus, a train is so fun to push and pull for free play.

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Kids Tent: 

My kids always loved when we had a kids sized tent in the house.  This Rocket Ship Tent is perfect for toddlers to snuggle, hide, and play in.  If the Rocket Ship theme isn’t for your toddler, they even have other styles to choose from!


 

Shopping Cart:  

Toddlers love to push just about anything around the house.  This cute Shopping Cart is perfect to get those little legs moving!  

Mega Bloks:

These fun Mega Bloks are perfect for little hands to hold and build with.  This set of building blocks comes with 80 pieces and has fantastic reviews!

Slice and Bake Cookie Set:

Ok, but how cute is this Slice and Bake Cookie Set????  I mean, I want one for myself!  This is such a fun way to encourage pretend play with your toddler!  And the price is right!

VTech Spin and Learn Flashlight:

Let your toddler have their own kid friendly flashlight with the VTech Spin and Learn Flashlight.  It’s less than $10 and comes complete with songs, sounds and lights!


 

Fine Motor Hedgehog:

This Hedgehog Toy is perfect for helping little ones develop those important fine motor skills.  It has over 10,000 positive review and currently priced below $15!  A great deal!

Play Doctor Set:

When my oldest was just 2 years old we bought her a Play Doctor Set and throughout the next ten years that was the most beloved toy by all of my kids and their friends.  It was worth every penny and I am saving it for my grandkids to pay with one day!

Here is a similar Play Doctor Set that I know all of the toddlers in the world will love!  It’s less than $15 and comes with 11 pieces to play doctor with.

Shape Sorter:

Every kid needs a shape sorter and this wooden shape sorter is perfect!  It has bright colors and 12 different shapes for sorting. 

 

Pull and Sing Puppy:

Toddlers love push and pull toys.  This Pull and Sing Puppy will provide a lot of entertainment for kids to pull along behind them while listening to music.  Plus, it has tens of thousands positive reviews.   This is a great gift!

 

Take Apart Truck With Toy Drill:

Most kids love toys that make them feel more grown up.  This Take Apart Truck with Toy Drill is perfect for that!  The drill gives toddlers the ability to take apart a truck, and put it together again!

Storybook Projector Flashlight:

This Storybook Projector Flashlight is just about the cutest thing I have ever seen!  It’s a projector you can attach to your smartphone and then projects images from a story on the wall or ceiling as you read.

Kids are sure to love this fun, magical way to read a story.

 

Luv N Snuggle Baby Doll:

Baby dolls are well loved toys for toddlers to practice pretend play.  The Luv N Snuggle Baby Doll is the perfect size for toddlers to carry around and love on.

 

Kids Cleaning Set:

Another fun toy for encouraging pretend play is the Kids Cleaning Set.  It comes with a kid sized mop, broom, and duster perfect for them to mimic cleaning around the house.  And, (my favorite part) this toy includes a place to store the toys that is equally cute and fun!  It’s currently on sale for just under $25!

Board Books Set:  

Toddlers love to look at books with bright, big pictures.  Give them this Board Book Set with 10 books focused on teaching them all about numbers, colors, animals, and more!  This set is a great deal at less than $20!

Doodle Mat:

Mess free coloring exists with this Aqua Doodle Mat.  You won’t have to worry about paint or markers on the walls or furniture when your toddler uses this fun mat for coloring.  

Fishing Bath Toy:

This Fishing Bath Toy looks like so much fun for any water play.  Your toddler will get to play fisherman with 30 different colorful fish.  Use it in the bathtub or just for playing around the house!

Bristle Blocks:

Another fun and easy building block for toddlers to use are these Bristle Blocks.  The pieces are chunky and easy to stick together.  This set even comes with flowers and jungle animals!

Toddler Busy Board:

Toddlers will have so much fun learning new skills and keeping their fingers busy with this Toddler Busy Board.  It would be the perfect toy for car trips or quiet church activities.

Scavenger Hunt Game:

This Scavenger Hunt Game is perfect for helping little ones explore their home.  The colors are bright and fun and the game is less than $15!  This would be such a fun way to encourage parent-child or sibling-sibling interaction at home.

Bubble Machine:

 There is just something about bubbles that makes everything more fun!  This Bubble Machine will keep the bubbles flowing for your toddler.  It has over 5,000 positive reviews and will be an instant favorite!

 

 

In Conclusion

The most important thing when buying presents for loved ones is to remember that the price of the gift is not what’s important.  All that matters is that you have taken the time, thought and kindness to choose something they will enjoy.  Toddlers are great are truly appreciating all the little and beautiful things in life!

 

Related Articles:

Cheap Gift Ideas for Teen Boys All Under $25!

25 Gift Ideas for Tween Girls; all under $25!

 

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cheap presents for toddlers - toddler gift ideas on a budget

 

What frugal gift ideas for toddlers do you have???

Free Summer Reading Programs For Kids 2022

May 26, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

The best kids summer reading programs.

Summer is just around the corner and I can’t wait for the lazy days of summer.  I love the BBQs, the late nights, the snow cones (ohhhh the snow cones) and the lack of schedule.  However, I do NOT like when the kids are bored (because….that usually leads to complaining…and I REALLY don’t like complaining!).  One of the things that I have found to help curb the summer boredom (and complaining) is to sign my kids up for free summer reading programs.  

These fun kids summer reading programs are the perfect way to keep kids busy, learning, entertained and to help prevent the summer slump.  Most of these reading programs offers incentives and prizes which encourages my kids to keep reading throughout the summer months.  They love accomplishing their goals and receiving a fun reward at the end!

I have been searching for a few free summer reading programs to sign my kids up for this year and wanted to share them with each of you!

summer reading programs in 2022 - easy kids activities for summer

2022 Free Summer Reading Programs

If you are looking for some good reading programs for your kids this summer, make sure to check out each of these!

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program

Another fun summer reading program for kids is from Barnes and Noble.  All they have to do is print out this reading journal, read 8 books and fill out the journal during the summer, and then bring the completed journal into a Barnes and Noble store.  Your child will then be able to choose a free book from the free book lists (which always has lots of fun book choices!).  This is one of our favorite programs and have been participating in it for years!

Books-A-Million

Earn a free “Because of Winn-Dixie” notepad from Books-A-Million after completing their reading challenge.  All you have to do is read 4 books from their Summer Reading Adventure picks in store or online.  Track your reading progress in the provided reading guide book and then show your completed book to a Books-A-Million store associate to get your prize!  Easy peasy!

  • Related:  How To Listen To Audiobooks For Free

Camp Book-It

Sign your kids up for Camp Book-It through Pizza Hut.  This is a fantastic summer reading program for your kids.  All they have to do is set up a monthly reading goal and track their progress digitally.  Once they reach their goal they will be sent a gift certificate for a free personal pan pizza!

Chuck-E-Cheese

Chuck-E-Cheese offers multiple reward charts for your kids to use to help them meet their goals.  We like to print off this reading chart to encourage the kids to read during summer.  All they have to do is read every day for two weeks and mark it on their chart.  Once their chart is completed they can turn it in to Chuck-E-Cheese for 10 free play points!  (Note:  Food purchase is required to redeem play points).

 

 

Half Price Books

Half Price Books offers a fantastic summer reading program.  Sign up here to receive a reward map for your child to use when reading.  If they fill out the map they can redeem it for $5 Bookworms bucks to use at Half Price Books in June or July.

Public Library

Check your local library to see if they offer a free summer reading program for kids.  My library has a great reading program each summer that my kids always look forward to!  They always provide a lot of fun coupons, toys and other incentives.

  • Related:  10 Free Things At The Library

 

Scholastic

Kids can join the Scholastic reading program to earn digital rewards for their reading.  One of the things I love about the Scholastic summer reading is that the more your kids read, the more books Scholastic will donate to kids in need.  So cool, right!!!  It makes reading fun for kids, and gives them the opportunity to help give to others.

Showcase Cinemas

If you live near a Showcase Cinemas you will want to look into their Bookworm Wednesdays reading program.  Your child can receive free admission to a movie on Wednesdays when they bring in a book report written off of one of the books they recently read.

Another thing that makes this deal even sweeter is that accompanying parents/guardians, and siblings under 6 years of age will ALSO get free admission to a movie.

Sync

Teens can get two free audiobooks from Sync each week during the summer months.  This program doesn’t have rewards or charts, but it is a fun way to help teenagers get free books and keep reading!

TD Bank

And last, but certainly not least is the kids summer reading program from TD Bank.  They will deposit $10 into an existing bank account of a child who reads 10 or more books during the summer months!  

 

In Conclusion

Encouraging your kids to participate in these free summer reading programs is one of the best ways to help keep their brains active and literary skills sharp during the summer months.  

You can even turn your summer reading challenges into fun family time.  Reading books together and meeting a goal is a great way to build memories as a family!

 

Related Articles:

50 Fun Summer Activities For Kids

How To Save Money On Kids Clothes

At Home Preschool Activities

 

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I hope you enjoy these free summer reading programs as much as we do!

Free Virtual Field Trips for Kids

April 13, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Free Online Field Trips For Elementary School Kids!

Are you looking for some fun, free virtual field trips for kids?  I’ve got you covered with this list of free online field trips perfect for elementary school kids, preschool aged kids, or anyone who loves to look at awesome places!

I can’t be the only person with bored kids at home???  I’m constantly being asked, “What can I do?  There’s NOTHING to do!”  Those poor darlings just think they live in the most boring house ever!  

Well, one of the ideas I’ve started giving my kids is to take a free virtual field trip!  This way they can experience the world, without even having to leave home!  It’s educational and FUN, making mom happy and kiddos happy.  Don’t we just love a double win???  Yes, yes we do!

Virtual Field Trips For Kids

I’ve scoured the internet to find the best free online field trips for elementary school kids!  I hope your family and students enjoy them as much as we have!

Animal Field Trips

If you have animal lovers, then they are sure to love a few of the virtual animal field trips below.

AfriCam

Have you ever wanted to go on an African safari????  Try a virtual one with the live cameras in the African bush.  AfriCam offers multiple camera views so you can enjoy all that Africa has to offer.

Dairy Farm

Learn all about the Dairy Farm with this fun virtual field trip.  Kids will be able to tour a real dairy farm and learn all of the behind the scenes that goes on at the farm.

Hen Cam

Get a peek into life with chickens with the Hen Cam.  It shows the day to day life of hens living in a backyard outside of Boston.  Hens are so funny, I could watch them for hours!

Houston Zoo

Another fun animal virtual field trip is to the Houston Zoo.  They have live webcams available to watch the elephants, flamingos, river otters and more!

Marineland Dolphin Adventure

For any dolphin or marine animal lovers out there, you must attend the virtual Marineland Dolphin Adventure for an up close look at a variety of sea animals.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Take a trip to the aquarium without leaving home!  The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers multiple cams for your viewing pleasure.  You can watch the moon jelly, penguins, sea otters, sharks and more.

San Diego Zoo Cam

Another fun animal cam you can watch is the San Diego Zoo Cam.  The San Diego Zoo has multiple animal cams available for you and your kiddos to enjoy.  You can watch the apes, baboons, elephants, giraffes, hippos and more!

Zoo Atlanta Panda Cam

Watch the PandaCam on Zoo Atlanta’s YouTube Channel for a fun treat!  You can tune in live whenever and wherever to watch the panda play, eat, and sleep.

panda eating bamboo

  • Related:  Free Summer Reading Programs For Kids 2021

 

Historical Field Trips

Teaching your students a lesson about an historical event or place?  Use one of the virtual field trips below to help bring that history to life.

9/11 Memorial Museum

Take a walk through the 9/11 Memorial Museum with this interactive virtual tour.  This tour does an amazing job of making you feel like you are actually at the memorial museum, viewing the exhibits up close and personal.  It was very moving to go through.

Anne Frank Secret Annex

Tour the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding from 1942-1944.  This is a great virtual tour to see exactly where the Frank family and others lived during WW2 and to learn more about their stories.

Buckingham Palace

Take a peek inside Buckingham Palace here!  You can virtually tour the throne room, grand staircase and white drawing room.

Colonial Williamsburg

Another fun history virtual field trip is to Colonial Williamsburg.  It’s a great look into what was life during colonial times.

Ellis Island

I love this interactive tour of Ellis Island.  They have audio, pictures, and video from passengers arrive on Ellis Island.  The tour takes you step by step through the immigration process into the United States.  It’s very informative and interesting.

Ford’s Theater

Ford’s Theater virtual tour is a great way to learn more about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the events that took place that fateful night.  Through images of the restored theater, students will learn more about the timeline and experiences of the night Lincoln died.

Great Wall of China

Go on a field trip to the Great Wall of China from the comfort of your own home with this virtual tour!

Mount Vernon

George Washingtons home, Mount Vernon, is a beautifully restored home.  This virtual tour will take you through each room of Mount Vernon so that you can get a view of what it looked like when George and Martha lived there.

Museum of the American Revolution

If you or your students are studying about the American Revolution, be sure to check out this field trip to the Museum of the American Revolution.  Lauren Tarshie, author of the I Survived series, guides the field trip, with a deeper look to the revolution, with a kid friendly twist.

National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center offers multiple free virtual tours for elementary kids.  Each video teaches kids about the signing of the constitution, the civil war and founding of America.

National Museum of Natural History

Check out all of the rooms of the National Museum of Natural History.  This is a self guided tour allowing you to view your favorite areas however and whenever you want!

Plimoth Plantation

Visit the Plimoth Plantation with this virtual field trip to learn more about the early settlers of the United States.  The tour includes multiple videos and a slideshow.

Statue of Liberty

Tour the Statue of Liberty with this online field trip.  It’s a great way to see what it looks like from the inside and to learn more about it’s history.

Titanic Wreckage

Have you ever wanted to see what the Titanic looks under water?  Now you can with this Titanic virtual tour.  It’s a fun way to teach kids about a historical event and give them a look at what happens to an object under water.

Titanic pamphlet

  • Related:  How To Teach Kids About Money

 

Great Outdoors Field Trips

Want to see all of the beauty the great outdoors has to offer without leaving your house?  Well you can with these outdoors virtual field trips!

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon Virtual Tour is a an amazing tour along the Grand Canyon Rim to the Colorado River.  You’ll be able to join a 2 hour tour of the Grand Canyon to see all of the sights it has to offer!

Hawaii Volcanos

Check out these amazing Webcams of Hawaiian Volcanoes!  I had so much fun viewing all of the volcano images and can’t wait to show them to my kids.  It’s a great educational virtual field trip!

Mount Rushmore

Get a birds eye view of Mount Rushmore with this virtual field trip.  You’ll get to explore the monument up close and personal, for a little taste of what it would be like to actually be there.

Son Doong Cave

Travel to Vietnam and tour the largest cave in the world, with the Son Doong Cave virtual tour.  The calming sounds and pictures transports you straight into this beautiful cave.

Yellowstone

Take a virtual field trip to Yellowstone National Park.  You can view Mammoth Hot Springs, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mud Volcano and more!  It’s such a fun way to see all of the unique beauty Yellowstone has to offer, without ever leaving your house!

Yosemite

Yosemite is such a beautiful park and I had so much fun visiting it virtually with this field trip.  

The waterfall in Yosemite National Park

 

  • Related:  How To Save Money On Kids Clothes

 

Space Field Trips

Take a trip to space with these fun virtual field trips.

Mars

I absolutely love this virtual field trip to Mars.  You’ll get to tour the real surface of Mars that was previously recorded by NASAS Curiosity Rover.

Slime in Space

You must check out this fun slime in space virtual field trip.  Here students will get to learn how slime acts when it’s in space.  This is a really fun field trip and experiment!

Space Station

I’m always curious about life in space, and every kid I’ve met is too!  Here’s a fun virtual field trip to the international space station.  Get a peek into how astronauts live in space and what it’s like working at the space station.

Stellarium

Take a fun field trip to the stars.  Check out Stallarium Web to view the constellations, stars and planets.  You can even input your location to locate the stars right above your backyard.

Sun

I love this virtual tour to the sun.  It’s really well made and even makes stops to the moon, Venus and Mercury.

Mars Rover

 

  • Related:  21 Free and Frugal Kids Educational Websites

 

Educational Virtual Field Trips

Below are some of my favorite educational online field trips.

Bright Farms

Learn more about how food is grown with the BrightFarms Virtual Field Trip.  You’ll get to peek inside of a greenhouse and watch how indoor farming works!

M&M Candy Factory Tour

Here’s a really fun virtual tour of the M&M Candy Factory.  Watch the entire process of  what it takes to make M&Ms.  It’s a really fun video and tour!

Memphis Fire Department

Here is a fun virtual field trip of a Memphis Fire Department.  Learn all about fire stations and get a look at a fire engine up close and personal.

Mount Olive Pickles Tour

Another fun educational virtual field trip is the Mount Olive Pickles Tour.  It’s an interesting tour showing the entire process of taking a cucumber and turning it into multiple types of pickles.

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Learn more about aviation with a tour of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.  With this virtual tour you’ll be able to see different aircrafts and missiles on display, and learn a few interesting facts about aviation history.

Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy offers multiple virtual field trips for students to take right from the comfort of their home or classroom.  You can choose from multiple topics covered including, climate change, coral, ecosystems and more, there is something for everyone!

Recycling Center

Teach your kids all about recycling with this recycling center virtual tour.  They will learn all about the importance of recycling, and get to watch the big equipment sorting and packing the recycled materials.

Sawmill Tour

Tour the Collum’s Lumber Yard and learn how pine trees are turned into lumber.  It’s a really fun behind the scenes video!

Sawmill (lumber mill)

 

  • Related:  How To Listen To Audiobooks For Free

 

Art Field Trips

Do you have an art lover in your classroom?  Take a few of these fun virtual art field trips below!

Frida Kahlo Museum

Virtually explore the beautiful home of famed artist, Frida Kahlo.  Her home, Casa Azul, is full of so much beauty and original art.  It is a masterpiece that is so fun to view from the comfort of your own home.

National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art has multiple video tours and lessons for elementary school kids to take to help them learn more about art.  This is a great resource for teachers and parents!

Vatican Museums

Virtually visit the Vatican Museums and get a close up look of the beautiful art and architecture in each one.  Your students will be able look inside the Sistine Chapel, Raphaels Rooms, and more!

 

In Conclusion

We are so lucky to live during a time when we can travel the world as a family or class, without even having to leave our house.  I hope you enjoy some of these free virtual field trips for kids!

 

 

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Enjoy these free virtual field trips for kids!

Best Side Hustles For Stay At Home Moms

April 5, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to earn money from home!

I have been so lucky to have been able to spend the past 16 years at home with my kids.  Being a stay at home mom is a job I always dreamed of, and I am definitely living my dream!  But, as my kids have grown older and I have had more free time, I have been looking for ways to earn a little extra income, without having to give up my time with my kids.  If you are in a similar situation at me, wanting to stay home with your kids, but are also wondering how to earn money from home, this article is for you!  I brainstormed a list of the best side hustles for stay at home moms, and I hope they help!

The best thing about this list is that these jobs are for anyone who wants to work part time out of their home.  Many of these can be done in the evenings or on weekends while you are still working a full time job.

This article contains affiliate links.  I will receive a commission off of purchases made through my links.

1.  Clean Businesses or Homes

A great way to make money as a stay at home mom is to hire yourself out to clean local businesses or homes.  Many businesses will need to be cleaned after office hours, which is perfect for stay at home moms because this mean you might be able to leave your kids at home with your husband once he gets home from work while you go clean.  This is also a good option for those needing to earn money after their day job is done.

You can easily market yourself on Facebook Marketplace, just post in a local group that you are available to clean and when.  There are also a few cleaning companies you could call and ask if they are needing another cleaner.

This is actually my side hustle.  I have been cleaning two AirBnb Rentals for the past year and actually really enjoy it!

I stick my earbuds in, listen to my favorite podcasts or a new book and clean away.  It’s good money and fairly easy work.  I’ve also been given permission to bring my kids with me, so I give them little jobs to help with and pay them for their help!  It’s been a great experience for all of us!

2.  Ebay Reseller

Do you like to thrift shop???  Why not turn that hobby into a part time job?  Look for brand name items at local thrift stores or garage sales and resell them on ebay.

Before buying anything remember to do a quick check on eBay to see how much money similar items are selling for, this should give you an idea of what is a good buy or not.

I’ve sold items here and there on eBay, but never consistently.  If you are interested in learning more, I found a fantastic article that can help get you started!

3.  AirBnb Hosting

I first learned about AirBnb Hosting from the lovely Jamie at Fly By The Seat of Our Pants.  Her family travels constantly, and they have learned to rent out their home using AirBnb while they are on vacation!  This has given them the ability to EARN money while they are on vacation!  I mean seriously, can it get any better than that????

I’ll be honest, when I first heard Jamie talk about letting strangers come stay at their house while they go on vacation, I was not on board.  But, the more I have learned from her, the more that I can see it is in fact a GREAT way to earn an extra income.  If you’re like me and have questions about how she makes it all work, check out her post Secrets of an AirBnb Host-FAQ of Renting our Home. She explains it all so well!

 

4.  VIP Kid

VIP Kid is currently one of the most popular work from home jobs, and for good reason!  The company is super easy to work with and hires most of their applicants!

This job sounds so fun because you get to sit at your computer while teaching English to kids in China!  If you are a teacher at heart, this is the job for you.

The best part is that all of the work is already done for you!  The lesson plans are all prepared, your job is just to teach it!

They do require you have some experience working with kids and a bachelors degree.  But!  It doesn’t matter what your degree is in!  (whoo!)

5.  Babysit Kids in Your Home

If you are already at home taking care of your own kids, why not offer to babysit a few other kids.  This is an easy way to earn an extra income, while doing what you would be doing anyways!

If a full time daycare feels like to much, consider just watching one child a couple of times a week.  I constantly see posts on Facebook Marketplace of parents wanting to find a part time sitter for their child.  Check there first!

6.  Blogging

Hello blogging! I fell in love with blogging last year when I decided, completely on a whim, to start this little blog.  I’ve always had a love of writing and being able to do that while being a full time stay at home mom felt like the perfect fit.

I’ve learned a lot over the past year and made a lot of mistakes at the same time.  But, you know what.  All of the ups and downs have been so worth it!  I love getting to do what I love from the comfort of my home.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about getting started blogging!  It’s a long road, made much easier with a support system.

  • Related:  How Do Bloggers Make Money

7.  Open an Etsy Shop

Do you love to craft or create?  Consider opening an Etsy shop to sell your handmade items.  We all have the ability to create something to share with the world.

Maybe your shop would be crafts, or jewelry.  It might even be graphic design or printables….the sky is the limit!  Spend a few minutes searching through Etsy to get some ideas for your own shop.

8.  Teach a Service

Do you have a skill you could teach to others?  I bet you do!

A few years ago I was a piano teacher (until I retired for personal reasons).  I loved having the ability to pick my own schedule and teach right out of my home.

What skills could you teach to others?  Maybe you could teach music, sewing, gardening, art, or cooking.

It would be fun to create a summer camp and focus on teaching for a few weeks straight if you don’t want to commit to something long term.

You could even teach through Zoom, Skype, etc.

9.  Photography

Do you like to take pictures?  Why don’t you turn it into a business!  All of the photographers I use are stay at home moms, and they are fantastic!

This side hustle will require some upfront costs as you invest in a camera and possibly some equipment.  But, it might be worth it if this is something you feel passionate about.

Do some research online and learn about what it takes to start a photography business to help you decide if this is the right fit for you or not.

10.  Refurbish Old Furniture

Refurbishing old furniture might feel a little daunting at first, but once you get going with it it’s actually really not that hard!!

Search thrift stores, estate sales and garage sales for old furniture and when you find a cheap price on a nice piece, snatch it up.

The trick is to look for the POTENTIAL!  Try to see beyond the yellow oak stain, the scratches and nicks and imagine the beauty the furniture could be.  Be sure to BARTER if you’re at a garage sale (always).

You can find hundreds of YouTube video tutorials all about how to refurbish old furniture!

Once you’re done fixing it up, list the item for sale, Facebook Marketplace works great, and enjoy the profit you’ll make!

I actually LOVE buying from people who have fixed up old furniture.  I love the look of it, but don’t like putting in the work.  So, you never know….I just might be your first customer!  😉

11.  Become a Virtual Assistant

Becoming a virtual assistant is easy!  All you need is motivation and a computer!  Virtual assistants work from home while assisting companies with social media, blogging, editing, e-mailing and more.

This job is wide open to whatever the company needs from you to keep their business thriving.  I have heard SO many good things about being a virtual assistant, and have considered it myself!

If you are interested in becoming a virtual assistant, I recommend joining a few Virtual Assistant Facebook groups.  These will be a great resource for you to ask questions and network.

12.  Tutoring

There have been times (actually many, many times) when I would be willing to PAY someone to help my daughter with her math homework.  I just don’t do math!

If I knew of a stay at home mom who would be willing to tutor my daughter in this subject, that is a fee I would be willing to pay!  If you enjoy working with others and feel confident in a specific subject, this is a great way to earn extra money from home.

Consider signing up through a tutoring company, or hire yourself out online.  This is a great job for setting your own hours!

In Conclusion

I truly believe that with the technology we have there are so many side hustles for stay at home moms, or anyone wanting to earn an extra income from home.  Do some research, find the right fit for you and your personality, and then get started making money!

Let me know if you have any questions, I am here to help!

 

Pin this article for future reference:

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Related Articles:

Budgeting for Beginners: FAQ

What I have learned about living a sweet and frugal life on ONE income

The life lessons that taught me to budget for JOY while living in the present!

The best side hustles for stay at home moms!

Easy Toilet Paper Roll Crafts

March 2, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Crafts you can make using a toilet paper roll.

Are you looking for some easy toilet paper roll crafts for kids to do?  Because I have you covered in this article!

Start saving your toilet paper rolls because there are SO many fun creations you can make with them.  This list includes some amazing kid friendly toilet paper roll crafts.  Not only will you get to repurpose that toilet paper roll, you will also get to have fun crafting with your kids.

toilet paper roll craft ideas - easy crafts for kids

1.  Toilet Paper Roll Pirate

How cute is this toilet paper roll pirate from Two Kids And A Coupon?!?!  It’s the perfect craft for any pirate lover and will be easy to customize however you want!  All you need is a toilet paper roll, some craft paper and glue!

2.  Toilet Paper Seedling Pots

Get your kids excited about gardening with these Toilet Paper Seedling Pots from The Forked Spoon.  It will only take 10 minutes to put this craft together, and your kids will love getting to watch their seedlings grow in their homemade pots!

DIY Upcycled Toilet Paper Seedling Pots and Painted Stone Garden Markers

  • Related:  9 Easiest Vegetables To Grow In First Garden

3.  Butterfly Toilet Paper Roll Craft

Here’s a super fun toilet paper roll craft idea from Fun Money Mom perfect for preschoolers.  This butterfly toilet paper craft requires a few more supplies than some of the other craft projects, but it is still quick and easy to throw together.

4.  Toilet Paper Roll Pillow Box

I love these toilet paper roll pillow boxes!  What a fun, functional craft project for kids to make with a toilet paper roll.  They can use them to give gifts to their friends or store their special objects.  

5.  Toilet Paper Roll Princess Bracelet

Here’s a unique craft idea!  Use a toilet paper roll to make a princess bracelet!  The little girl in your life will love getting to decorate her bracelet to match her personality!

6.  Toilet Paper Roll Hedgehogs

Simple Every Day Mom has the most adorable toilet paper roll hedgehog template!  You will only need a few supplies in addition to the template and toilet paper roll to make your own hedgehog!

two toilet paper roll hedgehog crafts

7.  Marshmallow Shooter

We made these marshmallow shooters last summer and they were so much fun to play with!  You could make them using a patriotic theme like Big Family Blessings does, or customize them to fit your personality!

8.  Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder

Your kids will have so much fun learning more about birds with this easy toilet paper roll bird feeder craft from Honey and Lime.  It doesn’t take very much time at all to put together your bird feeder, so you can just sit back and enjoy watching the birds!

9.  Toilet Paper Roll Monster

Here’s another fun toilet paper craft idea for the kids!  Make toilet paper roll monsters and read the book to go with it!  It’s a great activity for teaching kids about emotions and how to handle the way they feel!

10.  Toilet Paper Roll Shaker Instrument

Start a family band with these toilet paper roll shaker instruments!  The instrument is made by filling a toilet paper roll with pasta and closing it off with masking tape.  Plus, the kids will get to decorate the outside however they would like!

  • Related:  At Home Preschool Activities

11.  Astronaut Toilet Paper Roll Craft

I love this easy craft idea!  The tutorial includes a free astronaut template for your kids to color and attach to the toilet paper roll.

12.  Toilet Paper Roll Dragon Blower

You can even use a toilet paper roll to make a dragon blower!  This is a great tutorial from Ruffles and Rain Boots about how to make a toilet paper roll dragon blower.  It is sure to provide hours of fun for your little one to run around with and watch the tissue paper blow.

13.  Snowman Toilet Paper Roll Craft

These snowmen toilet paper rolls are so cute!  Plus, they are a very simple craft project…..which to be honest are my favorite kind of crafts!  You can even make a whole family of snowmen to play with!

14.  Toilet Paper Roll Fireworks Stamp

Our family loves to turn toilet paper rolls into fireworks stamps.  Then, with a little bit of paint you can use the stamp to make a fun firework painting!

15.  Toilet Paper Roll Unicorn

Check out this adorable toilet paper roll unicorn!  It’s seriously the cutest thing ever, and so easy to make!  It’s sure to bring a smile to any little girls face!

16.  Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt with these toilet paper roll binoculars!  Go Places With Kids shares a full tutorial and adorable template to help you whip up a few darling binoculars for your kiddos.

17.  Toilet Paper Roll Rocket

If you make the astronaut that I shared earlier in this article then you must also make the rocket ship to go with it!  It’s so easy to make with a little bit of paper, cutting and gluing!

18.  Toilet Paper Roll Fairy House Luminaries

These Fairy House Luminaries are such a creative way to use up your toilet paper rolls.  I love the idea of setting a battery tea light inside!  So fun!

19.  Toy Car Storage Out Of Toilet Paper Rolls

If you have a car lover in your house you must make him a car garage out of toilet paper rolls!  It’s such a cute way to display your toy cars and use up some toilet paper rolls while you’re at it!

  • Related:  Easy Toilet Paper Pumpkin Craft Tutorial

20.  Feelings Learning Activity With Toilet Paper Rolls

Teach your kids about their feelings with this toilet paper roll learning activity/craft. It’s so important for young kids to learn how to handle all of their many feelings, and Two Pink Peonies teaches exactly how to do that with a few toilet paper rolls, markers, and paper.

21.  Toilet Paper Roll Pencil Case

Can you believe how awesome this toilet paper roll pencil case is?!?!  It’s such a genius way to repurpose toilet paper rolls.  You will have to put in some effort and patience to make the pencil case, but it is the perfect craft for summer to prepare for back to school!  Your kids will feel so proud bringing their very own handmade pencil case to school.

closed diy pencil case

22.  Toilet Paper Roll Fish

Kid Friendly Things To Do shares the cutest fish craft tutorial using a toilet paper roll!  I would love to make these in a lot of different colors!

In Conclusion

We all go through so many toilet paper rolls each week, so instead of letting them go to waste, try one of these fun craft ideas!  It’s a great way to spend an afternoon with your kiddos, without having to spend a lot of money!

 

Check Out These Other Craft Ideas:

Easy Craft With Nature Items: Nature Bookmark Tutorial

How to Make Tissue Paper Pom Poms

 

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Enjoy these easy toilet paper crafts!

How To Save Money On Diapers

February 22, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Here are a few ways to get baby diapers for cheap!

If you have a baby (or have ever had babies) then you know that buying diapers can be a huge expensive.  I remember being a first time mom (back, many, many years ago) and I couldn’t believe how quickly we went through a box of diapers.  Fortunately, there are some things you can do to get diapers for cheap!  Here are a few tips for how to save money on diapers, I hope they help all you parents out there save some money!

How To Know When You Are Getting A Good Deal

First, let’s go over what a good diaper price is!  It’s so important for you to know the going rate of diapers, so that when you find a good deal, you will know it’s the best price! 

According to True Money Saver the current stock up price on diapers are:

Newborn: 13¢
Size 1: 14¢
Size 2: 16¢
Size 3: 19¢
Size 4: 22¢
Size 5: 25¢

The best way to compare current diaper prices is to calculate the price per unit.  A price per unit is the price that each individual diaper costs.

To calculate the price/unit you will divide the price of the diapers by the number of diapers in the box. 

For example, if you are buying a newborn size box of diapers that costs $47.07 and have 198 diapers in the box you would use this equation:

47.07 divided by 198 = 23

So the price/unit of the newborn box of diapers is 23 cents per diaper.  If you look at the stock up prices above you will see that 23 cents/diaper is a little high, and not a great deal.

Tips To Save Money On Diapers

Now that you know the best prices to watch for when buying diapers, let’s go over a few ways to get those much needed diapers for cheap!

1.  Shop Sales

One of the best ways to save money on diapers is to buy them when they go on sale.  

Here are a few tips for buying diapers on sale:

  • Baby sales typically happen between the months of February and September
  • Compare unit prices on diapers to know if the sale is actually the cheapest price (as discussed earlier)
  • Pair a coupon with a sale for the best deal
  • Scan receipts into cashback apps for rebates on diapers
  • Use the Flipp app to find weekly diaper deals

2.  Join Amazon Family

Did you know that you can get a 20% discount on diapers when you join Amazon Family through prime, and sign up for a diaper subscription??  Because you can!  Plus, you can even match the subscription discount with Amazon coupons for an even better deal.  And!  Prime membership always gives you free shipping!  This is a great deal for parents!

I’ve used Amazons subscription services a few times and love the convenience of them!  It’s so easy to set how often you want the products sent to you, and super easy to cancel when you don’t need the service anymore.

3.  Buy Generic

Store brand diapers are often much cheaper than name brand, but still a great quality.  Try a few different generic brands to find the ones that work best for you and your baby.  I highly recommend trying the Target brand!

Remember to pay close attention to price per unit to make sure the generic brand that you buy is cheaper than the name brands.

4.  Buy In Bulk

Another great way to get diapers for cheap is to buy them in bulk.  Again, calculate the price per unit when buying diapers, most of the time the bulk diapers will be cheaper, but not always.  It’s important to always double check!

Buying diapers in bulk is a great way to get name brand diapers for a much cheaper price.

5.  Use Coupons

One of my very favorite things to do is to pair a coupon with a sale.  This is the way to get your favorite items for dirt cheap!

Search regularly for diaper coupons to help you lower the price of your favorite brands (especially when you match it with a sale!).  You can find coupons on manufacturers websites, and coupon websites like coupons.com.

Another way to get coupons is by contacting the manufacturer directly and ask for them!  Send your favorite diaper brand an email asking if they have any free samples or coupons, and they will more than likely send you a few in the mail.  Yay!

6.  Try Cloth Diapers

I know (trust me, I know!), the idea of using cloth diapers is not always the most exciting option.  It requires a little more work and effort, but it can be a HUGE money saver!  According to this Forbes article, cloth diapers will save you around $1,000 in your child’s lifetime, that is a huge savings!

There is some expensive upfront costs for cloth diapering.  You will need to stock up on cloth diapers, but once you have your stock, the costs will go down significantly.

7.  Use Rebate Apps

Never, and I mean NEVER, throw away a receipt before scanning it into a few rebate apps.  Many of these apps give cash back on diaper purchases.  So, if you can, match a coupon with a deal, and then get a cash back rebate!  Cha-ching!  We’re talking big savings here!

A few of my favorite cash back apps for diapers are:

Fetch Rewards:  Fetch Rewards is so easy and quick to use!  All you have to do is scan your grocery receipt into the app and you’ll automatically earn points based on the products you bought.  Lastly, you can redeem your points for gift card to your favorite places!  Yay!

Ibotta:  Ibotta is another great rebate app that consistently offers cash back on diaper purchases.  To use Ibotta, select the store you shopped at, click on the items you bought, and then scan your receipt into the app.  You will be reward with cash back into your account within just a few hours.  Easy, peasy!

8.  Join Rewards Programs

Many of your favorite diaper companies (I’m looking at you pampers and huggies!) offers reward programs where you can earn points to use towards free diapers and other fun stuff.  If you are going to be buying diapers anyways, you might as well get rewarded for it, right?  Right!  

It is possible to save money on diapers!

I know just how stressful finances can feel when you are raising young kids, the expenses just never seem to end!  But, I also know that there are some tricks you can try to get diapers for cheap!  I hope this article helped answer some of your questions.

 

Related Articles:

Baby on a Budget: A First Time Parents Guide to Saving Money

How To Start A Babysitting Co-op To Save Money On Childcare

15 Baby Items You Dont Need

 

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Get Out Pass: An Honest Review

February 4, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Here is my honest review of Get Out Pass; the app that makes family fun-budget friendly!

Well, it’s official!  I’ve been using the Get Out Pass app for over a year now, and I have loved every minute of it!  To be honest, I was a little hesitant when I first signed up for this subscription based activities app, but our entire family has been loving getting to enjoy activities we normally wouldn’t be able to afford, without having to pay for them each time we go!  I can’t wait to share this honest review of the Get Out Pass with you!

Sweet Frugal Life is an affiliate with Get Out Pass and this article contains affiliate codes.  I will be compensated from purchases made using the links/codes in this article.

get out pass review - Idaho Get Out Pass

What Is The Get Out Pass App?

The Get Out Pass is an app that gives you free access to multiple local venues after a one time low yearly fee.  This is the perfect way to explore activities around your community, without having to pay a lot of money.  My family has experienced more fun activities in the past year with the Get Out Pass, then we have in the 8 years of living here.

How Does The Get Out Pass Work?

Using the Get Out Pass is so easy!  First, sign up for your pass online here.  Make sure to use my discount code:  SWEETFRUGALLIFE (code currently only available for Idaho, Utah, North California, North Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Washington and Colorado passes) to get a percentage off of your yearly pass.  Here’s an insiders hint:  my code will ALWAYS be cheaper then the websites sale price…..you’re welcome! 

You will sign up for your Get Out Pass based on your location.  For example, I live in Idaho, so I have the Idaho Get Out Pass.

After you are all signed up and paid your one time yearly fee, download the Get Out Pass app onto your phone and sign into your newly created account.  

Now, all you have left to do is browse the participating attractions available in your area and choose which one you want to visit!

Once you select a venue to visit, drive to that attraction and show the Get Out Pass app to the ticket attendant!

And that’s it!  The staff member will let you inside, free of charge!

*Make sure to read the fine print of each venue before attempting to redeem your pass.  Some attractions have specific days that they can be used and others can only be used a certain number of times throughout the year.

Who Is The Get Out Pass For?

The Get Out Pass is for everyone!  It’s perfect for:

  • Families on a budget
  • Couples needing new date night ideas
  • Someone who likes trying new things

I also highly recommend giving the pass as a gift for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or just for fun!  How fun to give the gift of experiences!  They will love it!

What Locations Are Available?

Not all locations are available for the Get Out Pass.  Currently you can get a Get Out Pass in these areas:

  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California – Central Valley
  • California – North.Reno
  • California – Southern
  • Colorado
  • Florida – North
  • Florida – South
  • Florida – Tampa/Central
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Indianapolis
  • Kansas City
  • Kentucky – Louisville
  • Maryland/Washington D.C.
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada – Las Vegas
  • New England
  • New Jersey/Philadelphia
  • New Mexico/West Texas
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh
  • St.Louis
  • Tennessee
  • Texas – Dallas/Fort Worth
  • Texas – San Antonio/Austin
  • Utah
  • Washington

How Much Does The Get Out Pass Cost?

The yearly cost of Get Out Pass will vary based on your specific location, however most prices are between $50-$150 per person/per year.  Which, when you consider the amount of attractions available to you with the pass, this is a fantastic deal!

When buying your pass be sure to use my coupon code: SWEETFRUGALLIFE (code currently only available for Idaho, Utah, North California, North Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Washington and Colorado passes) for the best discount on your pass.

What Attractions Are Included?

There are so many fun venues available to you with the Get Out Pass.  Our family has loved getting to try some new places that I normally wouldn’t spend money on.

Every location will have different venues, but here are a few that we get with the Idaho Get Out Pass:

  • Lagoon (YES!  Lagoon, an amusement park in Utah is on the Idaho Get Out Pass!)
  • Idaho Falls Chukars Baseball Game
  • Aquarium
  • Art Museum
  • Archery Range
  • Aquatic Center Swimming Pool
  • Zoo
  • Ice Skating Rink
  • Roller Skating
  • Axe Throwing
  • Escape Room
  • Round of Golf
  • Gravity Factory Trampoline Park
  • Rock Climbing Gym
  • Glow Golf
  • Museum of Natural History
  • Bowling
  • Hot Springs
  • Indoor Shooting Range

There really is something for EVERYONE!

Get Out Pass Pros:

There are so many things I love about my Get Out Pass, but here are a few of my favorites:

  • The app is SO user friendly and easy to use.
  • Getting to experience new places.
  • More quality time spent together with my family.
  • It’s budget friendly!  If I would pay for each of the activities separately it would cost so much more money then buying the subscription pass.

Get Out Pass Cons:

I promised an honest review, and I’m going to deliver.  Here are a couple of things that I don’t like about the Get Out Pass:

  • Not all attractions are available daily.  Many of the venues aren’t available for weekend use, which can make it difficult for my busy family at times, as we prefer weekends.
  • Some of the venues only allow you to use it for a short time.  Most of the attractions available let you in for the full experience.  But, I was disappointed to see that my local trampoline park only offered a free 15 minute jump session, when an hour long is the norm.  15 minutes is just not long enough to fully enjoy the experience.

In Summary

All in all the pros of the Get Out Pass highly outweigh the cons.  Our family has had the best time using our passes this year, and I can’t wait to renew them for next year!

Related Articles:

Free Things To Do In Salt Lake City

Best Family Games Under $20

25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

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Review of the Idaho Get Out Pass.

 

Easy Science Activity For Preschoolers

January 8, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Life3 Comments

How To Do The Magic Toothpick Science Experiment

We are in the dead of winter over here.  Which usually means trying to entertain the kids with indoor activities, one of our favorite things to do when stuck at home is science experiments..  My kids love science experiments!  They especially love the magic toothpick experiment!  It’s so easy to do and I always have the supplies on hand.  This is the perfect easy science activity for preschoolers, toddlers, and basically all the kids!

magic toothpick science activity preschoolers - rainy day activities for kids

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  • Related:  25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

Magic Toothpick:  Easy Science Activity for Preschoolers

One of my favorite things about this easy science activity for preschoolers is that it only requires a few supplies, and I always have them stocked up in my house!

Gather Supplies

To do the magic toothpick experiment you will need to first gather all of your supplies.

You will need:

  • Milk
  • Toothpicks
  • Dish Soap
  • Food Coloring
  • Shallow Bowl

Perform The Experiment

Now that you have your supplies, it’s time to have fun with this easy science experiment!  I promise you won’t mess this up, and your kids will love it!

First, pour some milk into a bowl.  I like to use a wide shallow container.  A pie tin would work great, or anything you happen to have on hand. 

There isn’t an exact measurement for milk, I just usually pour enough milk in to cover the bottom of the container

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Next, choose a few colors of food coloring.  This is a fun part for kids to help with!  They love choosing their favorite colors!

Today my son chose red, green, and blue.  Now, drop a few drops of the chosen color of food coloring into the milk.  Try to spread out the spots where you put the food coloring, so that it covers different areas of the milk.  But, don’t drop in to many that it covers to much milk.

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Now comes the fun “magic toothpick” part!  Pour a small amount of dish soap into a small, separate bowl. 

Get out a toothpick and dip the toothpick into the dish soap.  With the dish soap on the toothpick the science experiment is ready!  I like to tell my kids the toothpick is now magic…..but, really it’s science!  So you choose how you want to explain this next part!

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Using the soap side end of the toothpick, lightly touch the drops of food coloring you have in the milk. 

The colors will spread and make beautiful designs.  Keep touching the food coloring until it is completely spread throughout the bowl.  Your kids will be sure magic is happening right before their eyes!

Then, you can dump out the milk and repeat the process all over again!  My kids can’t get enough of this activity!


Have Fun With Your Kids

Kids grow so fast!!!!  These sweet, special memories you can make with them now will be something you look back on forever!  My daughter use to always ask me to do a science experiment with her every day…..and I got tired of it at times.  But, now that she is 13….I miss it so much!

Looking for more preschool friendly activities?

Peanut Butter Play Dough Recipe

Easy Easter Craft for Preschoolers: Egg Sun Catcher

Screen Free At Home Kids Activities

Want to try this easy science activity at home?  Pin it for later reference!

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Try this easy science activity for preschoolers today!

Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

December 19, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

You can make your own pizza with this easy homemade pizza crust recipe!

Over a decade ago we started our friday pizza and movie night tradition with our little family.  The tradition is to eat pizza and watch a movie together as a family on the first Friday of every month.  We started out watching Barbie movies and now as the kids have grown, so has our choice in movies.  However, the one thing that hasn’t changed is we still eat pizza!  Sometimes I make my own pizza using this easy homemade pizza crust recipe, and other times we order out…either way the pizza always happens!

I thought we would grow out of this tradition as the kids grew, but we didn’t.  The kids still look forward to our monthly pizza and movie night!  Today I am sharing my favorite pizza dough recipe.  I have tried many recipes, and this one is by far the best, trust me!

 

easy pizza dough recipe - how to make homemade pizza

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  • Related:  Easy Pizza Night ideas

How To Make Homemade Pizza

Homemade pizza is one of those foods that seem intimidating to make, but is actually SO easy!

First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Next, mix 2 1/4 tsp. of yeast with 1 cup warm water.  Let it sit until the mixture becomes bubbly and frothy.

Add 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and 2 1/4 cups flour to the yeast mixture and mix well.  You might need to add a little flour.  The goal is for the dough to be slightly sticky, but also able to bounce back when you poke it.

Put your dough into a greased bowl and cover with a dishcloth.  Let it rise for 30-60 minutes or until doubled.

Once risen punch down dough and place it on a lightly floured surface.  Roll it out into a pizza shape.

Place your rolled out dough on a greased pizza pan.  I prefer to use a pizza pan similar to this one.  The holes in the bottom helps the crust to cook evenly.  If you don’t have a pizza pan you can use a cookie sheet!  It will work great!

Top your pizza with your favorite toppings.  Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

 

See how easy that was?!?!?!

Easy Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

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Ingredients
  

  • 2 ¼ tsp yeast
  • 1 cup warm water baby bath temp
  • 2 TBSP olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 ¼   cups flour

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • In mixer lightly mix water and yeast together.  Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
  • Add the oil, salt, and flour to the yeast mixture.  Mix well.  You may need a little less or little more flour.  You want the dough to bounce back if you poke it.  I also usually keep the dough slightly sticky.
  • Put dough into greased bowl and cover with a dishcloth.  Let rise for 30-60 minutes until doubled.  I will usually put it next to the flour or in the sun to speed up the rising process.
  • Place dough on lightly floured surface.  Roll out into a pizza shape.  (If you don’t have a pizza pan, just use a cookie sheet.  It works great!)  Place on greased pan.  Poke all over with a fork.  Cover with your favorite toppings.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

The fun thing about homemade pizza is all of the easy ways to customize.  My kids love pepperoni, so that’s what I make most days.  You can make it Hawaiian, cheese stuffed, thick crust, thin crust, and so on.

Encourage your kids to help with making the pizza.  They will love rolling out the dough and covering it with all the toppings!

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Don’t forget to pin this recipe for your next pizza night:

Homemade pizza dough recipe - make your own easy pizza

how to make your own pizza - easy pizza recipe

 

Easy homemade pizza dough recipe.

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