A Day of DIY Lion Activities for Kids

As the proverb says, March (or Spring) will go "In like a lion, and out like a lamb" or "In like a lamb and out like a lion." 

Our March definitely went "Out like a Lion" so because we have some lion lovers in the house, we were trapped inside due to weather and sickness, and we had THE PERFECT book for such a thing, we had a day of "Lion Lessons".

THE BOOK

We read the book (multiple times) by Jon Agee which has seven steps to becoming a lion and then we proceeded to try them out for ourselves and added a few more.

TAIL MAKING

A $2.88 bundle of yarn allowed us to make lion tails and manes for our little lion cubs. For the tails we just cut off 10 or so strands a few feet long and then loosely braided them and added some extra pieces at the bottom. Kids can tuck the end into their pants or pants pocket and it stays in pretty well. 

MANE MAKING

For the mane we cut 15 small pieces (roughly 3 inches long each) and then tied them together with another small piece to form a "puff". We used that same piece of thread to tie the "puff" to an elastic headband. Once all the "puffs" were on the headband they can put it around their head and have a mane.

MUST HAVE PAWS

The kids got these slippers for Christmas and I have enjoyed watching them run around in them about as much as they have enjoyed using them. So funny and they love to use them to dress up as lions both on their hands and their feet. 

POUNCING PRACTICE

No, they didn't pounce on these two. These two watched the kids jump/pounce into a giant pile of blankets and pillows from a VERY safe distance.  

THE ARTWORK

We traced circles on art paper using dessert plates and then let the kids use washable paint and plastic forks to make manes around the circles which then became lions. Walmart has lion sun catchers for a dollar that you can use with paint or markers. Since we did these activities during springtime we had to throw a lion Easter Egg into the mix. 

THE EATS

This is the only picture I have from a lion party we had earlier in the year. Easy to make and the kiddos love it. You'll need two box cake mixes. Chocolate cupcakes for the mane and whatever flavor you choose for the face which is a circular cake pan.

LION DEN

We build a giant blanket and pillow fort under the kitchen table to be used as a lions den and they played happily in there for well over an hour. 

LION ROAR

It goes without saying that the Lion Roar was practiced All. Day. Long.

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Our Best Easter Bunny Finds

Our best Bunny finds from around town this year and our favorite Bunny books in case you are looking for some goodies. Get out there if you haven't. Easter stuff is going quick. 

Best Bunny Books

Peter Cotton Tails Busy Day by Joseph R Ritchie

Big Bad Bunny by Melanie Joyce

Are You Ready for Bed by Jane Johnson

One More Rabbit by Margaret Wise Brown 

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing

The Biggest Easter Basket Ever by Steven Kroll

Its Not Easy Being a Bunny by Marilyn Sadler

Stuffed Bunny Rabbits

Smiths has the cutest little stuffed bunnies that are the perfect size for an Easter basket for $1. They also have lambs, frogs, and pigs.

Some Bunny Loves You Treat Bag

Turn a brown lunch sack into a bunny perfect for Easter. See tutorial here. 

Easter Bunny Fruit Tray

Blueberries, pineapple, strawberries and kiwi shaped just so make the cutest edible bunny. Whiskers are pieces of string cheese. 

Rabbit Egg Grabbers

.98 cents at Walmart will score you a pair of these bunny egg grabbers that make egg dying a little more fun and hopefully a little cleaner for mom. 

Chocolate Bunnies

My kids informed me that one of the Easter Bunny's "Must Brings" is a chocolate rabbit so I snatched these up at Walmart for a dollar before they disappear.

Bunny Banner

This is from Target last year but you could easily cut these shapes or other bunny shapes and make a banner with small clothes pins and twine. 

Bunny Bags

Target for the win on these. Bunnies are $3, carrots are $1 each.

Ears

An Easter must have for little ones and pictures on the big day. Bunny beanie from Target. Ears from the dollar store.

Paper Plates

These are a Walmart find but I have seen plates at Target, the Dollar Store, Smiths and nearly every grocery store around town. Act quick and they are $1.

Target Finds

Best place for Holiday decor is Targets Dollar Spot hands down because you can get something new for the season without breaking the bank. The bunny on the left is there this year. The bunny on the right was from years past. $3 bucks each.

More goodies at the target dollar spot, both the stickers and the spring garland!! 

Golden Bunny Flats 30% off right now!! Momma and daughter LOVE them! 

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Best St. Patricks Day Books for Children

We are in the process of turning our children into readers so we try and hit the library at least once a week for new books.

We have found that you have to check out holiday books fairly early in the season or you simply miss out on them. We have loved these St Patricks Day books. The kids giggle the whole way through them, they are illustrated well, with simple stories that help them understand what leprechauns are, and all about the silly tricks they play.

Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk is good for all ages, but especially older children because the story is a little deeper. But, little ones still enjoy it. The other three are simpler so younger children follow easily and older ones still enjoy them.

Happy Reading! Hope you enjoy them.

Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk by Gerald McDermott

That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting

How To Catch A Leprechaun by Adam Wallace

The Night Before Saint Patricks Day by Natasha Wing

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Tot Tip Tuesday- Thanksgiving Books, Buns, and Baking

Books, Buns, and Baking top our list for fun things to do with the kiddos this week. 

Best Turkey Books

 First off books. We love reading with/to our kids but sometime the same old books get pretty old. Enter, holidays and the perfect reason to change books and have fun with the holidays. Here are a few of our favorites that are somewhat silly and perfect for the season. While we read all of these stories to our toddlers (we simply tell the story and point out pictures with the ones with more words and a deeper story). We have broken it down to ages we feel they would fit best if you are looking for that type of thing.

Age 5 and Under

10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston and Illustrated by Rich Deas

*Bright pictures, simply rhymes. 10 fat turkeys falling off the fence one by one.

The Turkey Ball by David Steinburg

*A simple rhyme book telling of turkeys getting dressed up for a ball, dancing, and trotting home come morning. 

Count Your Blessings by Patricia Reeder Eubank (Lift the Flap and "find it" Book)

*Darling illustrations of Mom, Dad, brother, and sister bear, their home, and life in the forest. Each page talks about what they are grateful for and asks you to find different things in the picture. 

Age 6 and Up

A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman Illustrated by Jeff Shelly

*All the Turkeys have fled the town to avoid being dinner. One turkey falls for the plan to be a turkey model, and gets away in the nick of time leaving the townspeople to eat only veggies and wheat for Thanksgiving. 

A Turkey For Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting

*Mr. and Mrs Moose host Thanksgiving for their animal friends. Mrs. Moose wants a turkey for dinner so Mr. Moose and friends set out to find one. He ends up being a guest at dinner rather than the main course. (This is my 3 year olds favorite.)

T'was the Night Before Thanksgiving By Dav Pilkey

*Set to the Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem the story tells of children on a field trip to a turkey farm. Upon learning about what happens to the Turkeys before Thanksgiving each child smuggles a Turkey onto the bus and back home to be a Thanksgiving guest.

Funny Educational 

You Wouldn't Want To Be An American Colonist by Jacqueline Morley

*With funny pictures and witty one liners this book tells children the ins and outs of what it would have really been like to be an American Colonist. 

Turkey Baby Buns

If you have been on Pinterest you have seen some form of the turkey bottom onesie. We opted for sheer simplicity because frankly who has time for some of this crazy business. We used a white onesie and some orange/copper ribbon and a glue gun.  Cut a few ribbons to a similar length place it where you'd like and glue it on. Insta turkey tush. It will pull at the Grandparents heartstrings, and have everyone saying, "ahhh". We used a stamp pad and ink to add the gobble but you could easily leave that plain.

Baking with the Babes

Roll out sugar cookies. Yes, it will be a mess. Most likely a big one. But, when you tell yourself that going in and you'll make it back out. Think of the memories. Kids LOVE these. Use your go to sugar cookie recipe or if you don't have one you love grab a package of Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix. You just add egg and butter. There is a variation recipe on the back for rollout cookies that is perfect. 

Best part about these is they ARE NOT turkeys. Hit IKEA for these forest animal cookie cutters. They are cute and cheap and if your kids love animals as much as ours do they will love stamping out cookies shaped as moose, porcupines, squirrels, foxes, and bears.

Frost and decorate as you wish. I think I'm still picking up pieces of dough and flour. Oops. :)

Happy Tuesday! 

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