'Keeping Busy' Free Printables

Are your children quick learners? Have they already mastered 'new' words? Running out of ideas?

This week Leon and I have been doing plenty of 'quiet time' activities focusing on colours, shapes and new words. From covering a variety of new foods and mastering drawing circles,  I'm amazed to see him learn so quickly and remember almost everything. We have most definitely been 'keeping busy'.
If your children are quick learners and want to know more, I have created a lovely 'free printable' collection from talented and passionate bloggers. There are plenty of useful 'printables' on the internet, however I have short listed a few favourites that will be around for some time - these will provide fun packed games and 'busy' play.

Top 5 'Keeping Busy' Printables:

1. 'Alphabet Flash Cards' by 'Mr Printables'. 
Teaches - Alphabet/Objects

These free flash cards are a fantastic 'keeping busy' activity that can be reused time and time again (Preferably laminated!) You can also download different versions (with or without words). Highly recommend!

2. 'Pretend Play Shopping Lists' by 'Blooming Brilliant 123'.
Teaches - Role-Play / Food

These free printable Pretend Play Shopping Lists are a brilliant 'keeping busy' activity. If you have pretend food, a shopping basket and a lover of 'role-play' games, then visit 'Blooming Brilliant 123' to download.

3. 'Missing Number Clip Cards' by 'Life of C's'

Teaches - Maths skills

This free printable is fantastic if your children are already learning numbers. Numbers can get boring to learn but this activity provides plenty of fun. Simple to prep, these cards let you use pegs and show images help understand how numbers work. Really recommend for a reusable 'maths' game.

4. 'Transportation Preschool Pack' by 'Homeschool Creations'
Teaches - Colouring by number, shadow matching, tracing, letter sounds and different sizes.~

I'm really impressed with this free printable pack. Homeschool Creations have created a perfect 'keeping busy' activity for children who love to trace, colour in and learn.

5. 'Play Tickets' by 'Gingham Cherry'

Teaches - Role-Play

'So much fun for something so simple'. What a lovely free printable by Gingham Cherry, free printable 'play tickets'. Great for children who love role-play. Train tickets? Cinema tickets? Can be used for plenty of play! (laminated will protect these for further use!)

Here is my collection of 'Keeping Busy' free printables. Please follow all of these great bloggers for more content!

#Week11 'Feature Wednesday' Introduction to Botany

Thank you for everyone that got involved in yesterday's #Week11 'Feature Wednesday' Link Party. 

You all have wonderful & inspirational ideas - it's so great to see your sharing them.

Congratulations!
This week's winner is Jennifer over at 'Study At Home Mama' with her 'Introduction to Botany' post. With hundreds of tulip bulbs growing around Jennifer's house, Spring is surely a beautiful time. These colourful blooms are a perfect way to explore and learn how nature works.
The Montessori approach to Botany embraces almost every subject. Science, language, maths, art and sensorial work.  

Jennifer supports families, teachers and caregiver's with inspiring activities and information - often using the Montesorri Twist). Children learn to share, explore and and discover all new things. If you are unsure what Montesorri is please click here.

To read Jennifer's post on 'Introduction to Botany' ,please click HERE. 

#Week 11 'Feature Wednesday'

#Week11 of 'Feature Wednesday' has arrived. Thank you for everyone who entered last week's feature post.

If you have a post you would like to share live on 'Mama Bee Simple', simply add your link at the end of this post. I have selected a small group of topics to cover this week's linky party.

I do like to create a theme each week however any links related to activities, food, lifestyle & children is fine.

#Week11 Theme: #Healthy #Explore #Family #Food #Weaning #Recipes

The most suited link will be chosen by the end of the day and I will feature your post at 'Mama Bee Simple' as well as all my social network sites.

Mama Bee knows that you all have some wonderful creations and spend so much time wanting to share so here is a lovely opportunity!

Nature Sun-catcher

A cold, rainy and miserable day... we needed to brighten up the day with a fun & busy craft. Inspired by The Artful Parent, '3D Nature Suncatchers' , we decided to make our own version. 

For this activity we used the wonderful thick card from Paper Cutz - Perfect for this project as the card is very durable and can be used for endless projects using all sorts of media. Using a craft knife I prepped Leon's sun-catcher by carving out the middle section. I then added sticky tape on one side (in rows) for the flowers to stick to. The next step was quite eventful... as it was heavy rain outside I decided to run outside and grab some of the 'Forget me nots' (closest to the door of course) with some leaves from the lemon tree. I placed these in a plastic bowl for Leon so use later.

Scroll down for instructions!

 

First step - Prep the table!  ~ Painting with a little one can be very messy so using a protective sheet on your table is vital! I placed two oil colours for Leon (I watch that he won't eat it!) and his paintbrushes along with the card and flowers.

Create! - Leon got stuck in! He loved using his paintbrushes and sponges to paint the border. Looking at the flowers and arranging them onto the suncatcher was a unique experience for him and I could tell this was brightening up our day. (This activity lasted over an hour!) Once Leon had finished I made sure everything was stuck together and waited for the paint to dry. Finally I sealed the sun-catcher with more tape - in rows. Ta-Da! A 'Nature Sun-catcher'. Place in front of a window or simply place on the shelf, a lovely craft for anyone on those 'rainy days'.

'Little World's Role-Play Mat

This week, Leon has been engaging more with his 'Playmobil' & Lego figurines. His favourite 'role-play' was getting the children to go down the slide. "Park","Weeeeeeee!","Slide!".
Going through my sewing room, I went through my scrap fabric (perfect to be used as sand, water and roads'. My friend Ann from 'Little Worlds' has passion for imaginative and creative play. Mum of two, she designs and creates handmade play mat's and items for figurines. Ann loves to create 'real scenes' using stones, leaves and other objects. Inspired by 'Little Worlds' explaining the importance of role-play, I figured that Leon needed a scene for himself and let his imagination go wild.

Please visit Ann's 'Little Worlds' Etsy Shop for plenty of 'small world' play toys & gifts.

Different fabric ideas from my sewing box.

Using a rotary cutter helped achieve a clean cut for the 'seaside'.

#Week10 Feature Wednesday 'Melted Pony Bead Jewelry'

Thank you for everyone that got involved in yesterday's #Week10 'Feature Wednesday' Link Party. 

You all have wonderful & inspirational ideas - it's so great to see your sharing them.

Congratulations!
This week's winner is Jennifer over at 'The Life of Jennifer Dawn'. Wife and mother of three, Jennifer has found a way to use the colourful, classic 'Pony Beads' in a fun and unique way. Low cost, easy and useful for so many projects - anyone could do this.

If your a lover of home-made crafts and D.I.Y gifts, this fantastic post will give you endless ideas with the simple 'pony beads'. 

To read Jennifer's post on 'Melted Pony Bead Jewerly', please click HERE.

#Week 10 'Feature Wednesday'

#Week 10 of 'Feature Wednesday' has arrived. Thank you for everyone who entered last week's feature post.

If you have a post you would like to share live on 'Mama Bee Simple', simply add your link at the end of this post. I have selected a small group of topics to cover this week's linky party.

I do like to create a theme each week however any links related to activities, food, lifestyle & children is fine.

#Week10 Theme: #Colours #Numbers #Alphabet #Learning #Education #Activity 

The most suited link will be chosen by the end of the day and I will feature your post at 'Mama Bee Simple' as well as all my social network sites.

Mama Bee knows that you all have some wonderful creations and spend so much time wanting to share so here is a lovely opportunity!