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Rainy Day Activities Indoors and Outdoors

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May 26, 2022 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, Facebook, Instagram, Kids, Pinterest, Social Media

Rain, rain don’t go away! Indoor or outdoors, we have a full list of Rainy Day Activities for kids. Get inspired by these 18 things to do in the rain that will keep the whole family busy and entertained.

Rainy Day Activities

Moms, the weather outside is frightful, and your kids are restless. It’s raining buckets, and that usually means we’re lazy indoors. The next thing you know, your kids are saying “I’m bored!” on repeat. Days like this can be tough for kids and parents alike. Rainy days can be a bit of a bummer, but they don’t have to be! It’s time to gather up some creative ideas for outdoor and indoor rainy day activities you can do with your little ones.

Indoor Games

A rainy day is the perfect time for an at home scavenger hunt. Take the kids on an indoor treasure hunt as they uncover prizes or small gifts.

If you looking for stay at home boredom busters, make sure you download our 17 Indoor Games for Kids. Really creative and out of the box games your kids will enjoy. Warning, laughter included.

Without further ado, enjoy these 18 things to do in the rain that will keep the whole family busy and entertained.

17 Indoor Games Printable Download

Rainy Day Activities Outdoors

It’s not that we don’t like the rain, but sometimes it leaves us feeling trapped inside with nothing to do. The good news is that there are plenty of things to do outside on rainy days! You just have to put on your rain jackets and boots, grab an umbrella, and be okay with getting a little wet. It’s all in good fun. Here are some ideas you can take out in the rain with you.

Disclosure: If you have a thunderstorm with lightning in the forecast, these are not advised.

Go on a rain walk with the kids. If you’ve never done this before, you’ll love seeing their delighted expressions as they listen to the rain, feel it on their skin, and see how different things look when they’re covered in rain droplets. Have you ever seen a spiderweb covered in the rain? It’s fascinating! | Still Playing School

Learn three easy ways to paint with rain so you can create a one-of-a-kind work of art on your next rainy day. You’ll need paper, a tray, liquid watercolors, markers, and water-soluble crayons. Color or paint your designs, put them in the tray, and take them outside in the rain to see what happens! | Picklebums

Let kids splish and splash in puddles to their hearts’ content. Puddle play is a terrific way to enjoy the outdoors on a rainy day. Just make sure the kids are properly dressed for it. Provide dishes, buckets, shovels, pipes, and other implements to encourage exploration and creative thinking. | Megan Zeni

Speaking of puddle play, the perfect rainy day isn’t complete without a little puddle jumping. It’s a great opportunity to talk about how puddles are made, what makes them dry up, and what makes the water ripple. | Fireflies and Mud Pies

Every kid should know how to make a mud pie. Instead of fussing about the mess, encourage your kids to mix up some water and dirt to make thick mud perfect for plopping into pie plates. Decorate the pies with flowers, pretty rocks, leaves, sticks, and other items found in nature. | Rhythms of Play

What better time to monitor the weather than when it’s raining? Use the ideas here to make a simple rain catcher with a “weatherman” wooden spoon that measures how much rain it has collected. | Rainy Day Mum

Here’s another version of a rain gauge made using a jumbo test tube, craft foam, and a few other craft supplies you probably have on hand already. Empty it every day and record how much rain you get over the course of a season. It’ll be fun to see how much the rain can vary from one day, week, or season to the next. | Life Over C’s

Go outside and make some sidewalk chalk art in the rain. Kids will be surprised to see how much more vibrant the colors of the chalk are when it gets wet. | Fun-A-Day

Combine sidewalk art and puddle play with this fun color puddle splash activity. You’ll need to be okay with the possibility of stains or else make sure the colors are completely washable before diving feet first into a color-filled puddle. | Lemon Lime Adventures

Sight word puddle jumping is a fantastic way for little ones to learn their sight words. When you pair movement with study, it helps the brain form new connections to the material. If you plan to do this one in the rain, you’ll want to laminate the words first. | Fantastic Fun and Learning

Rainy Day Activities Indoors

We understand that sometimes you just can’t get outdoors to enjoy the rain even though you’d like to. With the rain coming down outside, it’s not always easy to find something fun to do indoors.

But forget TV or video games—it’s time to get creative! Lucky for you, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep everyone entertained. Here are some ideas to help you get started: You can play board games with friends and family, build things out of Lego blocks or K’Nex pieces, read books together or paint pictures. There is also no shortage of craft projects that can be done by the whole family, such as making slime or tie-dye t-shirts.

We’ve listed even more craft ideas below. Some are rain-themed, while others are not. Just grab a few friends or family members, some snacks, and get ready for some quality time spent together in the comfort of your home.

First, make sure to print our indoor games for kids. These activities can keep your kids entertained, especially with a larger crowd! One great solution is Minute to Win It Games. All of which can be played inside with larger or small crows.

Curious little scientists will love this simple rain cloud in a jar experiment. You can set it up in just minutes using a jar, water, shaving cream, and food coloring. Just as clouds get too heavy and release rain, this shaving cream cloud will release the food coloring when it’s too heavy. Use blue food coloring or make a rainbow cloud with lots of different colors. | The Best Ideas for Kids

This easy rain craft for kids is simple enough for toddlers to make, but preschoolers and kindergarteners will enjoy it, too. You’ll need some cotton balls, construction paper, glue, and paint to make a cloud pouring raindrops all over the page. You could also let your kids use their fingerprints to make the raindrops instead. | Crafts on Sea

After the rain comes rainbows, and this fizzy rainbow experiment will have your kids eager to find their own! Turn Jell-O into fizzy fun with a bit of baking soda. Then, you’ll be able to do the classic baking soda and vinegar reaction we all know and love. Plus, by using Jell-O, it’ll smell amazing! | Fun-A-Day

Preschoolers can practice counting with this rain-themed sensory bin featuring cottony clouds, blue glass beads to represent raindrops, and sparkly gold pipe cleaners to make lightning. Kids will love all the different textures here—soft, fluffy, smooth, rough, etc. | Fantastic Fun and Learning

Have an indoor scavenger hunt with items you’d typically find around the house. For example, you’ll look for something that’s red, something to eat with, something with a nose, and so on. This free printable makes the scavenger hunt super easy. Just print it, grab some pencils, and everyone’s all set to go. Add a timer to make it more challenging. | Hey, Let’s Make Stuff! (see a full list of More Scavenger Hunts for Kids too.)

Rock painting is a great activity for a rainy day. Then, once it stops raining, you can add the rocks to your garden or hide them around your community if you have a local rock group. It’s always so fun when someone finds your rock. What a cool way to brighten someone’s day! | Sixth Bloom (see more Rock Painting Ideas for Kids too!)

Build a fort in the living room! It makes family movie night a lot more fun, and it’s also a cozy hideaway for kids to go to read their books or enjoy some quiet time. | Messy Little Monster

What better time to make something for a friend than on a rainy day? DIY friendship bracelets are easy, fun, and thoughtful. You’ll need some embroidery floss in various colors, buttons, and scissors. Have a blast designing something unique for each of your BFFs or siblings. | Crafts by Amanda

Now you have loads of rainy day activities and things to do in the rain to keep you busy anytime it starts pouring outside. Pin this list to save it for later!

When the sun starts shining, take these DIY Backyard Games to the yard. These backyard games bring the kids to the yard – see what I did there!? Pin to Pinterest.

Don’t forget our full list of Kids Party Games – indoor, outdoor, classroom and more. Pin to Pinterest.

Camping? Take a look at these Camping in the Rain Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Vera Bradley Signature Cotton Small Sling Pack

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June 21, 2021 by FCL Filed Under: Amazon, Online Shopping

I LOVE sling packs, and this Vera Bradley sling pack comes in some super cute patterns! Get the Vera Bradley Signature Cotton Small Sling Pack on sale for $22.50 (was $45) for Prime Day! This price is valid as of 10:31 a.m. EST on 6/21.

You can get this in island tie-dye and hummingbird blooms at this price. They’re both such CUTE patterns!

Details:

100% Polyester
Imported
RECYCLED LIGHTEN UP — The same Lighten Up fabric that you know & love is now made from recycled bottles – this sustainable water-repellent fabric is lightweight & durable, yet soft to the touch
STAY ORGANIZED – This crossbody bag features 2 easy to reach front zip pockets, pen slips, a phone slip, a D-ring for your keys, & a large hidden zip pocket on the back for your valuables
ESSENTIALS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS – This versatile sling bag is made with our water-repellent fabric – keeping your belongings dry while staying hands free while you are on your way to work, school or the outdoors – wear it over the shoulder, across your body, or as a belt bag
SIZED RIGHT – The Sling Backpack measures 14 inches high, 7 inches wide, & 3 inches deep with a 33 inch adjustable strap & an additional 11 in removable, adjustable extender strap

Remember you get FREE Shipping on Amazon when you spend $25 or FREE shipping with Prime.

Grab a FREE Trial of Amazon Prime!

Amazon prices can change at any time, so grab these deals while you can.

Find more Amazon Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Gift Ideas that Graduates will Love

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May 25, 2021 by FCL Filed Under: Online Shopping

Do you have someone in your life who is graduating this year? If you’re looking for some fun gift ideas, we found gifts that graduates will love! And if you’re throwing a party, make sure you check out our Graduation Party Games and these Graduation Party Games and Tips.

Graduates will love drinking their coffee or tea in this Custom Graduation Mug. There are different hair styles and colors available, and you can have it personalized with your graduate’s name.

Cash always makes a great graduation gift, and this Graduation Card is SO funny! Everyone will get a kick out of this.

The girls will love this Graduation Necklace. It’s so pretty, and it’s something they’ll cherish forever. And, you can have the card personalized with their names.

Personalized Starbucks cups always make great gifts. These College Starbucks Cups can be personalized with the college your kids will be starting or will be graduating from. You can also have their names put on the back.

How gorgeous is this Graduate Drawing? I just love it, and it’s something that will be treasured forever. You can have it personalized with its gown and sash colors, the college’s name, the graduate’s name and more.

Personalized tumblers are really popular right now, and these Graduation Tumblers will be a hit. These can be personalized with the graduate’s name, school name, hair color, robe and sash colors, and more.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Everyday Clay Pot Decorations for Every Season

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June 12, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Seasonal, Social Media

When it come to crafts and supplies, have you ever thought of using a terracotta pot? Take a look at these Everyday Clay Pot Decorations for Every Season – Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Graduations and more!

When it comes to making cute seasonal décor, few things are as versatile as clay pots. Don’t worry—you don’t need a green thumb to make use of clay pots. Instead, turn them into fun pieces of décor to add to your garden, porch, patio, or indoors. You’ll be surprised at all the fun things you can make with a few terracotta pots (or even a single one).

These clay pot crafts will get you through spring, summer, fall, and winter, covering many major holidays, such as Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The Christmas clay pot decorations are definitely our favorite, though.

From a jolly Santa and his elves to frogs and bunnies, you’ll find a simple project you can pull together in about 30 minutes.

Everyday Clay Pot Decorations

This clay pot lighthouse is perfect for your patio, porch, garden, or sunroom. Go with the light blue, as you see here, for a coastal theme, or red and white if you like traditional lighthouse colors. Add a battery or solar-powered tealight to light up the globe each night. Lighthouses are symbolic of beacons of hope and faith, so this is a wonderful decoration for any home. | Crafts by Amanda

Are you obsessed with gnomes? They’ve been super popular the past couple of years, and if you can’t get enough of them, this craft is a must for your garden projects! You’ll need three terra cotta pots for the gnome—one large one for the body and two smaller ones to make his tall red hat. You could draw some facial features on him, but we think he looks cute as is, with just a simple nose to adorn his white beard. | Ruffles and Rain Boots

This friendly frog will look cute indoors or on your porch this spring or summer. You’ll need a large clay pot and two smaller ones to make his big, bulging eyes. Doesn’t he look silly? He’ll make a wonderful candy dish or cookie jar, or you can use him as a decoration. If you store cookies inside, make sure you use food-grade paint that’s safe for direct contact with food. | The Country Chic Cottage (Seen in our Leap Year Craft Ideas for Kids.)

These flower pot toadstools will look great in the garden along with the garden gnome above. This is an easy project for the kids to help with; your yard will look like a magical fairy garden. | Messy Little Monster

Clay Pot Decorations for Christmas

It just isn’t Christmas without jolly old Saint Nick. Make a clay pot version with some pom-poms, a little Santa hat, some googly eyes, and a piece of scrap felt. He’ll look adorable sitting in a window, on the table, on your mantle, or anywhere that needs a Christmasy touch during the holiday season. | The Country Chic Cottage

Santa needs his helpers, too, so after you’re done with the Santa craft above, make this clay pot elf to sit by his side. With a sweet round face, pointy ears, and a few festive accessories, you can paint him up to go with any Christmas decor. You could make lots of little elves for a workshop scene if you’d like! | Crafts by Amanda

Deck your porch or patio out with this easy and festive terra cotta Christmas tree. Size this project according to its purpose. Use three small pots if you plan to use this as part of an indoor display, or use large clay pots for an outdoor Christmas tree. You’ll need three different sizes to stack together to get the Christmas tree shape. | Totally the Bomb

Use small, single clay pots to make cute Christmas tree ornaments. You can’t get much simpler than this! Paint the pots green, dab on some colorful ornaments, and add a star and ribbon. | Projects with Kids

Turn miniature clay pots into cute little reindeer ornaments for the tree. All you need is a little brown paint, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and a red button or pom-pom for the nose. Make a whole herd of reindeer for the tree! This craft only takes about 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for small children and adults alike. | Darcy and Brian

Make gingerbread house ornaments to decorate the tree or to create your own little gingerbread house village on your mantle or table. Paint pens help you paint more precisely on the pots, so follow the basic directions to make the snowy rooftop, door, and candy accessories. They’re super simple and incredibly adorable. | Projects with Kids

Put two pots together to make Santa pants! This whimsical project would make a great gift for a teacher, friend, or neighbor, or as a piece of colorful decor indoors or out on the porch. The black ribbon belt with the sparkly buckle and the terra cotta pot bases for shoes really brings the whole look together. | Chica Circle

These plastic spoon snowmen are too cute! Wintery clay pots are filled with floral foam, pom-poms, and white plastic spoons dressed up in adorable hats and scarves to look like snowmen. They’ll look charming as place holders for your holiday table or as a cute handmade gift from the kids to their grandparents. | Crafts by Amanda

Clay Pot Decorations for Other Holidays

Channel the luck of the Irish with these adorable clay pot leprechaun hats. They’ll look fantastic on your table for your St. Patrick’s Day party. You could recreate this look with green cups, too (right side up, of course), to make your drinks look more festive! | That’s What Che Said

Hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on its way with this delightful clay pot Easter Bunny. The burlap ears and bright pink bow look so pretty together! If you don’t have burlap on hand, foam sheets or cardstock ears work just fine, too. Don’t forget to hide an egg underneath if you want to make your egg hunt a little more challenging for the kids. | DIY & Crafts

Clay pot sombreros are a fun option for Cinco de Mayo or any Mexican-themed festivity. Fill the brim of the sombrero with candies or make a larger version and fill the brim with dip, veggies, etc. | Scrappy Geek

Give the grad a party that they will never forget with these fun graduation cap clay pots. They’ll be great additions to any table, and they’re perfect for graduation at any level—high school, college, or even kindergarten! There seem to be so many graduations at different grade levels these days, so this tutorial will definitely come in handy. | That’s What Che Said

Learn how to make a clay pot pumpkin, bat, and Frankenstein! You won’t believe how easy it is to turn small clay pots into your favorite spooky characters for Halloween. You’ll need three clay pots, some paint, googly eyes, craft foam, and a few other accessories, but they come together very quickly. They’ll make the perfect candy dishes when you’re doling out sweets to the Trick or Treaters this year.| Messy Little Monster

Thanksgiving doesn’t get as much decorative attention as some of the other holidays, but it should! Turkeys, pilgrims, cornucopia are all great themes to celebrate. These Thanksgiving clay pot turkeys will add a whimsical touch to your fall decor, and the kids will love helping you make them. If you can’t find wooden balls for the turkeys’ heads, try foam balls instead! | The Inspiration Edit

Finally, set the Christmas or Thanksgiving Table with these Terracotta place cards. Easy clay pot table decor that makes a nice party favor too.

There you have it—18 cute clay pot decorations to celebrate nearly every season and holiday. Not ready to start crafting right now? Pin this list of ideas so you can work on them later! If you have made something, share your Clay Pot Decoration with us!

Speaking of clay pots, reuse some of those pots with these Backyard Patio and Garden Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas + Matching Gift Tags

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April 28, 2021 by FCL Filed Under: Online Shopping

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up. If you’re looking for gift ideas for your kids’ teachers, we have some great ones for you, including a bundle of gift tags that I created!

Right now, I have a Teacher Appreciation Bundle Sale in my shop, and you can get this collection of Teacher Appreciation Gift Tags for just $12 (reg. $60)! You’ll get 12 printable gift tags in this bundle that you can use year after year and paying only $1 per gift tag!

This Ruler Tape is something fun teachers can use in their classrooms, and it pairs perfectly with our “Teacher, I’m Glad I’m Stuck with You” gift tag.

These Reusable & Personalized Starbucks Cups always make great gifts. And, you can add our “C is for Caffeine” gift tag!

How cute are these Personalized Starbucks Cold Cups?? You can choose the ring pattern and have them personalized with a name on the back. I just love them. Add our “Thanks a Latte” gift tag for the perfect gift!

I LOVE this S’mores Caddy! It’s SUPER cute and such an easy way to take all your S’mores supplies outside to your fire pit. Our “We Need S’more Teachers Like You” tag matches this perfectly!

This Teach Like a Cactus Unisex T-Shirt is a great gift for any teacher and can be worn at or outside of school. Add our “Thank You for Being a Fan-Cactus Teacher” tag to complete your gift!

Make sure you grab these Teacher Appreciation Gift Tags to add to your teacher appreciation gifts year after year!

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Cloffice Home Office Ideas

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July 11, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Home Improvement, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media

Working from home? Need a space that provides inspiration? We have the perfect list of Cloffice Home Office Ideas, a space blending a closet and home office.

Cloffice Home Office Ideas

So what came first, the closet or the office? Have you heard of a Cloffice? A cloffice is the new home organization solution for work at home families. We have a list of home office ideas to create your perfect home office closets.

What is a Cloffice?

What is a cloffice? Cloffice meaning is just like it sounds, it is a space blending a closet and home office. A cloffice can be a 2 foot closet turned into a home office or a grand walk-in office, turned into a combination home office closet. This closet office is the ultimate work from home set-up for those short on space. A closet office combo is also perfect for simplifying home design and layout.

Cloffice Ideas for Home

The best closet offices with designs that will provide all the inspiration you need to create your small, or grand cloffice designs.

Lets start with this boho cloffice featuring beautiful black and white peel and stick wallpaper. This Cloffice Nesting with Grace is pretty popular. Tip: When repurposing a closet, you might be left without a power source. If this is the case, take a look at this wall sconces without electricity lighting trick hack using a battery operated tap puck light. | Nesting with Grace

In some cases, the office comes before the closet. If you have a large office you need to repurpose with clothing and accessory storage, take a look at this closet-office combo with preppy, coastal flair. Ceramic ginger jars, a rattan pendant light, and Gray Malin artwork make the space look sophisticated and stylish, while a large white and gold desk allows for plenty of space to sit down and focus in this closet office combo. | Lemon Stripes

How about a doorless closet office? If creating a gorgeous home office is your goal, then consider ditching the closet doors and letting the world see how pretty your desk space really is. Waning: this is for neat people only. | Lacquered Life

Does mommy have an office? What about a home school desk cloffice for kids. We love this little his and her office space made with things around the home. This would make me want to finish my home work! | Amy Pigliacampo Design

This is a beautiful closet desk idea with a beautiful wallpapered backdrop. This closet system with desk uses budget decor and a repurposed free desk. It makes a beautiful desk for closet office. It is just the right size. | Megan McArn

With some Pinterest inspiration, this Built in Office Nook was born. Nail everything into the wall with a built in home office using a small nook in the basement. | House of Rose Blog

It might not always be butterflies and rainbows or Louis Vuitton and Chanel, however you can create a Luxury home office in the middle of your oversized walk-in closet. In this walk-in cloffice, just add a table and chair. If you find yourself on frequent zoom calls, just place behind you what defines you and makes you smile – color, favorite pieces or an accessory wall. | The Down Town Aly

The houses of 30A know how to decorate every little nook and cranny. This navy blue cloffice can be folded away to keep work at “work” and home it’s happy place! | The Clever Goose Relator

Look at this Office-Small Space Hack. Even the smallest places can be used as a place to lay your laptop. Even better, the smaller the space, the smaller the budget (right?!) This small space looks like it was once a linen closet. Get inspired by this small closet office for your redesign. | Taylorlmade

Remember that coat closet that is a hidden mess. Empty it and donate what you don’t use. Turn your foyer front closet into a cloffice! I love how this coat cloffice has enough space to tuck away a chair. | Nessas

Is your home office as messy as your mind? Mine is! I love how this mama organizing her to do list and calendar on the wall. Best of all, this Closet Office with clipboard organization can be folded away and the mess is gone. | The Write Start

This beautiful Walk-in closet office brings lost of light. It looks like it began as an office with functional closet shelving installed to create this half closet, half office walk-in cloffice. | Styled Snap Shots

Who has not wanted a hidden room? In this harry potter-esque home office, space under the staircase isn’t waisted. Instead it’s turned into a hidden cloffice under the stairs. | Houzz

Imagine half an office you can hide the the closing of a door. Hide the messy party of your office with this cloffice design. A hidden pink gem in a black and white designed office. | Houzz

Want to learn how to build a cloffice with office closet shelving? Follow this How to Build a Closet Office tutorial from the creators or DIY it all! | The Instructables

Take your office space to the next level. Get inspiration from the Home Office Spaces for Her – Décor Ideas and Office Pinterest Images. Pin to Pinterest.

It’s hard to be productive in a messy space. Look at these Closet Organization Solutions, Hacks & Tips when renovating a closet office space. Pin to Pinterest.

Pumping Heart Model

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April 10, 2021 by administrator Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media

It’s so easy to make this working model of the heart! Craft this DIY pumping heart model with your kids for an easy and informative science experiment. With just a few supplies, you can create your very own pumping heart model for some STEM fun at home. This makes a great science lesson in the classroom, too. Enjoy!

DIY Pumping Heart Model

I used to be a teacher, so I have long had a soft spot for activities that would go great in a classroom. After Frugal Coupon Living took off, I never made it back to the classroom. Even so, my love for teaching little ones never left me! I always jump at the opportunity to make some easy science experiments with the kids on the weekends. They have fun AND learn something new, so it’s a perfect way to spend some free time in my book. Instead of teaching your kids about the human body with videos or books, let them create their own working heart model to keep them totally engaged! Hands-on activities are some of the best ways to get kids to learn valuable information and have it stick.

This pumping heart working model project doesn’t take long, but is SO cool! Plus, you probably already have all of the necessary supplies lying around your house. If not, all of the tools can easily be found at your local dollar store! Don’t spend a ton to teach your kids. I love when I can create fun experiments for the kiddos that barely cost a thing. You may even be able to identify a future doctor in your family or your class!

How does this pumping heart model work?

The human heart has four separate chambers, and this working model of the heart represents one of the heart’s chambers. The heart’s chambers pump blood into the body’s arteries, as demonstrated by the model. Every chamber has an entry point, known as the atrium, and an exit chamber, known as the ventricle. Both of these work continuously, pumping blood to keep it flowing through the body. To stop blood from going back into the chambers of the heart, valves close when the blood exits. The balloon acts as a valve in our pumping heart model, which prevents blood that exits the chamber from reentering the chamber. To make this clear to the kids, try removing the balloon from the equation and see what happens to the water.

Add this pumping heart model experiment to your weekend plans to give your kids their daily dose of STEM. It’s important to peak their interest in science and math at an early age. Who knows — it might inspire your little ones to pursue a future career in the medical or science fields!

Let me know how much you and your kiddos absolutely love this easy science experiment in the comments below. Have fun!

Questions to ask the kids:

Where does the water stop inside the straws?
Does water travel up inside of the covered straw?
Does the water return to the jar when the balloon is released?

Supplies you’ll need to make a working heart model:

One large mason jar
2 balloons
1 to 2 cups water
Food coloring, if desired (we recommend using red, of course!)
2 bendy straws
Tape
Scissors
Rimmed tray or casserole dish

Directions:

First off, mix your food coloring and water, if you choose to add it. Pour the water into the jar.

Next, cut one balloon in half. Discard the bottom/side with the opening of the balloon.

Then place the remaining piece of the balloon loosely over one of the straws. Secure the cut edge to the straw with tape. Set aside.

On the other balloon, cut the balloon in half to remove the narrow neck part of the balloon. Stretch the remaining part of the balloon over the mouth of the jar. Cut two tiny slits in the balloon. Secure the balloon’s cut edge to the jar with tape.

Pressing the balloon to make the holes slightly larger, push the bottom of each straw through a hole in the balloon.

On the straw without the attached balloon cap, bend the neck so the top points down.

Next, place the jar in a rimmed baking sheet or casserole dish.

To make the model heart work, press down on the balloon stretched over the jar. Water will flow through the uncovered straw. The straw with the balloon cap will inflate.

You’re done! You created your very own pumping heart model.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final STEM Activities for Kids Pumping Heart Model. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Looking for more science experiments for the kids? Check out our STEM Projects for Kids! Pin to Pinterest.

Having some science fun doesn’t have to take hours! Take a look at these 5 Minute Science Experiments for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

Family Traditions To Start Now!

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February 10, 2022 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Parenting, Pinterest, Seasonal, Social Media

Family traditions are important for creating family memories and solidifying family bonds and relationships. Take a look at this list of unique and traditional Family Traditions to Start Now!

Family Traditions

I was not raised in a big family. Obviously, with five kids, I have a big family now. As my family has grown, the amount we can do with extended family has decreased (if that makes sense.) In a more direct explanation, it is hard to fly seven people. When are are able to travel, not everyone wants to house a large group of people for holiday. While big and small holidays have become more and more about our immediate family, it has caused me to create our own NEW family traditions.

Have you ever sat and read the Family Tradition Hank Williams Jr. lyrics? Don’t. PSA they are not family friendly. If you are looking for family tradition examples, I promise you they will be far from the family traditions Hank sings about in his well-known Family Traditions country song. I will however, commit to one lyric…

“I’m just carrying on an ole family tradition…”

What is a family tradition mean?

Family traditions are a set of activities you repeat within a family. They can be traditional family activities, cultural traditions or they can be unconventional and modern family activities. Family traditions make each family unique as they are experiences that not every family will have. When you combine family traditions, you create your own unique family blueprint.

Why are family traditions important?

Family traditions are important for creating family memories. Family memories are important for creating family bonds. When conducting research, I learned most family traditions are not very big. Rather it is the family activity that is done together that is important. It is in those family bonding moments, memories are formed.

Family traditions enrich your life together and contribute to your child’s well-being and security. They create long lasting family memories.

How do you make family memories?

If you think about the photographs of one’s life, how many can you pull to the forefront of your mind? Memories are created when something out of the ordinary happens. The same “ole” day to day activities, will not create a new synaptic gap (photograph) in your mind. They are routine and can easily be done with little thought. When new activities come in to play, new things are experienced and new things are seen. They are indexed as a nerve connection (new file) in our mind. These are the dots that are added to our road map of life.

Think of this example as a real road map. You drive down the road form city to city. The places you recall are the places you stop. A restaurant, a hotel, a theme park, a landmark and more. When you are on the road, everything appears the same and does not create a new dot on your road map. However, when you park the car, get out and visit an attraction, a dot is added on your journey.

Before you check out these family bonding ideas, I am sure you will also love…

Christmas Traditions for the Family

Christmas Eve Traditions

Family Reunion Ideas

Family Birthday Celebrations & Ideas

Family Birthday Traditions

Family Memorial Ideas for those who have passed

Examples of Family Traditions

I am sure you are asking yourself, What are some good family traditions? If you are looking to start your own family traditions and add memories to one’s childhood, take a look at these family traditions ideas. Let’s create some examples of family traditions to add dots on our road map of life.

Birthday Interview

We have a number of ways to celebrate Birthdays with Your Immediate Family. One easy tradition is this printable Birthday Interview. Ask your child the same questions every year and put them together in a time capsule (this does not have to be a box buried in the ground, keep it in a plastic bin in the closet!) You also can lead your kids on a Birthday Scavenger Hunt! | Frugal Coupon Living

Family Game Night

Turn one weekend night a month into a regular reoccurring Family Game Night. This is actually a funny family tradition for us, so many of our belly laughs and the laughs that make you cry come from a weekend game night. | Frugal Coupon Living

Take a look at our Family Game Night Bucket List. Set includes 45 Family Game Night games with instructions and supply list, 18 Minute to Win it Games, Charades & Scattergories Game Cards and Scavenger Hunt Template.

Family Game Night Bucket List Set

Family Bucket Lists

Start seasonal Family Bucket Lists. You can do a new bucket list every holiday or do fewer with one in winter, spring, summer, and fall or one the entire year. Keep this bucket list on the fridge and check off the activities as you go. Relieve your childhood with your own kids by using this Eighties Summer Bucket List too!| Frugal Coupon Living

Pray Together

An important family tradition is praying. It can be as simple as praying before bed. This has been an activity we have done every night for as long as we can remember. Try the ACTS Prayer Method (pray with 1.) adoration, confession, thanksgiving and close with supplication or requests.) Children thrive on routine and find security in deepening relationships. This gives them a glimpse into how you are feeling when you share your concerns and praise to the Lord. My husband and I have also created the tradition of listening to the Bible in a Year Podcast. This tradition has created deeper discussion among us has has been an excellent way to start the day.

Eat Dinner Together

Eating together is important for maintaining relationships. You can even have special dinner nights like Taco Tuesday, Meatless Monday or Sheet Pan Supper Wednesday. In order to stick to this dinner family tradition, start with just one night that is set apart. Perhaps give each member of the family a role in creating the complete recipe. One person can set the table, another create the prep, another serve the plates, etc.

Volunteer Together

Paying it forward is as much a gift for someone else as it is for you. Find a service project you can commit to for a season or once a month. There are many reasons to volunteer and instill the act of volunteering in our kids. Volunteering offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around us. It provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. Plus, intrinsically, it gives to you just as much as it gives back to someone else!

Travel

Traveling is an example of doing something out of the norm. Take a cruise, go on a road trips, or even have a staycation week. Either way, make sure it is very different from your norm. If you are home, use a staycation to plan for future travel.

Dinner Questions for Conversation

Speaking of supper, download this set of nightly Dinner Conversation Starters. Dinner is the perfect occasion to communicate and often the opportunity is lost because of the distractions of the minutes. If dinner questions are not need, get to know your children and their day by every member sharing three good things about their day and one bad. This also provides an opportunity to focus on the “positive” yet still recognize the challenges a day can hold.

Not ready to buy? Get a sample of conversation starters. To get your sample dinner questions downloads, Subscribe and look for a link and password in your inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables. By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

Cultural Family Traditions

Have you take a 23andme test? Did the results surprise you. Whether you are learning about a new culture or want to celebrate one you’ve already known, help your children celebrate their heritage by incorporating cultural family traditions. Visit a restaurant from your country, attend a cultural festival or cook a special meal on a certain day each year.

Annual Christmas Card

One family tradition you can keep (and you won’t regret this when the kids are out of the home) is taking an annual photo. It can be with a photographer or something information. Turn these yearly photos into annual Christmas Cards. One way to display your yearly Christmas cards is on a binder ring. Just add a hole punch to the corner. You can keep a binder ring for your family and a binder ring for the cards you get each year just like we see from Minted.

When writing your Christmas envelopes, make sure you take a look at these hand lettering tutorials and idea!

Pay It Forward Traditions

We have spoken many times about our family birthday idea. Take a look at this random act of kindness as a fun way to pay it forward on on your birthday at the Dollar Store or in the Dollar Spot at Target!

Valentine Family Tradition

This is one family tradition we do year after year and keep up for a long time. Add a sweet heart to your child’s do from February 1 to February 14th. The message is why they are a wonderful member of the family, a positive trait you see in them, etc. I even have my children each make a heart for each other once or twice during this period of time. It’s a great way to encourage your child.

Time Capsule Questions

Consider creating a time capsule or memory box for your child. This can include ticket stubs, baby teeth, photos from special events, special invitations, etc. Also add this Last Day of School Time Capsule. This set includes pre-K to 12th grade and is perfect for watching how your child has evolved.

Time Capsule Questions for Students Printable Set

Funny Family Traditions

They say laughter is the best medicine. Instead of following some of these traditional traditions for the family, try something unique only to your family. If you can incorporate humor, do it! For example, have a dress up night where you all eat hot dogs and Doritos on your best china. Play family board games including charades and Gestures (one of our favorites that always leads to belly laughs.) Take a look at these Weird Family Traditions from The Atlantic for some inspiration.

What are some of your favorite Family Traditions? I would love to hear from you so we can add to our list and share with others traditions for the family they might want to begin.

Also take a look at these Family Reunion Ideas for more extended family traditions for your bigger family. Pin to Pinterest.

For the holiday season, also look at these Christmas Traditions to start now! Pin to Pinterest.