Free printable Christmas paper chain crafts and holiday countdown activities

Remember the fun of making Christmas countdown chains? It's an easy, cheap festive child-minder craft. You can make it from recycled paper. It keeps little ones productively busy. It's good practice for math, fine motor skills, counting, writing and reading. Here's how to make a Christmas paper chain.  Free printable Christmas paper chain crafts and holiday countdown activities

Free Printable Halloween Pumpkin Carving Stencils, Trick-or-Treat Jack-o-Lantern Patterns

Ah, the smells and colors of fall! And what would autumn be without carving the traditional Halloween pumpkin? It's a rite of trick-or-treat. And it's lots of fun! Looking for creative pumpkin carving stencils for your jack-o-lantern? Here are free printable pumpkin stencils. Free Printable Halloween Pumpkin Carving Stencils, Trick-or-Treat Jack-o-Lantern Patterns

Free Printable 4th of July Coloring Pages, U.S. History Lesson Plans

4th of July, or Independence Day, commemorates the US signing of the Declaration of Independence. It's our nation's birthday. How people celebrate differs. I remember lavish picnics, parades as a kid. Then going to the beach and fireworks with our kids. I also threw holiday-themed parties, homeschooling our children. Here are free printable Fourth of July games, flag crafts and coloring pages, American history lesson plans and worksheets and patriotic activities. Use as party invitations, games and decorations. Combine free printables with activities and recipes listed in my other 4th of July party articles (linked) Read on  4th of July Free Printable Coloring and Games

Free Printable Father's Day Greeting Cards and Craft Activities

Oh dads, dads--why are you so hard to shop for? Father's Day rolls around and I have no clue what to get you! And young kids may find themselves with little cash to get daddy a gift. Well, young or old, why not make your dad a card for Father's Day. Or do a craft together. Here areFree Printable Father's Day Greeting Cards and Craft Activities

Free Printable Disney Frozen and other Disney Printables at New Site

I've written articles on free printable kids crafts since 2007. I often share them on this blog. When writing about free Disney printables, I often linked to the Family Fun website (from Family Fun magazine). Family Fun partners with Disney and is the source for Disney-themed crafts. I just wanted to alert readers that Family Fun-Disney now operates under a new website Spoonful.com.

All the original FF Disney and holiday activities, games, puzzles and lesson plans are there now. Sometimes the old Family Fun links redirect to Spoonful and you can just click for the printables. But if doesn't work, type spoonful.com in your URL bar. From there, search for what you want. Sorry for the inconvenience. But you'll be pleased to know it's probably better as Spoonful has even more free printables than the old site. And it's cross-referenced better, too. Look for Disney "Frozen" and "Sophia the First" printables and crafts, too. Free Disney Printables from Family Fun New Site Spoonful

Free Printable Cinco de Mayo and Mexican-Themed Coloring Pages

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican victory at the Battle of the Puebla, not Independence Day. It's more American than Mexican as a holiday. Nevertheless, any excuse for a fiesta, right? And kids love to make holiday and cultural crafts. Ergo, here are Free Printable Cinco de Mayo Coloring Pages and Crafts

Free Printable Holiday Craft Stencils, Spring Patterns and Templates

Okay, raise your hand if you're sick of winter (Mar scans room). Yep, we're fed up. Spring is but a few short days away, but Mother Nature seems oblivious. What say we ignore that old battle-axe and make our own spring fun? Here's a bunch of cute, free printable stencils you can use to make, oh, just about any craft your heart desires.   Free Printable Craft Stencils, Holiday Patterns and Templates

Free Holiday Clipart and Graphics

Do you want free clipart, animated gifs, images, banners, graphics for holidays? Easter's coming up, you know. Look at the pretty psanky egg. Sure you do. Here's all the holiday decorations your little heart craves. There are even sparkle graphics and personalized animated banners like the ones shown here. Be still my beating heart.   .Free Personalized Clipart, Sparkle Graphics, Animated Gifs

Free Printable Winter Seasonal Crafts

You might not think winter is a holiday. And right about now, under five feet of snow here in Michigan, I agree. That's why it's so important we find ways to make it fun or at least tolerable. Sooo, why not print winter-themed crafts. Use with students, kids at home, senior in care facilities, special needs--we all need a little cheer! Printable Winter Crafts and Activities for Kids

Free Printable Cultural Crafts for Chinese New Year

 Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival. It ends with a Lantern Festival. I like how the Chinese celebrate, with all those festivals, don't you? The theme is gentle and positive--good luck and prosperity. Here are cultural crafts from many lands, including China. The printables focus on Kung Fu Panda. Use these for CNY 2014 Year of the Horse, beginning Jan. 31.Free Printable Ethnic and Cultural Crafts for Social Studies  There are also printables from Latino, Native American and other groups.

Printable 2014 Chinese New Year of the Horse Activities

 Chinese New Year begins today. The Chinese zodiac is distinguished by 12 animals. 2014 is the Year of the Horse. Here are activities and ideas for parents and teachers to explore Chinese tradition. Here are Lantern Festival crafts and games. There are animal coloring pages, recipes and worksheets.Chinese New Year for Parents and Kids 

St. Lucia Day Activities and Printables

Advent is the period of preparation for Christmas. Several special feast days fall during Advent: December 6- St. Nicholas, December 12-Our Lady of Guadalupe and December 13- St. Lucia. Here are free printable activities for St. Lucia Day. Lucia is the patron saint of Scandinavia. For more information and free printable crafts based upon the legend of St.Lucia, check out these links.   Free Printable St. Lucia Day Activities

Free Printable Thanksgiving Clipart, Games, Crafts

 Entertaining kids during holiday preparations isn't easy. From 30 years teaching and 25 mothering, I know about making things kid friendly. Don't just entertain, put children to work helping. Have kids make decorations, greeting cards, games, crafts with these free printables. Use clip art to make Thanksgiving things too. Pilgrim, turkey, Native American, fall leaves and pumpkins, they're all there. Ways Kids Can Help With Thanksgiving Preparations

Free Printable Advent Calendars, Religious and Secular

Advent is a penitential season that starts four weeks before Christmas in Catholic and Orthodox-christian churches. As in lent (before Easter) we pray, fast and give alms to prepare our hearts for the "coming" (advent) of Christ (from the Latin "adveniat regnum"--coming of Christ's kingdom.) The first Sunday of Advent in 2013 is December 1. Here are printable advent calendars for kids. Free Printable Advent Calendar Crafts for Kids

Free Printable Thanksgiving Countdown Calendar

Thanksgiving in the US will soon be upon us. If your kids are anything like mine, they love holidays. As a homeschool family, we spent lots of time making holiday gifts, treats and crafts. But holidays can also mean antsy, bored kids who can’t focus. Well, this teacher mama has an activity for that! Free printable countdown calendars. Here’s a link for freebies from Disney/Family Fun Spoonful. Scroll through the Top 14 Thanksgiving Printables to find the calendar.  Free Printable Thanksgiving Countdown Calendar for Kids 

Pumpkin themed Printables and Recipes for Kids

Boy, pumpkin sure is the theme in fall. I'm seeing everything from pumpkin IHOP pancakes to pumpkin beer. So I thought, why not tap into that beta-carotene goodness for my Week-of-school-snacks and Five-day-school-lunch-menu series? Here are healthy recipes featuring pumpkin. Involve toddlers and preschoolers in preparations. Then have them follow up with free printable pumpkin coloring pages! Older kids and print and cut pumpkins stencils from these links, too! Weekly Snack Menu, Healthy Pumpkin Themed Kids Treats

Free Printable Saints and Animals Crafts for Feast of St. Francis

October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, in Catholic tradition. Francis is known for many things but best known as the patron saint of animals. Many people participate in the Blessing of the Pets on his feast day. I remember when our oldest was 5, at St. Mary's in Spring Lake (before I decided to home school). I missed bringing our cat Oliver for the pet blessing and she was heart-broken (sure some horrible fate would befall him). So Sister told me to bring him in for his own blessing. Here are free animals and saints coloring pages to celebrateFree Printable Saints, Animals Crafts for Feast of St. Francis

Free Printable Paper Toys, Games for Preschool Kids

My e-friend Marilyn "The Toymaker"draws these whimsical little creatures, writes stories about them and then creates nifty crafts to go with them. AND she puts a lot of them on her blog for you to print free. Marilyn is awesome like that.

Once you visit this site, you'll be hooked. To name but a few, there are butterfly, dog, kitty, pony paper toys. There are holiday crafts and not just for standard holidays--Christmas, Halloween. World holidays, pagan sabbats, cultural festivals, religious observances, there are printable paper crafts and games for many. This kitty is a treat bag for Halloween. You can print it if you use her images according the rules. Free Printable Paper Toys, Games for Preschool Kids

Free Printable Rosh HaShanah Activities for Kids

Rosh HaShanah is the Jewish New Year and began at sundown September 4, 2013 on the western calendar. Rosh HaShanah precedes Yom Kippur in the Jewish month of Tishreh. Here are printable activities for Rosh HaShanah. It's the first of two Jewish high holy day. It falls on the approximate date when Moses led the Hebrews out of bondage from Egypt. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is the highest holy day--the Days of Atonement. These holidays are a time for reconciliation and repentance. Referred to by Hebrew people as The Days of Awe, the sacredness of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are roughly equivalent to the importance of Easter in the Christian Gregorian calendar.  Free Printable Rosh HaShanah Activities 

Free Printable Summer Craft Activities

I just can't believe it--another school year rolling around. When I started this blog, my youngest was 9. Now she's 15 and our oldest daughter is married! Seriously, folks time goes and kids grow quickly. seize every opportunity for family fun. Speaking of Family Fun, I love that magazine and website. Family Fun focuses on inexpensive, diy crafts, games, recipes and activities for the whole family. With summer 2013 winding down and back to school looming (or here for some students), how about an end of summer craft fest? Here are free printable summer crafts and scrapbook activities from Family Fun's free printables page Printapalooza. With Family Fun, you can always be sure
you'll get safe, inexpensive, green, diy family activities from fun other great families.  Free Printable Summer Beach and Nature Craft Activities