Learning with Ladybugs (Love to Learn Linky #31)

Ladybugs and their lovely little spots are perfect for practicing counting and math skills. I created this Ladybug Counting Mat that is versatile and can be used with many different materials. Also, keep reading for more creative ladybug learning activities and printables from my fellow kid bloggers!

This post contains affiliate links.

To create your Ladybug Counting mat I recommend laminating the free printable. This will give you a durable, reusable mat that your child can use with many different materials, such as buttons, playdough, pom poms, stickers, or a combination of different things.

This activity also comes with number cards 1-20 that you can place in the top left corner of the mat and have your child create the correct amount of "spots" on the ladybug.

Click here to Download your Free Ladybug Counting Mat

Check out these other creative Ladybug Learning Activities:

Ladybug Math & Printables by The Measured Mom
Ladybug Printable Pack by Itsy Bitsy Fun
Ladybug Scissor Skills Printables by Itsy Bitsy Fun
Ladybug Life Cycle & Printable by Teaching Mama
Ladybug Do-a-Dot Printables by Gift of Curiosity
Ladybug Learning Pack by Look We're Learning
The Grouchy Ladybug craft with Free Printable by Buggy and Buddy
DIY Ladybug Counters & Math Game by Still Playing School
10 Little Ladybugs Counting Stick by School Time Snippets
Montessori Ladybug Activities & Printables by Living Montessori Now
DIY Magnetic Ladybug Counting Set by B-Inspired Mama


LOVE TO LEARN LINKY


Visit my co-hosts to see their posts and features!

The Cat in the Hat Printable Craft + More Dr. Seuss Inspired Activities from A Little Pinch of Perfect
How to Make Rainbows at Home from One Time Through
Light Up St. Patrick's Day Card from Left Brain Craft Brain

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!

Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.

Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)

Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

• Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

• Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.

• Like the hosts on Facebook: Totschooling, A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain and One Time Through.

• Or follow the hosts on Pinterest: A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain, Totschooling and One Time Through.

• Post our button on your site.

• By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!

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An InLinkz Link-up

Goldfish Printables for Preschoolers

Goldfish crackers are a favorite snack at our house. Pair them with the classic Dr. Seuss children's book and these free printable activities, and you have some great learning opportunities. You'll never look at goldfish the same way again. This post contains affiliate links.

This Free Goldfish Printable pack includes the following activities:
-Color sorting
-Number recognition 1-20
-Counting 1-10
-Patterns
-Color word recognition

Note: These activities were designed to be used with rainbow colored Goldfish crackers.

Click here to Download your FREE Goldfish Printables

DIY Photo Name Puzzle (Love to Learn Linky #30)

Today I would like to share a very simple activity that I made for my daughter to help her learn the letters in her name. It literally took 5 minutes to make this personalized photo name puzzle. She loves to do activities with photographs, such as our Photo ABC Cards, so I knew this would be a hit!

First, I snapped a quick picture of her with my phone (landscape format), then emailed it to myself. (skip this step if you have a photo on your computer)

I saved and opened up the picture on my computer. It opened in Windows Photo Viewer and I clicked print. In the options I chose the layout with two 5"x7" photos on one page. It will only print the photo once but it leaves plenty of space to write the name. Click print again.

Here is how it came out. I used a permanent marker to write her name, spacing it out over the length of the photo.

Then I laminated the sheet (optional), and cut the photo into vertical strips. Puzzle complete!

Check out these other creative ways for kids to learn their names!

Rainbow Name Puzzle by Still Playing School
Learning your Name Playdough Puzzle by Growing Book by Book
Learn to Spell your Name Parking Garage by Growing Book by Book
Preschool Literacy: Learning Letters in Our Names by Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
Roll a Die and Make your Name by Toddler Approved
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Name Craft by Toddler Approved
Clothesline Names by Pre-K Pages
Easy Homemade Name Puzzle by Happy Hooligans
Spell your Name Game by No Time for Flash Cards
Name Activity using Toy Cars by Buggy and Buddy
Spider Web Name Recognition Activity by Messy Little Monster
Flower Garden Name Game by Fantastic Fun and Learning
5 Simple Name Activities by Fantastic Fun and Learning
Quick Name Activities by Fantastic Fun and Learning
Letters in your name Cookies by JDaniel4's Mom
Name Practice Letter Hunt by Inspiration Laboratories
Name Practice Water Game by Inspiration Laboratories
Spiced Name Activity for Five Senses by School Time Snippets
Clothespin Name Activity by School Time Snippets
10 Ways to Help Children Learn to Spell their Names by Play to Learn Preschool

LOVE TO LEARN LINKY


Visit my co-hosts to see their posts and features!

Rube Goldberg Machines for Kids + YouTube Video! from One Time Through
25+ Easy Science Activities that Fizz, Bubble, & Amaze! from A Little Pinch of Perfect
St. Patrick's Day Rainbow Slime from Left Brain Craft Brain

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!

Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.

Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)

The Love to Learn Linky is Hosted by:

Totschooling: Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.

Left Brain Craft Brain: Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.

A Little Pinch of Perfect: Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.

One Time Through: Sue is an Elementary School Teacher currently on leave to be at home with her preschooler son.  She shares ideas for connecting and learning with kids through meaningful, play-based activities that nurture curiosity and creativity, as well as positive parenting tips.

Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

• Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

• Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.

• Like the hosts on Facebook: Totschooling, A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain and One Time Through.

• Or follow the hosts on Pinterest: A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain, Totschooling and One Time Through.

• Post our button on your site.

• By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!

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An InLinkz Link-up

St. Patrick's Day Learning Pack for Toddlers and PreK

Rainbows, shamrocks and pots of gold coins make for some fun learning activities! You will find plenty of those in this updated St. Patrick's Day pack. This free printable pack is filled with 31 educational activities for toddlers and preschoolers to celebrate the upcoming holiday!

This free St. Patrick's Day Pack features 31 learning activities including counting, number recognition, letter matching, letter case matching, beginning letter sounds, shapes, patterns, prewriting, handwriting, visual discrimination, do-a-dots, puzzles and more!

Click here to Download your Free St. Patrick's Day Pack!

Train Number Puzzle for Toddlers

When my first daughter was 2 years old, I created this train puzzle for her to practice counting and number recognition. At that time, she was not very interested in it, so I put it away and forgot about it. I found it again the other day and showed it to her (she's 3 and a half now), and to my surprise she loved it and has been playing with it every day!

As you can see this puzzle is pretty big. It consists of 11 pieces: the front of the train plus 10 train cars filled with animals and numbers 1-10. I laminated it and made sure to cut off the sharp corners.

Another way to use this puzzle is to hang it on the wall as an educational wall decoration.

Click here to download your FREE Number Train Puzzle

Check out more free printable puzzles here!

20 Learning Activities with Q-Tips (Love to Learn Linky #29)

Q-tips are one of those things that you know would be great for so many different activities, but you just can't think of any. Well, I am here to help and to offer some inspiration! I collected 20 educational activities that are done with Q-Tips, including math, literacy, fine motor and science. 

Keep reading for more inspiration from our weekly Love to Learn Linky!

Math & Literacy

Pre-Writing Q-Tip Printables by 3 Dinosaurs
Q-Tip CVC Words Printables by 3 Dinosaurs
Q-Tip Alphabet Painting Printables by From ABCs to ACTs
Q-Tip Number Painting Printables by From ABCs to ACTs
Tracing Letters on Chalkboard by I Can Teach my Child
Painting the Alphabet by Structured Play
Letter Q Craft by Fantastic Fun and Learning
Building Shapes with Q-Tips by Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Q-Tip Painting and Learning Numbers with Printable by Learn with Play at Home
Q-Tip Color Word Painting Printables by 1plus1plus1equals1

Fine Motor

Putting Q-Tips inside Straws by Mess for Less
Putting Q-Tip in Playdough by Mess for Less
Putting Q-Tips inside grated cheese container by Peaceful Parenting
Q-Tip Blow Dart Game by Kids Activities Blog
Q-Tip Snowflake Busy Bag Printable by Playdough to Plato
Q-Tip Valentine's Day Printables by Totschooling
Q-Tip Christmas Printables by Totschooling

Science

Handprint Q-Tip Skeleton Craft by Crafty Morning
Q-Tip Dinosaur Skeletons by Family Theme Days
Magic Milk Experiment Color Explosion by Happy Hooligans

LOVE TO LEARN LINKY


Visit my co-hosts to see their posts and features!

20+ Humpty Dumpty Inspired Activities from One Time Through
15+ Fun Alphabet Activities from A Little Pinch of Perfect
Constellation Fruit Gummies from Left Brain Craft Brain

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!

Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.

Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)

The Love to Learn Linky is Hosted by:

Totschooling: Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.

Left Brain Craft Brain: Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.

A Little Pinch of Perfect: Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.

One Time Through: Sue is an Elementary School Teacher currently on leave to be at home with her preschooler son.  She shares ideas for connecting and learning with kids through meaningful, play-based activities that nurture curiosity and creativity, as well as positive parenting tips.

Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

• Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

• Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.

• Like the hosts on Facebook: Totschooling, A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain and One Time Through.

• Or follow the hosts on Pinterest: A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain, Totschooling and One Time Through.

• Post our button on your site.

• By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!

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An InLinkz Link-up

20 Chinese New Year Crafts & Activities for Kids (Love to Learn Linky #28)

Welcome to another week of the Love to Learn Linky! Today I'm featuring a round-up of my 20 favorite Chinese New Year activities and crafts for kids! This includes free printables, arts & crafts, and Montessori inspired learning activities. Don't forget to scroll down and browse through all the fabulous posts being shared, or if you're a blogger be sure to link up!

Printables

Chinese Dragon Masks by Itsy Bitsy Fun
Chinese New Year Packs by Royal Baloo
Chinese New Year Do-a-Dot Printables by Gift of Curiosity
Chinese New Year Coloring Pages by Gift of Curiosity
Dragon Puppet with Free Printable by Red Ted Art
Handprint Dragon Craft & Dragon Puppet with Free Printable by Pink Stripey Socks
Free Printable Chinese New Year Book for Kids by Artsy Momma
Chinese Zodiac Boxes by Kutchuk

Crafts

Paper Bag Chinese Dragon Puppet by Fun Handprint Art
Chinese New Year Dragon Art for Toddlers by Learning and Exploring Through Play
Paint & Paste Chinese Dragon Craft by No Time for Flash Cards
Round Folding Fans by Naturally Educational
Paper Chain Dragon Craft by Naturally Educational
Chinese Cherry Blossom Fans by In the Playroom
Recycled Chinese New Year Dragon Puppet by Pink Stripey Socks
Egg Carton Dragon by Activity Village
Chinese New Year Drum Craft by Gift of Curiosity
Chinese Lantern Scissor Skills Craft by Nurture Store

Montessori

Montessori Inspired Chinese New Year Activities by Living Montessori Now
Chinese New Year Unit by Every Star is Different


LOVE TO LEARN LINKY


Visit my co-hosts to see their posts and features!

10+ Fun & Educational SEED Activities from One Time Through
11 Colorful Activities To Do With Toddler from A Little Pinch of Perfect
California Snowball Fight from Left Brain Craft Brain

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!

Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.

Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)

The Love to Learn Linky is Hosted by:

Totschooling: Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.

Left Brain Craft Brain: Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.

A Little Pinch of Perfect: Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.

One Time Through: Sue is an Elementary School Teacher currently on leave to be at home with her preschooler son.  She shares ideas for connecting and learning with kids through meaningful, play-based activities that nurture curiosity and creativity, as well as positive parenting tips.

Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

• Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

• Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.

• Like the hosts on Facebook: Totschooling, A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain and One Time Through.

• Or follow the hosts on Pinterest: A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain, Totschooling and One Time Through.

• Post our button on your site.

• By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!

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An InLinkz Link-up