Gardening with kids is one of those rare activities that feels both simple and meaningful. With a handful of soil, a few seeds, and a little time, children can experience patience, responsibility, and wonder all at once. Gardening does not need to be perfect or productive to be successful. In fact, the best kid-friendly gardens are often small, messy, and full of learning moments.
In Episode 3 of The Acorn-Putters, Hazel and Scamp take on a one-week no-screens challenge. What starts as a surprise turns into something much bigger. They discover new ideas, build together, explore outside, and forget about screens altogether. You can try the same kind of challenge at home. Here is how to run your own no-screens challenge in a way that feels positive and doable for families.
Watching bugs up close is one of the easiest ways to help children slow down, observe the world, and discover how nature works. You do not need special equipment or a faraway nature preserve. Many fascinating insects live right in your backyard, neighborhood park, or nearby green space. This guide will help parents safely introduce bug exploring to children, including where to look, how to observe without harm, and why releasing bugs back into the wild matters.
Preschoolers love to pretend, explore, and discover new things, and nothing sparks that sense of adventure quite like a pair of handmade Toilet Paper Roll Forest Binoculars. This easy craft transforms ordinary recycled cardboard tubes into a magical tool for outdoor exploration. Kids can use their binoculars to “follow” Hazel and Scamp’s adventures, look for birds, find interesting leaves, or search for hidden treasures in the yard.
Fruit is beautiful, colorful, and full of interesting shapes, which makes it the perfect art tool for curious preschoolers. Fruit Stamp Art is a simple, sensory-rich craft that lets children explore patterns, colors, textures, and creativity using everyday items you already have at home.
Preschoolers love collecting things from nature! It could be leaves, twigs, acorns, tiny stones, seed pods, flowers, and anything else that catches their eye. A Leaf & Nature Collage is the perfect way to turn those treasures into a beautiful piece of art. It encourages creativity, sparks curiosity about the natural world, and helps children slow down and enjoy the outdoors.
Leaves come in so many shapes, sizes, and patterns, and this craft lets kids discover them up close! When you place a leaf under paper and rub a crayon across the surface, the leaf’s veins and edges appear like magic. It’s easy, quiet, calming, and perfect for kids of all ages.
Here’s a simple outdoor activity inspired by Hazel & Scamp! Help feed neighborhood birds and learn how animals gather food in nature.
Head outside! Go to your backyard, a park, a trail, or even a schoolyard and see how many nature treasures you can find. Bring a small bag or basket, just like Hazel would!
Want to make a birthday cake that looks just like Hazel, our cheerful squirrel from the Snugly Thicket? This guide will show you how to create Hazel’s face using simple decorating steps that work for beginners and kids who want to help.
