All Posts By:

Jenna Mugridge

  • DIY Fall Themed Story Stones

    While I’m sure you’ve heard of painted rocks, the question stands: Have you heard of story stones?

    I had not, until a few short weeks ago while searching for ways to paint fall themed rocks. My son and I have been planting painted rocks around our neighborhood for people to find, and we stumbled upon the idea for story stones during a quick google search.

    Now, we’re having so much fun telling stories with our stones, that we’ve been creating them nonstop. So naturally, I’m ready to share the untold benefits of playing with story stones, and how EASY they are to make!

    story stones

    For some clarity, Story Stones are pictures painted or glued onto smooth pebbles, used as an aid in storytelling.

    They can either represent a known story to be placed in order, or they can be a themed selection of images that prompt children to create their own stories.

    Storytelling through story stones can be an excellent tool for developing skills such as social communication, creativity, logical thinking and support learning through play objectives.

    Stories are an inclusive way to help children learn no matter what their abilities!

    Fall themed Story Stones Printable

    For our homemade stones, we coat the printable images in modge podge to seal to them to the stone. So far, it’s been working great! And, it’s a craft my 4 year old can do alongside me.

    I decided to create a Fall themed printable to inspire stories about all the exciting pieces that make autumn such a special season. Watch this imagination running wild!

    Simple directions:

    1. Cut the images out
    2. Use Modge Podge to glue the image to the stone (the entire cut-out should be glossed over, front and back)
    3. Let dry for an hour or so
    4. The fun begins!

    The modge podge we use for our stones is linked above!

    There are so many ways to enjoy these creative pebbles and promote imaginative play. Try adding them to a sensory bin, or categorizing with flashcards. We like to create narratives with our stones outside under the sunshine.

    Let us know how you use your story stones in the comments below!

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    For more nature based learning, check out these 7 Nature Activities and Ideas for Outdoor Exploration for kids!

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  • First Day of School Book Favorites (+ activities too)

    We all know that the first day of school can be an emotional time for parents and kids alike. This year brings its own challenges, with virtual learning, social distancing requirements, and block scheduling planned for students across the country.

    This is new territory for everyone, and children are not immune to the uneasiness surrounding reopening schools. However, by staying positive and proactive, it’s possible to carve out an optimistic outlook for the upcoming school year.

    One of the best ways to ease a child’s anxiety is through literature. By introducing characters with feelings and situations resembling their own, they are able to ascertain insight and expand their perspective.

    And by forming character connections through literature with your child, you will be able to affirm their feelings and create open dialogue on topics of concern or excitement.

    Below we have listed some of our favorite first day of school books you can read to prepare your child for the new year. With comprehensive subjects such as first-day jitters, meeting new friends, learning the new school rules; we’ve listed a book for it all.

    You will also find some post-reading activities to stimulate follow-up conversations and engage your child even more with some of the characters and topics.

    See Our List of Favorite First Day of School Books and Activities Below!

    1. Have You Filled Your Bucket Today? 

    Through sweet, simple prose and vivid illustrations, this book encourages positive behavior as children see how very easy and rewarding it is to express kindness, appreciation, and love on a daily basis.

    Activity:

    How Full Is Your Bucket childrens activity picture Have you child create a bucket of their own by thinking and writing down the things that make them happy and placing them in their bucket.

    Clickable link to download How Full is Your Bucket book activity

    2. First Day Jitters

    Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and doesn’t want to start over at a new school. She doesn’t know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With much prodding from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulls herself together and goes to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton, who helps smooth her jittery transition. First Day Jitters is sure to be treasured by anyone who has ever anticipated a first day of school.

    Activity: 

    Picture of boy holding First Day Jitters book activityHave your child make a “Jitter Juice”. Cut out all the emojis that your child feels about starting school and put them in the jitter juice. You can also make a “Jitter Juice” of your own with Hawaiian Punch and Sprite!

    Clickable image to First Day Jitters book activity

    3. Llama Llama Misses Mama

    It’s Llama Llama’s first day of school, and he’s not too happy about it. Still, he trudges along and makes his bed, brushes his teeth, and eats his breakfast.

    But once he arrives at his classroom — with so many new faces, new names, and new games — little Llama doesn’t know what to do. And when Mama Llama leaves, the little guy feels even more shy and alone. What will this lonely llama do? Will Mama ever return?

    Activity:

    Boy holding up Llama Llama paper plate craft

    With two paper plates, make an outline of Llama Llama’s head, ears and scruffy hair. Cut out the eyes, color and glue together to create a Llama Llama mask!

    4. Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books

    It’s the first day of first grade! Gilbert is looking forward to learning how to read and making new friends, but . . .

    Will the teacher be nice? Will first grade be too hard? Will he like his classmates? Will they like him? Gilbert is excited and nervous at the same time and maybe your littles will relate.

    Activity:

    What's in My Backpack book activity exampleDownload the below activity to help your little one prepare their backpack. They’ll need more than just books and pencils!

    Clickable image to Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books book activity

    5. David Goes to School

    In this sequel, young David heads off to school for the first time and David’s teacher certainly has her hands full! From running, yelling, and pushing with abandon to chewing gum in class, David’s high-energy antics fill each day with trouble. David’s unruly romp through school is sure to bring a smile to the face of even the best-behaved reader. Read along as David learns the school rules.

    Activity:

    Picture of David Goes to School book activitySchool rules are very important. See if your child knows the difference between good school behavior and what is not allowed with this “Yes, David – No, David” activity.

    Clickable link to David Goes to School book activity download

    Our List of Back to School book FAVORITES!

    Interested in more back-to-school posts? Check out this post to download a free first day of school printable!

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  • Spring Scene Terrarium Activity for Kids

    Spring has (basically) sprung in our neck of the woods, accompanied by all of the outdoor activity we love about warmer weather. Yet with this lovely season of growth and renewal comes a fair share of rainy days as well. With that in mind, we decided to capture and bottle up our own spring scene for the days that outdoor play isn’t optimal. This Spring scene terrarium activity is the perfect creative undertaking, and a wonderful way for kids to exercise the imagination.

    Spring terrarium for kids

    A terrarium is typically a glass vessel that contains real plants and soil, sometimes used to illustrate how an ecosystem works. Because the real ingredients can get a bit messy, we’ve come up with our own kid-friendly version that is also re-usable. We’ve decided to focus on the aformentioned, blooming season of Spring as our theme.

    The best part is, all of the supplies needed to make this springy terrarium can be purchased at the dollar store for a whopping $5. Unless of course, you already have these basic supplies around the house! The base is play-dough, and can be used multiple times to create new spring filled environments. Have kids dream up their own sunny scenes, and add elements they find laying around the playroom or just outside the door.

    Below you’ll find everything needed to create a Spring Scene Terrarium for kids. May the fun ensue!

    Dollar store shopping list:

    1. Glass jars
    2. Play-dough
    3. Green moss (found in seasonal section)
    4. Rocks (or go outside and find your own!)
    5. Various spring elements (butterflies, flowers, bunnies, eggs, etc.!)

    Directions:

    1. Pack the play-dough at the bottom of the jar
    2. Add the rocks for texture
    3. Place the green moss on top of the rocks as the third layer (you can add more rocks later if desired!)
    4. Insert spring elements. Be sure to press them into the play-dough so they stay put
    5. Close the jar and your spring scene terrarium is complete!

    Spring terrarium

    The play-dough serves as a great foundation and sticking element so the eggs, butterflies, flowers, etc. stay nicely in place. Each terrarium creation has it’s own theme. You could use bugs, easter, or fairy garden as concepts; the possibilities are endless. I love watching my son’s imagination run wild while coming up with new ideas. Don’t forget to display them proudly as Spring decor until the next idea comes along!

    Stickers could also be a fun way to add life to the terrarium. Use a sun sticker, clouds or rain drops to capture typical Spring weather patterns. Include a conversation about the changing seasons for educational value.

    As you can see, we’ve done this more than once!

    The finished products!

    One proud little artist happy with the end result. A sweet Spring Scene Terrarium!

    For the sunnier Spring days, check out these 7 Ideas for Nature Activities and Exploration!

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  • Last Minute Mother’s Day Gifts (that you can get on Amazon Prime)

    Picture of blog image for mothers day gift guide

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links.

    Running out of Mother’s Day gift ideas? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! We have compiled a list of our FAVORITE Mother’s Day gifts that are all available on Amazon Prime. See them below!

    Our Favorite Mother’s Day Gifts
    from Amazon Prime

    Air Fryer

    If you’ve frequented our blog, then you know Rock It Mama loves the air fryer. The air fryer can grill, fry, bake and roast in a less amount of time and without using fattening oils. This is an appliance every home needs to have.

    AeroGarden System

    This is the “extraordinary soil-free indoor garden that grows plants 5x faster than soil…” Not only does it bring decorative greenery into your home, but it provides all the herbs you need to garnish those amazing dishes in the kitchen without having to build out a huge garden space outside.

    Essential Oil Diffuser

    Create a relaxing atmosphere and maximize the benefits of aromatherapy with this essential oil diffuser. With just a few drops, it’ll leave a space smelling better for up to 6 hours.

    Charcuterie Board

    The charcuterie board is perfect Mother’s Day gift for the mom who loves to host!

    Body Polish Sugar Scrub

    Who doesn’t love to get pampered, especially on Mother’s Day? This exfoliating body polish is a tad on the high end price-wise, but for good reason. This is paraben-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free and has been reviewed as one of the best body scrubs on Amazon.

    Wife Mom Boss T-Shirt

    Every mama needs a shirt to lift her up. Give her this stylish t-shirt to remind her of what a boss-mom-wife she is!

    The Happy Planner

    Mama’s do it all – so maybe they’ll enjoy this a planner to help organize the chaos. This Happy Planner is completely customizable and comes with beautiful images and inspirational sayings.

    Cravings Hungry for More Cookbook

    If you follow Chrissy Teigen on Instagram, then you probably see her whipping up amazing dishes in the kitchen every day. This cookbook is filled with her favorite family dishes, and some recipes passed down from her mother!

    Garden Tool Set

    With spring in full bloom and summer right around the corner, perhaps your mom is due for a new gardening set. Complete with a travel bag, shears, spray bottle and other gardening necessities, this is the perfect gift for moms with a green thumb!

    Wine Glass Tumbler

    What mom doesn’t love wine? Whether its used for red, white or a sparkling variety – just fill it up. Made of insulated stainless steel, this is the perfect travel tumbler.

    Shiatsu Massager

    An Amazon #1 Best Seller – this Shiatsu Massager from Zyllion, Inc. can be used on necks, backs, calves, feet and more. Its also travel friendly, so your mom can enjoy this on the road or in the office!

    Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave

    Does your mom love home design? If so, she would certainly enjoy this inspirational book from Fixer Upper’s Joanna Gaines. Readers can learn about blending styles, tackling common design problems and how to nail the famous farmhouse-inspired style that Gaines has so famously been known for.

    Enjoy this gift guide? Check out this post on Gift Ideas Under $10.

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  • 7 Nature Activities and Exploration Ideas for Kids

    Picture of natures activities

    With the cold weather letting up, now is the perfect time to get outdoors! We’ve put together some fun, yet simple activities that incorporate nature to encourage creativity, learning and exploration!

    Flower Petal Suncatcher

    This adorable idea by Messy Little Monster gets the kids out to hunt for different kinds of flowers to create their own suncatcher. This is a great way to encourage pattern building and putting a picture together, while making a beautiful piece of art to show off at home!

    Backyard Dollar Tree Fairy Garden

    Decorate your backyard with a fairy garden. Your children can use their imagination to come up with what they think a garden fairy would love at a home. In this project, Glitter on a Dime was able to find cheap accessories at Dollar Tree and then used existing branches and plants to create their landscape design.

    Nature Scavenger Hunt + Free Printable

    This is such an adventurous activity and one you can knock out while taking a nature walk. Encourage your children to find all the items on the list, which prompts them to use their senses (sight, touch, smell, sounds) and identity color and shapes. My son loved this scavenger hunt and we plan to do many more in the future!

    Spring Outdoor Challenge + Free Printable

    Picture of Spring Outdoor Challenges for Kids

    Activity by We’re Parents

    This challenge looks incredibly fun! We’re Parents put together this Spring Outdoor Challenge which gives you and your little one 10 places to go, 10 things to find and 10 things to take pictures of. This is not only a spring challenge to get your kids outdoors and active, but is a great bucket list for spring!

    Cardboard Tube Bird Feeder

    What’s a nature activity without making a DIY bird feeder? This simple activity can be made with common households items and brings more of the nature to you! We love making this easy tube bird feeders and seeing all the different bird species that stop by, you’d be surprised how many there are!

    Stick Craft Nature Paintbrushes

    Nature can create some amazing art. Encourage your child to go on a nature walk and collect different materials with interesting prints. Then make your paint brush and experiment with paint and see what crazy types of patterns your nature paint brushes make!

    Park Bingo + Free Printable

    Picture of Park Bingo

    Activity by Coffee & Carpool

    Make the most of your park visits by turning it into a Bingo game! Use this game by Coffee & Carpool to discover new parks!

    Do you have any nature activities that you love to do? If so, feel free to share, we are always looking for new ideas.

    If you enjoyed this post, you might like these indoor crafts for preschoolers.

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  • 11 Life Lessons We Can Learn From Dr. Seuss Quotes

    Today we celebrate National Read Across America Day, as well as the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, commonly known by his pen name Dr. Seuss.

    Dr. Seuss was an American children’s author, political cartoonist, illustrator, poet, animator, screenwriter and filmmaker. His work in children’s literature included more than 60 children’s books, published in over 20 languages, making him the most beloved and iconic children’s author in households today.

    picture of boy reading Dr. Seuss Oh The Places You'll Go

    Those who have read books such as “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”, “The Cat in the Hat”, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go”, and “Green Eggs and Ham,” are well aware of Dr. Seuss’s repeated patterns and rhymes, fantastically unique illustrations and important life lessons sprinkled within his books.

    Today, we are sharing 11 quotes from Dr. Seuss and the teachings we can walk away with from them. Also, be sure to download our FREE Dr. Seuss Quotes Coloring Book below!

    “Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person,
    no matter how small!”

    “Today you are You. That is truer than true. There is no one alive that is You-er than You!” – Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!

    You are unique and like no other. You have special talents and capabilities to give to the world! Always be yourself and don’t try to be someone else, they’re already taken.

    “The more you read, the more you know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go!” – Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

    Reading is a powerful tool. You can educate yourself in endless subjects, and spark imagination through storytelling. Fun doesn’t have to be physical!

    “I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, and some come from behind. But I’ve brought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” – Dr. Seuss

    The road of life can be challenging. But with focus and perseverance, you will be ready to face those challenges head-on.

    “Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” – Dr. Seuss, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

    Don’t be sad when the day is done. Tomorrow is a blank slate and the perfect opportunity to make it just as great!

    “You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go.” – Dr. Seuss, Oh The Places You’ll Go

    You know yourself more than anyone else; you are the only one who has been in your shoes. You have the power to determine your future and what paths you must take to create it.

    “You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may.” – Dr. Seuss, Green Eggs and Ham

    You may be hesitant to try something new, like a food or a scary activity, but you never know if you’ll like it if you don’t try it just once!

    “I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of fun that is funny.” – Dr. Seuss, Cat in the Hat

    Not every day is going to be butterflies and rainbows. Some days and situations may seem dreary or hard. But if you change your perspective and attitude, you can still have a lot of fun!

    “Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person, no matter how small!” – Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who

     Don’t feel discouraged. Believe in yourself – you are capable and you matter!

    Picture of boy reading Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss 

    Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

    The world needs caring and passionate people. If there is something you feel strongly about, do something about it!

    Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh the thinks you can think up if only you try.” – Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Thinks You Can Think!

    There are no limits to the imagination. It has the power to motivate and turn desires into reality. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box or march to the beat of your own drum.

    So open your mouth, lad. For every voice counts!” – Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who!

    Each and everyone of us have feelings and opinions that matter. Your voice can make all the difference. If you have something to say – say it!

    Download our FREE Dr. Seuss Quotes Coloring Book Below!


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    If you enjoyed this post on Dr. Seuss, you will enjoy our 6 Ways to Celebrate National Reading Month with Preschoolers.

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