A few of my favorites from Instagram

You can never have too many sprinkles

This morning found us making 48 cupcakes! Yesterday, we celebrated my birthday. Tomorrow, we will celebrate Greta's 6th birthday.

"You can never have too many sprinkles." declared Greta.

And when cooking with children, you can never have enough paper towels! Cooking and baking with kiddos have lessons built in with delicious results. Cooking and baking are sensory, science, AND language all in one.

Some people shy away from mess. Why? Kids love mess. It's okay to be messy and it can be fun to clean up, too. Key #1 just relax. That egg dropped on the floor will clean up. That batter that splattered on your backsplash, it will wipe up. And the kiddos can be washed, too!

I have cooked with one child. I have cooked with toddlers. I have cooked with a classroom of 24 kids at one time. You may call me brave (or crazy!), but the laughing and the binding and the taste testing...it doesn't get better than THAT!

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Birthday Sale - mybigworld2015.etsy.com

TODAY is my birthday! Do you want to celebrate with me?

Use coupon code BIRTHDAY to save 44% on orders over $25 today only, because it's my birthday!

www.mybigworld2015.etsy.com

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

*Orders will all be shipped out on Saturday, August 6th  morning.

Tell Me A Story Tuesday - Helping 500 Elephants

Once there was a prince who cared for his world so much that he travelled far, far away from his kingdom. He spent weeks and weeks helping relocate nearly 500 elephants to a new conversation reserve. He wanted to help the elephants and keep them safe from poachers.

This is a true story of Prince Harry in South Africa now, helping to relocate nearly 500 elephants to a new reserve that will hopefully help keep elephants safe from poachers and increase the declining elephant population.

I know there are a lot of big words in this story, but that's okay. You can talk to your child about what a "reserve" is and what "conservation" means. Elephants are interesting to most children. Throw a real Prince that is helping them into the mix, and I would say that your child will crave more information from you. Not only are you expanding their knowledge of elephants but also their vocabulary. Then, to take it further, read a book or two (or 20!) about elephants, find all your little elephant toys to count and sort by size.

Learning is through play is fun and not work. Make it fun.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Bear and Blue on the high seas

Bear and Blue are best friends. Blue has an adventurous heart. Bear likes to stay at home, but he also likes to make Blue happy. Today, they are exploring the high seas.

Blue takes the scuba gear. It doesn't fit Blue, but it makes Blue feel like a true explorer of the seas.

The two see a pile of sea urchins.

"Bear, can I take home a sea urchin? Maybe just a small One...or two?" Blue asked.

"No," said Bear. "Sea urchins are too prickly and need salt water to live."

Then, they saw a giant orange fish.

"Can I take home that giant orange fish?" asked Blue.

"No," said Bear. "Giant orange fish probably have a family and needs salt water to live."

Then, they saw some coral.

"Bear, may I take home some coral?" asked Blue.

"No," said Bear. "Coral is home to small fish and needs salt water to live."

Bear could see that Blue was disappointed. "Blue, why don't you take home one empty shell. And we will come back next week to visit the Sea urchins, giant orange fish, and coral?"

Blue was happy indeed. Blue picked out a beautiful yellow sea shell. Bear knew what made Blue happy.

Bear and Blue are best friends.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Bear and Blue explore the high seas imagination kit will be in my #etsy shop later.

Fairytale Friday - The Storks

 The Storms have a very important job to do. They take care babies then deliver them to just the right family at just the right time.

 There are babies of all kinds here - baby babies, Dragon babies, elephant babies, even tiny birdie babies.

The Storks weigh each baby, feed the babies, bathe the babies before making their special delivery to their new home.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Day 4 of Christmas in July event coupon code

It's Day 4 of Christmas in July event. I have been to the post office so much this week, I now have to add the post office employees to my Christmas card list! I feel like they are family. (they are actually super sweet!)

Today's code is giveimagination to save 30% on your purchase of $25 or more. I am shipping the stone cottage out to Australia this morning!

Follow me on Instagram @melanieshanks35 to see all my latest projects, playscapes, and news.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel