As a mom of twelve years, I know how frustrating it is to search online for high quality kid activities only to hit paywalls. That is why I created The Wonder Workshop as a simple hub filled with zero cost resources so you can spend less time scrolling and more time with family.
I am so excited to share some fresh additions created by my daughter. She has been hard at work making bright printable alphabet flash cards, upper and lowercase letter matching sets, and colorful new coloring pages. Kids love learning through play, and these tools are designed by a kid for kids.
You can also find curated homeschool generators, STEM flight lessons from NASA, free physical books mailed to your home, printable mazes, minimal daily schedules, and party planning toolkits. Everything remains completely free with no subscriptions required. Head over to The Wonder Workshop today to download your new printables and start exploring. Check out the By Kids 4 Kids for more freebies like these!
Every page of a picture book starts with simple lines on paper. Before we worry about color, lighting, or final details, we use these initial drafts to figure out how a scene feels. I wanted to share this rough drawing from another scene we are working on. In our house, my kids like to spot the tiny details in these early sketches that sometimes change by the time the final book is printed.
Rough Sketch from Sharing Kindness Wherever I Go
Drafting scenes like this allows us to map out the action and leave plenty of room for the text to sit naturally on the page. It is one of my favorite stages of creating a book because the possibilities are still wide open.
Ask your kids what mood they think this picture sets! Is it quiet, exciting, or silly?
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Welcome back to another in-depth Bible study. If you’re just now stopping by I highly recommend going back to the beginning, Genesis 1:1. This is an in-depth Bible study that follows chapter by chapter, verse by verse, Genesis to Revelation.
Proverbs 30 1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
I have always been a HUGE fan of Waldo. Although until recently I had forgotten just how much I truly love these books.
My daughter was at the library and requested Where’s Waldo” specifically. I tried to look it up on their system with no luck. I was disappointed and shocked it was not even in their database.
So I promised to buy her one when I got the chance.
One quick Amazon search later and I found a whole series that just happened to be 40% off at the moment.
I quickly tapped the buy now button and went on with my day.
Two days later I received the notification from Amazon stating my package would be delivered that day.
Pure joy and excitement overcame me as I anticipated the upcoming delivery. I anxiously waited, quietly listen to the hum of the old jeep that still delivers my mail.
To my surprise, both of my children joined my excitement and eagerly grabbed a book to tackle together.
I smiled as I watched them at the kitchen table working together to find the objects and laughing at the undoubtedly hilarious scenes they see.
My heart filled with a sense of nostalgia and overwhelming joy.
Something so small and simple, will now be filed alongside other precious memories.
What’s something you do completely differently from how you were raised?
What’s something I do completely differently from how you were raised?
I strive to do a lot of things differently than my parents but the first one that came to mind with this prompt is Christmas and Easter.
In my house, we do not celebrate Christmas with Santa clause. I also do not tell my children it is Jesus’s birthday, as we believe it is his conception date.
Easter is not celebrated on Easter Sunday with a bunny that somehow lays eggs to find. Instead, we celebrate Passover and call remembrance to the passover that happened in Egypt in the book of Exodus, as well as Jesus himself becoming our passover on the cross.
I also do not tell my children that a tooth fairy breaks into our home at night and sneaks into their room to steal their teeth and leave them money. Nor is the elf on the shelf ever been an activity in our home.
While I know many disagree, it is my job to raise my children. Filling them with lies that take glory away from God in order to follow traditions of men is not a path I am willing to take.
Before anyone jumps in the comments with Acts 12:4. I suggest taking that paticular word back to the original languages from the manuscripts.
Welcome back to another in-depth Bible study. May you have listening ears and eyes that see. Join me as we dive into Father’s word.
Proverbs 28 1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found randomly on the street?
What’s the best thing I’ve ever found randomly on the street?
A cool rock of corse!
I often look at the ground searching for my next tiny treasure. A weird shaped design or just something that looks out of place. Never a certain color or shape in mind, just something that catches my eye. Sadly, I do not have picture of my favorite. That paticular one is a small smooth stone that has been shaped by water. It resembles a tiny hat that fits perfectly atop my pinky finger.
However, here is a pretty cool one I found in a parking lot in Columbus, Ohio It was half buried in the dirt beneath a bush. The right angle caught my attention, but the location suggested it was merely trash that someone had discarded. The more I looked it, the more the curiosity got the better of me. After a quick digging expedition and overcoming the feeling of being ridiculous, I pulled my treasure eye level for closer look.
I was not disappointed. I have no idea what it is, but I like it. Perhaps it was use as a tool at one time. Most likely, it is just a weird natural occurring design that now belongs in my collection.
