Simply Singer

Ultimate Guide to Free Summer Reading Programs (2026 Edition) Summer is the perfect time to help kids fall in love with reading — and thankfully, there are tons of free programs offering rewards, challenges, printables, and incentives to keep them motivated all season long. Whether your child is a reluctant reader or already devours books, these 2026 summer reading programs make it fun, easy, and exciting to build strong reading habits. Below is the updated list of the best free summer reading programs for 2026 , including new dates, fresh challenges, and links to sign up. 1. Public Library Summer Reading Programs (Nationwide) Your local library is still the BEST place to start. Nearly every library in the U.S. participates in a summer reading challenge, offering: reading logs weekly prizes stickers and badges free events end‑of‑summer celebrations Most libraries use Beanstack or READsquared . More Info: Beanstack: https://www.beanstack.com READsquared: https://www.rea...

  🌧️ 8 Rainy Day Activities for Kids That Keep Them Busy When the weather traps everyone inside, kids get restless fast — and moms feel it even faster. If you’re staring out the window at gray skies wondering how to survive the day, these easy, low‑prep rainy day activities will keep your kids entertained without draining your energy (or your wallet). These ideas use things you already have at home, work for multiple ages, and buy you those precious pockets of quiet every mom needs. ☔ 1. Indoor Obstacle Course Use pillows, couch cushions, painter’s tape, and chairs to create a simple course. Kids can crawl under chairs, hop over pillows, balance on a taped line, and finish with a “victory pose.” Why it works: burns energy, builds coordination, and keeps them busy for a long time. 🎨 2. DIY Art Station Set out crayons, markers, stickers, paper, and anything else you have. Give them a theme like: “Draw your dream house” “Make a monster family” “Create a rainy‑day com...

15 Things That Help With Mom Burnout (That Actually Make a Difference) Mom burnout hits hard... and it hits quietly. One day you’re juggling everything like usual, and the next you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering how you’re supposed to keep going. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, you’re not alone. Burnout is real, and it’s something so many moms deal with but rarely talk about. These 15 simple, realistic things can help you reset, breathe, and feel like yourself again, even on the busiest days. 1. A 10‑Minute Reset Set a timer and do a quick reset: pick up a few things drink water breathe stretch Ten minutes can shift your whole mood. 2. Saying “No” Without Explaining You don’t owe anyone a detailed reason. “No, that doesn’t work for me” is enough. Protecting your energy is not selfish. 3. A Daily “Out of the House” Moment Even five minutes outside helps: walk to the mailbox sit on the porch take a quick drive Fresh air resets your nervous system...

 🌸 Spring Bucket List for Families: 40 Fun + Easy Ideas to Welcome the Season Spring is finally here!!! Which means sunshine, fresh air, and kids who are so ready to get outside again. If your family is craving simple, screen‑free fun, this Spring Bucket List is packed with easy activities you can do without spending a ton of money (or losing your sanity, because I always do!). Whether you want outdoor adventures, rainy‑day ideas, or quick after‑school fun, this list has something for every family. 🌼 Outdoor Adventures Go on a nature scavenger hunt (look below for TWO cards!) Visit a new playground Feed ducks at a local pond Have a family picnic Go on a “signs of spring” walk Plant flowers or herbs Draw chalk art on the driveway Fly a kite Collect rocks and paint them Take a family bike ride 🍓 Spring Treats & Food Fun Make fruit kabobs Try a new smoothie recipe Bake lemon cookies Make DIY trail mix Have a backyard snack picnic Make butterfly sandwich...

 Easy Easter Basket Ideas That Aren’t Full of Candy and Sweets Easter baskets don’t have to be stuffed with cheap trinkets that break in five minutes or piles of candy that leave kids bouncing off the walls. More and more parents are looking for clutter‑free Easter basket ideas, non‑candy Easter gifts, and practical Easter basket fillers that kids will actually use long after the holiday is over. Whether you’re building an Easter basket for toddlers, preschoolers, big kids, tweens, or teens, this guide will help you create baskets that are fun, useful, budget‑friendly, and totally junk‑free. These ideas are perfect for families who want to keep things simple, intentional, and still magical — without wasting money on items that end up in the trash by Monday. Creative Fun Basket – for crafty kids who love to make things • Crayons or markers (scented, jumbo, or pastel sets) • Stickers (glitter, seasonal, or puffy styles) • Mini craft kits (foam shapes, googly eyes, pipe cleaner...

  This was MESSY but SO FUN! I recommend doing this one in the kitchen or even outside! Mainly for easy clean up! Some of our other Hands-on Learning Crafts and Learning Through Play Videos: Handprint Mother's Day Flower Bouquet Primary Colors Experiment   Watercolor Coloring Craft Handprint Flower Pots Rolled Birds Craft   What you need: - plain sheet of paper - small cups or  paint cups - straw - various colors of tempura or washable paint - water - dish soap Instructions: 1. mix 1/4 cup water, 2 TBSP dish soap and about a 1/4 cup paint into a cup so that the mixture if about half way filling the cup 2. using the straw, blow bubbles until it bubbles over the top of the cup 3. blot the bubbles with the paper, to "capture" the bubbles 4. repeat steps 2 and 3 until your picture is perfect!

  This one is a bit messy and takes a bit more time than my normal ones. This one I have been told can be done while the glue is dry OR wet. So it will not take longer if you let the glue dry. But either way, it is a fairly quick craft. Some of our other Hands on Learning and Learning Through Play Videos: Magic Paper Towel Paintings   Handprint Mother's Day Flower Bouquet Watercolor Coloring Craft Handprint Flower Pots What you need: - plain sheet of paper - pencil - watercolor paints and brush - table salt - glue bottle - check out the quick tutorial here Directions: 1. using the pencil, draw the design you want to make 2. then trace the drawing with glue, make sure the glue is even and follows all the lines 3. pour table salt on the glue, then carefully dump the excess off and into the waste (or save for another) 4. using the watercolors, gently add paint to the salt by touching the brush to the salt. the paint and color will seep on the salt giving it the color!

  This is a simple and quick one! Takes less than 5 minutes to prep and complete! You can do either blank pieces of paper, coloring sheets or print your own pictures!  Some of our other Hands on Learning and Learning Through Play Videos: Magic Paper Towel Paintings   Handprint Mother's Day Flower Bouquet Handprint Flower Pots What you need: - coloring page or a printed coloring page - markers - foil - spray bottle with water Directions: 1. using the markers, color on the piece of foil 2. once your foil piece has all the colors you want, spray some water on it 3. gently press your coloring page or printed page over the damp foil 4. carefully separate the foil and paper to reveal a beautiful watercolor design!

  This is a cute and quick one! I am starting to see most of these are mainly taking less than 30 minutes to prep and complete!  What you need: - piece of plain paper - permanent marker - black - black paint - red paint - green piece of paper for the strawberry leaf - glue stick for the leaf - watch the  tutorial video ! Directions: 1. paint your child's hand red and place in the center/towards the bottom of the paper, let dry 2. using black paint, let your child pout the little black seeds on the strawberry 3. glue the green leaf (or paint them on) to the top of the strawberry/palm of the hand area 4. Add "I love you BERRY much!" to the top and voila!  Check out our other Hands on Learning and Learning Through Play craft links: Magic Paper Towel Paintings   Handprint Mother's Day Flower Bouquet Handprint Flower Pots Handprint Cactus   Summer Lemon and Lime Craft  

  This is a simple and quick one! Takes less than 30 minutes to prep and complete! You can do either paint or construction paper like we did! (If you do paint, use white paint to make the cactus markings when dry) Some of our other Hands on Learning and Learning Through Play Videos: Magic Paper Towel Paintings   Handprint Mother's Day Flower Bouquet Handprint Flower Pots What you need: - piece of plain paper, green Constuction paper (we use two shades) and a brown piece of paper - glue stick - white colored pencil - #2 pencil for tracing - scissors  - watch the  tutorial video ! Directions: 1. start by tracing your child's hand on the green construction paper, we made 4 but used 3 2. cut out the hand prints and cut out pots for the cactus to sit in 3. draw designs on the cactus (stars, dots, lines, x's) using the white colored pencil 4. glue the cactus down, then glue to pot covering a bit of the bottom.

This is a simple and quick one! Takes less than 10 minutes to complete! We did it for Mother's Day, but it can be for anything! We have done a few of these over the years! Some of our other Hands on Learning and Learning Through Play Videos: Magic Paper Towel Paintings   Handprint Mother's Day Flower Bouquet Handprint Flower Pots What you need: - piece of plain paper  -  finger paint   - paint brushes - paper towels to wipe feet - watch the  tutorial video !  Directions: 1. draw the body of the butterfly in the middle of the page 2. using whatever color they want and paint their feet 3. place their foot opposite to the butterfly to create the wings of the butterfly 4. let it dry then add eyes and a smile!

This is a simple and quick one! Takes less than 30 minutes to prep and complete! We did it for Mother's Day, but it can be for anything! Some of our other Hands on Learning and Learning Through Play Videos: Magic Paper Towel Paintings   Handprint Mother's Day Flower Bouquet What you need: - piece of plain paper and a brown piece of paper -  finger paint  on a plate - paint brush - paper towels to wipe fingers - watch the  tutorial video ! Directions: 1. start by using green to make the stem and paint your child's hand 2. using yellow (or whatever color they want), make the center of the flowers with their fingers 3. select a different (or same) color for each flower and use their finger to place the petals 4. let it dry then add the pot shaped paper! you can add whatever message you want to the pot! 

  This is a simple and quick one! Takes less than 15 minutes to prep and complete! I did use Google to find the perfect looking stems for me and added my kids names in. If you are not super tech savvy, you can always draw the stems and write their names. EVEN BETTER let them write their names!  What you need: - piece of plain paper -  finger paint - paint brush - watch the  tutorial video ! Directions: 1. either draw or print out the stems. I used Google to find the image then PIXLR to add the name in.  2. paint your child's hand whatever color they choose 3. place their hand on the stem top 4. let it dry!

Alright, so after talking with various people, it was decided that each activity deserves its own post. Also because it is less work to find exactly what you have come here for! So lets get into it! Also, (hopefully) all activities will have links to YouTube so make sure to follow us there as well to see the fun! Sometimes they will be posted before the blog! I will post them under the what you need since it is like a tutorial! You need 3 things and there are 5 steps only! Setup is only the time it takes to collect the materials and you can make as many as you want! Once the paper towel gets wet, the colored image shows through like magic! What you need: - paper towels - markers - tub with water - watch the tutorial video ! Directions: 1. fold the paper towel in half 2. draw on the front side a simple image in black marker 3. open the paper towel. you should see the outline that bled through. Color! fill in your drawing, give it color, make it creative! 4. fold it back in half 5. place...

 Hey!! So I was sitting here thinking about how to share some of the things we have found or done that are perfect for kids! And I de used maybe a quarterly post, not too soon and also not a long span either. I think four times a year is good, your thoughts!?!?  Alright let’s start! It will be a picture, link to either a video of it and/or where to get one and short description of it and how my kids liked it. This will be probably longer than I will do since I have other unpublished posts with ideas right now, so I will lump them together here.  1.   Dollar store items usually are able to keep the kids entertained for at least half an hour.   2.   Crafts for craft stores - here we have Hobby Lobby and Michaels, where we can by little craft packages that contain various small crafts including pompom crafts, toilet paper roll crafts, pipe cleaner crafts, stained glass art, sand art, wood crafts, ceramic crafts and so many more!  Amazon...