DIY STEM Bin
Looking to create a homemade STEM bin for your kids to play with? Here’s a super simple, fun way to do it: just cut different colored pool noodles into small pieces (they should end up looking like somewhat foamy, colorful doughnuts).
Add a pile of toothpicks to the mix – and you have yourself the foamy version of building blocks. Just don’t forget to warn your kids before you let them play with toothpicks. We have come to the conclusion that the soft toys sold by big brands, are just too expensive and with a little imagination, the same quality, however much cheaper equivalents can be made.
Simple Reading Nook
One of the saddest things about growing up (aside from student loans, doing your own dishes, and having to ingest enormous amounts of coffee to survive another day) is not spending sufficient time in blanket forts. So, while your kids are still young try to do your best and encourage them to read as much as possible. Check out this next hack, you call it a reading nook.
You don't even have to read it (but your kids don't have to know). All you need to do is mount a heavy-duty tension rod between the wall and a big piece of furniture. Next, drape some blankets over it. For a finishing touch, throw some pillows on the floor and put up some twinkle lights.
Feet Care
As a little kid, not many things beat having a super cool bunk bed, especially if you're the one to sleep on top and get to climb a kickass ladder to get there! It's almost like having a treehouse (okay, we may have gotten slightly carried away here). Anyway, this next hack will solve all of your child's problems.
Back to the matter at hand – the only problem with such a bed is having to climb the stiff ladder steps with bare feet. Enter pool noodles! Just cut pool noodle pieces down the middle, slide them around the steps of the ladder, and put an end to sore little feet.
Makeshift Puppet Show Theater
Okay, so this one might require some more crafting skills, but we're fairly certain you can do it despite failing home ec. There is nothing we won't do to make out children happy! In order to create this DIY theater, you will need a tension rod (or two, depending on how fancy you feel) and some fabric for the curtains.
You can buy fabric or simply use the sheet with chocolate stains from that time you had cake in bed and couldn't be bothered to wash it. Mount the rod in the doorway and drape the fabric over it. You can sew the top and cut a hole for the puppets in the middle, or you can cut the whole thing down the middle so it hangs on each side like window curtains.
Pool Noodles for Math Practice
Yes, we're being serious, and this hack is effing cool and we honestly cannot get how no one thought of this when we were at school. To help your kids or students practice fractions, all you need are a few colorful pool noodles.
Just divide the noodles into even pieces depending on the fraction you'd like to demonstrate and write it down on each individual piece. This kinda makes us wish we were in school again. Well, okay, not really but like, almost, and for sure, your kids will enjoy practicing their homework with this more than nothing at all.