CIRCUS-RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
Kids love circuses, but some circus’s practices are unethical (read my story below). So how can you incorporate circus games into your child’s play in a positive, educational way? Here are 5 activities you can do with your child right now :
- Discuss animal rights using age-appropriate language.
- Practice juggling using age appropriate materials (read below).
- Clown around.
- Dress up.
- Encourage tumbling / acrobatics / gymnastics. (Examples: standing on one leg, balancing on the curb, etc.)
(For those who are wondering, the boots Adèle is wearing are made by MyMayu.)
To expose your children to circus activities, check if you have circus schools around where you live. We are lucky to have a few around us which offer different circus classes for kids! It’s a creative way to sensitize children to circus fun and encourage them to try new physical activities such as jumping on trampolines or walking on wire.
EDUCATIONAL CIRCUS TOYS
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Since she loves animals so much, my husband brought Adèle this beautiful Janod Story Box Circus
The show was in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia in an authentic circus tent building just like the one in her game. I still don’t know which country the circus show came from, but it was the most traumatizing circus experience I have ever had because it was obvious that the animals were NOT treated well.
We are a family that rescues animals so seeing old, captured, wild, bleeding animals on stage doing tricks and not being able to do anything about it was very difficult.
Adèle didn’t understand what was really happening so was not affected by the experience in a negative way. In fact, she was really impressed by “flying men” and even tried to do her own acrobatic tricks at home. She still talks about all the animals she saw and how magical that was for her. And she also plays with her circus game now all the time.
I am telling you this story because any type of circus game that you will find will have animals in it. Animals that smile, animals that do cute things. And while I normally wouldn’t support such toys, they do provide an opportunity to teach your kids a few things such as:
- animals rights – They can spark conversations about animals, about what a circus is or what it should be.
- history – Kids need to learn about the way circuses were back in the day (or, like in our case, still are in developing and third world countries).
- creativity – Children like seeing images of animals doing funny or strange things and that develops their imagination.
- movement – Circus games provide opportunities for original movement activities.
DIY CIRCUS TOYS
- You can make a simple balancing toy using a plank of wood and a wooden cylinder.
-
You can also make stilts using old cans and some rope:
EDUCATIONAL CIRCUS GAMES AND TOYS
- Janod Stars Circus Puzzle – A fun beginner wooden puzzles for babies and toddleres. 6 pieces.
- Janod Circus Wood Puzzle – Another wooden puzzles for babies and toddlers. 7 pieces.
- Janod MultiKub Circus Stacker with Figures – A unique stacking circus toy with 5 wooden characters. The stacking cubes are light as they are made of cardboard. Great for babies and toddlers, but characters can also be used by older kids for imaginary play, so this game is a good investment for that reason.
- Janod Kubkid Circus Blocks – Block games are excellent pre-puzzle introductory games for toddlers. Each side of the cube has a different image, so there are 6 circus-inspired illustrations that your child can assemble.
- Djeco Circus Observation Puzzle – 35 pieces puzzle that comes with a poster. Adèle lik
es this one a lot because the poster makes it easier to learn how to assemble puzzles. The border around it makes it a bit more challenging and it also serves as a “spot a character” game, so you actually get two games in one!
- Janod 54pc. Circus Puzzle – 54 piece puzzle that comes with its own carrying case. The case has a handle. Beautifully designed for neat storage and very Montessori-friendly for this reason.
es this one a lot because the poster makes it easier to learn how to assemble puzzles. The border around it makes it a bit more challenging and it also serves as a “spot a character” game, so you actually get two games in one!
- Janod Story Box Circus – A wooden game that comes in a sturdy cardboard box designed as a circus tent. The box itself can be used as part of the game. You can see Adèle playing with hers in the photos above. It’s excellent for imaginary play. The pieces can be used for balancing and work quite well. Some characters can even ride on the horse which is a huge plus!
- Janod Story Express Circus
– This one is the same set as above, but with more characters and an original twist to traditional train sets!
- 1 X Red Floor Circus Tent Indoor Children Play House Outdoor Kids Castle by POCO DIVO
or you can find a similar one at IKEA. This tent will last for years because kids love hiding inside, making a house of their own, etc. It folds flat, takes very little storage space when folded and is easy to assemble. We placed Adèle’s baby mattress inside for extra comfort and she has taken naps inside when she was little.
- Juggling Combo Pack
– 3 soft balls and 3 silk scarves. The scarves are great for beginners as they are light and easier to catch than the balls. The set comes with instructions. The scarves are perfect for travel and easy to pack when going out. I usually pack them for plane rides as their are practically weightless and so versatile. You can even practice magic with them!
- Janod Speed Game – Circus Game – A bingo-like circus inspired game for preschoolers and school aged children.
- Meeple Circus
– A circus inspired game for all ages.
For a more physical circus activity, check out this Camden Rose Wood Circus Toss Game. It’s great for reinforcing gross motor skills and coordination and is a fun kinesthetic activity. Older children can also play with hula hoops. Also, for indoor balancing fun, try IKEA Balancing Bench which is surprisingly sturdy.
– This one is the same set as above, but with more characters and an original twist to traditional train sets!
or you can find a similar one at 
– 3 soft balls and 3 silk scarves. The scarves are great for beginners as they are light and easier to catch than the balls. The set comes with instructions. The scarves are perfect for travel and easy to pack when going out. I usually pack them for plane rides as their are practically weightless and so versatile. You can even practice magic with them!
– A circus inspired game for all ages. 
. It’s great for reinforcing gross motor skills and coordination and is a fun kinesthetic activity. Older children can also play with hula hoops. Also, for indoor balancing fun, try 
CIRCUS BOOKS
CIRCUS BOOKS- The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
by Mordicai Gerstein – A beautiful, inspirational book for older kids about the adventures of tightrope walker, Pilippe Petit
who walked between the World Trade Center Towers in NYC. This book even won the Caldecott Medal and is an excellent edition to any library!
- Creativity – The Perfect Crime
by Philippe Petit – this one is an autobiography written by the man himself and is for adults. I include it here because his story is so incredible and is all about creativity and following your passions.
by Mordicai Gerstein – A beautiful, inspirational book for older kids about the adventures of tightrope walker, 
who walked between the World Trade Center Towers in NYC. This book even won the Caldecott Medal and is an excellent edition to any library!
by Philippe Petit – this one is an autobiography written by the man himself and is for adults. I include it here because his story is so incredible and is all about creativity and following your passions.Circus today is so much more than just animals (examples: Cirque du Soleil, Cirque plume, etc.). In fact, in some countries animal circuses are banned all together. I am still looking for a circus game that represent the modern circus. If you find one, please let me know!
takes us on a journey of loving books while paying homage to classic literature for children. It is accessible to all ages and uses text as a graphic element. This helps in bringing us along on the journey of reading. A beautiful book to read over and over again and perfect as a gift for children small and big.
by Oliver Jeffers – This one is creative and funny. It’s about Henry who loves eating books and getting smarter. With an original twist and a perfect ending, it is sure to delight. Every time I read it to Adèle, she comes up with more and more inventive questions, so I think the book has done its job over and over again.
by Jean Jullien – This book re-imagines what a book is and makes it something playful and fun. It almost become an interactive art piece where your child, while reading it, forgets that it’s a book. It challenges you to look at things in a different way and to be more creative. A fun object, a fun book.
by Barbara Lehman- A storytelling adventure for older children, this book is a Caldencott Honor winner and excellent for igniting your child’s imagination.
by William Joyce and Joe Bluhm – While this wondrous books talks about the power of the book, I only recommend it for older children as it does mention death.
by Lane Smith- A funny book about books in the digital age. This is the book if you want to help your child look at a book instead of the screen. 😉
HOW TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
There are a myriad of ways to expose children to the ideas of wildlife protection and here are just a few suggestions:
, but there are others that are appropriate for different ages that I reviewed below.)
by Jeanette Winter – This book is for preschoolers and elementary aged-school children. It covers all the highlight’s of Jane’s life and introduces the concepts of wildlife conservation without going too much into details like the above-mentioned book. There is a scene with guns and poachers and I usually do NOT read the part that talks about “killing” chimps. If your child asks what the guns are, you can say they are tools to capture animals. There is really no need to go into details unless the child keeps on pressing for more and more information. With this said, it’s one of Adèle’s favorite books and describing Jane as a “watcher” is very inspiring for young children. It will help your child relate to the character and inspire them to also watch creatures around them.
by Alison Jay- A girl becomes friends with a bee and they go on a journey together. Along the way they help children realize how they can contribute to conservation.
– I’d also like to recommend this book because a) it has a very strong female role model who followed her childhood passions to explore and protect the oceans and b) it is based on a true person’s journey.
– Shockproof and also designed specifically for kids. They have the same high resolution as the first set I mentioned above.
And here is another fun toy Adèle likes. It’s a 
, but as you can see in the photo above, she was even lucky enough to fit a small gecko inside! It has two lenses (top and side) to watch from and is easy for little hands to hold and use.
I think the frog was not very happy being trapped inside for this long. So, we hiked up the mountain to look for a stream. Here is a photo of Fig Frog jumping off the box to find a new home. Follow Adèle’s finger in the photo to find him at the edge of the box, about to leap into the water.
behind them.
Whenever possible, we try to buy natural, non-toxic, organic things. When Adèle was a baby, this was even more true as she was putting everything in the mouth. I chose these sounds blocks for her because they are made from environmentally
Hollow wood with beads inside which make different sounds and are great for stacking and building. These blocks are made from 
6 blocks with different surfaces and sounds. In comparison with other ones, they are not as versatile.
Like other Wonderworld sound blocks, these are also made from durable, 
8 blocks made from rubberwood with sand inside.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ALLOW KIDS TO USE REAL KNIFES?
. Not only is it fun because it makes waves, it also offers a different way of cutting things (pushing down with both hands/arms). For some kids this is much easier than the conventional back and forth sawing motion. It also allows them to utilize upper body muscles.
– These are nylon (plastic), but they are less expensive than comparable stainless steel children’s knives.
– If you want your child to test out a knife, you can purchase these RISK FREE. They come in three different sizes and are a good value for the price.
– A real, sharp, stainless steel knife. This is not a “safe” knife and it really does cut. 
– An eco-friendly, safe, wooden knife that even babies can use. In general, however, wood is not hygienic as food particles get inside the pores and mold can also form over time. Therefore, these knives have to be well taken care of and will not last as long as the stainless steel ones.
set plus 
as well. Both the knife and the peeler have rings which help position the fingers so that the hand does not slip so easily onto the blade. All three items can be found as a complete set (
and 
are particularly good. I also recommend the videos by Sara Adams, found at 
’s books (which are Intermediate to Complex in difficulty), working solely from the diagrams.
” and my newest, “
.” Both are for advanced folders. For beginners to intermediate, I recommend my “
.”
As mentioned above, I introduced Adèle to origami when she was 2 years old. We were migrating from Australia to Europe and I wanted a light, yet versatile toy for our 24+ hour long journey. The idea was that I’d fold different models for her and we’d use them as toys on the plane. Instead, she started folding (paper, restaurant napkins, clothes, etc.) and has been doing it every day ever since. After a year of daily practice, she was able to fold 3D tulips like this one…
– This is the very first set that I got for our long flight. It was not easy to fold, so it’s more suitable for intermediate-level folders. It comes with a book which contains beautiful photos and detailed instructions for 15 origami models. 40 papers are included, each printed with patters that relate to specific animals and birds. In addition, there rare almost 100 stickers (animal eyes, noses, etc.) and a fold-out, large map of a zoo on which your child can place their folded animals to play with. Overall, it’s a fun set that your child can enjoy for a long time.
– Similar to the above-mentioned kit, this one also comes with a book, but contains more papers, more stickers and more projects. The models are a little easier to make than the Origami Zoo kit, but are still more suited for older kits.
– You can make 12 models with this kit, but it comes with enough paper to make one origami every day of the year. A creative way to encourage origami-making on daily bases.
. This set contains 100 sheets as it comes with interesting patters and a small instructional booklet. After a few weeks of use, we needed A LOT more paper, so for now, we usually get her pre-printed sheets of 500 or more squares.
– 
– Tuttle Origami paper: high-quality origami sheets printed with 12 different designs, comes with instructions for 8 projects
– 
As something a little different, also check out 
which provides hands-on fun for Kids! It includes 22 cooperative and competitive games and 21 foldable pieces.
by printing out interesting diagrams you find online. But I prefer to support artist that put so much hard work in making origami accessible to others. So, here are some of my book suggestions for beginner origami books for kids:
by Dr. Robert J. Lang – This books is out of print, but you can find it used online. The publisher describes it best: “As children’s toys or decorations, the fun and artistic projects in Origami Zoo is a perfect do-it-yourself paper folding crafts book for aspiring artists.”
There is an intrinsic value present in drawing with kids. But don’t mistake that for drawing for kids. If kids are left to draw what they want and how they want, then creating a regular practice of drawing will allow them an invaluable outlet for self-expression. I often times draw alongside my kids, but never for them. You want them to explore and express without feeling they have to draw the “right” way. Drawing outside, while moving their bodies, allows for creative freedom, all the benefits of physical activity, and a healthy dose of Richard Louv’s highly toted, Vitamin N. Sounds like a win to me.
Snow, could there be a better natural blank canvas? We’ve used sticked to trace lines down the drive and around the block. Larger sticks work best so they can walk and have them drag along behind them. Simple but so much fun to document space and with long lines. Often in our case one child draws the line while the other plays follow the leader (or line) as we go. Of course dragging feet along works well too and can be quite entertaining for little ones. They love to look back and see that their bodies have created a mark across the land by simply moving!
You can follow Jessica on her blog at 
Some people might say that we come in contact with so many harmful chemicals on daily basis, why bother with crayons? But the truth is that it’s chemicals in all these little things which accumulate – and if we can limit the exposure by choosing the right products, then we can help our children live healthier lives.
(Or ask your child to find small hollow toys such as 
. Just make sure it’s something that you could clean easily.)
.
instead of beeswax!
– 12 pack toddler crayons, 
or 
– These last for what seems like forever. We have the 12 pack and it 3 years they look almost new. It might seem like a big investment, but one pack will last you for years, so in the long run it’s very economical. Not to mention that these are the safest crayons on the marker. They are hand-made from beeswax in New Zealand and smell of honey. The colours work well and are bright enough. None of our crayons are broken nor chipped, so that should say something about the quality. Highly, highly recommended!
– Made from plant based materials, these crayons are made with soy waxes and are dairy and wheat free.
– 20 pack – Made with a mixture of beeswax and soy wax
– 5 pack – These are shaped like rocks and are good for learning the “tripod grip.”
– 8 pack – USDA certified organic crayons.
– 32 Pack but also available as a 
and a 
– Soy wax crayons will help your child “pinch” in order to draw, encouraging the “tripod grip.” They are a great learning tool for children who have difficulties holding pens/pencils.
If you are going to have a “crayon day,” then a good way to wrap things up is with a fun book about crayons. Adèle just loves Drew Daywalt award-winning books. These books are written for both kids and adults and have funny subtexts which I really appreciate as a reader. Adèle also enjoys Oliver Jeffers’ child-like illustrations.
by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
Drum
Janod Ukulele Ikea Kids Furniture Raskog Softstar Shoes Nui Organics Nature Baby” data-medium-file=”
Wee Sing Bible Songs (Wee Sing) CD and Book Edition
– Another book with classical rhymes and illustrations, but without notes.
– This book has modern illustrations and each one is done by a different illustrator.
Janod Hape Moulin Roty Plantoys Ukalele Guitar Banjo Harp string instruments for Kids
Janod Ukulele” data-medium-file=”
PlanToy Drum Xylphone Moulin Roty Janod Harmonica Melissa and Dough Hape Piano Music Set EverEarth I’M Toys Musical Toys for Kids
– I should add here that we have always had a real 
available for Adèle to try from the time she was on her tummy. It was placed on the floor so she could crawl to it as she got older.
PlanToys Drum Toy
Adèle has taken a keen interest in my parent’s Soviet record collection. The beautiful thing about record players is that your child can see how music is made. For this reason, they are an excellent object for STEM education. Here is how to to pick one for your child:
Ion and Crosley Record Player Turntables for Kids
– As you can see in the photos, this is the one we have. It has a handle and Adèle can easily carry it. The battery is rechargeable (USB) and lasts a long time. Sometimes we connect it to external speakers, but even the built-in ones produce a good quality sound. 
– This one is also a suit-case style, portable record player. It comes with a bluetooth, though, for wireless sound streaming.
– Made of natural wood, This ION record player can convert your records to digital music. It does not have a handle and the cover is fragile, so I recommend this for older kids.
CDs are a good choice for a similar learning experience. Another option is a music box. Here are a few to consider:
Kikkerland Over the Rainbow Crank Music Box
Childrens Picture Books About Music Boom Bah! by Phil Cummings and Nina Rycroft Toot! Toot!: Guess the Instrument! (What’s That Noise?) by Child’s Play and Cocoretto Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss and Marjorie Priceman is a Caldecott Honor Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters by Michael Mahin and Evan Turk I Love Music: My First Sound Book by Marion Billet Mon petit Beethoven Mon petit Chopin Mon petit Mozart Mon petit Bach Mon petit Vivaldi by Severine Cordier Mes premiers airs de Jazz by Aurelie Guillerey T’choupi joue de la musique (French Edition) by Thierry Courtin
by Child’s Play and Cocoretto has flaps so that toddlers can guess instruments and practice their memory skills.
by Lloyd Moss and Marjorie Priceman is a Caldecott Honor book! Using rhyme, it introduces young readers to orchestra instruments and can also be used as an atypical counting book! We also appreciate the fact that the dynamic illustrations depict musicians of different races and genders. A must for a kid’s library and a great book to gift to others.
by Michael Mahin and Evan Turk – A multi-award winning book will inspire creative, rebellious spirits to listen to their inner voice. The refrain of this book is that Muddy “was never good at doing what he was told,” but through struggle and determination he created something unique. The illustrations are made on a black background and “glow” at night. Another excellent book for a child’s library collection.
by Marion Billet – This book has built-in buttons that make sounds of different instruments on every page.
by Severine Cordier
by Severine Cordier
by Severine Cordier
by Aurelie Guillerey – This one is similar to the above-mentioned books, but all about Jazz!
by Thierry Courtin – T’choupi is a character that small kids are very drawn to. In this book T’choupi plays different musical instruments as your child presses the buttons to hear the sounds.
. Years later, Adèle is still happy to use it. It’s simple. It turns off on its own, thus saves battery life. (In 2 years, we only replaced batteries once). It is easy to hold because it has a dual handle grip. The shutter button is easy to reach and press for little hands. It has a 2-eye view finder which makes it easy for toddlers to look through! The resolution is not great but the photos have this lovely hazy, artistic feel to them. Adèle doesn’t mind at all. This camera has fallen many times (it does not come with a strap for safety reasons), but it works perfectly as it is extremely durable. This camera has a storage capacity of 500 photos and Adèle has not reached the limit after 2 years of use. I was able to download photos on my MAC through a USB connection. It’s simple to use – no shutter speed/aperture to adjust, so perfect as an introductory camera.
. It has Flash memory for storing up to 500 pictures and a USB Cable for computer connection. For our purposes, the price difference was not worth it, but you can always look for a used one online.
. This is a very child friendly digital camera. It has good photo quality. It has all the qualities mentioned above, however has many extras like games video, stickers, frames. The good thing is that those extras can be disabled! I am not too fond of the Optimization features (it makes the camera choose the best shot) as I think it’s better for the child to make their own editing decisions. The voice recorder seems superfluous as well. But as a former animation professor, I do like having the stop frame animation function (for older kids) as I can see it being used in many educational ways. Also, it is possible to buy microSDHC for this camera to expand its memory.
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