Lora Langston's Blog, page 50
January 26, 2014
8 Party Planning Tips to Make your Next Kids' Birthday Celebration Stress Free
8 Tips and Tricks on Planning Parties for Kids
Nadia of Teach Me Mommy blog shares some tips and tricks to help you plan a stress free birthday party for kids.
Party Planning- it could get you all excited or just stressed out! I will share a few Tips and Tricks on how to plan a party: stress free (or almost)! I am no expert, but have done a few parties myself and found I just love it!
Stress Free Party Planning Tips.
Here are some things to think about:
1. Start early : the earlier you start planning, the more time you have to get everything together and you don't have to rush. (This year it was my baby boy's first party, and because his birthday is in the beginning of January, I, sort of, forgot about it! Realizing the 1st of January, it is January! Next year I will plan his party in November, that way, in spite of the Holidays and Christmas rush, this mom will be more prepared!)
2. Choose a theme. Older kids will probably tell you what theme they want for their parties, but for the younger ones, you have to choose something. For a 1st birthday, you can go with anything you'd like, but from the 2nd birthday, think what interests does your child have. I chose a Story Book Party Theme for my girls 2nd birthday, because at that stage(and still) she loved books and storytelling. Her 3rd birthday party was a Zoo theme, she just loves the zoo and the animals.
3) Invites: Get the invites out early,but not too early so people will forget about it! 2/3 weeks before the RSVP date (this date should be no closer than 1 week until the party,so you can plan accordingly). Evites are so much easier to send these days, and you could still print one for yourself as a keepsake.
4) Keep the weather in mind : For us,my daughter was a winter baby,so we rather plan everything inside. My son was a summer baby,but it is also raining season. I plan everything for outside, but have a back up plan inside. You don't want to have to jump around when the rain starts with an audience; )
5) Delegate : this is very important (note to self)! You can't do everything well yourself,sometimes you need help! If help is offered, take it. The trick here is: Make an example of how you want something done,that way it will still be just the way you imagined.
6) Activities : think of activities for all ages. Make it interesting for the kids,this helps that they will not cling to their parents when dropped off, or if the parents stay,they can too enjoy the party. I like to plan the activities so it will fit into the overall theme, for example: with the Zoo theme the kids made masks of zoo animals.
7) Eats : it is up to you whether you want to go with a sweets only party,or want to include food too. A good cue is the time of the party: if it falls on lunch/supper time, you will need to offer some kind of filling snack. Do keep in mind the age of the kids attending too. If it is a party where the parents stay,you could have finger food for them,and drinks. But this is up to you. Leave all the "fresh" preparations for the day of the party, but try and do all other preparations that can be done a day or two beforehand, in advance. This will avoid a rush on the party day.
8) Party Favours : this is totally optional. Again, I like to include favours that fit with the overall theme. These need not be expensive, you can give something small or homemade, it is the idea that counts. I always send the extra sweets home with them too, that way you won't have too many temptations left over;)
I hope you find these few tips helpful and that the next party you plan will be less stressful!
Recommended Reading:
Birthday Party Tips
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss Book
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Nadia of Teach Me Mommy blog shares some tips and tricks to help you plan a stress free birthday party for kids.
Party Planning- it could get you all excited or just stressed out! I will share a few Tips and Tricks on how to plan a party: stress free (or almost)! I am no expert, but have done a few parties myself and found I just love it!
Stress Free Party Planning Tips.
Here are some things to think about:
1. Start early : the earlier you start planning, the more time you have to get everything together and you don't have to rush. (This year it was my baby boy's first party, and because his birthday is in the beginning of January, I, sort of, forgot about it! Realizing the 1st of January, it is January! Next year I will plan his party in November, that way, in spite of the Holidays and Christmas rush, this mom will be more prepared!)
2. Choose a theme. Older kids will probably tell you what theme they want for their parties, but for the younger ones, you have to choose something. For a 1st birthday, you can go with anything you'd like, but from the 2nd birthday, think what interests does your child have. I chose a Story Book Party Theme for my girls 2nd birthday, because at that stage(and still) she loved books and storytelling. Her 3rd birthday party was a Zoo theme, she just loves the zoo and the animals.
3) Invites: Get the invites out early,but not too early so people will forget about it! 2/3 weeks before the RSVP date (this date should be no closer than 1 week until the party,so you can plan accordingly). Evites are so much easier to send these days, and you could still print one for yourself as a keepsake.
4) Keep the weather in mind : For us,my daughter was a winter baby,so we rather plan everything inside. My son was a summer baby,but it is also raining season. I plan everything for outside, but have a back up plan inside. You don't want to have to jump around when the rain starts with an audience; )
5) Delegate : this is very important (note to self)! You can't do everything well yourself,sometimes you need help! If help is offered, take it. The trick here is: Make an example of how you want something done,that way it will still be just the way you imagined.
6) Activities : think of activities for all ages. Make it interesting for the kids,this helps that they will not cling to their parents when dropped off, or if the parents stay,they can too enjoy the party. I like to plan the activities so it will fit into the overall theme, for example: with the Zoo theme the kids made masks of zoo animals.
7) Eats : it is up to you whether you want to go with a sweets only party,or want to include food too. A good cue is the time of the party: if it falls on lunch/supper time, you will need to offer some kind of filling snack. Do keep in mind the age of the kids attending too. If it is a party where the parents stay,you could have finger food for them,and drinks. But this is up to you. Leave all the "fresh" preparations for the day of the party, but try and do all other preparations that can be done a day or two beforehand, in advance. This will avoid a rush on the party day.
8) Party Favours : this is totally optional. Again, I like to include favours that fit with the overall theme. These need not be expensive, you can give something small or homemade, it is the idea that counts. I always send the extra sweets home with them too, that way you won't have too many temptations left over;)
I hope you find these few tips helpful and that the next party you plan will be less stressful!
Recommended Reading:
Birthday Party Tips
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss Book
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
January 23, 2014
20 Ideas and Activities to Plan and Decorate for a Balloon Birthday Party Theme for Kids
Here are 20 Fantastic things to do with Balloons for your next Kids' Birthday Party Spectacular.
Do your kids love balloons? Do they have to get a balloon in every restaurant or beg for balloons at the Dollar or Party Store? Shower your child with balloons for a birthday party they'll never forget. We've got some great ideas from our own blog, and we've found several ideas for a balloon birthday party from Pinterest.
Best book about Balloons ever!
Balloon Pinata Activity for Birthday Party Game.
Pinned by Lori Coastal Gem (blog no longer exists).
Balloon Car theme for Boys.
Balloon powered car experiment from PBS Design Squad.
Minon Balloons for a Despicable Me theme party.
These Minion balloons are super cute and available from Cute Chic Designs. You could do the same thing with some nice Sharpie Markers!
Lego Ninjago Balloons.
Grab that Sharpie!
Balloon decorating idea from the Busy Broad blog.
Designs available from Not on the High Street, but this would be easy to do with some Sharpies and construction paper. Imagine! The kids could all design their own balloon animal favor to take home.
Balloon Cupcakes with Lollipops.
Balloon Cupcakes for a Balloon Party theme by Disneybaby.com
Balloon Walkway.
Balloon Entry pinned by Austin Murdough.
Baby Bunny with Balloons Coloring Sheet.
Click the link above to see our printable version.
Giant Balloon Christmas Ornament Decorations.
from DIY Studio.
Pop the Balloons Drop Game.
Click the link above for more balloon games and ideas.
Olympic Birthday Party Balloon theme.
Decorate with Balloons in Olympic colors like this idea from Savannah Smiled.
Visit a Balloon Glow Festival.
Hot Air Balloon Activities: The Energizer Bunny Balloon.
Balloon Ice Cream Cone Decorations for Party.
Pinned by Josie Engen.
Ice Cream Cone Balloons from Dennasideas.com
Floating pictures with helium balloons to celebrate a milestone.
Pinned by Jennica Gray.
Balloon flowers from Party City.
Fun Balloon Flowers from Partycity.com remind me of the Lorax.
Upside down Balloon Birthday Party Decorations.
Backward Birthday Party with upside down balloons from Good N Crazy.
Balloon Party Favors to take home.
Homemade Goodie Bag with Balloons from Party Accessories blog.
Fun Balloon Holder's look like children holding balloons.
Balloon Holders by Sistersguild.co.uk
Glowing Balloons for Evening Party, New Year Party, or Summer Pool Bash.
Decorate with Glowing Helium Balloons like these pinned by Earth and Moon Designs.
You might also like these posts on Birthday Party Planning, Games, and Themes:
Teen Girl Birthday Party Ideas
Games for Parties
Eco-Friendly Birthday Party Ideas
Recommended Reading:
Eureka Dr. Seuss Classroom Banner, Oh The Places Balloons, 12 x 45 Inches (849581)
Best Book Ever about Balloons ;) The Berenstains' B Book
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Do your kids love balloons? Do they have to get a balloon in every restaurant or beg for balloons at the Dollar or Party Store? Shower your child with balloons for a birthday party they'll never forget. We've got some great ideas from our own blog, and we've found several ideas for a balloon birthday party from Pinterest.
Best book about Balloons ever!
Balloon Pinata Activity for Birthday Party Game.
Pinned by Lori Coastal Gem (blog no longer exists).
Balloon Car theme for Boys.
Balloon powered car experiment from PBS Design Squad.
Minon Balloons for a Despicable Me theme party.
These Minion balloons are super cute and available from Cute Chic Designs. You could do the same thing with some nice Sharpie Markers!
Lego Ninjago Balloons.
Grab that Sharpie!
Use Balloons to write the child's age on a wall.
Balloon decorating idea from the Busy Broad blog.
Here at KCC, we're partial to chickens, but all of these animal balloons are too cute.
Designs available from Not on the High Street, but this would be easy to do with some Sharpies and construction paper. Imagine! The kids could all design their own balloon animal favor to take home.
Balloon Cupcakes with Lollipops.
Balloon Cupcakes for a Balloon Party theme by Disneybaby.com
Balloon Walkway.
Balloon Entry pinned by Austin Murdough.
Baby Bunny with Balloons Coloring Sheet.
Click the link above to see our printable version.
Giant Balloon Christmas Ornament Decorations.
from DIY Studio.
Pop the Balloons Drop Game.
Click the link above for more balloon games and ideas.
Olympic Birthday Party Balloon theme.
Decorate with Balloons in Olympic colors like this idea from Savannah Smiled.
Visit a Balloon Glow Festival.
Hot Air Balloon Activities: The Energizer Bunny Balloon.
Balloon Ice Cream Cone Decorations for Party.
Pinned by Josie Engen.
Ice Cream Cone Balloons from Dennasideas.com
Floating pictures with helium balloons to celebrate a milestone.
Pinned by Jennica Gray.
Balloon flowers from Party City.
Fun Balloon Flowers from Partycity.com remind me of the Lorax.
Upside down Balloon Birthday Party Decorations.
Backward Birthday Party with upside down balloons from Good N Crazy.
Balloon Party Favors to take home.
Homemade Goodie Bag with Balloons from Party Accessories blog.
Fun Balloon Holder's look like children holding balloons.
Balloon Holders by Sistersguild.co.uk
Glowing Balloons for Evening Party, New Year Party, or Summer Pool Bash.
Decorate with Glowing Helium Balloons like these pinned by Earth and Moon Designs.
You might also like these posts on Birthday Party Planning, Games, and Themes:
Teen Girl Birthday Party Ideas
Games for Parties
Eco-Friendly Birthday Party Ideas
Recommended Reading:
Eureka Dr. Seuss Classroom Banner, Oh The Places Balloons, 12 x 45 Inches (849581)
Best Book Ever about Balloons ;) The Berenstains' B Book
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
January 21, 2014
Five easy ways to throw an eco-friendly birthday party for kids
You can have an Eco-friendly, Up-cycled Birthday Party for Kids and save money too!
This guest post is from Kara Carrero at ALLterNATIVElearning. She and her family are passionate about the environment and conservation. In this post, she has ideas on how to throw an eco-friendly birthday party. Enjoy!
The modern birthday has lots of cake, plenty of decorations, and almost always disposable plates and utensils. However, our family strives to find a balance in making birthdays both special and environmentally sustainable. Birthdays don’t have to lose their luster by choosing to not waste or spend a lot of money.
My daughter’s first birthday was this past fall. Like many first time moms, I had anticipated the day it would arrive since she was about 3 months old and planned little bits here and there throughout the year. But my main goal was to throw an exciting and memorable party without trash or excess.
Eco-Friendly Birthday Party Ideas
1. Use real dishes or compostable paper plates. If you plan it right, it doesn’t have to be a hassle to use real dishes. In fact, having some small Corelle dishes on hand easily pays for itself. They do not break as easily as regular dishes and are easily replaceable or you can add to them. We grew up with them and rarely broke anything and it’s still what my parents use. My 15 month old has thrown one and it didn’t even chip. If you just can’t do that, use real silverware with basic paper plates that break down in the compost or can be recycled. Even here in Oklahoma (not very eco-friendly) we have options for community compost and recycling.
2. Re-use old décor and don’t throw any away. Up-cycle old material for new decorations. We made bunting from old magazines and used paper, and it was really cute! I had a few things from parties from several years ago, so I reused a couple of things. I also had some SOLO cups that I re-wash and use for the kids while adults use our glass cups.
3. Make the birthday about the experience and not the decor Birthdays are about the fun and not about having perfect decorations. We threw a carnival with fun homemade games instead of investing a lot of time and money into party hats, balloons, and streamers. Even growing up, I don’t remember how my parties were decorated, but I definitely remember the fun I had or the silly things that happened. Focus on making the most of the brief time given rather than stressing over the things that won’t be remembered.
4. Make party favors about memories, experiences, and sustainability. We had two different party favors. Her birthday party was specifically a grow theme, we provided small bio-degradable pots to decorate and soil and seeds to grow a small garden. It’s a gift that keeps on giving!
We also had a a photo booth. We asked everyone who attended to make an up-cycle costume and take a picture with the frames we provided. They left us their email address so then we emailed them a picture when we sent them an e-thank you card for coming and for gifts.
5. Make the gifts count. I know this sounds a bit presumptuous, but in reality it doesn't have to be. Be clear with your attendees because I have never met someone who didn't appreciate knowing that their gift was well-received. For us, we put a line on the e-vite that read “no gifts necessary, but if compelled to bring something we needed x,y,z”.
These are five easy ways to throw and eco-friendly birthday party, not break the bank, and still have awesome memories with friends and family. For us, it’s just one more step in doing better in making conscious decisions about what we need vs. what we want which has become increasingly important with kids.
For more from Kara visit her site at ALLterNATIVElearning.com
Recommended Reading:
Your Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal
Birthday Monsters!
-->
Sign up for our free newsletter!
This guest post is from Kara Carrero at ALLterNATIVElearning. She and her family are passionate about the environment and conservation. In this post, she has ideas on how to throw an eco-friendly birthday party. Enjoy!
The modern birthday has lots of cake, plenty of decorations, and almost always disposable plates and utensils. However, our family strives to find a balance in making birthdays both special and environmentally sustainable. Birthdays don’t have to lose their luster by choosing to not waste or spend a lot of money.
My daughter’s first birthday was this past fall. Like many first time moms, I had anticipated the day it would arrive since she was about 3 months old and planned little bits here and there throughout the year. But my main goal was to throw an exciting and memorable party without trash or excess.
Eco-Friendly Birthday Party Ideas
1. Use real dishes or compostable paper plates. If you plan it right, it doesn’t have to be a hassle to use real dishes. In fact, having some small Corelle dishes on hand easily pays for itself. They do not break as easily as regular dishes and are easily replaceable or you can add to them. We grew up with them and rarely broke anything and it’s still what my parents use. My 15 month old has thrown one and it didn’t even chip. If you just can’t do that, use real silverware with basic paper plates that break down in the compost or can be recycled. Even here in Oklahoma (not very eco-friendly) we have options for community compost and recycling.
2. Re-use old décor and don’t throw any away. Up-cycle old material for new decorations. We made bunting from old magazines and used paper, and it was really cute! I had a few things from parties from several years ago, so I reused a couple of things. I also had some SOLO cups that I re-wash and use for the kids while adults use our glass cups.
3. Make the birthday about the experience and not the decor Birthdays are about the fun and not about having perfect decorations. We threw a carnival with fun homemade games instead of investing a lot of time and money into party hats, balloons, and streamers. Even growing up, I don’t remember how my parties were decorated, but I definitely remember the fun I had or the silly things that happened. Focus on making the most of the brief time given rather than stressing over the things that won’t be remembered.
4. Make party favors about memories, experiences, and sustainability. We had two different party favors. Her birthday party was specifically a grow theme, we provided small bio-degradable pots to decorate and soil and seeds to grow a small garden. It’s a gift that keeps on giving!
We also had a a photo booth. We asked everyone who attended to make an up-cycle costume and take a picture with the frames we provided. They left us their email address so then we emailed them a picture when we sent them an e-thank you card for coming and for gifts.
5. Make the gifts count. I know this sounds a bit presumptuous, but in reality it doesn't have to be. Be clear with your attendees because I have never met someone who didn't appreciate knowing that their gift was well-received. For us, we put a line on the e-vite that read “no gifts necessary, but if compelled to bring something we needed x,y,z”.
These are five easy ways to throw and eco-friendly birthday party, not break the bank, and still have awesome memories with friends and family. For us, it’s just one more step in doing better in making conscious decisions about what we need vs. what we want which has become increasingly important with kids.
For more from Kara visit her site at ALLterNATIVElearning.com
Recommended Reading:
Your Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal
Birthday Monsters!
-->
Sign up for our free newsletter!
January 16, 2014
Make a Snowman Craft and Work Fine Motor Skills into your Lesson Plan
A Snowman that works Fine Motor Skills is the Perfect Winter Craft Activity for Preschoolers
This post is a special guest post written by Leanne from Sugar Aunts. This project focuses on fine motor skills for children ages 2-7 yrs. It is the perfect winter craft activity for preschoolers.
We love creative crafts that focus on Fine Motor Play. A craft that pulls in developmental skills is much more than a fun activity. While the kids are cutting, gluing, and creating, they are also working on so many skills essential to self-care, handwriting, and scissor skills!
This Multi-Textural Fine Motor Snowman craft was a ton of fun to create and worked on many fine motor skills . The multiple textures added a sensorial bonus...and a great texture to our snowman!
This Fine Motor Snowman craft was a big hit with my daughters. We started with a snowman cut from white contact paper. This was glued to a sheet of blue construction paper and then taped to the wall. I wanted the task to be done on a vertical surface to further challenge the fine motor dexterity. Working on an inclined surface such as an easel or wall encourages a tripod grasp when manipulating small pieces. An extended wrist (wrist bent back in the direction of the back of the hand) and a tripod grasp is necessary for an appropriate grasp on writing utensils.
Big Sister (age 6) is in kindergarten and developing her scissor skills. I pulled out a variety of textured materials. We had strips of thin Styrofoam, foam packaging sheets, and tissue paper. Strips of the materials had marked lines for her to snip. Cutting small snips along a line is a great way to work on scissor skills and line awareness with a new scissor user.
Snipping these different textures with scissors really encourages line awareness. A thick bulky material like the Styrofoam requires was easier to cut. Cutting the foam was very easy for Big Sister. (She asked for more foam to snip once we were finished!)
Tissue paper is a very thin and flimsy material and requires great scissor control. This was a fun material to try and the short cuts were just right for Big Sister!
Once all of our materials were snipped into little squares, we sorted them by texture. This was a fun way to explore the differences.
Next, we stuck the different materials onto the contact paper snowman.
This part of the craft was fun for Baby Girl (age 2). She loved sticking the different materials onto the contact paper and worked for a LONG time to fill up the whole snowman.
Our multi-textural snowman was a fun way to practice scissor skills and work on some fine motor areas while creating a winter craft for kids!
The Sugar Aunts are three sisters who blog about all things creative in motherhood. They love playful learning, creative kid's crafts, sensory and fine motor activities, kid's party themes, DIY, and so much more. Between the three Aunts, there are 6 cousins (with more on the way!) who are around each other so often, they are more like siblings than cousins! You can see the action at www.sugaraunts.com.
Recommended Reading:
Hibernation Station Companion Book for Winter Crafts
Drama Activities for Kids
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
This post is a special guest post written by Leanne from Sugar Aunts. This project focuses on fine motor skills for children ages 2-7 yrs. It is the perfect winter craft activity for preschoolers.
We love creative crafts that focus on Fine Motor Play. A craft that pulls in developmental skills is much more than a fun activity. While the kids are cutting, gluing, and creating, they are also working on so many skills essential to self-care, handwriting, and scissor skills!
This Multi-Textural Fine Motor Snowman craft was a ton of fun to create and worked on many fine motor skills . The multiple textures added a sensorial bonus...and a great texture to our snowman!
This Fine Motor Snowman craft was a big hit with my daughters. We started with a snowman cut from white contact paper. This was glued to a sheet of blue construction paper and then taped to the wall. I wanted the task to be done on a vertical surface to further challenge the fine motor dexterity. Working on an inclined surface such as an easel or wall encourages a tripod grasp when manipulating small pieces. An extended wrist (wrist bent back in the direction of the back of the hand) and a tripod grasp is necessary for an appropriate grasp on writing utensils.
Big Sister (age 6) is in kindergarten and developing her scissor skills. I pulled out a variety of textured materials. We had strips of thin Styrofoam, foam packaging sheets, and tissue paper. Strips of the materials had marked lines for her to snip. Cutting small snips along a line is a great way to work on scissor skills and line awareness with a new scissor user.
Snipping these different textures with scissors really encourages line awareness. A thick bulky material like the Styrofoam requires was easier to cut. Cutting the foam was very easy for Big Sister. (She asked for more foam to snip once we were finished!)
Tissue paper is a very thin and flimsy material and requires great scissor control. This was a fun material to try and the short cuts were just right for Big Sister!
Once all of our materials were snipped into little squares, we sorted them by texture. This was a fun way to explore the differences.
Next, we stuck the different materials onto the contact paper snowman.
This part of the craft was fun for Baby Girl (age 2). She loved sticking the different materials onto the contact paper and worked for a LONG time to fill up the whole snowman.
Our multi-textural snowman was a fun way to practice scissor skills and work on some fine motor areas while creating a winter craft for kids!
The Sugar Aunts are three sisters who blog about all things creative in motherhood. They love playful learning, creative kid's crafts, sensory and fine motor activities, kid's party themes, DIY, and so much more. Between the three Aunts, there are 6 cousins (with more on the way!) who are around each other so often, they are more like siblings than cousins! You can see the action at www.sugaraunts.com.
Recommended Reading:
Hibernation Station Companion Book for Winter Crafts
Drama Activities for Kids
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
January 10, 2014
February Holidays Calendar for Special Days to Plan Activities
This February Holidays and Special Days Calendar will help Plan your Winter Activities and Curriculum
Our Pin it! Preschool Scavenger Hunt on Pinterest has ideas for crafts and activities to plan your classroom or homeschool monthly curriculum calendar. Check out the special dates here and then hop over for fun ideas. Looking for January Holidays?
February Holidays.
February 2 isn't just Groundhog Day - nope, it is also Hedgehog Day - actually, the Hedgehog had it first! Groundhog Day History
February 7 is Bubble Gum Day. Chew some gum for a charity.
February 12 is Charles Darwin's Birthday.
February 14 is of course, Valentine's Day! You should have a great time with your Classroom Valentine's Parties, but don't confuse the good time you have and call it ValentiMe's Day.
February 15 is Gumdrop Day. Goody Goody!
February 17 is President's Day and Washington's Birthday. Abraham Lincoln's birthday is February 12.
February 20 is Toothfairy Day.
Recommended Reading:
The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun
Pop!: The Invention of Bubble Gum
The Night Before the Tooth Fairy
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Our Pin it! Preschool Scavenger Hunt on Pinterest has ideas for crafts and activities to plan your classroom or homeschool monthly curriculum calendar. Check out the special dates here and then hop over for fun ideas. Looking for January Holidays?
February Holidays.
February 2 isn't just Groundhog Day - nope, it is also Hedgehog Day - actually, the Hedgehog had it first! Groundhog Day History
February 7 is Bubble Gum Day. Chew some gum for a charity.
February 12 is Charles Darwin's Birthday.
February 14 is of course, Valentine's Day! You should have a great time with your Classroom Valentine's Parties, but don't confuse the good time you have and call it ValentiMe's Day.
February 15 is Gumdrop Day. Goody Goody!
February 17 is President's Day and Washington's Birthday. Abraham Lincoln's birthday is February 12.
February 20 is Toothfairy Day.
Recommended Reading:
The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun
Pop!: The Invention of Bubble Gum
The Night Before the Tooth Fairy
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
January 8, 2014
Snowman Activities for Preschoolers
These Snowman Activities will fill your preschooler with joy.
Snow is beautiful, but some never get it and others get far too much! Whether you have none or tons, stay inside and make your own snow projects. We've linked several snow ideas from our site as well as a few of our favorites from Pinterest. Enjoy being warm while you build a snowman.
How to make a snowman from a peanut.
Mini Peanut Snowman from Kids Creative Chaos.
Make ice cream snowballs and build a yummy, cute snowman.
Edible Snowman from Kids Creative Chaos.
Make your own Snowman Soup Recipe From 3rd Grade Thoughts.
Snowman Soup Recipe from Third Grade Thoughts.
Make a snowman in a jar and keep him forever - no melting ;)
Snowman in a jar from Kids Creative Chaos.
Printable Snowman Activity
Snowman Valentine Activity.
Easy Snowflake Snowman
Easy Preschool Snowflake Snowman.
Looking for Snowman Ideas for Winter Activities for the classroom? How about a companion snowman story by Mercer Mayer
.
Recommended Reading:
The Snowman Children's Book
The Biggest Snowman Ever story
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Snow is beautiful, but some never get it and others get far too much! Whether you have none or tons, stay inside and make your own snow projects. We've linked several snow ideas from our site as well as a few of our favorites from Pinterest. Enjoy being warm while you build a snowman.
How to make a snowman from a peanut.
Mini Peanut Snowman from Kids Creative Chaos.
Make ice cream snowballs and build a yummy, cute snowman.
Edible Snowman from Kids Creative Chaos.
Make your own Snowman Soup Recipe From 3rd Grade Thoughts.
Snowman Soup Recipe from Third Grade Thoughts.
Make a snowman in a jar and keep him forever - no melting ;)
Snowman in a jar from Kids Creative Chaos.
Printable Snowman Activity
Snowman Valentine Activity.
Easy Snowflake Snowman
Easy Preschool Snowflake Snowman.
Looking for Snowman Ideas for Winter Activities for the classroom? How about a companion snowman story by Mercer Mayer
.Recommended Reading:
The Snowman Children's Book
The Biggest Snowman Ever story
Sign up for our free newsletter!
Sign up for our free newsletter!
January 4, 2014
15 Obscure, unusual, or unique holidays in January, plus a few of the usual ones too
I'm always looking for obscure holidays to use for the preschool scavenger hunt on Pinterest. Here is a list of January holidays to theme your classroom boards or craft activities.
Pin it! Preschool Scavenger Hunt is full of great theme ideas for special holidays and seasonal activities for preschoolers. Hop over and check it out. Our Pinterest profile also has ideas for classroom bulletin boards and elementary room doors plus great ideas for homeschooling. No matter the special day, I hope you'll look around my site for more ideas for kid's activities.
January Holidays and Special Days Calendar to plan activities to do with kids.
January 1 - while this day is known to everyone around the world as New Year's Day, it is also the birthday of America's beloved Betsy Ross maker of our U.S. flag. (1752) Click for Free American Flag Coloring Page Printables.
January 7 - Harlem Globetrotters started as the Savoy Big Five. (1926)
January 8 - National Clean Off Your Desk Day. Maybe if you tell the kids that, they will find it motivating?
January 9 - National Apricot Day. So find some dried apricots or dry your own and make an apricot doll. Wait. They do that with dried apples. Well, do it anyway - invent that!
January 10 - Volunteer Firefighter's Day, now that's a good day. It honors some brave folks. How about a little fireman appreciation. Do some crafting with Dalmatians or maybe make some hats or play fireman with an old cut up hose.
January 11 - Got Milk? Well, you better get some because today is Milk Day. If you want a really obscure special occasion it is also my parent's anniversary!
January 13 - The Frisbee was invented in Connecticut, because what would we do without the Frisbee really? I mean it was the original boredom buster, right. Dogs love it. I had a boyfriend once who loved it. And then, he got a dog so...
January 14 - Speaking of dogs, the 15th is Dress up your Pet Day. You could dress your pet up as a Volunteer Firefighter or a Dalmatian; that'd be a hoot.
January 14 - Speaking of hoots or birds anyway, It is Bald Eagle Day. Do not dress up your bald eagle today. I repeat, do not dress up your bald eagle today. Have you seen their talons. Yep, this is a bad idea.
January 15 - National Hat Day. Hello, I've got some hat crafts. I can help you with that day! Peruse these walls or these frames, you will find many more hats for holidays.
January 17 - Ben Franklin's Birthday. How about a fun science project for preschoolers to celebrate.
January 19 - It is Archery day. No, kids it didn't start with the Hunger Games, it has been around a long, long, time. Why not paint a bull's eye in color wheel colors so you can learn two things at once. You know, kill two birds with one stone. Ahem. One arrow, I mean.
January 20 - Penguin Awareness Day, although Penguins are birds please don't go throwing rocks or shooting arrows at them. You could color a coloring page for the letter P though.
January 28 - Daisy Day. I have a Daisy Hat Craft, so you can choose do you use it for Hat Day or Daisy Day? Maybe plant a flower seed instead.
January 29 - National Puzzle Day. Put together a puzzle, glue it onto cardboard, and frame it. That sounds fun. Not. I dislike puzzles. #dislikepuzzles Have the kids draw a picture, glue it to a cereal box panel, let it dry, and let them cut it up. That sounds better; yeah go do that. Give them a baggie so they can take it home and show their Mom. I sure hope she doesn't feel the same way about puzzles that I do. ;)
Well, that's all I've got. Want some February Special Days ideas? Me too. Oh. Try this page for companion coloring pages and free printables - that will help for now. See you back in month!
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Pin it! Preschool Scavenger Hunt is full of great theme ideas for special holidays and seasonal activities for preschoolers. Hop over and check it out. Our Pinterest profile also has ideas for classroom bulletin boards and elementary room doors plus great ideas for homeschooling. No matter the special day, I hope you'll look around my site for more ideas for kid's activities.
January Holidays and Special Days Calendar to plan activities to do with kids.
January 1 - while this day is known to everyone around the world as New Year's Day, it is also the birthday of America's beloved Betsy Ross maker of our U.S. flag. (1752) Click for Free American Flag Coloring Page Printables.
January 7 - Harlem Globetrotters started as the Savoy Big Five. (1926)
January 8 - National Clean Off Your Desk Day. Maybe if you tell the kids that, they will find it motivating?
January 9 - National Apricot Day. So find some dried apricots or dry your own and make an apricot doll. Wait. They do that with dried apples. Well, do it anyway - invent that!
January 10 - Volunteer Firefighter's Day, now that's a good day. It honors some brave folks. How about a little fireman appreciation. Do some crafting with Dalmatians or maybe make some hats or play fireman with an old cut up hose.
January 11 - Got Milk? Well, you better get some because today is Milk Day. If you want a really obscure special occasion it is also my parent's anniversary!
January 13 - The Frisbee was invented in Connecticut, because what would we do without the Frisbee really? I mean it was the original boredom buster, right. Dogs love it. I had a boyfriend once who loved it. And then, he got a dog so...
January 14 - Speaking of dogs, the 15th is Dress up your Pet Day. You could dress your pet up as a Volunteer Firefighter or a Dalmatian; that'd be a hoot.
January 14 - Speaking of hoots or birds anyway, It is Bald Eagle Day. Do not dress up your bald eagle today. I repeat, do not dress up your bald eagle today. Have you seen their talons. Yep, this is a bad idea.
January 15 - National Hat Day. Hello, I've got some hat crafts. I can help you with that day! Peruse these walls or these frames, you will find many more hats for holidays.
January 17 - Ben Franklin's Birthday. How about a fun science project for preschoolers to celebrate.
January 19 - It is Archery day. No, kids it didn't start with the Hunger Games, it has been around a long, long, time. Why not paint a bull's eye in color wheel colors so you can learn two things at once. You know, kill two birds with one stone. Ahem. One arrow, I mean.
January 20 - Penguin Awareness Day, although Penguins are birds please don't go throwing rocks or shooting arrows at them. You could color a coloring page for the letter P though.
January 28 - Daisy Day. I have a Daisy Hat Craft, so you can choose do you use it for Hat Day or Daisy Day? Maybe plant a flower seed instead.
January 29 - National Puzzle Day. Put together a puzzle, glue it onto cardboard, and frame it. That sounds fun. Not. I dislike puzzles. #dislikepuzzles Have the kids draw a picture, glue it to a cereal box panel, let it dry, and let them cut it up. That sounds better; yeah go do that. Give them a baggie so they can take it home and show their Mom. I sure hope she doesn't feel the same way about puzzles that I do. ;)
Well, that's all I've got. Want some February Special Days ideas? Me too. Oh. Try this page for companion coloring pages and free printables - that will help for now. See you back in month!
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January 1, 2014
What Year is 2014 in Chinese New Year?
It is the Chinese New Year, Year of the Horse 2014.
Looking for a meaningful horse quote for Pinterest or Facebook for the Chinese New Year? It is the year of the horse! When is the Chinese New Year? The new Moon on January 30, 2014 begins the year of the Wood Horse. Chinese New Year is a spring festival that begins on the second new Moon after Winter Solstice, with the Sun and Moon are in Aquarius. Last year, 2013, was the year of the water snake.
Horse quote by Ovid for the year of the horse.
In Chinese astrology, this year is considered fortunate, bringing luck and good things. The Magical Horse has supernatural powers, is heroic, strong, and can even fly! The horse is a hero in China because important battles were won due to its power and strength.
Here is a fun horse word search from homeschoolhelpersonline.com or how about a horse coloring page printable from onlinecoloringbook.net. We have a Chinese Dragon New Year printable.
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Looking for a meaningful horse quote for Pinterest or Facebook for the Chinese New Year? It is the year of the horse! When is the Chinese New Year? The new Moon on January 30, 2014 begins the year of the Wood Horse. Chinese New Year is a spring festival that begins on the second new Moon after Winter Solstice, with the Sun and Moon are in Aquarius. Last year, 2013, was the year of the water snake.
Horse quote by Ovid for the year of the horse.
In Chinese astrology, this year is considered fortunate, bringing luck and good things. The Magical Horse has supernatural powers, is heroic, strong, and can even fly! The horse is a hero in China because important battles were won due to its power and strength.
Here is a fun horse word search from homeschoolhelpersonline.com or how about a horse coloring page printable from onlinecoloringbook.net. We have a Chinese Dragon New Year printable.
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December 17, 2013
Wanting to have the best New Year's Eve Party Celebration with Kids?
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Try these 5 New Year's Eve Ideas with Kids to have a fun and memorable Party Celebration!
Christmas is coming with all of it's beauty and excitement and quickly on it's heals comes the ringing in of 2014! There are so many fun ways to include your kids in the celebration! Here is a round up of some of our favorites ideas you can use to have the best New Year's Eve Party ever with the kids!
1) Double the Fun Parties wrote about her fabulous, kid-oriented, teal & silver New Year's Eve Party!
Silver and Teal New Year's Eve Party
She has fantastic ideas from the decorations to the food. She also includes some very fun activities - like "Name that Oreo." Her re-purposed coffee drink glass bottles as adorable milk bottles for the kids are my favorite! Seriously, how cute is this?! She has popcorn balls, veggie & dip cups, and other finger foods! The color theme with the clocks is just darling!
2) The Real Thing with the Coake Family posted this clever party plan! There are several variations online with other ideas but her plan is really cute and fun.
Ring in the New Year with Hourly Bags!
Each bag is labeled with an hour (she includes a free printable on her site) - to be opened on each hour leading up to midnight (or whatever you deem to be your "ringing in the new year time"). She has a clue for an activity and something in each bag - hop over to her site for more details.
So fun! If you are crafty and prefer a craft activity for each hour, check out these 16 ideas a clever New Year Activity with kids!
3) The Crafty Crow shared some ideas and this one is especially awesome! The picture is form flickr by Art Yowza.
Memory Strings
What a great way to use art in helping your children to reflect on the activities, events, and favorite moments of the year. You can provide art supplies, perhaps some number printables, and string and let them go to town in creating a keepsake craft project!
4) Savvy Sassy Moms has a wonderful round-up of New Year's party ideas!
Fun DIY Hats for New Year's Eve.
This is an especially cute idea from their list - these festive and fun party hats made from poster board. Pair these with little goodie bags filled with noise makers and you will have a rockin' party! All of the instructions are over on Spoonfull for these diy NYE hats for kids.!
5) (cool) progeny has perhaps my very favorite theme - New Years Around the World!
Ideas for New Year's Around the World,
There are several countries with their New Year's traditions listed! It would be such a fun way to incorporate a little history and geography into an evening of fun! You can find printable maps and coloring pages online as well as traditional recipes. Perhaps include traditional costumes or a learn a greeting in another language. You can compare when they ring in the New Year compared to where you live and perhaps celebrate several New Years!
However you decide to celebrate - we hope that it will be a memorable and fun time with family and friends! Be creative in including your children - there are so many fun ideas!
We would love to hear your ideas for New Year's Eve for kids.. Do you stay up until midnight? Try this Midnight Care Package for your New Year celebration. Do you let your kids stay up? Any traditions that you must absolutely include?
Find more ideas for New Years Eve.
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December 6, 2013
Free Printable Christmas Tree and Santa Coloring Pages
Looking for Christmas Trees to color or Santa activities to do with kids? We have tons of Holiday and and free printables too.
We use media fire to host our free printables, just click the image or the link to go there. You can also right click and save, but they may print out wonky. If you head over to our Media Fire page you will see all of our free printables and activity sheets for kids.
Christmas Tree to color.
North Pole and Snowman winter scene to color.
Santa with bag of toys.
Happy Holidays, Y'all :) xoxo - Lora
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We use media fire to host our free printables, just click the image or the link to go there. You can also right click and save, but they may print out wonky. If you head over to our Media Fire page you will see all of our free printables and activity sheets for kids.
Christmas Tree to color.
North Pole and Snowman winter scene to color.
Santa with bag of toys.
Happy Holidays, Y'all :) xoxo - Lora
Sign up for our free newsletter!
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