February 4, 2019 by Krista

Kids Love Coupons are a DIY Gift That Will Last Forever

Hey there, do you have a favorite kid – or two or three – in your life? Do you know any kids that are hard to get gifts for? Maybe you’re struggling with giving meaningful gifts versus gifting more stuff? These cute Kids Love Coupons are perfect for kids that don’t need more toys.

Give those kids something they really want and that will last forever – and you’ll love it too! Give them some of your time and make some fun memories with them. Because, what kid wouldn’t want a special date or activity and to be the center of your attention? Carve out some special time for your favorite activities together with these printable Kids Love Coupons.

KIDS LOVE COUPONS: A MORE MEANINGFUL GIFT

As a mom of 4, I know all too well what it’s like when kids have plenty of stuff. Mine definitely don’t need more toys and things to leave on the floor. Because of this, I try to give my kids meaningful and worthwhile gifts. And, as a busy mom, time is one of the most precious things. I would much rather spend more time doing fun things with my kids than picking up more toys.

And I love that these kids coupons are perfect for every budget. The actual coupons cost some ink and paper. The outing redeemed with the coupon can be as expensive or frugal as you want or need it to be. My kids get just as excited about going to the park as they do about going to the movies.

They don’t need fancy, they just need you.

Things come and go. Toys break. Fun and memories can last forever.

KIDS LOVE COUPONS: THE PERFECT GIFT ANYONE CAN GIVE ANYTIME

These Kids Love Coupons are a perfect gift to receive from anyone. What kid wouldn’t love to get some fun dates and special activities from one of their favorite people? Anyone can give someone their time: Parents to children, grandparents to grandchildren, favorite aunt or uncle to niece or nephew, even friend to friend.

And Kids Love Coupons are great for lots of occasions:

holidays
birthdays
big life events
as rewards for accomplishments and exceptional behavior

It can be hard to juggle life’s demands. Love coupons are one way we help ensure our kids get some quality one-on-one time. If they need some extra attention, they redeem a coupon. It’s a great non-confrontational or mom-guilt-inducing way for them to say “hey, I need a little extra right now.”

MAKING YOUR OWN KIDS LOVE COUPONS BOOK IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3

A good homemade gift is the best. But life is busy and there aren’t always hours to spend putting together something for every gift that comes along. This kids love coupons book is simple, quick and will look great when you’re finished.

With just a handful of materials you probably have already and a half an hour, you will be ready to hand your favorite kid some memory-making magic in the form of 9 awesome things to do with you.

KIDS LOVE COUPONS SUPPLIES:

Kids Love Coupons – free download below. There is a full set of 28 ready-to-print coupons, plus editable files to easily create your own custom coupons in my Etsy shop, if you want a larger set of coupons.
Printer and Paper – I recommend cardstock
Paper Cutter or Scissors
Washi Tape or Ribbon and Hole Punch
Craft Knife (optional)

KIDS LOVE COUPONS DIRECTIONS:

1. DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR COUPONS

Step #1a: Download your free printable coupons by clicking on the green “Click to Download” button below. Save the file to your computer.

Step #1b: *If you upgraded to the full set of coupons in my Etsy shop, make sure you personalize the cover and fill in any of your own special coupons before you print! Follow the directions on the Printing Guide.*

Print your coupons. This file is designed to print at “actual size” on 8.5″x11″ paper. I recommend printing on cardstock for added durability. Personally, I use THIS CARDSTOCK for most of my projects. I prefer a 110 lb weight and a brightness of at least 90.

This file is intended to be printed on a single piece of paper. If your printer has the option to print double sided, use it and flip on the long edge. If your printer does not print double sided, you will have to manually flip the page and put in back in the printer before printing the 2nd page.

PRO TIP: When manually printing double sided, I put a little ‘x’ in pencil at the bottom left corner of the page before I print anything so I know how to put the page back in the printer when I print on the back side. The ‘x’ will need to be at the same end of the printer, facing down when you put the page back in.

2. CUT APART YOUR KIDS LOVE COUPONS

Step #2a: Cut the coupons apart. I love my Swingline SmartCut paper cutter for this stuff. Makes cutting straight lines a breeze and so, so fast. And I love that the blade is fully enclosed with all the little fingers around my house.

PRO TIP: Your coupons may not have printed perfectly straight on the page. Make sure you check the edges of the coupons on your cutting line before you cut so your coupons don’t get cut crooked.

You could also use a ruler and craft knife or scissors to cut the coupons apart.

3. BIND YOUR KIDS LOVE COUPONS BOOK TOGETHER

Step #3a: Gather your coupons together and arrange them in the order you want them. Line up all the edges on the side you’re going to bind. The easiest way to do this is to hold the coupons loosely in your hand and knock the side you’re going to bind against the table a few times.

Step #3b: Cut a piece of washi tape a little longer than the length of the edge you’re going to bind. It doesn’t need to be precise, the tape just needs to cover the entire length of the edge. Place the tape on the edges of the coupons, pressing firmly. Wrap the excess tape around the front and back of the coupon book. Press each coupon firmly into the washi tape binding. Use your craft knife or scissors to trim the ends.

PRO TIP: If your coupons aren’t sticking to the washi tape and staying in the book, put a thin zigzag of white glue across the full length of your washi tape. Because washi tape isn’t a permanent tape, some kinds won’t be sticky enough to hold the coupons in place. A small line of white glue should help with that, without making the coupons hard to remove from the book.

That’s it! You’re ready to wrap and give those love coupons to your favorite kid. And get ready for some awesome good times and memory making!

GIVE YOUR FAVORITE KIDS A GIFT THAT WILL LAST THROUGH THE YEARS: KIDS LOVE COUPONS

Theodor Seuss Geisel, maybe you know him better as Dr. Seuss, said “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

It might seem like building a fort or going to the library isn’t a big deal, but when your kids look back on their childhoods they will remember the people and the fun. They will remember the forts and the story times. They won’t remember the things.

Go make your favorite kids their very own Kid’s Love Coupons Book and give them something to remember.

Want to expand your Kids Love Coupons collection? Check out my Etsy Shop for the full set of 28 ready-to-print coupons and an editable file that will help you make your own personalized, custom coupons in just minutes!

June 8, 2018 by Krista

168 Kids Activities that will Rock Your Summer

I love summer. Usually. Some times, it gets a little crazy, but that’s why I put together a fun Summer Boredom Buster Jar full of kids activities for my boys (and me!) to use when things were just a little too relaxed.

Or we’re a little too tired and it’s not quite nap or bed time yet. Or when things get a little too wrestle-y. Because… boys.

It saved my bacon more than once last summer.

I have plans this summer and our kids activities jar has a starring role in my attack on unruly boys. I divided the activities into seven categories.

If you’re looking for some fun things to do this summer, take a look at this huge list and then make your own Summer Boredom Buster Jar with the ideas.

168 KIDS ACTIVITIES TO TRY THIS SUMMER

FUN WITH FOOD KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make popsicles. Get as creative as you little heart desires.
– Banana Boats in the fire pit. Don’t know what banana boats are, check out the link.
– Make ice cream in a bag
– Fruit Loop necklaces
– Make peanut butter play dough
– Make S’mores

– Decorate cupcakes
– Make colorful cookies
– Create a new smoothie flavor
– Make Jell-O
– Build with marshmallows
– Make popcorn necklaces
– Create the ultimate ice cream sundae!
– Edible finger painting

– Make slushies
– Make Jell-O play dough
– Roast hot dogs over a fire
– Make candy bars
– Make a banana split

QUIET TIME KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Story stones or tiles
– Write letters
– Felt fishing game math practice
– Googly eye drawings
– Write in your story journal
– Movie Marathon!
– Illustrate a picture book
– Get a new ebook or learning app – Our favorite ABC apps, preschool apps

– Play with blocks. Creation Blocks, Tinkertoys, Cardboard Blocks and our Wooden Blocks are time-tested favorites.

– Do a practice worksheet.
– Play with Water Beads
– Do puzzles
– M&M math practice. Add and subtract with the candies. You can also practice colors. Of course, you’re finished when you’ve eaten all the candies.
– Draw with the Window Markers
– Play learning games on the tablet
– Make a straw bead necklace
– Build with sponge building blocks – cut several sponges into strips and stack them
– Read stories with Mom
– ABC match game
– Practice with the lacing cards

OUTSIDE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a fun obstacle course with PVC pipe sprinklers
– Water gun tin can target practice
– Water balloon towel toss
– Garden for letters: dig & spell
– Target sponge toss
– Have a picnic on the swing
– Go on a walk
– Have a bike wash. A car wash… for bikes.
– Make mud pies
– Create a water wall with plastic bottles
– Water balloon pinata
– Create a tin foil river. Float paper boats in them.
– Water balloon fight!
– Blow bubbles
– Go on a nature scavenger hunt
– Ride bikes

– Sand box treasure hunt
– Create a chalk maze
– Ice boat races
– Sponge water fight
– Play in the pool
– Ice block toy rescue
– Play in the sprinklers
– Draw with chalk on the sidewalk

ENERGY BURNING KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Glow balloon ping pong
– Paper plate ring toss

– Masking tape bean bag toss (or paper plate toss)
– Sing songs!
– Dinosaur fossil hunt
– Super chore race!
– Masking tape maze
– Paper plate frisbee

– Make a mini golf course
– Dance Party!
– Duck, duck, goose
– Go on a treasure hunt
– Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
– Build an obstacle course
– Put on a circus
– Nerf gun wars
– Glow in the dark bowling

THINGS TO MAKE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a wind chime
– Construct a city for your cars from cardboard boxes
– Paper Airplane Races
– Make Olliblocks

– Make a rain stick
– Make DIY paint with water pages
– Tin can telephones
– Make a musical instrument
– Make a lemonade stand
– Bow & Arrow practice. Not a real bow an arrow. There’s lots of fun ideas for DIY toys.
– Make sugar cube castles
– Q-tip painting.
– Make an I Love You chain
– Make a shoe box shape sorter for a baby
– Draw a treasure map!
– Make a marble maze
– Make pet rocks
– Masking tape city and roads
– Trace around your body and make a “Flat Me”
– Make toilet paper tube race cars

– Use old crayons and make sun catchers
– Make straw rockets
– Masking tape maze
– Macaroni noodle necklace
– Make constellation cans
– Make slime!
– Use popsicle sticks to make puppets. Have a puppet show.
– Make shadow box piggy banks
– Make Gak

– Cardboard box cars
– Paint rocks for the garden
– Salt painting
– Make paper
– Build something with a box
– Corn syrup paintings
– Make paper dolls

THINGS TO DO KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Go on a monster hunt
– Learn some words in a new language
– Mess-free finger painting
– Make “potions”
– Play with letter magnets (these are my favorite, though kinda pricey)
– Build a fort!
– Clean something

– Play with the felt fishing game
– Have a science day
– Dress Up!
– Bathtub fishing
– Balloon Rocket Races
– Shaving cream bath tub painting
– String maze
– Photo booth
– ABC scavenger hunt
– Play with the Gizmos
– Play with the Pattern Blocks
– Make a life-size board game.
– Pajama Day!
– Take photos for an ABC book

– Do a science experiment
– Ivory soap clouds
– Write invisible letters and mail them
– Stay/day-cation
– Play with Legos
– Make and play with a sensory bin
– Camp out in the family room
– Act out a story
– Play on the Wii
– Make shadow puppets
– Play a board game. Junior Suspend is one of our favorites!

FAMILY ACTIVITIES (this is great for weekends!):

– Make pretzels
– Movie night on the big screen
– Go bowling!
– Launch rockets
– Have a fire and star gaze
– Go to the drive-in
– Go to the marina or river park.
– See a movie at the theater
– Go to the Discovery Museum

– Have a popcorn bar!
– Play in the fountains
– Fly a kite
– Star gazing
– Go to the library
– Camping
– Go to the beach
– Go to Sonic!
– Get ice cream
– Go to the splash pad

You can check out some of our favorite summer products on Amazon. These are all things we own and love and can’t live without when the days are long, the air is hot and the sky is sunny!

What’s your favorite summer time kids activities? I’m always looking to add to our collection. Leave a comment and let me know!

November 14, 2017 by Krista

13 Gifts For Kids that Mom & Dad Won’t Hate

Finding the right gifts for kids can be so hard. As a mom, I want toys that will help my kids learn and grow, not just cheap pieces of plastic. While I am all about the thought of the gift and being grateful for all the things people give my kids, I will admit that sometimes I groan on the inside when my kids get gifts that I know are going to be forgotten about in a week or two. Or worse yet, broken. So, if you’re wondering what to get those kids on your gift lists, here are some gift ideas for kids that they will love, and so will mom and dad.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #1: LEGO BRICKS

Lego Bricks. While there’s definitely an appeal to the cool sets (we own so many Star Wars sets, I’ve lost count), I like the basic standard bricks too. We started our collection with the LEGO classic medium box and it served us well for many years. We still play with this set of classic blocks often. It’s perfect for building houses, vehicles, and more!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #2: GIZMO GEARS

Gizmo Gears. We got this set back in 2012. They have been through all of my kids and are still holding up. There have been a few casualties, but the majority are still in great shape. My 8-year-old doesn’t play with these as much any more, but he’ll still sit down with his brothers and build for a while. My 5-year-old enjoys pulling them out and my 3-year-old is obsessed. They snap together relatively easily, but little hands might need some help.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #3: SNAP CIRCUITS

Snap Circuits. These are great for a little bit older kids. My 8-year-old LOVES them and making different contraptions, including a radio. My 5-year-old doesn’t quite understand the science behind it. While he likes to snap the pieces together, he gets frustrated when nothing happens because the pieces aren’t put together correctly. This is perfect for teaching the basic laws of conductivity and electric currents.We bought the larger set because I knew my science-loving boy would grow with this set. They do have a smaller Snap Circuit set, if you want to try them out first before you shell out for the big one. However, the big one is TOTALLY worth it!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #4: TOY CARS

Toy Cars. My kids have all loved to play with cars. For hours. Sometimes they like to play with a car mat, but you can almost always find a few cars in our diaper bag… and there might even be one or two in my purse. The chunky cars with big wheels are perfect for little hands and we have more die-cast cars than I can count. These Blaze and the Monster Machine cars are a big hit with my boys, especially the younger ones. And I really love the variety of vehicles available in die-cast cars. This Matchbox set has lots of cool options to play with.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #5: WOODEN TRAIN SET

Wooden Train Sets. We have been building our wooden train set collection since my 8-year-old was born. We scored some at garage sales, were gifted some, have found great deals and our collection has just kept on growing. It’s one of the first toys that come out when we have play dates and everyone loves to play. This is one I like to play with my kids. We work together to build amazing tracks.This set of tracks is a great starter kit and these train cars are fun, brightly colored and will fit with any future wooden train toys you decide to acquire. This is a toy that all my kids like to play with, despite their age differences and has grown with my kids.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #6: MAGNETIC TILES OR BLOCKS

Magnetic Tiles or Blocks. We got a set of the real-deal Magformers a couple years ago for Christmas and my boys LOVED them. I got a few more to supplement their stash this past summer when I knew they would all be playing with them at the same time, but this time I tried a knock-off brand of magnet tiles and they fit in well with our brand-name tiles. There is a slight size difference, but all the tiles still line up and stick together. We will be adding more tiles to our collection yet again this Christmas and Santas is going to throw in these cool train car bases as a little bonus. All of my kids still play with these usually 2-3 times a week, even though they’ve been around a few years. Those are the toys I find worth having!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #7: BOARD AND CARD GAMES

Board and Card games. We love a good game night, but it can be hard to find games the whole family enjoys playing together. My mom gifted my oldest with Grabolo this past year and we just love it. All of us really legitimately enjoy playing this game together. It’s fast action, it’s all about observation, reaction time and memory. But, the rules and game play are simple enough for my littlest kids (3 and 5 years), even though the box says 6+ years.

We also really like Suspend – there’s also a Junior edition that has plastic sticks instead of metal ones. I like the durability of the metal ones, but I’ll admit the sticks have tried to become swords in our home. Both games are a blast and I recommend them both. Rack-O is another family favorite that we have recently been playing with our boys. The two little boys (ages 3.5 and 5.5) play on a team with mom or dad and our 8-year-old can play on his own, with minimal help. This has been perfect for helping my kindergartner practice his numbers to 100.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #8: ACTIVITY TUNNEL

Activity Tunnel. I got one of these for my kids a few years ago and they still play with it. It’s is great shape, considering how my boys play with it. It wasn’t super expensive so I didn’t have to worry about it getting ruined. It’s been used as a hiding spot in Hide-&-Seek, as a tunnel to play with cars in, as part of countless obstacle courses and even as “secret play place” – that was the easiest “fort” I have ever set up! We have one very similar to this Doug & Melissa caterpillar version – the exact one we have isn’t on Amazon anymore and is an off-brand. All of our other Doug & Melissa toys have held up well and this tunnel reviews great. These activity tunnels provide a contained outlet for some of the crazy energy they always have, can be played with indoors and folds up super compact for storage.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #9: SMALL SLIDE

Small Slide. A small slide offers the same pro of helping the kids constructively use all that pent-up energy when it’s too cold to play outside. Ours is used mostly indoors and comes out to play when my kids are good helpers and clean up our family room or when they are jumping off my furniture and clearly need a better outlet for their energy. Even though my oldest has outgrownn this slide, he still enjoys playing with it. And, it makes a really cool ramp for cars… and stuffed animals too. This little slide is great for younger toddlers (1-3 years).

There is a big kid version if you are hoping for something a little taller for your kiddo to grow into. This one fits older toddlers and preschoolers well. I really like the size and compactness of the little one, but my kids love playing on their cousins’ larger slide too, when we visit. And I like that our small one is less distance to the ground if (and by if, I mean when) my kids fall.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #10: DRESS-UP CLOTHES

Dress-Up Clothes. Dress up clothes are definitely NOT just for girls. We have a huge bin full of dress up and it’s one of my boys go-to activities. It often gets pulled out when their friends come over too. Dress up offers so much room for imaginative play! I love that. Most of our dress up collection from old Halloween costumes; but, a couple years ago, our kids received Star Wars costumes (Jedi, Darth Vader and Yoda). We made them lightsabers out of pool noodles. Those were the coolest gifts they’d ever been given. And – bonus – we just raided the dress up box for Halloween the next year and we did a family Star Wars theme. It was super fun (and totally affordable, since we had half the costumes already)!

These superhero capes are awesome for every kid who wants to run like The Flash or shoot webs like Spider-Man! If your kiddos are into more realistic pretend play, this doctor costume and accessories set look like a ton of fun and are perfect for exploring caregiving. Or maybe you just have a kiddo who loves Doc McStuffins and wants to run their very own little stuffed animal hospital. And, sometimes you don’t need the whole costume. I really like this set of hats that will get the creative juices flowing. I can only imagine what my kids would come up with between the crown and the cowboy hat.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #11: WOODEN BLOCKS

Wooden Blocks. If you only get your children one kind of blocks, get a set like this! Seriously. These blocks are so versatile. My kids love to build towers with them, of course. But, they also use them with their toy cars, their dinosaur and super hero figurines, and they make race tracks for their hex bugs (another super fun toy). They test their building skills with competitions on who can make the tallest towers, who can build the tower with the most blocks and anything else they can come up with. All of my kids still play with these (and so does my husband…); it’s definitely a must-have toy in my opinion.

The biggest con is the storage space; but, if you take the time to put them away neatly, it really isn’t too bad. We keep our set in a treasure chest box my mom found at a thrift store. Having a specific container to put them all in definitely makes a big difference and this set comes with a great wooden box just for that purpose.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #12: KEVA BLOCKS

Keva Blocks. We first discovered these fun, seemingly too simple toys at our local children’s museum. How much fun can you have with a bunch of wood planks that are all the same size and shape? Well, we easily spent an hour playing with just these blocks the first time. We’ve since been back to our museum and have played with only these – for the whole entire visit. So, turns out, you can have a TON of fun with them. I love that they allow for open-ended play and cater to a variety of skill levels. My husband was building structures several feet tall while out 8-year-old was trying his hand at building bridges he’d learned about at school. My 5-year-old spent time exploring basic balance and weight principles. And my 3-year-old and I built small towers that he thoroughly enjoyed knocking down.

The box says ages 7+ and I would say that is an accurate suggestion for solo play, but our whole family enjoys playing with these. This beginner kit isn’t huge (it only has 20 planks and 30 instruction cards in it), but this is a case of less is more. The idea is to figure out how 2-dimensional images become 3-dimensional when you build them. It’s a great STEM activity and, of course, you can use them in free play too. If you want to expand your collection, you can get this expansion pack and increase your fun and Keva planks by 10 times! You’ll build some pretty great things with 220 planks. Or check out this cool contraption set with 50 more planks and 6 ideas for some fun Rube-Goldberg type contraptions (my kids are super into dominoes right now and they would LOVE the contraption set).

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #13: A SUBSCRIPTION BOX

Subscription Boxes. These are all the rage right now and why wouldn’t they be?! Everyone likes to get mail, especially kids. And there are some really cool subscription boxes for kids! While these may not technically be toys, I couldn’t leave them off this list of Gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad Won’t Hate because these are awesome gifts! My favorite subscription boxes for kids are the KiwiCo Boxes because they have an awesome variety and you’re sure to find a box your kids will love. But, there’s a lot of options out there, so do a little research and check them all out. If you decide to check out KiwiCo, make sure you scroll down under the image and hit that 60% off link to get the best deal!

KIWICO HAS SUBSCRIPTION BOX GIFTS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES!

The Cricket Crate is designed for kids 0-2. In each box you’ll receive a toy (think soft toys, wooden blocks, bright colored toys and chewables). You’ll also get a board book, which I love. I want all the books. There’s a magazine on child development for mom and dad and access to more online resources. There is a “Newborn Crate” specially designed for babies 0-3 months.

The Koala Crate is designed for ages 3-4. Each of these boxes focuses on one topic – like transportation or reptiles. It contains “creative materials” (mostly art supplies for your child to explore). There’s a guide for parents with activity ideas that support inquiry-based learning. A magazine with information on the topic of the box will expound on the things your child is learning. This magazine makes learning about the topic easy and fun. And all the information is right there, done for you. You’ll also be able to access more online resources and ideas.

The Kiwi Crate was the original boxes this company started with and they were amazing back then. Kiwi Crates are designed for 5-8 year olds. Each Kiwi Crate contains an age-appropriate project. Sometimes it focuses on art. Sometimes it’s more STEM. They’ll get creative learning materials and kid-friendly instructions to encourage their imaginations and tinkering. The Explore magazine with games, experiments and comics will further increase your child’s understanding of the project they did. And, of course, access to more online ideas and resources is also included.

DON’T FORGET THE OLDER KIDS!

The Doodle Crate is for kids 9-16+ and focuses on creative DIY projects. These aren’t just some lame projects, though. It’s things like making color-blocked candles or a wooden clock. If your kiddo is all about visual and creative arts, this is perfect for them. Each box includes everything your child needs to complete these projects, including all materials. There are also step-by-step instructions so they can do the projects and a guide with inspiration and ideas. If the written instructions and inspiration guide aren’t quite enough, they’ll be able to access online videos of the project.

The Tinker Crate is for kids 9-16+ and focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) projects – projects like building a trebuchet or hydraulic claw or using fiber optics to explore constellations. Each box includes all the materials needed to complete each STEM project and a detailed blueprint with step-by-step instructions. They’ll also get the Tinker Zine that has additional experiments and other activities. And there’s the access to online guides, in case the written instructions aren’t enough.

If you order anytime from now until November 28th, 2017 you can enjoy 60% off your first box. That’s double their usual first month promotion! Try out KiwiCo for less than $15, . Cancel your subscription any time.

Do you have any suggestions of gifts your kids have been given that you’ve loved? Share in the comments! I’m always looking for ideas to pass along.

June 13, 2017 by Krista

How to Make Snack Time Exciting

Hey, I’m so glad you stopped by today! My house is full of boys – hungry boys. I feel like I never leave the kitchen some days; someone always needs something to eat. But, we get in a snacking rut and find ourselves eating the same things over and over. I know there’s a lot more options out there, but they just don’t come to me when I have little hungry piranhas, uhm, I mean boys, nibbling at my ankles. Have you ever fallen into a snack rut too? That’s where this printable list of snack time ideas comes in.

Next time you’re scrambling at snack time, just check out the list and choose something new. It can also help you make out your grocery list and keep your snacks from coming from the candy and chip aisles. Make snack time exciting with these yummy ideas!

A HEALTHIER SNACK TIME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

It wasn’t just my children I had in mind when I made up this list. It was my snacking habits as well. I’m totally guilty of grabbing a handful of chocolate chips out of the fridge when the munchies hit. But, not anymore! Your whole family can eat healthier, more filling snacks and you’ll all be better, short and long-term. You’ll snack less, which means less time in the kitchen for you. You’ll stay fuller longer and you’ll have more energy. Who doesn’t want that?

MAKING SNACK TIME EASIER FOR MOM

Have you ever felt like you spent the entire day in the kitchen, feeding the kids? It can be frustrating! I’ve been there, I know. If you need to feed little mouths all day long, but don’t want to spend all day, every day preparing, serving and cleaning up those snacks only to start over again, then this list is for you! On it, you’ll find snack ideas that will help you add variety, nutrition and structure to your family’s snacking. Snacks are divided into:

high protein snacks for longer lasting energy
make-ahead snacks to help you save time
high fiber snacks to help keep tummies happy
high calcium snacks for strong bones
quick prep snacks for those snacking emergencies when you need something NOW

Not all of these snacks are “healthy snacks”. Some of them are treats, particularly some of the quick-prep snacks. In our family, we believe moderation is the key to healthy and happy tummies. It is up to you to make sure your family has balanced nutrition and moderation. These are ONLY ideas!

GET YOUR SNACK TIME IDEAS PRINTABLE FOR EASY, DELICIOUS SNACKING

This snack time ideas printable will help you keep your family’s tummies full and happy so you can focus on the important things of summer: playing! It’s super simple. All you have to do is enter your info in the box below to unlock the premium printable and get immediate access.

Materials You’ll Need:

Snack Time Ideas printable
A computer
A printer

DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE

Step #1: Just click on the image below. A PDF file will open in a new window and you can save or print it. No email addresses, no waiting, just click below and you’re good to go. Because you’ve got better things to do – like guard the pantry and the refrigerator.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR PRINTABLE

Step #2: Leaving your snack list on the printer isn’t going to be terribly helpful, so hang that baby up where you can see it. Where the kids can see it. Where everyone who ever mutters “I’m huuunggreeeyyy” at you can see it.

If your house is anything like mine, it can be questionable whether a piece of paper is truly going to survive more than a few days. If you want to prolong the demise of your snack ideas, you can laminate the page or simply slide it inside a page protector.

That’s it. You’re ready for a summer of fun, healthy snacks! Go you!

EASIER, HEALTHIER SNACKING FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY

Make snack time a breeze with this list of ideas. Some are simple and some a little more complex, but all are suggested with kids and busy schedules in mind. There’s healthy suggestions to keep your family strong and ready to play, along with sweet treats for the occasional sweet tooth. With a little planning, your family will eat healthier, eat less, stay fuller longer and have more energy for all the summer fun headed your way!

MORE FUN SUMMER IDEAS

If you need some ideas of things for the kids to do this summer, check out this awesome Boredom Bucket List with over 100 ideas. Ideas are divided into outdoor activities, indoor activities and activities that will get everyone out of the house.

June 9, 2017 by Krista

100+ Awesome Screen-Free Kid’s Activities that will Conquer Boredom

Hi there! I’m thrilled you stopped by today. So, it’s here. What’s that, you ask, what’s here? Summer vacation. I’m excited to have my kids home. We’re going to have lots of fun (I hope). But, I still have responsibilities and obligations I have to meet. I can’t spend all of my waking hours entertaining my kids or breaking up fights. And that’s where this awesome list of screen-free kid’s activities comes in.

When the boredom monster rears his ugly head and chaos ensues, my kids are directed to this list of activities. They can choose something together or mom gets to pick their next activity – usually a chore. If you ever need your kids to entertain themselves, here’s 100+ ideas you can give them without saying a word.

100+ KID’S ACTIVITIES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Most of the time, I find that the hardest part of helping my kids come up with an activity is that I’m short on ideas. They just don’t come to when I need them most. Having a list already made up saves my skin (and sanity). If you ever struggle to come up with kid’s activities, this list is for you.

I’ve been struggling to keep my kids off the screens lately. And they always counter with, “then what can I do?” Apparently, they are tired of hearing my 7-9 standard suggestions. So, now they have over 100. If they can’t find something that sounds fun in that many ideas, then they probably need a chore to remind them what really qualifies as fun.

WHY YOU SHOULD LET THE KIDS FIND THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES & HOW IT CAN HELP YOUR WHOLE FAMILY

If you’ve ever been inundated with “I’m bored”, “there’s nothing to do”, “everything is boring!” or any variation of those, you know it can be frustrating. I’m a big believer that kids need to learn to entertain themselves. They need to be bored in order to figure out what to do about it. But, also, they should help plan family activities. Planning is part of being in a family, and life in general.

Learning life skills like problem-solving, planning, thinking ahead, preparing for an activity or event, and figuring out what to do with their time are all good things! If you get to spend some quality family time together too, I’m calling it a win.

SCREEN-FREE KID’S ACTIVITIES TO CONQUER SUMMER BOREDOM

This screen-free kid’s activities printable will help you reign in the summer chaos while helping your kids learn some valuable skills. It’s super simple. All you have to do is enter your info in the box below to unlock the premium printable and get immediate access.

Materials You’ll Need:

Summer Boredom Bucket List printable (unlock this premium content below)
A computer
A printer

DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE

Step #1: Click on the image below and a new tab will open with the download page.

DOWNLOAD & PRINT YOUR PRINTABLE

Step #2: When the download page opens, save the image to your computer from the little arrow icon in the drop down menu at the top of the window, if you’d like to have a copy of it.

Step #3: If you just want to print it and not save a copy, you can do that too! Just print your copy of the Summer Boredom Bucket List printable with the little print icon in the top corner of the window.

That’s it. You’re ready for a summer of fun, screen-free activities! Go you!

EASY & FUN KID’S ACTIVITIES WHEN YOU NEED THEM

Make this summer one to remember with fun activities you’ll all enjoy. Let the kids help plan the activities and carry them out. Conquer boredom and manage the chaos with a little help from this Summer Boredom Bucket List and over 100 kid’s activities ideas. Ready for a great summer? Get to it!

You might also like my Printable Summer Bucket List so you can make a list of all the things you want to do this summer too!

KIDS LOVE COUPONS: A MORE MEANINGFUL GIFT

KIDS LOVE COUPONS: THE PERFECT GIFT ANYONE CAN GIVE ANYTIME

MAKING YOUR OWN KIDS LOVE COUPONS BOOK IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3

KIDS LOVE COUPONS SUPPLIES:

KIDS LOVE COUPONS DIRECTIONS:

1. DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR COUPONS

2. CUT APART YOUR KIDS LOVE COUPONS

3. BIND YOUR KIDS LOVE COUPONS BOOK TOGETHER

GIVE YOUR FAVORITE KIDS A GIFT THAT WILL LAST THROUGH THE YEARS: KIDS LOVE COUPONS

Want to expand your Kids Love Coupons collection? Check out my Etsy Shop for the full set of 28 ready-to-print coupons and an editable file that will help you make your own personalized, custom coupons in just minutes!

168 KIDS ACTIVITIES TO TRY THIS SUMMER

FUN WITH FOOD KIDS ACTIVITIES:

QUIET TIME KIDS ACTIVITIES:

OUTSIDE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

ENERGY BURNING KIDS ACTIVITIES:

THINGS TO MAKE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

THINGS TO DO KIDS ACTIVITIES:

FAMILY ACTIVITIES (this is great for weekends!):

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #1: LEGO BRICKS

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #2: GIZMO GEARS

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #3: SNAP CIRCUITS

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #4: TOY CARS

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #5: WOODEN TRAIN SET

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #6: MAGNETIC TILES OR BLOCKS

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #7: BOARD AND CARD GAMES

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #8: ACTIVITY TUNNEL

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #9: SMALL SLIDE

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #10: DRESS-UP CLOTHES

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #11: WOODEN BLOCKS

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #12: KEVA BLOCKS

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #13: A SUBSCRIPTION BOX

KIWICO HAS SUBSCRIPTION BOX GIFTS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES!

DON’T FORGET THE OLDER KIDS!

Do you have any suggestions of gifts your kids have been given that you’ve loved? Share in the comments! I’m always looking for ideas to pass along.

A HEALTHIER SNACK TIME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

MAKING SNACK TIME EASIER FOR MOM

GET YOUR SNACK TIME IDEAS PRINTABLE FOR EASY, DELICIOUS SNACKING

DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR PRINTABLE

EASIER, HEALTHIER SNACKING FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY

MORE FUN SUMMER IDEAS

100+ KID’S ACTIVITIES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

WHY YOU SHOULD LET THE KIDS FIND THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES & HOW IT CAN HELP YOUR WHOLE FAMILY

SCREEN-FREE KID’S ACTIVITIES TO CONQUER SUMMER BOREDOM

DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE

DOWNLOAD & PRINT YOUR PRINTABLE

EASY & FUN KID’S ACTIVITIES WHEN YOU NEED THEM

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