Holidays

4th of July Activity for Preschoolers – Pattern Cards

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Activities Tagged With: Holidays, July 4th This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I love working the pre-reading and pre-math mind. Kids as young as 2 and 3 (and EVEN younger) years old can begin to connect and solidify those neuron pathways enabling a ripeness for learning more complex concepts later in development. This festively themed 4th of July activity is perfect for preschoolers and perfect for making learning fun.

4th of July Themed Activity for Kids - Pattern Cards

4th of July Activity for Preschoolers – Pattern Cards

Materials Needed

Red, White, or Blue Cardstock
Star Stickers
Scissors
Laminator (optional)

Approach

Cut the cardstock into strips
Place stickers on card stock strip
Laminate
Create matching labels with same stickers
Cut out the matching labels
Demonstrate to the child how to match star to star
Alternatively you can prepare cards that don't complete a pattern and have the child choose the label or labels that come next in the pattern. There are many variations to pattern and matching cards.

Why are matching & pattern cards so beneficial?

Pattern cards teach young children logic when it comes to math and prepares a child for reading and writing. Typically pattern cards move left to right just as a child's hands and eyes would move when reading and writing later in his development.

10 Creative & Unique Easter Basket Ideas for Boys

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Easter, Family, Holidays This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Every April, parents around the country scramble to arrange the perfect Easter baskets for kids of all ages. Furthermore, I've noticed {and I am guilty of this observation} that few parents take the time to concoct gift baskets geared towards the interests of boys. You see, I have three boys and I recognize their different needs. As a result, I went on my own hunt to find Easter basket ideas for boys beyond cliched assortments of chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, and Cadbury eggs.

Easter Basket Ideas for Boys

A Survival Kit

If you're looking for Easter basket ideas for kids that deliver, an outdoor gear kit will always delight boys. For this reason, I suggest a camping kit that includes a flashlight, a pup tent and a fishing rod can cost under $50. Try to find a kit that comes in a hard carrying case for ease of transportation.

A Musical Instrument

Easily one of the best Easter basket ideas for toddlers is a simple instrument. For example, a recorder or homemade thumb piano will keep tykes of all sizes amused for hours. Similarly, boys love & appreciate a pair of rhythm sticks.

An Egg Carton Game

Using leftover egg cartons to execute various Easter craft ideas is a tradition in creative households. Creating simple board games using egg cartons is one of the most popular Easter basket ideas for teens. For instance, one could easily create a mancala set using nothing more than an egg carton and a few beads.

A Seed Starter Gardening Kit

Easter is a sign that spring and the gardening that comes with it are right around the corner. Eggshell cartons can be used to create seed starter kits that help young boys to germinate plants. All you need is an egg carton, some soil and a few seeds to get started.

A Rubik's Cube Kit

While it seems like a 1980s throwback, the Rubik's Cube is a timeless game that provides hours of stimulation. With that said, one of the best bang-for-your-buck Easter basket ideas for teens is a build-it-yourself Rubik's Cube that has to be assembled. Teens will develop basic DIY skills and problem-solving abilities with this affordable gift.

A Collection of Card Games

Great Easter basket ideas for boys don't have to be complicated to score high marks from their recipients. Classic card games like Uno and SkipBo are cheap and don't go out of style over the years. Plus, these games don't cost a lot of money.

Creative Easter Ideas for Boys

A Model Airplane Kit

Since the invention of the airplane, boys have been fascinated with model airplanes of all shapes and sizes. For instance, kits replicating a vintage WWII fighter or an F-16 are a good place to start. Similarly, for young engineers, check out glider or remote-controlled plane kits.

A Portable Badminton Set

Easter basket ideas for kids that keep the tots active are never a bad thing. A portable badminton set that includes a net, a collection of rackets and a few shuttlecocks doesn't have to cost a lot. Carry this badminton set with you while traveling or hanging out around town.

Swimming Goggles

Look beyond the holiday weekend for ideas for baskets! For example, swimming goggles. They are a great option since they deliver a ton of utility during the summer when the temperatures rise. Furthermore, swimming goggles are pretty affordable and allow active boys to enjoy both pools and rural swimming holes.

A Sturdy Sports Watch

Arguably the best Easter basket ideas for boys come down to items that deliver benefits for years to come. For example, a solid sports watch helps young boys to keep time, find direction and gauge altitude when a smartphone isn't convenient. You'll be happy to know that good sports watches from reputable manufacturers can be had for as little as $20.

Great Easter Basket Ideas Are Everywhere!

Obviously, there's no shortage of Easter basket ideas for toddlers and teens alike if you're a parent of boys. These ideas are affordable and keep on giving! Rest assured, any of these suggestions will keep your boys happy and occupied throughout the year.

St. Patrick’s Day Songs for Kids

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Activities Tagged With: Holidays, Preschool Songs, St. Patrick's Day This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I curated THE best St. Patrick's Day Songs for Kids! Enjoy the video and print off the lyrics for loads of St. Patrick's Day fun!

St. Patrick's Day Songs for Kids

I'M A LITTLE LEPRECHAUN SONG LYRICS

I'm a little leprechaun
Dressed in green,
The tiniest man
That you have seen.
If you ever catch me,
so it's told,
I'll give you my big pot of gold.
I’m a little leprechaun
Imagine that
With my little green boots
And my big green hat
At the end of the rainbow
So, it’s told
You will find my pot of gold
I'm a little leprechaun
Dressed in green,
The tiniest man
That you have seen.
If you ever catch me,
so it's told,
I'll give you my big pot of gold.

St. Patrick's Day Songs – History

The story of St Patrick's Day
Began so long ago
The lyrics in this song
Will tell you
All you need to know
The seventeenth of March
Is when this joyous holiday
Is celebrated happily
With colorful parades

Dee Lai Dee Dai Dee
Dai Dee Dai Dee
Lai Dee Dai Dee Dai
Hummm…Hummm…

Patrick was only sixteen when
The pirates captured him
They sold him to slavery
And took him to Ireland

He kept the faith
And made his escape
When he was twenty-two
And made it back to Britain
‘Twas the only home he knew

Patrick had a vision
To return to Ireland
And vowed to teach Christianity
Until the bitter end
Legend says that Patrick used
The shamrock to explain
That the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Are all and one the same

On this day the Irish dress
In many shades of green
And some are feeling lucky
With the leprechauns, they've seen
It's music and fun for everyone
We'll party and we'll play
Come one, come all
Come join along
On this St. Paddy's Day!

St. Patrick's Day Songs – Math

Counting with a Leprechaun

Have you ever seen a leprechaun
Little green hat and boots so brown
Have you ever seen a leprechaun
Can you catch one sneakin' around

He's got a secret pot of gold
Hiding at the end of a rainbow
And you can try to find it but you'll never win
Get a four leaf clover and try again

Have you ever seen a leprechaun
Tiny little trickster from Ireland
Have you ever seen a leprechaun
Maybe just maybe you can make him your friend

St. Patrick's Day Songs – Movement

Dance, dance, leprechaun dance
Dance, dance, leprechaun dance
Dance, dance, leprechaun dance
Do a dance for me

Bow Bow Leprechaun bow
Bow Bow Leprechaun bow
Bow Bow Leprechaun bow
Do a bow for me

Clap clap leprechaun clap
Clap clap leprechaun clap
Clap clap leprechaun clap
Do a clap for me

Jump Jump leprechaun jump
Jump Jump leprechaun jump
Jump Jump leprechaun jump
Do a jump for me

G-R-E-E-N

There is a color
That I say
Represents St. Patrick's Day
G-R-E-E-N
G-R-E-E-N
G-R-E-E-N
And Green is that color

St. Patrick's Day Songs for Preschoolers – Rainbows

The Colors of the Rainbow
Larry the leprechaun found his gold at the end of the rainbow.
The colors of the rainbow are so beautiful to see
The colors of the rainbow, sing the colors along with me
Red, orange, yellow, green and blue, indigo and you know there's violet too
Red, orange, yellow, green and blue, indigo and you know there's violet too
The colors of the rainbow are so beautiful to see
The colors of the rainbow, sing the colors along with me
Red, orange, yellow, green and blue, indigo and you know there's violet too
Red, orange, yellow, green and blue, indigo and you know there's violet too
This is Larry the leprechaun, move with my friend, Jack to the colors of the rainbow.
Red- shake your head, shake it, shake it
Orange- make the shape of an orange, make the shape, make the shape
Yellow- jiggle like jello, jiggle, jiggle
Green- make your body lean, whoa
Blue- touch your shoe, down low, low
Indigo- move real slow, slow motion
Violet- fly like a jet, I'm flying, flying
The colors of the rainbow are so beautiful to see
The colors of the rainbow, sing the colors along with me

RAINBOW SONG

See the rainbow way up high,

Spreading colors in the sky.

Red and orange, yellow too

Green and purple hug some blue.

Watch it quickly, it won't last.

Rainbows can disappear fast!

Fun Facts about St. Patrick's Day

Five Little LeprechaunsThe Story of Three Leprechauns

Montessori Monthly Themes: Amazing, Fun, & Easy to Do

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Activities, Montessori in the Home Tagged With: Fall, Holidays, Monthly Themes, Seasons, Spring, Summer, Winter This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

This page includes Montessori monthly themes for preschoolers including Montessori Activities by Season and Montessori Activities by Holiday. I hope this content helps you create amazing Montessori Monthly Lesson Plans! My goal is to add to this monthly content so that you have dozens of Montessori theme ideas for each month of the year!

Montessori Month by Month Curriculum

The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behaviour towards him. We have to help the child to act, will and think for himself. This is the art of serving the spirit, an art which can be practised to perfection only when working among children. – Dr. Maria Montessori

Montessori Winter Activities

It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it. ~John Burroughs, “Winter Sunshine”

Montessori New Years Activities

Montessori Martin Luther King Jr. Activities

Montessori Valentine's Day Activities

Montessori St. Patrick's Day Activities

Montessori Earth Day Activities

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each. – Henry David Thoreau

Montessori Spring Themed Activities

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own. – Charles Dickens

Montessori Mother's Day Themed Activities

Montessori Memorial Day Themed Activities

Montessori Father's Day Themed Activities

Montessori Summer Themed Activities

Montessori July 4th Themed Activities

Montessori Fall Themed Activities

10 Fun & Thoughtful New Year Activities for Kids & Families

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Family, Holidays This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

This post contains ten fun and thoughtful new year activities for kids “Mama, how many days until Halloween?” my five-year-old asked me the day after Halloween. We were months away from a new year, let alone another Halloween.

There are days I feel time moves at lightening speed and then there are days, well, there are days that feel like Halloween.

Time does pass. That is a fact. I choose to celebrate the New Year. I don't make resolutions because inevitably I break those resolutions and end of feel crappy about myself. There are a few things I do embrace each New Year.

Related Read: How to Make New Years Resolutions Stick

Let's be honest and totally cheesy for a moment, the new year celebration gives us a chance to reflect on the past year and to firmly plant a mindset for the coming year. It’s great to take some time with the family to reflect on the past year as well as the New Year that’s on the way.

10 family activities to Help you Reflect on the New Year

Create a Traditional Family New Year Dinner – Everyone can vote on the dishes they want to include in the meal. Prepare the meal and cook it together. This is a great time to talk and share and just enjoy the time together as a family. It’s also a great way to build a tradition that you can repeat year after year, or maybe month after month, or week after week.
Ask “Who is your family?” – We love conversation starters! This conversation starter is a great family bonding activity for New Years. It invites the family members to talk about who is part of his or her family, and what family really means to them. This is a great way to start a New Year with gratitude.
Share your Favorite Family Activity – Have everyone share their favorite activity for the year and also talk about what they want to do together in the upcoming year.
Play New Year Games – Pull out the good old board games and make it happen. There are a lot of fun games you can play like Guess the Resolution or Two Truths and a Lie. You can do a word guessing game, or a New Years take on charades.
Go Outside – If you still have snow (or can travel to it), this could be a great time to play in the snow. Go skiing or snowboarding, or just run around and make snowmen or throw snowballs. This time of year will pass so quickly after New Year so now is a good time to appreciate it.
Get Crafty – This can be a great time of year to work on some crafts. You can do seasonal crafts, or make an annual family scrapbook to reflect on your memories.
Read Outloud – No matter how old or how young your children, reading aloud as a family is a magical experience.
Scavenger Hunt – Create a year in review scavenger hunt, or planning for next year scavenger hunt. You can be as creative as you want with these and get all of the family members involved/
Set Family Goals for the New Year – Most people enjoy making New Year Resolutions. You can do this together and share your goals for the New Year as a family.
Dream together about the New Year – Talk about the things you hope to achieve in the New Year, what your number one goal is, things you want to do as a family and more. You might be surprised at some of the answers. It’s also a great way to bond.

I hope these ideas inspire you a bit. Let me know your New Year's traditions! This is all about your family so do what works for you.

Happy New Year!

Marnie

My Top Picks for Holiday Gifts for Montessori Teachers

By Marnie Craycroft Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Gift Guides, Holidays This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

There was a year when I failed…I know, I know…it is the thought that counts, but I took the easy path.

You know what “they” say about the easy path? It'll make you week over time. Truth.

I will admit that I was pregnant with our third son and completely overwhelmed with “stuff” going on with out second son…but I take full ownership of the pathetic attempt at thanking my sons teachers for being nothing short of amazing (says the daughter of a teacher).

Are you ready for what I gave?

I am so embarassed…

…but I want to be honest.

Starbucks gift cards {lots of whimpering}.

Yup. I gave each teacher the envelop, my head bowed a bit, hugged each teacher, and bolted out of the school with my kids.

Every year since that time, I have made it a personal goal to involve my sons and to truly make time for giving a thoughtful, a meaningful gift to my sons teachers because, let's be honest, teachers are amazing human beings who not only educate our kids but they take care of our kids.

Boom.

With that off my chest, I am here to offer you the top picks for holiday gifts for school teachers.

12 Top Holiday Gifts for Montessori Teachers

Personalized Stationary

Get to know your child's teacher by engaging him or her in conversation or asking your child about his teacher's specific interests (which is a great exercise!), then head on over to Minted, design, and order personalized stationary to his or her liking. The process takes ten minutes or less. I promise.

Unique Gift Cards

Forget about Starbucks, think hard about the teacher's habits. My mom was a teacher for nearly 4 decades and she was always buying supplies out of her own pocket. I know it isn't exciting but if it is all about the teacher and not because you're taking a short cut like I did 4 years ago, the you're good. Consider Amazon, Micheals, Montessori Services, or my printables shop!

Personalized Journals

Minted offers personalized journals and planners that are nothing short of gorgeous!

Share a Family Tradition

I like to include a tin of a baked item that reflects a family tradition. In our case, we could bake my grandmother's cowboy cookies and include the recipe (the original copy is a nice touch).

A Handwritten Letter

If I am feeling particularly reflective, I write a short letter to my sons' teachers. I like to include a note from my sons', too. The letters are handwritten.

Interview Your Child

This gift is so much fun! Interview your child about his or her teacher! The answers will make you laugh and make you cry! Present in a nice format to your teacher in card or small book and watch your child's teacher light up. I created these interview questions as a starting point for you.

Housecleaning Service

Who doesn't love a little pampering around the house? Give your child's teacher the gift of a clean home! If you don't have a housecleaner in mind, ask around and you will be sure to get a great reference!

Wine of the Month or Tea of the Month Club

However, your child's teacher likes to relax and chill out after a long day with a classroom full of kids, a wine of the month or tea of the month club works wonders. There are several “Wine of the Month” clubs including the cleverly named Wine of the Month Club. Cellars Club is another option. Teabox and PlumDeluxe are a great gift option for tea drinkers!

Monthly Flower Delivery

My husband and I really make an effort to have fresh flowers in our home. There is something about the smell and the oxygen the flowers delivered to the interior of the home that makes a huge difference in mood and ambiance. ProFlowers offers a monthly flower club. Check it out here!

Museum Membership

I love museum memberships! Such a blessing and a motivation to be able to visit a museum with all the conveniences of a membership. Challenge yourself and your child to consider a museum his or her teacher may appreciate the most.

The Gift of Meat

We love Snake River Farms and these guys have loads of holiday gift ideas!

For the One Who Love to Cook

Flirty Aprons is so much fun. I got lost on their site checking out all the cool aprons for adults and kids. You can even customize an apron! What a great gift idea for teachers!

On a final note…

I challenge you to get to know your child's teacher. Ask your child questions about favorite colors, what he or she likes to do during free time, engage in a conversation with your child's teacher about his or her LIFE.

I hope you enjoyed this list of holiday gifts for teachers!

Have fun!

Marnie

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