Alphabet Crafts - A to Z

Several months ago, my youngest son and I decided to "craft our way through the alphabet".  We had a lot of fun, and we successfully completed 26 days of alphabet crafts. Below, I share our 100+ alphabet crafts and activities. I guarantee your children or students will LOVE them all!

Fun, right?  

Below, you will find links to tutorials for the 100+ adorable alphabet crafts we completed.  You will also find free printable printing practice sheets for each of the letters.

A is for Apple and Alligator (Click the link for instructions and MORE A crafts and activities.)

B is for Bunny Ears and Bear (Click the link for instructions and MORE B crafts and activities.)

C is for Caterpillar and Cat (Click the link for instructions and MORE C crafts and activities.)

D is for Dog (Click the link for instructions and MORE D crafts and activities.)

E is for Elephant (Click the link for instructions and MORE E crafts and activities.)

F is for Face and Fox (Click the link for instructions and MORE F crafts and activities.)

G is for Guitar and Gumball (Click the link for instructions and MORE G crafts and activities.)

H is for Hat and House (Click the link for instructions and MORE H crafts and activities.)

I is for Ice Cream and Iguana (Click the link for instructions and MORE I crafts and activities.)

J is for Jet and Jellyfish (Click the link for instructions and MORE J crafts and activities.)

K is for Kite and King (Click the link for instructions and MORE K crafts and activities.)

L is for Lion and Ladybug (Click the link for instructions and MORE L crafts and activities.)

M is for Monkey and Mouse (Click the link for instructions and MORE M crafts and activities.)

N is for Necktie and Night (Click the link for instructions and MORE N crafts and activities.)

O is for Octopus and Owl (Click the link for instructions and MORE O crafts and activities.)

P is for Pirate Ship and Pig (Click the link for instructions and MORE P crafts and activities.)

Q is for Queen's Crown and Queen (Click the link for instructions and MORE Q crafts and activities.)

R is for Rabbit (Click the link for instructions and MORE R crafts and activities.)

S is for Snake (Click the link for instructions and MORE S crafts and activities.)

T is for Turtle and Tree (Click the link for instructions and MORE T crafts and activities.)

U is for Umbrella and Unicorn (Click the link for instructions and MORE U crafts and activities.)

V is for Vase and Volcano (Click the link for instructions and MORE V crafts and activities.)

W is for Windsock (Click the link for instructions and MORE W crafts and activities.)

X is for Xylophone and X-ray (Click the link for instructions and MORE X crafts and activities.)

Y is for Yarn and Yellow (Click the link for instructions and MORE Y crafts and activities.)

Z is for Zebra (Click the link for instructions and MORE Z crafts and activities.)

I hope you enjoy these alphabet crafts as much as we did.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find MORE fantastic preschool crafts and themes here.

And the crafts here are adorable too!

Simple Backyard Water Park

The boys and I are finishing up our summer checklist, and a couple of days ago we had a fantastic day with our simple backyard water park.

This is a simple idea, but it is guaranteed to please on a hot summer day.  Just use whatever you have to create some "water stations".  In the past we have used sponges, spray bottles, sprinklers, kiddie pools, water balloons, etc...

Here's what we did this year:

I filled 50 water balloons.  They played water balloon catch, they played "soldiers" with water balloon "bombs", and they played water balloon batting practice.

We made homemade bubbles (12 cups of water, 2 cups of dishwashing liquid, and 1 cup of light corn syrup).

We had a huge water fight.

And we played with a giant spiderman slip and slide that I bought on clearance at the end of summer last year.

The boys played with their water park all afternoon, and I think it was a great way to take advantage of one of the last hot summer days.  Have you ever created a simple backyard water park with your little ones?  What station did they like the best?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East CoastMommy)

First Day of School Class Treats {free printable tags}

My boys are heading back to school soon, and in keeping with tradition, they will be bringing a little treat for their classmates on the first day of school.  This year, all three of my boys are taking little bags of goldfish with an adorable tag that says, "O-FISH-ally wishing you a fantastic first day of school!" 

Isn't it cute?  You can download a 4X6 version of the tag I designed by right clicking on the picture below, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular photo. (There are three tags on each sheet.)

Once the tags are printed, cut each photo into three tags, and staple a tag to the top of each bag.  

Don't you just love how sweet and simple this idea is?  My boys are really excited about sharing these treats with their little friends.

Do your kids like to bring a class treat on the first day of school or do you have a different first day of school tradition?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Tips for Simplifying Daily Clean Up

I recently received a new Orbit Clean Dishwasher from Frigidaire, and the company asked me to write about how I use my dishwasher to simplify the daily clean up in my home.  With three busy boys, keeping up with housework can be a challenge, but I have a few tips that help me keep things (somewhat) under control.  Here are 5 Tips (I use) for Simplifying Daily Cleanup:

1)  Don't let dishes and laundry pile up - Put dishes in the dishwasher after every meal, and make sure the kids learn to put their dirty clothes in the hamper as soon as they take them off.  It is important to stay on top of dishes and laundry so that they don't become overwhelming.

2)  Sweep after every meal - My boys have trouble eating over their plates, so I try to quickly sweep my kitchen after every meal... before my boys can track crumbs through the rest of the house.

3)  Make sure everything has a place - It can be challenging, but I try to make sure everything has a place.  If every coat has a hook, it is less likely to end up on the floor.  (e.g. You can check out my "Makeshift Mudroom" here.)

4)  Get the kids to help - Make it simple for kids to help by teaching them where things go.  In our house, we have labelled toy bins, so it is easy for my boys to find things and put them away when they have finished.  (You can check out my "Toy Storage Solution" here.)

5)  Do a little every day - There is nothing worse than a big weekend clean up, so try and do a little every day.  "Wing it" (like I do) or set up a little schedule.  (e.g. Clean the toilets on Mondays, dust half the rooms on Tuesdays, dust the rest of the house on Wednesdays, etc...)  Doing 15 minutes each day keeps things under control.

As you can imagine, a dishwasher is a valuable appliance in my house, and my new Orbit Clean Dishwasher from Frigidaire has all the features I need to keep up with the mess created by my busy boys. I need clean dishes that I don't need to rinse before washing them, and I don't need to dry after the dishwasher has stopped, and my new dishwasher meets this "must have" criteria.
I also like the fact that my new dishwasher easily fits all of my dishes because of the adjustable top rack -- and it even has a special spot for my wine glasses and coffee pot!

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to managing daily clean up?  Do you have any tips to share?  I can use all the help I can get!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I am part of the Frigidaire Canada Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

11 Tips for Preparing Kids for Starting School

My youngest son is starting school for the first time in September, so I thought it was a good time to share some tips to help parents prepare their kids for starting school. Some of these tips are based on my own experience (as a mom), and others came from some great teachers I know.

Here are 11 great ways to prepare kids for the transition to "big school":

1)  Read books to your child so that they see reading as a source of enjoyment.  In preparation for school, you can choose some books with a "starting school" theme.  Our two favorites are: The Kissing Hand and Llama Llama Loves his Mama.

2)  Have your child practice printing his/her name with an uppercase letter as the first letter, followed by lowercase letters.  Also, practice recognizing the other letters of the alphabet.  While you are reading to your child, point out letters, and have them identify them.

3)  Teach your child to go to the bathroom on their own.  Take them to a public washroom, and have them do everything themselves.  Teach them how to lock and unlock a stall door, use soap, get paper towel from a towel dispenser, unbutton and button their own pants, and wipe their own bum.

4)  Practice getting dressed.  Practice buttons and zippers, and if they can't tie, buy velcro sneakers.

5)  Think about lunches.  Have your child practice opening containers without help, let them know how long they will have to eat, practice good handwashing and eating out of the lunchbox (not off the desk), show them how to pack things up properly after they have finished eating, and talk about healthy meal options for them.  

Also, don't be worried if the lunch box comes home full at first. Sometimes lunch at school can be overwhelming and takes getting used to. Encourage your kids to eat their lunch at school, but if it comes home, they can finish it as an after school snack.

6) Talk about what will happen.  Before the big day, talk about what will happen... e.g. you'll take the bus, you'll have your own desk, you'll eat lunch in the cafeteria, you'll play outside after lunch, etc...  It can also be helpful to tour the school and visit the playground before the first day.

7)  Label everything.  Your child will lose some of their belongings, and labels will help you get them back.  (You can support my blog by purchasing labels through my affiliate link.  I recommend the School Pack. Thank you!)

8)  Start traditions.  The first day of "big school" is the perfect time to start first day of school traditions.  You can read about our families first day of school traditions here.

9)  Get up early on the first day, and make sure clothes and lunches are taken care of the night before.  Being organized will help ensure that the child doesn't feel rushed, and this will eleviate unnecessary stress on the first day.  It might even be worth a "first day run through" the day before.

10)  Keep the lines of communications open.  Often children are tired after school, and this makes them reluctant to talk about their day.  I find that it helps if I ask specific questions after school.  e.g. Who did you play with at recess?  Who did you play with at lunch time?  What did you do when you played outside?  Did you make any crafts today?  What was your favorite part of the day?  Were you a good listener today? What was the worst part of your day, etc.....

11)  Empty back packs and do homework as soon as you get home from school (if possible).  This is a great habit to get into... and the sooner the better.

What is your best tip for moms and dads that have little ones heading to school for the first time?  Did it make my list?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)


You might also like these school lunch HACKS.

Tips for Teaching Kids about Giving Back

Last weekend, my boys hosted a yard sale and lemonade stand with 100% of the proceeds going to Cystic Fibrosis.  They collected old toys, made signs, baked cookies, and waited on customers, and they raised $264.35.  It was a proud mommy moment for me.

When it comes to teaching kids about giving back, here are some tips I have found helpful:

1)  Let the kids pick a charity or cause that is meaningful to them.  (My boys have a little cousin with Cystic Fibrosis, so it makes them feel good knowing that they are helping make him better.)

2)  Let the kids decide what to do.  (My boys have organized Christmas parties, sold toys, and worked lemonade stands.)

3)  Let the kids do the work.  (They will feel more connected to the act of giving, if they are doing the work themselves.)

Do you have any tips for teaching kids about giving back?  Feel free to share them below.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I am part of the Sears Back to School Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Back to School Countdown Chain

Back to school is around the corner, so I wanted share this back to school countdown chain I made with my boys.  Each chain link contains a fun activity we can do together.

Isn't it cute? I love how my boys' adorable faces are peeking out of the windows of the bus.

I am sharing the full step by step tutorial over at CBC Parents today.  Pop on over and check it out.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Cinnamon Sugar Campfire Snack

I have found the best campfire snack... seriously. The boys and I tried it out last weekend (with our new backyard fire pit), and it turned out fantastic! If you like cinnamon, you are going to love this cinnamon sugar campfire snack. 

To make this great alternative to s'mores, you'll need: a marshmallow roasting fork, tin foil, canned biscuit dough, butter, cinnamon, and sugar.

Then, just follow these simple directions:

1) Cover a roasting fork with tin foil.
2) Stretch out a piece of biscuit dough, and wrap it around the roasting fork.
3) Spread some butter over the dough.
4) Sprinkle both sides with a cinnamon/sugar mixture (1/4 cup white sugar and 1/2 tbsp cinnamon)
5) Roast over a very hot fire as close to the heat source as possible until it is no longer "doughy". 
6) Allow to cool slightly, and then enjoy!

This is such a delicious alternative to roasting marshmallows.  If you give this cinnamon sugar campfire snack a try, let me know what you think.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Summer Checklist Update... and a fun idea for capturing summer smiles

Summer is flying by, and the boys and I are still working on completing all the items on our Summer Checklist.  With two weeks to go before school starts, we have completed 35 of the 50 items on our list.  Yesterday we completed #36 -- have a dance party in the living room -- and let me tell you... my boys have some serious dance moves!

My boys make me smile all the time, and as a KINDERMom, I am excited to share KINDER's fantastic new app with you.  #KinderSmiles is a fun and interactive way for parents to capture and share moments of joy in a playful way.  Once you're a KINDER® fan, it's just a few simple steps:

Step 1: Like KINDER® on Facebook

Step 2: Start your photo-strip

Step 3: Upload your photos

Step 4: Choose a fancy KINDER® frame

Step 5: Choose a filter

Step 6: Save & share

It's an easy way to capture summer memories.  My strip includes pictures of my boys hosting a lemonade stand for charity, my boys at my 5 year old's pirate party, and my boys at my 7 year old's spy party.  So many #KinderSmiles, and so much summer fun!

What has been the highlight of your summer so far?  Do you have any "must do" items left on your summer bucket list?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I’m part of theKinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Alphabet Crafts - Letter Z

Last week my youngest son and I completed the last craft in our "crafting our way through the alphabet" adventure.  We made an adorable Zebra mask (from a paper plate), and we did a little letter Z printing practice. Keep reading to check out all the fun letter Z alphabet crafts and activities.

To make a zebra mask:

1) Cut two "eye holes" from a paper plate.
2) Cut a strip of black construction paper for the mane, and cut slits 3/4 of the way down the paper.
3) Cut a round circle from a piece of black construction paper. Glue mane and snout onto the paper plate.
4) Cut ears from a piece of cardstock. Color the inside of the ears pink.
5) Draw zebra stripes with a marker, and color them in with a black crayon.
6) Glue two pink buttons onto the snout.
7) Allow all the glue to dry, and then tape a popsicle stick onto the back.

After our craft, we did a little printing practice. If you want to practice printing the letter Z with your little one, right click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it.

Looking for more "letter Z" crafts? I love this "letter Z zebra", don't you? Start with a Z and then glue on stripes, a nose, an ear, a googly eye, and a yarn mane.

And this "Z is for zoo" craft is simple and fun. Draw a cage, and have the little one add some zoo animal stickers. 

That's it!  We have finally completed our 26 alphabet crafts.  It was a really fun project for my little guy and myself.  Have you made any of my alphabet crafts with your child?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS... Check out the fun monkey paper bag puppet here.

And find MORE alphabet crafts here.

7 Tips for Planning a Successful DIY Party for Kids

Children’s parties don’t need to be elaborate to be fun, and they shouldn’t be stressful for parents. So, today I am sharing my tips for hosting easy, inexpensive, and memorable parties for kids.

1) Plan ahead.  Do as much as you can before the day of the party so that when the big day arrives, you can enjoy it without being totally stressed out. Decide how many people you will be inviting, where you will host the party, and the date and time that will work best for you and your guests. I like to have a party in the afternoon because it gives me the entire morning to get everyone and everything ready. I also like to schedule 1-½ hours for the party. We never spend time opening gifts (as we always ask guests to bring a $2 coin in lieu of a gift), so this seems to be the proper amount of time for us. If you are opening gifts, I would suggest 2 hours.

2)  Pick a theme.  A theme will influence the invitation, the decorations, and the activities at the party. It can revolve around a character, a sport, an activity, or a color scheme. Having a theme is really about having something that ties all the elements of the party together. This year my five year old chose a Jake and the Neverland Pirates Party, and my seven year old chose a Spy Party.

3)  Add a personal touch. You can bake a special cake, craft your own decorations, or cook your signature dish to serve to guests. The unique DIY details are what the guests will remember.

4)  Have a schedule written out. You’ll have to be flexible, but a rough guide is definitely helpful. I always like to have a simple craft or activity to keep the kids busy until all the guests have arrived. Then, we eat, play games or make crafts, take a group photo, and serve the cake.

5)  Make sure that the activities at the party are fun, simple and age appropriate. You can play games, decorate cupcakes, or do a craft. If you have a large group, breaking the kids up into smaller groups can be helpful in keeping everything under control.

6)  Make sure everyone leaves with a small gift or loot bag. I try to come up with something that goes with the theme of the party. For our spy party, I put together little spy kits in a brown paper bags that were marked “top secret”. It’s a fun way to let your guests know that you appreciate having them celebrate with you.

7)  Relax and enjoy the party. Little ones are surprisingly easy to please. If good friends, music, balloons, and cake surround them, all will have a good time.

What's your best tip when planning a successful DIY party for kids?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Alphabet Crafts - Letter Y

My youngest son and I are "crafting our way through the alphabet", and today we had some fun with the Letter Y.  We did a Yarn craft, made a yo-yo, and did a little Letter Y printing practice.

To make the yarn sewing card:

1) Cut a "Y" shape from a cereal box or other piece of thin cardboard.
2) Use a hole punch to make holes around the perimeter of the shape.
3) Attach a piece of yarn to a piece of pipe cleaner, and use the "needle and thread" to weave the yarn around the shape.

Then, to make a water balloon yo-yo:

1) Take a normal size balloon (not a water balloon) and add a small amount of water.
2) Tie the end of the balloon.
3) Add an elastic band to the end of the balloon.
4) Start "yo-yo"ing!

After our craft, we did a little printing practice.  If you want to practice printing the letter Y with your little one, right click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it.

Looking for more letter Y crafts? Check out this adorable "y is for yo-yo" craft. Trace the child's hand and colour it. Then, use glue to attach two circles and a piece of string.

You could also ball up tissue paper and glue it to a "Y" to make this "y is for yellow" picture.

And how cute is this "y is for yawn or yell" picture that allows kids to practice their scissor skills? Start by colouring an oval on a sheet of paper. Then, use glue to attach a black mouth, a pom pom nose, and two googly eyes. Finish by using scissors to cut paper to make hair, and attach the hair to the paper with glue.

Fun, right? Next up, the letter Z.  I can't believe we have almost finished our "crafting our way through the alphabet" adventure!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more alphabet crafts here.

Alphabet Crafts - Letter X

We took a short summer break, but we are now finishing up our "crafting through the alphabet" adventure.  Yesterday, we made a Xylophone craft and did some letter X printing practice.

To make a paper xylophone:

1) Cut strips of construction paper in various colors, and have the child cut the strips into smaller and smaller sizes.
2) Glue the strips onto a piece of cardstock.
3) Glue a couple of pom poms onto coffee stir sticks to create xylophone mallets.

Cute, right?  After our craft, we did a little letter X printing practice.  To practice writing the letter X with your little one, right click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print.

Looking for some more "letter X" crafts? How cute is this "X marks the spot treasure map? The child can draw and colour a map and add fun pirate stickers.

A personalized "X is for x-ray" craft is another cute way to learn about the letter x. Cut up Q-tips for bones, and add an adorable photo for the face.

Turning an "X" into an x-ray with crayons, glue, and q-tips is another simple craft that kids will enjoy.

Fun, right? Next up... the Letter Y!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more alphabet crafts here.

Personalized Lunch Box {Review and Giveaway} - CLOSED

Winner - Jeannie Lam 

Last spring, I hosted a review and giveaway featuring personalized stainless steel water bottles from Stuck on You.  My boys still love their water bottles, so when I was asked to review matching lunch boxes, I jumped at the chance.

These lunch boxes are functional and adorable.  Each lunchbox comes personalized with a choice of cool kid designs and the child's name.  Sweet, right?

So... do you want to win a personalized lunch box for your child? 

Just head over to the Stuck on You website, and let me know which design you would choose if you won the personalized lunchbox. To enter, leave your design choice in the comments below... and don't forget to leave your email address (if you don't have one linked to your profile) so that I can contact you if you win.

While you are there, you'll also want to check out all the other fun products from Stuck on You. They have name labels, shoe labels, book labels, clothing labels, party in a cup, bag tags, backpacks, lunch boxes, library bags, wall art, height charts, t-shirts, wooden name puzzles, and more.

This contest is open World Wide, so everyone can enter.

Good luck!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I received free products in association with this review and giveaway.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are my own.

Contest Rules:
1) The winner of the contest will be chosen by the Random Number Generator.
2) To enter the contest, you must leave a comment on this post (with contact info). Contest is open worldwide.
3) This contest is not being hosted or sanctioned in any way by Facebook.
4) Contest closes on August 24, 2014 at 11:59pm.
5) Prize will be accepted as awarded.
6) Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond. After 48 hours the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected.