Hosting a Half Sleepover

I feel like my boys are too young for sleepovers, but that doesn't mean they have to miss out on the fun associated with this type of celebration.  Today I am sharing one of our favorite party themes, and I am giving you all the info you need to host the perfect DIY Half Sleepover.

First, you need to send out an invite that lets everyone know what to expect from a "half sleepover".  Basically, it's like a regular sleepover, but all the kids go home when it is time to go to bed. Here's the invite I made using a free photo editing software called Picmonkey.com.

Then, you need to set up a fun snack table.  We had a movie theme, so our snacks consisted of traditional movie treats.  We also shared glow sticks and mini flashlights with our guests.

You'll also need party entertainment.  We did an outdoor movie, but you could do games or crafts instead.

Finally, you need a cute party favor for your guests to take home.  We used little boxes of cereal, and we added a spoon and a simple "breakfast for tomorrow" gift tag.

To download the tags, right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

All our guests had a great time, and everyone had a fantastic night's sleep in their own beds.  Do you have a little one that would like to host a half sleepover?  It really is an awesome party theme!

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Number Crafts {Number FIVE}... Teddy Bear Picnic

I teach a weekly class for preschoolers called "123 Learn with Me". Each week, we learn about numbers through a variety of activities and crafts. This week, we had some fun learning about the number five through a "teddy bear picnic" theme.

To learn about the number five, we decorated a number five coloring sheet, did some printing practice, made some bear ears, crafted a bear puppet, and snacked on teddy bear trail mix.

To make the bear ears:

1) Download the template for the ears (here), print it onto card stock, and have the children color the ears and cut them out.
2) Cut 1" strips of paper, tape them together to form a headband, and attach the ears with glue or tape.

To make the paper bag bear puppet:

1) Download the template for the bear's ears, snout, and arms (here), print it onto card stock, and have the children color and cut out all the parts.

2) Glue all the parts to a paper bag, and add a couple of googly eyes.

To make the teddy bear trail mix:

1) Print the recipe by right-clicking on the picture below, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo.
2) Attach the recipe to a little picnic basket (or favor box or bag), set out the ingredients, and let the kids make their own trail mix.

Isn't this a cute way to learn about the number five?  I'll be sharing our crafts and activities for the number six soon, so don't forget to come back and check them out.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

NOTE: You can download all the templates for the bear crafts and number five worksheets here.

PS - You can grab a copy of my 40+ page "Numbers" WORKBOOK here.

Simple Tips for Bookcase Styling

Recently, I set up a bookshelf in my living room, and I set about trying to make it look pretty.  I am far from a decorating expert, but I am happy with the way my bookcase turned out, and today I am sharing a few simple tips for styling a bookcase.  

My primary objective was to come up with a design that was both decorative and functional.  I used a neutral pallet of items I had around the house and added a few pops of color (turquoise).  I went for a balanced look, but I was careful not to make it too symmetrical.  Having a mix of horizontal and vertical objects is key.

On the top shelf, I made a little DIY artwork that matched my color scheme.  I bought an inexpensive frame from Walmart, and I used it to frame a piece of scrapbook paper.  I also added a matching flower pot (from the dollar store).

Another fun element of my bookshelf was a little turquoise owl that I found at Walmart.  It's always a good idea to add a touch of whimsey to a space.  This owl is called "speak no evil", and I told my boys that it is a reminder to only speak kindly to each other. We'll see if it works!  lol

Of course, practicality is always important too, so I added a covered basket to the bottom of my bookcase.  This object "grounds" my bookcase, and it gives me a clever space to hide paperwork.

As I said, I am not a decorating expert, but I hope you found these tips helpful.  Let me know your best tips for styling a bookcase.  I'd love to hear them!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Number Crafts {Number FOUR}... Spring Flowers Craft

I teach a weekly class for preschoolers called "123 Learn with Me".  Each week, we learn about numbers through a variety of activities and crafts.  This week, we had some fun learning about the number four by crafting these adorable cupcake liner flowers.

Aren't they cute?  The kids were so excited to make crafts using their pictures.

To make these sweet flowers:

1) Gather up some large and small cupcake liners.
2) Glue the large liners onto a piece of cardstock.  Then, glue the smaller liners into the middles of the large liners.  Finish the "flowers" by gluing pictures of the children into the centres.
3) Draw stems and petals, scrunch up little squares of tissue paper, and use glue to cover the stems and petals with tissue paper.

To learn about the number four, we also did a number four search, colored a number four, and did some printing practice.

To download the number 4 coloring page and number search, right-click on the pictures below, save them to your computer, and print like a normal 8X10 photo.

Isn't this a cute way to learn about the number four?  I'll be sharing our crafts and activities for the number five soon, so don't forget to come back and check them out.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can grab a copy of my 40+ page "Numbers" WORKBOOK here.

Celebrate the Little Things {because they are actually the big things}

When you have kids, life can get very busy.  I feel like we are always rushing to get somewhere or do something.  I sometimes need to remind myself of the importance of slowing down and taking the time to appreciate my boys (while they are still young). So today, instead of doing laundry, I baked a cake for my 7 year old's stuffed dog.

It seems like a silly thing to do, right?  But on the way out the door this morning, my 7 year old told me that today was "Slush's" birthday.  He told me this information as though it was very important news... and to him, it was.

So, after I got my boys off to school, I blew up some balloons and baked a cake.  And after supper, we sang, "Happy Birthday", and "Slush" blew out his candle.

I know my boys will only be little for a short time, so sometimes it is necessary to let the laundry pile up and have a birthday party for a stuffie.  Happy Birthday, Slush!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Things Kids and Parents Should Know About Bike Safety

There is still a little snow on the ground, but my boys are ready for Spring aka "bike season".  I love seeing my boys outside and active but, of course, their safety is always my number one priority. Today I am sharing 5 important things that every child and parent should know about bike safety.

1) Wear a helmet - My boys all have helmets (that fit properly), and they know that they are not allowed on their bikes without wearing them.  Head injuries are the number one cause of serious injury to kids on bicycles, and wearing a properly fitted and correctly worn bike helmet can cut the risk of serious head injury by up to 80%.  Wearing a helmet is a must for kids!

2) Ride a safe bike - Make sure the bike is in good working order and fits the child.  You'll also want to make sure the tires are inflated and the brakes are working properly.

3) Wear proper footwear - My boys know that they must wear sneakers or their closed-toed sandals when they ride their bikes.  Flip flops are not proper footwear for bike riding.

4) Know the rules - If kids are going to be riding their bikes on roads, they should be taught bicycle safety and rules of the road. All riders should use appropriate hand signals and respect traffic signals.  My boys know that they must stay on the side of the road, watch for cars, and always stay together.  It is important for me to know that if someone gets injured, there will be someone to go for help.

5) Pick safe routes - Make sure kids know where they are allowed to ride their bikes. The routes should be safe and appropriate for the age of the child. 

These five tips are important, but you can find even more information on safe cycling at Parachute here.

What's your best bike safety tip?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I was compensated by Parachute for my participation in the #safekidsweek campaign, but (as always) the opinions expressed in this blog are 100% my own.

Simple Popsicle Stick Frame... with a button heart

I love the idea of kids making their own gifts for the special people in their lives, don't you? This popsicle stick frame is a perfect DIY gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, or a special teacher.

To make this adorable kid's craft, start by painting four craft sticks in a bright color.  Then, glue the ends together and embellish with buttons on the corners.

You can fill this frame with a child's drawing, a handprint, a meaningful photo, or this simple button heart.  To make the heart, just draw a heart on a piece of card stock and use glue and buttons to fill it.

Who would your little one make this popsicle stick frame for?

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)