What is Christmas caroling? It’s when you put together a group of people who like to sing and go door to door in your neighborhood. When your neighbors answer the door, you sing one or two popular Christmas songs for them. It’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit and spread some holiday cheer. But if you’ve never been caroling before, it can be a bit daunting to know where to start. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your Christmas caroling experience.

Christmas Caroling Ideas

• Choose Your Carols Wisely: Not all Christmas carols are created equal. Some, like “Jingle Bells,” are upbeat and cheerful while others are more contemplative and reflective. Lots of carols talk about serious, religious subjects, like “Silent Night.” Other songs cover topics such as winter activities or being with family on Christmas Day. Choose a mix of both kinds of carols on your song list so that everyone in your group gets to sing their favorite Christmas song and will enjoy singing them. If you have time, put together a song sheet or booklet for everyone in your group. It can include the song title, song lyrics and basic musical notes for all the songs you sing so you sound nice and festive.
• Make a Plan: Once you’ve chosen your carols, it’s time to make a plan. Decide which houses you’re going to sing at and map out the caroling route you’re going to take. This is an easy way to ensure that everyone in your group knows where they need to be and when they need to be there. It’s also a good idea to have an alternate plan in case bad weather forces you to change your route or cancel your plans altogether. It is also a great idea to stick to a specific neighborhood that you are familiar with. If it’s too cold or you get tired, you can always post videos of you and your team members on social media to spread the caroling fun.

What to do, what to bring:

• Practice, practice, practice: Make sure you do a practice round with each song you want to sing to warm up your voices before you go out and so everyone is at least somewhat familiar with the songs before it’s time to perform.
• Dress Warmly: This may seem like an obvious tip, but it’s one that’s often overlooked. When you’re caroling, you’ll be outside for extended periods of time and exposed to the elements. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather so that you stay comfortable throughout the night. hats, gloves, and scarves are always good options to keep yourself warm, and don’t forget the warm boots that will keep your feet dry in the snow.
• Bring a Treat: What’s Christmas caroling without some holiday cheer? Make sure to bring snacks and drinks for everyone to keep up the energy levels while you sing your hearts out. Hot chocolate is always a good option, but feel free to get creative with your snacks and drinks! You can also make some Christmas cards to hand out at every house you visit — that’s the best way to say “Merry Christmas” during your Christmas caroling event!

Should you bring props or dress up?

• Make Sure Everyone is on the Same Page: Before you start caroling, come up with a plan. Decide which songs to sing, how long you’ll sing for, and where you’re going. This will ensure everyone is on the same page and enjoying themselves. Then, put together a hot cocoa bar or  party at your house afterward so you can warm up and talk about the experience. Make some hot chocolate in slow cookers so that they are warming up the milk while you are gone and have toppings ready to share. Crushed candy canes, coffee creamer, and whipped cream are always favorites.
• Bring Along Some Props: Props can help bring your Christmas caroling ideas to life and make them more fun for everyone involved. Consider bringing along some bells, Santa hats, or even reindeer antlers to help get everyone into the holiday spirit. Because it gets dark quickly this time of year, bring candles or flashlights to help light your way and see the lyrics. 
• Dress Up! Dressing up is another great way to make caroling more fun. Some ideas are Santa Claus, elves, or simply wearing holiday-themed shirts. Dressing up brings the Christmas spirit!

Take a break:

• Take breaks often: Caroling can be tiring, especially if you’re doing it for a long period of time. Be sure to take breaks often so that everyone can rest their voice and enjoy some hot cocoa in between singing sessions.  
• Stay in one place: If it is too cold outside, or you have young children or elderly people in your group, find a place inside where you can sing carols together. Your local shopping center or community centers may have a Christmas tree you can gather around, or a nearby nursing home would welcome singers during the holiday season. Just make sure that wherever you go, you call ahead to make sure it is allowed and they are expecting you.

Caroling is a festive way to get into the holiday spirit and spread some Christmas cheer to your friends and neighbors. You will have fun and feel the magic of Christmas before you’re finished. But the best part of these Christmas caroling ideas is seeing the reaction of the people you visit. By following these tips, you’ll be sure to have a fun and memorable experience caroling with friends or family this year.

The post Christmas Caroling Ideas appeared first on How Does She.

How to Make Snow

Do you have snow?! I don’t. Sniffle. I’ve been dreaming of a white Christmas but, here in the South, that’s just down right wishful thinking. I was just starting to feel REALLY sorry for myself and, more importantly, my kids, when Chickabug emailed a brilliant idea. With a couple of simple ingredients, and a ridiculously adorable printable, we had a “Can of Snow”! Imported Fresh from the North Pole, I might add.  So on with the How to Make Snow tutorial.

Don’t you want to touch it?! My kids couldn’t keep their hands off the stuff. I kept having to remind them to move their hands so I could take pictures!

So, how do you make this glorious faux snow?

With 2/3 KOSHER salt, 1/3 cornstarch, and glitter until magical. 

  Get those anxious little fingers mixing! Good luck getting them to stop. The texture is so fun!

Fill the cans!

After your kids are done playing with it, (this could be hours), fill your “Can of Snow”. You can get these empty quart-size paint cans for about $2 at any home improvement store.

  Hammer down the lid good and tight.

 Make sure you add a paint can opener. It’s part of the fun! You can get them free at home improvement stores. Just ask for them when you are purchasing your paint cans. 

The back includes a witty ingredients list, and directions. There is a “TO: FROM:”  This is, by far, the coolest present ever.

I basically had to rip this can out of the little girl’s hands to put it in the freezer. (Make sure you just chill your faux snow. Freezing it for hours could cause moisture build up and ruin your cute printable.)

  Once it has chilled, get ready for some fun. Have a snow fight (not in the house!), decorate the windowsill, or gift it to friends.

My kids can’t wait to deliver these cans. Heck, I can’t wait either! It’s pretty magical.

Note:  This “Can of Snow” is imported fresh from the North Pole. But it may taste like salt if you eat it, so… don’t.

Are you ready to make some snow?! If you are a HowDoesShe subscriber, your Can of Snow printable is waiting for you! If you aren’t on our email list yet, it’s about dang time you hopped on board. Simply subscribe below and confirm in your inbox. The link to this exclusive Can of Snow, as well as all of our growing collection of exclusive printables, will immediately be available to you.

We send an e-mail once a week, updating you on our creative posts. Don’t worry, we treat our e-mail subscribers right. We pinky promise to never EVER sell your e-mail address.

Lastly, thank YOU for supporting HowDoesShe! We are truly grateful for each one of you. Here’s wishing you a wonderful holiday season full of cherished moments with loved ones.

The post Can of Snow! Exclusive Free Printable : How to Make Snow appeared first on How Does She.

18 Fun Edible Christmas Crafts for Kids

1. Easy Popcorn Santa

2. Aromatic ornaments

Can you believe these sweet ornaments are made with just cinnamon and applesauce?

3. Candy sleighs

4. Marshmallow  snowmen with edible markers

Oh my heck, these are too cute!  I’m so making them with my kids this year and then gifting them to our neighbors with a canister of hot cocoa.

5. Edible Santa cups

They look like cups…but they’re really made of chocolate!

6. Healthy Santas

 7. Candy-filled ornaments

Get some clear Christmas ornaments, fill them with the candy of your choice and then decorate them.

8. Melted mint ornaments

9. Rice crispy ornaments

Form Rice Krispy treats into ornament shapes and decorate them however you like!

10. Swiss roll reindeer

11. Simple snowmen suckers

12. Gumdrop snowflakes

Toothpicks and gumdrops are all you will need for this pretty snowflake project.

13. Mini gingerbread houses

14. Nutter butter holiday characters

15. Ice cream cone Christmas trees

Let your kids get creative by decorating these ice cream cone trees with their own style.  Easy enough even for your toddlers!

16. Pretzel rod snowmen

Fun and easy to make by dipping pretzel rods in melted white chocolate with fun gumdrop hats and mini chocolate chip details.

17. Graham cracker Santas

These adorable Santas made from graham crackers and mini marshmallows are not only delicious, they are fun and easy for kids to create.

18. Snow-dusted pine cones

I had to look twice to make sure these beautiful concoctions weren’t real pine cones.  I love what they are made of!

Hopefully, this gives you a few good ideas to try with your family and friends this holiday season!

Save

The post 18 Fun Edible Christmas Crafts for Kids appeared first on How Does She.

Halloween is one of those times of year when kids can indulge in way too much sugar, turning even the sweetest little prince or princess into a goblin!  Help kids balance sugary indulgences with some healthy Halloween treat ideas that are still festive and fun with these ideas from around the web.

Festive and Fun Healthy Halloween Treat Ideas

1.  Caramel Grapes help satisfy a sweet tooth with small portions.  Sometimes, just a taste is all you need!

2.  Frozen “Boo”-nana Pops are simple and sweet.

3.  Halloween Pizzas – Done 7 Ways!

4.  Spooky Healthy Snack – Mandarin Oranges and a Sharpie.

5.  Monster Mash Pudding & Sorbet – 3 ingredients, 3 minutes!

6.  Toasted Pumpkin Seeds: Three Ways

7.  Clementine Pumpkins Here

8.  Broom Sticks Here

9.  Caterpillar Grape Kabobs.

10.  Mini Pumpkins.  Here

11.  Strawberry Ghosts  Here

12.  Fruit pumpkin  Here

13.  Cheese Creatures  Here

14.  Salty Bones  Here

15.  A spider you can eat?!?  Here

16.  Candy corn Quesadillas Here

17.  Candy Corn Veggie platter  Here

18.  Apple Monsters  Here

19.  Frankenkiwi  Here

20.  Candy corn fruit cocktail  Here  Fresh pineapple, oranges and whip cream will satisfy the sweet tooth with having to indulge in that sugary candy corn.

21.  Ghost Cheese Here Easily made with just string cheese and pieces of raisins or other dried fruit for eyes.

22.  Veggie Skeleton.  Here – This one is darling!!

23.  Cheese Pops  Here

24.  Stuffed Jack O Lantern  Here

25.  Jack O Lantern Snack Plate.   – In the shape of a pumpkin!!  Here

26.  Frank Veggie Platter  Here

27.  Sand Witch with celery broomsticks!  Here These grilled cheese sandwiches and celery broomsticks are a fun and healthy lunch for Halloween.

Healthy Halloween Treat Ideas Kids Will Still Love

Have a Healthy Halloween!

 and

Alison

Not Healthy, but freakin’ adorable.   Here

The post 27 ‘Freakin’ Healthy Halloween Treat Ideas appeared first on How Does She.

Candy Corn Caramel Apples

 One of my favorite treats, from childhood to adulthood, has to be an ooey-gooey caramel apple.  I can’t leave a fair or amusement park without getting an over-priced, but so delicious caramel apple.  To add a Halloween twist on the classic treat, I made up this killer recipe for Candy Corn Caramel Apples.

The secret ingredient…candy corns of course!

Candy Corn Caramel Apples

Time out:  If you are looking for an apple caramel dip recipe head over to a post that will make you drool!  It’s amazing.  

Start with 4-6 large Granny Smith apples. I love the tart apples combined with the sweet caramel.

 The caramel recipe is three simple ingredients:

-14 oz caramels

-1 cup Halloween candy corns

-2 TB evaporated milk (regular milk is an acceptable substitute)

Unwrap all of the caramels (the most time-consuming part) and put them in a large microwavable bowl.  Next add the candy corns and evaporated milk.  Microwave on high for one minute.  Remove and stir.  Microwave for additional 30 second increments until the caramels and candy corns are melted, but not boiling.

It will make a fun, festive orange color that is a great contrast to the bright green apples!

The easiest coating method I’ve found is to spoon the hot caramel onto the apples, starting at the top.  It will drizzle down and you coat the rest of the apple and place it on waxed paper that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

 And that is the candy corn caramel apple!

If you want to get festive and add some scrumptious toppings, a few suggestions are pecans, crushed oreos, Heath bits, and white and milk chocolate melting chips.

 Go crazy and drizzle-fo-shizzle!

One vital tip is to dip the apples into the toppings before the caramel hardens.

 White and milk chocolate melting chips are perfect for adding those spooky details, perfect for trick-or-treating or a Halloween party.

Place the caramel apples in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes until the exterior is cold because it’s easier to add the chocolate.  Meanwhile, melt the baking chips and add the melted milk chocolate to a piping bag.

For the ghost, use a spoon to drizzle white chocolate from the top of the cold caramel apple.  Place back in the freezer.  When the white chocolate is cold, add milk chocolate eyes and a mouth using the piping bag.

For the jack-o-lantern and spider web apples, use the piping bag of chocolate to draw those details onto the cold apples.

 And then dig in and enjoy because they are so good!

Candy Corn Caramel Apples

Candy corn caramel apples

No Ratings

Print

Ingredients

• 14 oz caramels
• 1 cup Halloween candy corns
• 2 TB evaporated milk (regular milk is an acceptable substitute)
• 4-6 large granny smith apples

Instructions

1. Unwrap all of the caramels (the most time-consuming part) and put them in a large microwavable bowl.
2. Next add the candy corns and evaporated milk. Microwave on high for one minute.
3. Remove and stir.
4. Microwave for additional 30 second increments until the caramels and candy corns are melted, but not boiling.
5. The easiest coating method I’ve found is to spoon the hot caramel onto the apples, starting at the top. It will drizzle down and you coat the rest of the apple and place it on waxed paper that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
6. If you want to get festive and add some scrumptious toppings, a few suggestions are pecans, crushed oreos, Heath bits, and white and milk chocolate melting chips.

The post Candy Corn Caramel Apples appeared first on How Does She.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and fun. But sometimes the day gets long and things can get a little bit boring. If you’re looking a great way to make your turkey day more enjoyable, why not try some minute-to-win-it games for large groups? These games are easy to put together and can be enjoyed by the whole family after eating thanksgiving dinner. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best minute-to-win-it games that you can play on Thanksgiving day!

Minute-to-Win-It Games to Make Thanksgiving Day More Fun

First off you need to know the rules of minute-to-win-it games. The games are simple: each game has a specific task that must be completed within 60 seconds. The goal is to see how many people can complete the task within the time limit. If more than one person completes the task, then the prize goes to the person who completed it first.

To prepare for these games- be sure to look through what items you’ll need for each activity. You’ll also want to have a small prize for each winner of the minute to win it games.

Now that you know the rules, here’s a list of some games that you can play on Thanksgiving day:

1. The Marshmallow Challenge

This game is perfect for kids and adults alike. All you need for this game is a bag of mini marshmallows, paper plates and some toothpicks. The goal is to build the tallest free-standing structure using only marshmallows and toothpicks. The person to build the tallest one wins!

2. The Cup Stacking Challenge

For this game, you will need a set of plastic cups. There are a few different ways you could play this, but we like to play this with the goal being to stack the cups as high as possible in 60 seconds. The person with the highest stack at the end of the minute wins!

3. The Balloon Pop Challenge

This is a really fun game that gets everyone up and moving. You get balloons for each member playing the game and a string for each. Tie the balloons around each player’s ankles and then have them try to pop the other players’ balloons. The last person with a balloon still attached to their ankle wins!

4. The Turkey Bowling Challenge

This game is perfect for anyone who loves bowling. All you need are some plastic cups and a mini pumpkin. Set up the cups in a triangle bowling formation (counting this works best with different colors of cups). As each person bowls count the cups that they are able to knock completely over in 60 seconds. They will need another person to help set up the cups between each bowl. Have another person count the fallen cups.

The person with the most points at the end of the game wins!

5. The Pumpkin Pie Eating Challenge

This game is sure to be a hit with the kids. All you need for this game are some small pies and plates. The goal is to see how many pieces of pumpkin pie slieces each person can eat in 60 seconds. The person who eats the most pie wins!

6. The Cranberry Relay Race

This game is perfect for larger groups. You will need two equal teams, a cup, cranberries, and popsicle sticks. The goal is to see which team can transfer the most cranberries from one cup to another in 60 seconds. Have each team members stand 10 or so feet apart. The runner loads one cranberry at a time on the end of their popsicle stick. Then they have to walk to the other team member at the finish line and put the cranberry in their cup. If it drops they have to start the walk over again. Whoever gets the most cranberries transferred at the end of the minute wins.

7. Tissue Box Emptying Challenge

This game is a fun way to get in a good laugh. You will need an empty tissue box, a belt or rope, and some ping pong balls. Strap the box behind them and fill it with ping pong balls. The goal is to see how many ping pong balls you can get out of the tissue box. The first person to emplty their box or get the most balls out in 60 seconds wins. This one always gets people laughing because the contestants end up jumping and shaking their bums to get them out. Have the entire family try this one!

8. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

You’ll want to set up this one up before dinner but you’ll want to hide as many thanksgiving themed items in that room for the contestants to find. They could be decorations or even fall leaves. Give them 60 seconds to look under chairs, behind photos, in drawers to collect the most hidden items! You could also 

9. Thanksgiving Trivia

This fun Thanksgiving game is great for older family members. Give each contestant a sheet of paper with thanksgiving-related questions. Example: What year was the first Thanksgiving? How many turkeys are consumed each holiday season? (give 2 or three multiple-choice options). The goal is to try and answer as many questions correctly in 60 seconds. You could even play this one with the whole group if you print off enough question sheets.

10. The Cup Flip Challenge

This classic game is perfect for anyone who loves a challenge. You will need a plastic cup and a table. Place the cup face up on the edge of the dinner table and see how many times each contestant can flip the cup to be face down in 60 seconds. The person with the most successful flips wins!

11. The cranberry toss

This game is perfect for anyone who loves a little friendly competition. You will need two bowls, a blindfold, and some fresh or frozen cranberries. One person from each team puts on a blindfold and stands at the end of the room. The other team member goes on the opposite side of the room with their empty bowl and tries to catch the cranberries that their partner tosses in the air. If you want to make this even harder, use an empty pie pan instead of a bowl. This one is entertaining so we like to do the first team to catch 10 wins!

12. The sweet potato balancing act

This game is perfect for anyone who loves a challenge. You will need a sweet potato and a spoon. The goal is to see how long each person can balance the sweet potato on their spoon. The person who can keep it balanced for the longest time wins!

We hope you have so much fun playing these minute-to-win-it games. Do you have any other thanksgiving party games to add to the list? Comment below!

The post Minute-to-Win-It Games to Make Thanksgiving Day More Fun appeared first on How Does She.

When I was at University, I had a roommate who gave me her pumpkin roll recipe…I loved it!!!  Several times I made it and while it was good, something was off about it.  Eventually, I figured out that I had written “tbsp” instead of “tsp” for baking soda… oops

Now that that problem has been solved, I bring you the perfect pumpkin roll recipe!  It’s not just me who loves it- we have had bidding wars at church dessert auctions over this thing.  Even my husband (who doesn’t like pumpkin) loves it.  People are always asking me for it, so I thought it would be an appropriate thing to share with you as we enter this Autumn season.  If you’re looking for more delicious fall pumpkin recipes, check out these soft pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!

Creating the Pumpkin Roll

Here is a visual tutorial of how to make these (see the bottom of post for the recipe).

First, gather all your ingredients (look at these delicious ingredients!)

Mix together the ingredients for the roll in a medium bowl using a whisk or electric beaters.

This is the grease & wax part (wax paper first, then grease).  I crease the wax paper around the edges of a 10″ X 15″  Jelly roll pan so that it stays in place better, like this:

(which helps the shape of the cake-ish part of the roll)… also, grease it really really well (it’s not cool when the cake won’t come off of the wax paper).

Now pour your mixture into the pan & smooth it out so that it fills the pan like so:

…and you’re ready for baking.  Keep an eye on it near the end of the baking time- you want it a bit brown- if it turns black… you’ve gone too far!

Flipping Your Pumpkin Roll

Once you’ve got it out of the oven, you’re at the flip stage.  I usually put the pan down first, then a tea towel, then an upside down pan.  Grab hold of the whole thing (with oven mitts on!) and flip it over onto the cool tray.

READER TIP! Dust your tea towel with powdered sugar before you flip it, to help the cake to not stick to the towel.

Congratulations, you pulled off the flip!  (are you still with me?)  I’ve now removed the pan I cooked it in, and we’re ready to remove the wax paper.

Carefully pull the wax paper away- you really don’t want your cake to stick to the wax paper or start to come apart- this part is really important (that’s why I wanted you to grease your wax paper really well).

Next, you’re going to roll up the end of your tea towel (as shown above) and then continue rolling- with the cake and the tea towel.  Do this carefully- the cake can crack at this stage if you’re not gentle with it.

Leave your roll sitting like that for 10 minutes so that it’ll cool before you spread your filling in.  You can mix your filling during this time.

Filling the Best Pumpkin Roll

Unroll (careful that the cake doesn’t stick to the tea towel & get pulled apart).  Plop the filling on top.

Spread it around- almost to the edges, but you don’t have to quite go all the way or it’ll just goosh out when you roll it again.

Re-roll it & voila!

Wait ’til you taste it… I’m in love with the filling! Dust the outside with some powdered sugar and slice to serve!

The BEST Pumpkin Roll Recipe Ever

4.3 Stars (24 Reviews)

Print

Ingredients

• Pumpkin Roll Recipe
• Roll:
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 cup flour
• 2/3 cup pumpkin (canned- not pie filling, pure pumpkin)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup walnuts (optional- I exclude them cuz I’m not a fan of walnuts)
• Filling:
• 8 oz. cream cheese (250g)
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. soft butter

Instructions

1. Mix the roll ingredients except nuts.
2. Grease & wax cookie sheet.
3. Pour into pan & sprinkle nuts.
4. Bake 15 min. at 375 degrees.
5. Roll into T-towel for about 10 minutes.
6. Unroll & spread in filling.

The post The BEST Pumpkin Roll Recipe Ever! appeared first on How Does She.

Why?  I don’t know, maybe because it’s where my grandpa used to go and it just slowly became part of the tradition.  Our apple trip now signals to me that summer is over and I start looking forward to the crisp days and changing colors.

Apples Dipped in Heaven with Caramel Apple Dip Recipe

I usually get overexcited and buy too many apples, but this year I am not sure I bought enough!  They are so crisp and juicy and they are DISAPPEARING!  I think because of this caramel sauce that I made to go with them.

I had to ask my aunt for a good caramel recipe and she shared with me her sister’s – my other aunt!

Bonus: It’s EASY!!!  Thanks, Joan and Kay!

Aunt Kay’s Buttery Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

1/3 cup butter

2/3 cup whipping cream

*Makes 2 1/2 cups

In a medium saucepan combine sugars, syrup, and butter.

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil, about 5 – 6 minutes.

Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes.

Stir in whipping cream.

Pour into a jar and store in the refrigerator.  It will thicken when cold.

YUMMY!

I started out dipping apples in this sauce but ended up dipping my finger instead, I couldn’t seem to get enough!  It reminds me of the Cheesecake Factory sauce that I always order on the side to go with any cheesecake.  Em and I are addicted to Cheesecake Factory caramel sauce.  She taught me the finger trick.

*update and warning: highly ADDICTIVE! I just ate caramel for breakfast!  I dipped a banana in it, mmm.  Here I am walking around the kitchen trying to find things to dip in this stuff! I am not sure if I should praise Aunt Kay or curse her for this most amazing caramel sauce!

Need another idea on what to do with all those APPLES?

Last fall I posted a DELICIOUS cobbler and apple sauce recipe.

You can find more of Aunt Kay’s heavenly recipes, here. Don’t miss her better than BYU’s mint brownies…YUM!

Fall, you can officially begin!

The post Caramel Apple Dip Recipe: Apples dipped in HEAVEN appeared first on How Does She.

Three words I dread. Does anyone else get back-to-school jitters?

Going back to school means saying good-bye to the relaxing feel of summer and hello to homework and a rigid schedule.

As a kid,  I would get back-to-school jitters big time. My stomach would turn at the mere sight of school supplies and the smell of freshly sharpened pencils. Worries consumed my mind and I would start asking, “Would my teacher like me?  Would I be able to find the bathroom? Would I have friends to play with at recess?” Blah blah blah. I worried so much that my third-grade teacher told my mom at parent-teacher conference that she was concerned about my stomach. She recommended that I relaxed and stopped worrying so much!

So what do you do if your child feels nervous about going back to school?

Back-to-school jitters are perfectly normal. Anxiety in small doses is natural and part of our biological makeup. But we can ease the stress by addressing and talking with our children about their fears before school begins and I have a fun way on how to do it!

 It’s called a “Worry Monster!” These (friendly of course) monsters love to eat worries that are written on slips of paper and put into their mouths. The purpose of this is NOT for your child to push away feelings of fear but rather to acknowledge them and practice letting go of the ever consuming thoughts that can escalate anxiety. Scroll to the bottom for more tips on how to address such feelings.

You will need:

A tissue box, glue, scissors, paint, and pretty much anything around the house that you can use to decorate with.  I started thinking after I was done that some bright feathers could be fun! So really- anything goes.

 Side note: I like using the thinner tissue boxes. But you can use any box and shape or size.

We used acrylic paint but I think spray paint may work lovely too!

The kids went right for the googly eyes first, but if you don’t have any you could draw the eyes on or use egg cartons.

Oh and I forgot to mention that we chose to cut the plastic off the opening so we can add teeth but you can leave it if you want.

Then we used those triangular cosmetic sponges and cut them in half to make teeth.

My kids got creative and had fun figuring out how they wanted their monsters to look! And voila! Aren’t these fun!?

Next, have your child write down their worries or fears about school or anything they want on a slip of paper.

Then Next, they can feed it to the “Worry Monster” to eat or hold for them.

A few additional tips about Back to School worries:

-Talk about what it feels like to be scared so your child can identify how they know when they are scared. You can ask questions like, “Where do you feel worry in your body?” or “How do you know you are scared?”

-Avoid placing judgement on their feelings as good or bad.

-Avoid saying things like, “You don’t feel that way” or “Don’t be scared”.  That is a great way to discount how they feel and shut them down.

-Spend time just listening.

-Use reflecting statements such as, “You are scared…” to help them identify their fears.

-Try going to the classroom and meeting their teacher ahead of time or starting a visual countdown.

-Find children’s books that address feeling scared- (I’ll be talking more about this on an upcoming post).

It’s going to be here before you know it. Do I dare say it…

SCHOOL!!

So start the conversation now about this upcoming transition. And then g0 enjoy the rest of your summer!!

Follow me on Instagram @weedstowishes or weedstowishes.com

For more back to school helps, check out these posts:

Back To School Dinner

Winning Meet-The-Teacher Night

The post Calm Back-to-School Worries: DIY Worry Monsters appeared first on How Does She.

Today, as I’m listening to my kids fight over who took the last cookie in the jar and who put their stinky foot in so-and-so’s face on purpose…I sink into my pile of laundry and think of the four eternally long weeks  still ahead until school starts. 

It’s officially the summer slump and we’re all feeling it. 

At this point, it’s the halfway point of the ultimate parenting marathon and I don’t know about you, but I’ve got some major side stitches and leg cramps going on right now. To get past the summer slump, here are some great ideas to try.

Summer Slump Survival Kit: 11+ Great Ideas To Get You to the Start of School

Cheap and easy activities to get you out of the house.

Most of the time, just a change of scenery is all it takes to hit refresh and turn “boredom behavior” around. Here are some cheap and easy activities you can do to break the day up:

• Explore different parks around your area. Try a new one each day. Ask around, consult your local friends on Facebook, or do a Google search for the best parks around.
• Go geocaching. It’s really fun and so low-key! It combines exploring and treasure hunting, all for free.
• Look at that bucket list you made at the first of summer and start crossing it out.
• Bike, walk, or jog your local greenbelt.
• Check out a free nature center in your area.
• Go on a Quest for the Best in your town. We usually play this game on vacation, but you can easily do it in your own hometown to burn up an afternoon and have some fun too. For example, take a drive around town looking for the best donut. Buy one donut at several places and then rate them for the best.
• Take a day trip. Take a picnic to the mountains, the lake, or just someplace within a few hours drive that you’ve always wanted to check out.

Give your kids chances to earn money.

Instead of buying all their back-to-school clothes and supplies, let your kids earn them. It’s so good for kids to earn their own money and then learn how to manage it. Here are some money-earning ideas that can eat up a great chunk of summer:

• Money-making list: Create a list of things you need done around the house and the money you are willing to pay for a job well done. Let your kids sign up for which chore or chores they’d like to do and then payout when they’re done.
• Ask around: A lot of times your neighbors and friends have chores they’d love to pay someone to do as well. Help your kids create and deliver flyers that advertise their skills. Maybe mowing the lawn, raking leaves, cleaning, dog-walking, or doggie poop cleanup.
• Host a summer camp: At this point in the summer, many parents are feeling the same way. Most of the camps are done and parents are looking for ways to entertain their kids. It can be as simple as your children hosting a two-hour babysitting drop-off, or organizing a fun water play day where they charge a small admission. (You may want to read the Dos and Don’ts of hosting a summer camp first!) 

Give them a project.

Giving kids a focus and a purpose for a few days is a great idea. Give them projects that can spark their creativity or hone in on their organization skills. Some ideas to get you through the summer slump are:

• Organize a book case: by color, book size, or in alphabetical order. 
• Take inventory: Give your kids a notebook and pencil and have them count items in the house. This could take up a day or two! Make a list of things to count: stuffed animals, utensils, books, pens, keys on the piano, etc.
• Paint an old piece of furniture. We’ve had an old stool out in our garage for years that I finally got out and let the kids have fun painting. They painted flowers, pictures, and designs and it was the best afternoon activity to keep them busy and creatively engaged!
• Make a cookbook: Cut recipes out of old magazines and kids can glue them in a blank notebook.
• Write a story: Similarly, kids can cut pictures out of magazines, glue them into a notebook and make up a story to go with the pictures.
• Rock painting: A quite, creative activity that is so much fun!

Remember all the things you love about them.

When my kids are about to drive me insane, I try to think of all the things I love about them. I look at them individually and think of all their amazing qualities. Remembering that we’ve all been cooped up together for the past six weeks helps me cut them some slack. 

Have a playdate swap to get through the summer slump.

Get with a friend or group of friends and initiate a playdate swap schedule. It will give you a few hours a week of much-needed peace and sanity, plus the kids will have fun with friends.

Plan one last hurrah.

Break up the summer slump with one final hurrah—an activity that you can put on the calendar to look forward to. It can be as simple as camping in your back yard or visiting a nearby state park. Mark it as the final event of summer to make it feel special and bring closure to a fantastic summer.

Rally your pals.

Sometimes the only way to maintain your sanity during the summer slump is to rally your pals. Go to a movie, go out to dinner, or head to the pool sans kids. When you’ve been around kids all summer long, it’s important to get in some adult-only time too.

Record end of Summer Interviews. 

This is one of my favorite things to do with my kids and they become treasures to look back on. A few times a year, I video interview each of my kids on my phone. I have interviews dating back to when they were toddlers. At the end of summer, pull in your kids and ask them a few questions or have them tell you a few stories about their summer highlights. You could ask:

• What were some of your favorite things we did this summer?
• Do you remember all the places we went?
• What was something funny that happened this summer?
• How much did you grow?
• Who did you play with?
• What would be your one wish for next summer?
• What is your game plan for this next school year?

Back to school shopping.

With the finish line in sight, end the summer strong with some back-to-school hype. Go back to school shopping, have a fashion show, or try some of these fun back-to-school traditions!

So if you’ve stopped to catch your breath along the summer vacation trail, don’t worry, you are not alone. There are thousands of us right there with you. Pull up a boulder, grab a drink, and then let’s get up again and finish this race.  

The post Summer Slump Survival Kit: 11+ Great Ideas To Get You Through appeared first on How Does She.