So it's that time of year again. Back-to-School prep is here once again. Now, thankfully preschoolers don't need much in terms of supplies, but it is CRUCIAL that their stuff is labeled! And I mean everything. I can't even begin to count how many times the wrong change of clothes was in a child's cubby, or 2 kids proudly arrived at school with identical accessories.

And this is why I love Mabel's Labels! They make labels for everything, and the company stands behind their products. Below are some of the company's new or seasonally appropriate products!

Happy Labeling!

One of my favorite parts of Summer is going to the beach- at least in theory. Then I remember about the sand getting everywhere, the super hot sun, and the exhausted or bored kids, and I reconsider. 

So I figured, why not recreate the fun and nice parts of the beach?

First, I lined a large area (close to 20 ft square) with blue butcher paper. Next, I cut out dozens of fish from colored paper. I tried to vary the fish, so there's a school of fish, some sharks, tropical fish, crabs, and dolphins to name a few. I taped the fish to the blue paper, and then covered the entire area with a heavy clear plastic table protector.

Finally, I spread out the toy fish we had, goggles, a pair of flippers, and a couple towels. When the kids arrived, they gleefully dove right into the ocean and there they and the ocean stayed for a full week before the kids began losing interest and we were on to a new adventure!

One of the things I love about Summer is the flexibility to just act on a whim on any given day. Yesterday, we decided to do beading, but some of the kids are not 3 yet, and others still put things in their mouths! So we figured why not try patterning and Summer fun with cheerios! aka Fruit Loops!

What you'll need:

Fruit Loops or comparable product
Pipe Cleaners
Small paper plates to hold the cheerios- optional

Before beginning, create a small loop at the end of each pipe cleaner so that the cheerios don't slide off, and you have enough space at the end to tie it closed. Provide each child with a handful of cheerios and encourage them to create patterns. Then tie the bracelets closed, wear them and eat them!!

So the 4th of July is coming this week, and I really meant to get pack to posting sooner since moving cross-country, but unfortunately that didn't happen. Regardless, if you have a Summer program, and are doing INdependence Day related activities, this one's for you!

You will need:

Cardstock
Black slightly watered- down paint
Quills or long firm feathers

Show your kids how our founding fathers signed the original declaration using quills and ink. Then allow them to do the same. For a finished look, once the ink's dried, dip black tea bags into cold water and drag them across the paper. Once dry- the paper will look like yellowed parchment.

Happy Fourth!!