Crafting Builds Confidence and Self Esteem in Children

 Essential Crafting Skills That Every Child Should Learn

Art and crafting activities have positive mental and physical benefits. Studies show that when children work together on craft projects, they build language skills as they create together, and more easily understand the perspective of others. Crafting also helps cultivate a child’s sense of achievement, building confidence and self-esteem through creation and experimentation.

In addition to learning important skills, supporting your child with creative outlets for free expression is good for their overall well being and health. Crafting is a wonderful way to relieve stress and offer space to learn to experiment and create. With a few simple supplies and an open mind, children will have a lot of fun while learning to enjoy crafting, all while developing a wide range of important skills. Here are some recommendations for teaching essential crafting skills to your children.

Junk Modeling

Open-ended art projects encourage the development of critical thinking skills. As a child makes a mental plan for what they want to make, they are building visual-spatial skills and exercising both right and left brain function. Designing models and sculpture helps children learn to evaluate shapes. An assortment of containers, wires, plastic, and random bits of household junk can be transformed into robots, toys, or mobiles. Provide glue and tape to help secure the pieces together, and paint and decorations for embellishing the model.

Help them turn a box into a pretend stove.

Sewing

Hand sewing tasks, like threading a needle or tying a knot, help improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. As noted by the Philly Art Center, the small muscles in a child’s fingers, wrists, and hands are strengthened through arts and crafts activities, which helps to make learning to write easier. Older children may enjoy designing costumes or simple bags. Providing a sewing machine for children is a creative and fulfilling way to encourage artistic expression. Math skills, including spatial reasoning, measurement taking, and shapes are skills that can be learned through pattern making and design. Offer to host a fashion show for children to share and reflect on their creations.

What are the Cognitive Benefits of Crafts?

Making A Collage

Teaching crafting skills like cutting with scissors and drawing encourages the development of fine motor muscles. Suggest a collage theme and set a table with an assortment of papers, magazines, fabrics, leftover crafting supplies, and glue. Children will also learn about dimension and composition, gaining concentration skills as they assemble materials to create their art. Encourage children as they create unstructured work, focusing on the process and exploring the creation of art rather than the end product.

String Art

Children who engage with creative activities exercise and develop a creative mindset, learning there can be many ways to complete a task. With yarn, flat top nails or pins, and a bit of scrap wood or cardboard, kids will build skills like measuring and the steps involved in creating geometric and linear art. Patience and imagination will be stretched as they figure out how to transfer their ideas to the surface. Older children can be challenged to make elaborate templates or intricate designs with parabolic curves and repeating patterns. Dr. Kerry Freeman (Head of Art & Design Education, Northern Illinois University) adds that when kids engage in crafting and art for expression and are given the ability to take risks, they are developing lifelong innovation skills that will contribute to their success academically and as adults.

Learning essential crafting skills has so many benefits for your child, contributing to both their physical and emotional development as they grow. Plan to engage your child with age-appropriate creative activities every week. Enjoy spending family time together to teach these essential crafting skills to your child, it’s a wonderful opportunity to bond and create memories.

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Pick a Collage Project from this list

Benefits of Extra Curriculars for Kids with Disabilities ad Special Needs

Essential Dorm Supplies for College Freshmen Girls: Checklist

Dorm Supplies are Essential for College

It's time for college students to go back to school. For College Freshmen, this will be a new experience. The list of dorm supplies to bring is daunting, but it is important to remember the simple things to help boost your confidence, the essentials, and the extra cash. Enjoy!

Free Printable DORM SUPPLY Checklist for Girls

Click the link above for Free Printable Dorm Supply Checklist.

The number one essential supply for college dorms is a well packed Shower Caddy. Even if you have to make a last minute run to Walmart before you get on campus, don't forget your caddy, and don't forget the flip flops! Flip-flops are a necessity to get back and forth to the shower. You may even want to wear them in the shower.

The last time we traveled for a campus visit, we forgot our razor- not good! No one wants to feel self conscious about their stubbly legs or under arms when talking to department heads, or even worse, cute collegian tour guides. We think razors are an essential for Freshmen Girls.

Off to campus with her 
Schick Dorm Supplies for College.

This time, we are prepared with the Schick Hydro Silk for Women. Our legs feel soft and smooth with no nicks or scrapes! This definitely takes care of the stubble, and leaves you feeling confident. 

Schick Hydro Silk Razor = Smooth Legs and a confidence boost! 

The Schick Hydro Silk for Women offers the following:

• Five curve-sensing blades
• Gives back moisture
• Dermatologist tested
• Comfortable grip that you can keep a hold of when using   (note: this is my personal opinion and not advertised by Schick)
• Another added benefit (in my opinion) is it's a confidence builder, because your legs feel smooth and fresh.

Great Coupons for Schick Hydro Silk 
and Hydro Shaving Gel in flyers and magazines.


When she gets ready to leave for college, she has her stash of Schick supplies and her dorm room supplies already to go. Along with the Schick Hydro Silk for Women we also got the Schick Hydro Gel. Love it too! It's perfect for her sensitive skin.

Anti-irritation formula soothes even sensitive skin

Infused with aloe and made with beard softening emollients

Forms a hydrating layer that helps soften, soothe and protect your     skin from the redness and irritation caused by shaving

Protects and soothes

Hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested

Now, she is all set to pack up, although she is nervous about college, she will be able to take comforts from home to help her feel clean and confident- thanks to her Schick Campus Supplies.

Good Luck!

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Plastic Shower Caddy for College*

What to Pack for your Dorm Room



This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schick®. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Tips for Traveling with Baby

Traveling with Infants on Family Vacations: Do's and Don'ts

Vacations are enjoyable for families, right? Family vacations allow us to focus on loved ones and spend quality time together without being bothered by the hassles and activities of everyday life. However, for most parents, traveling with and infant or small children is challenging. Especially, if you aren't prepared and you aren't sure about what baby items to pack for your vacation. So, if you need some tips for traveling with a baby or toddler on family vacation, you've come to the right place!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Here are some do's and don'ts tips for traveling with an infant on family vacation:

Do’s

1. Make a Checklist for Essential Baby Items     

Sit down in advance of your trip and make a check list for your vacation with all of the required items you'll need for your infant. If you make the list weeks ahead of time, you can add to it as things pop into your head. The most important tip for traveling with a baby is be prepared.

While traveling with a baby, you need to be careful of every last detail. If you’re traveling by air, you'll rarely find adequate baby supplies. Be sure to bring along all of the baby items that your baby will require on the trip to avoid any disruption of your travel schedule. A check list helps to avoid last minute hassles that may cause you to forget essential items like a compact travel bottle warmer and delay your trip.

2. Carry Enough Food

Pack enough baby food, but know what works best for your trip. You don't want your baby scattering everything around; therefore, avoid messy, sticky, or crumbly foods. Also, carry some spill-proof cups for your baby's' water or milk. If traveling by air, be sure to check on what foods or how much liquids are allowed on the plane. You don't want to have to throw out items that you spent your hard earned cash on just before boarding the plane.

3. Accept Assistance from Strangers

This may seem weird, but it's okay to accept some forms of help from strangers. Whenever a flight attendant or fellow passengers see an unsettled baby, they often try to offer support. So, if someone volunteers to soothe your baby, allow them to do it, but keep a close eye on them, of course.

Sometimes, your baby is just tired of you. Babies know how to push our buttons. A change in scenery in the form of a smiling face can make all the difference. Your stressed, worried face, may cause baby to become inconsolable. Infants look to their parents for signs of safety. If you're stressed, chances are, they're stressed.

4. Carry some Medications

In the past, some parents often medicated their kids before traveling to help make the journey easier. on everyone. You may still get similar advice from friends and loved ones, but it's not always the best advice. Don't medicate your baby if it's not necessary. However, it's a great idea to pack some medicines in case of emergencies. Again, depending on your mode of travel (plane or cruise ship,) call ahead to make sure you're allowed to bring along meds for your baby.

5. Pack Extra Clothes

One of the most important factors to consider when traveling with an infant is proper packing. Pack enough clothes for yourself, but ensure that you carry extra clothing for your baby. Your baby might spill food, wet, or even vomit on their clothes.

It's gross, you don't want to be stuck without enough baby clothes when you have no place to wash the dirty ones. You may also need some warmer clothes in a warm destination, you can never be sure of the weather! A light jacket is always a good call.

Also, be sure to take along some extra plastic bags. Recycled grocery bags come in handy for catching baby puke and trapping the nasty smell of infant diapers, they may not be available in the airplane.

Keep all of your baby's essentials in your handbag, rather than a diaper bag, as it will make it easier to access when needed. It's not pleasant to think about it, but you'll be happy you prepared for puke when an incident occurs.

6. Seating Arrangements

When you book your flight, be sure to choose the best seats for traveling with an infant. Make sure that not only your comfort is catered for but also that you've planned for your baby's comfort. For instance, an aisle seat is an excellent option when traveling with a baby, as it enables you to move around with your child without annoying the other passengers.

7. Carry some Toys

When on a family vacation, the last thing you want is to get stressed out by a crying baby. To keep your baby in a happy mood, pack baby's favorite playthings to keep them distracted. Be sure to pack one or two toys that don't have detachable parts, aren't so small that they're easily lost, and are easy to carry.

Don'ts

1. Baby items - Don't assume that it'll be easy to get your baby's stuff to the airport or onto the plane. To ensure a more peaceful trip, carry on all that your baby will need.

2. Watch what you give your baby - Avoid sugary foods; a sugared-up baby is no fun on a trip! 

3. Toys - Avoid carrying toys that could harm your baby if broken or that are bulky or too heavy.

4. Avoid heavy luggage - Only pack what you need for your trip, it's much easier to travel with light luggage. For the less essential items, consider purchasing them once you arrive at your travel destination and donate or throw away any unused items before you head back home.

Final Thoughts

Traveling with a toddler or infant is often stressful, but it's easier if you're prepared and bring along the necessary baby essentials for the trip. Remember, carry enough baby food, pack lightly, have essential meds, and don't forget baby's favorite toys.

If you make a checklist for baby items and check it off as you pack, you'll be sure to have the most important things needed for traveling with your baby. This way, you'll enjoy your vacation no matter how far away the destination.


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How Can You Use Obstacle Courses to Strengthen the Vestibular System?

Obstacle courses are a simple yet effective way to build children’s foundational balance, coordination, and sensory processing skills. By weaving movement challenges into play, obstacle courses can be used to target and strengthen the vestibular system, which is key for a child's ability to process motion, maintain balance, and coordinate movement. Activities such as jumping, crawling, spinning, and balancing challenge the brain’s ability to sense changes in head position and motion.

These active play sessions can be done at home using everyday objects and adjusted to suit a child’s age and needs. Adding movements found in structured vestibular system exercises can make an obstacle course even more effective at providing the right sensory input for development. For anyone looking to support a child’s sensory growth, obstacle courses offer a flexible, fun solution.

Content provided on this page should not be considered as medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making medical decisions.

Key Takeaways

• Obstacle courses are an accessible way to build balance and coordination.

• The vestibular system can be targeted by adding movement challenges.

• Combining obstacle courses with vestibular system exercises supports sensory development.

Understanding the Vestibular System and Obstacle Courses

The vestibular system is essential for stable posture, balance, and knowing where the body is in space. Obstacle courses provide dynamic sensory experiences that target this system, offering structured and purposeful movement challenges.

How the Vestibular System Impacts Balance and Movement

The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, detects head position and motion. It works with the eyes and muscles to help maintain balance and coordinate movement. This process is crucial for activities like walking, jumping, turning, or even sitting upright.

Vestibular input gives the brain real-time updates about how the body moves through space, which helps with spatial orientation. Children and adults rely on vestibular feedback for smooth, coordinated actions and quick reactions to changes in their environment. Disruptions or delays in vestibular processing may cause dizziness, poor balance, or clumsiness. That’s why targeted movement activities are essential for developing and refining these skills.

The Role of Obstacle Courses in Sensory Input and Integration

Obstacle courses deliver a rich blend of movements that challenge and strengthen vestibular functions. Activities such as crawling, rolling, spinning, balancing, and climbing force the body to adjust and interpret new positions rapidly. These experiences provide valuable vestibular input, teaching the brain to process complex sensory information. The combination of movement and sensory tasks in an obstacle course supports sensory integration, allowing the nervous system to organize and respond efficiently.

By exposing individuals to quick changes in direction, speed, and elevation, obstacle courses help refine both body awareness and spatial orientation. Adjusting obstacles and tasks can target specific sensory needs, making them an effective tool for therapy or play.

Benefits for Sensory Processing and Motor Skills

Completing obstacle courses can improve balance, body awareness, and motor coordination. These activities encourage children to plan and execute complex movements, building both gross and fine motor skills.

Regular practice helps the brain connect sensory input with appropriate physical responses. This promotes better posture, control, and confidence in daily activities. For children with sensory needs, obstacle courses can serve as a “reset” or calming strategy, supporting self-regulation and attention. Obstacle courses also provide opportunities for motor planning and cooperation with peers or therapists. As a result, they support the development of both physical and social skills in a motivating and play-based way.

Designing and Using Obstacle Courses to Support Vestibular Development

Carefully designed obstacle courses can target core areas like balance, core strength, and motor planning through dynamic activities that activate the vestibular system. Using a strategic mix of movement challenges and varied sensory equipment helps encourage equilibrium, stability, and body awareness in children.

Choosing Vestibular Activities for Obstacle Courses

Selecting appropriate activities is important for engaging the vestibular system. Movements that require children to change their head position, move in multiple directions, and navigate unstable surfaces are especially effective. Examples include balance beams, wobble boards, balance boards, and hopping paths using cones.

Adding crawling through tunnels or climbing over padded blocks helps integrate gross motor skills and bilateral coordination. Incorporating activities like yoga poses or standing on one leg also develops balance and core stability. Obstacle courses that combine these activities support motor planning and proprioceptive input, both essential for functional independence and coordination. 

Incorporating Spinning, Rolling, Swinging, and Jumping Elements

Including spinning, rolling, swinging, and jumping elements in an obstacle course boosts vestibular input and helps children adjust to changes in head and body position. Equipment options include a platform swing for swinging, a sit-and-spin toy for spinning, and soft mats for rolling.

Trampolines and hopping paths focus on jumping, which also provides proprioceptive feedback. Hammocks, scooters, and scooter boards allow for swinging and pushing motions, adding further stimulation for the vestibular system. Allowing children to move through these stations at their own pace helps them practice balance, respond to changing sensory needs, and improve their equilibrium. These components also enhance bilateral integration and core strength.

Conclusion

Obstacle courses are a practical tool for helping develop the vestibular system, supporting balance and coordination through play and movement. Activities such as crawling, jumping, and navigating tunnels encourage sensory integration while refining motor planning skills.

Therapists often design obstacle courses to target specific needs, making them flexible and adaptable for different age groups and abilities. Consistent participation in obstacle course activities can help children build foundational movement skills. These benefits can support daily functioning and greater participation in physical play.

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10 Top-Notch Ways to Motivate Students to Study and Learn

10 Ways to Motivate Students to Study and Learn

Students who are inattentive or put little effort into their school work are unlikely to benefit from better instruction or school curriculum. So, how can teachers help students become motivated? From putting students in control to offering rewards, motivation can be both encouraged and provided. Here’s an in-depth look at ten ways to motivate students to study and learn more effectively.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

An in-depth look at ten ways to motivate you students  

1. Put Students in Control of Their Learning Experience  

Education makes some kids feel like they’re being controlled. When a student feels that lack of control, they generally withdrawal from learning. It’s important that students are given control over their learning experience. 

A good way to do this is to give students options. For example, when assigning math questions, allow students to complete either the evens or the odds. That way, they can choose which one they want to complete. 

Students that are given more control and can have direct input in respect to their learning experiences, activities, and environment, become more engaged and even want to learn.  

2. Develop an Atmosphere for Reading  

It’s known that students who develop a love for reading also love learning. The two are interconnected. Reading, not only helps students develop a wide vocabulary, but it allows their brains to learn how to process formal communication. 


Enrich your classroom by providing students with a variety of quality outside information. You can find reading materials from sources like the New York Times, Forbes, or Science stage.

You can also assign students a book report related to one of your key objectives. That way, students can learn more about an essential topic from an expert in a field. 

3. Focus on Student Interests 

To engage students, focus on topics that they find interesting. Not every objective is interesting to every student, however, you can relate lessons to current trends to reach more students. For example, when coming up with a math question, you can ask students about the latest internet challenge. For the ice bucket challenge, you might pose a question regarding the volume of the bucket.

4. Make Learning Entertaining Through Game-Based Learning  

Game-based learning has been around for a long time. In fact, game-based learning has many beneficial qualities. It not only provides opportunities for extensive learning and development of non-cognitive abilities, but it helps students want to play the game which, in turn, teaches them a new skill or some other aspect of your lesson plans.

When a child is actively playing a game, their mind experiences the joy of learning something new. This is true whether the game is considered entertainment, like a video game or it has a more serious tone like a military simulator. Games that are entertaining have an added benefit of being engaging, thus motivating students to learn more. 

Game-based learning is a successful motivation tool for team-based learning. Since students generally become more competitive in order to win, they may perform better in the learning portions of the game to earn more points. 

Game-based learning is a perfect way for teachers to introduce new concepts or ideas into the classroom. Start with a fun game like classroom jeopardy, or allow students to visit an interactive website and compete online with other students at their grade level.

5. Encourage Communication  

Students should feel encouraged to express their opinions about what’s going on with their education. They should feel comfortable to express their likes or dislikes. Often, when students feel like they can’t speak up, they withdrawal from the learning process.  

It’s best to create an open atmosphere where all students know that their opinion matters. Students should know they won’t be judged, ignored, put down, or discouraged. Instead, students should know you're paying attention and listening to their concerns. That way, students will communicate better if any issue arises. 

 6. Allow Students to Learn Outside of the Classroom  

While book work is important, students sometimes become frustrated at the amount of book work that is required. It’s essential to provide students with fun activities that they can do outside of the classroom. 

Provide students with a list of educational activities they can complete outside of the classroom with friends or family. Activities like baking and shopping allow students to relate what they've learned in school to the real world. Homeschoolers can include these activities in their daily instruction. Measuring and finance are great future skills. Kids find these real world ways of learning math more enjoyable. Math makes more sense when we see the applications as useful.

7. Set Attainable Goals   

It’s important that you set attainable goals for all students. Most students like to feel challenged. Stimulating students helps them to want to set and achieve goals. When they find the expectations attainable, they're more likely to strive to reach the goal.

8. Use Positive Competition 

Competition isn’t always a bad thing, sometimes it motivates students to work harder to achieve a 100% score. One of the best ways to use positive competition is to allow students to take part in a friendly math competition. That way, students get to work together to show off their knowledge and help others that might not understand higher math concepts. Teachers can add math concepts that are relevant to their lesson plans. 

9. Track Students Progress  

It's sometimes difficult for students to understand just how far they’ve come in a particular subject, especially when they find the subject hard to comprehend. Tracking a student’s progress, motivates students, allowing them to visualize how much they've achieved as the year progresses. This is especially important for homeschool learners. Keep track of their progress with programs like, MobyMax, which tracks progression by finding and fixing gaps in learning through relevant grade level, online lessons.

10. Offer Rewards   

Rewards are an excellent source of motivation. Everyone likes to earn rewards. Students will study hard and aim for success in hopes of winning the top prize. Rewards can be large or small, depending on the grade level of the class or age of the students. Older students may not find a lollipop reward very motivating.

For example, choose rewards like a pizza party, ice cream party, or even a donut party or extra credit points for older students. With younger students, simple rewards like a piece of candy, a sticker, or a small toy will provide motivation.

Have you tried any of these ways to motivate students to study and learn more efficiently? 

Student motivation is essential in every stage of education. Focus on student interests, encourage communication, track a student’s progress and offer rewards at every stage. Since every student is motivated differently, make sure to customize your motivation strategies for individual students. 

Check out the recommended reading below for additional ways to motivate students to learn and study. 



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