Looking for Christmas Trees to color or Santa activities to do with kids? We have tons of Holiday and Christmas decoration ideas to make and free printables too. We use media fire to host our free printables, just click the image or the link to go there. You can also right click and save, but they may print out wonky. If you head over to our MediaFire page you will see all of our free printables and activity sheets for kids. Enjoy!
ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)
Rushed Time before School can Turn into Memorable Moments with a Daily Conversation added to your Family Mission
Make everyday count with Breakfast conversation bites.
If you are like me, your early morning routine is rushed, scattered, and not always in the best of family spirits. We try, but getting ready and organized for school is hectic. If only, we were well organized and had enough time to prep he everything the night before- but our lifestyles don't always allow for such structured free time. I'm a Homeschool Mommy. It sounds far easier than it is - well, it did to me. As the principal, teacher, gym instructor, and music director, (plus my full-time job as a social media manager) life is often stressed, and I rarely have time to focus on the little things... the important things.
Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini-Wheats® and Scholastic partnered and then contacted me to write about #mini-missions™ it hit home. We do a lot of things for others. We are always up to something for community service or helping friends. It is time to focus on us! So, this week, we did just that. Thanksgiving is nearing, and it is a good time to remember what we are thankful for this year. Our Mini-mission is to continue to collect toys and clothing for area Christmas drives. November is a great month to collect donations as people are beginning to get into the holiday spirit. Sometimes, we collect gift wrap and tape to donate. Other times, we get clothing, books, or toys. Always, we remind ourselves how giving back does the heart good.
Each day at breakfast, we focused on a simple conversation starter. This is a great way to learn more about your kids' interest and what makes their mind tick. My children love to explore theoretical concepts... you know, why is the sky blue? So, I went with it. Plan out a conversation starter each day. Do your homework. If you are going to ask and answer questions like, 'why is the sky blue', you better know your stuff. Research ideas online the night before. Here are a few of our conversation starters, and the fun answers we came up with for our conversation bites #mini-missions™.
Day One
Q: What is your favorite memory from helping with community service this year?
A: I don't know.
Momteruption: Try again.
A: Cake Pops?
Momteruption: What about them?
A: They were good!
Momteruption: Well... they were good weren't they, but what else?
A: I am happy April made the cake pops and donated her time for Santa's Elves of Indy.
A: I was happy to help Daddy that day.
Mom: It is nice to spend time as a family working to help others!
Day Two
Q: Today is the first day of the rest of your life what are you going to do?
A: Ride on Nebu (our pet bird.)
Momteruption: Try again.
A: Ride on a Tiger.
Momteruption: Something, you can do today!
A: I don't know.
Momteruption: Well.. I would try to be more positive from this day forward and always think about what I can do to make life better.
A: I will take care of the chickens!
Momteruption: *sigh* Well, that's a good start.
Day Three
Q: Why is it important to sit down and eat a healthy breakfast?
A: Because food is fuel!
A: Because you are hungry and need food to live.
Momteruption: Those are both good reasons. Food is like fuel it gives us important vitamins and mineral.
Kidteruption: Yeah, like these on the Frosted Mini-Wheats™ box.
Momteruption: Exactly! It is a part of a healthy breakfast, we should have fruit and milk or juice too so we'll be ready to learn!
Kidteruption: Like Bananas!
This is just a sampling of our conversation bites. You can see, it is harder than it looks, but as the days the progressed, the kids began to warm up to the idea :)
Breakfast before School: Introduction to the Every Day is a Big Day program
When your family completes a Mini™ Mission, you can earn free Scholastic books for your family and a chance to win prizes for your school and community. Visit scholastic.com/minimissions to register your family for the Every Day is a Big Day program. Each month, log in and complete a new Mini™Mission to earn 2 free Scholastic books for your family.
When your family completes a Mini™ Mission, you are also entered into a sweepstakes where 131 prizes will be awarded to schools and communities each month. Download free monthly stories chronicling Mini’s™ adventures against the evil Skipper. Kellogg’s® Frosted Mini-Wheats® and Scholastic have partnered to bring you the Every Day is a Big Day program, created to benefit families, schools and communities across the country.
Your family is invited to complete monthly Mini™ Missions to get free books for your family. Also, each month you’ll be entered into a sweepstakes for the chance to win one of 131 valuable prizes for your school and community. As you earn books and enter the sweepstakes, your family is sure to have a blast and learn something new along the way!
Start here and register for your first monthly mission!
This is a sponsored conversation by me on behalf of Kellogg's(R) Frosted Mini-Wheats(R). The opinions and text are all mine.
With a involvement in a Community Service Project, we can change the world one person at a time. How to teach kids to give back is an important lesson for adults. Giving back makes you feel good. Here's just one of the many ways our team participates in community service every year. Enjoy!
Not so very long ago, a man, a sleigh, and some special gifts started a revolution.
How to get Involved in a Community Service Project
It isn't as hard as you may think. You know the story, Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Pere Noel- no matter what names you use for Santa Claus, you'll uncover an original story based on a local humanitarian. You might say, Santa started a revolution! You can start one too. You can start at home with your own kids.
Teaching kids to help others in need is a lifelong skill with extraordinary benefits. The first step requires you to get involved in a community service project. Share your talents within a group or organization in your neighborhood.
But, I don't have the time
But, I don't know of any organizations
I'm shy
I just don't know where to begin
Our kid Volunteer elves.
Me neither! Do a search for local organizations or service projects for kids in your town. I wanted to help save the world. I didn't have much luck. So, one day, I decided to start teaching kids to change the world. Working with kids to build their self-esteem is rewarding. So many kids and adults think they have no gifts or talents to share, but they do- they just haven't discovered them yet. Teach your kids to give back early to help them understand everything they have to offer.
Mayhem with her Rudolph nose. Come get your face painted!
One day, a young woman had an idea. She decided to teach her kids to give back at Christmas. She asked for their input on ideas for things they could do. They wanted to help as many kids as possible. This idea gave birth to Santa's Elves of Indy.
Tracey Thomas is the chief Elf. I help her out with creative fundraising and special events. My kids are very involved. Mayhem is constantly coming up with things to sell, so she can donate money to Santa's Elves.
She wanted to draw caricatures of the guests at our FREE COMMUNITY EVENT, Saturday, Sept. 28 (2013) in Indianapolis. She wanted to draw each person as an elf. Chief Elf, Tracey, would describe this as "getting your elf-on"!
Oriental Trading donated many fun items for our event.
We couldn't do it without the help of our partners. Oriental Trading has graciously donated many fun items for use at our event.
What is there to do? Come join the fun at Santa's Family Reunion and Elf Picnic. Play a game of soccer with the Elves, enter a corn hole tournament with the Santas, go elf bowling, join Santa's family to make a toy or craft, experience vendors of all types, and enjoy entertainment throughout the event. There's even a jail and bail to help raise money for gifts.
The elves provide more than just toys. We work to raise money for clothing and food as well. Our goal is to help families in a temporary bind to give them a little pick me up and a pat on the back to let them know they can do it! But, we can't do it without you. We need your donations of toys, clothing, and cash so we can continue to help families at times when they needed it most- not just at Christmas.
Central Park in Heartland Crossing, Camby, Indiana.
That's a strike in Elf Bowling!
We're having so much fun playing with the elves!
Thanks Oriental Trading for the letters to Santa and fun stickers!
Dear Santa Claus, thanks for all the great things you do!
Creative Outlets like Art and Dramatic Play Stimulate Children's Brains with Reasoning, Critical Thinking, and Advancing Fine Motor Skills
Art is creativity in action. Creating and playing with art supplies is stimulating to our brains. Our imagination takes over while art helps develop critical thinking and fine motor skills. Everyone can play and learn with art, regardless of their socioeconomic status or level of education. Read on to learn!
Green Rainbow Revolution? What it is it? Is it a blog? A store? A movement? Yes! GRR is all of that and more. While it is still in development stages, there is already a lot going on, and you can be a part of the revolution. The founder Leila Goldmark has a serious background. She studied Philosophy, Religious Studies, earned a J.D./L.L.M in International and Comparative Law degree, and she has an MBA from Columbia Business School, where she focused on social-eco entrepreneurship, leadership, corporate social responsibility and corporate governance. Phew... that's the short version. You can read about her in more detail here. The idea for Green Rainbow Revolution was first born and nurtured during her time at Columbia.
But Leila is much more! The product of an Architect and an Artist, her story is filled with interesting, impressive opportunities. Learn more about her artistic side here. Hmm... serious attorney vs. free spirited artist? This background has led to GRR's need to focus on both the left and right side of the brain. Fascinated by the connection between art and science, Leila has pulled together an awesome selection of art and educational toys that will spark both sides of the brain. Children learn through play. The products at Green Rainbow Revolution will help foster fun activities necessary to grow great minds. The fun products offered on the site are sustainable or the companies offer sustainability programs. Green Rainbow Revolution is doing the hard work for you. A portion of the proceeds goes back to help NGO's that provide art, environmental science, or social justice education for youth. You can help choose just click here for more information. When you visit the site, Green Rainbow Revolution, you might notice there is still a lot of work to be done. This is where you can help. Do you have a creative idea for an art or science project? Maybe you have an idea to start your own revolution? Hop over and drop her a note. In the meantime, you can get involved by by learning more about her favorite revolutionaries, revolutionary kids, service project for kids, and important social justice projects by visiting Green Rainbow Revolution on Pinterest.
Finally, after all the April snows, Mayhem was able to color her ALEX® Toys - Craft Color A Yumbrella.It took Spring forever to... er sprung- and patient she ain't. Anywho...
Coloring an umbrella with permanent markers.
This cute umbrella craft comes with permanent markers. We used some of our own Sharpies too. She colored one triangle, got tired, and took a break for a week. Now, she can color whenever she gets bored. The craft that keeps on giving!
You know, she'll be modeling this with her latest rubber galoshes. What am I saying? It's Mayhem, she'll probably wear ballet flats when she goes skipping in the rain.
Mayhem colors a lollipop on her Yumbrella.
The Umbrella is decorated with cute, yummy sweets.
Creative Play Baking Sweet Shop with Cardboard Stove
In this edition of, What She's Wearing Wednesday, catch the KCC Kid, Mayhem, in "Sweet Shop". A video in the "Little Rascals" style. She's baking bread in her upcycled cardboard kitchen stove, wearing her chef hat tutorial, and having fun with her best kitty friend. Enjoy! The toys in the video were donated by Alex Toys. You might also like our KCC Kid's Spy Video, "Monster Trouble" that highlights their super sleuthing toys. We had lots of fun making these videos.
ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)
Begin to teach your children about philanthropy at an early age to build a lifetime of giving. Donate your car for kids. Enjoy!
We give tons of things to Goodwill every year. You probably already know you can donate your vehicle to Goodwill and get a tax credit (write-off), but I bet you didn't know lots of other organizations are hungry for that old car too. It doesn't have to run. They can sell it for scrap where it will get recycled. Scrap Metal is a hot commodity so the charity can get a significant financial donation from your old car- probably more than most of us could give otherwise.
Gotta an old, race car? Maybe a crashed up derby car? Yeah, they'll take it off your hands at no cost to you.
Here are the 3 reputable charities where you canDONATE YOUR CAR FOR KIDS (to Charity):
Unicef - Donate your car for kids Your car donation makes a personal difference from birthing kits to help women have safe deliveries, to delivering vaccines to children worldwide, to portable School-in-a-Box kits to make classes possible almost anywhere.
Donate your vehicle to Make-A-Wish®Wheels for Wishes They even pick your vehicle up for you! Proceeds from the sale of your vehicle donation benefit your local Make-A-Wish® and help grant wishes of children diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. The Ronald McDonald House Vehicle Donations
Donate a vehicle you're not using, and the One Car One Difference® program will auction your donation vehicle for cash for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Supporting more than four million families a year, RMHC and its local Chapters ensure families have the stability and resources to keep their child healthy and happy.
There are many other organizations in your local community anxious for your donation. I help fund raise for Santa's Elves of Indy. Every Christmas we collect toys and clothing for children in need. If you are in Indiana, visit the Santa's Elves Facebook page and comment or leave a message. We'll make arrangements to pick up your old, abandoned vehicle. No need to wait, we accept donations year around.
Donating to most of these organizations is a tax deduction, but be sure to check with your tax preparer.
What are you waiting for a child somewhere needs Bessie, it's time to let her go!
ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)
This snowflake snowman is an easy and fun preschool activity. Make a classroom full of them and hang them from the ceiling. Enjoy!
Foam Snowflake Snowman activity.
How to Make a Snowman Mobile
It's easy to make asnowman winter craft with these pre-cut snowflakes from the Dollar Store, but you could also cut them from white foam paper. This easy activity is perfect for pre school.
We tied the silver strings that came in the package (meant for hanging) between two snowflakes to from the snowman's body. Then, we headed for the junk drawer and found bits of felt, baubles, and beads for decorating. The paper scarf is a Free Printable Snowman Activity from Alex Toys. Insert ribbon to hang from the ceiling or tape to a window.
ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)
Arvind Gupta makes toys from trash on his fabulous website offering many recycle crafts for kid, arvindguptatoys.com He offers a great how to make a balloon car tutorial printable pdf.
Visit Arvind Gupta Toys for the tutorial.
Michael Floyd of BalloonHQ offers a balloon car tutorial for making a car out of balloons for a kid's birthday party. Not sure Id' have the patience for this one!
Balloon Car from Michael Floyd looks like Barbie might like to take a ride in this one.
My favorite site for balloon art has to be The Balloon Pastor he has balloon pictures of full-size car costumes for kidsincluding a Tow Mater. You'll have to hop over to check them all out. Here's an example of his work, Lightning McQueen balloon car. Finally, PBS Design Squad has some great balloon science projects which are fun for a kid's party or perfect for a homeschool project. Show your magic trick skills with this unpoppable balloon trick or 2-wheel balloon car tutorial.
Unpoppable Balloon Party Trick from PBS Design Squad.
How to make a 2 Wheel Balloon Car from PBS Design Squad.
We wish you a Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a Christmas Eve filled with warm memories and stockings full of happiness. Here are a few photos from around our new house (old farm houseand a poem about our night before Christmas. We'll celebrate with a Christmas Eve children's service and then our older children and close family friends will stop by on the eve of Jesus birth for a gift exchange. Christmas day, we'll make the trek over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house. Enjoy!
Stockings hung by the piano with care.
'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, every creature was stirring except for the mouse. The stockings drooped from the piano with flair, hanging onto their reindeer hooks with special care.
Droopy stockings on heirloom piano.
The children wrestled each other banging heads, while double vision sent them straight to their beds.
Snowy day play! We were blessed with a white Christmas.
A
nd, Mom with her nurturing and Dad with his crap Tried to settle us down with Angry Bird Apps. When from the kitchen there arose such a clatter, I stopped playing to see what was the matter.
Snowy Christmas Village courtesy of my Grandmother.
My small sister shot past me like dynamite Knocking me into the wall causing a fight Shattered glass and spilled milk were on the clean floor And crumbs fell from kitty's mouth as he cried for more. When what to my wandering eyes should appear ~
Oops, Grandma got tun over by a reindeer.
Waving his finger in the air, a red suited man stood in a fog standing next to the trash can. With his furrowed white eyebrows and crumpled red nose I knew in an instant it must be St. Nick. More rapid ranting than Mommy's his reprimands came And he pointed and shouted and called us by name. Now Jake, now Mayhem, now Tigger please listen...
Santa and the Misses.
Why aren't you sleeping? Are those bumps on your head? March up those stairs and climb into your warm beds.
My heirloom talking tree courtesy of my Grandfather. He sings and scares!
So, up to our bedrooms sister and I flew with thoughts of toys and fears of Santa too. And then in a twinkling, I heard on the wall the kneading and pawing of each little claw. As, I covered my eyes listening to the sound up the stairs my bad kitty lept with a bound.
An heirloom "robot" Santa.
Santa cleared his throat and his belly it rumbled He tripped on the cat and on the floor he tumbled. The bundle of toys he had flung on his back flew out onto the floor emptying his red sack
Santa Claus?
I s
nuck out to spy on old Mr. Kringle His cheeks were flushed and his smile had lost its jingle He surveyed the damage and gritted his teeth And the cat, it encircled his feet like a wreath.
Santa Bunny got covered in snow.
Hey, at least it's not a duck.
Covering my face and trying not to laugh I saw St. Nicholas twitch his nose at my cat. He flew up landing next to the Elf on the Shelf. And I laughed when I saw it inspite of myself.
Infamous heirloom Elf on the Shelf.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon led me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word but went straight to his work collecting the toys then he turned with a jerk. And laying his hand under the kitty's back he scooped it up giving its head a light pat.
Heirloom elf ousting the angel.
Shaking from side to side he gave a little laugh And said, "Listen naughty cat, it's time you had a bath. Instead of punishment, he handed me the cat At least without our cookies he's a little less fat.
Learn How to Make a Storybook Puzzle from Old Blocks
In this addition of, Things to Make at Home, we recycle children's books. Your kids' story books can grow up with them. Use those old foam baby blocks and worn out Little Golden Books to make a fun puzzle for the kids. The pages trim to fit a 3x3 block pattern. Enjoy!
Use glue to adhere the pages to the aligned blocks.
Let dry completely- up to an hour.
Trust me, patience is not only a virtue but a requirement.
If you don't wait for it to dry, it will turn into a disaster.
When the first page is dry, take an Exact-o knife and cut through the block seams.
Cutting through the paper.
Once row is separated flip it, and align again.
Repeat until all side are covered. Don't worry if the paper edges aren't even.
Trim the paper edges after each paste.
Completed Story Block.
Blocks are ready to Modge Podge, let set, and play!
Some blocks stuck to the board and ripped, but this is easily repaired in the final step with the Modge Podge. Even if some of the image is removed, it still makes a nice picture. If you're stuck on perfection you can take an extra step and cut the squares out before pasting to the blocks. If you cut them out individually, make them slightly smaller than the face of the block. This leaves a nice outline around each image and gives the puzzle a more professional feel when complete.
ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.
*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)
Cardboard Toilet Tubes turned Holiday Hats How many rolls of toilet paper do you go though each month? We've got to recycle that ca...
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