Rebecca Alston, Author at Mamas Like Me

What Your Hoodie Really Says About You

Are you the type of person who loves to wear hoodies? Not in the conventional sense, but more in the way of it’s near impossible to catch you wearing anything else but a hoodie. Believe it or not, there’s a lot of buzz out there about what your hoodie wearing habits say about you.

Taking the obvious statement hooded sweatshirts aside, there are a number of truths and misconceptions surrounding this incredibly comfortable article of clothing and its thousands of diehard wearers. Here’s exactly what your hoodie says about you.

1. Little Things Matter to You

It’s not a matter of warmth, otherwise, you wouldn’t catch hoodie lovers wearing shorts with their upper apparel of choice. Everyone knows hoodies are comfortable, so it isn’t as if you’ve discovered something the rest of us haven’t. No, you wear one because you relish the little joys in life.

The rest of the world may be content wearing GQ’s latest in trending fashions, but the warmth and cozy embrace that a hoodie offers is something special. It makes your days brighter. While it might seem like something small and insignificant to most, you notice the intricate comforts that your choice in clothing provides.

2. You See Things Differently, and That’s Good

To others, dawning formal wear is an afterthought to their routine. You, on the other hand, realize how constricting and ridiculous it is to put on airs with a button-up shirt. As if it suddenly made anyone more productive or better at their profession.

What’s the difference between wearing a hoodie at the office or a tucked in polo? Why not just wear ridiculous clown costumes while everyone’s at it? Life is too short to not be comfortable.

3. You’re Content

Some people require a special set of clothing to sleep in, lounge around the house in, or head out into the world in. Not you. All you need is a good hoodie to wear. Whether it’s heading to the gym, binge-watching Netflix or falling asleep, you’re happy to do it all as is and accept life as it comes.

What happens when it rains? No big deal, you’re wearing a hoodie. The temperature dropped, and you don’t have an extra jacket! Not a problem, everything is just fine. Can’t find the remote to change the channel? Oh well, might as well just relax here for a few more minutes. Who knows, you might even like the show that comes on after yours.

4. You’re Stylish, Whether Anyone Want to Admit it or Not

Hoodie wearers get a lot of negativity for their love of one specific top, but it’s not like you don’t know how to be stylish. You have a special hoodie for big first dates, one for family gatherings, and plenty of print designs standing by for holidays and other special events. Who else is going to wear their Star Wars hoodie at the movie premiere, or the microbrewery’s top when you and your friends decide to stop in? Exactly, no one.

Plus, you can instantly layer up with a WearSaga coat when temperatures become frigid, instantly giving you added style points … and another hood. While everyone else is shivering from their poor choice in clothing, you’re looking cool because you chose to dress warmly. Who’s wearing the style faux pas now, long sleeve shirt person wishing they had an extra layer?

5. You’re Loyal

You stand by your clothing choice day in and day out no matter who approves or what they think. You’ll wear a hoodie every chance you get until the bitter end. If that isn’t a testament to your loyalty, then you don’t know what is!

6 Hacks for Perfect Hair that You Probably Didn’t Know

Want perfect, beautiful locks that can drive anyone crazy?

Even if you have tried everything, this is something that you must not have heard before! There are certain ways you can enhance your hair health and have healthy and strong hair.

So, if you are tired of using different shampoos and products and still not able to get the desired results, just have a quick glance at these hacks. Sooner or later, these hacks can help you have perfect, gorgeous hair!

Rubbing Wet Hair with a Towel

You are out from the shower with wet hair. But wait! Are you thinking of drying your wet hair with harsh towel rubbing?

Girls, this must be one of the worst things that you could do to your hair.

After you are out from the shower your hair becomes delicate and sensitive towards any damage. As a result, while you will rub your hair with a towel, your hair will get damaged and even tend to become frizzier.

The best solution is to pat dry your hair and allow them to air dry.

2. Preparing Tight Ponytails

Making ponytails is easy but when you are in a rush then you don’t have much time to style your ponytail or prepare an all-new preparation. But simple ponytails are not that much appealing!

So, try preparing a fuller ponytail.

You can do this by making two ponytails and bringing them all together. This is a mere 5-minute hairstyle. Once you are done with the preparation you can spray some hairspray to keep your hairstyle intact the entire day.

3. Applying Lemon Juice

This is one thing that most of you must not be aware of! It is using lemon juice to get those thick, beautiful lengths.

Lemon juice is great to lighten the hair. You can use lemon juice two times a week to give some natural bleaching effect to your hair. All you need to do is cut the lemon juice in half and extract the juice in a bowl. Now dip your fingers in the juice and massage it well through your hair.

Give a gentle massage for 10 minutes and after 20 more minutes, you are all set to take a shower.

4. Using a Hair Spray or Hair Serum

Another easy and convenient way to maintain the health and appearance of your hair is using a hair serum spray.

You can use hair spray or rose spray empty bottle. Further, you can place a tablespoon of coconut oil along with few drops of eucalyptus oil. Mix all these ingredients well and add some water. Your natural hair serum is ready.

Using this hair serum on a daily basis will make your hair soft, shiny, and healthy. Moreover, the natural hair serum is a great alternative to chemical-based hair serums and will even do not result in any side effect.

5. Coconut Oil or Olive Oil Application

Now there might be few of you who would not want to use a hair serum. No need to worry, as I have another simple yet effective hack for perfect hair (starter tip: check out the best organic conditioners, too).

Use olive oil or coconut oil to get really smooth and soft hair. Both these oils are really good for the hair health. Just take some oil in your hand and rub it in your hair. Leave it for some time. It would be great if you could leave it overnight and wash your hair the next morning. This is great to make your hair strong, shiny, and healthier.

If you suffer excessive hair fall problem or your hair tend to grow at a slow pace then this remedy will bring perfect results.

6. Using Hair Extensions

If all these hacks didn’t work out for you then there is one great and impeccable solution, using hair extensions. This is a natural, quick, easy, and affordable solution to get you healthy and strong hair.

With a range of shades and varieties available, finding a perfect hair extension will not take much time. You can pick one within your budget and preference.

While these are top 6 hacks to get perfect hair, one important thing to remember is to stick to a healthy diet rich in vitamin C, fruits, and proteins. Vitamin C is great for hair health and proteins aid in healthy hair growth.

I hope you find these hacks useful. Just try them out. These are simple, effective, and best hacks for perfect hair!

Author Bio :

Yuan Chen is a Manager at T1Hairs – Peruvian Hair Extension Company. He has more than 6 years of experience in Hairdressing Industry.

8 New Year’s Resolutions for Working Mothers in 2018

The lifestyle of a working mother comes with many benefits – we can both enjoy the family life at home and derive satisfaction from our professional successes.

However, even such a rewarding lifestyle has its challenges, so to help all of you working mums tackle them, here are some New Year’s resolutions you should all make.

Find more “me” time

Whether it’s a night out with our friends, a dinner date with our significant other, or just a relaxing evening in a bathtub, we all need some time for ourselves. To make that time, try to find somebody who can take your kids off your hands for a few hours once or twice a month. Also, make sure to dedicate at least 20 min every day to your own needs, so you can recharge your batteries and freshen up a bit.

Focus on what you’re doing

When at work, focus on the work – don’t waste time on social media and news websites, as it can only harm your productivity. Similarly, when spending time with your family, don’t check your emails and make business calls. Multitasking is a useful skill to have, but it’s not always necessary. In other words, learning how to get rid of distractions both at work and at home will help you spend your time much more efficiently.

Delegate

Many business companies outsource some of their work to save time, money, and energy. So, as a working mum, why not do the same? Delegate some of your work.

For example, find a good and reliable English tutoring to help your kids with homework, or hire a housekeeper to clean your home from time to time.

Delegating will not only save you time but also allow you to focus on more important things, such as working on your family budgets, finishing that important projects or taking your kids to the park.

Don’t be afraid to say no

Most working mums have the “I can do it all” attitude, and there is nothing wrong with being confident. However, take into account the amount of time it takes to coach the new volleyball team, be the new girl scout leader, and organise a school play. Instead of accepting everything off the bat, don’t be afraid to let somebody else steal the spotlight if you’ve already done your fair share of work.

Become an early bird

Taking care of everybody’s needs is much easier after you’ve taken care of your own. Therefore, try to get up at least 30 min before everybody else so you can drink your coffee in peace, take a shower, choose your outfit for the day, etc. Of course, this also means you should try to go to bed a bit earlier than usual in order to get enough sleep and not be woken up by that special alarm that goes “muuuuuum!”

Become and early bird – Photo by rawpixel

Build a network

The next time you go shopping for groceries or pick your kids up from school, look around you. All the women you see are just like you, and they all need friendship and support. Instead of passing them by, get to know them – create a network of women who can help each other out by taking care of the kids, referring you to the best hairdresser in town, knowing all about interior design, etc. You are not alone, so try to connect with the women in your everyday life.

Try something new

If you’ve been doing the same thing for as long as you can remember, maybe it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. It’s great to be an expert at something, but becoming too comfortable can lead to boredom and that feeling of being stuck in a routine. With that in mind, take some time to think about what you are doing right now and how you could do it differently. Maybe you’d like to go on a budget-friendly vacation. Maybe you’d like to test your skills in a new field of work, or perhaps you just want to improve your skills by taking a few lessons or seminars. Exploring different areas of your work and trying out different approaches will help you remind yourself why you love your career.

Modify your standards

When you let others help you, you also need to accept the fact that they will probably do things differently – and that is okay. It doesn’t matter how your housekeeper mops the floor or how your partner loads the dishes, as long as everything is clean in the end. Lower your standards a bit and let go of perfection. Worrying about every single detail can affect both your mood and your health, and you surely have more important things to think about. Sometimes, good enough can be better than perfect.

Speaking of standards and perfection, don’t be too hard on yourself either. You can have it all, but you cannot always do it all, so it’s okay if you can’t fulfil every single resolution on this list. Thus, choose a few that will benefit you the most, and don’t forget that being happy is the only thing that will truly make your year successful.

New Year Resolutions Every Mom Should Think About

With 2018 just around the corner, December is usually a month of hectic Christmas and New Year’s Eve planning.

We’re willing to bet that between getting your kids ready for their daily activities, tending to the household, your own job and prepping food, you don’t have much time left to take a breather and reflect on the past year.

And if that’s the case, then we offer seven resolutions you should consider fulfilling starting this January 1st. Make it your credo, your new mantra, a promise to yourself.

Sleep is NOT for the weak

“You can nap when your kid naps” is probably the biggest pile of baloney parents utter. Their kids are either the soundest of sleepers, or they just try to mask the suffering of unslept nights. Most of us wait for the youngest ones to fall asleep so we can tend to other things in the house we can’t do while they’re up. But in 2018, try to slow down your tempo. Leave some things unfinished to catch those half hour worth of Z’s. The world won’t end, even if you think otherwise.

More dates

Remember those? Remember the time when you and your significant other could just go to a dinner and a movie, or just walk down the park and eat those delicious hot dogs in the cool night air? Yeah, me neither. Like an unwritten rule, your love life (and sex!) take a back seat when the kids arrive. But whether you’re a new mom or a true veteran matriarch, fighting to rekindle the fire with your significant other never stops. Do yourself a favor starting this January, and hire a sitter at least once every two weeks to go on a date night.

Sex

Another whopping topic on our list is every mom’s sex life once family cuts in. We tend to neglect intimacy simply due to exhaustion and the lack of mental stimuli (there is nothing stimulating about overdue projects, long work hours or heaps of laundry and kids’ homework). Try and include tiny little signs of affection (such as dirty texts, exchange looks and simply be gentle with each other), and see how you slowly build the much-needed attraction back up.

More you time

By “you time” we don’t mean necessarily going shopping or out clubbing with your girlfriends (although those are welcome, too!) You time can also include reading a good book, watching that movie that’s been collecting dust on your Netflix list, paint your nails, or take a bath. Not only will you feel better, but it’ll also allow for your mind to recalibrate. Be honest with yourself – how long ago did you start forgetting about all that needs to be done throughout the day? This might be just what the doctor ordered to remedy the issue.

Treat yourself

Once a month, just once a month at least, designate a day when you will pamper yourself in full. Visit a cosmetic surgery clinic and get that makeover you’ve been dreaming of the past few years. Or go take a day off at the spa. Buy that small haul of new clothes without guilt – the world is your oyster! This 2018 is the perfect year to work more towards being the best woman you can be, and not only a mom.

Focus on the important

Going down the lane of „always remember everything“ will ultimately drive you insane. We’re expected to keep everything in our head: know where everyone’s socks are, which shelf the cereals are on, if those bananas in the fridge are still good (like they can’t tell themselves!), and much more. Storing a lot of irrelevant information will start to push out the relevant ones, and lead you quicker to exhaustion. So start designating who remembers what around the house, so that you can spend more time focusing on what’s really important.

Reflect

Last, but not least, reflect. Think back on the entire year, and what you’ve achieved. Where could you have done better? What could you have done differently? What was the proudest moment of 2017, and how can you get more of those moments in 2018? Spend more time with your family even before New Year’s Eve, and appreciate them, flaws and all. ‘Tis the season to be grateful for what we have.

In the end

We spend far too much time rushing and running around, thinking we have to be super moms 24/7. But it’s far from true. We’re human, and we need the break humans get, instead of the world on their shoulders, like superheroes. Prioritize yourself sometimes, and it will return tenfold. Stress far less in the next year and don’t fret the little things. Everything will come into place.

How to Create a Kid-Friendly Bathroom

The bathroom is usually the smallest room in the home, but also the most challenging for children. While many parents decide to remodel and adopt using child-sized fixtures, experts advise homeowners to think twice before going Wayne Szalinski. Unless resale is not a concern, it’s better to build a bathroom for adults and make it child-accessible and decorate it with playful themes and bright palettes. Here are some tips to make your bathroom kid-friendly.

Safety first

With the little feet dashing to a bubbly bath, jumping and hopping even in the bathroom, small ceramic tiles with lots of grout lines provide better traction than big ones. To prevent accidents, look for bathroom tiles that have a coefficient of friction greater than 60. The value is usually listed among the product technical information on the tile packaging. Although these anti-slip tiles may be harder to clean, they are a valuable protection measure that is also helpful for seniors.

Furthermore, humidity is also an important aspect and should be well maintained in the bathroom to ensure there is no mold growth which is dangerous to the little one. So maybe adding a dehumidifier in the bathroom would be a good choice in keeping your kids safe.

Can’t reach this

Look through your child’s eyes while creating your bathroom design. As they grow they’ll be gaining independence and will want to reach everything themselves. A sturdy step stool will surely see a lot of use for brushing the teeth, washing the hands and even getting in and out of a deep soaking tub. You can even make a DIY step platform out of a wooden pallet that rolls on small casters, so when the ‘grooming’ is done, the child can roll it back under the vanity. Consider a lower shelf, mirror and coat hooks for the kid’s towels, toothpastes, brushes and shampoo, and save the high shelves and cabinets for shaving supplies and flu remedies.

Two’s a crowd

The all-too-familiar childhood memory of kids elbowing for the faucet can easily be avoided if you use a big 48-inch wall mounted trough sink. Such a fixture has enough elbow room for two, even three kids to brush their teeth at the same time, which is indispensable in morning hours when everybody is getting ready for school or work. They usually come in cast-iron models, so you can easily paint the bottom with an accent colour to match the room décor.

Use and store away

Teach kids responsibility for their belongings with personalization. Storage buckets, toiletry bags, towels and products that feature their name will give them a sense of ownership, and encourage them to keep those items neat and clean. You can match towels in different colours each with your kid’s initials to keep the bathroom style rounded up. Rather than storing them in a linen closet, consider using open shelves, woven baskets or even a simple wooden chair to store kids’ towels. This way they’ll always be accessible and also become a part of the room décor.

Water-inspired themes

Choose an ocean-inspired theme for any room of the house and your kids will love it. Boats, sailors, divers, mermaids, pirates, dolphins – plenty of fascinating things going on between the waves. Still, beyond the seven seas there are plenty of other favourite themes – cars and trucks, zoo animals, bright blossoms, fiction characters. You don’t have to think hard about a theme that your kid will love for many years to come. As their taste changes, you can easily update towels, curtains and other linens.

Playful colours

The bathroom is a space where bright colours and bold contrasts mix well, so you have a free hand to experiment with your child’s favourite primary colour. Since quality bathroom supplies are usually white, they create a fresh backdrop for colourful towels, shower curtains, floor mats and accessories.

Rather than small-sizing everything, try to make the bathroom a kid-friendly environment by catering to their tastes and interests. Years and years of remodeling is expensive, so focus on décor and education, and other ways of making adult bathroom amenities accessible and safe for children to use such as using modern sinks for bathrooms.

Claire is a personal and professional development expert who believes that a positive attitude is one of the keys to success. You can find her online writing and giving tips about lifestyle and development as a regular contributor at highstylife.com. Feel free to reach her on Facebook and Twitter!

Eco-Friendly Ways to Decorate for the Holidays

The holidays are a time when you focus on peace and of course, celebrations. However, most holiday decorations eat up energy, consists of using dead trees and are clearly bad for the environment.

That is as far from eco-friendly as you can possibly get right? Finding a sustainable yet beautiful Christmas decoration collection is no easy task. Well here is some good news! I want to let you know in this post that you can decorate for the holidays in ways that are considered to be eco-friendly.

Below are tips on how you can do that:

Use LED Candles

Flickering candles definitely create a festive atmosphere and people love them, however, they are dangerous when kids and pets are around, not to mention they can aggravate allergies.

Therefore you can still have candles but without those risks. You can have those lightweight, reusable LED candles that are made of real wax and are even meant to flicker the same way as traditional candled- but without the messy wax, flame and smoke!

Therefore, they are environmentally friendly and much safer for your lungs. And the indoor quality won’t be affected either. You also don’t have to worry about your home burning down! LED candles are a win-win when it comes to being eco-friendly for the holidays and creating a festive atmosphere.

LED Holiday Lights

Incandescent lights use up a lot of electricity, they burn out and break, don’t last long and are expensive. Therefore, they can be a frustrating part of preparing for the holidays. At the same time, without lights, the holiday spirit is lacking!

The great news is that you can use LED lights instead because they use quite a bit less electricity, they last longer, they don’t break or burn out and save you a lot of money!

They are also very nice looking as they come in a variety of colors. They also are inexpensive, and more and more people are using LED lights over the incandescent ones.

Interesting Challenge Coin Decoration

Coin displays are a unique retirement gift or a rewarding gift and an impressive way to say thank you for your exquisite efforts.

Perfectly designed challenge coins in a nice stand can make your memories live forever and will make your house look pretty in the Christmas time as well.

Create Wreath Out of Fabric

Many wreaths require you to cut off tree branches to make them. However, you can be creative and find an eco-friendly way to make wreaths instead.

For example, you can make a wreath by using old scraps of fabric and they are not necessarily hard to do. All you have to do is get creative. You can also go to craft stores like Michael’s to see what other eco-friendly parts you can get to make a wreath.

Faux Cedar Centerpieces

If you use real pine centerpieces, you know you are killing and injuring trees, at the same time if you get faux pine centerpieces- you are getting decoration that is made out of toxic material which can give off harmful dioxins.

Therefore, both of those options are not good for the environment. The good news is that you can have an eco-friendly pine centerpiece on the table. This kind of cedar pine centerpiece is made from PE or polyethylene, and it is safe, recyclable and looks identical to the traditional types! Not to mention, it is reusable!

Recycled Cardboard Christmas Tree

Recycled cardboard Christmas trees are incredibly eye-catching, even more so than the real tree. This way no new trees are being killed and you can buy them in green or white. They can be decorated with paint, crayons, and paper. These are much better than the alternative.

If you are trying to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle and you have been concerned that you couldn’t maintain this lifestyle during the holidays, now you know you can! Have fun and have a happy, safe and green holiday!

Pros and Cons of Using Dry Shampoo

With extra care needed and less time left in the day, various innovative solutions have been introduced to make things more manageable. From packaged food to blow dryers, there are many things available that offer an instant solution to various problems.

One such amazing solution for hair care is ‘dry shampoo.’ If you still haven’t tried this wonderful hair care solution then let me tell you more about what is dry shampoo and why using it can be really great for your hair!

Dry Shampoo – What Does That Mean?

Dry shampoo is dry in nature and this is why it has got this name. It does not contain any liquid or semi-liquid texture.

It is available in a powder form that can be sprinkled on hair and massaged into the scalp. Once you begin massaging it into the scalp it will get absorbed by the hair and the scalp. You then have to wait for 2 – 5 minutes to let the shampoo absorb all the oil, dust, and grime from the scalp.

After 5 minutes you are good to go!

Hence, no need for water and no waiting for your hair to dry. So, if at any moment you want a quick fix solution for your bad, oily hair then dry shampoo is an excellent and convenient way to go.

But like most of the things, even dry shampoo comes with its own pros and cons. So, if you are amazed by the convenient solution dry shampoo brings to you then it is essential that you first have a look at its pros as well as cons.

Pros of Dry Shampoo

If you are out of time and don’t have enough time to wash your hair with water, liquid shampoo and then wait for your hair to dry then this is by far the best solution.You just have to sprinkle it on your hair and massage it on your scalp. Just wait for one minute and get refreshing and oil-free hair.
If excess hair oil is a major problem then dry shampoo is just perfect for you. You no more have to wash your hair every second day with water and liquid shampoo. You can skip washing your hair as dry shampoo would extract all excess grease from the hair as well as scalp.
Excellent convenience is another benefit of dry shampoo. Whether you are at home or traveling somewhere, you can treat your hair in just one minute with dry shampoo.
If you had your hair styled and want the look to stay longer then dry shampoo is by far the best solution. You can use dry shampoo the next day to maintain that salon-styled look for another day.
Also, it is an excellent way to take care of colored-treated hair. Dry shampoo does not result in color fading and loss as much as with regular shampoo. Hence, if you have colored hair then you can always skip excessive shampooing by treating your hair with dry shampoo.

Cons of Using Dry Shampoo

Not everyone can use dry shampoo. Those having dry hair, dandruff or scalp irritation problem must avoid using dry shampoo. It is because it can actually make things worse for them.
If you opt for a low-quality dry shampoo, it might leave a whitish or dusty residue on your hair. This residue is sometimes visible. Hence, the best way is to use dry shampoo only once in a week and in an appropriate amount.
Make sure you use only high-quality dry shampoo from a reputable brand. There are low-quality shampoos available that may contain ingredients not good for your scalp and hair. Even this may result in additional problems such as scalp irritation, hair fall, dry hair, and more. So, you can combat this limitation by ensuring that you only use a high-quality shampoo.If you need help with hair fall problem, take a look at this awesome Indian hair care blog.

Wrapping Up

Dry shampoo comes with lots of conveniences. But if you will compromise on quality then it can affect the good health of your hair and scalp.

Hence, if you want to enjoy all the benefits of a dry shampoo without experiencing problems then switch to dry shampoo from a good brand!

31 Days of March Crafts for Kids

The month of March is a busy one that offers plenty of craft potential. Moms, daycare providers, scout leaders, and others who want to plan enjoyable activities for kids can choose from the coming of spring to Dr. Seuss Week to St. Patrick’s Day to religious holidays such as Easter and Passover as the theme for 31 days of crafts. Fortunately, bloggers have documented loads of fun ideas for kids of all ages. We have attempted to pull out some of the most interesting craft choices.

When you click through too many of the crafts on our list, you will be directed to additional related crafts.

Celebrating The Key Themes Of The Month

Children’s author Dr. Seuss was born on March 2, so his birthday is the reason for a week-long Read Across America celebration. Crafts inspired by some of his most popular stories are a good way to bring his catchy rhymes and intriguing tales to life.

The Shape of Me Dr. Seuss Mural
Suess Hats
One Fish Two Fish Dr. Seuss Craft Origami Fish
Lorax Toilet Paper Roll Craft For Kids
The Cat in the Hat Clothespin Craft!
Horton Flower Pots

Spring arrives on March 21, but the whole month signals the start of spring crafts rather than winter themed ones,

Bumblebee Toilet Paper Roll Craft
Rainbow Pour Painting
Butterfly Coffee Filter and Egg Carton Craft
Bluebird of Happiness
Spring Tulip Bouquet
Spring Handprint Card

St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 is a favorite day that many people like to celebrate with parades, parties, and crafts.

While the dates for Easter and Passover change each year, in 2018 Passover starts on the evening of March 30, while Easter lands on April 1. Each holiday has a deep religious meaning that can be imparted to kids through crafts. Children of all faiths can learn about other cultures, while Jewish and Christian children can learn more about their own faith.

Easter crafts are often an extension of spring-inspired projects.

Passover crafts center around the riches tradition of Judaism.

Bonus crafts

Labeling your children’s school items

This will increase the chances of any lost items being found. According to a recent study children loose more than one thousand items during their scholastic years. Name labels also encourage

your kids to learn how to read.

Conclusion

By splitting the month of March and the themes, you can give equal time to all there is to celebrate in this month. If your school closes for spring vacation sometime this month, many of the crafts on the list are excellent for moms to use at home to keep the kids occupied.

31 Days of January Crafts for Kids

Once Christmas and Hanukkah have passed, kids in many parts of the country are plunged into a cold, snowy January. When it’s too cold to play outside, boredom sets in and moms need a variety of projects for preschoolers and early elementary school kids to do. There are only so many videos to watch, plus it is good to do projects that encourage creativity, develop skills in coloring, cutting, painting, pasting, and more.

Snowmen And More

Even kids in warm states are fascinated with snowmen, so many crafts focus on different ways to make them, However, there are many other choices in case you are saturated with crafts centering are around frosty little people. Martin Luther Day is in January too, so we have included several crafts that promote awareness of his focus on having personal dreams and a vision for a peaceful society. The Friends Around the World craft uses paper dolls that you can use for many other projects.

Most of the projects on the list can be accomplished in an hour after nap or school. The results can be probably displayed on the refrigerator, in your child’s room, and other places throughout the home, and as the projects pile up, some can make their way to grandma’s or auntie’s house. When the project results in a making game, such as Snowman Bowling, your child will have ongoing fun from the project.

The supplies for the project might be things you already have on hand, but by perusing the various crafts, you can start building a list of what to stock up on the next time you are at your favorite craft store or order online (see an example shop here).

A Month’s Worth Of Crafts

We have listed 31 projects, one for each day of the month, and provided a link so you can obtain the directions. Some projects are better for older kids, but we have listed a variety of choices. For more projects, Pinterest is a gold mine. There are also plenty of individual blogs that you can find by simply Googling “winter crafts.” You can even find them by age.

13. Pipe Cleaner/Fuzzy Stick Snowflake Stamping

What other projects have you found to do with your kids in January? Please share in the comments below.

Easy Dr. Seuss Hats

March 2 is the birthday of famed author Dr. Seuss and many elementary schools celebrate it as part of Read Across America week. How better to celebrate it than by making a hat like the one the Cat in the Hat

If you have young children or beginning readers, you know that Dr. Seuss books are a popular favorite. The books present clever stories that are enjoyable for adults to read to kids, intriguing for kids to listen to, and full of opportunities to develop skills in young readers. Babies and toddlers benefit from hearing the stories, which promotes brain development, speech skills, and bonding between parents and children. Some stories are available in durable board books.

What Kids Learn From Dr. Seuss

The books help new readers master phonics by helping children connect letters and sounds that make words and sentences. Because Dr. Seuss boundaries include repetitive sounds, a new reader comes away with the new skill after reading favorites like Cat in the or Hop on Pop. Even kids who do not like to read enjoy the entertaining rhymes of Dr. Seuss.

Beyond the kitschy rhymes, Dr. Seuss stories offer life lessons about responsibility, friendship, creativity, gratitude, and a whole lot more. It is no wonder that schools not only celebrate his birth and achievements every year but encourage kids to dress up for Dr. Seuss week.

The most popular costume for this week is the famous red and white hat worn by the Cat in the while there are many variations on this project, depending on the age of the child, but paper plates and construction paper can do the job. They are perfect for kids to wear while reading Dr. Seuss books in school and at home.

What You Need:

Red and White construction paper
Paper plates
Scissors
Glue
Stapler

How To Do It

First, prepare to make the hats by cutting large sheets of red construction paper lengthwise into two-inch strips. Older kids can do the cutting themselves. You can also make white strips on a red construction paper background.
Cut out the middle circle of a paper plate.
Show kids how to spread the red strips parallel to each other on a large sheet of white construction paper. The result should be a red and white stripe effect. Once strips are in the right position, glue them to the white paper.
After the glue is dry, roll the hats into a cylinder and fit it inside the circle. Staple the cylinder in several places.
Cut 2 inch slits around the bottom of your paper cylinder and then bold and under the rim of the paper plate. Staple the ends to the plate. Fold them under the rim of the paper plate and staple them to secure each hate.
If the kids will be wearing the hats for a while, punch holes in each side of the plate and thread with yarn to make ties.

This project is manageable even by preschoolers, but with more adult help children can make more advanced versions, for example, here’s a version with pop up cats. You can also make the hat from felt.

How does your school celebrate Dr. Seuss week? Let us know in the comments below