ENERGETIC INDOOR ACTIVITY: ACTIVE JENGA FOR KIDS

ACTIVE JENGA FOR KIDS – AN INDOOR GAME THAT HELPS KIDS BURN ENERGY WITHOUT DESTROYING THE HOUSE

Kids are crazy. A good, active, energetic kind of crazy. I love my kids, but sometimes they are just… A LOT. My zombie mom, sleep deprived self just can’t keep up with all that boundless bouncing energy.

But, if I can’t help them channel that energy, more often than not, the above jumping off the furniture scenario is just a matter of time. Or maybe it will be wrestling match this time. Or possibly a game that includes throwing a ball at my glass picture frame riddled walls.

But this Active Jenga for kids game is the perfect way to harness that energy and use it up – safely. Without destroying the house.

THIS ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS IS THE PERFECT KIDS GAME FOR ALL OCCASIONS

I love a good kids activity, but a lot of them are ‘one and done’. We do ‘one and done’ activities all the time, but there is a certain appeal to knowing that after spending 30-60 minutes on making this game, it will be ready to play over and over again. This game is perfect when:

• it’s too cold outside.
• it is too hot outside.
• it’s raining or snowing or hailing
• you have lots of kids
• you only have one kid
• the kids need to play alone for a few minutes

It’s easy to take with you. It easy to play and still fun for a variety of ages. Set up is easy. Clean up is easy. And it’s still fun when you go back to play again. This game is definitely not ‘one and done’.

3 SUPER EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS

Truth bomb. Ready? The hardest part of this project is coming up with ideas of what to write on each block. But, there is a silver lining.

Silver lining: I made a set of 60 questions and activities that are ready to print. If you want an easy peasy project, you can find those in my Etsy Shop. There’s even an editable PDF file to help you customize your game as simply as possible.

Extra Shiny Silver Lining: If you have a cutting machine, you get the SVG files included in the game files! Use your print and cut feature to literally open it in your cutting software, print the page with registration marks and then cut it with your machine. Then, it’ll be as easy as slapping stickers on blocks.Kids Active Jenga Game Template Page

One last insider tip –> Print on sticker paper and it will cut your prep time in half or more! As quick as you can say peel and stick, your stickers will be adhered to your Jenga game blocks and you’ll be ready to play with zero drying time needed.

Okay, let’s do this!

ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS MATERIALS:

• Jenga Block Template – Download this from the button below. This is simply the blank colored labels you’ll put on the wooden blocks. If you want to quickly and easily customize your game with a professional look, get the Editable PDF template or the Ready-to-Print labels in my Etsy shop.
• Jenga Game – Get it on Amazon. You can find knock off versions and they will work (I used a knock off version), but the quality isn’t as good, some of the blocks were misshapen and the blocks were not all the same size. Knock offs work, actual Jenga blocks look better.
• Paper and Printer – I recommend sticker paper to make this project even easier! But standard printing paper is sufficient too. If possible, I also recommend a laser printer to help with longevity, but ink jet will work too.
• Paper Cutter or Scissors – love my Swingline SmartCut. I used both it and a pair of scissors. (Only need if you aren’t using a cutting machine)
• Glue – wood, white glue or tacky glue will work best. I used white glue. (Only need if you aren’t using sticker paper)
• Pen or Marker or image editing software – If you’re going to write the questions and activities by hand, I recommend Sharpie Art Pens. The ink is smooth, doesn’t bleed and won’t smear if it gets wet. You can also open the Jenga Block Templates in an image editor and type out your questions and activities before you print.

STEP #1: DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR JENGA BLOCK TEMPLATES

• Download the free printable templates with the green button below. Save the file to your computer and print with the “actual size” setting. This file is designed to fit a name brand Jenga block, but will work on other blocks too. You will need 2 copies of the template to cover an entire set of Jenga blocks.

* PRO TIP: If you’re going to fill in your block template digitally (on the computer), do it BEFORE you print your template.

* PRO TIP: Check your game for a count of how many blocks you’ll need to cover. Name brand Jenga has 54 blocks. My knock-off set had fewer. Each template page has 30 rectangle labels. You’ll need 2 pages (give or take a few) to cover an entire game set.

STEP #2: FILL OUT AND CUT OUT THE BLOCK TEMPLATES

• If you are writing your game prompts out by hand, write one question or activity on each rectangle. You can make these a mix of questions and activities – or do all questions for a get-to-know-you style game OR do all active challenges for a real energy buster. I did a combination and even through in some math practice!
• Cut out enough labels to cover every block. I used my Silhouette Cameo and printed on sticker paper – it made this a million times easier. If you want the cut files already to go, they are included in the files in my Etsy shop.

STEP #3: ADHERE THE ACTIVE JENGA GAME PROMPTS ON THE BLOCKS

• If you used sticker paper, just peel and stick one label on each block. Easy Peasy.

  
  If you used standard paper, glue one game prompt label on each block. A thin strip of glue on all 4 edges of the blank side of each label will give the best results. Smooth out the label with your fingers and let the glue dry completely. This part isn’t hard, but it does take a little time. 

* PRO TIP: You just need a thin strip of glue. Don’t use a lot or your labels will wrinkle.

* PRO TIP: Clean up any glue that seeps from under the edges of the labels with a damp cloth or paper towel before it dries. 

* PRO TIP: If any of your corners come unglued, secure them back down with a little bit of glue stick or white glue.

ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS: A GAME FOR ALL AGES!

In just 3 steps and an afternoon, you’ll be ready to whip out an awesome activity the whole family will love. Use it when you need a minute, when the kids are getting a bit too crazy, or for family game night! Active Jenga for Kids is the PERFECT simple, inexpensive, fun and easy way to help the kids channel all that energy into some fun memories. So, what are you waiting for? Put this together in a snap and get those kids who are jumping on the beds to come play this fun game!

MAKE THIS PROJECT EASIER WITH MY READY-TO-PRINT ACTIVE JENGA GAME BLOCK LABELS IN MY ETSY SHOP!

Like this idea? Want to spice things up for your next date night? Check out my Couple’s Jenga bedroom game for a more adult version of this game.

The post Active Jenga for Kids appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Give those kids something they really want and that will last forever – and you’ll love it too! Give them some of your time and make some fun memories with them. Because, what kid wouldn’t want a special date or activity and to be the center of your attention? Carve out some special time for your favorite activities together with these printable Kids Love Coupons.

KIDS LOVE COUPONS: A MORE MEANINGFUL GIFT

As a mom of 4, I know all too well what it’s like when kids have plenty of stuff. Mine definitely don’t need more toys and things to leave on the floor. Because of this, I try to give my kids meaningful and worthwhile gifts. And, as a busy mom, time is one of the most precious things. I would much rather spend more time doing fun things with my kids than picking up more toys.

And I love that these kids coupons are perfect for every budget. The actual coupons cost some ink and paper. The outing redeemed with the coupon can be as expensive or frugal as you want or need it to be. My kids get just as excited about going to the park as they do about going to the movies.

They don’t need fancy, they just need you.

Things come and go. Toys break. Fun and memories can last forever.

KIDS LOVE COUPONS: THE PERFECT GIFT ANYONE CAN GIVE ANYTIME

These Kids Love Coupons are a perfect gift to receive from anyone. What kid wouldn’t love to get some fun dates and special activities from one of their favorite people? Anyone can give someone their time: Parents to children, grandparents to grandchildren, favorite aunt or uncle to niece or nephew, even friend to friend.

And Kids Love Coupons are great for lots of occasions:

• holidays
• birthdays
• big life events
• as rewards for accomplishments and exceptional behavior

It can be hard to juggle life’s demands. Love coupons are one way we help ensure our kids get some quality one-on-one time. If they need some extra attention, they redeem a coupon. It’s a great non-confrontational or mom-guilt-inducing way for them to say “hey, I need a little extra right now.”

MAKING YOUR OWN KIDS LOVE COUPONS BOOK IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3

A good homemade gift is the best. But life is busy and there aren’t always hours to spend putting together something for every gift that comes along. This kids love coupons book is simple, quick and will look great when you’re finished.

With just a handful of materials you probably have already and a half an hour, you will be ready to hand your favorite kid some memory-making magic in the form of 9 awesome things to do with you.

KIDS LOVE COUPONS SUPPLIES:

• Kids Love Coupons – free download below. There is a full set of 28 ready-to-print coupons, plus editable files to easily create your own custom coupons in my Etsy shop, if you want a larger set of coupons.
• Printer and Paper – I recommend cardstock
• Paper Cutter or Scissors
• Washi Tape or Ribbon and Hole Punch
• Craft Knife (optional)

KIDS LOVE COUPONS DIRECTIONS:

1. DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR COUPONS

Step #1a: Download your free printable coupons by clicking on the green “Click to Download” button below. Save the file to your computer.

Step #1b: *If you upgraded to the full set of coupons in my Etsy shop, make sure you personalize the cover and fill in any of your own special coupons before you print! Follow the directions on the Printing Guide.*

Print your coupons. This file is designed to print at “actual size” on 8.5″x11″ paper. I recommend printing on cardstock for added durability. Personally, I use THIS CARDSTOCK for most of my projects. I prefer a 110 lb weight and a brightness of at least 90.

This file is intended to be printed on a single piece of paper. If your printer has the option to print double sided, use it and flip on the long edge. If your printer does not print double sided, you will have to manually flip the page and put in back in the printer before printing the 2nd page.

PRO TIP: When manually printing double sided, I put a little ‘x’ in pencil at the bottom left corner of the page before I print anything so I know how to put the page back in the printer when I print on the back side. The ‘x’ will need to be at the same end of the printer, facing down when you put the page back in.

2. CUT APART YOUR KIDS LOVE COUPONS

Step #2a: Cut the coupons apart. I love my Swingline SmartCut paper cutter for this stuff. Makes cutting straight lines a breeze and so, so fast. And I love that the blade is fully enclosed with all the little fingers around my house.

PRO TIP: Your coupons may not have printed perfectly straight on the page. Make sure you check the edges of the coupons on your cutting line before you cut so your coupons don’t get cut crooked.

You could also use a ruler and craft knife or scissors to cut the coupons apart.

3. BIND YOUR KIDS LOVE COUPONS BOOK TOGETHER

Step #3a: Gather your coupons together and arrange them in the order you want them. Line up all the edges on the side you’re going to bind. The easiest way to do this is to hold the coupons loosely in your hand and knock the side you’re going to bind against the table a few times.

Step #3b: Cut a piece of washi tape a little longer than the length of the edge you’re going to bind. It doesn’t need to be precise, the tape just needs to cover the entire length of the edge. Place the tape on the edges of the coupons, pressing firmly. Wrap the excess tape around the front and back of the coupon book. Press each coupon firmly into the washi tape binding. Use your craft knife or scissors to trim the ends.

PRO TIP: If your coupons aren’t sticking to the washi tape and staying in the book, put a thin zigzag of white glue across the full length of your washi tape. Because washi tape isn’t a permanent tape, some kinds won’t be sticky enough to hold the coupons in place. A small line of white glue should help with that, without making the coupons hard to remove from the book.

That’s it! You’re ready to wrap and give those love coupons to your favorite kid. And get ready for some awesome good times and memory making!

GIVE YOUR FAVORITE KIDS A GIFT THAT WILL LAST THROUGH THE YEARS: KIDS LOVE COUPONS

Theodor Seuss Geisel, maybe you know him better as Dr. Seuss, said “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

It might seem like building a fort or going to the library isn’t a big deal, but when your kids look back on their childhoods they will remember the people and the fun. They will remember the forts and the story times. They won’t remember the things.

Go make your favorite kids their very own Kid’s Love Coupons Book and give them something to remember. 

Want to expand your Kids Love Coupons collection? Check out my Etsy Shop for the full set of 28 ready-to-print coupons and an editable file that will help you make your own personalized, custom coupons in just minutes!

The post Kids Love Coupons are a DIY Gift That Will Last Forever appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Or we’re a little too tired and it’s not quite nap or bed time yet. Or when things get a little too wrestle-y. Because… boys.

It saved my bacon more than once last summer.

I have plans this summer and our kids activities jar has a starring role in my attack on unruly boys. I divided the activities into seven categories.

If you’re looking for some fun things to do this summer, take a look at this huge list and then make your own Summer Boredom Buster Jar with the ideas.

168 KIDS ACTIVITIES TO TRY THIS SUMMER

FUN WITH FOOD KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make popsicles.  Get as creative as you little heart desires.
– Banana Boats in the fire pit.  Don’t know what banana boats are, check out the link.
– Make ice cream in a bag
– Fruit Loop necklaces
– Make peanut butter play dough
– Make S’mores

– Decorate cupcakes
– Make colorful cookies
– Create a new smoothie flavor
– Make Jell-O
– Build with marshmallows
– Make popcorn necklaces
– Create the ultimate ice cream sundae!
– Edible finger painting

– Make slushies
– Make Jell-O play dough
– Roast hot dogs over a fire
– Make candy bars
– Make a banana split

QUIET TIME KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Story stones or tiles
– Write letters
– Felt fishing game math practice
– Googly eye drawings
– Write in your story journal
– Movie Marathon!
– Illustrate a picture book
– Get a new ebook or learning app – Our favorite ABC apps, preschool apps

– Play with blocks.  Creation Blocks, Tinkertoys, Cardboard Blocks and our Wooden Blocks are time-tested favorites.

– Do a practice worksheet.
– Play with Water Beads
– Do puzzles
– M&M math practice.  Add and subtract with the candies.  You can also practice colors.  Of course, you’re finished when you’ve eaten all the candies.
– Draw with the Window Markers
– Play learning games on the tablet
– Make a straw bead necklace
– Build with sponge building blocks – cut several sponges into strips and stack them
– Read stories with Mom
– ABC match game
– Practice with the lacing cards

OUTSIDE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a fun obstacle course with PVC pipe sprinklers
– Water gun tin can target practice
– Water balloon towel toss
– Garden for letters: dig & spell
– Target sponge toss
– Have a picnic on the swing
– Go on a walk
– Have a bike wash.  A car wash… for bikes.
– Make mud pies
– Create a water wall with plastic bottles
– Water balloon pinata
– Create a tin foil river.  Float paper boats in them.
– Water balloon fight!
– Blow bubbles
– Go on a nature scavenger hunt
– Ride bikes

– Sand box treasure hunt
– Create a chalk maze
– Ice boat races
– Sponge water fight
– Play in the pool
– Ice block toy rescue
– Play in the sprinklers
– Draw with chalk on the sidewalk

ENERGY BURNING KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Glow balloon ping pong
– Paper plate ring toss

– Masking tape bean bag toss (or paper plate toss)
– Sing songs!
– Dinosaur fossil hunt
– Super chore race!
– Masking tape maze
– Paper plate frisbee

– Make a mini golf course
– Dance Party!
– Duck, duck, goose
– Go on a treasure hunt
– Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
– Build an obstacle course
– Put on a circus
– Nerf gun wars
– Glow in the dark bowling

THINGS TO MAKE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a wind chime
– Construct a city for your cars from cardboard boxes
– Paper Airplane Races
– Make Olliblocks

– Make a rain stick
– Make DIY paint with water pages
– Tin can telephones
– Make a musical instrument
– Make a lemonade stand
– Bow & Arrow practice.  Not a real bow an arrow.  There’s lots of fun ideas for DIY toys.
– Make sugar cube castles
– Q-tip painting.
– Make an I Love You chain
– Make a shoe box shape sorter for a baby
– Draw a treasure map!
– Make a marble maze
– Make pet rocks
– Masking tape city and roads
– Trace around your body and make a “Flat Me”
– Make toilet paper tube race cars

– Use old crayons and make sun catchers
– Make straw rockets
– Masking tape maze
– Macaroni noodle necklace
– Make constellation cans
– Make slime!
– Use popsicle sticks to make puppets.  Have a puppet show.
– Make shadow box piggy banks
– Make Gak

– Cardboard box cars
– Paint rocks for the garden
– Salt painting
– Make paper
– Build something with a box
– Corn syrup paintings
– Make paper dolls

THINGS TO DO KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Go on a monster hunt
– Learn some words in a new language
– Mess-free finger painting
– Make “potions”
– Play with letter magnets (these are my favorite, though kinda pricey)
– Build a fort!
– Clean something

– Play with the felt fishing game
– Have a science day
– Dress Up!
– Bathtub fishing
– Balloon Rocket Races
– Shaving cream bath tub painting
– String maze
– Photo booth
– ABC scavenger hunt
– Play with the Gizmos
– Play with the Pattern Blocks
– Make a life-size board game.
– Pajama Day!
– Take photos for an ABC book

– Do a science experiment
– Ivory soap clouds
– Write invisible letters and mail them
– Stay/day-cation
– Play with Legos
– Make and play with a sensory bin
– Camp out in the family room
– Act out a story
– Play on the Wii
– Make shadow puppets
– Play a board game. Junior Suspend is one of our favorites!

FAMILY ACTIVITIES (this is great for weekends!):

– Make pretzels
– Movie night on the big screen
– Go bowling!
– Launch rockets
– Have a fire and star gaze
– Go to the drive-in
– Go to the marina or river park.
– See a movie at the theater
– Go to the Discovery Museum

– Have a popcorn bar!
– Play in the fountains
– Fly a kite
– Star gazing
– Go to the library
– Camping
– Go to the beach
– Go to Sonic!
– Get ice cream
– Go to the splash pad

You can check out some of our favorite summer products on Amazon. These are all things we own and love and can’t live without when the days are long, the air is hot and the sky is sunny!

What’s your favorite summer time kids activities? I’m always looking to add to our collection.  Leave a comment and let me know!

The post 168 Kids Activities that will Rock Your Summer appeared first on While He Was Napping.

EVERY TOY CAR NEEDS A TOY CAR ROAD!

Now that we have all these super cool cars to play with, I was itching for some fun play road time. Giving kids the chance to free play is high on my list, but sometimes it’s fun to have a little guided play too. This DIY is the perfect way to combine the two. Make your car-loving kids this printable toy car road track set for their cars, because what’s a race car with nowhere to race?

The best part? It’s reusable and there is no right or wrong way to play. When my kids feel like they are in control of play time it tends to lead to longer and more engaged play, which means I can cook dinner without tripping over little boys in my kitchen. Between their imaginations and this DIY toy car road, they should be happy for quite a while.

MAKE YOUR TOY CAR ROAD IN 5 EASY STEPS

Life with kids is great, but play time can get rough and tough. A paper toy isn’t bound to last long in my house. Yours either? Well, I’ve got a few tips so you only have to print this toy car road once and to help it last as long as possible once you let the kids loose. Ready? Let’s do it!

Toy Car Road Materials:

• Printable Track Pieces in Color | Track Pieces in Monochrome
• Scissors
• Laminating pouches or self-laminating sheets | I recommend these pouches. I haven’t used the self-laminating sheets, but these ones have been recommended to me
• Laminator (if using thermal laminating pouches) | this is the new version of the one I use and love
• 5/8″ hook and loop fastener dots | get them here

Toy Car Road Assembly Instructions:

1. Print the track pieces. I suggest a card stock or other thick paper for durability. You may want to print more than one copy of the pieces, so there will be more to play with. This tutorial uses 2 sets of the color track set.
2. Cut the track pieces out with the scissors, getting as close to the edge of the road as you can unless you want a white border on the edges.

3. Laminate the pieces. I prefer a thermal laminator, but you can use self-laminating sheets too. Follow the directions on the packaging to get the best seal. A thicker sheet or pouch may help your track pieces last longer. I use these thicker 5mm ones and love them.

4. Cut around the track pieces with the scissors. Make sure to leave enough border so the seal stays intact.

5. Attach the hook and loop fastener dots to the ends of each piece. Put the hook pieces on the front side of the track pieces and the loop pieces on the underside. This makes it so you can rotate the track pieces. Repeat for each track piece, trying to get them as close to the center as you can so they will line up.

That’s it. You’re ready to play! Store pieces in a ziptop bag or other container with a couple of cars so you’re always ready for some race time play! Not much room to play? Only get out a few track pieces out for a compact track. Or go all out and try to use all the pieces!

NEED A TOY CAR ROAD THAT WILL LAST?

Let’s admit it, this version is pretty simple and not terribly expensive. A year later, ours is still in pretty good shape, all things considered. But, it definitely has some wear and tear on it. I’ve had to replace a couple of the hook and loop pieces and we’ve had things spilled on the pieces, like half a bottle of bubbles… So, if you’re looking for a toy car road set that will hold up just a bit better you should really check out this Felt Road Track. It takes slightly longer to create, but the pieces will hold up better – and just toss them in the washer if they need a quick cleaning.

RACE ON, MY FRIEND!

The post The Printable Toy Car Road Race Track Set your Kids will Love appeared first on While He Was Napping.

When the boredom monster rears his ugly head and chaos ensues, my kids are directed to this list of activities. They can choose something together or mom gets to pick their next activity – usually a chore. If you ever need your kids to entertain themselves, here’s 100+ ideas you can give them without saying a word.

100+ KID’S ACTIVITIES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Most of the time, I find that the hardest part of helping my kids come up with an activity is that I’m short on ideas. They just don’t come to when I need them most. Having a list already made up saves my skin (and sanity). If you ever struggle to come up with kid’s activities, this list is for you.

I’ve been struggling to keep my kids off the screens lately. And they always counter with, “then what can I do?” Apparently, they are tired of hearing my 7-9 standard suggestions. So, now they have over 100. If they can’t find something that sounds fun in that many ideas, then they probably need a chore to remind them what really qualifies as fun.

WHY YOU SHOULD LET THE KIDS FIND THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES & HOW IT CAN HELP YOUR WHOLE FAMILY

If you’ve ever been inundated with “I’m bored”, “there’s nothing to do”, “everything is boring!” or any variation of those, you know it can be frustrating. I’m a big believer that kids need to learn to entertain themselves. They need to be bored in order to figure out what to do about it. But, also, they should help plan family activities. Planning is part of being in a family, and life in general.

Learning life skills like problem-solving, planning, thinking ahead, preparing for an activity or event, and figuring out what to do with their time are all good things! If you get to spend some quality family time together too, I’m calling it a win.

SCREEN-FREE KID’S ACTIVITIES TO CONQUER SUMMER BOREDOM

This screen-free kid’s activities printable will help you reign in the summer chaos while helping your kids learn some valuable skills. It’s super simple. All you have to do is enter your info in the box below to unlock the premium printable and get immediate access.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Summer Boredom Bucket List printable (unlock this premium content below)
• A computer
• A printer

DOWNLOAD YOUR PRINTABLE

Step #1: Click on the image below and a new tab will open with the download page.

DOWNLOAD & PRINT YOUR PRINTABLE

Step #2: When the download page opens, save the image to your computer from the little arrow icon in the drop down menu at the top of the window, if you’d like to have a copy of it.

Step #3: If you just want to print it and not save a copy, you can do that too! Just print your copy of the Summer Boredom Bucket List printable with the little print icon in the top corner of the window.

That’s it. You’re ready for a summer of fun, screen-free activities! Go you!

EASY & FUN KID’S ACTIVITIES WHEN YOU NEED THEM

Make this summer one to remember with fun activities you’ll all enjoy. Let the kids help plan the activities and carry them out. Conquer boredom and manage the chaos with a little help from this Summer Boredom Bucket List and over 100 kid’s activities ideas. Ready for a great summer? Get to it!

You might also like my Printable Summer Bucket List so you can make a list of all the things you want to do this summer too!

The post 100+ Awesome Screen-Free Kid’s Activities that will Conquer Boredom appeared first on While He Was Napping.

KEEP THE KIDS FROM FIGHTING AND CREATE SOME AWESOME MEMORIES THIS SUMMER

If the thought of all your kids all together ALL SUMMER LONG makes you a little nervous, I get it. My boys have kicked their sibling rivalry into high gear lately and the idea of being with all of them all of the time for 8 weeks makes my eye twitch a little. While I’m a firm believer that kids shouldn’t be entertained all of the time, I also know from experience that bored kids are bickering kids. In order to keep the peace – and my sanity – I plan to have a few activities that I can turn to when things get a little too crazy.

These summer printables are perfect because they mean less work for me. Sure, I could design similar ones myself, but time is worth something to me. When all I have to do is print them out, some minor prep work and they are ready and waiting for when I need them most, I am willing to spend a few dollars. These are all printables offered by The Dating Divas so you know the quality is awesome, the designs are gorgeous and I love that I can save them on my computer and use them again and again.

SUMMER PRINTABLES THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE

These summer printables aren’t just for the stay-at-home mom who now has to fill day after day with memory-making activities. There are a huge variety of printables that will fit into just about every kind of summer plans you can imagine. Find the set – or sets – that best suit your family and make it a great summer! There’s something for:

• Stay-at-home moms and dads
• Family camping trips
• a Stay-cation you won’t soon forget
• anyone looking for a way to serve others and brighten someone else’s day
• families celebrating summer birthdays
• anyone looking to spend more time with their kids
• anyone wanting to make some great summer memories

9 SUMMER PRINTABLES YOU NEED TO ENJOY AN AMAZING SUMMER BREAK

Make this summer a summer of memories! All you have to do is download your favorite summer printables, save them to your computer, print them out and do some minor prep work and you’ll have a fun project waiting for you and your family to enjoy together. Click through on the images below to see complete details on what’s included in each printable pack. Ready to check these out?

SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS PACK

If you don’t know where to start, this is for you. This Summer Boredom Busters Pack has activity cards to keep that boredom monster at bay! Have a lemonade stand, do some random acts of kindness, or write letters to family and friends. There’s an adventure journal to keep track of all the awesome things you do this summer. Reading trackers, summer schedules, calendars, chore chart bingo and road trip games are some of the other great activities included in this pack. Beat the “I’m boooorreed” with these great summer printables. 

ROAD TRIP ADVENTURE PRINTABLE PACK

This was included in the Summer Printable Bundle and I am super excited to use it when we hit the road this summer. The Road Trip Adventure pack includes something for everyone in the car – yep, even the grown-ups! A new activity every hour will get you there before you know it. There’s games and printables for the kids and there are printables for your next getaway with your sweetie too!

FAMILY CAMPING ADVENTURE PACK

If you’re headed out camping, this fun kit will help keep everyone happy… and out of the fire pit! There’s some fun activities to help your family acclimate to life in the great outdoors. You’ll get a packing list and a to-do list to make sure you take everything you’ll need for an awesome adventure, a camping menu, camping games, scavenger hunt and a fun s’mores kit to make the best part of camping just a little bit better.

FAMILY STAY-CATION ADVENTURE PACK

If staying home is more your speed this summer, make your next staycation one for the books with this Family Staycation Adventure pack. Officially invite your family to your special family time with some fun invitations. There’s a fun bucket list and a customizable itinerary you can fill out together so you’ll be sure to make the most out of your vacation time. Activity ideas to help you make sure it feels like vacation, instead of being stuck at home will come in handy if you need some help coming up with ideas to keep everyone happy and entertained. Plus, there’s a little something special for you and your sweetie after the kids are in bed. Ooh-la-la!

BABYSITTER IN A BAG: COOKING ADVENTURE PACK

If you just need something to do for an evening, the Babysitter in a Bag ideas are perfect. While designed for you to leave with the kids and sitter while you go out, there’s no reason you can’t stay in and do it with the kids! I think I’d probably want to watch my kids enjoy these printables, they look like a ton of fun! The Cooking Adventure includes a kid’s recipe booklet, a DIY chef hat, printable games, activity place mat, a clean up list and more! Your kids will get to explore the kitchen while they learn and play! I am going to save this one for an afternoon and do it with my kids!

BABYSITTER IN A BAG: CAMPING ADVENTURE PACK

If actually going camping isn’t in your plans, bring the camping to you! Everyone will enjoy the best parts of camping and they will still sleep like little babies in their own beds with this Camping Adventure pack. Camping without my kids up at the crack of dawn? Yes, please! This pack includes scavenger hunt, games and other great camping ideas, plus a recipe for easy indoor s’mores. It’s the best of both the indoor and the outdoor worlds!

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION PACK

Do you have a summer birthday in your family? Celebrate in style with this fun Birthday Celebration pack. There are printables for both the kids and the grown-ups, so you’ll have what you need no matter what. You’ll get decor, activity ideas to fill the day with amazing memories, gift embellishments and fun photo booth props too! Everything you need for an unforgettable birthday!

CHEER UP PRINTABLE PACK

If you are looking for something nice to do, a way to pass a little bit of time doing something kind and productive, this Cheer Up pack is exactly what you need. It’s bright, fun, and happy and is sure to help you put a smile on someone’s face. You’ll get a card to put all your well wishes in, tags to fancy up any special goodies or treats you want to include, decor to make your box extra cheery and more! The best part is this is designed to go in a box, so it’s perfect for mailing if your recipient lives far away.

MINI MOM & DAD DATES PACK

My middle little guy asks me every so often, “Mom, when can you and me spend some time together? Just us.” It pulls at my heart strings every single time and that dreaded mommy guilt starts gnawing away. I try to make time for all my boys, but it can be hard when you’re outnumbered. That’s why I love this last pack.

If you want to spend quality time with your kids, this Mini Mom & Dad Dates pack will help you do just that. Make it a big deal and give your child an invitation to the date. Not sure what to do? There are mini questionnaires that will help you figure out what you child is most interested in. There’s tools and resources to help you plan your little dates and there’s even 5 ready-to-go mini dates to help you get started. Summer is the perfect chance to take a little extra one-on-one time with your kids and this printable pack will make it a snap!

GET YOUR SUMMER PRINTABLES NOW TO CREATE A SUMMER TO REMEMBER

There’s 9 ideas to help you keep the chaos under control and the memories sweet and happy all summer long. My boys laughing and giggling together is one of my favorite sounds in the whole wide world. I’m so excited for school to finally end so we can focus on playing together. It’s crazy how fast they grow up and I want to squeeze all the memories and fun in that I can while they are still little and want to spend time with me.

I know their bickering makes the days long, but they are numbered. I’m doing my best to make them count. And, yes, that even includes having memories prepped and ready to be made. I’m so glad these summer printables will be part of our summer break!

Which summer printables do you want to try first?

The post 9 Summer Printables You Need to Enjoy an Amazing Summer Break appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Our kids are getting older and there are more games we can play with them. It’s a great chance to teach sportsmanship, graciousness, and sympathy. It gives us a chance to just talk to our kids and find out a little of what’s going on inside their little heads. Game night is more than just little plastic pieces or a couple hands of cards. Game night lets us re-connect. Here are 27 games we own and love or want to add to our collection.

Links on this page may be affiliate or sponsored links. I will receive a small percentage of any purchase made through an affiliate link; however, your cost is in no way changed. This helps me keep this site running. I would also like to thank Personalogy for providing us with a game to play.

Click on any image in the collage below to learn more about that game or to purchase one for your family. Read a brief synopsis of each game below.

 GAMES FOR PRESCHOOLERS:

1. Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game – a color matching game that encourages counting, sorting, and simple math skills. Help the squirrels find their acorns in this quick and fun game with easy set up and clean up.
2. Hoot Owl Hoot – This game encourages players to work together to help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. If they are successful, everyone wins! There are two play levels so this game can grow with your child.
3. Spot It! Alphabet – We love all the Spot It! games because the whole family can play, even my 2-and-a-half year old. This one is amazing for helping my four-and-a-half year old practice his letters.
4. Spot It! Junior – This is one that my 2-year-old really gets into because he is really into animals right now. He’s slowly getting the idea of the game, but needs help. My boys like to play this one by themselves and I love to pull it out when I’m trying to prepare dinner.
5. I SPY Preschool – Players match riddles with pictures and put them together like a puzzle. There are three ways to play and there are no small parts, which means we can play with the whole family. Helps practice matching, reading, and following rules.
6. Lucky Ducks – A fun matching game that helps develop color recognition. Match three to win! My boys LOVE playing with the ducks and I love that it has the kinesthetic aspect that keeps my 4-and-a-half year old engaged, while helping my 2-and-a-half year old practice shapes and colors.

GAMES FOR BIG KIDS:

1. Totally Gross – A fun board game for boys and girls alike that explores science. Everyone will get a laugh or two from the silly science questions. I don’t love the gross out challenges, but my boys do! Recommended for ages 8+, so we have to help my 4-and-a-half year old.
2. Suspend – This is one of our VERY FAVORITE games! It’s recommended for ages 8+, but my little guys like to play too. We have to adjust the rules a touch because they aren’t terribly stable, but we all have fun!
3. Scrambled States of America – Helps kids learn basic geography, state names, capitals, nicknames, and shapes through visual puzzles, riddles and geography challenges. We haven’t played this one yet, but we love the book! Another great geography option is 10 Days in the USA. My 7-year-old likes to play this one by himself and his geography knowledge is awesome. It’s fun to play as adults too!
4. Say Anything, Family Edition – Every player answers a fun question and players try to choose which answer the judge will like best. It’s a super fun game to see what stuff your kids come up with. When asked, “what would make long car rides more fun”, my 4-and-a-half year old answered with, “zebras”. Turns out he liked when we saw horse trailers, but wondered why they didn’t have zebras in them. A conversation we probably would never have had otherwise. It’s a GREAT car game!
5. Pass the Pigs – This one is simple, it’s compact (we keep one in the diaper bag in case we encounter a long wait somewhere), and it’s easy to play. All of my kids can play. We don’t always keep score – because my kids don’t care that much – but it’s a fun one for adults to play too.
6. Circuit Maze – This is a super neat game that we’ve played with at our local discovery museum and it is a really fun way to help kids learn about currents and electricity. My 7-year-old LOVES this. There’s also a lazer maze game that looks like it would be really cool too.
7. Quiddler – This is a fun way to practice spelling and it’s a fun game to play as a group of adults too. When we play with our kids, we relax the rules a bit because our oldest is still learning to spell and our other two don’t spell at all.

GAMES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:

1. Personalogy  – This is not only a great gift for introverts, it’s a perfect gift for hosts of holiday gatherings! We dare you to play, see how quickly it turns any social gathering into hilarious fun and lightens the mood. If you don’t discover new things about who you are playing with or laugh-out-loud within the first 5 minutes, throw this game in the garbage or, pass it onto your neighbor. It has no use for you. Seriously, grab your drink and a special someone or a group of friends and see how quickly Personalogy makes you laugh! Grab the family edition OR the party edition – depending on what you think is best for your gathering or recipient!
2. Rack-O – This one is fun for grown-up play and it’s a great way for my boys to practice numerical order. This is a fun date night game too, because the rules are basic and easy to learn, but there’s still some strategy involved. It is good for talking, or not.
3. Guillotine – We were introduced to this game almost 10 years ago and it’s still one of our go-to games! There’s a bit of a learning curve because each card is played differently and scores differently; but, after you get through a hand, everyone has gotten the hang of it. The best way to learn with this game is to play it! This is another teams game with our little kids.
4. Gloom – This one is still on my to-play list, but it sounds similar to Guillotine, which we really love. You try to play tragedies on your own characters and happy occasions on other players characters before they pass on.
5. Saboteur – I haven’t actually played this one, but I’ve heard it is incredible. It’s on my Christmas list this year. You’re digging for gold in a maze of mining tunnels, but some of the miners are saboteurs and try to steal your hard earned gold.
6. Mexican Train – I first played this game on my third date with Mr Napping. We still play it now with our kids! It’s a pretty basic matching game, with some extra rules and a bit of strategy. My 7-year-old can play by himself, but my other two play on teams. This is a great game for adults and older kids alike.
7. Exploding Kittens – I haven’t played this one, but it seems like everyone else has. Out of 5, 116 reviews on Amazon it’s got a 4.5 star rating out of 5 stars. I’ve heard it’s a good party game, especially if you have a competitive streak!
8. Double Ditto – This is a good game for kids and grown-ups alike. You pick a card, read it, and then write down two answers you think other players will write down too. If you can match one answer with another player, you get a ditto. If you match both answers, you get a double ditto. It’s fun to see who else thinks like you do.
9. The Game of Things – This one is fun because you can tailor it to your audience. We can play G-rated versions with our kids and adult it up a notch when we play with our friends and other adults. For example: “Things… you shouldn’t laugh at…” could be burping at the table or something more adult.
10. Deer in the Headlights – We were gifted this game last year for Christmas and it’s a fun one. There’s a bit of a learning curve because each combination of dice gets scored differently, but there’s a reference card to help keep you on track. After a while you’ll remember it too. It’s a great game for a large group. We have to play this one in teams with our little ones though.
11. Blokus – We all LOVE this board game! There’s strategy and problem solving for the adults and my boys really like to just play with the pieces and putting them on the board. They like to make pictures with the pieces too. This is another game we pull out for date night and it brings out a bit of competition between Mr Napping and I.
12. Bohnanza – This is SUCH A FUN GAME! Like stay up til 3 in the morning playing kind of fun. There’s bartering, and trading, and favors and planting and harvesting. It’s pretty easy – you are trying to collect bean plants in your fields. When you harvest your fields, you get gold. The player with the most gold is the winner!
13. Been There, Done That – This is a good ice breaker party game and super fun to find out things you might not have known about your friends. It’s super simple to learn, and can be a quick game or take a little longer. This one is fun with the kids, although I imagine it would be more fun with older kids who have a bit more freedom from mom and dad than my little ones do right now.
14. 5 Second Rule – This is a good game to practice speaking under pressure and thinking on your feet. With prompts like “name 3 breeds of dogs” and only 5 seconds to name them, how will you perform under pressure. With the pressure of the ticking timer, you just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, and sometimes it’s ridiculous…ly funny.

Do you have any favorite games you like to play with your family? Leave a comment and let me know! We love that board games (and card games!) allow us to spend time bonding together. It is such a great chance to teach our kids some of the hard life lessons like fairness and not always being the best because those are things I want them to learn at home, in a loving environment.

Game night isn’t just the plastic pieces, it’s our time to re-connect.

If you’ve got any Little Star Wars fans on your gift list, check out 23 Galactic gifts your little Jedi wannabe would LOVE by clicking that next arrow!

The post 27 Awesome Board Games that your Family Will Love appeared first on While He Was Napping.

My goal this year is to have all the technicalities of Christmas taken care of by the beginning of December so that we can just enjoy the season. It’s my attempt to reduce my stress level. With this list, it’ll be a snap to give your little ones just the things they want this holiday season. You can click any image in the collage below or use the links below the image to get more info on each gift idea.

Links in this post may be affiliate links and I will receive a small percentage of any purchases you make. Your cost is changed in no way and you help my keep this site running. Thank you for your support!

23 AMAZING STAR WARS GIFTS FOR KIDS

1. Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar
2. Little Golden Book Star Wars Series
3. These Aren’t the Droids You’re Looking for Search & Find
4. Star Wars Everything You Need to Know
5. Darth Vader and Son
6. Goodnight Darth Vader
7. Vader’s Little Princess
8. Stormtrooper Potato Head
9. Playskool Millennium Falcon
10. C-3PO and R2-D2 Playskool Figures
11. Star Wars Bath Toys
12. Playskool Heroes and Villians Figures
13. Original Trilogy Figurines
14. Star Wars Tent
15. R2-D2 Bop It Game
16. The Force Awakens Figurines
17. Star Wars Battleship
18. Star Wars Lego Microfighters
19. Darth Vader RC Car
20. Star Wars Band-Aids
21. Stormtrooper Alarm Clock
22. Rebel Alliance Boy’s Tie
23. Lightsaber Toothbrush

Whether you’re looking for books or toys or practical gifts, there is something on this list that your kids will love! We have the Little Golden Books and my boys love them! And my 7-year-old would love the Search and Find book and the fact book. I’m still debating on the Lego advent calendar, but I know my boys would LOVE it!

What Star Wars gifts for kids would your lightsaber-lovers just love?

The post 23 Galactic Star Wars Gifts for Kids appeared first on While He Was Napping.

I have been loving all the ideas I’ve found floating around out there in the web-world and I wanted to share my very most favorites with you! These are ideas that will make your routine and your life easier! Who doesn’t want life to be just a smidgen easier?!

So, here they are!

MAKE THIS!

Start the day off right with this delish Banana Waffle Recipe found at Centsable Momma. A good breakfast is essential because everyone knows it’s the most important meal.

Every girl needs one of these adorable Laptop Bags over on The TipToe Fairy whether she’s going back to school or not! Computer safety and fashion are important!

STAY FOCUSED

I love this simple and oh, so cute checklist found at the 36th Avenue!

There’s another great After School Checklist over on the Penny Pinchin Mom too!

This Sand Writing Tray over on Stir the Wonder is perfect for my preschooler to practice his letters while my 2nd grader does his homework too!

PRINT THIS!

Grab this super cute Tips for Getting Straight A’s over on Michaela’s Corner for your teen and watch the A’s roll in! Or maybe you can pin in next to the calendar because teens don’t listen. Or so I’ve heard.

These First Day of School Signs over on Paper Trail Design are perfect for those first day of school photos that everyone shares on Facebook! If there aren’t photos on Facebook then it didn’t happen, right?

I am practically in love with these Print and Color Binder Covers over on How Does She.

ORGANIZING IDEAS

If you haven’t seen this Printable Student Binder on Just a Girl and Her Blog go check it out, PRONTO!

I absolutely love having a specific spot for homework time. Make your own Homework Station like this one on Polka Dot Chair so homework time is a breeze.

This is a neat idea! Put together a whole Organizer Homework Station like this one on Bowl Full of Lemons and keep everything in a tidy little home.

LUNCH IDEAS

Every kid loves getting a little note from home. At least, I did. These Lunch Box Notes over on A Little Claireification are just what you need and will let your kiddo know you’re thinking of them while they are away.

If your kid is a jokester, these Lunch Box Jokes over on Blooming Homestead are super cute! Share a laugh with your kiddo even if you can’t be there.

Do you have any great back to school tips? Share them with us!

The post 13 of the Best Back To School Ideas appeared first on While He Was Napping.

What time of the year is it for you? Here, Summer is getting closer and closer. Which means my boys will be home. All my boys. All. Day. Long. I’ve discovered the best way to get through the long summer days is to have a plan. A fun plan!

With all the fun we’ll be having around here, we need to keep our energy up! Between my three boys and my husband, some one is eating AT ALL TIMES. But we can’t be tied down to the kitchen! There’s too much to do, too much fun to have. And, frankly, I get tired of cleaning it all day long.

We reach for Mott’s® products a lot around here. I love the quality and that they have options to take snacks with us on the go. One of our favorites is the new cherry apple juice. It’s such a delicious treat and pairs perfectly with lunch.

We also love the applesauce cups and the squeeze pouches are perfect when we’re going out. The occasional treat is great and we love Mott’s® fruit snacks for that. They are pretty much a staple in our diaper bag for church. They help keep my boys quiet, which is a huge feat all on it’s own!

Mott’s® keeps up fueled up and running all through our summer fun! I love that they have boxtops on them too! Extra bonus for my kids’ school and products I already love?! Yes, please!

So, are you looking for some fun to schedule into your summer plans. Take a look at these fun projects and see which ones your kids would love to try out!

10 FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS THIS SUMMER

1. Egg Toss Painting. Because sometimes it’s okay to throw eggs! This is tons of fun and super easy to clean up! Plus you get a fun piece of art when your finished.

2. Cardboard Box Cars. A great upcycle for empty boxes! You can spend an afternoon making the cars and then play with them until they fall apart. We have a fun “drive-in” movie night and my boys watched the movie in their cars. They loved it!

3. Sun catchers. These are fun and so versatile. We made some for autumn and then did it again with valentine’s hearts. It’s a great project for those crayon stubs, but definitely needs adult supervision.

4. Make cookies. We love to make cookies. My boys don’t have a big attention span, so a package mix is perfect. They get to help dump the ingredients in. By the time they are no longer interested it’s time to put them on a pan and bake them. It’s perfect. And delicious!

5. Preschool Olympics day. With the Olympics coming up, this could be a fun way to introduce it to your kids. This is a fun activity to introduce the Olympic rings. Throw in an obstacle course, run a race or two or do some water races and you have the perfect summer afternoon.

6. Make Sparkle bottles. These are fun to make and almost as much fun to watch. But, they can be a bit messy. If you can, make them outside. You’ll also need to help with the hot water part. The kids love to pick the colors for their bottles and watching the glitter fall is super relaxing.

7. Building with marshmallows. This is so fun! We did this as an activity for the little kids for a movie night we had. It was the perfect distraction when they got bored and wanted to run around. It was amazing to see what they came up with. Such a fun sensory and imagination-building activity!

8. Science projects. We love to do science projects! You could do a whole afternoon of projects or make some fun goop to play with.

9. Put together a boredom buster jar with some craft sticks and pretty washi tape. Write down all the fun things you want to do this summer and then pull them out when you need an activity or distraction.

Or for an even easier activity, check out this fun printable version. All you have to do is print, cut it out and fold them up and put them in a jar for the next time the kids start bickering or pull out the dreaded “I’m bored!”

10. Headed out on some road trips this summer? Check out these fun ideas to keep your toddlers busy and happy while you’re on the road. Or maybe you have preschoolers? Here’s some ideas to help keep preschoolers busy too!

But, that’s not all! Mott’s® is having a contest and YOU COULD WIN $100 e-gift card to Walmart! It’s super easy to enter. Here’s what to do:

1. Take a photo and make a post on Twitter and/or Instagram and share why you think  is your perfect health partner – include the hashtag: #MottsMoments and #sweepstakes
2. Register: CLICK HERE to register with your Instagram/Twitter handle and name/email
3. Get Lucky! The lucky winners will win a $100 e-gift card to Walmart!

Tell me, what do you think of new Mott’s® Apple Cherry Juice? You can find it at Walmart! And don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a $100 e-gift card to Walmart!!

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

The post Top Ten Things To Do With Your Kids This Summer appeared first on While He Was Napping.