These days drive-by parties have become the new normal and an art unto themselves.   What do you need to host your kids birthday parade?  Not a lot really, just yourselves and a few people with cars who want to come wish you well, but if you want to jazz it up a bit here are our drive-by party must haves:

 

Yard Signs – Let them know they have the right house with a few signs in the yard.

Balloons – nothing says “birthday party here” like an awesome balloon arch or themed balloon bouquet.

Door cover – there are even full door cover decorations that let people know they are driving past the birthday house!

Window clings – the kids will have a blast putting these up all over the front windows!

Banners – hang a banner or two from the windows, or just tape it to the front of the house!

Streamers – crepe Paper never looked so good, let the kids have fun “tp-ing” your front stoop or bushes and add a little color to the party.

Party favors – a party is not a party with out a takeaway, keep it socially distant by setting up a table with individual bags ready for pick up, at least 6 feet away from where the birthday boy/girl is greeting and getting their honks. (maybe ask a neighbor to host your favor table)

 

From us to you a giant HONK for birthday celebrations.  We need to keep celebrating and give our kids the gift of feeling special on their birthday.  Even if it doesn’t feel the same, we are helping to be part to the solution by keeping everyone safe while keeping it delightful for our littles!

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Happy August!

We love to pass the savings on to you! Here are some links to save you some $$$.

Shop kids apparel new arrivals at Walmart.com

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Shop Sale Items at shopDisney.com!
Disney Cloth Face Masks!
Additional 25% Off Clearance Items

Free Coloring Pages

Shop Award-Winning, Educational Toys from Fat Brain Toys
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 Columbia – 50% off Seasonal Styles

Shop Unique and Personalized Birthday Favors by Kate Aspen

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We are all ready to get back to the routine that comes with getting our little ones back to school.  This year is unlike any other with the unknowns of in-person vs. online, depending on where you live you may already know that the kids will be online for at least a bit of the fall semester.  To that end, we want to share with you our thoughts on building the perfect atmosphere to foster a good education.

Define the space – Whether it is a desk, a lap desk, or a corner of the dinner table there should be a spot where your kids can say to themselves, this is my “work” space.  We need to ensure that our children can own and define their school zone.  Tip: Check that they have an outlet nearby so that your child will not have to worry about charging their device during school hours.

 

Set the scene – Talk to their teachers about what they will need and let your child set up their own supplies.  Organizing the area and allowing them a little freedom can make the transition a bit easier.  Let them lay out paper, markers, pens, note cards etc., so that they are easily at hand.

Build in a transition time – Very much like adults, children use their time on a commute to school to organize themselves for the day.  If there is a routine in place before the school day starts it will make it easier to settle into the school day.   One way is to have a checklist of what you need each morning and to check each item off.  Here is a short one:

Check your workstation for:

 Your Device (laptop or tablet)

 Your whiteboard

 Your expo markers

 Extra paper

 Pencils/Pens

 Homework

By going through the motions each morning, it allows them time before they login to mentally prepare for the school day.

Be available – As parents we are facing the challenges of balancing our children’s education and our own work and it can be a very hard juggling act to manage.  As our children transition back into their routine it is important to support them by being available if they are having trouble managing the technology or need to regain the focus them may have lost over the summer.  If you start the conversation with your employers now about setting aside time in the morning to be available it may make the difference, and who knows they may be in the same boat!

Things to stock up on – printer paper, now more than ever our teachers in the trenches will be sending home printouts to complete, be sure you have printer paper on hand for the school year.  Note cards for creating flashcards, as we take on the role of parent teacher it is important to reinforce the teachings by creating fun ways to engage our children on “off hours.”

Education is one of the greatest gifts that we can give our children.  No matter how you are preparing for the coming school year we hope that everyone is safe and healthy.

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Nothing says “I thought about you” like having a gift personalized!  Here are our top 10 kids gifts that can be personalized and are sure to delight.

Crayola art set, you can choose from different images and even add a photo of the child. He or she will be so proud to show off their new suitcase of art supplies!

Sports jersey – have a little sports fan? Get their name on the back of a jersey.

Customize a book – what is better that seeing themselves in the story!

Wooden Name puzzle  – great for letter recognition and spacial ability.

 

Superhero cape – Everyone should get to feel (and dress) like a superhero every once in a while.

Initial Necklace  – A beautiful way to make their day.

Towel – ensure it will always come home from camp.

Pillow – what could be better than snuggling up with something that is all yours?

Pencils – School is coming back, get them ready with school supplies they will want to show off to their friends!!

Piggy bank – Encourage them to save by giving them a place to keep it that is all their own.

Personalizing a gift is a wonderful way to show you care.  Don’t forget to check the recipients Keep It Delightful profile before you purchase to ensure you have the correct spelling.  Just one more way we are helping to ensure a great gifting experience.

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The summer days are getting hot and our little ones sometimes need a break from the heat.  Bring them inside with a project they can assemble.  Gifts like these encourage fine motor skills and creativity, plus they can use them again and again!

 

Wooden Blocks – Classics wooden blocks never go out of style!  Kids learn balance as well as creativity with this timeless gift.

 

Mega Bloks – These are perfect for the tiniest construction enthusiast.  These giant connecting blocks let tiny hands put together and pull apart to their hearts content.

 

Magna-tiles – Magnets have come a long way since we were kids!  These tiles are great for building and you can engage your child by seeing what colors you can create by holding one tile in front of another, add a light table and let them see their creations glow!

 

Kid K’nex – These snap together building sets come with eyes, feet and wings so kids can make their own troop of adorable new friends that they can play with for hours.

 

Legos – There are so many sets now that come with step by step instructions for how to have kids build masterpieces with so many themes to choose from.  Want to foster their creativity?  They still offer traditional (instruction free) Lego sets to let their imagination run wild.

 

Whatever gift you get your super builder they are sure to love creating and re-creating with you this summer.

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Summer can be an incredible time for kids to get outside and enjoy the warm weather, explore the outdoors, and learn new skills like swimming.  Encouraging these adventures is a gift in and of itself but keeping them safe is always in the forefront of our minds these days.  Here are our top picks for adding some peace of mind as we let the kids enjoy their summer!

 

Sunscreen – you can never have enough sunscreen. The kids may give you grief, eye rolls or scoffs when you go to reapply, but it will be worth it to not have to deal with a sunburn!  Our favorite brand is Blue Lizard, the bottle changes color in the sun which is fun, and proof to the kids that the sun’s rays do have an effect.

Floaties – For any kid learning to swim these are a great tool to start the process. They are not however a substitute for supervision, kids need to be supervised at all times when they are by a pool or body of water.

Swim shirts/Rash guards – like sunscreen these shirts help deflect the intensity of the sun’s rays. If you are spending time by the water the sun is hitting you from above and bouncing back at you from the reflection off the water, so you are getting double the UV.

Bugspray – Mosquitos, horseflies and ticks are out in droves. Protect your little one from bites and stop they itch before it starts!  Always follow the directions on the bottle, most bugsprays should not be sprayed directly on the skin.

The bug bite thing – If your kid does get unlucky and step on a bee, you will want to have this device. It may seem like an “as seen on TV” product, but it works.  It can turn a bee sting from a four hour on and off crying fest to an almost non-event!

Helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads – Summer can be a great time for kids to try new things like biking, roller blading, or skateboarding. Protecting their beautiful limbs is crucial!

First Aid Kits and Ice Packs – Bumps and bruises will happen as our little adventurers explore the world around them. Make sure you are ready with their favorite character boo-boo bandage.

Water bottles – It may not seem like a safety issue but in these warmer months we need to be sure our kids are getting enough hydration. Our favorite bottles are metal so there are no concerns about BPA.

Masks – Our new normal as we try to combat this virus. They learn from watching us so show them how to wear the mask correctly, and make it fun for them by letting them pick out their own mask.

 

Keeping our kids safe, well and healthy is a parent’s biggest priority.  They may not look at these items as gifts today, but they may thank you for them one day.  Here is hoping that your summer is filled with magic and delight!

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Happy July!

We love to pass the savings on to you! Here are some links to save you some $$$.

Looking for savings on bestselling toys?

Shop Award-Winning, Educational Toys from Fat Brain Toys
Shop Personalized Toys at Fat Brain Toys

Save on Top Toys at Walmart.com

Shop Toys & Games from Amazon.com!

 

Shop Sale Items at shopDisney.com!
Disney Cloth Face Masks!
Limited Time Only – Splish, Splash into Savings

Free Coloring Pages

Special Offer 37% Off an ABCmouse.com Membership! Receive 4-Months for Only $19.95! 

 Columbia – 50% off Seasonal Styles

Shop Unique and Personalized Birthday Favors by Kate Aspen

Save on more than just toys! Check out the rollbacks and Clearance!

Disclaimer: As an affiliate Keep It Delightful earns from Qualified Purchases.

Do you want to keep up your child’s reading this summer?  Summer is a great time to build your child’s library and get some brownie points with next years teachers!

We encourage checking in with your child’s school to see if there are any series or specific books that they suggest.

Series we love:

Other great resources for finding options are your local libraries and local mom’s Facebook groups or click here here for some top rated classics.

If your child has a close group of friends or even just a best friend they like to do the same things as, it can be helpful to coordinate with other parents and purchase the same books.  You can then encourage reading, by using their friends as an example:  “Mommy bought you this book because I heard Jamie really liked it.”  This tactic can help soften them toward at least cracking the book open.

If your child is more centered on technology check out Reading eggs , Adventure Academy and ABCmouse, all have free trials and are great for reinforcing reading essentials.

Hope your summer is full of delightful learning moments!

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Every parent out there can tell you that there are party favors we love, the ones that keep our kids occupied for a few minutes, and the ones we try to hide before our kids see them in the favor bag… don’t judge, you know you’ve done it too!

Here are a few of our favorite favors:

Activity books, coloring books and sticker books – these are great to for a quiet wind down activity after you get home from a high energy shindig!

 

Puzzles, mini drawing boards and fidget spinners – these make a great favor that you can keep and reuse. Always a good idea to keep a few items like this in your purse in case you find yourself with the kids and with some time on your hands like at a restaurant, in doctors offices or just in the car for when the kids start to bicker.

 

Science kits and painting kits are a little more on the expensive side but it does keep the party going at home!

Keep safe and keep those celebrations going!

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Its great that Birthdays are celebrated, but what if the kids could keep the celebration going!?!

Here are a few of our favorite subscription services that keep the gifts and the excitement coming!

Science, STEM, and Craft sets keep the creativity and imagination engaged:

Little Passports

Green Kid Crafts 

Magazines encourage reading and curiosity about our world:

Highlights

Ranger Rick Jr.

National Geographic Kids

Need some online resources?  Here are a few deals on the top reading and education platforms:

We hope these recommendations keep the celebration going, the curiosity piqued, and the summer a blast!

As an affiliate Keep It Delightful earns from qualified purchases.