So, how to introduce kids to gardening in a way that’s enjoyable and interesting for them? Read on!

Getting Your Kids Involved in Gardening

Get them their own tools

Kids love having their own set of tools, especially when they’re made specially for smaller hands! Kids’ gardening tool sets aren’t that expensive and easy to find online. Grab them a set and give it to them as a gift, or maybe let them help you pick one out. It will get them excited about the task that’s ahead!

You’ll also want to get some plant markers so that your kids can keep track of what’s growing where. Check out these fun DIY plant and garden marker ideas, a great activity for a rainy day!

Make a Plan

Making a gardening plan is a fun process and it’s easy to involve your kids in it! Choose your plot of land or that pots that you’re going to use. Talk about how you want your garden to look, then sit down as a family and write out a plan for what vegetables and herbs you’d like to grow. Here’s a great garden plan printable you can use to record everyone’s ideas – Our Garden Plan Printable:

While you may not be able to visit a nursery or garden centre or you can order your seeds or buds online. You may want to get this started sooner than later, as you may find places start selling out of what you want.

Let Them Get Dirty!

Kids love getting their hands dirty! Gardening is a great opportunity to allow your little ones to get their hands dirty (literally) and touch and explore all the elements of the great outdoors.

Make Gardening a Fun, Social Activity

Go through all the required steps with your kids when you’re first planting your garden. Use this fun printable to keep them on track – How Does Your Garden Grow Printable:

Talk about why your plants needs certain things, like water and sun, and talk about how you’ll care for them in the coming months. Talk about the parts of a plant so they feel informed and educated on what they’re doing. Here’s a colouring sheet you can use to help with that – Parts of a Plant Printable:

And most importantly, remember that the upkeep of your garden should be fun and light-hearted! The last thing you want is for it to become a chore that your kids start resisting. Kids will love doing the daily check-in of their plants to see how much they’ve grown and if you’re tech-savvy, you can even set up a camera to film a time lapse and watch a quick play back with your kids of how their plant grew that day.

Teaching Nutrition Through Gardening

Letting your kids take part in the process of growing something from a seed or bud to a full plant is a wonderful way to promote healthy eating. Not only does the act of vegetable gardening give children a deeper understanding of where the food they eat comes from, it’s also exciting enough to encourage even the pickiest of eaters to try something new!

Encourage your kids to have a taste of the vegetables they’ve grown. It’s important that they get to enjoy the fruits of their labor! Here’s a wonderful tally sheet you can print for them to make it feel like a fun game! Have your kids go on a tasting test and record their likes and dislikes – Eating My Garden Printable:

Once you’ve harvested your veggies and herbs, you can use them in your cooking! Sit down with your kids and think about what meals you could make with what you’ve grown. You can also have them take part in the preparing and cooking of your meal. The more you involve them in the entire process, the more likely they are to try new things. It also allows them to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in all their hard work.  

Want more tips on introducing children to gardening? Here are some other great online resources:

Find tips, support and ideas for using garden-based activities and lesson plans for your children at KidsGardening:

https://kidsgardening.org/

My First Garden is a site from the University of Illinois that includes all you need to know about getting started with gardening in a fun, kid-friendly way:

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/firstgarden/

A Montessori perspective on the importance and benefits of teaching young children about nature and gardening:

https://www.montessorinature.com/importance-benefits-gardening-children-toddlers-preschoolers/

Gardening For Kids has great resources, tips and products for introducing children to gardening:

https://gardeningforkids.co.uk/

There are lots of great gardening products for kids you can buy at Gardeners.com:

https://www.gardeners.com/buy/gardening/kids-gardening/ 


Check out more cute free pintables for Summer here!

The post How to Introduce Kids to Gardening (With Free Printables!) appeared first on The Mabelhood.

Don’t worry, though — we’ve got team-tested tips to help you with the hockey tournament weekend: organization & survival. The tournament experience can be as smooth as freshly flooded ice with a little planning.

Hockey tournament weekend survival: gear organization

First and foremost, you need the team uniform. Your safest bet is to bring anything and everything that has the team logo on it: the ‘home’ jersey, ‘away’ jersey, ‘alternate’ jersey, and so on. Pack plenty of extra clothes, especially undershirts and socks. And, if your young all-star’s equipment is getting a little smelly, check out our tips on washing and disinfecting it before they hit the ice.

You don’t want to arrive at an out-of-town tournament with only one elbow pad. Take a full inventory of the equipment bag to confirm the presence of each piece, from skates all the way up to the helmet. To avoid accidental mix-ups with teammates, be sure to label everything.

Hockey weekend away game survival: food!

While treats and restaurant food will likely be part of the plan, you’re still trying to fuel your young athlete to perform their best. Balance things out by providing healthy, wholesome foods that you know they will eat. Here are some simple ways to make healthy choices on the road:

• Instead of visiting the arena’s concession stand, be ready with a stash of individually wrapped snacks, like granola bars or applesauce pouche
• A hotel room with a fridge is a nice bonus, since you can fill it with nutritious options like fresh fruit and yogurt from the grocery store.
• Booking a hotel with breakfast included is a smart move. Check the start time, though, as an early game might have you departing before it begins.
• Bring a well-insulated cooler, plus a few reusable containers or resealable plastic bags to store food supplies.
• Invest in a high quality water bottle that stays cold and doesn’t leak. Use the hotel ice machine to keep it filled and promote good hydration.
• If your hardworking player likes sports drinks, save money by buying a multi-pack and bringing a few bottles with you.
• Be aware of any food allergies among team members, especially if you’re providing team snacks or planning a group meal.

Players personal care!

You can help maintain everyone’s health and hygiene by bringing along a few key essentials, including:

• Handwashing supplies, such as wipes, hand sanitizer, or liquid soap. These are especially handy when the public washroom’s soap dispenser is (of course) empty.
• A “just in case” bag, customized for your family’s needs with things like basic first aid supplies, scissors, moisturizing lotion, and chewable kids’ pain reliever.
• A small bottle of liquid dish soap for washing water bottles, mouth guards or food containers back at the hotel.
• A stain-remover stick and travel-size laundry detergent, in case you need to hand-wash anything (pro tip: hang wet items over the shower rod to dry, or use the ‘clip’ hangers from the hotel room closet).
• A pillow from home, so your player can sleep during the drive and get some quality shut-eye in the hotel.

Hockey tournament weekend: keeping siblings busy!

All family members are part of the team, so plan ahead for the sibling(s) on the sidelines. Here are some tips to keep them occupied:

• Pre-stock an ‘arena backpack’ with things like books, small toys, card games, and activity pads. Avoid bringing anything special or breakable.
• Markers and a spiral notebook are classic choices, so siblings can doodle or make a sign to cheer on the team. They’re also easy to share with other kids looking for something to do.
• Scout the venue ahead of time to determine if there is a playground or walking trail where siblings can take a break.
• Screen time is a way to reward them for being a good sport on a long day. Don’t forget the charging accessories and a set of headphones! In case the arena wi-fi turns out to be unreliable, it’s wise to pre-download a few episodes of their favorite show.

Self-care for parents!

Don’t forget about yourself! Here are a few self-care reminders to maintain your sanity:

• Map the area around the arena and hotel, and take note of the nearest pharmacy, grocery store and (most importantly) coffee shop.
• An away tournament is a great time to redeem restaurant or beverage gift cards that you may have forgotten about, especially since you may be in a different part of town (or in a different city altogether). Treat yourself!
• Avoid the stress of feeling ‘out of the loop’ by bookmarking the tournament website and monitoring the team’s communication app for updates.
• Bring a cushion or clip-on bleacher seat for comfort, plus other cozy accessories (blanket, mittens, hat, insulated travel mug) to counteract the chilly arena air.
• If you’re into photography or video, have your camera or phone ready to record the action.

Your child’s team may not end up hoisting the trophy at the end of the weekend, but we all know that’s not the most important goal anyway. It’s solid advice for hockey kids and their parents — just do your best and have fun!

The post Hockey Tournament Survival Guide: How to Keep Organized on Tournament Weekends appeared first on The Mabelhood.

Here is a crash course on what I’ve learned about staying organized (being a cheer mom can be a full-time job on top of a regular full-time job). I learned through experience, and I want other newbie cheer moms to have an easier go – so follow these tips and you’ll go from rookie to All-star in cheer-mom organization!

There is much more to cheer than I imagined before signing my daughter up.  It’s a whole new world, a whole culture with new friends, new schedules, and new priorities. Not to mention new hairstyles, new clothing to buy, recent injuries to worry about, and fitness regimes to keep up with.

Create a schedule:

Start a homework schedule to ensure your child can manage practice while keeping up with their work. Training is mandatory for the success of the team, so it’s essential that you can manage both. Help your kids find a schedule that allows them to practice cheer, complete homework, and still get a good night’s sleep.

Get a planner:

Keep everything in your day planner; the schedules can quickly become hard to manage, and if you’re like me, writing things down is a must! So here is the best planner; you can customize it any way you like – and design it down to the color.

Practice hair and makeup:

Whether we like it or not, appearance is a big part of the cheer world. It took me some time to come around to the idea of putting my daughter in makeup. I’ve since learned the importance of it. Unfortunately, I’ve also had to teach myself to become good at it. There are videos like this one that can help you figure it out, and the veteran cheer moms are all so welcoming and happy to help.

Label Everything:

All the girls have identical items, from shoes to bows to makeup brushes, water bottles, and uniforms. Of course, it all must be labeled. I’ve been lucky enough to try out the NEW Mabel’s Labels Dance and Cheer Label Pack, and it’s been a game-changer for helping me stay organized. My daughter can quickly and easily spot her items, we no longer worry about germy water bottle swaps, and her bag is easy to identify. Plus, it’s all waterproof and machine washable, and dishwasher safe too.  Plus, they have ultra-cute cheer designs that girls all love!

Here is a quick pack list remember, everything is always labeled (top tip to be an organized Cheer Mom)!

-Snacks and protein bars and plenty of water!
-Ice packs and bandages (unfortunately, sprains and injuries happen)
-Pain relievers / first aid kit
-Knix Period-proof underwear (whether for my daughter or another girl who may get caught off guard)
-Portable charger (someone always forgets to charge)
-Bobby pins, hair ties, and hair spray
-Dry shampoo, portable flat iron
-Fabric tape, safety pins, and a small sewing kit

Follow the social media groups, and stay in contact!

If your squad has a social media group – follow it, join the parent’s what’s app group chat, and ensure you have everyone’s numbers. Sometimes things change, and you need to stay in the loop. So it’s imperative that you know what’s going on, what time, where people are meeting, and any other coaching changes that can be crucial information to have.

Avoid the drama

Remember that you’re the parent. Show good sportsmanship and support your team all along the way but remember that the coach always makes important decisions. Even when we don’t like or understand the choices they may make – we must respect them. Always be a good sports parent!

The post Organization Tips for a Rookie Cheer Mom appeared first on The Mabelhood.

Updated June 2022

It’s just the start of summer but you’ve probable heard “I’m bored” at least 5 times a day (and don’t get me started on how many times they’ve asked for snacks!). Finding summer activities can be hard. Here are some pintables to keep for a rainy day, or the next time they say they’re bored!

Plus, these fun, free printables are perfect for your primary and grade school kids. They’re are so fun, they won’t even realize they’re learning. Easily download the worksheets, coloring sheets and activities that suit your family.

Hello Summer Coloring Sheet: even mom may want to do some mindful coloring with this beautifully-designed, welcome-to-Summer sheet.

Word Scramble Printable: your primary aged kiddo can work on letter recognition, writing and spelling with this word descramble, complete with visuals.

Word Search Printable: grade school kids can brush up on their skills with this back to class word search.

Write My Name Printable: if you have a little one entering kindergarten, writing their name is a big deal! Print this one (even a few copies!) so they can have fun while they practice.

Joke Decoder Printable: your kids won’t even notice they are working on their printing, reading and problem-solving skills with this funny activity suitable for kids K-3. Bonus, they’ll get some new material for their jokes

Reading Bingo Printable: Give kids some incentive to do their Summer reading. Have them ‘compete’ against a friend or sibling to really motivate them!

Writing Numbers Printable: Kids K-3 can always benefit from practice writing their numbers.

Popsicle Maze Printable: A fun problem-solving activity for your little ones, that they can color, too!

Color Your Own Bookmark Printable: Creative kids will love designing their own bookmarks for themselves and for family members. Just print, color and cut. Print on card stock for a professional job!

BONUS! First Day of School Printable Signs: The start to the school year will be a celebration, and we’ll definitely be taking photos to kick things off. If you’re lacking a fancy letterboard or chalk sign, we’ve got you covered. Just print the sheets that suit the grades your kids are starting – from daycare to eighth – and you’re set.

Want more like these? Check out our Ultimate List of Free Printables for Kids.

We are all trying to get through this Summer like no other, while helping our kids to transition back to another unprecedented school year. We hope these printables make your days just a little bit easier. We recommend printing in black ink, double-sided (or use the back of paper for some freeform creative creations).

Comment to tell us which activities your kids are loving this Summer!

The post 10 Free Summer Printables for Kids appeared first on The Mabelhood.