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Free Heart Eyes Emoji Valentines Kids Will Love!
Valentine’s Day is always so much fun with my little boys! This was the first year my 4 year old truly seemed to ‘get it’, and he couldn’t wait to share gifts with his Pre-K classmates! I let him direct what sort of goody he chose this year, and he was all about the heart eyes! Read on to see my sweet heart eyes emoji Valentines, perfect for sharing with kids of all ages.
FREE PRINTABLE HEART EYES EMOJI VALENTINES
What To Include With Your Valentines
- We grabbed these heart glasses on one of our many Target runs!
- Stickers are perfect for little hands!
- My boys can not resist temporary tattoos!
- Bracelets like these are so popular with kiddos!
- How fun (and functional!) are a pair of these cute socks?!
- Keychains are perfect for personalizing backpacks!
- Young writers always need pencils and notepads!
- Mini Buttons are a fun accessory idea.
- Kids will love blinging out with these rings.
- Stampers add a fun twist to craft time.
How To Assemble Your Heart Eyes Emoji Valentines
Materials:
- Printed mushroom Valentines. (see below!)
- Treat bags. The printables are perfectly sized for these bags!
- Scissors.
- Stapler.
- Staples.
- Goodies to pop into each bag.
- Pen or marker.
Steps:
- First, print your heart eyes Valentines, making sure you have one for each child.
- Second, cut out each bag topper.
- Third, fold each bag topper in half horizontally.
- Next, have your child sign the back of each bag topper.
- Then, add your goodies to each treat bag.
- Place a bag topper over the opening of the bag.
- You may want to fold the top of the bag over once or twice before adding the topper, depending on how large your goodies are.
- Staple each bag topper once on each side, being sure to ‘catch’ the treat bag in the staples.
- Share your sweet heart eyes emoji Valentines with friends and family!
Grab Your Free Printables Here!
> Pink + Red Heart Eyes Emoji Valentines <
> Teal + Blue Heart Eyes Emoji Valentines <On the hunt for more Valentines Day fun? My Pinterest account has you covered!
Heart Eyes Emoji Valentines were perfect for #thelittleone this year… What theme would your child choose?
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Free Printable Mushroom Valentines Kids Will Love!
I’ve shared before that one of my favorite holidays to get a little creative is Valentine’s Day! Creating a new Valentine for my boys to share with their friends each year is so much fun for me. This year, my 9 year old wanted to share some adorable writing utensils with his classmates, so I set about creating a Valentine to match. Your kiddos will love these free printable Mario-inspired mushroom Valentines as much as mine!
FREE PRINTABLE MUSHROOM VALENTINES
What To Include With Your Valentines
- Mushroom pens. We ordered these and my son loved them!
- Necklaces with mushroom pendants would be fun for a girl to share.
- Chocolate with a mushroom theme would be sweet and tasty!
- Stickers are always a hit with kids!
- If homemade is allowed, lollipops would be a fun cooking activity for your little ones!
How To Assemble Your Mushroom Valentines
Materials:
- Printed mushroom Valentines. (see below!)
- Treat bags. The printables are perfectly sized for these bags!
- Scissors.
- Stapler.
- Staples.
- Goodies to pop into each bag.
- Pen or marker.
Steps:
- First, print your mushroom Valentines, making sure you have one for each child.
- Second, cut out each bag topper.
- Third, fold each bag topper in half horizontally.
- Next, have your child sign the back of each bag topper.
- Then, add your goodies to each treat bag.
- Place a bag topper over the opening of the bag.
- You may want to fold the top of the bag over once or twice before adding the topper, depending on how large your goodies are.
- Staple each bag topper once on each side, being sure to ‘catch’ the treat bag in the staples.
- Share your adorable mushroom Valentines with friends and family!
Grab Your Free Printables Here!
>Pink + blue free printable mushroom Valentines. <
> Yellow + green free printable mushroom Valentines. <
> Purple + red free printable mushroom Valentines. <On the hunt for more Valentines Day fun? My Pinterest account has you covered!
My kiddo chose mushroom Valentines… What theme would your child choose?
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Perfect Free Printable Valentine For Your Busy Little Bee!
Today I want to share a cute, quick Valentine I put together for #thelittleone’s daycare class two years ago on Valentine’s Day. He was just about two and a half at the time, so I had to be sure the Valentine was age appropriate. The final product turned out adorable, and he was so proud to pass them out to his friends. Read on to check out my free printable valentine, perfect for all the busy little bees you may know!
BUMBLEBEE INSPIRED FREE PRINTABLE VALENTINE
The Goodies
I always like to include something a little fun in our Valentines, whether that’s a toy or an edible treat. For #thelittleone’s daycare class, I was inspired to give one of his very favorite kind of toys- finger puppets. He’s always been a fan of them, and loves acting out all sorts of drama with the little characters. I grabbed these Busy Bee Finger Puppets from Oriental Trading, and knew they’d be perfect for all the kids.
Other fun options to you might want to consider:
- Busy Bee Eraser Pencil Toppers via Oriental Trading.
- Bee Pencils via Oriental Trading.
- Double Honey Bee Hard Candy via Candy Warehouse.
- Honey Scented Stickers via Oriental Trading.
The Free Printable Valentine
Supplies:
- Bumblebee inspired free printable valentines.
- These print 9 per page, so plan accordingly.
- Scissors.
- Stapler + staples, or double sided adhesive tape.
- Goodie bags.
- Small candy/toy/trinket.
- Marker or pen, to sign your valentines.
Instructions:
- Print out all necessary cards.
- Cut each card out.
- Fold each card in half horizontally, to create a bag topper.
- Signing cards is easier while they’re separate from the bag, so do that now.
- Next, fill each bag with your selected goodies.
- Close each bag.
- Use stapler or adhesive tape to attach bag topper to each Valentine gift.
- Share some honey-sweet love with all your friends and classmates!
>>> DON’T FORGET YOUR BUSY BEE FREE PRINTABLE VALENTINE! <<<
Do you have a go-to Valentine treat for your younger kids?! Let me know what you usually choose in the comments below!
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Taco ‘Bout Love And A Free Valentine Printable For Kids
Ever since ‘The Lego Movie’ premiered, I feel like ‘taco Tuesdays’ have totally become a thing. While we definitely don’t serve tacos once a week, we are certainly a family that loves a good taco now and then. Two years ago, while #thebigone was helping to choose his Valentine goodies for friends, he knew he wanted to include a fun taco theme. If your kiddos have Valentines they can’t help but taco ’bout, this free Valentine printable will be perfect for them!
TACO INSPIRED FREE PRINTABLE VALENTINE
The Goodies
Last year, I let #thebigone choose a few different themes to share with his classmates. He loved having a variety, and getting to choose who got which package. One goodie he was especially excited to pass out to friends was these adorable little Taco Coin Purses I found through Oriental Trading. (My boys actually had a taco themed birthday party one year, so trust me– this theme was spot on!)
Other fun options to you might want to consider:
- Glitter Taco Pendant Bead Necklace via Party City.
- Taco Truck Pullback Racers via Oriental Trading.
- Candy Taco via Perpetual Kid.
- Wanna Taco ‘Bout It? Temporary Tattoo via Temporary Tattoos.
The Free Valentine Printable
Supplies:
- Taco inspired free Valentine printable.
- These print 4 per page, so plan accordingly.
- Scissors.
- Goodie bags.
- Small candy/toy/trinket.
- Marker or pen, to sign your valentines.
Instructions:
- Print out all necessary cards.
- Cut each card out.
- Sign each Valentine.
- Next, fill each bag with your selected goodies.
- Add a taco Valentine to each bag, in front of the trinket, and close the bag.
- Make sure to taco ’bout how great Valentine’s Day is with each of your friends!
>>> DON’T FORGET YOUR TACO ‘BOUT IT FREE VALENTINE PRINTABLE! <<<
Do your kids have a favorite meal that could inspire a fun Valentine? Tell me what they’d choose in the comments below!
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Take a Pizza My Heart! Free Printable Pizza Valentines To Share
I think I mentioned before that 2 years ago, #thebigone actually gave out a variety of 3 different valentines to his classmates. One of his very favorites was inspired by his all-time favorite meal. This kiddo is definitely a pizza-holic, like most children his age are. So we created a simple, cute Valentine the kids loved almost as much as they love a slice of pepperoni! Keep reading to check out our free printable pizza valentines!
FREE PRINTABLE PIZZA VALENTINES
The Goodies
I decided to fill our valentines with these adorable pizza pens that I found on Oriental Trading. For grade school kids, we love novelty pens and pencils, because they make the task of writing extra fun. So we decided these were a perfect choice for the second graders last year.
Some other fun options to you might want to consider:
- Pizza Erasers via Oriental Trading.
- Colorful Pizza Mini Flying Discs via Oriental Trading.
- Valentine’s Day Plus Pizza Slices via Oriental Trading.
- Pizza Sticker Scenes via Oriental Trading.
- Gummy Pizzas via Old Time Candy.
The Free Printable Pizza Valentines
Supplies:
- Free printable pizza valentines.
- These print 4 per page, so plan accordingly.
- Scissors.
- Goodie bags.
- We often use zip top bags, but you can easily close others with twist ties or ribbon if you prefer.
- Small candy/toy/trinket.
- Marker or pen, to sign your valentines.
Instructions:
- Print out all necessary cards.
- Cut each card out.
- Signing cards is easier while they’re separate from the bag, so do that now.
- Flip cards over to sign on the back.
- Next, fill each bag with your selected goodies.
- Slip a valentine into each goodie bag.
- Close each bag securely.
- Share a ‘pizza your heart’ with all your friends and classmates!
>>> GRAB YOUR FREE PRINTABLE pizza VALENTINES RIGHT HERE! <<<
My Boys are ALL about Pepperoni, but I’ve got to know… What are your kids favorite Pizza Toppings? Tell me in the comments below!
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New Free Printable Donut Valentines For Sweet Kids
It’s no secret- my kids LOVE donuts. (My father is kind of donut obsessed, so they definitely get that trait from him!) A few years ago, #thebigone chose donuts as one of his Valentine themes to share with his second grade classmates. This fun + sweet theme was perfect for my donut-loving boy, and all his buddies. Keep reading to grab your own free printable donut Valentines!
NEW FREE PRINTABLE DONUT VALENTINES
Goodies You Might Like To Include
- We went with these super cute donut sprinkles yo-yos. They were a hit with my boys.
- If you’re brave, party blowers would be exciting!
- Notepads and pencils are perfect for young writers.
- Themed tiaras would be SO fun for a group of girls.
- Stickers are a favorite with #thelittleone.
- Lollipops are almost as sweet as donuts themselves!
- Themed erasers make great goodies.
- I had these when I was a kid! Slap bracelets are back!
- My boys got these rings for the goody bags at their Donut Birthday Party, and they loved them!
- How much fun would inflatable rings be for ring toss, the pool in the summer, or even the bathtub?
How To Assemble Your Donut Valentines
Materials:
- Free printable donut valentines.
- These print 9 per page, so plan accordingly.
- Scissors.
- Goodie bags.
- We often use zip top bags, but you can easily close others with twist ties or ribbon if you prefer.
- Small candy/toy/trinket.
- Marker or pen, to sign your valentines.
Instructions:
- Print out all necessary cards.
- Cut each card out.
- Signing cards is easier while they’re separate from the bag, so do that now.
- Flip cards over to sign on the back.
- Next, fill each bag with your selected goodies.
- Slip a valentine into each goodie bag.
- Close each bag securely.
- Spread some sweet love with your adorable donut Valentines!
Don’t Forget Your Free Printable Donut Valentines!
> NEW Donut Valentines to print for FREE! <
Donuts are a favorite around my house, but what other sweet treats do your kids like at Valentine’s Day?
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Easy Reindeer Treat Cups For Festive Holiday Snacks
This post is sponsored by Sensible Portions but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Am I the only one that feels like November, December, and January have become a big blur of holiday fun since having kids?! Between class parties, scouts celebrations, and soccer get togethers, we are always on the lookout for festive snack ideas to share with friends and family. Keep reading to learn how I created these adorable reindeer treat cups, and check out the snack we love to fill them with!
![Easy, adorable, and filled with something delicious AND healthier than many snacks?! [#ad] Sign me UP! You won't want to miss these cute Reindeer Treat Cups, perfect filled with Sensible Portions® Garden Veggie Straws all winter long. @SensiblePortions @Walmart #VeggieStrawsHoliday #VeggieVeggieGood](http://www.homeboundbuthopeful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/REINDEER-1.png)
EASY REINDEER TREAT CUPS FOR TASTY CHRISTMAS SNACKS
Making Our Reindeer Treat Cups:
My boys and I chose to make reindeer treat cups, because they are so often associated with the winter weather through out the holiday season. If reindeer aren’t your thing though, it’s easy to switch this craft up a bit and create moose, deer, or other similar animals, simply by changing the antler shape! We hope you have as much fun with this project as we did!
Supplies:
- Clear plastic cups.
- I prefer the footed dessert cups, just because they make the treats feel a little more ‘fancy.’ Anything work though!
- Brown craft foam. (Grab some red too, if you’re planning to make Rudolph!)
- Wiggly eyes.
- Craft tape in any color or pattern you like.
- Scissors.
- Black permanent marker.
- Double sided tape or adhesive dots.
- Something tasty to fill your reindeer treat cups with.
- Sensible Portions® Garden Veggie Straws are always a favorite choice with my boys!
Steps:
- First, gather all necessary supplies and materials.
- Second, use the scissors to cut antlers and noses out of craft foam.
- Then, create a collar around the reindeer by adding craft tape around the bottom of the cup.
- Next, use adhesive dots to attach the reindeer’s facial features and accessories to the cup.
- Draw a mouth on the reindeer using the black permanent marker.
- Be sure to let the ink dry!
- Be sure to let the ink dry!
- Finally, fill your reindeer treat cups with a yummy snack to share! (Zesty Ranch Veggie Straws, anyone?!)
Filling Our Reindeer Treat Cups:
When our reindeer treat cups are complete, I always reach for the Sensible Portions® Garden Veggie Straws to fill them. The holiday season is already filled with sweets like candy, baked goods, and other indulgences. My kids get their fill of sugar each November and December, trust me. So any chance I have to sneak something a bit healthier in front of them, I jump at it!
Veggie Straws fit the bill perfectly. They’re vegan, organic, and non-GMO, as well as free of artificial flavors and preservatives. I love how convenient it is to grab them whenever I’m making a Walmart run, so there’s no need to make special trips out. They’re right near the chip and snack aisle, in the section of healthier snack options. And bonus, my entire family loves them- and with 2 picky kiddos, that NEVER happens!
Sea salt, Zesty Ranch, or Cheddar Cheese? Which Sensible Portions® Garden Veggie Straws would your family like to try first?!
![Easy, adorable, and filled with something delicious AND healthier than many snacks?! [#ad] Sign me UP! You won't want to miss these cute Reindeer Treat Cups, perfect filled with Sensible Portions® Garden Veggie Straws all winter long. @SensiblePortions @Walmart #VeggieStrawsHoliday #VeggieVeggieGood](http://www.homeboundbuthopeful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/REINDEER-2.png)
- Clear plastic cups.
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Rainbow Family Dinners Kids Are Happy To Taste
Raising kids that are open minded eaters can be a challenge. My four year old is our biggest challenge right now when it comes to trying new food. I thought that making meal time a little more fun might help increase his enthusiasm. Keep reading to check out what we chose for our week of rainbow family dinners.
RAINBOW FAMILY DINNERS FOR MORE OPEN MINDED EATERS
Why We Chose A Week Of Rainbow Family Dinners
#thelittleone recently had a full evaluation for special education services. We were mainly concerned with his speech and fine motor skills, but decided to have everything checked to get a full picture. During the evaluation, while talking with the speech pathologist, it became incredibly clear that he has some sensory issues associated with food. He avoids mixes of food (soups + stews), prefers bland carbohydrates, and resists trying anything new.
Rather than forcing him to try typical meals, I opted for a more light hearted approach. Rainbow family dinners were the perfect solution. My son loved hearing about what color we were going to eat each day. We made a game of guessing what I might serve for each hue. (Spoiler alert, green cheese was a HUGE surprise!) Best of all, the simple approach to meals made it easy to incorporate a lot of flavors and textures, to make sure he really got to try things. (Crunchy, chunky, soft, sweet, tart, etc.)
Our Red Dinner Included…
Other ideas to consider: red pepper hummus, apples, cherries, strawberries, pomegranate.
For Orange Night We Ate…
- Peach yogurt.
- Cantaloupe.
- Baby carrots.
- Macaroni + cheese.
- Dried apricots.
- Pumpkin spice pretzels.
Other ideas to consider: mandarin oranges, butternut squash, sweet potato, pumpkin, peaches.
Yellow Supper Consisted Of…
- Chicken noodle soup.
- Pineapple rings.
- Yellow bell peppers.
- Mango chunks.
- Yellow mini M&Ms.
Other ideas to consider: corn, lemonade, banana, yellow squash, yellow rice.
Green Night Featured…
- Green beans.
- Kiwi.
- Cucumber.
- Green pasta. (Edamame, spinach, etc.)
- Sage cheese.
- Green rock candy.
Other ideas to consider: guacamole, zucchini, edamame, spinach, peas.
On Blue + Purple Night We Dined On…
- Blue corn chips.
- Blueberry yogurt + sprinkles.
- Grapes.
- Blueberries.
- Purple carrots.
- Blue wax bottle candy.
Other ideas to consider: eggplant, cabbage, purple cauliflower, plums, blue potatoes.
Do you ever approach meal planning in a fun, novel way for your family? Tell me about it in the comments!
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What This Mama Made- A Week of More Make It Fast Meals (6)
Busy-ness still reigns supreme around our house. Pre-K, soccer, scouts, library nights, swim classes… It feels like I’m in and out of the house constantly, and dragging kids along with me. We’ve been relying on our slow cooker a lot over the last few weeks, and honestly, I don’t know if that will change any time soon. Luckily, I’ve got a great variety of slow cooker cookbooks to choose recipes from. Keep reading to check out our week of More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow family friendly dinners!
OUR WEEK OF MORE MAKE IT FAST, COOK IT SLOW MEALS
First, Let’s Get This Out Of The Way
I want to make sure this is clear up front, guys. First, I’m not a dietitian, doctor, food photographer, baker, or chef. I’m a mom who really isn’t a great cook, trying her best to put some relatively tasty, not-too-unhealthy food in front of her picky kids each evening. You won’t find 100% organic, from scratch, or totally restrictive menu ideas here. I plan to share what we’re really eating- processed portions and all. Second, you’ll notice I only plan 5 meals each week. My parents inevitably invite us over one night, or we meet them out, or just eat leftovers one evening… Planning for 5 meals is more ‘do-able’ for us, and means we are less likely to waste food when plans change last minute.
What Inspired Our Family Meals This Week?
I’ve mentioned our crazy schedule in the past, and really, it hasn’t settled in yet. (Is it even going to?!) So, you guessed it- our Crock-Pot is still the only reason we’ve eaten homemade meals recently. This week I decided to try out 5 recipes from More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow. I have other books from the author, Stephanie O’Dea that I love, so I was excited to dig into some of these recipes.
The Family Meals + The Family’s Thoughts
Portobello Mushroom Sandwiches
Served with: red grapes + salad.
#thebigone: N/A
#thelittleone: N/A
#thehubs: ★★★★
#homeboundbuthopeful: ★★★★★Would we make it again? Since I make the menu plan each week, I can guarantee we absolutely will, simply because I love mushrooms. Haha! It’s also super simple, and pretty inexpensive- can’t beat that!
Marmalade Curry Chicken
Served with: salad, peaches + brown rice.
#thebigone: N/A
#thelittleone: N/A
#thehubs: ★
#homeboundbuthopeful: ★Would we make it again? Despite following the recipe closely, this somehow turned out over-cooked. The taste wasn’t bad, but the texture was tough. So honestly, it’s a toss up, but we’ll likely give this meal one chance to redeem itself!
Pioneer Dinner
Served with: cantaloupe + salad.
#thebigone: N/A
#thelittleone: N/A
#thehubs: ★★★★
#homeboundbuthopeful: ★★★★Would we make it again? Absolutely! It was a quick meal to put together, and tasted so good on a cool fall day. My parents heard about it from us, and are interested in trying it too, so we’ll definitely be putting this into regular rotation.
Not-So-Sloppy Joes
Served with: apple slices, salad + sliced provolone.
#thebigone: N/A
#thelittleone: N/A
#thehubs: ★★★★
#homeboundbuthopeful: ★★★Would we make it again? It was good, but I’m not sure it will become a go-to meal for us, only because there are other options we know we like better.
Peperoncini Beef Sandwiches
Served with: apple + salad.
#thebigone: N/A
#thelittleone: N/A
#thehubs: ★★★★
#homeboundbuthopeful: ★★★★Would we make it again? We likely will, since the recipe is so incredibly simple. It’s a quick ‘dump it in the slow cooker’ option, making it perfect for my husband to put together while I sleep in. So yeah, sign me up for any meal that means I get to sleep in!
Notes:
- Meals rated out of 5 stars.
- ‘N/A’ for #thebigone generally means he was with his dad and couldn’t try the meal.
- ‘N/A’ for #thelittleone generally means he ate his fruit and side dishes, but didn’t try the main course.
- We don’t force the kids to eat anything, but don’t cater to them either. I always serve fruit with dinner though, so even a picky kiddo will find one thing they’re happy to eat.
- Liking our dishes and trays? We mainly use the Pillowfort line from Target!
- Stephanie O’Dea has other great book options available. Here’s a few to consider:
With fall settling in, what are your favorite meals for cooler weather?
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6 Easy + Free Apple Printables For Playful Learning At Home
Every autumn for the last 30+ years, my in-laws have been visiting a semi-local apple orchard to pick fruit. It’s probably my absolute favorite of their traditions, and my kids love taking part each year. Since #thelittleone is now in pre-k part time, I’ve been looking for ways to work on some basic skills with him at home. I put together these fun, free apple printables as a playful to way to tie his ‘homework’ into our apple picking outing this week.
APPLE PRINTABLES FOR PLAYFUL LEARNING AT HOME
Create An A
‘A is for apple’ (obviously!) and this page makes learning or reviewing ‘A’ super simple. Kids can color the letter, trace lines, fill with pictures of apples, use stickers – whatever works well for your family. (Hint! We’ll be saving our ‘A’ page to create an alphabet book as the year goes on.)
Hidden Letter Page
If there’s anything my kid can get excited about, it’s a secret code or hidden message. Coloring in all the boxes with ‘A’ was a fun way for him to work on his fine motor skills and letter identification. Total win-win with almost no effort on my part.
Apple Clip Cards
Basic math skills paired with a small touch of fine motor work is exactly what my kiddo needs this year. To prepare, cut out each of the cards, and grab some clothespins. (If you’d like to reuse the cards several times, laminate them). Kids can count the number of apples on each card, then clip a clothespin onto the correct number.
Muffin Tin Counting
My kiddo loves any chance he gets to use the erasers I’ve grabbed from Target over the years. (Pom poms, beads, buttons, etc. also work well if you’re not interested in purchasing erasers). After printing, cut out each circle, and drop one in the bottom of each well of a muffin tin. Kids can work to identify the number on the circle, and put the correct number of apple manipulatives into each well.
Cider Sing-A-Long Song
I’ve mentioned before how much my son loves songs, so I wrote a cute little apple cider song for him to the tune of ‘Frere Jacques’. The free printable is perfect for kids to color while they’re learning the song.
Parts Of Apple Coloring
We read some books that included the parts of an apple while we were getting ready for our day at the orchard. I drew this simple printable to help reinforce some of that information with my son, and give him some coloring practice as well. I added the small circles to the end of the lines as ‘hints’. Adults can review the directions with kids, adding the correct color to each circle, making it possible for non-readers to continue coloring at least semi-independently. (Anything to help #thelittleone feel more like a big kid!)
Looking For More?
If you’re still on the hunt for more playful apple picking learning, I’ve got you covered! Check out my previous post on apple picking story time with fun learning ideas. If you’re interested in some more advanced math practice, I have some apple printables that might be helpful. And as always, if you’re not following me on Pinterest yet, you’re probably missing out on a bunch of great apple themed ideas I’ve saved!
Grab Your Apple Printables!
Create An A / Hidden Letter Page / Apple Clip Cards / Muffin Tin Counting / Cider Sing-A-Long Song / Parts of Apple Coloring
Which of these apple printables are you most excited about sharing with your children?
