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New + Fun Fruit + Boba Birthday Treats Kids Will Love
If you’re not following along with me on Instagram or Facebook, you may have missed #thelittleone’s recent milestone. My sassiest, silliest kiddo just turned FOUR! (I can hardly believe it!) We like to send something small in to his preschool class each August to celebrate. We usually opt for something at least moderately healthy, and try to keep it pre-packaged and as allergy friendly as we can manage. Last year, berry applesauce cups were a big hit with the kiddos. We decided it was time for a change this year, so fruit + boba birthday treats are headed into daycare this week! Keep reading to see where we found them, and how we made ours a little more fun!
BOBA BIRTHDAY TREATS FOR KIDS + CLASSMATES
Bubble Fruit- Fruit + Boba Birthday Treats
Although my kids are often picky eaters, I have to admit that they will generally try more than people might expect. This adventurous quality is the reason both of my older boys discovered they love boba. I personally am NOT a fan- it’s just so not my thing. But I can see the appeal for kiddos- squishy, poppy bubbles, often paired with sweet flavors like juices or fro yo. #thelittleone and I were wandering through the grocery section at Target, looking for something he deemed ‘worthy’ of sharing with his friends. (Apparently applesauce just wasn’t gonna cut it, now that he’s four.)
As soon as we found the Bubble Fruit packages, he knew he’d found a winner! Rather than just send in a plain package of snack cups, I decided to add a little something extra. After all, they’re for a birthday celebration- a little bit of fun and fancy is in order! These sweet printable pages I drew up are simple to use, and add a lot of character to the class snack! We grabbed all three flavor varieties available, so I created labels to coordinate.
Supplies:
- Packages of bubble fruit cups.
- The ones we found are sold in packages of 4 cups, so be sure to plan ahead to so there is 1 cup for each child.
- Scissors.
- Printable circle tags to accompany the fruit + boba birthday treats. (Scroll down to grab yours!)
- Double sided tape.
- Optional: a pen or pencil to sign tags with the birthday boy or girl’s name.
Directions:
- First, assemble all necessary materials.
- Second, if you’re signing the birthday boy or girl’s name on the tags, take care of that after the labels are printed.
- Third, use the scissors to cut out each circle label.
- Next, use the double sided tape to stick the printed circle to the top of each cup.
- Be sure to match the fruit on the label to the flavor of the fruit cup!
- Be sure to match the fruit on the label to the flavor of the fruit cup!
- Pass out these fun fruit + boba birthday treats to classmates for snack time, or to bring home at the end of the day. They’re going to LOVE this fun twist on a typical fruit cup!
>>> Here’s the MELON page to print! <<<
>>> Want the BERRY labels? <<<
>>> Grab the PEAR printable! <<<
Who out there has kids like mine, that just can’t get enough boba in their lives?! What’s their favorite boba treat?
- Packages of bubble fruit cups.
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Cute + Easy Sandcastle Song For Simple + Fun Toddler Sing + Play
In case you guys can’t tell from the million posts about it, we had the best week away at the beach. The boys had so much fun jumping in waves and digging in the sand. While we were there, #thelittleone (my little singing fanatic) started creating some of his own songs about the ocean. After listening to him sing for a little bit, I was inspired to write a little ditty about the beach just for him. We hope your little ones enjoy this fun sandcastle song as much as my boy did! And be sure to check out the fun play-along option to bring the song to life.
BEACH + SANDCASTLE SONG FOR TODDLERS
A Disclaimer You’ll Want To Read
I’m not a singer. Definitely not a poet, or songwriter, or any type of musician. I’m just a mom, staying home with my kiddos, and trying my best to fill our days. My 3 year old thinks the songs I write are brilliant, and that my singing voice is magical. So if your kids love songs and music as much as mine does, don’t worry about your voice and just have some fun. I’ll be sharing videos that feature me singing with my boys, which is WAY out of my comfort zone. But if it helps other families have the same fun we’re having, it’s worth it!
Singing The Sandcastle Song
Here’s the song I created for #thelittleone after our week at the shore. I generally choose simple tunes from well known songs, because why re-invent the wheel? Kids are always happy to sing melodies they know, and delight in the little twists that make each version special. ‘The Sandcastle Song’ is sung to the tune of ‘5 Little Monkeys Swinging In A Tree’.
The Sandcastle Song
by Kate @ Homebound But Hopeful
Sung to the tune of ‘5 Little Monkeys Swinging In A Tree’5 little sandcastles, sitting by the sea
Teasing all the waves, saying ‘Can’t catch me!’
Along came the waves as splashy as can be
And they washed that sandcastle right out to sea!4 little sandcastles, sitting by the sea
Teasing all the waves, saying ‘Can’t catch me!’
Along came the waves as splashy as can be
And they washed that sandcastle right out to sea!3 little sandcastles, sitting by the sea
Teasing all the waves, saying ‘Can’t catch me!’
Along came the waves as splashy as can be
And they washed that sandcastle right out to sea!2 little sandcastles, sitting by the sea
Teasing all the waves, saying ‘Can’t catch me!’
Along came the waves as splashy as can be
And they washed that sandcastle right out to sea!1 little sandcastle, sitting by the sea
Teasing all the waves, saying ‘Can’t catch me!’
Along came the waves as splashy as can be
And they washed that sandcastle right out to sea!No little sandcastles, sitting by the sea
The tide was high, and the water choppy
The next low tide will be less splashy
So kids can build more castles by the sea.Playing Along with The Sandcastle Song
I love when I can bring books or songs to life for my kids. It really reinforces the learning for them. I created some free printable pages to accompany this fun sandcastle song.
Materials:
- Free printable pages.
- You’ll need 1 beach scene page and 1 set of 5 sandcastles.
- These are available in both color + black and white. It’s great to pull out some crayons or markers and let kids color the black and white versions if you have time.
- Scissors.
- Magnetic sheets with adhesive.
- Cookie sheet.
- I use cookie sheets because they’re light weight and inexpensive. The fridge, a metal door, a magnetic white board, etc. will all work just as well.
Directions:
- First print out the pages you have chosen to use.
- If kids will be coloring, give them time to color the sandcastles and scene.
- Next, use the scissors to cut out the 5 sandcastle squares.
- Attach each sandcastle to the magnetic sheet using the adhesive.
- Cut out each sandcastle magnet.
- I cut ours out closer to the sandcastle image, but if you’re letting your child work on scissor skills, cutting along the square outline is a great choice.
- I cut ours out closer to the sandcastle image, but if you’re letting your child work on scissor skills, cutting along the square outline is a great choice.
- Use a spare magnet or two to attach the scene to your cookie sheet or fridge.
- Stick the 5 sandcastle magnets to the beach scene.
- Sing through the song, removing one sandcastle each time another washes out to sea.
- Sing it over and over, while wishing you were still away at the shore!
>>> Color Beach Scene Printable <<<
>>> Black + White Beach Scene Printable <<<
>>> Color AND Black +White Sandcastle printable <<<
What do your kids like best at the beach? Playing in the sand, or jumping through the waves? (Mine all prefer the water, but the sand is a close second!)
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What This Mama Made- A Week Of Good Cheap Eats (4)
You may have noticed it’s been a little while since my last menu plan post. Life’s been busy, and a little crazy. I’m human, and some weeks, it’s easier to serve peanut butter + jelly sandwiches a few nights a week. After all the craziness, I’m finally starting to get back in to planning ahead, and to tell you the truth- it feels good. As always, trying out a new cookbook is so (nerdily) fun for me, so keep reading for a look at our week of Good Cheap Eats.
OUR WEEK OF GOOD CHEAP EATS 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.
Oh, scratch that! Between soccer games, family plans, and other craziness, menu planning got a little off track. So this time, I only planned for 4 meals, and filled up on leftovers the other night. Gotta be flexible, and do what works for your family, right?!
What Inspired Our Family Meals This Week?
I was wandering through the bookstore a few weeks ago, and came across a cart with clearance titles. Since I’m a total cookbook nerd, I was thrilled to find Good Cheap Eats for a super reasonable price! Jessica Fisher, who created both blogs Life As Mom and Good Cheap Eats. Let’s face it friends- I have 3 kids, the grocery bills aren’t gonna get smaller on their own! I was excited to see if GoodCheapEats could help.
The Family Meals + The Family’s Thoughts
Lemony Linguine With Broccoli And Mushrooms
Served with: fresh blueberries + salad; parmesan sprinkled on top.
#thebigone: ★★★★
#thelittleone: N/A
#thehubs: ★★★
#homeboundbuthopeful: ★★★★Would we make it again? We will! #thelittleone is pretty anti ANY sort of extras on pasta, so I wasn’t surprised he requested plain linguine. The rest of us liked it a lot, and it wasn’t hard to put together. Definitely a GoodCheapEats favorite for us!
Mac (And Ham) And Cheese Casserole
Served with: fresh watermelon + salad.
#thebigone: ★★★★★
#thelittleone: 0
#thehubs: ★★★★
#homeboundbuthopeful: ★★★Would we make it again? It won’t be one of our most frequent meals, but I’ll definitely prepare it again- especially since #thebigone loved it SO much! #thelittleone usually loves mac and cheese, so I was surprised he wasn’t a fan, but maybe he’ll be more receptive next time I serve it.
Sloppy Fo’s
Served with: buns, salad, blackberries + strawberries.
#thebigone: N/A
#thelittleone: N/A
#thehubs: ★★★★★
#homeboundbuthopeful: ★★★★★Would we make it again? Absolutely! I couldn’t find the suggested focaccia while I was shopping, so we went with typical rolls instead. It was still delicious. #thebigone didn’t get a chance to try this dish, but I’m pretty sure he’s going to like it when I make it next time!
Cranberry-Pesto Pasta Salad
Served with: corn on the cob, fresh veggies with rosemary hummus, kiwi + plums.
#thebigone: N/A
#thelittleone: N/A
#thehubs: ★★★★
#homeboundbuthopeful: ★★★★★Would we make it again? Yes, yes, yes- 100%. I honestly wasn’t sure what I would think about this salad, which is technically a side dish. But I prepared it to bring as part of a picnic meal, and I couldn’t love it more. It was great as leftovers the next day too.
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!
- Curious about other meal ideas from Jessica? Check out Not Your Mother’s Make-Ahead And Freeze Cookbook. (It’s definitely on my wish list now!)
Tell me about your go-to resources for finding dinner ideas that won’t break your budget!
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Celebrate National Watermelon Day with A Cool Sweet Treat
I wrote a bit earlier in the summer about the fun of discovering obscure little holidays to celebrate with the boys. After a little bit of research, we discovered that National Watermelon Day is right around the corner! I knew I wanted to find a fun way to mark the occasion with my fruit-a-holic kiddos! Inspired by #thelittleone’s very recent discovery of + infatuation with Jell-O, I created this fun, sweet, and cool recipe. The treat is perfect for kids to help creating, and pairs perfectly with National Watermelon Day! Read on and enjoy the celebration!
A TREAT TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL WATERMELON DAY
There are very few things my boys like more than fresh fruit and adorable food. Combining the two into a single dessert was the perfect choice for National Watermelon Day! Be sure to give this watermelon inspired treat a try.
Ingredients
- Fresh watermelon, chilled.
- 1 package of lime (or other green) gelatin dessert mix.
- 1 can whipped cream.
- Water.
Supplies
- Clear tumblers or cups to prepare and serve. (Straight walls, and not too narrow work best.)
- Bowl for mixing.
- Spoons.
- Cutting board.
- Knives for cutting melon.
Directions
- Prepare gelatin according to package instructions.
- Pour gelatin into bottom of tumblers.
- I aim for around 1″ – 1.5″ of gelatin at the bottom of each glass.
- Allow gelatin to set well in refrigerator.
- Meanwhile, chop watermelon flesh into small, bite-size pieces.
- I like to give each of my kids a large slice of melon and a not-too-sharp knife. It’s a pretty kid-friendly way to involve them.
- I like to give each of my kids a large slice of melon and a not-too-sharp knife. It’s a pretty kid-friendly way to involve them.
- When gelatin is firm, add around 1″ of whipped cream to each tumbler.
- Fill the remainder of each glass with bites of fresh watermelon.
- Serve immediately, with spoons. Enjoy!
If you choose to cook with your children, please be sure to choose safe ingredients and tools, and monitor them throughout the activity.
Celebratory Story Time
National Watermelon Day can be extra special if you pair it with a fun, fruit-filled story time.
Seeded or seedless- which watermelon will you choose for national watermelon day?
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Simple Sensory Sandcastles Using Magnets And Sandpaper
After time at the beach, as well as sandboxes at playgrounds and in our yard, it’s clear my kiddos are fans of sandcastles. Summer days and sandy feet go hand in hand, but with a young baby at home, I can’t always be cleaning up the mess. This inspired me to create a sandcastle creating activity that is easy prep, low mess, and still feels like the real deal. Read further to check out our sensory sandcastles, and create some of your own.
SIMPLE SENSORY SANDCASTLES IDEA TO DIY
Sensory input is so great for little fingers, but often has the potential to get messy! I love how minimal the clean up is with this activity. The materials are inexpensive, preparing them couldn’t be simpler, and the activity can be used over and over again. Total win in this mama’s eyes!
Sensory Sandcastles Materials:
- Magnetic sheets with adhesive.
- Sheets of sandpaper.
- Different grits will both look and feel different, so using a variety means extra sensory fun!
- Scissors.
- A cookie sheet, or other surface for magnets to adhere to.
- Optional- free printable beach photo as sandcastle building background.
- Scroll down to grab yours!
How To prepare For Sensory Sandcastles
- First, assemble all necessary materials.
- Print out the beach background photo, if you plan to use it.
- Next, remove the paper backing to expose the adhesive on a magnetic sheet.
- Attach sandpaper to the magnet, rough side up.
- Then use scissors to cut out small shapes for building sandcastles.
- Basics like squares, triangles, rectangles, etc. are all good.
- Feel free to get more creative- hearts, ovals, octagons, etc. could all be fun to incorporate.
- If children are old enough, encourage them to choose and cut shapes they’d most like to build with.
- I cut all of our shapes free-hand. They’re sandcastles- no need for perfection or fussiness!
- Attach the background photo to the cookie sheet or other magnetic surface with a few spare magnets.
- Encourage kids to attach sandy magnets thoughtfully as their sensory sandcastles grow in front of you!
Variations For Creating Sensory Sandcastles:
- Free build- anything goes, so get creative!
- Build by shape- what does a sandcastle made entirely from triangles look like? Circles? Squares?
- Build by size- put the largest building pieces at the bottom, and work up to the smallest ones. Try it in reverse… Which looks cooler? Seems sturdier?
- Build alone, or build as a team- what new ideas can you come up with when you work with a partner?
- How big can you build? Forget the beach background, and see just how tall you can make your sensory sandcastle.
- Can you use the building shapes to create a specific letter or number?
- Keep playing, and discovering more ways to create these fun sensory sandcastles!
>>> Beach Background Printable <<<
Big + fancy, or small + simple? What sort of sandcastles do your kids prefer creating?
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Cute Colorful Pompom Sorting: Inexpensive Busy Bag DIY
Life has been pretty on-the-go lately. Unfortunately, with 3 busy boys, that also means a lot of waiting, car seats, and boredom for them. I’ve always been careful to keep books and snacks packed no matter where we’re headed to, but lately my kiddos need more. Putting together easy and inexpensive DIY busy bags has been a great solution and boredom buster. Read more to see the newest bag I put together this past weekend for #thelittleone. It’s fun for kids, inexpensive to create, and great for young learners.
POMPOM SORTING INEXPENSIVE BUSY BAG IDEA
As far as my kids are concerned, there are never enough pompoms! Lucky for me, pompoms are plentiful, and reasonably priced. They make the perfect manipulative for this cute, colorful inexpensive busy bag!
Supplies You’ll Need For Pompom Sorting Bag:
- Pompoms in an assortment of colors.
- I chose red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and white.
- Weekly pill organizers.
- These come in varying styles. I chose 2 so my son would work on opening + closing containers in a few ways. (Better for his fine motor skills!)
- Rainbow stack + screw style. Ours is from Dollar Tree.
- Typical rectangle flip-top style.
- These come in varying styles. I chose 2 so my son would work on opening + closing containers in a few ways. (Better for his fine motor skills!)
- Scissors.
- Construction paper in each color. (Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white.)
- Transparent tape.
- A bag to hold your busy bag pieces.
- I generally use pencil pouches that slide into binders. We keep a binder full of inexpensive busy bag options in the car, so we can grab a few at an appointment or restaurant. The bags make it simple to keep everything organized. Using the binder means it’s easy to change up the available bags every few weeks, so my boys don’t get bored.
- Optional: tweezers, tongs, or other kid-friendly ‘transfer tools’.
How To Assemble + Use Your Inexpensive Busy Bag:
- First, assemble all the necessary materials.
- Second, use the scissors to cut a small rectangle from each sheet of paper, approximately the size of a flip-top lid.
- Third, use a small loop of transparent tape to attach a paper rectangle to the underside of each flip-top lid.
- Each lid should have 1 color.
- Each lid should have 1 color.
- Present one or both sets of pill organizers and pompoms to your child.
- Start small, with one set if your child is still mastering colors. Add the second later for extra challenge.
- Encourage your child to open and close each pill organizer independently. The screw-top kind is much trickier, and will give a different fine motor work than the flip-top does. They’re both great ways to practice.
- Once your child is adept at color matching and the skill of transferring each pompom by hand, introduce sensory and fine motor transfer tools for an new challenge.
- Tweezers, tongs, spoons, scoops, etc, are all great for pre-writing and pre-cutting hand strengthening.
- Tweezers, tongs, spoons, scoops, etc, are all great for pre-writing and pre-cutting hand strengthening.
- Start small, with one set if your child is still mastering colors. Add the second later for extra challenge.
- #thelittleone loves anything that’s a challenge, race, or competition, so even after he has color identification and the mechanics of opening and closing the organizers well established, he likes to challenge Dad to speed races, or tries to ‘beat the clock’. He’s happy to play with this inexpensive busy bag over and over, and it’s fun to find him discover new ways to play and learn.
This Busy Bag Was Inspired By:
- The cute + sweet rainbow treat I put together for my boy’s on St. Patrick’s Day!
- Teach Me Mommy‘s tasty jelly beans busy bag idea!
LOOKING FOR OTHER SIMPLE OR INEXPENSIVE BUSY BAG IDEAS?
Look no further- I’ve got a great collection of ideas already started on Pinterest!
What sort of busy bags or books do your kids like the best? Let me know in the comments below!
- Pompoms in an assortment of colors.
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Fun And Quick Tangram Sandcastle Building
We just finished up a pretty great week away at the beach. My boys are huge fans of spending time by the ocean building sandcastles with my husband and my dad. Obviously, building sandcastles in the house isn’t an option for us, but I wanted to create a fun opportunity for similar play with no-mess. Inspired by #thelittleone’s newfound love for tangram-style puzzles, I came up with this cute idea. Keep reading to check out our quick tangram sandcastle building activity, and learn how to create the same for your kiddos!
TANGRAM SANDCASTLE BUILDING IDEA
After a recent week away at the beach, my family definitely has sandcastles and other summery fun on the brain! Check out how simple this sandcastle puzzle and play idea is to put together!
Materials:
- Small felt sheets for tangram sandcastle puzzle pieces.
- Any colors are fine, but I chose shades of brown and tan to represent sand.
- Choose as many or as few as you would like. I chose 7 seven shades, so each tangram piece has it’s own color to make it a bit simpler for #thelittleone initially.
- Large felt sheet for play + building area.
- Any color is fine. I chose an aqua shade to represent the ocean.
- Scissors.
- You’ll be cutting both paper and felt, so plan accordingly if you’re protective of your fabric scissors like I am!
- Tangram sandcastle puzzle printables.
- Scroll to the end of the post to grab these!
Directions:
- Print out the free pages from the end of the post.
- Assemble the other necessary materials.
- Cut out each of the tangram puzzle pieces from your page.
- Use those pieces as patterns to cut each puzzle piece from felt sheets.
- Lay out the larger felt sheet for tangram sandcastle building.
- Use felt shapes to assemble a tangram sandcastle on the larger sheet. There are a few ways to approach building your sandcastles- see variations below.
Variations:
- For the greatest challenge, use the ‘level 2’ puzzle page and arrange shapes to form each of the sandcastles represented. If you get stumped, check out the ‘level 1/solution’ page for hints and answers.
- Younger kids can use the ‘level 1/solution’ page for a slightly simpler challenge to assemble the tangram sandcastles in a similar way, but with more ‘hints’.
- Enjoy fun, free play by skipping the puzzle pages all together, and simply build sandcastles using all the geometric shapes however looks right.
- Feel free to cut extra shapes out of remaining felt to give kids more creative freedom. In addition to being a fun artistic activity, it’s a perfect way to learn and review basic shape facts with young learners!
>>> Sandcastle Tangram Piece Printable <<<
>>> Tangram Sandcastle Puzzle Challenges (Level 2) <<<
>>> Solutions For Sandcastle Tangram Puzzles (Level 1) <<<
What sorts of puzzles do your kids prefer most? Tangrams, jigsaws, crosswords? Fill me in Via the comments below!
- Small felt sheets for tangram sandcastle puzzle pieces.
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Can’t Miss Summer Fun On Your Chincoteague Island Vacation
As a child, my family spent a week vacationing on a small island off the coast of Northern Virginia. We loved our time there, and as an adult, a Chincoteague Island vacation has become a summer staple for my family. We’ve visited nearly every year since 2010 and over time my kids and husband have fallen in love with the island too. We just got back from our trip a few weeks ago, so I wanted to share some of the fun we had with all of you. Keep reading to see what sort of fun you won’t want to miss on your Chincoteague Island vacation!
Disclosure: This post is not sponsored in any way.CAN’T MISS FUN FOR A CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND VACATION
‘Donut’ Miss Out!
You’ve seen before that my family (especially my dad) love their donuts. So it makes total sense that we are well acquainted with the island’s donut options. Early in the week, we typically hit up Sandy Pony Donuts. Their unusually flavored donuts are fun to try, and super fresh. We haven’t had a bad one yet! Insider tip: these donuts are on the small side, so purchase accordingly!
We’re also big fans of donuts from Lil’ Whippy. This is a relatively new extension of the soft-serve ice cream spot Mr. Whippy. Their donuts are seriously tasty, and they DO NOT skimp on the frosting! We like to spread our ‘whippy’ outings out a bit, so we do soft-serve early in the week, and donuts later on. (And bonus, there’s a bookstore right across the street! After donuts we love to walk over to Old Neptune’s Bookshop to check out their awesome comic book selection!)
I Scream, You Scream…
I mentioned it earlier, but Mr. Whippy is well known on the island for their tasty soft-serve ice cream, shakes, and other goodies. They are great for a treat on a busy evening when you want to indulge and relax at home, since they have a convenient drive-thru window. Definitely a must-visit for my family each summer.
We were excited to discover a new type of frozen treat when we arrived on the island this year! The Banana Hammock offers frozen bananas covered with chocolate and other goodies like sprinkles, nuts, or chocolate chips. They were the perfect cool indulgence on a hot afternoon before we hit the beach. My boys are still talking about those bananas weeks later!
Every Chincoteague Island vacation we take includes a visit to the Island Creamery. They have a huge assortment of delicious ice cream flavors they’ve created. (And parents, some even have a little hint of booze, in case vacay is stressing you out!). We’ve been going since I was a kid, and it’s always incredible. Don’t let the line outside scare you off- it moves quick and is so worth the wait. (Be sure to bring wipes! ‘Marsh Mud’ is a particularly messy flavor!)
Keeping Cool
A Chincoteague Island vacation in the summer usually means heat and humidity. We love to stay cool by hitting up the 2 major local water attractions whenever we’re in town. Maui Jack’s is a newer water park on the island. They have some super fun slides for adults and big kids, as well as a lazy river. The middle area, designed for young kids, is definitely the most fun for young visitors. My boys spent hours sliding and wading there.
Of course, any Chincoteague Island vacation MUST involved some serious beach time. You’ll need to drive or bike over to the smaller island (Assateague) to get to the beach, but it’s to watch for wildlife and Chincoteague ponies as you drive through the island. My kids love jumping through waves and playing in the sand. There’s plenty of wildlife to watch for- sand crabs, salp washed on shore, sometimes dolphins swimming in the distance, and more.
Active Eating
One of the best parts about a Chincoteague Island vacation is the laid-back, beachy vibe at many of the businesses. We love to stop to grab dinner on our way back from the beach, which often means we’re sandy, and still in swimsuits. (So nothing too fancy for us!) It’s great to have casual, easy options to choose from, and we particularly love the ones that give the boys a chance to stay busy.
ChincoTiki Caribbean Bar + Grill has a great area for games like giant Jenga, cornhole, etc., and a great view of the water as well. They offer a bar, and some tasty fresh food options.
Woody’s Serious Food has been a family favorite for years, because we love their BBQ and lemonade. The yard games and kitschy decor make it extra fun for families!
Smokey’s BBQ + Grill is another favorite choice- especially for #thelittleone. Give a kid a bounce house, and he’ll be begging to go there everyday! They have fun games to play, and delicious food and lemonades as well.
Busy Bodies
As I said, we’ve been enjoying Chincoteague Island vacations for years, so we’ve had the chance to try out a lot of fun activities on the island. Here’s some of our absolute favorites!
Captain Barry’s Backbay Cruises
We’ve gone out with Captain Barry a few times now, and love it SO much. Captain Barry is super funny, extremely knowledgable, and totally laid back. Kids will get tons of opportunities for hands on learning about the animals and plants that live on or around the islands.
There’s a small visitor center on Assateague Island, and we visit every year. The center has ocean themed books and puzzles for kids to check out, as well as a small gift shop. The fish tank, touch tank, and collection of bones/shells are always my boys’ favorite things to explore. Be sure to check the schedule for special activities running, like story time, bird watching, etc.
If you’re feeling energized, you can climb to the top of the Assateague Island Lighthouse! The views from the top are beautiful, and totally worth the climb.
The park offers a great playground to let kids play and burn energy without spending a cent. My boys have met kids at the playground early in the week and made plans to meet again later in the week for my play. Such a great option when the kids just can’t keep still!
Fishing + Crabbing
There’s several places on the island to rent or buy equipment and supplies for fishing or crabbing. My boys gave crabbing a shot this year, and #thebigone really loved the experience!
Boating + Kayaking
Last summer, we rented kayaks and paddled around the island. The boys loved taking the vessels out and seeing things from a different point of view. #thebigone had gone a few years ago, and loved having a second chance at it. (I’m fairly certain we rented from Snug Harbor Marina, but I could be mistaken- baby brain and all!)
There are several options for boating and sailing on the island as well. This year we took a boat tour with Daisey’s Island Cruises and really enjoyed it. We learned a lot, and got to check out ponies, dolphins, and other cool sights from a closer view.
Have a pony fan in your family? You’ll absolutely want to stop by the Chincoteague Pony Centre for a chance to ride a pony for a small fee. My kids loved the experience and felt so proud afterwards! Plus the gift shop is a lot of fun to peak through.
If you’re in Chincoteague in the summer, you should make a little time for their firemen’s carnival. It’s especially perfect for families with young kids since there’s typically a great assortment of rides for toddlers and youngsters.
Biking
Last summer, the whole family rented bikes and rode out to Assateague Island together. We alll love family bike rides! It was fun to see a different part of the island than where we typically drive through. We rented from The Bike Depot, and were really happy with their service.
Mini Golf + Other Fun
On Maddox Boulevard, you’ll see options for miniature golf, go-karts, and other sorts of family fun. The bumper boats at Funland are a big-time family favorite!
Maybe Next Year?
There’s never enough time for my kiddos and I to check everything off our Chincoteague Island vacation bucket list! These are some ideas of what we didn’t manage to squeeze in this summer, but hope to check out in the future!
- Black Narrows Brewing My dad and husband are both beer fans, so this will be a must-see next time we’re in town.
- Pico Taqueria We’ve eaten here when it was at it’s original location, which was more of a food truck/stand. Yummy food, and hope to visit their newer, larger location soon.
- Chincoteague Trolley Even after all these years visiting the island, we’ve never been on the trolley. I know my kids would find it super fun, so hopefully we get the chance!
- Farmer’s/Artisan/Flea Markets I’ve always wanted to check this out, but our travel timing has never been quite right. Hopefully I make it happen someday!
Where has been your favorite family vacation destination? Let me know in the comments!
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5 Useful Gift Ideas For Kids of All Ages That Aren’t More Stuff
This post is sponsored by Linqia but the content and opinions expressed here are my own
Summer is upon us, and with it comes a busy season of gifting for many. Graduation, back to school, and for my boys, birthdays, all present opportunities for gift giving during the summer months. My kiddos are already plenty spoiled in terms of toys and ‘stuff’, so this year, we’re focusing on other ideas when they make their lists. Keep reading to see some ideas for useful gift ideas for kids that won’t add any clutter to your home!
![Skip the mall next time you're shopping for the kids in your life! [ad] These gift ideas don't require a run to the store, and are likely to stick with children much longer than any trendy toy! #NY529Gifting #NY529 #GiftWithNY529](http://www.homeboundbuthopeful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GIFT-IDEAS-PIN-1-1.png)
NON-STUFF GIFT IDEAS FOR KIDS
The Gift Of Time
If there’s one thing every kid truly appreciates, it’s time spent with people who are special to them. Instead of adding more toys to an already cluttered house, it’s great to share homemade certificates or coupons for kids. Make coffee dates with your older children, or coupons to hit up the playground with younger kids. Opportunities to spend time together truly make some of the best gifts for kids.
Travel Opportunities
Without my parents’ generosity, my boys would have few opportunities to travel. Living mainly on my husband’s income simply doesn’t allow us to plan a lot of travel right now. There are likely many other young families out there with the same challenges. Offering travel opportunities as gifts for kids is a fun way to spend time together with children while they’re learning and exploring someplace new.
Activity Fees
As a mom to three boys, I know firsthand how quickly activity fees can add up. Lessons, camps, practices, etc- everything adds up. My oldest was gifted violin lessons by his paternal grandparents for his birthday one year. We’re fortunate to have the boys receive many of their soccer league fees as presents as well. These sorts of gift ideas for kids help show children of any age that we value their skill, and want to see them succeed- something so much more valuable than the latest action figures!
Donations To Others
Donations in your child’s name may not seem like the most ‘fun’ gift idea out there, but it presents a valuable learning opportunity. Presents like these, made in your child’s honor, help teach kids to value what they have. It brings the focus of gift giving back to the central idea of ‘it’s the thought that counts’, which is important in raising generous and kind kiddos. In particular, donations given to children’s charities, or a charity directly impacting someone in your community can make the experience especially relevant for kids of all ages.
Savings For The Future
My own parents as well as my in-laws have recently begun saving for my boys’ future by utilizing NY’s 529 College Savings Program. The beauty of these savings is that they truly are great gift ideas for kids of ALL ages- you can start saving at any time. Plus, they have an easy gifting portal called UGift that allows you to give friends and family members a unique code to add to your 529 account. Whether it’s a toddler or a teen, it’s never too early or too late to save for higher education. My boys will eventually be able to use these contributions at any eligible school. My children can attend any eligible higher-education institution, not just a 4-year college or university. This includes vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges and graduate schools, so they will still have total control over their future.
Since our boys will likely apply for financial aid when the time comes, I was curious about the impact a plan like this might have. I learned that because a 529 plan account is generally considered part of the parents’ assets, not the child’s, it will have much less impact when it comes to financial aid eligibility. And even if one of my boys eventually decides that further education isn’t for him, we haven’t lost the benefit. We can change the beneficiary if needed. If one of my kiddos doesn’t use the money in the account, we can choose an eligible family member, such as one of his brothers, or even my husband, to be the beneficiary without paying a penalty. You can get more information at NYsaves.org.
Do you have kids to buy gifts for this summer? What ‘non-stuff’ gift ideas for kids do you have?
![Gift giving for young students doesn't have to be complicated! [ad] Check the blog to read up on 5 great options that have long term impact, without cluttering up the house! #NY529Gifting #NY529 #GiftWithNY529](http://www.homeboundbuthopeful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GIFT-IDEAS-PIN-2-1.png)
DISCLOSURES:
Up to $10,000 is deductible annually from New York State taxable income for married couples filing jointly; single taxpayers can deduct up to $5,000 annually. State tax benefits for non-resident New York taxpayers may vary. State tax deductions may be subject to recapture in certain circumstances such as rollovers to another state’s 529 plan, nonqualified withdrawals, or withdrawals used to pay expenses for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. Please consult your tax advisor.
Investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money by investing in New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan.
For more information about New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan, download a Disclosure Booklet and Tuition Savings Agreement at www.nysaves.org or request one by calling 877-NYSAVES (877-697-2837). This document includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other information. You should read and consider them carefully before investing.
Before you invest, consider whether your or the beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in that state’s 529 plan. Other state benefits may include financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors.
The Comptroller of the State of New York and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation are the Program Administrators and are responsible for implementing and administering the Direct Plan.
Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC, serves as Program Manager and, in connection with its affiliates, provides recordkeeping and administrative support services and is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Direct Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as the Investment Manager. Vanguard Marketing Corporation provides marketing and distribution services to the Direct Plan.
No guarantee: None of the State of New York, its agencies, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), The Vanguard Group, Inc., Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC, nor any of their applicable affiliates insures accounts or guarantees the principal deposited therein or any investment returns on any account or investment portfolio.
New York’s 529 College Savings Program currently includes two separate 529 plans. The Direct Plan is sold directly by the Program. You may also participate in the Advisor Plan, which is sold exclusively through financial advisors and has different investment options and higher fees and expenses as well as financial advisor compensation. -
Quick and Low Prep Early Learning With A Simple Free Printable
As a busy mom to 3 boys, I’m always looking for easy education ideas that don’t involve a lot of preparation. I came up with this simple printable recently that is perfect for low prep early learning. The page can be used in many different ways for a variety of different skills. All the necessary supplies are inexpensive. The activity is entirely mess-free, making it perfect for learning on the go. Keep reading to see how you can use this page for your child’s skill practice. And be sure to grab the free printable before you go!
PRINTABLE PAGE FOR LOW PREP EARLY LEARNING
What You Need
- Free printable page. (Scroll down to grab yours).
- Pen or marker.
- Dot stickers. (3/4″ diameter is perfect).
- I grabbed ours from Target for $1.19 for 300 of them! Doesn’t get more reasonably priced than that!
How To Use The Page
This printable is perfect for any sort of matching skill an early learner needs to work on. Check out these simple directions, as well as ideas to put the printable to use.
- Print out the page.
- Decide on a skill to practice.
- Example: Matching upper case and lower case letters.
- Adult uses pen or marker to write the upper case letters in the dots on the page.
- 1 capital letter per circle.
- 1 capital letter per circle.
- Adult uses pen or marker to write the lower case letters on accompanying dot stickers.
- 1 lower case letter per sticker.
- 1 lower case letter per sticker.
- There are 32 circles per page. If that’s too many for the skill you are practicing, leave some circles blank or consider repeating.
- Example: 32 circles, but only 26 letters in the alphabet. My son struggles with the letters M and W, so I might make some extra M and W dot stickers, and label extra circles with those letters as well.
- Example: 32 circles, but only 26 letters in the alphabet. My son struggles with the letters M and W, so I might make some extra M and W dot stickers, and label extra circles with those letters as well.
- Encourage kids to peel the lower case sticker from the sheet, and place it in the circle of the corresponding capital letter on the page.
- When each sticker has been correctly placed on the page, the activity is complete!
In addition to practicing the academic skill being worked on, young learners also benefit from fine motor practice and hand-eye coordination as they peel and place the stickers.
Skills Your Child Can Practice
- Simple letter recognition. (A to A, B to B, etc.)
- Upper and lower case. (a to a, b to b, etc.)
- Simple number recognition. (1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc.)
- Capital to lower case recognition. (A to a, B to b, etc.)
- Counting recognition. (1 to one dot, 2 to two dots, etc.)
- Simple color recognition. (Pink sticker to pink circle, yellow sticker to yellow circle, etc.)
- Sight word color recognition. (Pink sticker to word ‘pink’ in circle, yellow sticker to word ‘yellow’ in circle, etc.)
- Sight word number recognition. (1 to one, 2 to two, etc.)
- Simple shape recognition. (⬛ to ⬛, ❤ to ❤, etc.)
- Sight word shape recognition. (⬛ to square, ❤ to heart, etc.)
- Simple math facts. (‘2+2’ to 4, ‘5-3’ to 2, etc.)
Honestly, the possibilities are endless, and can so easily be customized to whatever your child is currently learning about or most interested in!
>>> GET YOUR FREE PRINTABLE HERE <<<
Does this seem like a low prep early learning idea that would work well for your kiddos? If you try it, be sure to let me know in the comments below!
