17 Fun Holidays to Celebrate with your Kids in March

We had so much fun with our monthly calendars and hope you have too.  This month I found 17 fun holidays to include on our calendar (most I didn't know existed).  Pick a few or all and have fun :)

Download a copy of the calendar, print, and display.  After that have fun creating some special memories with your little ones.

Download your copy here

*Unplug day is the 9th and 10th.

I'll be posting ideas as I finalize my plans and also as we celebrate some of these holidays.  My hope is that this will be something fun for your family and a way to create some special memories.  I'd love to hear your ideas and see pictures of your celebrations!

Here are a few fun ideas we've done in the past that would work with some of these holidays.

Johnny Appleseed Day-you can find some fun apple themed crafts, recipes, and learning activities in this post.

Plant a Flower day-If its too cold to plant here are some cute flower activities.

Dr. Seuss Day-Our favorite activity is to have a read-a-thon.  Pick a book, find a comfy spot, grab some yummy treats and Read!  Find some other fun ideas here.

St. Patrick's Day Crafts found here.

 Princess Day ideas found here

Holiday's came from here and here. 

Amazing graphics from Amazing Classroom, Glitter meets Glue Designs, Dorky Doodles, Jen Hart Design, Ta-Doodles Illustrations, My Cute Graphics, Studio Devanna, Creative Clips,   Prettygrafik, Z is for Zebra, Workaholic NBCT, and fonts from Hello Literacy

Taking a little break

I just wanted to check in and let you know that things will be a little bit slow around here for the next little bit. We are just loving and snuggling this new precious little girl.  

Arctic Animal Puzzles and I Spy Game (Free Printables)

We have been running slow at our house.  Here's our next set of activities in our Arctic Animal Theme. 

First up is a a set of 3 number puzzles.  Each one has an adorable animal and numbers 1-10 on the side.  Simply print and put the puzzle together.  You can do the puzzle over and over again or glue to a paper.

 The second activity is an I spy game.  It includes 1 board game and 1 answer sheet.  Print both and see how many of each animal you can find.  Write the answer in the blank.  This is a fun way to practice counting and writing numbers.  I like to laminate these and use them over and over again.

 Download this mini pack here

Adorable graphics from Prettygrafik design, and KHDigi . Fonts from Hello Literacy.

You can find our other arctic and penguin themed posts here

Crocheted Arrow Farmhouse Sign

This might be one of my favorite projects.  It combines my love of crochet with my love for home decor (especially framed signs!)

I actually made this a year ago and use it in my girls room but love to bring it into the living room for Valentine's day.  I used this pattern to create the arrow (it's a paid pattern).  If arrows aren't really your thing or you are looking for a free pattern the possibilities with this idea are endless.  The only thing is you probably want something that lays somewhat flat.  I love the ideas of flowers, animals, these feathers, or even simple hearts. 

To make this sign I first crocheted my arrow.  Then cut a board to fit the size I needed.  To get the look of this board I stained it.  Once it was dry I painted it gray then heavily distressed the entire board so the colors sort of blended together.  Cut, stained, and attached the frame (quick tutorial can be found in this post or this one).  Then used hot glue to attach the arrow to the center.

I love the texture the yarn adds that paint just can't do.  Of course you could always add some vinyl or painted letters it would be so cute!

Here are a couple more colors.  These ones are in my little boys room.

Reading Bingo (Free Printable)

I'm so excited about this new Free Printable!  I love reading, always have, and just assumed my kids would too.  That hasn't really been the case with most of them.  I'm hoping with this new Reading Bingo Game that some of the required reading will turn into a love for reading. 

I chose a variety of challenges for each square such as reading in a different place, reading to different people, and reading different types of books.   Hopefully this will make reading seem less like something they have to do and instead turn it into something they look forward to doing.  I'm using this right now during the school year but this would be a wonderful summer activity as well.  

Use the link below to download a copy of this free reading bingo printable (I included a black and white version too if you want to save on ink).  Print 1 copy for each child. I recommend card stock and laminating if you want to reuse it.  White board markers work great to cross the boxes off and will erase.  If you aren't worried about reusing or are going for a blackout regular paper is great too.   

How we Play.  

I allow my kids to pick one square a day and once its complete they can cross it off.  Each bingo results in a little prize (candy bar, stay up a little later, treat of their choice, etc...doesn't need to cost money!).  Erase and play again.  If they are feeling ambitious they can go for a black out to receive a larger prize and each bingo they receive on the way is a small piece of candy instead of the regular prize for a bingo.

You can download your copy here

8 Free Reading Trackers

Yesterday I posted our Piano Practice Trackers and today I have some cute free printables to keep track of reading minutes. I have one daughter that is required to read for 20 minutes a day for homework and I thought it would be fun to have a cute way for her to track her progress.  I know know reading is so important to a child success and so I'm also using this as an incentive for my middle schooler and my preschooler as well.

There are 8 different backgrounds and 2 styles.  The first is a basic one with the date and minutes.  The second has a spot for the book they are reading and the minutes they read.  

 Download version 1 here

Download version 2 here.

7 Free Piano Practice Tracker Sheets

I have 2 kids in piano.  One loves it and the other not so much.  Practicing through out the week is a big part of success and it is so easy for the week to pass by quickly and realize that they practiced maybe once.  Hopefully that's just my house :)  Instead of me needing to bug them and staying on top of it I have now moved the responsibility to them. 

 We are now using these cute Piano Practice Trackers to keep them accountable.  After the first week they noticed their success in passing songs went right along with how much they practiced.

They come is 7 different colors!  The 4 pictured above and the 3 below.  Hopefully something for everyone.

 You can download and print the FREE Piano Practice Trackers  here.

 Adorable Backgrounds are from Instruct and Inspire, KHDigi, and Sweet Shoppe Designs

Reversible Valentine's and St. Patrick's day Blocks

I have a quick project for you and lets just call it the lazy way to get an awesome distressed look with half the work.  

You can do this with any sign but I thought it would be fun to use some 4x4 blocks I had laying around and turn them into reversible Valentine's and St. Patty's day decor.  I love when I have something that is quick to change for the season and even better less to store.

Sand and paint your blocks.  

 I used chalk paint but any kind will work.

 Size and cut your vinyl.  Apply to your blocks.

Front

 Back

 Paint a thin coat of the same color of paint directly over your vinyl.

 Let it dry

 Using a piece of sandpaper gently sand the paint off your vinyl.  It will give your vinyl a matte look and leave some paint making it look hand painted and distressed instead of vinyl.

 You can sand some of your block too for a great overall distressed look.  

You can also lightly rub some dark wax along the edges and a few spots on your wood.  I used the edge of a paper towel to apply it.  Once it drys sand to give it a more even look.

 I tied some tulle around the blocks to give it a little more color and just switched the color out for each holiday.