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The teacher in me loves creating great activities for kids, and holidays are an amazing opportunity to share them with you! With Father's Day approaching, I have put together a number of printables, all available FOR FREE. Last week I published an exclusive Q&A About Dad activity, for my newsletter subscribers, and now I'm bring more exclusives to the Mindfully Scientific Caregivers Group!
These four coloring pages are great for little kids who aren't able to make their own cards yet. Create beautiful homemade Father's Day Cards by having your child color the pages (make sure to edit your print settings to scale down the size!). Then paste onto coloring sheet onto folded construction paper to create a card. Help them sign the inside, and you are done!
You can also have your children color the sheets and put them inside of a store bought card. Or, use these in your classroom if you are a teacher! However your kids play, these coloring pages are perfect for them!
BE SURE TO HEAD OVER TO THE GROUP AND JOIN NOW TO GRAB YOURS!
Looking for even more Father's Day content? Head over to my Father's Day blog post, with gift and celebration ideas perfect for every family!
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NEW TO THE RESOURCE LIBRARY!!!!
Free Fun Father's Day Question and Answer Printable for Kids, plus 15 more fun questions to ask kids about their Dad!
Grab your copy of this question and answer activity for Father's Day! Guaranteed to get some laughs from Dad, this Q&A for kids is perfect to include in a scrapbook, picture book, card, picture frame, or on its own. Want to see how your child grows? Have them do one every year! "Kids say the darnedest things", am I right?!
You can get yours by subscribing to my mailing list here. There are loads of other great, free printables available on my subscriber's library, too. I'm always adding new content, so once you sign up, check back regularly. Also follow me on social media for updates (my newsletter will be coming out soon with updates as well). 
Are you looking for great gift or celebration ideas for Father's Day? I have you covered with this Father's Day post (more ideas are being added regularly). There are also free cards available for immediate download there.
If you do this activity with your child, be sure to tag me on my social media accounts! I'd love to see what creative thoughts they have about their fathers.
Want to elaborate on this activity? Try some of these questions out:
Have other fun questions to ask the Dads in your life? Comment below to share!
Be sure to share this article!
Find the perfect gift for dad, or way to celebrate the fathers in your life! I'll be adding to this post periodically with new lists, resources, and printables, so check back regularly!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Commissions earned help support my small business, and my participation in this program comes at no added cost to you. You can learn more here.
Great Father's Day Gifts
Free Printables - Great for Gifts, DIY Cards, and More!
FATHER'S DAY "ABOUT MY DAD PRINTABLE"
Sign up for my email list to get access to this printable, and loads more great free content in my subscriber's library!
Free Father's Day Cards - Printables for Instant Download
You can also download one of two Father's Day cards instantly below! No strings attached!
FREE FATHER'S DAY COLORING PAGES!!!
Grab your free Father's Day coloring pages over on the Facebook group! While I share many exclusives with my email subscribers, I also offer Facebook group only exclusives such as these:
Make Memories: The Best Father's Day Activities
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and helps support my small business. You can learn more here.
Make the moms in your life feel extra special by finding the perfect gift for mom (or any woman you want to celebrate)! Whether you have a large budget or are looking for a special homemade mother's day gift, there are ideas for mother's day that work for every family on this list!
PS. We all know preparing for mother's day can be a scramble. Luckily, almost everything on this list is perfect for last minute mother's day gifts!!!
Here are some of the best gifts you can get for mom this year!Spa Day at Home
Make mom feel extra special by giving her the gift of relaxation and time to her self. Start the set off with a luxurious bath pillow, add some shower steamers or other aromatherapy for bath and body options, and round it off with the most comfortable bath robe you can find! Make sure to upgrade the locks on the bathroom to ensure the kids leave her alone!
Here are a few of my favorite at home spa products:
And, here are some highly rated product recommendations, to help give mom the perfect at home spa experience!
And don't forget a basket to put it all in!
Personalized Jewelry and Gifts for Mom
Okay, so jewelry is cliche, but it is popular for a reason! Give mom a special personalized jewelry gift from the kids, so she can have an everyday reminder of how much she is appreciated. Here are a few recommendations of top rated items for mother's day jewelry that she will love (some of these options are even small artisans, so you also get to support a small business).
Pro tip: Personalized gifts can take awhile to ship. If they won't be to your home in time for mother's day, don't panic! Print a picture of the gift, and put it in a card. This has been a way that my husband has dealt with the issue, and I am always super excited about the gift that is on it's way!
Homemade Gifts for Mom
What mom doesn't love a homemade mother's day gift?! Here is some inspiration to help you find the perfect handmade gift for mom this year!
From Baby/For Mom on Her First Mother's Day: Footprint Flower Art
Ideas for homemade gifts from older children:
Left: Jewelry box w/ photo Right: Photo jewelry box on left, gratitude tree on right (sans tags)
From the Entire Family:
Give Mom Memories and Experiences
This is my favorite way to celebrate Mother's Day! Every year my husband and child bring me breakfast in bed. We then go to the local nursery and pick out the perfect new perennials, bushes, or a new tree, which my husband plants for me. Sometimes we go out for a nice dinner, other times my husband cooks (he is a chef, so I can't complain about staying in!!). Here are some other ways to show mom you appreciate her this Mother's Day!
Didn't find what you were looking for on this list? Amazon has a great mother's day gift guide full of unique, handmade items! Or, check out my holiday gift guide for her for even more inspiration!
Don't forget to pin this to reference later!
 Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and helps support my small business. If you would like to learn more about this program, please click here. Easy Plastic Easter Egg CraftsPlastic Easter eggs are great for more than just Easter egg hunts! These fun Easter egg crafts use materials you probably already have in home, and are perfect for family members of all ages. Activities you'll find in this post:
 Easter Egg Process ArtThis is a great sensory and art activity for children ages toddler and up! What you will need:
What to do This activity is simple. Just dip the Easter eggs into paint, coat, and then place on a paper lined cookie sheet (you may want to use tape to make sure the paper stays in place). Lift the cookie sheet and move so the eggs roll from side to side. You an also use the eggs as stamps, or roll them yourself. Plastic Easter Egg StampsThis activity is great for kids of all ages. Older children can help you create the stamps before using them, while younger children will love using the stamps once they are done! What you will need:
 
What to do:
You can also skup steps 2-4, and just use the Easter egg halves as circle stamps to create art like the piece below!  Decorated Plastic Easter Eggs
 Take it a step further! Using twine or ribbon and a hot glue gun, you can create garland out of the eggs by apply a dot of hot glue to the back, and affixing the eggs to the string. Or, if you have a cute basket, glass vase, or centerpiece bowl, place the eggs into that container as a decorative element you can use year after year! Or, use the eggs for your Easter Egg Hunt! Be sure to share this with someone who loves crafting, or pin it for other crafters to find! You might also be interested in:
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and helps support my small business. You can learn more about this program, and all my site's terms and conditions, here.
Celebrating holidays with food allergies can be a challenge. Everyday foods and activities may not be safe, and hosting family can mean less control over what you child comes into contact with. Whether you are the parent of a child with food allergies, have food allergies yourself, or are looking to accommodate someone with food allergies; whether you celebrate Easter as a holy day, a secular spring event, or somewhere in between; this guide will help you celebrate Easter safely.
Basic Tips for Managing Food Allergies
Whether it is Easter, another holiday, or a regular day, there are several things that can be done to help stay safe when managing food allergies:
Activity Ideas
Decorate Easter Eggs (without real eggs!)
Eggs are a top 8 allergen, and that means many families feel dying easter eggs isn't an option. Luckily, I found these great Merry Art Dyeable Decorating Easter Eggs! I haven't used them, but the reviews look incredibly promising.
 
Dyeing Easter eggs not your thing? Try decorating fake ones with paint, glitter, or anything else your heart desires! You can find eggs made out of a number of materials, like thesewooden ones.
 
Or, create paper easter eggs using construction paper (and cardboard or cardstock if you choose), scissors, glue, glitter, and pom poms! Be sure to download my egg stencil and print it off to create the perfect Easter egg shape!
Fill Your Easter Eggs with Safer Options, and Use Plastic Eggs instead of Real Ones
Candy Free Trinkets for Easter Eggs
Candy free options are excellent not only for children with allergies, but those who are too young to eat candy (though be cautious, many small trinkets are choking hazards, so I recommend sticking to things like stickers). They are also excellent options for families who want to avoid too much sugar, have metabolic conditions, or food sensitivities.
Here are some highly rated options your family will love!
Allergy Friendlier Candy Options
Our family loves Yum Earth goodies, including their seasonal varieties! Here are some made especially for spring!
Allergy Friendly Easter Basket Ideas
Forget the chocolate bunnies! Keep kids with food allergies in you family safe with these food free Easter basket ideas! Here is a list to get you inspired about what to put in your baskets this year, plus a few highly rated products that your kids will love!
1. Stuffed Animals
Stuffed animals are always an adorable hit in Easter baskets. We usually put at least on in our child's and our niece's!
2. Puzzles
Puzzles make great activities for kids of all ages, and fit nicely into baskets. We love wooden puzzles, and Melissa and Doug brand puzzles in our home! There are tons of great and educational options to choose from out there. Here are a few!
3. Bubbles
What kid doesn't love bubbles? They are a great spring activity; a reason to get outside, enjoy the nice weather, and focus on the light spring breeze! With a toddler, we love mess free Fubbles! The design of the container prevents large spills... and if you have a child, you know exactly what I am talking about!
 
4. Art Supplies and/or Stickers
Art supplies and stickers are another option that we love for Easter baskets. Whatever your child's age, there are plenty of amazing options out there!
 
Click on the images below to view some fun options for kids of all ages, or here to find all sorts of amazing Crayola products!
5. Books
Books are always a great gift, if you ask my family. We are all avid readers, and even my toddler gets excited when he gets a new book. Here are a few spring options, but if your child is older, feel free to opt for the latest chapter book in their favorite series, or another hot read for the year!
6. Other Fun, Smaller Toys
Easter baskets are an opportunity to give your child a new, fun toy to freshen up their collection. We don't always do a toy in our child's basket, but do sometimes give gifts to other children in the family (while aunts/uncles/grandparents do the same for our child). It is a way to add something special to the Easter basket they've already received!
And don't forget the basket!!!!
We prefer getting something that can be reused year after year. it is more eco friendly, and makes for a special tradition when my child gets to pull out their basket again from the prior year.
No matter what your Easter plans; whether you give Easter baskets, do an Easter egg hunt, go to church, or just have a nice brunch; when managing food allergies the most important thing is to be INCLUSIVE. Years from now child won't remember what was in their Easter basket, but they will remember whether they felt left out or apart of the fun and festivities.
Managing food allergies is difficult, but with a bit of creativity, you can celebrate holidays safely.
Be sure to share to help others make this Easter food allergy friendly!
You can find more resources for managing food allergies here.
Or, check out other great season activities for your family!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and helps support my small business. You can learn more about this program, and all this site's terms and conditions here. Additionally, I periodically receive gifted products from Yum Earth. All opinions are my own. We love their products, use them in our home, recommend them to all our friends and family, and genuinely believe in their brand!
Holidays can be tough for kids with food allergies, and Valentine's Day is no different. Here are some ideas to keep your Valentine's Day school card exchange or party food allergy friendly!
Tips for Food Allergy Families
1. Communication is key! Speak with the classroom teacher in advance. Discuss any concerns about food allergies, and offer to provide information about food allergies for the teacher to send home to other families.
2. Offer to do any baking for the class party, or send in special treats just for your child. 3. Plan ahead. Speak with your child about how to stay safe at school. Make sure your child's epi pens are not expired, and check in with the school to make sure they are up to date on the details of your child's reaction plan. This is good practice ahead of any celebration that may revolve around food. 4. Refer toFood Allergy Research and Education's website for tons more resources! Tips for Non-Food Allergy Families
1. If you are sending in food items to share, make sure their are food allergy friendly. Or, better yet, provide nonfood treats!
2. Nut free doesn't mean the product will be entirely nut free, either. Always check if the product is from a nut free facility. 3. Nut free does not mean allergen free. Allergen/Classroom Friendly does not mean allergen free. 4. Ask your child's teacher if there are any food allergies in the class you should be aware of. Ideas for Card Exchange GoodiesNonfood Treats
These highly rated Amazon choice products are sure to impress your child's classmates!
      Allergy Friendly Valentines Candy
We love YumEarth products! They are Top 9 free, which makes them perfect for our family!
      Printable Valentine's Cards
Feel free to download this cute food allergy friendly Valentine's card!!!
Or, download one that isn't related to food allergies!
Allergy Friendly Baking
Store bought baked goods are frequently come into cross contact with allergens. As a result, food allergy families like mine usually opt to bake our own brownies, cakes, and cookies. One of our favorite recipes is this nut free brownie recipe (we do not use the frosting recipe, but you certainly can if you choose). When made with your favorite safe flour, butter, and other preferred products, it is easy to modify to be cross contact free. It is not wheat,,/gluten dairy, or egg allergy safe, unfortunately, but I'm speaking to some of my blogger friends to get an amazing Top 9 option that I'll share ASAP.
You can check out our preferred products here, or visit myfood allergy portal to get recommendations for food allergy support groups where you can ask for recommendations based on your individual allergies and comfort levels. We topped our Valentine's brownies with pink vanilla frosting, Valentine's sprinkles, and delicious Yum Earth Valentine's gummies! 
Want more great food allergy content? Check out my food allergy family portal here!Help keep kids with food allergies safe this Valentine's Day by sharing!
Tips for Food Allergy Families: Staying Healthy and Safe During the Holidays and Social Gatherings12/11/2020 
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Association, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and helps support this blog (a small business!!). You can learn more about my participation in this program here.
Food allergies are tough to manage on your average day, let alone on holidays or during social events. And while this year holidays look a bit safer for those not having guests coming to celebrate (see the incident with my mother's lip gloss for all you need to know on this subject), even those who are celebrating with immediate family should still be concerned about things like season treats(which may be manufactured differently than the usual products), and potential for allergens in nonfood gifts (like lotions or cosmetics).
Whatever your holidays look like this year, here are some tips to help keep your family safe!
Read the labels, every time!
Even if you have used a product for years, manufacturing practices can change at any time. This is especially true for seasonal specialty products (think those Christmas versions of favorite candies). If you are concerned about cross contact or an allergen not in the top 8, be sure to contact the company directly! There is no legal obligation to list for these in ingredients. Furthermore, cosmetics and lotions may be held to a different standard than food.
If you are getting together with guests outside your household, volunteer to do the cooking, or host.
Even with clear communication, mistakes can happen. Ensure foods are safe by doing the cooking, bringing your own food to a celebration, or (best yet, if you are insistent on getting together with others), hosting. Hosting ensures that you are in control of procedures to limit cross contact (CC) in prep areas. You can also bring your own plates, utensils, or plan to use disposable products to further limit issues with CC.
Clearly communicate your comfort level with anyone you are gathering with; never assume others understand cross contact concerns!
Not comfortable with shared lines or facilities? Communicate this in clear language. Make sure to express concerns with cosmetics or body products that could transfer and cause a reaction as well.
Make sure anyone involved with caretaking has a clear understanding of the patient's allergy action plan.
Better yet, bring a copy as a reference as well as having clear discussions with all appropriate parties! Never leave your child in the care of anyone who does not fully understand the steps to follow in the event of a reaction.
Make sure cosmetics/body products are safe, not just food!
Food isn't the only thing that contains allergens. Many cosmetics and lotions contain nut and seed oils. Never assume a product is safe because you can't eat it!
Finally, always carry 2 epipens, and when in doubt, it is always better to epi than leave the reaction to chance*!
Always follow your individual action plan and listen to your doctor's recommendations first and foremost! Guides like this are great, but your practitioner will know the best steps to keep you or your child safe.
Looking for tips on Top 9 free holiday candy? We love YumEarth!!! Their products (other than candy corn, which is only available around Halloween) are free from Top 9, and their manufacturing facilities are free of Top 9 as well. Best yet? They are delicious!
Be sure to share this to help keep other food allergy patients safe this holiday season!
And be sure to check out Food Allergy Research and Education's webpage to learn more about food allergies. Or check out my food allergy portal for even more about managing food allergies, including recipes, other blog posts, great lists, product recommendations, and more!
I don’t need to tell you that 2020 has been a difficult year. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are just as ready to end the unpredictable chaos and monotony of social distancing as I am. I also won’t pretend we are all in the same boat in this storm. While my boat has been turbulent, we aren’t taking on water. I know many have not been so lucky.
So this holiday, I've made the decision to recenter, and focus on the gratitude and joy, instead of self pity. I should offer the disclaimer that I wrote this piece from where I have existed during this challenging year, and I acknowledge that is a place of privilege. I know it is not everyone's story, and while I hope this will not happen, some may even feel I am out of touch. I also live in a community of immense privilege, and for those of us for whom the year has been shaky but not catastrophic, I think a healthy dose of reality and gratitude is exactly what we need this holiday season. That is why I wrote this piece. If your year has been like mine, one of discomfort and inconvenience, but not tragedy, I hope you will join me in being grateful this holiday season.
You can read my entire post for Westchester County Mom here.
You can also find inspiration for new holiday traditions to help make this challenging holiday more special here.
Or, check out my entire Christmas Guide for great crafts, activities, printables, gift guides, and more!
If this spoke to you, be sure to share the mindfulness!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. You can learn more about my participation in this program here.
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More Gifts by Age!
Get even more gift ideas for kids!
And see my Holiday 2020 Gift Guide for gifts for the whole family!
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Information on this webpage is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Nothing on this website, or its subsidiaries, constitutes medical or psychological advice. Always speak with your individual practitioners. Entire terms of use and disclaimers can be found here.