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Feelings Jenga Game

By Sharla Kostelyk

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Giving kids a vocabulary rich in emotion words is one of the best things you can do as a parent. This is particularly true if you are parenting kids who have experienced trauma, have anxiety or are on the autism spectrum. This Feelings Jenga Game is perfect for helping kids talk about their emotions and experiences, building their vocabulary of emotion words and improve their communication skills.

Feelings Jenga Game is perfect for therapists or parents working with kids on their emotions and expressing their experiences.

Feelings Games

I love finding ways to make teaching feelings fun. Presenting a therapeutic activity as a game is a great way to help your child feel relaxed. Being relaxed is an important element to learning.

It means your child can access all of their brain instead of being in their “lizard brain” which happens when they are feeling under stress or for any other reason are in fight, flight or freeze mode.

Therapy Jenga

One of my daughters played a version of this Jenga game in therapy. I knew we could easily make our own Jenga game to play at home too. We have since invented different versions of it.

Some of my kids have an easier time talking about their feelings and past experiences than others, so I have found ways to adapt it accordingly. The key is to make sure they feel comfortable and relaxed. This will ensure that any learning is effective. It will also make it more enjoyable for everyone.

How To Make A Feelings Jenga Game:

Things To Write On Jenga Blocks

To create this Feelings Jenga Game, you will need a Jenga game.  You can use a permanent marker to write feeling words on the side of the wood blocks in the game or I have created printable feeling words that can be cut out and attached to the Jenga blocks with double-sided tape or glue.

In the printables, I have also left some blank so that you can add in any other feelings words that you would like to specifically focus on.

Click on the link to download and print >>> Jenga Feeling Words

feelings jenga

How to Play Feelings Jenga:

Once the blocks have feeling words on them, set them up as you would in a regular Jenga game. There are two variations to the set up. You can face the words in so that you can’t see them or you can face the words out so that most of them will be visible during the game. For kids who are particularly apprehensive of not being able to see the words on the inside, you can have them do the set-up so that they know what even the few hidden words are.

First Way To Play Jenga

One way to play this Jenga game is to describe the feeling word that you pull out before placing it on top. This is a nice introductory way to play and especially good for kids who don’t have a strong emotion word vocabulary.

Second Way To Play Jenga

Another way to play Feelings Jenga is to have the person who draws the block to describe a time or experience in their life when they felt that particular emotion. You can expand on this by having them explain how they felt and how they coped with that positive or negative feeling.

For kids who are just starting this game or who are less comfortable talking about their feelings, it will be less difficult if the words are visible because then they can choose to pull feeling words that are easier for them to talk about.

As they grow more comfortable with the Feelings Jenga game and with expressing their emotions, they may reach a point where they are comfortable pulling out blocks even when they can’t see what the word will be. Let them set the pace.

If you know that this particular child is too vulnerable to be able to discuss certain emotions, it may be best to not include those words in the game the first few times you play. Ease into things at their pace.

This Jenga Feelings Game is perfect for helping kids talk about their emotions and experiences.

Feelings Jenga or Therapy Jenga allows children to express their experiences and feelings in a non-threatening way. Of course, modelling is another great thing about this game because it allows you to participate and model how to talk about feelings and talk about times in your own life when you have felt those emotions.

The child you are playing with may be able to relate to those experiences and have a “me too” moment, which can be very powerful.

This game is great for communication skills, lowering anxiety and normalizing talking about emotions and life experiences, both challenging and successful.

Looking for a way to help kids learn about and manage their emotions?

I’ve put together a complete emotional toolkit full of fun printable games and activities for parents and teachers to teach kids about their feelings and how to manage them.

Click on the link>>> Teaching Emotions Toolkit

Subscribe for your free printable Jenga feelings words and you’ll also be signed up for our free 5 day email series Little Hearts, Big Worries.

More ways to teach feelings:

  • The Kissing Hand Activities
  • Children’s Books About Emotions
  • Feeling Activities For Preschoolers
  • Free Printable Emotion Faces
  • How To Teach Kids Emotional Regulation
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Filed Under: Special Needs Parenting

Minute to Win It Games Christmas Edition

By Sharla Kostelyk

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After the success of our original Minute to Win It family fun night and our Dollar Store Minute to Win It, I thought it would be fun to do a Christmas edition. I chose some Minute to Win It Christmas games. It was so much fun! Minute to Win It Christmas Games #minutetowinit #christmasgames #christmas #minutetowinitchristmas #familyfunWhether you’re planning a large holiday party or a small family gathering, these games will bring laughter and fun. (You can also check out our Thanksgiving Minute to Win It games for your Thanksgiving holiday gathering.)

I’ve purposely chosen games that share some of the same supplies. This helps keep it simple to plan and more affordable.

Most of the supplies needed can be purchased at the dollar store. You probably already have many of them in your home. Throw this together at the last minute and still manage to impress.

Use our Minute to Win It Christmas Edition printable decoration kit to make things even easier! 

Minute to Win It Christmas Games:

You can play these games individually or as teams. If you play as teams, be sure to come up with awesome team names to add to the fun!

I’ve added videos of most of the games below to give you a better idea of how to play them. My kids and our neighbour had so much fun trying out all the activities.

Face the Gingerbread Man:

Supplies needed:

  • small gingerbread men (at least one per person)

Begin with a gingerbread man on each person’s forehead. The players have one minute to get the cookie into their mouth using only their facial movements. Face the Gingerbread Man Minute to Win It Christmas gameThis is a great game to play in a large group. Everyone can play at the same time or you can play head to head.

Snowman Stack:

Supplies needed:

  • large marshmallows (6 for each player)

Each player has one minute to stack three marshmallows on top of each other twice to create two “snowmen” using only one hand.

This is an easy game to complete within the time allotted. I included it because it is nice to have a game that younger children can easily play.

If you’re playing these Minute to Win It Christmas games in teams, choose the youngest players to complete this challenge. Even toddlers should be able to do well at this.

If you are playing with only adults, you may want to skip this challenge or increase the difficulty by requiring players to stack the marshmallows using only their mouths.

Reindeer Nose Dive:

Supplies needed:

  • 1 inch red pompoms
  • ribbon
  • petroleum jelly

Tie a red pompom onto the end of a ribbon. Make one of these for each player. Place petroleum jelly on each player’s nose. Reindeer Nose Dive Minute to Win It Christmas GameThe player starts with the other end of the ribbon in their mouth. They then have one minute to attempt to swing the ribbon and land the pompom onto their nose and stick there. No hands are allowed to be used in this challenge.

Christmas Cliffhanger

Supplies needed:

  • ten Christmas cards

Place 10 Christmas cards in a row on a table close to the edge. You want to set them up so that they form a tent. Minute to Win It Christmas Cliffhanger gameBlow the cards gently to move them across the table. The goal is to have one card hang over the edge of the table without falling off. Each player has one minute and ten tries to reach the objective.

Candy Cane Catch

Supplies needed:

  • garland
  • candy canes

String garland up between two chairs with the seat facing out to create a clothesline-type effect. Give each player a handful (or small bowlful) of candy canes. Candy Cane Catch game Minute to Win ItHave the player stand on the chair and drop candy canes, attempting to have them hang on the garland. You can have another player on the opposite chair playing at the same time.

You can either give the point to the person who hangs a candy cane first or see who can hang the most in one minute.

Jingle Bell Clock

Supplies needed:

  • craft stick (wide or narrow depending on age and ability of players)
  • jingle bells (6-8 for each player)

Have each challenger place a craft stick in their mouth and line the jingle bells across the stick in one minute or less. Jingle Bell Clock Minute to Win It gameFor young children, use the wider craft sticks. To make it more challenging for adults, use regular sized popsicle sticks. You can also vary the size of the jingle bells to create more difficulty.

Snow Shovel

Supplies needed:

  • bowls
  • plastic spoons
  • 1 inch white pompoms or cotton balls

Give each player two bowls, one with fifteen white pompoms and a plastic spoon in it. Once the clock starts, the players have one minute to transfer the pompoms (snowballs) into the empty bowl using only their mouth and the plastic spoon. Snow Shovel Christmas Minute to Win It gameThis game is quite challenging, so for younger kids, start with less pompoms or cotton balls in their bowl.

Bobbing for Candy Canes

Supplies needed:

  • bowl
  • wrapped candy canes

Fill a bowl with wrapped candy canes for each player. Challengers place one candy cane in their mouth and attempt to hook the candy canes in the bowl and transfer them to the table. Bobbing for Candy Canes Minute to Win It gameThe goal of the game is to move 5 candy canes out of the bowl. The time to beat is one minute.

Peppermint Twist

Supplies needed:

  • uncooked spaghetti noodles (one per player)
  • Christmas Life Savers or similar peppermint candy (six per player)

Set out one piece of uncooked spaghetti per person. Place six holiday edition Life Savers or similar peppermint candy with a hole in the center on their side so that the hole is facing the contestant. Peppermint Twist Christmas Minute to Win It gameThe player must pick up all the candy using only the spaghetti noodle in their mouth. They must stack all six candies onto their noodle in under one minute.

Snowball Run

Supplies needed:

  • plastic spoons
  • 1 inch white pompoms or cotton balls
  • buckets or large bowls

Place two buckets or bowls at the far end of the room. Lay out white pompoms at the other side of the room and give participating players a plastic spoon. Snowball Run Minute to Win It Christmas GameThis game works with groups as a relay or with two players racing against each other. Each of the players places a white pompom (snowball) on a plastic spoon and races to place it in a bucket across the room. The player or team to fill the bucket with the most “snowballs” in one minute wins.

Good Things Come in Small Packages

Supplies needed:

  • Christmas wrapping paper
  • household items
  • oven mitts

Before the event, wrap some small boxes and cans with holiday wrapping paper. Have each player put on a pair of oven mitts. Good Things Come in Small Packages Minute to Win It Christmas gameSee how many gifts players can open in one minute while wearing oven mitts. This is quite a funny one to watch!

As you can see from the video, one of our daughters found the game too difficult and used her mouth to open “gifts”. In case it wasn’t clear in the instructions, using your teeth is not allowed!

White Christmas

Supplies needed:

  • toilet paper rolls

One person stands still while the other wraps them in toilet paper. This game is best player head to head against another two player team. White Christmas Minute to Win It gameThe team that completely uses their toilet paper first wins. It’s fun to see what method the teams come up with to do this quickly.

These Minute to Win It Christmas party games are great for office parties, family get togethers, holiday parties with friends, or even winter birthday parties.

You can easily adapt the games for all ages from preschoolers to grandparents.

Set the mood by having Christmas music playing in the background. Use holiday decor as your decorations. This means that the lights and tree that are already in the room are all you need!

Pop some popcorn, put out some drinks, set out a few appetizers, print out the game cards and party kit, and it’s time to play. I’m sure the whole family is going to love these Minute to Win It Christmas games!
Looking for more creative ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

Check out our other Minute to Win It games and easy family games:

Minute to Win It Build Edition (contains bonus Christmas challenges)mother and daughter's hands play with building blocks

Minute to Win It Family Fun Night games 

Dollar Store Minute to Win It Dollar Store Minute to Win It party

The Flour Game 

The Bag Game 

For your Christmas gatherings, these Minute to Win It Christmas games work for all ages and group sizes. Start a new holiday tradition! #minutetowinit #christmasgames #familyfun

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Filed Under: Crafts and Activities, Family Games

The Best Gift Exchange Games Ever

wrapped presents being unwrapped

By Sharla Kostelyk

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It’s that time of year when holiday party planning is in full swing. One way to make your event stand out is to host an epic gift exchange that your guests will talk about for years to come. hands unwrapping gifts at a table

When done well, these gift exchange games can be the central activity at your gathering. They are a great ice breaker and can help everyone get in on the fun. 

Gift Exchange Games for Parties

Christmas Gift Exchange Game

In this gift exchange dice game, you just never know which way the gift is going to go until the dice get rolled. Print off the easy to follow instructions and get playing!

This twist to the usual gift opening is sure to become a new holiday tradition.

Photo Credit: www.itsalwaysautumn.com

The Christmas left right game

With this printable story, you pass the gift left when you hear the word "left" and right when you hear the word "right".

If you're hosting a holiday gathering this year, the left right game is one way to keep all your guests engaged and entertained.

Photo Credit: www.whiteelephantrules.com

White Elephant Gift Exchange Rules

Sometimes also called Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa, the White Elephant Gift Exchange is kind of the original present swap game.

There are many variations, but in all, the goal is to walk away with the best gift of the night!

Photo Credit: www.playpartyplan.com

Christmas Never Have I Ever

Looking for a hilarious spin to this year's gift giving? Add in these holiday themed "never have I ever" questions and let the laughs begin!

Saran Wrap Ball Party Game

This game is a fun way to ensure that everyone walks away with prizes. It's great for all ages. It can get quite competitive so be sure to come prepared to play!

Photo Credit: laughdreamexplore.com

Secret Santa

Whether for an office party or a friend group or within your family, Secret Santa is a nice way to ensure everyone gets a gift without you personally being responsible for buying one for each person!

Be sure to set a budget and to be clear on the expectations (example: that every gift be homemade or re-gifted or purchased) to ensure the best results.

Photo Credit: www.playpartyplan.com

Scrooge Your Neighbour Gift Exchange Game

A fun twist on the usual, this game has a Christmas Carol theme. It's a cute way to involve everyone at the party. It's kid-friendly festive fun!

Photo Credit: www.playpartyplan.com

Gift Exchange Card Game

Using the printable cards, create a fun game that gets everyone involved. In this game, it doesn't really matter which gift you originally pick because chances are, you're going to trade it anyway.

Christmas Party Scratch-Off Card

If you want to put a much more competitive twist on the gift exchange, have less gifts than there are people and use these scratch off cards to determine who will get to go home with a present and who will go home empty handed.

Photo Credit: christmas.lovetoknow.com

23 Fun Christmas Gift Exchange Themes

No need to get the same box of chocolates every year when you choose a unique theme for your gift exchange.

With these new twists on the present exchange at your next holiday party, it’s sure to be a night of enjoyment and laughter for everyone!collage of photos of presents being unwrapped

Other Gift Exchange Ideas:

Ornament Exchange – Every year for the past 17 years, a group of friends and I have participated in an ornament exchange. We each buy a unique ornament (we are on the lookout for them all year and have managed to find some awesome ones over the years!) and place it in a gift bag. Then we take turns choosing a restaurant to meet at and at the end of the meal, we ask the waiter or waitress to randomly hand out the bags. It’s become a treasured tradition. 

Christmas Cookie Swap – If you’re looking for a great way to add more variety to your holiday baking, a cookie swap is the way to go. Each guests brings a dozen cookies (all the same type) for each other guest present. So if you were one of 8 attendees, you would arrive with 8 dozen of one type of cookie and go home with 8 dozen different types of cookies.

Hot Potato – In this version, you’ll be using gifts instead of a potato! Set a timer. Pass the gifts around one at a time and whoever is holding the gift when the timer goes off gets to unwrap it and keep it. Kids like the fast pace of this game.

Family Auction – Using Monopoly money, distribute the same amount to each player. Players can then pick up, rattle, squeeze, and examine the gifts before bidding on them. The highest bidder or each one “wins” it and can open and keep it. girl holding out a gift in polka dot wrapping paper

You’ll also love these other Christmas party games:

  • Minute to Win It Christmas Games
  • The Bag Game
  • The Flour Game
  • The 26 Best Christmas Games 
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Christmas Gift Exchange Game

gift with brown paper and a red and black checkered bow. Dice in the background.

By Sharla Kostelyk

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The holiday season is full of reasons to celebrate. And if you’re hosting a party this Christmas, gift exchange games are the perfect way to keep your guests entertained! With this fun dice game, your guests will have a blast at your next white elephant gift exchange.printed gift exchange game on floor near Christmas tree Grab my printable game rules to ensure everyone knows exactly how to play this fun Christmas game at your party.

Christmas Gift Exchange Game

Supplies needed:

  • Printable game rules (download those here)
  • Dice
  • Gifts

Instructions:

  1. Ask your guests to bring one gift to your party.
  2. Place the gifts on a table and tell everyone to grab a gift.
  3. Ask everyone to sit in a circle and take turns rolling the die. Then follow the rules for the number they roll.
  4. When a person unwraps their gift, they are out of the game and may not swap with anyone else or pass their gift.
  5. Continue rolling the dice and playing until everyone has unwrapped their present.

hand holding a die beside a wrapped gift

Christmas Gift Exchange Rules

The rules for this fun Christmas party game are simple. That’s because all you have to do is roll the dice and refer to the printable sheet to figure out what to do. That means kids and adults of any age can play this fun game at your next party.

To play this game, roll the dice and take a look at the number. Then, follow these rules for each number:

  1. Pass all the gifts to the left.
  2. Pass all the gifts to the right.
  3. Trade your gift with someone.
  4. Open your gift.
  5. Pick someone to open their gift.
  6. Keep your gift.

gift with brown paper and a red and black checkered bow. Dice in the background.

Christmas Gift Exchange Game Ideas

Since this fun game is so simple to play, it’s going to be a popular choice at holiday parties. And with the help of these gift exchange ideas, you can be sure your party game is a success.

  • Set a price range. To ensure someone doesn’t overspend on their presents for the gift exchange, it’s a good idea to set a price limit on the gifts. Make sure you let everyone know the budget for the gift exchange before the night of party.
  • Make sure the gifts are wrapped. The point of the game is to keep the gifts a surprise, so it’s important that all the gifts are wrapped so the players don’t know what’s inside. Tell your guests to wrap their gifts to make the game more fun.
  • Decide on regular or white elephant gifts. Your guests can bring regular gifts or funny gifts for this exchange game, so it’s up to you what type of gifts you want everyone to bring. Just make sure to make the instructions clear so everyone knows exactly what to bring before the party starts.
  • Add an extra round after the gifts are open. If you want your game to go on a little longer, consider adding another round of rolls after everyone has opened their gift. This will give everyone a chance to score a new gift and make the game play a little more exciting. Once everyone has opened their present, give each player a chance to roll the dice one more time, then follow the instructions for each roll.

Check out some of our other popular Christmas games:

  • Christmas Minute to Win It Games
  • Saran Wrap Ball Game
  • The Flour Game
  • Christmas Movie Bingo

Sign up to receive a free printable download of the game.

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Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts and Activities, Family Games

12 Days of Holiday Giveaways 2021

By Sharla Kostelyk

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Last year, I started the 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways as a way to say thank you to you, my awesome readers and I’ve decided to continue the tradition this year. I hope that in this time of busyness (and sometimes stress), this can be something light and fun to give.The most popular giveaway last year was on the day I entitled “My Favourite Things”. This year, I decided to make that the theme for every day. I can’t wait to share them with you! 

My Favourite Things 2021

I’ve chosen 12 things that I love or are special to me in some way to share with you.

You can enter each day until midnight pacific time on December 12th. I’ll be adding one new prize each day. 

Enter to win just one or all 12 and you can come back again each day until the contest closes.

Winners will be notified personally via email the day after the contest ends, so be sure to use an email where I can reach out. Good luck!

(Please Note: Some giveaways are open to anyone worldwide, while others are only open to those in the U.S. and Canada due to shipping. Please note that as you enter the various giveaways).

Another Gift for You

In addition, as a thank you, you can also save 30% off anything in my shop for the duration of the giveaway by using the coupon code HOLIDAY2021.

Day #1 – Click & Grow Smart Indoor Herb Garden (3 slot size)

I’ve had my Click & Grow Herb Garden for just over 2 years now and I love it! I’ve grown many things in mine (lettuce, wild mini strawberries, cilantro, dill, basil, chives, rosemary, and mint). With practise, I now have it down to a science of a rotation of the herbs we use the most.

When I first add the pods, I like to mix them up so I don’t know which is which. Then I have fun guessing what they are as they begin to grow. I’ll admit that I even sometimes talk to them in the morning! 

“Oh hello my little cilantro!”

The things I love most about my herb garden:

  • it’s a way to bring some life and greenery into my house, especially in these cold Canadian winters!
  • it’s so easy to use (the grow lights are one a timer – all I need to do is add water when it gets low)
  • adding fresh dill to perogies or potatoes, fresh basil to pastas, fresh mint to sparkling water or salads, fresh rosemary to gravy, chives to eggs and dips, cilantro to homemade guacamole or to top our dinners

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Day #2 – You Are Special Today Celebration Plate

One of the best gifts we’ve ever received was a red plate. This plate says “You are Special Today” and it has become a treasured family tradition in our home.

We received this gift after bringing two of our kids home from Ethiopia twelve years ago. Since that time, our entire family has used it to celebrate each other.

You Are Special Today Red PlateYou Are Special Today Red PlateYou Are Special Today Red Plate

 

On birthdays, the birthday person has this plate set out for them at their birthday supper. We have also put it out to honour special days such as one of our kids getting their first job, getting their driver’s license, graduating, or even for facing hard things and overcoming. 

The red plate symbolizes being cherished and being part of a family who is there to celebrate you in the good times and support you through the bad. 

My hope is that the winner of the red plate giveaway uses it to start their own family tradition of making each member of the family feel seen and celebrated.
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Day #3 – Cup of Té London Luxe Silver Starter Kit

I discovered Cup of Té last year during the holidays. The company was featured on Oprah’s Favourite Things last year and I was intrigued by their backstory and impressed by their founder so I ordered some of their tea to try.

I start every day with a mug of hot tea (with sugar), but I’m pretty picky about my tea. After trying many of their selections, London Calling is my favourite of theirs. I’ve chosen that as one of the teas I’m including in the giveaway.

Their founder, Taylor Lindsay-Noel was a former competitive gymnast who was paralyzed in an accident on the high bar. Her mission to find a new dream and to pursue that is very inspiring. 

Cup of Té donates $1 from each starter kit to mental health initiatives. Mental health has been something that has dramatically shaped our family, so that is all the more reason for me to love this company!

What’s in the Luxe Silver Starter Kit? 

  • tea infuser
  • luxe tin
  • luxe spoon
  • 100 g loose leaf London Calling tea
  • 100 g loose leaf Cream of Earl Grey

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Day #4 – Multiplication Pop It Math Fidget

Pop Its are a great fidget for kids or adults. If you’re not familiar with them, they are essentially a reusable, quiet version of bubble wrap!

What I like about this Multiplication Pop It is that it gives older kids an excuse to use a fidget in a practical way and still get the sensory benefits from it.

Sensory play is so important for older kids and teens, but isn’t always as easy to accomplish for that age group. That’s why this math fidget gets my vote this year as one of my favourite things.

Multiplication Pop It Math FidgetMultiplication Pop It Math FidgetMultiplication Pop It Math Fidget

 

Enter the giveaway below.

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Day #5 – Bliss Collections Daily Planner Tear Off Pad

As a disorganized, wish-I-was-more-organized person who lives by lists, I love these Bliss Collections Daily Planner Tear Off Sheets. I use one for every weekday and in busy seasons, even use them for the weekend days as well. 

By the end of each day, mine are a mess of additional notes, random thoughts, and being able to check things off the list! But that’s just evidence of how useful I find them.

Bliss Collections Daily Planner with 50 Undated 8.5 x 11 Tear-Off SheetsBliss Collections Daily Planner with 50 Undated 8.5 x 11 Tear-Off SheetsBliss Collections Daily Planner with 50 Undated 8.5 x 11 Tear-Off Sheets

 

What I love about them:

  • the appointments clock where I can shade in not only the time of the appointments, but the driving time so that I can see at a glance how much time will realistically be left in the day
  • the “must get done today” section which helps me prioritize
  • a slot to add in what I’m grateful for to give me perspective
  • meal plan section which helps me plan what I’m serving for dinners and remember to eat lunch!
  • “today’s achievements” – this has helped shift my focus from how much I didn’t get done to what I was able to accomplish

Enter to win a set of your own below.

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Day #6 – Lift As You Climb – The Story of Ella Baker

I love reading. I love books. I love my children. And I love inspiring, enlightening, world changing children’s books the very best!

Lift As You Climb, The Story of Ella Baker fits that criteria.

Lift as You Climb: The Story of Ella BakerLift as You Climb: The Story of Ella BakerLift as You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker

 

It was hard to pick a favourite book this year, but in honour of my youngest daughter who is fearlessly facing some adversities of her own this year and my wish for her right at this moment is to believe she can change the world. Plus, it’s a great anti-racism book for kids and that’s another topic close to my heart.

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Day #7 – 24 piece Copper Box of Chocolates from Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut

My guilty pleasure is chocolate. I’m also going to admit that I’m a total chocolate snob. I buy these amazing quality chocolates, but in my defence, I only eat one or two every few days so that they last a long time.

Cococo, the company that makes this chocolate is a Canadian owned company that is Rainforest Alliance Certified™, certified sustainable, and fair trade. 

Enter below to win a 24 piece Copper Box of Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut chocolates. Please note: Due to shipping considerations, this giveaway is only open to residents of Canada and the United States. 

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Day #8 – Holiday Guide to Sensory Overload PDF (3 Winners)

Now I know it may sound like I’m tooting my own horn to say that something I wrote is one of my favourite things of the year, but I’m really proud of this new resource that Heather and I wrote this year.

I know how much the holidays used to be a struggle in our family and it warms my heart to know that those struggles led to something good…the ability to help other families avoid some of that same struggle.

Today, I’m giving away The Holiday Guide to Sensory Overload (PDF) to 3 winners. Enter below. 

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Day #9 – Hallmark Christmas Movie Watching Shirt

This time of year, my “guilty pleasure” is watching those super cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies. (If you like them too, you might enjoy our Christmas Movie Bingo).

Last year, I got myself a shirt to fully embrace this holiday tradition.

Hallmark Christmas Movie Watching ShirtHallmark Christmas Movie Watching ShirtHallmark Christmas Movie Watching Shirt

 

Enter below to win a shirt for yourself to wear while you snuggle under a blanket with a mug of hot cocoa and have a holiday movie marathon. (Due to shipping, today’s giveaway is only open to residents of Canada and the United States.)

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Day #10 – Encouraging Mug

Since we’ve already established that I like to start my mornings with a nice cup of tea, I chose an inspirational mug as today’s giveaway. I have a collection of mugs, all with either a word or a phrase on them and I choose one each morning according to what I feel like I’m needing that day.

Let Your Faith Be Bigger Than Your Fear MugLet Your Faith Be Bigger Than Your Fear MugLet Your Faith Be Bigger Than Your Fear Mug

 

Enter to win a mug that will hopefully help you start the day with a bit of extra encouragement. (Due to shipping considerations, only residents of Canada and the United States are eligible for this prize.) 

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Day #11 – Discussion Napkins

I love, love, love these! They make a great hostess gift or you can keep them for yourself. Set out these cloth napkins, each of with a different discussion question on it and break the ice at your next family gathering or dinner party.

I’m someone who finds small talk torturous, so questions like these help move the conversation past the weather and into things of real substance. This builds or deepens relationships.

Enter below to win a set of Discussion Napkins. (Due to shipping considerations, today’s prize is only available for residents of the USA and Canada)

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Day #12 – Freezer Meals 101 Membership Master Level ($97 value!)

Freezer meals save my sanity so they are of course one of my favourite things. The winner of today’s draw will win a Master Level Freezer Meals 101 Membership. The coolest part? The doors aren’t even open yet so the winner will be the first!

The membership includes things like being able to create your own customized meal plans with printable shopping lists and exclusive videos to help you take the stress out of dinner. This prize is open to anyone worldwide.

Interested in more information? Sign up to get an email when the membership community is open.

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***Don’t forget that you can get 30% off EVERYTHING in our shop with the coupon code HOLIDAY2021 from now until the end of the giveaway!***

Thank you for being part of this year’s holiday giveaway! I hope this holiday season is filled with joy, hope, and love. ❤️

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Filed Under: Christmas

Family Conversation Starters

hands holding a card with a question typed on it

By Sharla Kostelyk

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Taking the time to ask questions and listen to their answers is a great way to get to know your family members on a deeper level and spend some quality time together. With the help of these printable conversation starters for kids, you can start having meaningful discussions with your family on a regular basis.brightly coloured cards spread out on a tablecloth

Using conversation starters with your kids can be a powerful tradition to start. The connection in relationship grows as communication gets stronger.

Conversation Starters for Kids

Supplies needed:

  • Printable conversation cards
  • Cardstock
  • Basket or jar
  • optional: laminator

Instructions:

  1. Download the conversation cards and print them out on cardstock so that you can use them over and over again. If you want, you can also laminate them to make them more durable.
  2. Cut out each card around the outer border.
  3. Place the cards in a basket or jar.
  4. Pull a card from the basket and let each member of your family answer the question.

collage of photos of discussion ideas

Where to Use Conversation Starters

These simple cards can be used in a variety of places to get your kids talking! 

  • Around the dinner table
  • In the car
  • Before tucking your kids in at night
  • At a sleepover or birthday party
  • Between homeschool lessons or after school
  • At the grocery store

Benefits of Conversation Starters

These printable family conversation starters are a great way to improve your family’s connection with each other. And while you might not need to use conversation cards to get your family talking, sometimes they’re helpful in starting a new conversation. There are a variety of great benefits to using talking points on a regular basis, including:

  • Getting to know your children better. Your kids are constantly growing and evolving. And that means they may like something one day and hate it the next! With the help of these fun questions, you can constantly learn more about your kids’ daily lives, their hopes and dreams, and the emotions they’re feeling.
  • Creating a stronger family bond. The questions on these printable cards are perfect for starting a conversation between family members. That means they can be the start of a deeper discussion among each member of the family. As you interact with your kids during these discussions, you’ll be showing each of your children that their opinion is important and valued, helping strengthen the overall family bond and encouraging connection.
  • Cultivating gratitude. Helping your kids practice gratitude is important as they grow older. You can use conversation starters to help steer your family’s conversation toward topics that center around thankfulness, allowing you to incorporate gratitude into your daily life.
  • Developing imaginative thinking. Using their imagination is a great tool for helping your kids improve their creative thinking skills. Not to mention that conversations centered around imaginative thinking are fun! Fun conversation starters are a great way to help your kids practice using their imagination each day.
  • Increase vocabulary and communication skills. The art of questions and answers is a learning opportunity for children both in terms of expanding their vocabulary and developing their communication skills.
  • Managing emotions. Kids can often feel big emotions. So learning how to manage their emotions, regulate their thoughts, and practice empathy are all important lessons to teach your kids. Conversation starters that center around emotional events are great ways to help your kids work through their feelings and understand how others might feel in a similar situation.

hands holding a card with a question typed on it

Create Your Own Conversation Starters

My printable conversation cards for kids come with 30 fun and thought-provoking ideas for sparking a conversation with everyone in your family. But you can also create your own conversation starters with blank cards. If you’re struggling to come up with additional questions to ask your family members, try these fun topics and ideas:

  • What do you look for in a friend?
  • If you could make a new family rule, what would it be?
  • What is your favourite thing about your siblings?
  • If you could create a new school subject, what would it be?
  • What is something you don’t need, but you’re happy you have?
  • If you pet could talk, what would it say?
  • What is one nice thing you could do for someone tomorrow?
  • If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
  • What feeling makes you the most uncomfortable?
  • If you could create a new holiday, what would you celebrate?
  • What are you good at?
  • What do you wish you were good at?
  • When was the last time you made someone smile?
  • What would your dream house look like?
  • If someone wrote a story about you in the newspaper, what would the headline be?
  • What is your biggest goal in life?
  • Who is your best friend? Why?
  • What do you like to do at recess?
  • Would you rather be forced to whisper or scream all day?
  • What is your favourite chore?
  • Could you go an entire day without talking?
  • What do you think about before you fall asleep?
  • If you could build your own zoo, what animals would you have?
  • What is your favourite day of the week? Why?
  • What is something kids understand better than adults?
  • When you make a new friend, what’s the first thing you ask them?

For a limited time, I’m offering these conversation cards for free. Simply enter your email below. They are also available for purchase in our shop.

Check out some of our other family connection ideas:

  • The Put Away Scavenger Hunt
  • Minute to Win It Fun Night
  • Minute to Win It Build (LEGO) Challenges
  • Opposite Day
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Filed Under: Crafts and Activities, Homeschooling, Parenting in the Chaos

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