ML Interest Tag: thrive

Discover the Beauty of Micro-moments

By Nina Meehan

Uncertainty. Will the kids actually go back to school? Once they are back, will they be able to stay in school? What will the flu season look like? Will working from home become our new normal? 

These questions and so many more have become a drumbeat in our lives–a constant thump that never really leaves us. We, adults, have all learned to live with it, perhaps normalizing or quieting it with the hectic balance of home-school, work, household, and community obligations.  But, for our small people, whose ears are more sensitive than ours, this drumbeat of uncertainty may feel like the whole percussion section.

So, what’s a parent to do? There really is no end in sight right now, and our kids need to silence those cymbals so that they can learn, grow, and thrive. I know for my family, when the pandemic hit, we suddenly had more screen time enter our lives than ever before. I’m pretty sure we’re not alone in that. And now, eight months into this crisis, I’d really like to return to a more normal balance, but my energy is fast becoming depleted.  

I don’t know any parent right now who has the bandwidth for a multi-day project recreating the Jurassic period by turning our bedroom into a prehistoric jungle-scape using all recycled and eco-friendly materials. But we can focus on what I like to think of as micro-moments of creativity—small engagements, maybe just once a day, that give us all a moment of connection and joy. Maybe we can sit with our kids for five minutes to glue some colored tissue paper into a lively collage. Maybe we can use breakfast time to make up a story together based on one of our favorite animals. Perhaps we can grab flashlights and have a mini-living room dance party for just one song per evening?

If we shift our focus from overwhelmed to just one micro-moment per day, how will that change our perspective? Our kids will have that moment of connection that grounds them. We will escape from the anxious buzz in our brains by focusing entirely on something different. And, hopefully, we will all fight uncertainty by bringing a tiny bit more laughter and imagination into our daily lives. 

 

 

This post originally appeared on Piedmont Post.

Nina Meehan is CEO and Founder Bay Area Children's Theatre and the host of the Creative Parenting Podcast. An internationally recognized expert in youth development through the arts, Nina nurtures innovation by fostering creative thinking. She is mom to Toby (13), Robby (10) and Meadow (5).  

   

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5 Reasons Why You Should Want Your Kids to Lose

By MOJO Inc.

My daughter’s soccer team trudged slowly off the field, sweaty and exhausted. They had been outmatched—and they had lost. Again. You win some, you lose some, as they say. But sometimes you lose a lot, as my daughter’s soccer team did that season. (The losing streak was so bad that at one point a parent on the sidelines said, “Can we please at least tie?”)

Nonetheless, the team returned to the field for practice a few days later. My daughter was happy to be there, slamming the car door shut and racing off to be with her friends. They threw themselves into drills and scrimmages, putting the loss behind them and preparing for the next game. While I hated seeing her team lose, I could also see that she was still thriving.

One of the benefits of youth sports—and the inevitable losses—is that it offers a low-stakes place to face challenges and handle defeat. It prepares them for future hurdles and disappointments, ones that will likely be much greater.

“Learning to cope with loss is important because they’re not always going to win later in life,” says Dr. Kate Lund, a psychologist and the author of Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive in School, Sports and Life. “It’s an important skill to develop, to lose with grace, not to blame other people and to take responsibility for the loss.” Losing is never fun, but there are some character-building silver linings.

1. Losing Builds Resilience—Not Just for Sports, but for the Rest of Life
A 2019 study by a team of Brigham Young University professors found that high school students who had participated in youth sports showed higher levels of resilience than students who didn’t participate. The students who had participated in youth sports also showed higher levels of self-regulation, empathy and social competence.

Much of that resilience comes from dealing with losing: Acknowledging the loss, then getting back on the field. “It teaches them to get back up and try again,” Lund says.

2. Losing Teaches Them to Reframe the Story
Similarly, the ability to reframe a situation—examining something that’s happened and seeing it from another perspective—is a skill that helps kids manage disappointment not just in sports, but in all aspects of life.

When my daughter’s soccer team lost, their coach directed them to look for the positive moments in the game. She noted that one player completed a tricky move, another player broke away with the ball and that the goalie pounced on the ball in a particularly close save. It didn’t add up to a win that time, but the players could still savor those small victories.

3. Losing Can Drive Them to Work Harder
It’s a classic movie-montage, inspirational music-filled scene for a reason: Motivated by the sting of a heartbreaking loss, the athlete channels her emotions into her next practice, pushing herself to work harder, and to come back stronger, faster, better. (Cue the Rocky theme song).

4. Losing Offers an Opportunity for Bonding—for the Team & for the Parent & Child
Being part of a team—something bigger than themselves—means that players must handle the loss together. It’s a chance for them to learn to regroup as a team, figure out what worked and what didn’t and find a way to improve together, an experience that can bring them closer, Lund says.

It can also be an opportunity for a child to bond with a parent. In The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed, author and educator Jessica Lahey reminds us that youth sports give parents the gift of time with their children. That time includes supporting the child after a defeat. She quotes an Olympic medalist, who says, “The perfect sports parents would be the ones you never hear from the sidelines. They should be there after the game, to be supportive, when heartbreaking things happen…The perfect sports parent is there after the heartbreak to listen and help the kid find the positive in the heartbreak.”

5. Losing Helps Develop Empathy
Having felt the pain of a loss, kids develop a better understanding and connection with the underdog. They know firsthand how it feels to be the loser, and therefore, know how they’d like to be treated.

And when they do win—a few months later, my daughter’s team kicked off the season by coming in second place in a tournament—the victory is so much sweeter.

Ellen Lee is a sports parent and an independent journalist who writes about business, technology, parenting, race, gender… and everything in between.

MOJO is on a mission to make youth sports more fun for everyone — one kid, one coach, one family at a time. 

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Here’s How To Enter Gerber’s 2021 Spokesbaby Search

by Erica Loop

Gerber is looking for a new spokesbaby—and that’s not all! This year the beloved brand is adding an extra bonus for the winner. Along with the spokesbaby honor, the top pic pick will also become the Chief Growing Officer.

What exactly is a Chief Growing Officer? According to Gerber, the CGO will “Steer—whether by crawling, wobbling, walking, or running—Gerber’s Executive Committee with big kid decisions, eat tasty and nutritious baby food products, act as the adorable face of the company, and appear on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year.”

photo courtesy of Gerber

Mohini Joshi, Gerber Vice President of Marketing, said in a press release, “As part of our mantra to do anything for baby, each year we strive to make Photo Search bigger and better. In honor of the program’s 11-year anniversary, we’re excited to give Gerber families something new and exciting.” Joshi added, “Our Chief Growing Officer’s adorable roles and responsibilities are sure to make Gerber’s 2021 Photo Search a year like NO other and provide executive leadership new inspiration to help babies thrive.”

To apply for the 2021 Photo Search and CGO position, submit your 0 to 48-month-old’s pic to Gerber through the brand’s submission portal from Apr. 27 to May 17!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Tatiana Syrikova via Pexels

 

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The Struggle Is Real

By Kristina D'Angelo

The Struggle Is Real. It’s a phrase I used all the time pre-pandemic. Didn’t drink enough water today? The struggle is real. Couldn’t find the right jeans? The struggle is real. Twins throwing a screaming meltdown in Ralphs? THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.

Ah, the bliss of pre-2020 life.

I’m a mom to 5 1/2-year-old boy/girl twins. I could go on and on about my amazing daughter, but this is about my son. Why? Not only am I a twin mom, but I’m a mom of a child with special needs.

We noticed early on that my son was delayed. At first, we thought it was because my daughter was advanced, but after an assessment with our local Regional Center, we received the news that he needed support. I went through the first year devastated. No one likes to hear that something is wrong with their child, but I was hearing it repeatedly. Each time it was a kick in the gut. Here, the struggle was real.

As we went through Regional Center and then through our local school district it became clear that my son had a speech impairment and needed help with motor skills. It took a year but I finally found the perfect speech therapist and he was thriving in occupational therapy. My husband and I found the charter school that was the right fit for our family and we were set. The twins were off to TK in August of 2020 (or so we thought) and we could finally have a bit of breathing room.

I look back at that time now and laugh. Not funny haha, but more of how naive I was back then. Originally the idea of a 2-week stint at home without preschool or therapy sounded lovely. We could connect as a family, and then 2 weeks turned into a year, and here we are.

Not only is the struggle real because we are living during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, but my child (along with millions of others with special needs) stopped receiving hands-on in-person services. Once again I was gutted. He was making so much progress in therapy and now he had to try to get the same benefits via zoom.

While his therapists did the best they could, it was not easy to get him to adjust. Not only did he adore seeing his therapists in person, but it was solo time for me and him. A way for us to bond and connect without his twin sister and it was swiftly taken away.

Twice a week I logged us on and we somehow managed to make it through a speech or an OT zoom session while his kind and patient therapist tried to help guide me in translating their techniques into a home setting. The struggle was real.

Instantly I was worried. He was starting a new school and I knew they were launching virtually. I worried about him being understood by his teacher and classmates. Would he give the same sort of resistance to his therapists at the school? How could my husband and I manage this while both working full time? So many questions.

The struggle, I thought, would be real.

We logged on to zoom on August 24th for their 1st day of school. Did I mention that we decided to send our kids to a brand new charter school? That’s right, in the midst of the madness of 2020, we instantly fell in love with CWC West Valley.

I know you’re going to ask me, “But Kristina, why would you send your children to a brand new school in its founding year? Wasn’t 2020 hard enough?”. Hear me out. CWC is a part of a network of charters and already had existing schools in place across the LA region. The difference with CWC’s approach is through constructivism, the understanding that children don’t come to school as empty vessels, but with ideas and experiences already in place. Also, here’s the kicker, they focused on social-emotional learning. Yes, you read that right. It’s actually in their learning model. My children are learning mindfulness, diversity and inclusion work and more. And, did I mention project-based learning? Ok I digress, back to my point.

Since that 1st day of what we affectionately call zoom school, I realize that when you find the right environment and community for your family, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a struggle.

I attended my first IEP meeting shortly after school started and my voice was heard. Read that again. My voice was heard. It was a novel concept for me since I spent so much of my time fighting for the services that my son needed to thrive. They validated my concerns and agreed to work with me instead of just sharing their opinions of what they think is best. It was mind-blowing.

Suddenly, sessions with his new speech and occupational therapist weren’t such a struggle. He actually preferred to log on without me. I saw a change in him and for a minute I breathed a sigh of relief. Not only was he actually improving in speech, but he was enjoying it.

In a year of isolation, I found community. There were other moms like me. Moms who spent so much of their child’s early years in therapy sessions, in IEPs, trying to advocate for their kid. It instantly felt like we were a part of a secret club. A club that you don’t necessarily want to be a part of, but one that pushes you to the limits you didn’t know existed within you.

The Unicorns. It’s CWC West Valley’s mascot. I mean, of course, 5 & 6-year-olds picked a unicorn as their mascot. This place? It’s magical. We found community. We found joy. We found the ability to dare I say thrive in the midst of a chaotic and hectic year. For once, the struggle wasn’t real.

I am a twin mom who is married to an adorable nerdy husband and still loves Justin Timberlake (*NSYNC forever). When I'm not momming it up you can find me doing marketing for social impact brands, reading the latest celebrity gossip or spending quality time with family and friends.

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8 Tips for Helping Your Blended Family Thrive

By Kara Reynolds

Photo: Storyblocks

In many ways, blended families are just like any “traditional” family. There are conflicts, chaos, understanding and a whole lot of love to go along with it. While there are many different definitions of a blended family, a blended family is any family in which there are people who aren’t traditionally or biologically related to each other. Whether that means an extended tree of relatives involved in your nuclear family, step-moms and step-dads, half-siblings—you name it! But no matter how your family is blended, the most important part of the phrase isn’t the blending—it’s the family.

Whether your blended family is newer or you’re simply looking for techniques to help your already existing family thrive, there are so many ways to improve your family’s function. Really, helping a blended family thrive has a lot in common with what you’d do to help any family thrive. While, of course, every family is unique, blended families are a part of that idea. There are so many ways you can ensure that you’re doing the best for your family and that they’re all participating in seeing your family thrive. Here are a few ways you can make that happen.

1. Be Patient
If your blended family is a more recent introduction to everyone’s lives, patience can be a virtue for everyone. A shift in your family can be a lot to adjust to, no matter how old you are, especially if you don’t have much of a say in the matter. Be patient with everyone who is spending some time and energy adjusting, and be patient with yourself, too.

2. Set Boundaries
Different families have different standards for boundaries, and when you enter a new family situation, it’s important to re-establish boundaries and communicate what makes everyone feel the most comfortable. Especially when it comes to kids living with new people while they begin to understand their autonomy, they should know that they have the right and responsibility to set the boundaries they need.

3. Work on Communication
Working on open communication is crucial in any family, but especially in a blended family, where people have different backgrounds, experiences, ideas and boundaries. You don’t always know how the different members of your family are used to talking about things, so it can be highly beneficial to talk about your feelings as a group and make sure everyone is comfortable and taken care of.

4. Have Family Meetings
One of the best venues for communication is the family meeting. Especially if you have a larger family, a meeting could be a great way to get everyone together in one place so everybody can be involved in communication and decision-making. Family meetings are some of the best places to talk about everything from big to small.

5. Give Space When Necessary
Families are close, but that doesn’t mean you always need to be on top of each other all the time. Whether you’re dealing with kids’ feelings, yours or your partners, space can sometimes be the answer to a lot of the anxieties and overwhelming situations that can come with a new family. Of course, families stick together through thick and thin, but people need space to process things, too.

6. Practice Autonomy
From bodily autonomy to setting boundaries, this one can be especially important for kids in a new environment. Even if you know everyone around you is safe and well-intentioned, it’s important to make sure your kids know they always have a say in what happens to them and that they can set the boundaries they need to feel comfortable.

7. Be Realistic
One great thing to keep in mind about blending a family is that not everyone will get along swimmingly all the time right away. Some siblings will fight like siblings, there might be disputes here and there and there might be some awkwardness. Blending doesn’t always mean that things are peachy. Families have rough patches, and it’s important to be realistic and not expect perfection.

8. Start New Traditions Together
One of the best ways to get families to connect is through traditions. This is a place where you can really have fun with things. You can take your traditions in any direction you want—from family game nights to camping trips, to special holiday activities. Traditions are a way for everyone to have fun together, and what could be more special than that?

Helping Your Blended Family Thrive
Helping your blended family thrive is a lot like you’d help any family thrive—with a whole lot of love, effort and communication. And while it might not always be easy, it’ll always be worthwhile when you see everyone connecting and building new relationships together. Whether you place emphasis on family meetings, new traditions or setting boundaries, there are so many ways you can build your family up, together.

Kara Reynolds is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Momish Magazine.  A mom of four and matriarch to her big blended family, Kara wants nothing more than to normalize differences in family structures.  She enjoys peeing alone, pancakes, and pinot noir - but not at the same time. 

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Failure to Thrive

By Cheryl Gottlieb Boxer

Photo: Cheryl Gottlieb Boxer

Recently I was going through some old papers in an effort to tidy up, and I came across a page from my son’s infant feeding log. This piece of paper was 22 years old, but seeing it still felt like a punch to my stomach.

Born six weeks early after a harrowing pregnancy, our son’s earliest days and weeks were filled with sadness, anxiety and desperation.

We literally fed that child around the clock, yet he would not gain weight. We tried breastfeeding, then formula feeding, then a variety of foul-smelling predigested formulas. Every ounce consumed was carefully logged. Everything that exited his body was meticulously noted.

There were doctor’s appointments, specialist referrals, blood tests and x-rays. I’d feed him before each weigh-in at the pediatrician’s office, and pray he wouldn’t poop just so he’d be an ounce or two heavier than he was the week before.

That scale became my greatest foe, and I hated it with a passion.

Yet nothing we did worked, and our son’s weight continued to falter. Until all we were left with was a hospital admission, and three ugly words: “Failure to Thrive.”

“Failure to Thrive” is a cruel diagnosis. It felt as much like a condemnation of my mothering as it was evident that something was wrong with my child. He was the one not meeting the goals on the growth chart, but I felt like the one who was not measuring up.

Well, all I can say is twenty-two years later, those dark days are a distant memory. That diagnosis did not define me as a mother, and it most certainly did not define my son.

Twenty-two years later, he is living his best life and is most assuredly not failing at thriving.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a boosted board-riding, roller coaster-loving, wants to jump from an airplane one day, thrill-seeking adventurer, who keeps his mom on her toes and her heart in her throat.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a deep voice and an even deeper soul who plays “Livin’ on a Prayer” on his guitar just because his mom loves it and sings on stage and loves the crowd and belts out a tune slightly off-key.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a meat-loving, raw fish-consuming, midnight snacker who wakes up in the morning and asks “What’s for dinner?”

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a heart of gold who loves his grandma and teaches senior citizens how to use technology and plays with babies and is loved by ALL the dogs.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” offers the strongest hugs that lift me off my feet and melt my heart and make a mom wish this moment could last forever.

Twenty-two years later, “failure to thrive” is a college student too far away, missed by his sister and adored by his parents, finding his way, making the grade, reimagining the world, leaping with faith.

Thriving.

This post originally appeared on No Sick Days For Mom.
Feature image via iStock
Cheryl Gottlieb Boxer
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Cheryl is the creator of the popular blog, No Sick Days For Mom, where she offers encouragement and support to moms muddling through marriage, motherhood, chronic illness and the empty nest. Cheryl resides in New Jersey where she micromanages her tolerant husband, her geriatric cockapoo and her two mostly grown children. 

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Squishmallows’ New Squishville Line Is Collectible Cuteness

by Erica Loop

Jazwares recently announced the launch of a new Squishmallows brand extension—Squishville! More than 73 million of the wildly popular Squishmallows have made their way into homes around the world. Now your kiddos can add to their collection with the new line of mini plushes and more.

The Squishville lines includes two-inch mini-collectible plush characters along with vehicles, playsets and other accessories. While not all of the cute and cuddly collectibles are available immediately, by the end of the year your fam could nab all 150 characters.

Photo: Amazon

Laura Zebersky, president of Jazwares said, in a press release, “As momentum around the Squishmallows brand continues to thrive, we are thrilled to take this globally adored line to a whole new level with the release of Squishville.” Zebersky continued, “Squeezable and stylish with big personalities, fans will love these must-have additions which allow consumers to ‘Squad Up’ and ‘Squish In’ with their favorite Squishmallows.”

Squishmalllows Squishville line will launch with:

  • 24 styles of the Squishville Mystery Mini-Squishmallow with Fashion Item ($4.99)
  • 12 varieties of the Squishville Mini-Squishmallow with Vehicle ($6.99)
  • Three assorted varieties of the Squishville Mini-Squishmallow 4-Pack ($9.99)
  • Three assorted varieties of the Squishville Mystery Mini-Squishmallow 6-Pack ($14.99)
  • Four styles of the Squishville Mini-Squishmallow 2 Pack with Fashion ($7.99)
  • Five styles of the Squishville Accessory Set Assortment ($12.99)
  • Two styles of the Squishville Play Scene Assortment ($17.99)
  • Two styles of Squishville Fifi’s Cottage ($29.99).

You can score select items right now Amazon and Hot Topic. Claire’s will also carry the line (starting later this month) along with Walmart and Target (this June).

—Erica Loop

 

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Sesame Street Wants to Teach Your Kids About Self-Care

by Erica Loop

Sesame Workshop and SC Johnson recently collaborated to create a new line of videos promoting healthy practices at home—in an eco-friendly way!

As part of Sesame Workshop’s Caring for Each Other initiative, the videos star Elmo and his father Louie. The pair models healthy routines your kiddo may need to follow for sick days, bedtime and bath-time.

photo courtesy of PR Newsfoto/SC Johnson

Not only will the videos help children learn about basic hygiene practices, the educational Elmo-packed clips will also focus on and promote sustainable practices. Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, said in a press release, “It’s important that we all work together to help children respond to challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Johnson continued, “Our goal is to combine our expertise in science and innovation with Sesame Workshop’s decades of experience in educating and connecting with children so we can equip them with the skills needed to lead healthier and more environmentally conscious lives.”

Steve Youngwood, CEO of Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, said of the collab with SC Johnson, “Sesame Workshop is proud to work with SC Johnson to help families stay healthy, connected, and full of curiosity—with a little help from the Sesame Street Muppets.” Youngwood added, “Together, we can give children the skills they need to thrive and navigate whatever comes next in 2021 and beyond.”

For more information on the new videos or the Caring for Each Other initiative, visit Sesame Workshop’s website here.

—Erica Loop

 

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11 Budget-Friendly Train Projects

by Abigail Matsumoto

Calling all budding engineers, wannabe conductors, and little ones who dream of riding the rails! We’ve got a roundup of railway-inspired crafts that are sure to make train-time extra fun. From a candy bar train to a totally Thomas costume, scroll through the amazing projects below to create your own creative (and budget-friendly) cars.

Train Rocks
photo: Thrive 360 Living

1. The Railway that Rocks
For a project that’s a little bit locomotive and little bit rock and roll, look no further than this idea from Sam at Thrive 360 Living. It combines trains, art, a lesson on colors, and you won’t need any fancy materials. Check out more of Sam’s amazing ideas on her Instagram, and get this rocking how-to over at Thrive 360 Living.

Fingerprint Freight Train
photo: Simply Learning Instagram Page

2. A Fingerprint Freighter
This fingerprint freight train gets extra points for being equal parts messy and fun. Throw in a lesson on colors and painted smoke made with a cotton ball, and you’ve got the recipe for a creative and train-centric afternoon. For more info and inspiration, head over to the Simply Learning Instagram page.

Pasta Train
photo: The Chocolate Muffin Tree

3. The Train That’s Full of Pasta-bilities
Get ready to noodle around with a truly creative train craft from The Chocolate Muffin Tree. The kiddos will get a kick out of using food as building materials and they can go crazy with their constructions: trains, planes, automobiles, or any other moving machine that strikes a chord. Get inspired over at The Chocolate Muffin Tree.

Candy Bar Train
photo: Cupcakes & Cutlery

4. A Totally Sweet Ride
Ready to give your kiddo’s favorite people mover an edible twist? Cupcakes & Cutlery has you covered with this candy bar train. It’s super simple to make and excellent for dessert decorations. If you sample a few of your construction pieces, so be it. Get the sweet scoop at Cupcakes & Cutlery.

Toilet Paper Roll Glitter Train
photo: KPL Kids’ Corner

5. The Thomas-Inspired Train
Want to pay tribute to everyone’s favorite tank engine? All you need to create your own artsy Thomas the Tank Engine is a few simple materials: toilet paper rolls, paper, glue, paint, and a heaping handful of glitter. It’s the perfect project for an afternoon of crafty fun. Learn more over at KPL Kids’ Corner.

circustrain1_merrileeliddiard_DIYtrains_trains_national_redtricycle
photo: Merrilee Liddiard via Mer Mag

6. The Circus Setup
No big top experience is complete without a train ride. This darling creation from Merrilee of Mer Mag is all kinds of bright and cheery, and even has a recycled twist—it’s made out of tea boxes! Get your little helpers involved in deciding which animals should go where and you’ll have a wild time, indeed. Grab the easy tutorial over to Mer Mag.

upcycledtrain_bonbonbreak_DIYtrains_trains_national_redtricycle
photo: Kirstina Hoy via Bon Bon Break

7. The Coffee Cap Choo-Choo Train
We’ll bet this adorable red engine will inspire you to think of your recycle bin as just another arts and crafts supply box. With a coffee cap light leading the way and egg carton cars, this homemade toy is a great way to turn your clutter into playtime fun. For the easy how-to, head for Bon Bon Break.

Sponge Paint Train
photo: Chelsey Marashian via Buggy and Buddy

8. A Sponge-y Express
Got a train-obsessed toddler, preschooler, or kindergartner on your hands? This sponge-painting activity is perfect for the younger set who are learning about colors. The prepwork is minimal and the main materials (kitchen sponges and paint) are easy enough to find. Get the easy how-to over at Buggy and Buddy.

An Egg-cellent Train
photo: The Craft Train

9. An Egg-cellent Train
The next time you serve up omelets for breakfast, be sure to save your egg cartons because The Craft Train has just the upcycled use for them. With the help of a few other basic supplies like paint and paper, those cartons can be transformed into an awesome engine. Don’t forget to paint and decorate before sending it down the tracks! Find out more over at The Craft Train.

Tissue Box Train
photo: Discovering Breadcrumbs

10. The Tissue Box Train
Thanks to Mary Kathleen of Discovering Breadcrumbs for showing us tissue boxes can turn into boxcars with just a few easy steps! Not only is this a great reason to recycle, it’s also just waiting for a few stuffed animal passengers. You can even take a cue from Mary Kathleen and add in a lesson on the ABCs. Get the 411 at Discovering Breadcrumbs.

thomascostume_cassiemay_DIYtrains_trains_national_redtricycle
photo: Cassie May via Little Red Window

11. The It-Fits-Perfectly Train
How do you take train playtime to a whole new level? Let your little conductor actually be a train, with his very own homemade Thomas costume. The actual how-to has more instructions than your average train craft but the playtime payoff is worth the effort. To find out how to make one of your own, make tracks over to Little Red Window.

—Abigail Matsumoto

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