Tag: Crayons

Colors of the World

As some of you know, our youngest son was adopted from India.

This past month we had a lot to celebrate as we reflected on him being in his forever home for one year! It has been a true delight to see him grow and flourish and we are truly blessed to calm him son!

The beginning of August we celebrated Raksha Bandhan as a family and it is now a tradition I hope to treasure annually. We were actually in India picking up our son during Raksha Bandhan last year. It was a beautiful sight to see carts lining the streets blanketed in red handmade Rakhis sparkling in the wind.

In Indian tradition the sister ties a Rakhi around the wrist of her brother, promising to pray for him. In return the brother gives his sister a gift, or sweet, promising to protect her.

Together we read A Thread of Love and the kids took turns presenting Rahki’s to each other. They said sweet little prayers over each other and we sat around the table drawing sibling pictures.

Our sibling pictures wouldn’t have been the same without Crayola’s new Colors of World Multicultural Crayons.

This pack of crayons contain 24 specially formulated colors representing people of the world.

These skin tone crayons helped make coloring pages and drawings even more detailed and realistic.

The Crayola’s Colors of the World, our kids were able to celebrate the diversity of our family.

It was incredible for them to even recognize how each of us actually have slightly different colors; mommy being rosy while daddy was almond, big brother inherited the Italian golden colors while sister’s German skin is very light, and beautiful baby India represents his roots with his deep golden skin.

This was also a wonderful transition into reading The Colors of Us!

It is a sweet story of a girl named Lena, learning that brown comes in many different shades. Through her eyes she begins to see her familiar world in a new way. We took time to talk about the importance and beauty of diversity.

This book, and Color of the World Skin Tone Crayons, are wonderful resources in celebrating the differences and similarities that connect all people.

Scent Back to School with Crayola

Do you smell it?

It’s the smell of summer ending. Pools closing. Buses arriving. Kids heading Back-to-School!

My nephew is headed to 1st grade this year! Hard to believe he is old enough to be in the grade I use to teach. Definitely makes this Aunt Haha want to cry and reminisce over old baby pictures.

How about you?

Are you one of those parents bursting with excitement to push those energetic, mess maker, eating machines, out the door to school? Is it just me or does it seem like kids are hungry every second of summer break?

 

Maybe you’re a mama whose heart is breaking watching your first, or last, baby climbing those big bus stairs on their way to their first day of kindergarten. I always love seeing the huge backpacks on their little bodies and wondering what 5 year old has that much homework?

 

Or perhaps you are sitting in a classroom counting desks, rechecking lesson plans, and giving yourself a world changer teacher pep talk? Whether it’s your first or last year teaching, you will always get the first day of school jitters.

 

For me I am super excited to start our first year of homeschool preschool! As a past teacher, I have been itching to build lesson plans with activities, music, crafts, and play.

Yeah. I am definitely one of ‘those moms’ who can’t stop themselves from still being a teacher. I will forever rock holiday theme earrings and make everything and anything into a song.

 

Just like I can’t stop being a teacher, Crayola will never stop being our go to for school supplies!

From their first box of affordable wax crayons in 1903 to becoming the leading producer of hands-on products for creative fun, Crayola has been working hard to inspire creativity in all children…and adults.

 

That’s why parents and teachers trust Crayola to fill those larger than life backpacks with all the needed school supplies.

 

This year Crayola’s new featured product is Silly Scents. These new coloring tools come with the same great colorful quality you’d expect, but with an extra gift for your nose. My son was first drawn to the Silly Scent characters decorating the packaging. He kept telling me he wanted to color with the cool angry guy, aka the roasting marshmallow. The bold silly smells bring laughter and delight to any child’s coloring experience, while making it a multi-sensory activity.

 

From the perspective of a toddler mama, I really enjoy the mini twistables! They are perfect for little hands and are an excellent size for on the go. The durable plastic barrels keep the crayon core safe from constant use or your toddler seeing how many crayons he can break in a minute.

 

As a past teacher, I am in LOVE with the twistable colored pencils! If I could have, I would have made all my students use these. The amount of time students spent sharpening colored pencils was unreal. I used to beg kids to use a different color or borrow a friend’s. Classroom productivity can take a mega boost when outfitted with ready to use and quality products.

As a crafter, I was surprisingly impressed with the chiseled tip and Slim Fine Line markers. When my son and I started opening a pack of makers and I realized they were chiseled edge, I immediately convinced him they were mommy markers and we should try a different kind.

Mama of the year award!

I love typography and card making and I’m always looking for a good marker. I was pleasantly surprised by both the chisel tip and slim fine line markers. They produced great colors and gave me versatility.

 

 

An added bonus is Crayola offers free coloring sheets, including their Silly Scent characters. Its a nice break from my 2 year old’s drawing demands.

So whether you are filling up your “baby’s” first back pack or starting another year of shaping little minds, I wish you the happiest of back to school days!

 

Connect with Crayola

Twitter          Facebook      YouTube        Pinterest       Instagram     Website

Crayola Back To School 2016

Crayola Doodle Scents

With the summer winding down we have to face reality and the fact that it’s officially back to school season. Sign and moan, cheer and grin, each person has their own thoughts and emotions that go along with the back to school season. I love back to school season for a few different reasons, mostly because I know that my kids love learning.

I was talking to my best friend about sending our children back to school the other day. She lives in Texas and her children go to a private school. Just like my little girl, her children are incredibly bright and love all of their lessons at The Fay School. A lot of parents find that private school is ideal for academically gifted children, so once my daughter grows up, I will have to do some research to see whether a private school might be a good fit for her too.

Anyway, when my daughter started preschool last year she was excited but didn’t really know why. This fall she will be attending preschool again and she is fully aware of the awesomeness that comes with school. She is starting a new school with all new students in her class. She is a very social girl, so I don’t have to fret over her too much. But I do want to make sure that she is prepared as well as she can be. Knowing that I have Crayola on my side, puts us on the right track for success for this school year.

Crayola Finding Dory

Look for Crayola products online at Amazon or at your local big box retailer for the latest back to school products

crayola crayons 2016

Each year Crayola features all the back to school basics that our children will need to succeed. From the childhood basics like crayons and markers, the more advanced products like easels and art kits, I know that with Crayola I can find the products that are on my list. By keeping up with what is new and popular Crayola provides us with themed products like Frozen, Shopkins, Finding Dory, Minions and Star Wars. The added bonus of seeing a favorite character on your marker makes your child’s imagination soar. Giving them the creative juices they need to make their new masterpiece.

Our favorite back to school supply this year are Crayola’s new Doodle Scents. These hilarious scented markers brought back so much nostalgia and memories for me. I fondly remember sitting around drawing doodles with my little brother (who is now a teacher mind you) and giggling as we joyfully sniffed at our scented markers. In the past few decades the science and creativity behind these markers has really amazed me. When my daughter started scrambling trying to get all the lids off to smell each and every maker I couldn’t help but be filled with excited with her. Then we came across a marker with an elephant trunk and a hairy brown character. She shouted out, “it’s elephant poop!” I didn’t believe her at first, but after glancing at the image and taking a deep whiff myself, I laughed along with her, because it surely was a poop scented marker (click here to see an Instagram video of this moment). Thinking like a child and creative perfect products for them is how Crayola has maintained the powerhouse they are today. Don’t delay and pick up your Crayola products today!

Crayola “My First Crayola” – Review

Crayola “My First Crayola” – Review

I was chosen to review several My First Crayola products by Crayola. Having a 2 year old and a 1 year old, the My First Crayola product line is perfect for my family. I am able to allow my children to play, use their imagination, and incorporate all of their senses in a safe and non-messy environment.

I am not a ‘clean freak’ necessarily but the thought of allowing my children to use paint or markers scares me. I see how they act with pasta sauce, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, really all food… I practically get sick thinking of paint or marker all over my dining room or their bodies and clothing. That was until I was exposed to My First Crayola products. The amazing team at Crayola has created a clean and fun line of products I can happily place in my toddlers hands without 50 wet rags on standby.

My First Crayola Egg Crayons

My First Crayola Egg Crayon

 

My First Crayola Scribbled Egg Crayons are solid crayon colors in a fun, easy-to-grip shape! These whimsical art tools are both colorful and full of color-and made to outlast toddlerhood! Includes 3 Scribbled Egg Crayons.”

egg crayonsThis pack of crayons comes with a yellow, blue, and red egg-shaped crayon. My son was so excited that he was able to hold onto a crayon like his big sister. He watches her color all the time and gets upset when he is unable to hold the crayon or drops it due to his less developed motor skills. These egg-shaped crayons are perfect for small hands learning how to hold. Once he gained enough confidence holding the crayon, he started to try and move it on the page to color. Seeing his reaction when he saw marks on the page was priceless. He is still at the age where he wants to try to put all items in his mouths. I can rest assured knowing that all the Crayola products are non-toxic and safe for both my children.

My First Busy Bag Art Kit

Busy Bag 1

 

“It’s an art kit that is designed to be just right for little hands. All-in-one kit contains creative tools for the budding artist, everything they need for coloring, drawing, painting and creative dough sculpting is neatly arranged in a durable storage case that’s always ready to go. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Kit Includes: Durable plastic art case, 6 washable triangular crayons, 4 washable markers, 3 dough colors (total 5.2 oz.), Dough-storage tub, Mini pad, 24 activity sheets.”

My daughter was beyond thrilled when she saw that she was going to be able to play with colored dough. She asked for her scissors immediately (not included; available here). This kit has a little bit of everything for your tiny artist. The activity sheets have beautiful, fun pictures featuring animals, playground scenes, automobiles, and loads of other pictures which will spark your child’s imagination so they can make it their own.

This set features triangular shaped crayons which are developmentally appropriate for young children. While a 3 year old is able to hold a circular crayon, the triangular shape helps their fingers find the correct placement for their fingers. This placement allows them to build confidence in themselves and their ability to draw and write independently. A large majority of us remember those days back in early elementary school, trying to learn the “right way” to hold our pencil. These triangular shaped crayons help kids naturally figure out this necessary skill.

Secure TipMarkers, what can I say? I have a love/hate relationship with them. They are bold. They are exciting. They are messy! Once in a while I need to take a deep breath and let the kids use them. They are beyond elated when getting to use that coveted marker. The first thing my daughter likes to do it repeatedly ‘stab’ the paper with the blunt tip end of a marker. That full arm strength jab. Typically a marker is ‘dead’ after one session with my marker aggressive daughter; the tip is shoved completely inside the tube so I toss it in the trash. These markers, however, are not your average marker. These markers have a special short and rounded tip. This allows for a child to press as hard as they want on the paper but without permanently damaging the marker! Genius! I applaud Crayola with this one ::insert light golf clap:: Crayola has named these markers their Secure Tip; the tips cannot be pinched off or crushed.

My First Crayola Mess-Free Marker and Paper

Max with Moo Moo

Magically reveal colorful patterns with this mess-free marker and paper set! Cute character marker is designed to fit neatly in a toddler’s palm grip. Instantly reveals colorful patterns on the magic paper. Clear ink colors only on magic paper-not on skin, walls or fabric. Includes 1 mess-free character marker and 15 sheets of magic paper. Refill paper available at Crayolastore.com

This product was made for moms like me. I adore it. My children adore it. Best of all, it is affordable.

The beauty of this type of product is that you can let your child play with a ‘marker’ without having it end up all over your dining room table…their hands…arms…clothing… I am able to safely walk away to wash a few dishes without worrying that my 2 year old is drawing a beard on my 1 year old. The freedom is priceless. What amuses me the most about this particular mess-free product is the design on the paper. It makes me remember the black sheets of paper we had in elementary school. We were given sharp wooden sticks (wow…schools were practically handing out weapons in the 80’s!) to scratch off the designs and pictures we wanted. I can have my children experience something similar, but without a weapon that could literally poke an eye out.

As soon as I opened the package my 2 year old asked for the “moo-moo cow”. I then realized that she was asking for the drawing utensil, which has a cow design. Having an engaging picture, as simple as it might seem, was a very smart move on Crayola’s end. My daughter can verbalize with which Crayola product she wants to play.

Most adults today grew up using Crayola crayons. We are familiar with them for this reason, but they are so much more then just a crayon manufacturer. They make tools for imaginations, because the “power of creativity starts here”.

Love these products? Want to purchase them right away? Click the links below to order directly from Crayola, or just look for them at your local retailer that carries Crayola.

My First Crayola Egg Crayons

My First Busy Bag Art Kit

My First Crayola Mess-Free Marker and Paper

Don’t forget to follow Crayola too!

Facebook          Twitter          YouTube          Pinterest          Instagram 

“…creatively-alive kids blossom and grow to be inspired, original adults who, in turn, have the ability to inspire the world.”

ArrowsCorrected

 

 Now that you have seen how wonderful these products are head over to the giveaway!

(Runs 4/1/15 – 4/15/15; open to US)

 My First Giveaway Small