Creating a Gratitude Jar Share Your Attitude of Gratitude!

EI Editor Posted On Nov 20, 2015 | Holiday

What’s an attitude of gratitude, you ask? It’s the consistent expression of thanks for all of the good in your life, and the benefits are endless! From improving mental and physical health, to getting a better night’s sleep,to maintaining lasting friendships, making gratitude a part of your everyday routine can truly change your life for the better.Thanksgiving is the perfect time to teach your children about the power of thankfulness, and a gratitude jar is an easy, visual way to get started. Follow these four steps and instill an attitude of gratitude in your family today!

CreativeFamily Thankful Jar Image courtesy of CreativeFamilyFun.net

Step 1—Gather your physical materialsYou’ll need a large, clean jar (Mason-sized is perfect) for each member of your family, a pretty ribbon for each jar, a pad of paper, and a pair of scissors. Tie the ribbon around the jars as a reminder that you are fully “tied” (committed) to an attitude of gratitude.Step 2—Gather your familyWhether first thing in the morning, just after dinner, or right before bed, expressing gratitude together and making the expression of gratitude a part of your entire family’s daily routine will help the practice stick.Step 3—Gather your mental materialsEach family member should spend just a moment thinking about three things they’re grateful for each day. Those things could be as basicas a roof over your heads, enough food on the table, or a steady job to pay the bills. Or they could be specific, like a special outing with Mom, a really great soccer practice, or feeling healthy again after a cold. Each family member writes each of these items on individual slips of paper, folds the paper in half, and drops them into their jars.Step 4—Look to the jarWhen things are going well, look to the jars! See how full they are of wonderful things and feel thankful for all that you have! When times are tough, pull a few slips of paper out of the jars and read them to remind yourselves of how much you have to be grateful for, what wonderful things you have in your life, and all of the gifts that you’re given each and every day.

Thankful Jar Image courtesy of CreativeFamilyFun.net

Have you tried teaching your children gratitude? Share what’s worked for you and how it’s benefited your kids in the comments below!

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EI Editor | Posted on Nov 1, 2022

Top 10 Stocking Stuffers and Small Gift Ideas

Finding a stocking filled with small surprises is one of the most exciting parts of the holidays! To help parents make the most of these tiny treasures, Experts at Play at Educational Insights are here with 10 small gift ideas guaranteed to bring big smiles, spark lasting joy, and keep kids’ interest well into the new year.

Playfoam Pals Holiday Ornaments – Give the gift of holiday spirit with this 2-in-1 craft set! Kids decorate the ornaments with the included stickers and hang them on the tree, then sculpt the Playfoam inside into the perfect pretend play props for the Snowy Pals figurine hidden in the Playfoam! When they’re done, squish the Playfoam flat and begin again—Playfoam never dries out, so the fun never ends!

Playfoam Build-a-Snowman – Kids can squish and squash these packs of Playfoam into their very own no-melt snowmen, then accessorize them with the included hat, scarf, carrot nose, arm branches, eyes, and buttons. This set of three kits is perfect for spreading across sibling stockings, too!

Playfoam Putty 4 Pack – Stimulate sensory play all season long with Playfoam Putty! A uniquely textured putty is perfect for squishing, squashing, and sculpting, and makes a crackle sound with every squeeze! Perfect for screen-free ASMR play. Plus, all that squeezing and squashing builds fine motor skills.

Playfoam Pals Snowy Friends – Inspire hours of pretend-play fun! Each special-edition snow globe pod contains a snowy mix of Playfoam perfect for sculpting a squishy, squashy, play world, and a hidden mystery Pal to play in it! Kids will want to collect them all!

Playfoam Shape & Learn 4 Pack – Slip some learning into their stockings! This pack contains four sets of sculptable Playfoam, each with a set of shape, letter, number, or counting cards. Kids shape the Playfoam to match the object on each card, practicing critical preschool skills the creative way!

PaperCraft Doll Fashion Party – Encourage creativity with this set of four PaperCraft booklets, each featuring extra-large, stick-on (and off, and on again) dolls and fashions for endless mix and match outfits and hours of creative play. And with four sets you can spread them across other sibling’s stockings or give as small gifts to other friends and family.

GeoSafari Jr. Dino Discovery – Turn Christmas day into a prehistoric party with a real dino dig packed with surprises! Kids scoop and dig in the reusable dino dirt to find and excavate Triceratops or T-Rex bones, then assemble the bones to create a complete skeleton. Kits also include fossil molds and a volcano carry case!

GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars – Kids can scope out everything from Santa’s sleigh to the first buds of spring with this set of focus-free binoculars featuring 2x magnification and extra-large eyepieces! Perfect for nature walks, sky gazing, and more.

Design & Drill Robot – Tis’ the season for STEM learning and this DIY robot is the perfect introduction for preschoolers! Kids snap the pieces together, then use the included screwdriver and colorful bolts to decorate their rockin’ robot pal. When they’re done, it’s time for robot-themed pretend play

Make the most of your stocking stuffers! The right small gifts for the holidays can surprise and delight kids for months to come.

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The Science of Gratitude: The How's and Why's of Raising a Grateful Family

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Light Up the Season!

Icicles shimmering. Candles flickering Holiday lights reflected in snow. And, as if right on cue, our brand new IllumiCraft™ line launching, just in time for the holidays!

What’s extra special about the twinkling lights in our IllumiCraft kits is that YOUR kids will wire them. Yes! You heard us right. Your kids can and will create complete electrical circuits as part of these amazingly creative, super-empowering, engineering-introducing, love-of-science-inspiring craft kits!

Designed for kids ages 8 and up, each IllumiCraft kit includes super-sparkly stickers and other decorative materials kids use to decorate and dazzle objects ranging from picture frames to cell phone speakers. The kits also include step-by-step instructions and all the materials needed to construct a simple circuit to light each object up.

Assembling an IllumiCraft kit is a relaxing, rewarding, and super fun way to spend a winter afternoon. And, at $19.99, the kits are a great holiday gift or birthday buy. Plus, you’re giving so much more than a craft kit! With IllumiCraft, kids are getting hands-on experience with a basic electric engineering concept, building scientific confidence and laying the foundation for future STEM success. Talk about a bright idea!With 6 IllumiCraft kits to choose from, there’s something for everyone:

IllumiCraft Light Up! Jewelry OrganizerThe spotlight’s on your favorite gems and jewels with this personalized, light-up organizer featuring a circuit kids wire themselves and their custom paint and design jobs!

IllumiCraft Light Up! Cell Phone Speaker DockKids can amplify their sound and style with a light-up cell phone speaker doc featuring a simple circuit they wire themselves and their custom paint job and personalized decorations!

IllumiCraft Light Up! Pencil CaseKids illuminate their style with a light-up pencil case, featuring a circuit they create yourself and custom designs and decorations!

IllumiCraft Light Up! FrameKids can shine some light on their family and friends with a light-up frame featuring a circuit they wire yourself and their custom paint job and decorations!

IllumiCraft Light Up! JournalKids can record their bright ideas in a light up, hard-cover journal featuring a circuit they lay yourself and their very own designs and decorations!

IllumiCraft Light Up! Wall MirrorKids can light up their lockers with this illuminated mirror, complete with a circuit they lay themselves and their custom paint and deco jobs!

The perfect combination of crafting and STEM learning puts IllumiCraft kits at the top of every holiday wish list!