Tricks of the Trade

[Beulahland]

I have younger kids who are not able to wash their hands by themselves yet. I purchased coloured antibacterial sponge cloths, wrote names of each child with clothes marker on different colored ones and moisten them for wiping hands and faces when necessary. I wash them at the end of the day; helps cuts down on use of disposable wipes and the kids know their wipes by colour.

[Van]

I put a plain white shower curtain on the white wall behind the high-chairs and where the children do art and painting as it is so easy to wipe down and keep clean and saves me painting the wall every year

[ebhappydc]

I try to start thinking about crafts for celebrations a week or two ahead of date. So for mothers day I'm looking online for ideas and will get supplies ready for next week. That way if something unexpected happens during the week or if I'm under the weather, I don't have to worry as it's ready to go and doesn't feel like such a crunch. Do same for other celebrations - planning ahead helps as the dates creep up quickly I find.

[5 Little Monkeys]

To keep my walls from getting banged up, I use green painters tape to hold foam mats on them. They're just one high (or 2 if they're the alphabet ones) and I change them up every 12-18 months. (I have changed my playroom decor/shelves/toy kitchen/big toys almost yearly since I've started lol...I think I've finally got it where I like and it will stay this way for quite done time!) I also have them in the kitchen where we eat and do art. So easy to wipe down!

[bright sparks]

I try to start thinking about crafts for celebrations a week or two ahead of date. So for mothers day I'm looking online for ideas and will get supplies ready for next week. That way if something unexpected happens during the week or if I'm under the weather, I don't have to worry as it's ready to go and doesn't feel like such a crunch. Do same for other celebrations - planning ahead helps as the dates creep up quickly I find.

With regards to themed crafts and celebrations, I always stock up after the event too so I am fully prepared for the following year and it becomes a much cheaper activity. Means that I can splurge a little on Michaels supplies without the huge hit to my purse strings. Also I find that superstore always has lots of things on sale a day or two before a particular holiday so I can sometimes get things for the current year but like ebhappydc, I prefer to plan ahead and be organized so things run much smoother. Always good to have a bucket of something handy for those rainy day activities or "witching hour turned day" kind of daycare days!

[5 Little Monkeys]

I love the after holiday sales!! It's like Xmas the next year when I pull out my themed bucket for that specific holiday as I forgot what I bought the year before lol

[ebhappydc]

With regards to themed crafts and celebrations, I always stock up after the event too so I am fully prepared for the following year and it becomes a much cheaper activity. Means that I can splurge a little on Michaels supplies without the huge hit to my purse strings. Also I find that superstore always has lots of things on sale a day or two before a particular holiday so I can sometimes get things for the current year but like ebhappydc, I prefer to plan ahead and be organized so things run much smoother. Always good to have a bucket of something handy for those rainy day activities or "witching hour turned day" kind of daycare days!

Never thought to buy the day after for the following year, especially at an expensive store like Michaels... Thanks you!!!

[5 Little Monkeys]

This past Halloween, they had stamps on for like 17 cents!!! (Might even have been cheaper, they were practically free!) I stocked up!! They are the nice big ones too

I always coupons when I shop there....even if I have to do multiple transactions lol