The kids may be oblivious, but you, mama, you see all the signs of back to school coming - store shelves bursting with bright new markers and crayons, slim boxes of yellow pencils, the latest colors in notebook covers, and clean, sweet-smelling pink rubber erasers!
This year, I have a kindergartener in the house! And homeschooling doesn't make me feel any less like time is passing by way too swiftly! It's going to be hard to leave summer behind, so we're planning a slow ease into the school year with lots of fun activities!
We did one of our transition back to school activities a little early, because I also have some sweet new Gymboree back to school styles to show you and I wanted to get some fun photos with the kids! And I did!!
An exciting transition back to school with a field trip!
Last year in our preschool reading, we enjoyed a book called Then and Now, which showed various scenes from two time periods. One scene was an one room schoolhouse next to a more modern classroom. The boys loved comparing the two scenes, and my older one even picked up on the fact that "we" don't go to either kind of school because we homeschool! Smart boy!
For our transition back to school activity, we took a trip back in time in person! In my old hometown, there's an historic one-room schoolhouse called Old Center Schoolhouse (District 1). Built sometime during the 1800's, it's been restored and is full of vintage furniture and activities for kids. (FYI, in Connecticut, old schoolhouses are open on the last Sunday of the month for viewing!).
We talked about how kids a hundred or so years ago might have dressed, and how they had to walk to school, perhaps after doing farm chores. The boys thought I had gone to school here! Ha! I'm not THAT old!
All the details about the Old Center Schoolhouse mesmerized the boys: the metal lunch bucket (what did they even put in those!?), school bell, old maps, and the communal watering pail.
Ringing the schoolbell, sitting at charming wooden desks, drawing on slates, and staring at old maps and photos... the boys peered wide-eyed into schooldays of yesteryear.
Visiting a schoolhouse (new or old) can be a fun transition activity in the weeks leading up to the school year. If you don't have an historic building, how about where you went to school? Or to the school they'll be going to this coming fall (perhaps they'll meet a teacher!)?
Transition back to school with exciting outfits from Gymboree!
Look at my sweet soon-to-be-kindergartener. I. can't. even!!
For our trip, I dressed our boys up in their back to school outfits from Gymboree. The green and blue theme is seasonless, I think, yet the woodsy, camping themes remind us of summer fun! Plaid shirts require little ironing, and match with so many pants colors, so I just love them!
Donate arts & crafts supplies to help kids create this school year!
Guess what my boys gravitated to immediately in our one-room schoolhouse visit? The slates and chalk, of course! Children have an innate need to create and be hands-on with their learning.
This post was sponsored by Gymboree and I was sent a gift card in exchange for posting. All opinions are my own.
My daughters love scissors, glue, and glitter!
My daughters love scissors, glue, and glitter!
My kids love bingo dot markers!
My kids love bingo dot markers!
Crayons are his favorite. He loves to color.
Crayons are his favorite. He loves to color.
Chalk and watercolor paints.
Chalk and watercolor paints.
My Daughter has always love painting with paints and brushes.
My Daughter has always love painting with paints and brushes.
My daughter loves to use construction paper & popsicle sticks and make puppets with them.
My daughter loves to use construction paper & popsicle sticks and make puppets with them.
My kids love paint and markers.
My kids love paint and markers.
My son loves paint!
My son loves paint!
My kids love to use watercolors to paint
My kids love to use watercolors to paint
My kids love to work with pipe cleaners. Thank you
My kids love to work with pipe cleaners. Thank you
Lately my daughter loves gluing sequins and rhinestones to things
Lately my daughter loves gluing sequins and rhinestones to things
My son LOVES construction paper. He can fold it, cut it, color on it and make it 3D. He loves building stuff.
My son LOVES construction paper. He can fold it, cut it, color on it and make it 3D. He loves building stuff.
We love to paint!
We love to paint!
My kids love painting, crayons and markers.
My kids love painting, crayons and markers.
My daughter is really into stamps right now!:)
My daughter is really into stamps right now!:)
my daughters love to color with markers,crayons,etc and make pictures of different things and we hang them up
my daughters love to color with markers,crayons,etc and make pictures of different things and we hang them up
my daughters love to color with markers,crayons,etc and make pictures of different things and we hang them up
my daughters love to color with markers,crayons,etc and make pictures of different things and we hang them up
I am so glad I found your website! I am a homeschooling mom as well! We are big into crafting projects in my home! I would have to say do-a-dot markers and pipecleaners are always the go to for most of my kids! Thanks for the giveaway, I love gymboree!
*kelly
kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
My boys love to use markers, paint and clay.
My boys love to use markers, paint and clay.
I think it would have to be a toss up between paint and scissors. They love to paint just about anything but they also love to cut.
I think it would have to be a toss up between paint and scissors. They love to paint just about anything but they also love to cut.
My child's favorite arts and craft supplies would be any kind of paint and paint brushes. They also like embroidery floss to make bracelets!
My child's favorite arts and craft supplies would be any kind of paint and paint brushes. They also like embroidery floss to make bracelets!
My granddaughter likes markers , paper and squishy sand.
My granddaughter likes markers , paper and squishy sand.
my daughter loves paint.
my daughter loves paint.
My daughter always loved glitter. She would add glitter or glitter stickers to everything.
My daughter always loved glitter. She would add glitter or glitter stickers to everything.
My daughter loves using crayons in coloring books and for drawing.
My daughter loves using crayons in coloring books and for drawing.
Our little guy loves drawing with crayons.
Our little guy loves drawing with crayons.
My twins love to paint!
My twins love to paint!
My 3 year old wants to use every craft supply she sees immediately. I'm most comfortable with her using crayons right now lol.
My 3 year old wants to use every craft supply she sees immediately. I'm most comfortable with her using crayons right now lol.
my daughter loves to paint!
my daughter loves to paint!
My daughter loves all arts and crafts - she is especially good with rainbow loom and designing t shirts with stencils and paints!
they love crayons and play doh
they love crayons and play doh
The Kids Love Watercolors, Paints, And Of Course Markers!
The Kids Love Watercolors, Paints, And Of Course Markers!
My daughter loves to paint!
My daughter loves to paint!
My children adore watercolor paints!
My children adore watercolor paints!
My daughter loves painting and markers.
My daughter loves painting and markers.
My daughter loves to draw but all of a sudden she is into pipe filters she made the Eiffel tower ..
My daughter loves to draw but all of a sudden she is into pipe filters she made the Eiffel tower ..
The kids love crayons and finger paints.
The kids love crayons and finger paints.
My daughter says scissors are her favorite. As long as they're pink.
My daughter says scissors are her favorite. As long as they're pink.
My daughter LOVES paint!
My daughter LOVES paint!
He loves water colors and stickers.
He loves water colors and stickers.
We use a lot of markers and construction paper and glue.
We use a lot of markers and construction paper and glue.
Around our house we love to paint. Especially with cotton balls. It is a great way to create while working on fine motor skills! Plus we get awesome abstract art!!
My girls love self-sticking gems and glitter. Lots and lots of glitter....
My girls love self-sticking gems and glitter. Lots and lots of glitter....
We have a lot of fun with chalk.
We have a lot of fun with chalk.
My kids love to paint and make lots of stuff with paper and glue and sometimes make figures with playdough
My kids love to paint and make lots of stuff with paper and glue and sometimes make figures with playdough
My kids favorites is painting!
My kids favorites is painting!
My daughter is WILD about her watercolors!
My daughter is WILD about her watercolors!
My 3 year old is currently loving her finger paints.
My 3 year old is currently loving her finger paints.
Looks fun!
Looks fun!
Crayons! YOu can create so much with some crayons!
Crayons! YOu can create so much with some crayons!
My son loves to paint. He has collected paints in every color you can think of!
Oh really loves to paint and draw!!! Although playdough is a close second!
Oh really loves to paint and draw!!! Although playdough is a close second!
They like colorful construction paper, scissors, glue and paint!
They like colorful construction paper, scissors, glue and paint!
They love cotton balls, paint, flue and felt
They love cotton balls, paint, flue and felt
Dd loves her crayons, pencils and colored pencils! She loves to draw and color! Gets it from daddy cause all I can draw are stick figures...and they aren't even good! LOL
Dd loves her crayons, pencils and colored pencils! She loves to draw and color! Gets it from daddy cause all I can draw are stick figures...and they aren't even good! LOL
My son loves his sidewalk chalk. He uses it all over....
My son loves his sidewalk chalk. He uses it all over....
My kids like to paint!
My kids like to paint!
My children love markers! All kinds of markers too. Whenever we go to the stores they like to find them and always request I buy more.
My children love markers! All kinds of markers too. Whenever we go to the stores they like to find them and always request I buy more.
My daughter loves to paint; that's probably her favorite. She also likes cutting and pasting colored paper to make her creations.
My daughter loves to paint; that's probably her favorite. She also likes cutting and pasting colored paper to make her creations.
My daughter loves to color with crayons!
My daughter loves to color with crayons!
My granddaughters like construction paper, crayons and markers.
My granddaughters like construction paper, crayons and markers.
she loves stickers. they are all over the house
she loves stickers. they are all over the house
My kids like to paint.
My kids like to paint.
My daughter loves to paint
My daughter loves to paint
My kids really love any project that includes googly eyes!
My kids love to paint, and cut paper!
My kids love to paint, and cut paper!
My kids love crayons.
My kids love crayons.
My daughter absolutely loves her colored pencils and crayons. But during the summer, her favorite art activity is to make homemade sidewalk paint for our front porch. 🙂
My daughter absolutely loves her colored pencils and crayons. But during the summer, her favorite art activity is to make homemade sidewalk paint for our front porch. 🙂
My little one really loves to work with play dough for crafts and chalk!
My little one really loves to work with play dough for crafts and chalk!
My daughter loves to paint. She is a little artist in the making. I happily display her artwork.
My daughter loves to paint. She is a little artist in the making. I happily display her artwork.
My youngest likes play dough.
Your boys seem to get more handsome each year. How is that even possible? I especially love the picture of A sitting in a desk with his hand resting on his face. The serious look on E's face as he's reading a book is so sweet too!
My youngest likes play dough.
Your boys seem to get more handsome each year. How is that even possible? I especially love the picture of A sitting in a desk with his hand resting on his face. The serious look on E's face as he's reading a book is so sweet too!
My son loves crayons. He can sit and color for hours. We are counting down the days to another year of homeschool. I'll have a 1st and 2nd grader
My son loves crayons. He can sit and color for hours. We are counting down the days to another year of homeschool. I'll have a 1st and 2nd grader
He likes painting w/ watercolors a lot.
He likes painting w/ watercolors a lot.
My daughter loves to just draw on a blank sheet of paper with markers, crayons, colored pencils - whatever is available! 🙂
My daughter loves to just draw on a blank sheet of paper with markers, crayons, colored pencils - whatever is available! 🙂
Markers and coloring books are my daughter's favorite art supplies!
Markers and coloring books are my daughter's favorite art supplies!
She is a big fan of crayons.
She is a big fan of crayons.
My daughter loves finger paints!
My daughter loves finger paints!
my son loves drawing, coloring, and painting
my son loves drawing, coloring, and painting
My grandsons really enjoy Play Doh and creating things with it. They also love to use a glue stick while doing an art project!
My grandsons really enjoy Play Doh and creating things with it. They also love to use a glue stick while doing an art project!
My son loves glitter glue. He also likes crafting with craft sticks and pipe cleaners.
My son loves glitter glue. He also likes crafting with craft sticks and pipe cleaners.
Right now my little guy is too little for art supplies but soon I think he will love to color and use to use finger paint!
Right now my little guy is too little for art supplies but soon I think he will love to color and use to use finger paint!
My kids always like the twist up crayons.
My kids always like the twist up crayons.
My daughter loves to play with watercolor! She loves bright colors.
My daughter loves to play with watercolor! She loves bright colors.
Their favorite arts and crafts supply is finger paints right now!
Their favorite arts and crafts supply is finger paints right now!
My great-niece loves her crayons.
My great-niece loves her crayons.
my son loves to grab random materials and make his own puppets
my son loves to grab random materials and make his own puppets
My daughter is an art and craft fanatic! It's the only thing she asks for for her birthday or Christmas. Her favorite would probably be acrylic paints. thank you!
My daughter is an art and craft fanatic! It's the only thing she asks for for her birthday or Christmas. Her favorite would probably be acrylic paints. thank you!
Started school supply list today
Started school supply list today
My kids love dry erase markers for the white board and they love painting, too!
My kids love dry erase markers for the white board and they love painting, too!
she loves the sparkle glitter glue
she loves the sparkle glitter glue
My grandson loves to paint with oil pastels.
My grandson loves to paint with oil pastels.
My son loves molding clay!
My son loves molding clay!
My daughter loves sparkle crayons.
My daughter loves sparkle crayons.
My grandson loves crayons and finger paint.
My grandson loves crayons and finger paint.
They love watercolor paints.
They love watercolor paints.
Painting has always been the number one thing.
Painting has always been the number one thing.
My son loves to do anything that involves cutting and gluing.
My son loves to do anything that involves cutting and gluing.
My daughter loves crayons.
My daughter loves crayons.
CUTE! Boo Hoo Kindergarten.
We have an old schoolhouse in my hometown too but they have it roped off so you can only view the inside from the doorway/foyer but can't be hands on. Fun!
Love it! What a great idea. The boys are so handsome!
Love it! What a great idea. The boys are so handsome!
How adorable are these photos?! Holy cuteness! 🙂 We're gearing for back to school around here as well. My kids LOVE anything involving arts and crafts. Cutting, pasting, drawing and beading are their favorites!
All my kids love to paint, or play with play-doh.
All my kids love to paint, or play with play-doh.
Love this! My boys spend a lot of time with colored pencils and water colors in their hands. We didn't do as much as we usually do this summer (they are growing up!) but with school starting I am bringing them purposefully out again. I particularly like having my homeschooled kid draw / paint a scene from his literature assignment. It easy to focus on themes and voice and characters and location as we paint together. Have a wonderful year!
Great post! We got to visit the one-room schoolhouse Laura Ingalls attended when my E was in 1st grade! Very exciting because we were reading her books. Sadly, the displays were not interactive. I love it that your boys got to use the slates, ring the bell, etc. 🙂
Favorite art and craft supplies are colored paper, scissors, and (lots of!) tape! 😉