Thanksgiving

Thankful Printable: Count Your Blessings

Take a little time to count your blessings with this Thankful Printable Worksheet.

Every November so many people post daily on social media what they are thankful for in their lives.

The idea of counting our blessings is a great tradition! It’s just one that I could never seem to remember to do on a social media account.

This printable is perfect for those who don’t wish to be tied down to a mandatory daily post. Or like me, simply can’t keep up with it.

It gives another option to record and reflect on what you are truly most thankful for in your life.

Also, if you have kids make sure to check out our Thanksgiving printables perfect for younger children. We have a Thanksgiving tic tac toe printable, as well as a Turkey coloring page! Plus we just made a Thanksgiving Word Scramble worksheet too!

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

How to use your Thankful Printable

How you choose to use the Thankful Printable is completely up to you! Here are a few suggestions that work well for recording your blessings.

Ideas for using your Thankful Printable

There are 25 lines on the printable, which coordinate with the 25 days in November until Thanksgiving Day.

One way to use the printable would be to record one thing you are thankful for each day. Perhaps you could do this while drinking your morning coffee, or if your mornings are crazy like mine – you could reflect on it at night before bed.

Whatever the time of the day, taking a moment to write what you are most thankful for is a great self-care act. Thinking of all the people, events, or memories that make us smile and be joyful is an easy way to boost your mood.

All at Once Use of the Printable

Another idea for using the Thankful Printable would be to record your thoughts all at once. You could do this at the start of the month and then you would have it to reflect on when the holiday stress kicks up.

Also, if you do wish to post what you are thankful for on social media, this would be a place to record ideas as you think of them.

Thanksgiving Get-Together

Finally, this printable would also be great to use at your Thanksgiving gatherings. Print out or make copies for everyone in attendance and while enjoying your pumpkin pie, everyone could record their blessings.

5 Blessings in My Life

While creating this printable, my blessings kept floating through my mind.

Here are five of the blessings I have to be thankful for this year. Hopefully, they will help you think of your blessings too.

Learning the Art of Saying “No”

After many years, I have learned that sometimes when life is crazy-busy, saying “no” is the healthiest thing to do. Over-extending myself by always trying to feel helpful creates a huge sense of under-achievement in my life.

Finding a Passion Again

For over seven years my “title” has been a stay-at-home mom. It is one I have enjoyed, but as my boys grew older, this little feeling kept popping up and I felt lost. It was a chilly Sunday afternoon in December when I quit thinking about blogging, bit the bullet, and started doing it.

Passion ignited! I fell in love with being creative and sharing the things I love with others!

That creative drive had gone dormant when I became a SAHM. I have found a creative outlet, or passion, again, and for that, I am so thankful!

Parental Sacrifices

About two years ago, my mom & stepdad moved (over 2 hours) to be with my family. They left a community they had both lived in for over 60 years to be a part of my three boys’ lives.

As I watch them adjust to their new home, neighborhood, and community; I am so thankful for all the changes they have embraced to live by me.

Decaf Coffee

Yep. I switched from being thankful for my parents to decaf coffee! But it’s a little more than just enjoying a good cup of joe.

You see decaf coffee was what led me to see that I didn’t want a glass of wine every night. I still love wine, it was just eye-opening to realize I enjoy coffee more.

So I’m thankful for that decaf coffee. It reminded me to make my own decisions; based on what I want, not what I think everyone else is doing.

Post-it Notes, Beautiful Containers & 3-Ring Binders

I love all things organization. I am an organizationaholic.

For example, I loved the Berenstain Bear’s Book when the cubs clean up their room and they organize their closet with labels.

Organization is my jam and I’ve learned to embrace it and use it to my advantage. So give me new cute post-its, a beautiful new journal, or a fun organizational idea, and my day is made.

Download your Thankful Printable

Hopefully, a peek into a few of my blessings will help you begin thinking of your own.

I’d love to hear in the comments what you are thankful for this year.

Click the following link to print your Thankful Printable

‘Thankful’ Colorful Printable

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Halloween

How to Make the Eyeball Pong DIY Halloween Game for Kids

clear bowls with eyeball ping pong balls in them

If you are looking for easy Halloween Games for classroom parties or your Spooky Monster Mash Bash at home, then this is the game for you! Our Eyeball Pong Halloween Game for kids works for all ages; from preschool to tweens to even teens!

I’ll be honest, I love playing the game so it’s even a fun Halloween game for adults too!

If you are short on time or thinking you might need some time-fillers for your Halloween party, then make sure you check out our free Halloween printables too.

First, we have a Halloween Tic Tac Toe printable.

As well as a Halloween Word Scramble that would work perfectly for the downtime during your event.

Now, let’s jump back into this awesome Eyeball Pong Halloween Game!

First, we’ll look at how to play the game. Then we will dive into how to easily make it!

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

How to Play the Eyeball Pong Halloween Game

Real quick, if you have your own idea for using the eyeballs you can easily check out several on Amazon by clicking here!

Now, let’s jump into how to play the game!

This easy Halloween Game for kids of all ages works great as a large-group game or can be used as a Minute-to-Win-It game too.

Keep reading to learn how to play the Eyeball Pong Halloween Game; as well as how to make it. Don’t worry, it’s not a super complicated DIY project.

First, no matter how you choose to play the game, the whole concept is to get the eyeballs into the bowls by bouncing them on the ground near the board.

If an eyeball lands in the “instant win” cup in the middle, the game ends, and that team or person has won instantly.

Make sure you have enough eyeballs to fill every bowl plus a few extras.

Since they will roll, as well as bounce off under desks or furniture during the game, having those extras is handy when one goes missing.

Tip: Don’t have too many eyeballs however… this can lead to massive craziness! If the players don’t have to keep track of them to throw them again, they will start throwing like crazy. Yes, I learned this one the hard way!

You can truly make your own rules for the game; but here are 3 ways that are Halloween classroom party tested and proven to work well.

Before we jump into ways to play the Eyeball Pong Halloween Game, make sure you check out our Skeleton Hands Relay Race game too. It’s another frugal game, with very little set-up needed!

Minute to Win It Version

If you choose to do this as a minute to win it Halloween game, then you possibly only need to create one board.

However, if you have a large group, doing two or more boards would make the process much faster.

The rules for this version of the Eyeball Pong Halloween Game would be that each person has one minute to get as many of the eyeballs as possible into the cups.

The “instant win” cup rule could still be used as well.

Time each person for one minute and record the number of eyeballs they were able to land in the bowls.

The person with the highest number is the winner.

Have a tie? Have them do a 10-second lightning round for the title of Eyeball Pong Champion!

Eyeball Pong Teams Version

This version of the Eyeball Pong game is all about teamwork! Divide the kids into groups of 6-8 (fewer is fine too) per board.

Have them all sit around the board with around 3 or 4 eyeballs each.

When the game starts the teams will bounce their eyeballs into the bowls.

The team that fills all the bowls first, or lands in the “instant win” cup, wins!

TIP: Make sure the kids understand that they need to bounce the balls onto the floor and into the bowls. Simply tossing them into the bowls isn’t nearly as much fun!

When doing this game in the past, the kids always requested to do this several times. I’ve been room mom for a party where this is the only game we played.

The Making Supper Version

Ok, this version doesn’t have anything to do with supper, but this is a great game to make for your kids to play at home too.

My boys play this the whole month of October. This means I find plastic eyeballs over my home when I’m decorating for Christmas. But it’s worth it.

How to Make the Eyeball Pong Halloween Game

If you are worried about the process of making the game, be sure to Pin this on Pinterest! That way you will be able to easily find it again when you begin making your game.

Now did I mention that the supplies you need to make your Eyeball Pong can sometimes be found at Dollar Tree?

That makes this game a frugal and easy Halloween game too. Win-Win!

Halloween Game Supplies

Here are the supplies you will need to create the game. Velcro dots are hit-and-miss at my Dollar Tree, but everything else is typically in stock this time of year.

Click the links below to see the items on Amazon. If I can’t find something in stores, typically Amazon will have it!

Foam Board

Velcro Dots

Clear Plastic Bowls

Halloween Shot Glasses

Ping Pong Eyeballs

The supplies above will be enough to create the game and have a great time playing it.

However, if you want to decorate your foam boards, then you will need fun Halloween supplies such as:

Halloween Stickers

Spooky Halloween Ribbons

Scrapbook Paper

Mod Podge

Foam Brush

Making the Game

The first step will be to decide how many kids you are going to have to play the game.

I recommend about 8 kids max per foam board. So if you have 24 kids in a class, I would make at least 3 boards.

If you are making this Halloween game for tweens or teens, you might want to plan for 6 per foam board.

Next, you will need to decorate the boards. You can skip this step if you are short on time, but it makes the boards more festive for sure! If all else fails, do the scribble method below.

There are several ways you can decorate your boards:

Let your children scribble on them with black and orange markers

Cover them with fun Halloween Stickers

Use scrapbook paper and ribbons to make a collage

Now that you have your boards decorated, I highly recommend sealing them with Mod Podge.

Since the velcro dots are incredibly sticky, it helps keep the stickers and collage materials from pulling off the board.

After the boards are decorated and dried, you are going to have to figure out the placement of your bowls.

Start by placing the “instant win” shot glass in the middle of the board.

Any type of bowl or glass smaller than all the others will work.

Then place bowls around it – ensure you leave enough space between them so the eyeballs won’t always land in a bowl.

It’s time for the Velcro Dots!

Once you have the bowl placement figured out, it’s time to attach the velcro dots. This step is optional too, but it helps to have the bowls stay in place when the eyeballs are bouncing around.

Now starting with the “instant win” cup, attach your velcro dots to the board and bowls.

Keep working around the board making sure the dots on the board match up with the bowls on the board.

If you place the dots too close together, the bowls will not be able to fit.

Another option for making the game

If you aren’t planning on keeping the game or want to store it as easily, you could hot glue the bowls down. I wanted to have a way to store the game for future parties, without taking up a ton of space, so that is why the Velcro dots were the best option.

Guess what, that’s it. The game is officially made! Now you can take the bowls off and transport the entire game easily to the party.

Even More Halloween Activities & Games

Before you start making your Eyeball Pong Halloween game, check out a few other games and Halloween activities we have below.

We have a new Halloween How Many Words worksheet perfect for the classroom or Halloween parties.

Halloween how many words can you make worksheet

Skeleton Hands Relay Race Halloween Game || This is another fun Halloween game for classroom parties! It also uses Dollar Tree supplies too.

Plastic skeleton sitting in skeleton hand

Halloween Games Cheats & Shortcuts for Busy Moms || This is a great post about how to find easy Halloween Games! Plus, it has a few pre-made games you can order from Amazon.

Jack O Lantern with Sparklers being held by children behind it

10 Easy (Pre-Made) Halloween Craft Kits for Kids || Do you know what pairs up perfectly with a spooky Halloween game? How about a fun Halloween craft? Click over and check them out! They are time savers for busy moms for sure!

Make sure you sign up for our email newsletter below! We send updates about all of our hacks for busy moms, as well as freebies (like this Halloween Bucket List Printable or this Halloween Word Scramble).

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Halloween

10 No Prep Halloween Craft Kits for Kids

When life gets super busy, those super amazing Pinterest Halloween craft ideas sometimes have to get put on the back burner. That’s why these No-Prep Halloween Craft Kits for kids are perfect for busy moms!

Your kids will enjoy doing them, and they are ready-to-go sets available from Amazon. There are Halloween crafts for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and even tweens!

So if time is running out to make your own Halloween craft, give yourself a break, and “cheat” a little!

{This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission.}

No Prep Halloween Crafts for Kids

Fall is such an incredibly busy time of year. This season seems to fill up quickly with school events, trips to the Pumpkin Patch and Homecoming Parades. Not to mention the sporting events, celebrating Halloween and the “big” Holidays looming soon too.

With all this activity, sometimes the to-do list can become overwhelming!

So if you are in charge of the Halloween activities for a Scouts or classroom party, try these craft kits to cut out some work for yourself. Planning one of these pre-made Halloween crafts as part of the event means less prep for you and the kids will still love doing it.

Also, if you are needing more than one activity for your class party, check out this fun Halloween game – Skeleton Hands Relay Race. It’s made from Dollar Tree Supplies and requires very minimal prep work too!

Or if you are really short on time – check out our Halloween Game Cheats for Busy Moms.

So let’s jump right in and check out the time-saving Halloween craft kits below.

No Prep Halloween Craft Kits – All in One!

These all-in-one craft kits have everything you need to complete them. They range from necklace kits to mask.

Halloween Magnets Craft Kit

Monster Magnet Craft Kit

Halloween Character Bookmark Craft Kit

Wood Halloween Necklace Craft Kits

Halloween Foam Pumpkins

Fun Express Halloween Bat Craft Kits

Funny Face Pumpkin Picture Frame

Jack-O’-Lantern No Prep Halloween Craft Kits

Does anything say Halloween better than jack-o-lanterns? Take a look at these easy Halloween pumpkin crafts below!

8 Inch Foam Halloween Pumpkins

There are tons of fun jack-o’-lantern stickers to choose from on Amazon. A few of the best-selling ones are listed below!

Jack O’ Lantern Pumpkin Stickers

Make Your Own Jack-O-Lantern

Foam Pumpkin Decorations Craft Kit

A few more Halloween Craft Ideas

There are a few more fun Halloween craft ideas that would work perfectly for a Halloween activity or party!

Check out these spooky ideas below:

Foam Halloween Character Shape Decoration Set

Halloween Foam Stickers

This last suggestion is not a craft, but it would definitely be perfect for sending all the crafts, extra supplies, and treats home from the party!

Halloween Party Bags

Other fun Halloween Ideas

CINNAMON SUGAR JACK-O’-LANTERN CRISPS | Only 4 ingredients and 4 easy steps to make… check out these crispy Halloween Treats!

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN PRETZELS | Another easy Halloween Snack that is sure to please your kids with its spooky bats and adorable pumpkins!

Make sure you sign up for our newsletter below to receive all of our free printables, as well as tips for busy moms!

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Halloween

10 Easy Tips for Better Halloween Photos of your Kids

Ready for easy tips that will make your Halloween Photos actually worth printing this year? With the combination of a night-time holiday and sugar-crazed tornado-like kids getting a good picture can be difficult!

So keep reading for the 10 easy tricks and tips for better Halloween Photos of your kids. The first one is what finally let me capture those awesome Halloween costumes, without the pictures being blurry!

Tips & Tricks for Better Halloween Photos of your Kids

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Tip #1: Have a Halloween PHOTOSHOOT

Don’t quickly stop reading! I’m not talking about a professional photoshoot of your little fireman in his costume.

I’m simply talking about taking Halloween photos before the actual night of Halloween.

For example, Halloween 2019 falls on a Thursday night. The prior weekend, you could have a dress rehearsal, or last costume check, before the big trick-or-treating night.

Talk it up to your kids, do their make-up and hair if needed, and have fun!

Take tons of pics of your cute little princess without the pressure of getting to the Grandparent’s house for supper or out the door to go trick-or-treating.

What works even better is if your child has a Halloween Party, Trunk-or-Treat, etc. that means they will already be wearing their costume.

Schedule 15 extra minutes before the event and you will have time for your mini photo shoot.

Tip #2: Seek the DAYLIGHT

If you don’t have time for a pre-Halloween photo shoot, then try to take your Halloween “posed” pictures as early in the night as possible.

First, this will help you with not having blurry photos. Second, it will also make sure you don’t forget to grab those classic costume photos.

Simply put, the more daylight you have, the better your photos will turn out. And if you are thinking, no biggie, I’ll just use my flash… check out tip #3!

Tips & Tricks for taking better Halloween photos

Tip #3: Say no to the FLASH

Unless you know what you are doing, say no to the flash. Without going into a discussion of ISO settings, apertures, and shutter speeds; flash is often too strong and leads to images that even editing can’t fix.

If you absolutely can’t live without it – try using night mode. It’s preset on most DSLR cameras and some phones. It will soften the flash as needed.

Still worried all your action shot photos are going to be completely dark if you don’t use the flash? Check the next tip for some creative light ideas.

Child holding a plastic pumpkin standing at front door

Tip #4: Find the LIGHT

Okay so we just talked about using daylight and also not using flash. So what in the world do I mean by find the light?

When you are out trick-or-treating look for creative ways to get light into your pictures.

The glow from a front porch light as your child picks a piece of candy can make for a great in-the-moment Halloween photo.

Or capture your child under a street lamp! The shadows and above lighting will make for an interesting and spooky Halloween picture.

There are also lights from jack-o’-lanterns, passing cars, and glow sticks.

Play around on Halloween and see what unique images you can capture with the lights you can find.

Tip #5: Definitely say no to the ZOOM

Let your kids do the zooming from house to house, and forget the zoom function on your phone camera.

Currently, most phones don’t have moveable lenses so think of zooming when you take a pic more of pre-cropping. It will kill your picture quality. Especially in low light.

Move closer to your kids or the amazing jack-o’-lantern you came across and snap away. You can always crop all your Halloween photos later if needed.

10 tricks and tips for taking better Halloween photos

Tip #6: CLEAN the Camera Lens

The simplest tip that will be given – clean your camera lens. Nope, I’m not talking about the lens on your DSLR camera.

Right now flip your phone over and look at the tiny little circle that is your phone’s camera viewer. Are there smudges or a fingerprint or two on it?

Use the softest material you can find (I favor the inside of my sweatshirt), and gently clean your lens.

It seems silly, but a clean lens will mean much better photos! Yes, that smudge might end up looking like a ghost in all your Halloween photos – but that’s not what we are after (wink).

Tip #7: You must remain absolutely STILL

In low-light settings, it is so important to hold your camera still when taking photos. So if you can, stop walking when you are taking your pictures and capture it quickly.

Most phone cameras also have shortcuts of sorts that let you take pictures using the side buttons instead of the touchscreen circle.

Try it out on your phone, or look in your settings.

For my iPhone, I use the “down volume” button to take pictures when I’m trying for steadier photos.

Bonus – using the shortcut on phones also helps if you are wearing gloves! We had snow last year on Halloween!

Tip #8: Change your PERSPECTIVE

Halloween photos are the perfect time to play around and capture unique shots of your kids.

For example, try experimenting with different perspectives. Get down low and shoot up at your children.

Stand above your child and capture a shot of them from their mask down to their flimsy shoe covers; my least favorite parts of costumes, right after the masks.

Tip #9: Variety is the SPICE of Life

These tips apply more to the photo shoot aspect of Halloween photos. The ones you attempt to get before the trick-or-treating chaos begins!

Try finding backdrops that will make for interesting photos. Use a brick wall or your garage doors to have a calm backdrop that will make your child’s costume pop in the photo.

Or if you have a newer phone (or can attempt later in an app) use portrait mode to blur out the busy background behind your child. This is my favorite for the front porch decorations photo!

Make sure you capture close-ups of your child’s expressions when they are in character.

Also, have them pose like their character and get a full-body shot. You’ll want to see every aspect of that costume in your Halloween photos.

Tip #10: If all else fails – FILTER IT!

If all else fails, you can always filter your photos! I’ve found that Black and White filters are good options for low-light Halloween pictures.

Don’t be afraid to go in and attempt more than just a preset filter. Most apps have adjustments for exposure, white balance, etc. too. Give them a shot! You can always reset the picture and try again.

Being kind of a “photography wanna-be” I have several apps on my phone that I love to use. Instagram has great options too if you use the platform.

Other Apps I personally use are:

Snapseed
VSCO
Afterlight
Color Splash (cool black and white with color pop)

There is also an app named Word Swag that I love because it lets you put phrases and sayings onto your photo. It has tons (repeat, tons) of options for overlaying your text on your pictures!

Even More Halloween Fun!

Hopefully, you have some great tips and tricks for better Halloween pics this year. I’d love to hear your comments below about how you capture your memories. Share those ideas, please.

Before you go, check out Productive Pete’s other Halloween Ideas. We have a little bit of everything for busy mamas!

FREE PRINTABLE TIC TAC TOE GAME

NON-CANDY HALLOWEEN TREATS FOR KIDS

We have Last Minute Halloween Costumes for Busy Moms! Tons of easy costume ideas, with items mostly from your home.

Or our Cheats and Tips for Planning Halloween Games post. It has pre-made game ideas… time savers!

Of course, if you never want to miss a Productive Pete idea for busy moms, free printable, and more – sign up for our monthly newsletter below!

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Activities for Kids Halloween

Free Printable Halloween Word Scramble PDF for Kids

It’s time for another fun printable to celebrate the spookiest season of all! This Halloween Word Scramble worksheet is sure to entertain your kids while sneaking in a little learning too.

That combination makes for my favorite kind of kids’ activity.

Keep reading to see other great Halloween ideas from Productive Pete, like this free printable Halloween Tic Tac Toe game.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Halloween Word Scramble for Kids

This Halloween Word Scramble is created for kids of all ages, but first-graders and older will be able to do it without too much frustration.

So what are some uses for the word scramble? Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to use this free printable.

Using the printable Halloween Word Scramble at Home

This printable is great for use as a fun addition to your home school curriculum. It’s nice to have a little spooky fun during your regular learning.

Or it would work well as a fun after-school Halloween activity for kids. Print it out for when you are busy making supper or for some fun on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

School Use of the Word Scramble

The Halloween Word Scramble would be great for a fun Halloween vocabulary sheet. Or it would be ideal to place in a writing center for quiet time activities.

It could also work well as a send-home activity for kids. Homework isn’t a favorite of kids, but a fun worksheet like this just might change their minds.

Just a little tip – print the word scramble out in black and white for better results when photocopying.

Using the Word Scramble at Parties

Are you in charge of the games or crafts for your child’s church, Cub/Girl Scouts, or school Halloween Party? If so, this is a great transition activity between the more active games.

Also, it’s perfect for the kids to be working on while they are feasting on their sugary treats.

Halloween Travel Fun

This time of year we are traveling a lot for Fall Sports and I’m always looking for new activities to place in my boys’ travel binders.

Print out the word scramble and place it in their binder. Easy-peasy!

Even More Halloween Fun

Before we get to the printable Halloween Word Scramble pdf, take a peek at some of these other fun Halloween Ideas we’ve made this year:

First up is our free printable Halloween Scissor Skills Activity A great way to work on scissor practice and improve fine motor skills.

Next is our Monster Soup Halloween Sensory Bin… made completely from Dollar Store Supplies!

Child's handing picking up a plastic skeleton

If you are looking for some great Halloween Party Game Cheats & Tips for Busy Moms we have those too. Or even a fun Skeleton Hand Relay Race Game idea!

Halloween Word Scramble Printable

Hopefully, you’ve found some great ideas to go along with your printable word scramble. Click the link below to download your free worksheet.

If you have trouble with the PDF printing correctly, make sure your computer is set to “FIT” as the option before you hit print.

Halloween Worksheet: Word Scramble

Enjoy your free printable! I Ensure you never miss another fun Productive Pete printable and sign up for our monthly newsletter below.

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Activities for Kids Halloween

The Best Toddler & Preschool Halloween Books for Kids

Looking for some new Halloween Books for Kids? Maybe your child is anxious about Halloween and you are trying to ease those fears.

Or are you simply tired of reading the same books over and over every night? Then you are in the right place to find some classic and new-release Halloween books for kids!

Check out these fun books perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to get in the Halloween mood & also to help ease your child’s fears about this spooky holiday.

10+ Not So Spooky Halloween Books for Kids

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Halloween Books are perfect for easing Kids’ Halloween Fears

The air is turning cooler, the leaves are starting to fall, and that means Halloween is soon to be here!

You’ve planned out the costumes, the school party games, and the snacks, and now it’s time to enjoy the crisp Fall evenings with a good book.

Or maybe you have a little one who is anxious about Halloween?

One of my boys despised going to the store during October because of the Halloween decorations.

If we couldn’t even make it through a well-lit store, I knew trick-or-treating was going to be super rough.

Let’s be honest, Halloween can be scary.

So to help him with these fears, we read numerous Halloween books.

We focused on the fun aspect of wearing costumes, and how decorations weren’t real, and we kept reading Halloween books to help make him aware of what Halloween night would be like.

Here are several not-so-spooky Halloween Books for Kids.

Hopefully, you find some new family favorites or even a classic from your childhood – can we say Berenstain Bears!

Classic Kids Halloween Books

Let’s jump right in with some oldies but goodies! This first book is actually from my childhood – thanks Mom for saving it for me!

The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat

There are Halloween Books from Elmo to Clifford to Corduroy. Share one of these classics with your kids this Halloween season.

Kids Halloween Books with Favorite Characters

We all know kids go through phases of loving their favorite book or cartoon characters. These Halloween Books feature the characters your child knows and loves.

Peppa’s Halloween Party

A few more Peppa Pig Halloween Books are listed below too:

Another preschool favorite is Pete the Cat! There are two Halloween Pete the Cat Books:

Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete

Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins

Looking for a few more favorite character Halloween books? Check out these other great options below!

Favorite Halloween Books for Kids

Finally, my boys’ favorite Halloween Books that I have a feeling your kids will love too! From silly concepts to sing-along books, these books continuously rank high as favorites among kids.

Skeleton Hiccups

Before you go, make sure to take a peek at some of our other fun Halloween activities for kids listed below. There are free printables, easy Halloween games & yummy snack ideas!

Also, don’t forget to share this pin on Pinterest so you can find this list of fun Halloween Books for Kids in the future.

More Fun Halloween Ideas

Hopefully, you found some new Halloween Book ideas to enjoy this October. Make sure you check out all of Productive Pete’s other fun Halloween ideas too.

Halloween Monster Soup Sensory Bin | Perfect for Home or Classroom

Jack-O’-Lantern Crisps | An Easy Halloween Treat

Cinnamon Sugar Jack-O'-Lantern Halloween Crisp

Spooky Bat & Jack-O’-Lantern Halloween Pretzels | a yummy Halloween snack

Halloween Scissor Work | A fine motor, scissor practice printable

Skeleton Hands Relay Race Game | A Super easy to make Halloween Game

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Halloween

Last Minute Halloween Costumes for Moms

Check out this easy list of Last-Minute Halloween Costumes for Moms!

It’s almost Halloween and you have your kids’ costumes all ready to go. The treats and games you signed up for are prepped for the various school parties.

Now with this sense of accomplishment, you begin thinking maybe this year you will wear a costume too. But what do you have time to pull off or put together? That is the big question!

Trying to decide on a last-minute costume doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. Finding ideas from items you already own is the perfect way to pull together a quick costume.

Keep reading to see several easy Last Minute Halloween Costumes for Moms.

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Last-Minute Halloween Costumes for Moms

This list is full of fun and easy Halloween costumes that won’t require a lot of time or crafty DIY skills.

If you find an idea you love, but don’t have an item to complete the costume – check with your friends! There’s a good chance someone will have what you need.

If you can’t borrow the item or find it locally, there’s always Amazon and their 2-day shipping.

So let’s jump right in with our first costume!

The Farmer Costume

Flannel has been popular for several years now, so grab that flannel shirt out of your closet and pair it with some cute jeans.

If you want to take your farmer costume a little further, try adding boots, a farmer’s hat, and a corncob pipe.

Another fun idea is to carry a farm-themed stuffed animal. If you don’t have a farm one try this adorable stuffed chicken or stuffed pig.

Of course, you could always go the denim overalls route too!

The Princess Costume

If you want to be a princess, all you really need is a Princess Dress.

Now if you’re like me you have a tub of formal dresses from High School in your basement right next to your old Baby-Sitters Club Books.

If you don’t have old formal dresses lying around, or you are no longer the size you were in high school (hand-raised, right here) check out your local thrift store or ask friends.

Now all you need to do is grab a princess crown and perhaps a magic wand and you are ready to go.

The most important part about being a Princess Mom is skipping the glass slippers. Wear comfy shoes so you don’t end up with blisters from all that trick-or-treating.

The “Switched” Costume

Does your significant other wear a uniform to work?

Halloween is a great time to be silly and “switch” your attire to dress up as them.

For me, this would be dress pants & shoes; along with one of my husband’s work shirts.

I’m one hundred percent sure my boys would die laughing if I walked around at Halloween dressed up like their Dad.

The Sports Fan Costume

For me, this is probably the easiest of all the ideas listed in this Last Minute Halloween Costumes for Moms guide.

With a sports-fanatic husband and three boys following his lead, our house is full of sports gear to use for a Sports Fan Costume.

So decide if you are going to represent your favorite baseball, football, hockey, or soccer team and go all out.

It’s the accessories that will make this costume super fun.

Taking your normal “sports fan gear” and adding those extras you might not normally wear, will make you the ultimate sports fan!

So find that crazy football necklace you won at a tailgate, put team-colored ribbons in your hair, and grab a Foam Finger.

Of course, you could also rock a fun sports mom shirt too. Then after Halloween, you would have a fun shirt to wear on the sidelines.

The Sports Player Costume

Going along with the Sports Fan or Sports Mom costumes is the Sports Player costume. This is another fairly easy costume to pull off quickly.

Do you have any old jerseys lying around? If so, there’s your costume!

Have older kids? Surprise them by dressing up in their uniform for Halloween.

Again, don’t forget that the accessories make the costume. So carry a basketball with you, or maybe use some eye black to complete your football costume.

The Classic Witch Costume

This one is about as classic of a Halloween Costume as you can get, but it’s also an easy one to do last minute! Keep it simple and dress in all black and add a fun Witch Hat.

Want to go a little further? Then simply add a spooky hooded Cape. Or check out these amazing Witch Costumes.

The Robber Costume

All you need for this Cops & Robbers-inspired costume is a black & white striped shirt & a black beanie cap.

Add a money bag to your costume and you have the perfect accessory. Plus you will have a place to store your child’s costume parts as they take them off throughout the evening.

Text 10 Easy last minute Halloween costumes for moms with 5 jack-o-lanterns

The Minnie Mouse Costume

Do you have a pair of super cute Minnie Mouse Ears lying around? Then dress in all black, throw on a pair of red shorts or a red skirt with polka dots on it over the top.

If you want to go all out, throw on a cute Polka Dot Dress!

Don’t forget the shoe tip – avoid those adorable red pumps and wear your Chucks so you don’t end up with shoe regret while you are out trick-or-treating.

Buzz Buzz Bumble Bee Mom Costume

This is another costume that involves easily dressing in black. Wear a yellow striped shirt and a headband with antennas.

If you want the easier route, check out this Bee Costume.

The Super Mom Costume

This costume might take a little DIY if you want to make your own shirt. Or if you have time you can order a Super Mom t-shirt.

Hide your Super Mom T-shirt powers behind a button-up with a comfy pair of leggings or jeans. Now you have an instant costume!

The Rosie Costume

Finally, dress up in denim from head to toe and use a red bandana headband. You now have a Rosie the Riveter Costume! There’s also this awesome Rosie the Riveter T-Shirt.

More Halloween Ideas for Busy Moms

Hopefully, you found a great idea for your costume while reading our Last Minute Halloween Costumes for Moms.

Also, if you don’t have your Halloween Games sorted out; or the spooky treats planned for your party – we’ve got you covered with those too!

Because I’m a last-minute burst of creativity at midnight type of mom, these ideas are made to be easy for busy moms. So check out these Halloween Games Cheats for Moms; it has premade game ideas!

Or print out our free printable Halloween Tic Tac Toe worksheet or this Halloween Word Scramble. They make great last-minute activities for your Halloween party!

Or maybe it’s the treats you’re stuck on? These Jack-O’-Lantern Crisps will wow your little ones & they only need 4 ingredients! Or try these Halloween Pretzel Treats too!

chocolate bark, candy melts, and bat & jack-o-lantern pretzels on a white plate

Thanks so much for stopping by Productive Pete! My goal is to help moms be Productive in this crazy, busy time of life.

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Activities for Kids Printable

Fall Word Scramble for Kids | Free Printable Worksheet

Pumpkins sitting above the Fall Word Scramble printable worksheet

Enhance your child’s vocabulary & knowledge of the harvest season with this Fall Word Scramble for Kids!

It’s officially Fall here in the Midwest! We woke up to a chilly house, falling leaves (only the yellow ones for some reason), and the excitement of Friday Night Football under the lights.

I’m sure there will be a few more hot days, but swimming season is officially over. That means we transition into darker evenings, pumpkin patch trips, and prepping for Halloween & Thanksgiving.

Now it’s time to pull out the Fall Books and find some fun Fall Activities to entertain your kids. That’s where this Fall Word Scramble comes into play.

Image of Fall Word Scramble, free pdf printable

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Uses for the printable Fall Word Scramble

There are so many fun ways you can use this Fall Word Scramble. Keep reading to see a few ideas I’ve come up with for it. I would love to see how you plan on using the worksheet too. So drop your plans for the printable in the comments.

USE IT AT HOME

This fall word scramble makes a great addition to your normal home school work. It’s also perfect as a rainy day activity or to give your kids while you are cooking supper.

PERFECT FOR THE CAR

Also, you can add the printable to your Travel Binder and it makes a great activity for rides to the Pumpkin Patch or Apple Orchard.

FALL FESTIVALS OR IN THE CLASSROOM AT SCHOOL

This Fall Word Scramble pdf is very colorful, but it can be printed in black and white for teachers wishing to make mass copies of it. This makes it great for use as a language activity, placing in quiet centers, or even as a fun send-home activity.

CLUBS OR AFTER-SCHOOL EVENTS

Do you lead a Girl Scout Troop (or Boy Scouts too) and need an easy activity to start your meetings? This printable is a great quiet time activity to start or finish your meeting.

Even More Fun Fall Activities

Looking for even more fun Fall Activities? Check out our other fun fall ideas below.

Like this Halloween Scissor Skills Practice Worksheet. It’s another free printable that will help your child improve important fine motor skills while having fun at the same time.

Or maybe you need some great Halloween Treats for parties and trick-or-treating? These Halloween Jack-O’-Lantern Crisps are unique, easy to make, and only require 4 ingredients.

Also, there are these Halloween Bat & Jack-O’-Lantern Pretzel Treats. Can you tell we love Halloween over here at Productive Pete? There are so many fun ways to celebrate the Fall Holidays.

Here’s your Fall Word Scramble PDF

Hopefully, you found some great ideas to celebrate Fall and Halloween with your child. Your free printable Word Scramble is below.

Click Here for your Word Scramble Worksheet

Thanks so much for visiting Productive Pete! If you want to make sure you never miss another fun printable, or productivity tip for moms – sign up for our monthly newsletter below!

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Magical Christmas Toys

The Ultimate LEGO Gift Guide for LEGO Loving Kids

Be prepared to take your gift-giving to the next level with over 40+ Epic LEGO® Gifts for Brick-Loving Kids!

There’s something I’ve noticed after several years of buying LEGO® sets for my boys, their friends, and even my nephews.

It’s that when you give them as a gift, they always shake the box and proudly announce “It’s a LEGO® Set!”

So in a quest to trick them, and still give them something they would love, I made this guide of unique LEGO® accessories, books, and toys.

The best part is that there are so many unique LEGO® gifts beyond just the brick sets.

There is everything from home decor to kitchen supplies and tons of fun books all about brick building.

Keep reading to discover tons of unique gifts for the LEGO® fan in your life!

{This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission.}

LEGO® Gifts that aren’t building sets

First things first, here is one of the latest LEGO® books that was published – The LEGO Book New Edition.

It is the perfect birthday or Christmas gift for the Lego-loving kid or adult in your life.

Most importantly, did I mention the book also comes with an exclusive block?

Also, this LEGO Minifigure: A Visual History was published in October 2020!

Now, let’s jump right in and start exploring all of the amazing gifts to wow the LEGO® obsessed kid in your life.

Oh and don’t forget the best part! As a result of not going with a traditional brick set, those tiny little bricks won’t shake and give away your gift.

LEGO® Games make perfect gifts

There are several games that I could find on Amazon, but they aren’t necessarily frugal gifts. Older games could be found on eBay or other seller sites.

First up is this Chess Set. There are older versions available, but this one is currently the most frugal option. If you have a chess player who loves building, this would make a perfect gift.

Next, is a Lego What Am I? Guessing Game. It is like the classic “Guess Who Game” but using mini-figures. A pretty neat concept for sure!

Stem LEGO® Gifts

These stem (science, technology, engineering, and math) gifts take brick building to the next level. Not only are you giving a super cool gift, but you are subsequently giving them an educational gift too.

For example, these books contain ideas for building machines, elevators, ramps, levers and also making movies.

It’s All About the Baseplates

These don’t sound like the most exciting gifts, but baseplates can take a child’s building skills to the next level. They also come in several different colors.

Think green for grass, blue for water, gray for streets, and sand for dirt or obviously, sand!

They even make road baseplates. These are perfect for building cities, connecting large builds, and helping stabilize structures for new builders.

LEGO® Gifts for Kids to Wear

There are so many options beyond the typical shirts you think of for fan apparel. Like if you are looking for a practical gift, then take a look at this underwear. Adorable undies for the win – lol!

Now, let’s look at other fun accessories you can find to make the perfect gift this year.

Headlamps

This year my boys are all getting headlamps. Yep, headlamps! They are perfect for going on adventures in the dark, reading in the car, or snuggling up in bed with a good book.

There are several figure options such as:

Watches

Another fun apparel gift idea is Watches. There are so many options to choose from when it comes to watches.

Backpacks

Then there are the super cool Backpacks. There are so many options for backpacks with a LEGO® theme, but the two below are my popular favorites.

First is the Classic LEGO Brick Backpack. This backpack not only has fun pockets making it look like a brick, but it comes in so many colors. The colors include black, blue, red, green, navy, olive, orange, pink, purple, crimson, and yellow!

My second favorite is this Minifigure Heritage Backpack.

I just found a new backpack that is super fun too! Check out this Black & White Minifigure Backpack.

Stationary and Drawing LEGO® Gifts

What do you have if you combine building skills with a love of drawing? Perhaps a future architect!

That’s what you get with super fun drawing books like this Lego Ninjago – How to Draw Ninja, Villains and More Drawing Set.

Another fun idea is Doodle Books. There are so many fun Doodle Books. Check out a few of the options below, like this Star Wars Doodle Activity Book.

Right along with fun Doodle Books are Activity Books & Sticker Books.

Activity books are perfect for packing to places where you don’t want a lot of mess but need to entertain the kids.

These would work great at siblings’ sporting events, for travel activities on long car rides, and also as a great “table activity” while supper is being made!

Another fun idea would be drawing and writing supplies. Take a peek at these stationery supplies for the artist or even the hard-working adult who loves bricks on your gift list.

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Kids who love Lego

Gifts for the Home – LEGO® Style

Who says that kids can’t be into Home Decor? Make it LEGO® Home Decor and they will be super excited to display it in their room!

Clocks

There are two main types of LEGO® Clocks. The first is the classic Brick Clock. Perfect for teaching responsibility with waking up on time, as well as being a fun addition to their bedroom.

These come in several colors, including Blue, Red, Yellow and Purple.

Next, another option is the Minifigure Clocks.

These are so much fun especially if you are a fan of a certain genre, such as

Kitchen

Yes, there are even brick-themed kitchen items! This Oxford Block Lunch Box Set would be a great way to liven up your child’s lunchbox. Also, as a bonus, it works great for keeping foods separated.

Along with the brick containers, there is this lunchbox.

A super neat brick design that comes in several colors: orange, red, pink, and more! Plus, this one receives bonus points because it matches the backpack mentioned above!

Home Decor

There are some super fun home decor types of gift ideas too. These are perfect for kids’ bedroom decor or also to use near your building workstation. These patent posters are super fun!

This Caution – Master Builder at Work sign is a neat home decor item too.

As are these Fabric Wall Decals!

LEGO® Books

Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

There is something super fun about curling up and looking through the pages of one of these L EGO Encyclopedias. Pick the child’s favorite theme and they will devour the content inside.

For example, there are:

They range from character encyclopedias to dictionaries detailing what seems to be every mini-figure ever made. Most importantly, these books capture kids’ attention and encourage their build.

Idea Books

These LEGO® Idea Books are credited with being a tool to unlock your child’s imagination. In other words, they are design books to give your child fun ideas to inspire their building.

Our household favorite is the LEGO® Ideas Book.

Of course, there are tons of other fun books out there too. Check these out:

Design Books

Also, there are more in-depth design books in addition to the encyclopedias. These books are made for the serious LEGO® builders.

The first is the LEGO® Architecture Idea Book & the other is the LEGO® Architect.

Movies & Gaming LEGO^® Gifts

Movies make for great stocking stuffers or filler gifts because of their small size. Likewise, games are small too, but their price point can range much higher than the movies.

There are also tons of PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and Wii Games.

I’ve seen these go on sale on Black Friday for the last several years, so keep an eye out around that time if your child has one on their wish list.

Currently, two popular newer ones are The Incredibles, as well as the LEGO Jurassic World.

Final Tips for Gift Giving

I hope you found some great LEGO® gift ideas for the brick lover in your life and subsequently made your shopping easier. Also, make sure to check out our other gift guides.

We have a Gift Guide for Football Loving Kids as well as a post with Gifts for Tween Boys. It’s geared at Easter, but a lot of the ideas would work well for birthdays or Christmas too.

Want to make sure you never miss anything going on at ProductivePete? If so sign up for our email updates below. Then you’ll be among the first to know about our free printables for busy moms!

Also, if you could share this on Pinterest that would be great! It helps support ProductivePete and also helps out others searching for unique gift ideas.

“LEGO^®is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site”.

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Halloween Holiday Treats

Easy & Spooky Pretzel Halloween Treats for Kids

Are you looking for an easy Halloween snack to please your little trick-or-treaters? Then try these Spooky Halloween Pretzel Treats!

With only two ingredients & two steps to make the treats, they are perfect for the inexperienced baker.

They are easy enough that my two oldest boys (who are 9 & 7) are even able to assist in the process. There’s nothing better than an easy recipe that’s kid-friendly too!

They are an easy Halloween dessert perfect for school parties, cooking with kids projects, or they make fun Halloween food for grown-ups to enjoy too.

Bat & Jack-O'-Lantern Halloween Pretzel Treats

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on something and purchase it, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission. Read more about this in our Disclosure Policy.

Spooky Halloween Pretzel Treats Recipe

As mentioned, there are only two ingredients needed to make these treats. First, let’s look at the bats!

The highlighted links will lead you to Amazon where you can find the ingredients needed.

Of course, these can typically be found in local grocery stores too.

The brown bats were made using these pretzels and chocolate almond bark. You can use chocolate candy melts to make these too.

On some of the bats, there are red sprinkle eyes, but those are totally optional. They also take a great deal of patience to place!

The pumpkin pretzels are made using pretzels and orange-colored candy melts. They have green sprinkles for their stems, but again this is optional.

Bat Pretzel Ingredients

Here are the ingredients needed to make the bat Halloween Pretzel Treats:

UTZ Pretzel Treats

Chocolate Candy Melts

Red Sprinkles (optional)

Jack-O’-Lantern Pretzel Ingredients

These use the same pretzels, but you will also need:

Orange Candy Melts

Green Sprinkles or Sanding Sugar (optional)

Want something completely different to go along with these Halloween Pretzel Treats?

Take a peek at these Jack-O’-Lantern Crisps! Crunchy, cinnamon sugar goodness that only requires 4 ingredients to make! Check them out for sure.

How to Make the Halloween Pretzel Treats

The first step is going to be separating your pretzels into two bowls.

Pumpkins into one bowl and bats into another.

Next, you will want to lay down aluminum foil near where you will be dipping the pretzels.

I do not recommend placing the dipped pretzels onto a plate.

The chocolate bark and candy melts will release from the foil so much easier.

Now you will need to heat your chocolate bark or candy melts according to the instructions on the packaging. This is a super important part of the process!

BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO OVERHEAT THE CHOCOLATE BARK & CANDY MELTS!

Yes, this is very important because overheating will actually burn the candy melts.

It doesn’t smell great and the chocolate will be unusable.

So follow the packaging instructions. On that note, this is how I melt chocolate bark and candy melts.

I use the microwave and melt the first time for 30 seconds. Then I melt for 15-second intervals, stirring each time.

They will continue to melt as they sit, so a few clumps left aren’t going to cause you problems.

You will be able to smooth them out within a minute of removing the bowl from the microwave.

Tips for Dipping the Pretzels

There are two ways to dip the pretzels.

The first way is to use small tongs. Drop a few pretzels into the melted candy melts and gently coat them.

Then start removing the pretzels one by one.

The other way is to use a fork. This is the way I prefer to dip and coat the pretzels.

Experiment a bit and see which way feels the easiest for you.

Whatever method you choose, the goal is to completely coat the pretzel and have it placed on the foil with as smooth a chocolate coating as possible.

Tapping the tongs or fork on the side of the bowl will help remove excess chocolate and give you this desired smoothness.

If you are wanting to add the red bat eyes or green pumpkin stems you need to make sure you do so before the chocolate or candy melts harden.

Do a batch of dipping and then add the extras. Then start dipping more and keep repeating this process.

TIP: Candy melts and bark chocolates will harden quickly. Don’t leave them to sit for too long or you won’t be able to dip the pretzels.

Halloween Pretzel Treats – The Last Step

Now the easiest step, which can be the hardest if you want to taste-test, is to simply wait for the pretzels to harden.

The chocolate bark and candy melts will be set up fairly quickly.

Once the pretzels are hard to the touch, you can peel them off the foil and store them in a bag for several days.

You have officially made your first batch of Bat & Jack-O’-Lantern Halloween Treats!

Spooky Bat & Jack-O’-Lantern Halloween Pretzel Treats

An easy to make Halloween snack!

Ingredients

1 bag Halloween Shaped Pretzels
1 bag Chocolate Almond Bark
1 bag Orange Candy Melts
Red Non Pareils optional
Green Sanding Sugar optional

Instructions

Heat your candy melts or almond in the microwave. Follow the instructions on the packaging, but be aware that overheating happens super quickly and will result in coating with a “burnt” flavor
Dip your pretzels into the melted almond bark or candy melts. Coat the entire pretzel.
Remove the pretzel from the mixture using either the method or small tongs.
Place the pretzel onto foil to harden.
Once the pretzels have hardened, after about 15 minutes, they can be bagged up for storage or travel!

More fun Halloween Activities and Ideas

Before you rush out to buy your pretzels and candy melts, take a look at these other fun Halloween ideas we’ve created. Especially if you need Halloween game ideas!

We have tons of Halloween Party Game Cheats & Shortcuts for Busy Moms (with pre-made game ideas included)!

As well as a Dollar Store Skeleton Hands Relay Race Game!

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bat and jack-o'-lantern halloween pretzel treats

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