Halloween Holiday Treats

Halloween Treats: Jack-O’-Lantern Crisps

Cinnamon Sugar Jack-O'-Lantern Halloween Crisp

Oh boy, are you in for a burst of cinnamon & sugar goodness with this Jack-O’-Lantern Crisps Halloween Treats recipe!

Beyond the crunchy flavor-explosion, these Halloween Snacks contain, is the fact that they have spooky jack-o’-lantern faces. This makes them the perfect Halloween treats for school parties, to share with coworkers, or simply for your kids to enjoy at home.

So if the flavor combo and spooky design don’t win you over, the fact that these are a super easy Halloween dessert recipe will! These crips only need 4 ingredients. Yep, four!

The ingredients aren’t super strange either. I’m willing to bet you already have 3 of them in your pantry. Keep reading to find out…


Jack-O'-Lantern Halloween Treats Idea


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.


Unique & Easy Halloween Treats

Yes, you read that right. These crisps are not only unique, but they are truly an easy Halloween snack recipe. My boys actually help me make these crisps all the time!

Want to know why they are so eager to help? Because these jack-o’-lantern crisps are so yummy that they will do anything to encourage me to make them.

So if you are looking for a fun Halloween School Party Treat, these crisps are sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Another great aspect is that compared to cupcakes, they don’t have that much sugar on them. Don’t forget the new factor of the Crisps that will wow your children and their classmates for sure.

Beyond classroom parties, they are great for taking to Halloween Parties, Girl Scout and Boy Scouts meetings, clubs, or sports team events. They are a fun sweet treat for a Halloween night get-together with friends, or for a trick-or-treating snack (that isn’t candy).


Now let’s take a look at how to make these crunchy, crispy, cinnamon sugar goodies! 


Jack-O’-Lantern Crisps Ingredients

There are only four ingredients you need to create these Halloween treat crisps:

Tortilla Shells

Cinnamon

White Sugar

Cooking Spray (or Butter)


Jack-O-Lantern Crisps Halloween Treats Recipe

First, you will need to make a cinnamon and sugar mixture. This will be the coating for the crisps. Use a ratio of around 1 cup of white sugar to 1 tablespoon cinnamon. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together and set aside.

Now, you will need to create the faces of your jack-o-lanterns. Using a knife (a pairing knife works well) start cutting out the eyes, nose, and mouth on the tortilla shell. Taco-sized tortilla shells work best, but any size will work.

One of my favorite aspects of Halloween food is that a little imperfection just makes everything look spooky. So don’t fret over lined-up eyes or a droopy mouth. This is supposed to be easy, so shrug off the goal of perfection, and enjoy making the crisps.


Cinnamon Sugar Jack-O'-Lantern Halloween Treats


Next, you will lightly spray the tortilla shells front and back with cooking spray. You could also brush them with melted butter, but using the spray is a time-saver.

Now, take your coated jack-o’-lantern and place it into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Flip it over and coat the other side as well.

Lastly, place the coated tortilla shells onto a baking sheet. Put it into your 350-degree preheated oven for 10 minutes. The tortillas will harden a bit when you take them out of the oven, so don’t bake until they are super hard.

If the crisps start to look very dark in the oven, it is beyond time to take them out. Let them cool and that’s it!



Even more Halloween activities, tips & tricks

Odds are if you are searching for fun Halloween treats, you could probably use even more fun Halloween ideas.

Planning Halloween games for a party? Check out these Cheats & Shortcuts for Halloween Games. It has no-prep game ideas and tips for finding games you don’t have to create or make.

Or this awesome Skeleton Hands Relay Race Game. It’s made from Dollar Store Supplies so it’s easy on the budget & has no prep!

There’s also a super easy Monster Soup Sensory Bin Idea. Guess what?! It’s a Dollar Store activity too.

One last fun Halloween activity for kids – this scissor skills practice Halloween Cutting Worksheet. Work on fine motor cutting skills and have fun at the same time; that’s a winner!

Finally, we’d love it if you signed up for our Newsletter below. You’ll never miss another great ProductivePete free printable, productivity tips for moms, and our favorite – fun Halloween ideas!


Print

Jack-O’-Lantern Crisps

The perfect Halloween Snack or Treat!

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg tortilla shells
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Mix your cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl and set aside. 

  2. Using a knife, begin cutting out the faces into your tortilla shells.

  3. Lightly spray the tortilla shells with cooking spray on both sides.

  4. Place your coated tortilla shells into the cinnamon & sugar mixture coating both sides. 

  5. Place into your 350 degree preheated oven for 10 minutes.

cinnamon crisp halloween snacks pin 20a


6 Comments
Activities for Kids Halloween

Easy Halloween Game for Kids: Skeleton Hands Relay Race

Plastic skeleton sitting in skeleton hand

Are you looking for an easy Halloween party game? One made from Dollar Store supplies and with minimal prep work? Well, you’ve found it with this Skeleton Hands Relay Race Halloween Game!

This Halloween game is a total triple threat! Why? Because first, it is made from Dollar Store supplies so it is easy on the budget.

Second, there are hardly any preparations for this game beyond purchasing the supplies. Of course, you will need to unwrap everything from its packaging, but seriously, that’s it! There will be no need for a late-night game-creating session.

Third, even though the basic concept of this game is classic – kids simply love it! Using the skeleton hands instead of spoons makes it feel new and unique. Enough so that it could even work as an adult Halloween game.


Skeleton Hands Halloween 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.


How to set up Skeleton Hands Relay Race Halloween Game

The rules and concepts of this relay race game are fairly simple. Let’s use the example of how the game works best when in a classroom Halloween Party.

First, divide the children into groups of around 10.

In most situations, this means you will have two to three groups competing against each other.

Second, have the children line up behind their groups’ Halloween Bucket. Line another Halloween bucket (upside down, so they don’t get confused) about 10 feet in line with the first. The upside-down bucket is their turn-around spot.

Next, place a skeleton hand and the item you will be having them balance in the bucket.

Finally, it’s time to explain the rules to the group and you are ready to go.


Just Looking for Where You Can Buy the Skeleton Hands?

Do you already have a fun plan for the skeleton hands & are just looking for where to find them?

You can find them on Amazon by clicking here!

Keep reading to find out the rules that have worked great in the past for the Halloween game.


Need a fun, printable game for a Halloween party? Check out our How Many Words Can You Make from Halloween worksheet!

Halloween how many words can you make worksheet


Rules for the Halloween Game

So what exactly are the rules for the Skeleton Hands Relay Race Halloween Game? You can certainly adjust them as needed, but the following rules work well with most age groups.

RULE 1 | When the game starts, the first person in line will grab the skeleton hand from the bucket and balance the plastic eyeball (or snake, pumpkin, etc.) on it.

RULE 2 | If the item drops off the skeleton hand you can either have them start over from the first bucket, or pick it up and keep moving. The second way works best with younger children to keep the game moving along.

RULE 3 | The children must balance the eyeball and walk around the upside-down bucket and back towards their group. When they reach the bucket, they drop the eyeball in the bucket and give the skeleton hand to the next person in line.

RULE 4 | The next person in line repeats the steps above. When the last person in the group drops their eyeball in the bucket, that team has won the game.


skeleton hand holding a fake skeleton


Ways to Make the Relay Race More Challenging

There are a few ways to make the relay race more challenging. The first idea is to make the participants go back to the start if they drop anything off of their skeleton hand. You could have them chant “Monster Mash! Monster Mash!” while they pick it up and run back too!

Another idea would be to use a tower of plastic pumpkins at the turnaround point instead of a bucket. The idea is that if they knock over the pumpkins they have to build the tower before they continue with the race.

Also, you could have them use their non-dominant hand. The ambidextrous people will have a slight advantage, but that’s a perk of being able to use both hands! {wink}


Use multiple rounds to change up the game

Lastly, you could extend the game by adding more “rounds” than just balancing one item. For example, once every team member has balanced a plastic eyeball, they would start overbalancing a fake skeleton or a plastic jack-o-lantern.

If going this route, making your groups smaller will help keep everyone more active in the game. Less downtime means more time for Halloween fun.

Also, less of a challenge idea and more of a fun suggestion, but whenever the first team is done you can have them shout a fun Halloween phrase such as “Trick or Treat” or “Happy Halloween”.


Supplies for the Relay Race Halloween Game

All of these supplies were found at my local Dollar Tree Store. They stock their Halloween items in early September, so if these skeleton hands have caught your eye – go now!

You can grab your items and knock them off your to-do list before October even arrives.

Or if life is on the crazy side, cross those fingers and hope they don’t run out! If they do, the supply list below can be a lifeline. The links lead to products that are the same, or very similar in nature.

So to make this a true Skeleton Hands Relay Race Halloween Game you will need:

Skeleton Hands

Halloween Plastic Pumpkins

or

Halloween Buckets

Plastic Eyeballs


These are the items you absolutely need to do the Skeleton Hands Halloween game, However, I highly suggest you have at least two or three items for balancing. If the game is a hit, it will give you more options for continuing the fun.

Other items to balance besides eyeballs include:

Mini Pumpkins

Mini Halloween Jack O’ Lantern Containers

Tiny Skeletons

Plastic Snakes

Plastic Spiders


More fun Halloween Activities and Ideas

So you found this great Skeleton Hand Relay Race Halloween Game idea… but you still need another game (or two) for your party.

Don’t worry – check out my Tips & Tricks for Busy Mom’s Planning Halloween Games post! Hint – it has pre-made games you can order!

There’s also a free printable Halloween Scissor Skill Practice Worksheet you should check out. Or maybe take a peek at our Monster Soup Sensory Bin idea – it uses most of the same supplies as this game.

One last thing, I promise! If you want to be one of the first to know about all of our time-saving hacks for moms or free printable – sign up for our newsletter below.



Skeleton Hands Halloween Relay Race Game
4 Comments
Activities for Kids Halloween

Monster Soup Halloween Sensory Bin Fillers & Ideas

Child's handing picking up a plastic skeleton

This Halloween Sensory Bin idea is about as easy as it gets!

First, it can be easily made from Dollar Store supplies.

Second, it requires no dying rice or pasta, my least favorite sensory bin activity.

Think of it as a “dump soup” recipe. You purchase the sensory bin fill item and then dump it in your sensory bin table.

The kids will take over and make their own “Monster Soup”!

This Monster Soup Edition was named by my oldest, and it fits perfectly. 

I can see this being something a monster would eat for his supper.

It has skeletons, eyeballs, spiders, centipedes, and all kinds of creepy crawlies!



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.


Supplies for Monster Soup Halloween Sensory Bin

The most important supply you need is the bin or container you will be using as your sensory table.

The container needs to have a short height so that the kids can easily reach it to play. A plastic under-the-bed storage container will work perfectly.

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Take a peek at these from Amazon. You can find them at a great price at places like Walmart & Target too.

If you have a child who loves sensory play, or perhaps you are home-schooling your preschooler this year, then maybe you’d like to invest in an actual sensory table.

They can be pricey, but this Sensory Table with Lid seems to be in the mid-range on pricing.


Main Ingredients for Monster Soup

Once you have your container; it’s time for the main ingredients. These are simply pantry staples that work well for dumping, pouring & general monster soup making.

Green Split Peas

Black-Eyed Peas

Black Beans


Beans & Peas for Halloween Sensory Bin

Keep in mind the size of your bin, but I use about 5 pounds of black beans, 3 pounds of green split peas & 2 pounds of black-eyed peas.

However, you can use whatever amounts you like for your bin, just make sure you have enough to at least cover the bottom.

Most of the beans and peas can be found at the Dollar Store to save on cost.

Your local discount grocery store would be a good place to check if your Dollar Store doesn’t carry dried goods.


The creepy & fun Halloween Ingredients

These are the items that truly make this a Monster Soup Halloween Sensory Bin!

All of these Halloween sensory bin fillers were purchased at the Dollar Tree; except for the cups, bowls, and spoons. Those were simply pulled from my kitchen stash.

You can use any fun Halloween items you have around the house too.


Frugal Tip – Purchase bags of novelty Halloween toys on clearance in November for using in future projects.

ProductivePete

As mentioned, most of these items were found at Dollar Tree, but if you don’t have a store near you (or time to make it to the store), links to several items from Amazon are listed below.

The Halloween Sensory Bin Monster Soup supplies are:

Life Like Skeletons

Plastic Eyeballs

Plastic Jack O Lantern Pumpkins or Craft Pumpkins

Skeleton Hand and Arm Tongs

Small plastic snakes

Plastic Spiders


Don’t forget to also throw in some bowls and spoons to help complete your monster soup. Also, a few Halloween bowls are great for sorting activities.


Some simple sorting ideas would be:

“Can you find all of the snakes ( or spiders or skeletons)?”

“Can you put everything orange (purple/green/etc.) into the bowl?”

“Do you have more eyeballs or snakes?

If you want some gross monster soup – check out this Plastic Bug & Snake Set. It’s a little too realistic for me, but I’m sure older kids would get a kick out of these very life-like creatures.


Ways to Enjoy Your Monster Soup Halloween Sensory Bin

There are so many places you could use this Halloween Sensory Bin idea. The former preschool teacher in me loves to create sensory bins for my boys to simply enjoy at home.

Throw a blanket down and place your sensory bin on top of it (to help contain the mess) and you have a simple Halloween activity for your child.

Of course, you could also use this in an early childhood or preschool setting. It would be a great preschool sensory bin for the week of Halloween. Or unveil it at your classroom Halloween Party. It won’t result in wet or dirty Halloween costumes, which is a bonus too!

Or maybe you are hosting a Halloween Party this year. Whether it be for Boy Scouts, a small group of friends, or even a neighborhood block party, a non-messy sensory bin idea is a perfect way for the kids to have a great time!


Even more fun Halloween Activities

So you’ve gathered all your Monster Soup Halloween Sensory Bins fillers – now simply dump them in your container.

You are done with that fun task and can move on to another one. Perhaps one of our Halloween favorites here at ProductivePete?

Check out some of our fun Halloween ideas below:


Cinnamon Sugar Jack-O'-Lantern Halloween Crisp

HALLOWEEN JACK-O’-LANTERN CRISPS | These 4 ingredient Halloween Treats are sure to wow everyone at work or your child’s Halloween Party!


HALLOWEEN PRINTABLE FOR KIDS | If you are looking for another fun Halloween Activity check out this printable Halloween Cutting Worksheet. It’s an easy activity to help your child work on their fine motor skills, while still having some Halloween fun.


Jack O Lantern with Sparklers being held by children behind it

HELP WITH HALLOWEEN GAMES FOR BUSY MOMS | Or maybe you are stressing over planning your child’s Halloween Party games? Read my Tips & Tricks to save time Prepping for Halloween Party Games. Bonus – it has games you can purchase from Amazon when you are truly in a pinch!


Want to make sure you never miss another time-saving Mom Tip or fun idea (that isn’t time-consuming) to Wow your kids? Sign up below for our newsletter!


0 Comments
Activities for Kids Halloween

Easy Halloween Party Games Cheats & Hacks

Jack O Lantern with Sparklers being held by children behind it

Are you signed up for the Halloween Party Games at your child’s classroom party? Or maybe you are planning a Halloween Party at home and simply want to plan quick and easy Halloween activities?

Either way, these tips, cheats, and shortcuts are going to help you save time & find some amazing Halloween-themed games!

We also have free Halloween printables that could work well for downtime during your parties. Take a peek at our Halloween Tic Tac Toe Game; or our Halloween Word Scramble.

Don’t worry if you aren’t looking to spend hours creating the most amazing Halloween game ever. I’ve listed below some pre-made games you can order. Yes, you won’t even have to make them!


The Busy Mom's Guide for planning easy Halloween Party Games | Includes games you don't have to make!


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 Party Games Tips & Shortcuts

Fall is an incredibly busy time of year with Back to School events and the upcoming holidays. That’s why these “cheats” for Halloween Party Games are a life-saver.

It’s not always easy or attainable to be the “Pinterest Mom”. That’s where these tips and shortcuts come in handy. You can plan fun games, but not spend a ton of time doing so!

Let’s take a look at some ideas to help you plan games that your children will love and that won’t take you hours to create.


Borrow Halloween Party Games

Do you have a friend who always makes the coolest games and crafts for the holidays? Ask her if you can borrow them!

I have a Halloween game that has been borrowed by several of my friends. It has been the highlight of a Girl Scouts Halloween Party, as well as a party game in several different classrooms.

The odds are your friend isn’t going to use the game two years in a row, or maybe they haven’t signed up to bring games to their child’s upcoming party. It can’t hurt to check if it will save you time!


Ask your Child’s Teacher for Help

I was leaving my son’s kindergarten party last year and I witnessed the “games parent” give the game supplies to the teacher. She didn’t want to keep them and the teacher gladly accepted them!

So if you are stuck or in a rut, email your child’s teacher and ask for suggestions. Chances are they will tell you exactly what types of games work best for the grade level of the students. If you are lucky they might have some games you can use!


Save your Halloween Party Games

Yes, this means storing the supplies of that awesome game you made until next year. But when you need a Halloween game in the future, you will be glad you did!

That game I mentioned earlier that several people have borrowed – I’m using it this year for my middle son’s Halloween Party. Having one less thing to plan and prep is a win for this busy mom.

So stash the game in with your fall or Halloween decorations. Trust me – when you have it for the next season, you will be so thankful.

What if you are “done” with classroom parties or your child is outgrowing them? Give them to a friend or your child’s teacher as mentioned above.


Team up with your fellow moms

Two moms in my son’s class work together as a team for school parties. One isn’t able to make it to the parties so she creates and makes the games.

The other, who thinks herself non-creative, then does the classroom duty of explaining and doing the games with the kids! It’s a unique situation, but it works for them.

So if you are planning to throw an awesome Halloween party, don’t hesitate to ask some of the parents of the children attending if they have any great games already made. You might just get lucky and a parent will have a game they can let you use for the night.

Or they might willing to make a game for you since you are hosting the Halloween party. It never hurts to ask!


Purchase Pre-Made Halloween Games

There is absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing your Halloween Party Games. Admittedly, I used to think the games needed to be something spectacular, new, and created by my own loving hands.

They don’t need to be this way because the kids simply want to have fun! So don’t stress over your lack of creativity or limited time. Simply borrow or purchase some Halloween games and you are good to go.

As always, don’t forget to check the reviews & sizing of the items you are ordering. You will also want to consider how many children will be doing the games so you don’t have a lot of downtime for kids waiting for their turns.

Inflatable Witch Hat Ring Toss

Halloween Witch Hat Ring Toss

Spider Ring Inflatable Toss Game

Jack O Lantern Pumpkin Can Toss

Halloween Bingo Card Party Game

Spider Slingshot Game

Even More Halloween Fun & Ideas

We are slightly obsessed with Halloween and it shows in all of our fun Halloween posts! Make sure you check out some of our other fun Halloween ideas below!

There is everything from spooky snacks to last-minute Halloween Costume Ideas for Moms!


Cinnamon Sugar Jack-O-Lanterns

Bat & Pumpkin Pretzels

Last-Minute Costume Ideas for Busy Moms

Free Halloween Word Scramble Printable


Also, follow ProductivePete on Pinterest as we share tons of our favorite Halloween ideas, party tips, free printables, spooky snacks and so much more!


Tips and tricks to save time prepping for Halloween Party games with orange pumpkin scene


Also, make sure you sign up below for Productive Pete’s newsletter!

8 Comments
Activities for Kids Halloween

Free Printable Halloween Scissor Practice Worksheet

Halloween scissor worksheet

It’s almost Halloween and that means new printable activities for kids. This Halloween Scissor Practice Worksheet is sure to entice kids to practice their cutting skills.

I should say these Halloween Scissor Practice Worksheets because there are two of them. First, there is the black and white printable Halloween scissor skills worksheet.

Second, is the colorful Halloween scissor skills worksheet. It can also be printed in black and white by changing your printer settings. 


Free, Printable Halloween Scissor Practice Worksheet | Fine Motor Work 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.


Ways to use the Halloween Scissor Practice Worksheet

There are tons of ways to use this free printable Halloween worksheet. They are free for non-commercial use, meaning they are great for home, classroom, or club parties.

Listed below are a few ways that work for parents and teachers. If you have a great use for the worksheets, drop it in the comments. I’d love to see how you plan to use the printable.


Learning at Home

These are a fun, free, and easy idea for celebrating Halloween at home. All while learning and working on their scissor skills. That’s a win in my book!

Print out a few copies and let your child cut away in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

Perhaps you have a travel binder for your child? Add the worksheets and a pair of scissors to their bag for a new fun travel activity.

This would also be great for homeschooling families. It could be a fun addition to your preschool curriculum. My youngest loves it when a new type of worksheet shows up in his binder.


Classroom Activity for Teachers

This would be a fun addition to any writing center or busy work folder.

Also, it would work well as a group table activity or in writing centers.

My sons’ teachers send home fun activities during the holidays and this printable would be great for this too.


Halloween School or Club Parties

Thinking of signing up for planning the games or crafts at your child’s Halloween Party? This would be an easy, quiet activity to do when you are setting up the more involved games; or cleaning up messy crafts.

Also, it would be great to have it as a backup in case the game you plan doesn’t take as long as you expected.

On the other hand, what if you run out of time to do the worksheets at the party? That’s okay, send them home with the kids for a fun at-home Halloween activity.



Even more Halloween Fun

If you enjoyed this free Halloween printable for kids, make sure you also check out our Halloween Word Scramble! It’s another free printable!

Or we have a free printable Halloween Tic Tac Toe Game too!


Download your Halloween Scissor Practice Worksheet

Hopefully, you have some fantastic ideas for using your printable. The PDF downloads are available below:

Halloween Scissor Skills Practice Worksheet – Color

Halloween Scissor Skills Practice Worksheet B/W


We are always making new printables for kids & sharing tips to help busy moms! Sign up below for our newsletter to be one of the first to enjoy our new tips and activities!

Free Printable Halloween Scissor Skills Worksheet

0 Comments
Activities for Kids Printable School Time

Free Printable First Day of School Self Portrait Worksheet

first day of school self portrait worksheet

This First Day of School Self Portrait Worksheet is the perfect combination of a Back to School coloring page and an “All About Me” worksheet.

Back to School time is crazy busy in our house and that’s why easy activities like these are a mom win.

If you are looking for a fun way to document or celebrate the First Day Back at School, this free printable is for you!

Plus, it’s a great way to start a simple First Day of School Tradition.

The finished product can be easily added to a scrapbook or a school memory box.

If you don’t do these, it works really well in the front of your child’s school yearbook too.


first day of school coloring worksheet


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.


First Day of School Worksheet for all Grades

The simplicity of this First Day of School Coloring Page makes it perfect for children who haven’t mastered their writing skills just yet.

Kindergartners, preschoolers, and even older toddlers can enjoy the process of creating their self-portraits without the need for writing.

Of course, it will also work for ages beyond kindergarten. Even kids in Middle School, like Tweens, would enjoy drawing their self-portraits. The fun emoji-like graphics on the sides make this work well for several ages.


How to Use the First Day of School Self-Portrait Printable

The options to use this free printable coloring page are truly endless.

This printable was intended for home and classroom use, so please do not use it for commercial purposes.


How to use the Worksheet in the Classroom

First, this would be a great classroom activity printable. You could have the children fill it out on their first day of school and send it home as a keepsake.

As a parent, I would love to find this in my child’s backpack!

Or, you could send it home on Back to School Night as an activity for your students to do with their parents.

It would make for enjoyable “homework” on the first day of school as well.

If you’re doing virtual learning, you could also link to this post in your communications with parents & invite them to print it out themselves.

Kids could send photos of their drawings back to be shared with classmates.

Need a better way to organize all those Back to School To-Do’s? Check out our free printable Back to School To-Do List!

Back to School checklist sm19a


How to use the First Day of School Self Portrait worksheet at Home

Of course, this also works as an at-home activity. After school, you can grab some ice cream and head home to sort through those book bags.

While doing this, your kids can start working on their self-portraits.

Or maybe you are virtual learning or homeschooling for the year. If so, print out the worksheet and make it part of your First Day fun!

Simply set out the crayons and your kids can color away. They can draw themselves in the big circle, write their name at the bottom, and sneak in their grade somewhere too.

They can color as little or as much as they want, and you could even add a photograph to the middle instead of a drawing.

My oldest is close to being “too old” for these types of activities, so I might need to use a photo for his keepsake.

Have fun and enjoy the evening, because soon the real homework will start showing up in those book bags.


A few more Back to School Items

Before you print out the coloring page, take a peek at some of our other Back to School posts.

We have free printable First Day of School Signs with a fun school-themed font.


We also have a list of Back to School Books to help calm those First Day of School Fears.

Back to School Books


Here’s the Self Portrait Printable

It’s time for the First Day of School Self Portrait Worksheet!

Click the download link below and your PDF printable is ready for you.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL SELF PORTRAIT PRINTABLEDownload


Would you like a colorful rainbow version of the First Day of School Self Portrait Printable?

If so, sign up for our email newsletter below!


Here’s to a great Back to School Season! Enjoy the chaos of the season and capture some great memories with this free printable.

10 Comments
Activities for Kids School Time

Back to School Books to Calm Your Child’s First Day Fears

Back to School Books

Is there anything better paired than the start of another school year and great Back to School Books?

Keep reading to see our favorite back-to-school books to help prepare your child for the coming school year.

Excitement is in the air as Back to School season has officially begun!

There’s the shopping for school supplies and clothes, making new friends, and meeting this year’s teachers.

However, all this excitement can bring on anxiety and fear for some children. My favorite suggestion for calming those jitters is to curl up with a great book about school.


back to school books pin 19d


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.


Using Back-to-School Books to Discuss Fears

Whether it is their First Day of Preschool or Kindergarten, adjusting to something new can be difficult for even the most outgoing child.

Even if you have an older student, they can still feel anxious about starting the next grade level. Reading books about school is a great way to introduce the topic of being uncomfortable with starting something new.

As book characters worry about school, it opens up a discussion with your child about their feelings for the coming school year.

There are so many great Back to School books for children that discuss these fears and apprehensions.

This list is broken down into sections by grade level for preschool, kindergarten, first grade & second grade.

There’s also a general back-to-school section at the beginning that works well for any age.

A few of these books specifically focus on the events of the First Day of School.

Others are about more general aspects of school such as lunchtime, recess, homework, etc.

I’ve also added a section with a “new category of books” that might help your child handle all the changes in school due to the pandemic.

Books to Help Children Understand Sickness

The Pandemic brought with it a huge focus in schools on sickness and best practices to try and keep students healthy.

That’s where these books that deal with germs, hand-washing, social distancing, and specifically the coronavirus are great resources for helping younger children.

The first book is one about washing hands & germs. It is logically named Germs Vs. Soap.

The next book, Lucy’s Mask, is all about masks.

This next book is an engaging reader book, What is COVID-19? It includes facts about the virus, plus information on hand washing.


Read Aloud Back to School Books

The following Back to School books are geared towards all young children.

They would work well for preschoolers through elementary.

We will start with the current favorites in my house: Peppa Pig and the Busy Day at School.

In this Book, Peppa is worried about what special talent to share with her classmates.

It’s a general book about school great for introducing school concepts to kids.

The next book is Pete the Cat’s Got Class.

Another general book about school. In this one, Pete helps a friend who is struggling with math.

Another family favorite is The Pigeon HAS to Go to School. The Pigeon is up to his usual antics that kids love, but this time they focus on going to school.

Up next is The First Day Jitters. In this book, the character Sarah doesn’t want to start a new school and has all the classic worries.

Especially worries about not knowing anyone at school.


This next book, How to Get Your Teacher Ready, is set up in a classic “How To” format.

It shows the children throughout the year “helping” their teacher figure out how to do everything at school.

If you have a dinosaur fan, then this What the Dinosaurs Did at School book is a fun one to add to your collection.

This book contains photographs of toy dinosaurs having fun, and a little mischief, at school.

Along with the dinosaurs, If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, DON’T!, the book is a funny one for animal lovers.

Do your kids love the “Old Lady Who Swallwed” books? Then this There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books is perfect to add to your book collection.


One last general school book and of course it’s Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes. You can’t have enough of Pete the Cat!


Make sure you check out our free printable First Day of School Signs too!


Back to School Books for Preschool

These Back to School Books are perfect for helping your little one be prepared for starting preschool or transitioning back to preschool.

A few of the books are specifically about Preschool, while others contain the favorite television show and book characters your preschooler already knows and enjoys.

The Night Before Preschool

The 12 Days of Preschool

Peppa’s School Day

Time for School Mouse!


Back to School Books for Kindergarten

These books for Kindergartners are some of my favorites!

Kindergarten is like the official start of “Big Kid School” in our house, making it even more exciting.

Of course, this also can make it seem like a very scary transition for kids.


Kindergarten Here I come

On the First Day of Kindergarten

Kindergarten is Cool!


We have a free printable Back to School Self Portrait Printable too! It’s perfect for capturing those First Day Memories!

first day of school worksheet


Back to School Books for First-Grade

There aren’t as many books dedicated to the older grades, but these are a few favorites about starting First Grade.

First Grade, Here I Come!

The Night Before First Grade


Back to School Books for Second Grade

As with first grade, books about second grade can be hard to find. Here are two that I have found for starting second grade.

Second Grade, Here I Come

The Best Seat in Second Grade


So there you go. Tons of back-to-school books to help your child calm their fears about heading back to school. Before you go, make sure you check out all of our helpful Back to School posts below.


MORE BACK-TO-SCHOOL FUN

The Busy Mom’s Back to School To-Do List– Ideas and tips for making Back to School season as easy as possible.


Free, Printable Back to School Checklist – A blank slate, cute printable Back to School Checklist that lets you write down all of your family’s to-do’s.

Printable Back to School Checklist surrounded by school supplies
4 Comments
Mom Life School Time

The Ultimate Back to School To-Do List for Busy Moms

Collage of school supplies spread out on table

Summer’s winding down and that means school will be starting soon. That’s why this Back to School To-Do List for busy moms is perfect to make sure you don’t miss a single item on your checklist.

Why is Back to School “season” so busy?

Well, there’s preparing all of the paperwork, the health forms, and of course the school supplies shopping. And that’s just mentioning a few!

Does the idea of 30-plus things to do before school starts seem daunting?

No worries, some of these ideas you might have already done, others might not be applicable for your child, and a few are options to make the First Day of School super fun.

We suggest you print out our free Back to School Checklist printable before you begin this list.

Then you can jot down the ideas you like or apply to you. This way you start the year off right by staying organized from the beginning.


Back to School To-Do List for Busy Moms


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.


Back to School To-Do List: Clothing

Clothes | Back to School Clothes Shopping is almost a tradition before school starts back up.

With tax-free shopping weekends and sales, this is a great time to stock up on socks, underwear, and pajamas.


First Day of School Outfit | If your child doesn’t wear uniforms to school, make sure you let your little one pick out a fun First Day of School outfit.

We all know this outfit will forever be documented in hundreds of pictures, so if they like it, they are more likely to smile.


Picture Day Outfits | Go ahead and add that perfect Picture Day Outfit to your shopping list too. Some schools have Picture Day during Back to School Night, and others later in the year.

Either way, make sure you have an outfit that your child loves so that again, they smile big!


Shoes | Want some advice from a former teacher? Well, here it is  – buy your child sturdy, play shoes. Shoes that let them run and chase their friends on the playground without tripping and falling.

Also, make sure you check your school’s clothing policy before purchasing shoes. There are rules about footwear – such as no cowboy boots, flip-flops, and noise-making shoes are a few common ones.


Purchase or Clean Backpack & Lunchbox | Make sure your child has a clean or new Backpack that fits them properly and follows school rules. Again, some schools have very specific details about backpack sizes, wheels, etc.

If your child will be taking their lunch, make sure they have an easy-to-unzip lunchbox and possibly a thermos for warm foods.


Back to School To-Do List: Supplies

School Supplies | The most traditional of all back-to-school to-do’s is shopping for school supplies! Check your school’s website if you don’t have the list yet, as most schools now post them online.

If you have the list early on, you can purchase a few items every time you are at the store and help with the cost. It also allows you to look for sales early since Back to School shows up in stores in July.


Supplies for Projects & Homework | Go ahead and purchase some poster board. You will most likely need it at the least opportune time and having a stash can never hurt.

Also, make sure you have school supplies for homework.

These are the four supplies that my boys use the most while doing homework: pencils, crayons, scissors & glue sticks.


Stock Up on Perishables | Now is the time to make sure you have plenty of ziplock bags, reusable pouches, napkins, ice packs, disposable silverware, etc.


Stock Up on Snacks | If your school has snack time go ahead and purchase or prepare snack-sized portions. Put these in an easy-to-grab place so your child can help with packing them.

If your school is nut-free remember to find snacks that are allowed such as chips, goldfish, or fruit.


Back to School To-Do List: Health & Personal Care

Check Immunization Schedule | If you immunize, now is the time to make sure your child is caught up on vaccines and copy the appropriate paperwork for school.


Physicals | If your child’s school requires a physical, make sure you ask around and see if anywhere is doing sports or back-to-school physicals at a discounted price. Our local Convenient Care offers them one evening about a month before school starts.


Hair Cuts | Schedule those haircuts! Another great way to save money is to check for back-to-school specials at chain haircut shops. My boys aren’t particular about who cuts their hair, so the savings add up when specials are running.


Lice Prevention | Yep, I slipped this one in there! When my middle was in Kindergarten they unfortunately had head lice visit their classroom.

We got lucky and my son stayed lice-free, but it did make me invest some time into ways to prevent head lice.

The two items I use are available on Amazon. The first I use as a preventative spray is the Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Daily Kid Conditioning Spray for Lice Prevention.

The second item I use on book bags and coats when lice have been confirmed in my boys’ classrooms. It is the Eco Defense Lice Treatment for Home, Bedding, Belongings.


Back to School To-Do List: Paperwork

Label Everything |  This isn’t exactly paperwork, but it’s important so I slipped it in here. Seriously, label it. All of it.

Label all book bags, lunch boxes, coats, sweatshirts, and school supplies – unless your teacher requests you not to label them.

They will lose it and having it labeled will make finding it so much easier.

If your child wears uniforms to school, labeling is super important. All of the sweatshirts and hoodies seem to match!

You might consider using labels like the Avery No-Iron Kids Clothing Labels.


School Paperwork | Pick a night and knock it out. Yes, there seems to be a crazy amount of paperwork for back-to-school, but it’s all important to either help your child succeed or to keep them safe.

If you have more than one child and the same paperwork for each of them, here’s a little tip. Fill out one form with all of the info that pertains to all children and then copy it.

Now you can fill out the information for each child and save yourself some time.


Check all School Info is Up to Date | If you have moved, changed phone numbers, or your child’s health situation has changed, double-check that this information is current.

One thing I’d recommend is highlighting the information that has changed on the form. For example, if you’ve discovered your child is allergic to bees, highlight in bright yellow that section of the health form.


School Calendar | Print out the school calendar and place all important dates on your wall calendar, in your planner, or on your phone calendar app.

Bonus points if you go ahead and let Grandparents know about important events this year like Grandparent’s Day, School Concerts, and especially days off school you might need them to help with childcare.


Lunch Money | If your child will be eating lunch at school, go ahead and send in their lunch money. Take time to make reminders in your phone or planner to send in more lunch money weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.

If your school has a program to track lunch money, make sure you write down your password somewhere easily accessible.


Finish Up Summer Work | If your child has summer homework, reading logs, or a fun project from their new teacher – finish those up now. Place them in their backpacks so they don’t get lost before the first day of school.


Back to School To-Do List: Before School / After School Info

Set up Before and After School Care | Make sure you have your plan for before and after school care for your child.

Now, create a backup plan for things such as a sick babysitter, working late, inclement weather (most schools don’t have after-school care if closing for bad weather), and sick child care.


Go over your Pick-Up Plan | Now is the time to talk to your child and remind them of how pick-up will go after school.

If they will be doing different things on certain days, think of laminating an index card with the info and dropping it in their backpack.

Or if they have a daily folder or a planner, you could write the information in there too.


After School Rules | If you are battling technology in your home (hand-raised, my tweenager loves YouTube) you might want to create an After School Rules Sheet.

For example, before technology is allowed they must: read, finish homework, and play outside for 30 minutes.


Back to School To-Do List: The Memory Makers

Back to School Signs for First Day Photos | Printer out of ink? Can’t find a sign you like at midnight on Back To School Night Eve? Do yourself a favor and print out those First Day of School signs before the last minute arrives.


Back to School Interview Forms | These are so fun! My oldest is only 10 and I already love reading his responses from when he was in Kindergarten.



Teacher’s Favorites Interview Form | This is something that will help with finding those teacher gifts. You can make a little questionnaire, or use our free printable Back to School Teacher Gift Questionnaire and give it to your child’s teacher on Back to School Night.

It can ask about their favorite restaurant, store, drink, snack, and so on. After they return it to you, you will have gift ideas for the holidays and teacher appreciation week!


Back to School To-Do List: It’s Almost School Time!

Host a Last Day of Summer Party | But not on the night before school! Make it a special family outing or let your child have a few friends over. Just do something to celebrate a great summer and the start of a great school year.


Start Working on Bedtime | I will admit, this is one we don’t do in our family. In this situation, we are blessed, and in other ways cursed. Our children never needed long naps or tons of sleep.

However, if your child does require sleep to function, then I suggest you start working bedtime back 5 to 10 minutes a night until you are closer to their school year bedtime.


Back to School Night | Attend Back to School Night and meet your child’s teacher and classmates. This is a great time to ask for clarification on the school supply list. Or any other quick questions you might have for your child’s teacher.


Party Sign-ups/Room Mom | Want to try a new classroom game you found on Pinterest? Be ready to sign up for treats, snacks, and so on at Back to School Night. With 3 kids I’ve learned to write down what I sign up for on a post-it so I don’t forget!


Mentally Prepare for Back-to-School Mornings | Heading Back to School can be a major transition, especially if your children have been sleeping in all summer. Make sure you have a plan for adjusting to the new routine & consider starting it a week or so before school starts. Need even more ideas? Read our 20+ Tips for Stress-Free Back-to-School Mornings.


First Day of School Breakfast | There are two ideas here… The first one is to plan an amazing first-day-of-school breakfast. The other, more this night-owl mama’s speed, is to make sure you have easy breakfast meals prepped or stocked up.


The Night Before School Starts

Finish up any Last Minute To-Do’s! | Anything that needs to be done – get it done! Don’t worry, I’ll be right there finishing up with you. Even with all my good planning and a great back-to-school to-do list, there’s always something left to be done.


Read a Back to School Book | A great way to start the year off right. This is a perfect idea if you have a younger child attending school for the first time. There are tons of great back-to-school books to help ease your child’s fears. Check out our list of Back to School Books here!

Camera Prep | Make sure you have your camera clean, charged, and with lots of memory available. Also, make sure your phone memory isn’t full. This way you can snap away without deciding which vacation pictures you have to delete.


Prep Work | Double-check that the backpacks are ready to go. You can set out school clothes so they are easy to find in the morning too. This way you have more time for the mandatory Back to School Photo Session.


Bedtime | It’s bedtime! Make sure you get plenty of sleep yourself. You are going to need extra time in the morning to adjust to a new routine too. Also, don’t forget extra time for pictures.

So there you go! The Back to School To-Do List for Busy Moms is complete. Hopefully, it helps you stay organized for the Back to School season.

Have any other ideas you do before school starts back up? Drop them in the comments!

The Busy Mom's Back to School To-Do List

8 Comments
School Time

Back to School Checklist Printable for Staying Organized

Printable Back to School Checklist surrounded by school supplies

Is your brain swimming with all of the things you need to do before the First Day of School? Then use our Back to School Checklist printable to take control of the chaos!

The first day of another school year brings about a lot of excitement for kids. But for parents, it can mean a ton of paperwork, shopping, and elusive searching for a certain type of folder, pen, etc.

I felt like I had a pretty good handle on staying on top of things when my oldest began Kindergarten. Then when my middle child started it was harder, but still manageable.

However, this year I will have 3 boys in school. That is a lot more to mentally keep track of and accomplish on time.

Plus this school year is different thanks to the pandemic.

If your kids are virtual learning you will have different tasks you need to accomplish than years in the past.

Or if you are homeschooling for the first time you will have many new to-do’s to keep track of before starting your new adventure.

If your kids are returning to school in person there will be new tasks too. For me, this was things like finding water bottles that cover the mouth opening and ensuring we have enough masks to get through the entire week.



Back to School Season can be Absolute Chaos

There’s all the school paperwork, supply lists, physicals, clothes, and of course the fun stuff too.

Keeping it all organized and accomplishing it all can be a daunting task when you are trying to enjoy those last few weeks of summer.

My old system of posting sticky notes all over my planner with numerous to-do reminders wasn’t cutting anymore.

In an attempt to somewhat organize the chaos, I began making a master back-to-school to-do list.

From this list, the realization came that having a fun way to keep track of it all, that could easily slide into my planner, was the best bet for easy Back to School organization.

This printable Back to School Checklist has been a lifesaver for this busy mama. Hopefully, it helps you with your Back to School organization as much as it is helping me this year.


Using the Back to School Checklist Printable

The printable has spaces for you to write down your own Back to School To Do’s.

I’m using one checklist for all three of my school-age children, but you could use one page for each child if that seems more likely to keep you organized.

Most of the checklists I have found are preset lists. This is great, but I wanted something where I could record only the to-do’s that applied to our family.

Speaking of those back-to-school lists, I have one for you to check out to see what you need to include in your checklist.

Make sure you check out our What to Put on Your Back to School To-Do List for ideas you may have missed or forgotten.


Make sure you check out our other Back to School Post

We love Back to School season so there are tons of posts that might help make your transition back to school easier.

BACK TO SCHOOL BOOKS TO HELP EASE FIRST-DAY FEARS – A list of books about starting school perfect for preschool and kindergarten children. Plus, books about specific grades including 1st and 2nd grade.

Back to School Books


FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL SELF-PORTRAIT COLORING PAGE – This is our super popular First Day of School Coloring Sheet. It’s another free printable, so be sure to check it out.

first day of school worksheet


BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS & HACKS FOR BUSY MOMS – A huge list of the best back-to-school tips and hacks for busy parents. It looks at everything from head lice prevention to sick-day plans and more.


FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL SIGN – Do you need a free, printable First Day of School Sign? If so, check our favorite one out!

How to Print the Back-to-School Checklist

Click the link below to print out your free Back to School Checklist!


Pink Eraser Pencil – Back to School Checklist


I did some updating to the printable for the 2020-2021 School Year and changed the pencil at the top. If you want the yellow & black pencil, click the following link for that download.


Black & Yellow Pencil – Back to School Checklist


Hopefully, you have a great start to your school year; with the help of the checklist, I’m sure you will!


0 Comments
Activities for Kids

Shark Books for Kids – A Fintastic List!

Shark Books

It’s time to discover some “jawsome” Shark Books for Kids! Thanks to Shark Week, my boys have an infatuation with everything about sharks. They ask question, after question, and I don’t usually have the answer.

So in a quest to teach my boys that information can come from other places beyond the internet, we turned to books.

There are tons of informative, nonfiction shark books for kids. They have great photographs and facts for inquisitive minds.

These nonfiction shark books really help with answering questions like, “Mom how many teeth does a Great White Shark have in its mouth?” Umm… let’s check in the book!

Of course, the fiction shark books for kids with their fun characters and silly plots are great to read aloud too.

These books are a collection of books we own, as well as books we have borrowed from the library. Did you know that at most libraries you can request them to borrow books from partnering libraries?

So if your local library doesn’t have many of these books, make sure you ask if they are available on loan from others.


Fiction & Nonfiction Shark Books to read for Shark Week


{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.}


Shark Books for Toddlers

With the recent popularity of the Baby Shark song, I think it’s safe to say that young children are more aware of sharks than ever.

Here are a few shark books for toddlers that are sure to entertain the youngest lovers of sharks!

Bedtime for Baby Shark: Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo

Little Shark: Finger Puppet Book

Baby Shark

Never Touch a Shark

Pinkfong Baby Shark Official Sound Book

Preschooler Books about Sharks

These are all fantastic Shark Books for Preschoolers! They are illustrated, so there aren’t as many actual photographs that might scare a younger child. Our current favorite is “Big Shark, Little Shark”! It’s light and funny, and a perfect book to teach the concept of opposites.

Shark vs. Train

The Three Little Fish And The Big Bad Shark

Big Shark, Little Shark

My Little Golden Book About Sharks

This “Commotion in the Ocean” book is a more general ocean-themed book, but it does have a Shark in it. It was a favorite when I taught Preschool, so I included it in the list.

Commotion in the Ocean

Shark Books for Kindergarteners and Up

This list is full of Shark Books for kindergarten-aged children. You can’t go wrong with classics such as the Cat in the Hat or a Magic School Bus Book!

Magic School Bus: Ocean Adventure

National Geographic Readers: Sharks!

Hark! A Shark!: All About Sharks

The Ultimate Book of Sharks (National Geographic Kids)

Amazing Sharks!

Sharks and Other Predators: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House Merlin Mission 25


Shark Books for Kids – Encyclopedias | NonFiction

The nonfiction Shark Books and Encyclopedias are \the favorites of my boys!

The actual photographs and the detailed illustrations keep them entertained, reading, and learning.

These are great shark books for kids who are curious and looking for more information than you may know about sharks.

Super Shark Encyclopedia

Discovery Channel Sharkopedia: The Complete Guide to Everything Shark

Sharks and Other Deadly Ocean Creatures Visual Encyclopedia

National Geographic Kids Everything Sharks


Shark Activity Books for Kids

There are numerous activities you can plan and do with your kids to explore, learn, and have fun with sharks! Check out Productive Pete’s “Shark Week Board” on Pinterest for tons of great ideas.

Also, keep reading to find out more about two Shark Activity Printables we have on Productive Pete.

National Geographic Kids Sharks Sticker Activity Book: Over 1,000 Stickers!

Ultimate Sticker Book: Sharks

Let’s Explore… Ocean (Lonely Planet Kids)

Shark Coloring and Activity Book: Mazes, Coloring, Dot to Dot, Word Search, and More!

Hopefully, you found some great shark books for kids to help encourage your child’s interest.

Also, make sure you download my free, printable Shark Word Scramble for kids.

As well as our Shark Scissor Skills Worksheet. These are great shark activities for kids that combine learning with fun.

Or if you are hosting a Shark Party take a peek at my Ultimate List of Shark Party Supplies & How to Throw a Jawesome Shark Birthday Party posts!

Can you tell how much we love Sharks around here? It’s a lot if you haven’t already guessed! Thanks for hanging out here at Productive Pete and have a Fintastic Day!

0 Comments