fun Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Canada Day Word Games Packet

Paula — Thu, 14 May 2026 06:44:00 +0000

You know by now that I love word games. Paper, printable, digital or apps: it’s all the same to me. And Canada Day is one of my favourite summer events, kicking off the summer season for many of us. So, combine Canada Day word games into a bundle or a packet and that is a recipe to share! Canada Day History Initially known as “Dominion Day,” Canada Day became Canada Day on October 27, 1982. The change reflected a growing sense of a distinct Canadian identity, separate from its colonial ties. Canada adopted the iconic maple leaf flag in 1965. Seventeen years later, the patriation of the Canadian Constitution took place (1982.) This event transferred the country’s highest law from British to Canadian authority. A Day of Festivities Across the country, Canada Day is a vibrant public holiday featuring a wide array of celebrations. Communities large and small host parades, concerts, festivals, and family-friendly activities. Barbecues and picnics are a common tradition, bringing together friends and families to enjoy the summer weather. Over the years we have caught numerous spectacular fireworks displays, a hallmark of the national celebration. Don’t miss my Canada Day Maze printable, a popular download here. Where to Go Most major city parks have a fireworks celebration. In London, Ontario, Canada Day often coincides with Sunfest, a multicultural celebration at Victoria Park downtown. In Ottawa, Parliament Hill in the nation’s capital holds thew official ceremony annually and it is well worth the trip. The event typically features musical performances by Canadian artists, speeches from dignitaries, and a ceremonial flag-raising. No matter where you live in the country, if you want a celebration, you can probably find one, but Ottawa’s celebrations are a highlight. I mean, if there’s one thing the nation’s capital does well, it is throwing a party. Culture, History and Reconciliation Of course, I’d be negligent if I didn’t note that Canada Day celebrations need to be tempered with this reality. We live on land stolen from people that were here before we were. Here are Some Ways to Educate Yourself Re: Reconciliation and How We Can Do Better Make time to read about the true history of the country. Attend a traditional pow wow and amplify indigenous voices. Read the 94 recommendations out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Make your own commitment to doing better and acknowledging the painful truth about Canada’s history. Read books by indigenous peoples and learn. Interesting Facts About Canada’s National Day: Remember to check out my Free Printable Pinterest Board where I have some other popular word games. How to Use these Games: To Print these word games out this month, you can right click on any of the images above and save and print off of your computer. Please do not reprint on your own site without attribution. Or download the entire lot of word games here: The answer key is included at the end of the word games package so use that if you are stuck. No matter how you celebrate, I wish you a happy Canada Day!

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Bugs Word Scramble for Kids

Paula — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 22:10:00 +0000

Looking for some fun activities to do with the kids right now? Aren’t we all, if we are parents? I mean isn’t that the standard? This Bugs Word Scramble is perfect for you. Always looking for ways to amuse kids and keep them off of screens or out of mischief? Then you will do well with this cute and easy Bugs Word Scramble with answer sheet. This simple word game is easy to download. If your kids can read, or love word games then they will enjoy this. Bugging Out Bugs don’t need to be terrifying at all. Frankly these bugs are cute and sweet not scary at all. So kids won’t be creeped out by the idea of finding bugs and they learn something in the process of doing this activity. BUGGY Trying to get into the spring spirit? This one is an oldie but a classic too. Spring is a good time to give your brain a break with these Spring brain breaks. Activities such as these can help you and the kids to get outside your head for a bit and simply enjoy a word game break. Other Spring Printables STEAM Activities and More Don’t miss this summer STEAM activity sheet while you are here. My Pinterest boards have many activities for kids and parents to use all spring, summer or Fall long. If you are looking for the wintery colouring pages or activities start here. Winter word games. There are dozens of lifecycle worksheets available here on Thrifty Mommas Tips. I also have several travel related kid’s learning activities. All About England is a cute one to start with today and do the tour of Europe with the France Colouring Sheet and workbook. In order to print this out, you can right click on the word scramble above or download the Word Scramble here.

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Homeschool Awards Certificates and Ribbons

Paula — Mon, 29 May 2023 14:18:00 +0000

This time of year everyone is gearing up for the end of the school season. That doesn’t change just because you are homeschooling. Everyone who goes to school deserves to celebrate their accomplishments at the end of the academic year. That’s why these Homeschool Awards Certificates and Ribbons are perfect for you right now. Save them, print them, share them and enjoy! Everyone deserves an award this year and always. Bring on the Summer After eight to nine months of solid working, kids of all ages deserve a break. Parents too. There’s a lot to cover in a short time and sometimes not a lot of time for reflection. t’s not uncommon for schools to have endless ceremonies, field trips, assemblies and dress up themed days as the school year winds down. Of course, at this time of year as the weather improves, many homeschool groups schedule picnics and events to socialize too. No Matter Where You School There’s always a reason to reflect on a job well done. So, use these Homeschool awards certificates and ribbons to do just that. There’s a DIY page templated here so that you can also make it into whatever you want. Personalize the awards as you see fit.

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Months of the Year Printable Activity

Paula — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 12:22:00 +0000

I know you love these because they are some of my most downloaded and read content on the site. So, this year I thought I’d capture a brilliant package of months of the year printable activities for you to use and share with someone. These are perfect for little ones, or grandkids. Colour the characters, letters and numbers and give these activity pages to your little people to help them learn the months of the year and the order they come in. Print the Name of the Months of the Year What’s your favourite month? What’s the month that comes before it and the one that comes afterwards as well? I have always been partial to July because it is a month for vacations and summery weather and it is my birth month as well as my daughter’s birth month. So much to love about July in my opinion. Cottages and trips to Bruce County have always made me happy. Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission from purchases made via qualifying links. Free Games and Printables To Use This Activity In Order to Access this and Download it Just click on the link below and print it out. How many syllables does November have? How many syllables are in the word May, or June or JULY? Can you spell each of these words and also tell me how many days are in each one of the months of the year.

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Cute Kid’s Lunch Box Notes to Share

Paula — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 02:38:38 +0000

When our kids were younger they took the bus to school. The day could be awfully long without us, or so I thought anyways. I mean I know it was long for me often without them. So, I sometimes loved adding cute lunch box notes to their lunch boxes. My two kids struggled with anxiety too so sometimes the separation anxiety was high, especially with my youngest child. For years, I would give them each a business card tucked into their back packs. I know that sounds funny to some people. But for my girls it was the extra reassurance that they had my phone number and they could reach me anytime. It was a small but helpful strategy that worked for our family. These cute lunch box notes for kids are positive and cheery and sure to brighten even the Monday-est of Mondays at school. Lunch Time Notes Printable Download the notes here – > Show them you care all day long. These work well tucked into camping suitcases, or even the pockets of kid’s coats. Don’t Miss the Other Lunch Box Notes There are so many themed lunch box notes available on Thrifty Mommas Tips. Don’t forget to check out my Safari Themed Lunch Box Jokes printable. I also have some other colourful and adorable lunchbox jokes with a Valentine’s Day theme. I hope that your kids are having a great year so far, and a healthy one too. These days kids are my heroes. It’s been a brutally hard 18 months and yet they are still just doing their best most days of the week. Gives new meaning to the word resilient. A Few Supplies That Might Help

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25 Summer Things For Kids to Do Now

Paula — Tue, 11 May 2021 09:42:00 +0000

This year we are all about local activities again. If you are also still playing it smart and cautious then you know that you need to get kids motivated to get outdoors and exercise while doing so safely. Don’t sweat it. I have a great list of summer things for kids to do. Refer to it when you are stuck and pin it for later. Right now that might be a bit trickier than usual, but there are many summer activities for kids to do now safely as we wait for the pandemic to subside and vaccines to roll out across the country. Summer Activities for Kids Visit a Neighbourhood Spashpad Find a neighbourhood spashpad, pack a picnic lunch and go for the day. Don’t forget the sunscreen. Scavenger Hunt Check out my post on scavenger hunts and set your kids up with a clipboard and a pencil and then head out on a walk around the neighbourhood to see what you can spy together. Summer Observations Download this adorable summer observations for kids activity page and do it inside or outside. Sometimes I have given kids a clipboard and pencil and had them do these kinds of things outside too. It’s a good way to get them away from gadgets and computers. Go to the Park Everyone has a party nearby. Go find one and spend the afternoon, or morning swinging on swings and hanging out. Your kids will love having a huge green space to enjoy Find a Trail In 2020 we took all the walks and uncovered many trails that were new to us in the process. It was a bit of a positive side to the pandemic actually. At least we got outside and saw a bit more of our area and our city and frankly some of our trails are amazing. There are numerous apps that can help you find something perfect for your family. Go for a Quick Hike Find a nearby hiking trail or one that is age appropriate for your kids and your family. Also, numerous apps will help you with a hike. Camping My favourite part of the summer of 2020 was learning and committing to camping. We bought a tent and we booked a campsite and we LOVED camping in a tent. Tent camping is anything but fancy but there are some stunning Ontario Parks where you need not worry about social distancing expect maybe for in the restroom spaces. Stargazing at night was my favourite part of this experience. Backyard Campout With our tent set up on the back deck, the kids slept outside at least two weekends in the summer. It was a way of having fun and doing something uplifting in the summer months when we were clearly limited to our area. Highly recommend making this happen. Looking for fun summer things to do with kids? This is a hit! Activities like archery lessons from ArcheryUP could be another fun option to mix things up. Sidewalk Chalk or Sidewalk Chalk Murals We actually got in on this back last spring and summer because we were in lockdown then and we needed to get outside. So, sidewalk chalk messages and drawings were a fun way to just spread some joy. Paint Rocks There are so many cute rock painting ideas on Pinterest. We made so many in 2020 and left them around out neighbourhood. Plant a Garden Kids love to grow things. You might even enjoy building some planters and watching them nurture plants. Sunflowers and beans grow fast and are great things to start with if your kids are younger. They can watch progress daily. Swimming Find a neighbourhood pool that’s not too crowded and go for a swim—something that reminds me of the comfort and accessibility of Sacramento pools. Find a neighbourhood pool that’s not too crowded and go for a swim. I have never been more grateful to have a pool than we were in the summer of 2020. It is my oasis. It provided me with the opportunity to get in daily laps and exercise. Frankly, most of us used it this year. My one teen still found it cold, even when heated up to 85, so she was in it less than we were. But it was the best investment ever for us. Yoga Do an impromptu yoga session outside. Kids are excellent at yoga poses and really get into it especially when you tell them to pretend that these are animal related poses. That’s easy to do with several of the poses because they are animal themed. Make Ice Cream We did this last summer and it was so much simpler than I thought. Also, I loved that we knew everything that was in it. Making ice cream is a great addition to the list of activities and summer things for kids to do. Go Berry Picking There are so many U-Pick berry farms in southern Ontario. You should have no trouble finding one. Last season we visited several and grabbed all of the fresh fruits even making bread machine jam for the first time ever. SO GOOD! Bubble Party Make your own bubbles or go buy some bottles of bubbles and go blow them in the yard. They bubble solution is so simple to make. You really only need dishwashing liquid and water with a bubble wand of course. Hide and Seek in the Dark When my kids were small at our old house, we used to go outside after dinner and play what we called dark tag. It was Hide and Seek when it was getting dark and it was so much fun. The kids still remember that game. Of course, now we have a pool so we can’t really do that well anymore. Paint with Bubbles My daughter came up with this one. As a camp counsellor last year and the year before she was responsible for creating the activities and scheduling them in for specific theme days. One day they did bubble painting which is super easy. Drop food colouring into the bubble solution and paint. I mean first you grab a bunch of bowls or containers for the bubble solution and make sure to have some droppers or wands, or both. Put different colours of food colouring into the bubble solution. Give each child either a huge piece of mural paper or large rectangular sized white paper. Blow the bubbles with the colouring over top of the paper and wait for them to pop. This craft makes a really cute design. DIY Bird Feeder You don’t need much to make this happen. It can be as simple as some twine, a pop bottle and birdseed. Go Fishing My one daughter loves fishing. It is relaxing for her so we go probably once a season every summer. We have also been ice fishing before and that was pretty fun, even though we didn’t catch anything. Picnic Last year after we went berry picking we also had a picnic. It was Canada Day and to be honest it was super simple and very sweet. That made me happy. Constellation Walk Download the app – Skyview and go for a walk anywhere at night together. The app helps you to identify constellations easily. After that maybe you can spy them on your own. It has really helped me a lot. Fly a Kite Go Fly a Kite. Literally. Nothing makes you feel more like a child than flying a kite. Beach Day Our extended group of parents did a weekly meetup (with social distancing in mind) at the beach. We have several great beaches in southern Ontario. We often visited Port Stanley. Can’t skip the beach! This is a must do in the summer months. Kids and parents alike love the beach. Just don’t forget the sunscreen and the sand toys. Time Capsule Make a time capsule together and then bury it in the yard. Easy and fun activity that will also amuse you years from now. Garage Sale Get your kids involved in this exercise. Gather all of the things that you are no longer using and have the kids price them. They can help make the signs too and decide on the date of the event. If they are heavily invested in the work, then they should also be able to get part of the profits. Maybe they want to choose a favourite charity to donate their money to. Give them the option and it will be rewarding for all. Summer is Perfect for Kids…Even During a Pandemic With a little imagination and planning you can have a wonderful summer even if you need to stay close to home. I am hopeful we can all explore a bit this season. But, even if we are still waiting for vaccines and need to stay close to home, then this list can help you make the most of summer adventures with kids.

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Fun Zoom Summer Charades Game

Paula — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 14:15:00 +0000

Alright let’s all have some fun with Zoom. I mean, listen I am fully aware that Zoom is a grind sometimes. It is a blessing and also a grind. So, why not capture a little more of the fun side of zoom with this zoom summer charades game. This past year I think we’ve all had a love hate relationship with Zoom. It’s great to have as a tool to keep business going and jobs thriving. I mean I am grateful for technology and so many Zoom moments and connections with my colleagues and my family members who I can’t see right now. Silly Zoom Pandemic Moments During the pandemic, we have all enjoyed a bit of the lighter side of Zoom at times. Like the lawyer cat zoom incident that went viral or the million times our friend’s and colleague’s pets have made their appearance known during home office Zoom calls. Oh and that one time during a news interview when the speaker’s toddler raced around the room in the background of frame. Hahaha…Good times. Fun Zoom Sessions But it can be fun occasionally too. That first Easter we all jumped on Zoom and ate dinner together strangely while also apart. It worked for the most part. At least we got to see each other that day even if it was over the computer. We have also done Zoom Kahoot sessions with my niece and nephews and FaceTimed them a lot. So there are positive ways to enjoy the tool. These Zoom summer charades are just another way to help get through the pandemic. So have fun! Easy Charades Download Instructions Just click on the download button below and it will take you to a clean version of this cute five-page printable activity for families. What Creative Ways Are You Using Zoom? Have any clever creative ways that you use Zoom? Drop them here and maybe I will give them a try too.

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Be Brave Hopeful Sayings Colouring Page to Share Now!

Paula — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 13:30:51 +0000

At the start of the pandemic I looked for ways to stay positive. I think many of us did actually. There weren’t many optimistic and hopeful things to see then as events were cancelled and schools closed and sports stopped, gyms closed and well you get the idea. And, there was so much worry, in every single corner of my house. WE lost multiple trips we had planned and we were worried often. Everything was so much harder, especially when schools closed and remote learning was the new normal. My kids did not do well with that at all. MOM Life So, like a lot of Moms, I looked for hope and inspiration and anything that might actually help us get through. So we painted rocks with inspirational sayings on them and placed them in various areas of the neighbourhood. And we took hikes and we drew and did so many crafty things. Check out my Eco Printing Craft Idea here. Then we made some lovely colourful art and posted it in the windows of our home. Be Brave That made me happy. It also helped us to resolve to do our own part to add to the cheery atmosphere of our own little corner of the world. We began by adding colourful pictures and seasonal colouring pages to the windows of our home. That was as much about giving us something happy to look at as it was about watching the cheerful smiles of grandparents out walking their grandchildren and little ones stopping to stare at the window art. Hopeful Sayings Colouring Page You can get this adorable hopeful sayings colouring page that says Be Brave by clicking on the link below and downloading it now. Be Brave, Kind and All of That Jazz BE Brave. Be Kind. Be Patient. Stay Strong. All of these hopeful sayings are relevant this year and beyond. Print this one out and hopefully I will have more to share soon. Don’t Forget to Visit Pinterest for More

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Happy Birthday Scavenger Hunt

Paula — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 08:24:00 +0000

Here’s an easy way to cope with birthdays this year. Why not give a birthday scavenger hunt a try? Tenth Birthday Celebrations When both of my girls turned ten, we did some amazing fun things to celebrate their birthdays. Together, with my entire family we took my oldest girl to Disney and the Kennedy Space Centre. My youngest got tickets to see Katie Perry in concert with us. But, before we gave her the tickets we did a birthday scavenger hunt. Hidden Clues I hid clues around the house and they led her on a quick tour to find the next clue. One by one she turned them over and followed the instructions. She LOVED that and I adored seeing the glee on her face as she figured each out.. Eventually, the three of us took the train to Ottawa and Montreal and spent a few days exploring, before we attended the concert. A Montreal girl’s trip was just the right thing to launch her into double digits. That birthday scavenger hunt was the thing that started the entire adventure. Of course, we have also celebrated our birthdays. I had a surprise birthday party for my husband’s 40th about a decade ago. That was a hoot, actually. We were living in our old house then and we had small children by that time. This year, I like this birthday scavenger hunt for a lot of reasons. By now, almost everyone has had a pandemic birthday. Not quite so fun as the epic adventures we once had before this awful year. But, still if you are looking for some alternative ways to celebrate a birthday this year, this birthday scavenger hunt might help. Get this Scavenger Hunt Now Katie Perry puts on an incredible show, by the way. So, if you ever have the chance to see her, then take it and go. If you have girls, or music lovers, they will adore it. I’ll never forget my tween dancing in the aisles of the concert venue as the lights strobed rainbow colours overhead. Birthday Scavenger Hunt Take some time to print this off now. Do let me know if you use it this year and drop a comment here.

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What’s On Your Christmas Bucket List + Printable

Paula — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:13:00 +0000

What’s on Your Christmas Bucket List this year? Oh, believe me I know the holidays will be very different this season. The pandemic numbers are currently worrisome but the holidays are still right around the corner, not much more than a month away now. Hard to believe it has been 9-10 months of this lockdown, social distancing and quarantine kind of life. I completely understand it as it was necessary but at the same time I am crazy tired of it and worried about Christmas. But, even so, I am still determined to put a positive spin on it. So, I am working on my very own Christmas bucket list right now and hoping that some of you take heart and either borrow mine or make your own variation. Quick and Fun Christmas Bucket List Don’t mock me but I am all in on Hallmark Christmas movies right now. They bring me joy. This weekend we were watching Hallmark’s Christmas specials and there was an adorable new one there called the Christmas Bucket List, I think. Anyways, that reminded me that I should share something cute here for you all to do also. A Christmas Bucket List doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to be something everyone can do together with social distancing in mind as this is likely to persist throughout the holidays. Modify A Couple of Ideas… Here’s to finding a bit of Christmas spirit, for your family and even for you. Consider it self care. Modify a few of these to be virtual. For instance, ugly sweater party can be your virtual support group night or your friends gathering one night this year. Add a little fun to your routine Zoom and make it an Ugly Sweater Zoom night. I am hoping to do a sleigh ride but I will be looking to see when and where and how those are being offered this year. Obviously, we will be close to home and this feels possible even in town as long as people pick times and register and wear masks. Right? How to Download Merry Christmas to You! Don’t Miss all of my amazing Christmas recipes and printables over on My Merry Christmas Pinterest Board. There are some genuinely great recipes and of course you can always find my Free Printables board there any time of the year.

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