Nanny to Mommy

Have you checked out our post about Back to School Essentials for a Successful Year? This year seems still up in the air! Are the kids going in person, virtual, or some combination of the two? Who knows!? But one thing is for sure, they will still want those after school snacks! It is no secret that we love Entenmann's Little Bites in our house. I love that they come in a variety of different flavors to try, made with real ingredients like blueberries, banana and cocoa, and come in perfectly portioned pouches, making them the perfect on the go snack. 

Little Bites® snacks is celebrating the return to school with the Little Bites® Back-to-School Bash! Kicking off on now through August 30, parents are invited to enter the Little Bites® Back-to-School Bash for a chance to win everything they need to host the ultimate back-to-school party.

Parents can enter by visiting the official Little Bites Facebook and/or Instagram page and completing the following steps:

WOW! Can you believe school it is already about time for the kids to start back to school?! This summer has flown by, but I am actually kind of excited to get back to our normal routines. Each year I put together a list of essentials that I am buying my kids and I love to share it with my readers because I have found that many of you find it useful too. My daughter will b starting fifth grade and my son will be in second. Let me know in the comments below anything I missed!

Look on the positive side of things, we don't have to spend a small fortune buying new school clothes. All jokes aside, I was honestly devastated when I heard the news that we would be starting "virtual learning until further notice" because my son doesn't do well with me teaching him. He needs his eager classmates and the guidance of someone who knows how to handle a child with a short attention span. But if this means that my child won't get this virus, then that is what I have to do and what needs to be done. So my back-to-school shopping guide has to look a lot different this year and that's okay. The thing that stinks is I still have supplies at my child's school from last semester.

My son is in kindergarten this year and the 100th day of school is coming up. He was assigned a project to complete a shirt with 100 items on it. When my daughter was in kindergarten, they asked all the littles to dress as a 100-year-old. It was too cute. I like the idea of the shirt a little better from an educational aspect because it got my son to count in groups of ten. This helped him with his counting and with his small motor skills. Since I had a search party on Pinterest trying to find ideas of what to do for our "100th Day of School" Shirt, I thought I would share some of my favorites here and you can also check out our creation too!

These DIY 100 days of school shirt ideas are super easy and very affordable. I bought my shirt for a little over $2 at Michael's Craft Store. I will try and link any related items that are inexpensive from Amazon. I remember taking 100 pennies and pasting them to a piece of cardboard sitting in my grandmother's kitchen with my cousins. We lived with my grandmother for a little while when my mom went back to school after my parent's divorced when I was five. I remember it feeling like it was taking SO LONG to count to 100. That's why I suggest the 10 by 10 method. I also only included easy and inexpensive DIY ideas because the idea was to be a project that a preschooler or Kindergartener can handle, but you could use Patches4Less as well. If you are looking for something that is great for groups, can be outsourced and is affordable and customizable check out these custom chenille patches by UltraPatches. If it wasn't a project, then there are tons of homemade 100 days of shirt ideas that can be made with Cricuts online too.

If you also want to complete these fun custom tee shirts ideas, then try bulk custom T-shirts, not only can you customize the material needed for the event for easy modification, but you can also print the school's logo and let the students design their own designs on the shirts, and you can also wear the designed creative shirts on your body, and the kids will surely feel proud of them. It can inspire creativity and interest in do-it-yourself design.

Update 1/13/25: I am a preschool teacher now and I am so excited to have my students participate in this process. I did want to note that there are many options to purchase 100 days of school shirts for preschool and kindergarten on Etsy and Amazon, if your school isn't really going the project route.

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

My son started Kindergarten this year and to be honest, I was worried he would be starting the school year behind. Although I tried to work with him this summer to catch him up, we were so busy that sometimes we didn't have the time. We didn't confirm that he needed glasses until this past January so I know that has played a factor into what he learned. I want him to excel and feel confident in his abilities. My son has the type of personality where if something isn't "his idea" and fun, then he doesn't want to do it. So when I was sent the TinkerActive Workbooks through MomsMeet, I was excited to see how they could help him.

TinkerActive Workbooks are designed to build your child’s fundamental math and science skills while inspiring them to try new things, discover new skills, and imagine new possibilities. Vetted by award-winning educators and aligned to Common Core State Standards, they are an excellent supplement to schoolwork or at-home study. Packed with curriculum-based exercises designed for all learners (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic), TinkerActive Workbooks are a surefire way to encourage your child’s love of learning.

Kids aren’t supposed to be the whole package just yet. They’re always going to be growing and learning (heck, there are men and women well into their thirties, forties, and fifties that are still picking basic things up!) But it would be nice if they could take in a few skills early on so that they have a solid foundation to build on as they grow. Basic cognitive skills, manners, and domestic chores are a few examples of what we’re talking about here.

The ability to pay attention and stay focused on things is another – and it’s a pretty significant one. It’s quite a simple and doable thing, but many kids (and, infuriatingly, adults) don’t quite grasp the concept very well. A more focused and attentive child has a better chance of growing into a competent and confident grown-up. If you feel as though your child is somewhat away with the fairies at times, then let’s have a little look at some of the things you can do as a parent.

Summer break might seem like it just started, but the holidays are in full swing and it’ll be back to school before we know it. While there are still a fair few weeks of relaxation to enjoy, then, it’s about time you started turning your mind to school again. One look at the shops will certainly tell you that it’s past time to stock up on all those back to school goodies.

And, the school prep doesn’t stop there. If you want your kids to perform well this term, it’s also worth considering the ways you can prepare them for their work, too. Of course, giving them pre-class worksheets wouldn’t exactly be fair when the sun is shining. But, you can still guarantee their performance by getting ahead with a bit of homework prep.

The fact is that school homework gets harder and more intense with every year that passes. By getting ahead, you give your kids the best chance at coming top of the class and dealing with the load. But, how exactly can you start preparing for the September homework already?

I know in some places school hasn't started yet and you are trying to soak up every minute of summer. For us, we are actually in our second week! So if you are still preparing this back to school shopping lists, I have an idea for you that will want to check out.

I was recently contact about TVStoreOnline.com and showcasing some of their cool hoodies or shirts. From Costumes, Beanies, Accessories (and so much more), TVStoreOnline goes above and beyond to find merchandise featuring characters, logos, or catchphrases from your favorite TV shows, Movies, and cartoons. As the demand for rare pop culture merchandise has exponentially grown around the globe, so has TVStoreOnline. The founding members of TV Store Online still strive to generate the best selection of T-shirts, Costumes, and Accessories everyday.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PilotPen4School #CollectiveBias #PowerToThePen

School is starting for us in less than a week! I can't believe how fast the summer went by. I'm sure it was because we were so busy. With school starting back, it's back to the daily schedule of making lunches, getting kids to school, and extra curricular activities. I enjoy making my kid's lunches in the morning because I like to know what they are eating and so they can know how much I care while they are there through handwritten lunch box notes.

Packing nutritious lunches is key to keeping kids energized throughout the school day. One easy way to ensure a balanced meal is by including packaged salads in their lunchboxes.

I have fun thinking of creative sayings or little love notes of inspiration so they can get a little pick me up during the day. It's also great for them because they get to enjoy organic reading that they'll love. Seeing your handwriting with a Pilot Pen on a little note card can bring an unexpected to joy to their day letting them know you are thinking about them. My daughter says she tells her friends too when I add in jokes.

I am one of those people that has to write everything down in order to stay organized.


This product was featured in my Back to School Shopping Guide.

Pipsticks+Workman sticker gift line: A new line of 17-month planners with coordinating sticker books and notekeepers that are perfect for mom and tweens/teens who want to keep track of their school work. This is the first planner line where each planner’s interiors (monthly art and stickers) are unique to the theme.

Enter to Win a Teach My Preschooler Learning Kit

AND a Teach My Kindergarten Learning Kit

Mommy's Playbook's Prize is Sponsored by Teach My

I love having supplies on my to extend my child's education from the classroom. We have our list of Back to School Shopping List, but Teach My products are perfect for anyone!

Crayola is excited to introduce Take Note! – a brand new suite of innovative writing tools designed to make colorful marks - just in time for back to school. Using color for note taking is proven to aid in memory retention and can be helpful for organizing tasks. The Washable Gel Pens feature a quick-dry formula for rich, vibrant color that is streak-free and the Erasable Highlighters’ bright colors will make a bold statement on homework and projects alike. Capture your thoughts, notes and doodles with Crayola Take Note!

If you have been following me on Instagram (please check it out), then you know my kiddos are back to school. My daughter has been all about her style this year. I guess it starts in second grade? Anyways, we received an adorable package from KidsShoes and she didn't get excited about school until she saw what was in the box.

KidsShoes is your destination for the best in children’s footwear all in one place. They offer a variety of designer brands you know and love such as Michael Kors, Sam Edelman, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Ash Sneakers, Stuart Weitzman, Badgley Mischka, Frye, and Sydney Jordyn. They are the only place to get exclusive styles in these designer brands. They have new styles added every month in the latest trends in footwear. Their site is curated to bring you the best style and design in kids footwear. They are available 24/7 to answer any and all KidSizing, fashion, and style questions.

This post is sponsored by Crayola in the form of complimentary products. All opinions are my own. These products were featured in our Back to School Guide.

My mom was a teacher when we were growing up. I remember watching her go back to school after she and my dad divorced. She worked so hard to become a teacher, a lot of late nights studying and creating lesson plans. She loved being a teacher so much. Educating our children is such an important and, often times, underappreciated profession.

Crayola has been our brand of choice for so many years. My mom and I would create lesson plans and activities using Crayola because they make high quality products with beautiful vibrant colors in every box. And they are the one and only crayon and marker brand I trust to actually be washable when the package says it is. This summer Crayola has started an amazing initiative. They have started the next phase of the “Thank a Teacher” campaign. They want kids around the country to show their appreciation for teachers and help reach one million thank-yous to teachers across the country!

I decided to share these because my sister-in-law is looking to get a head start on school shopping since she knows it can get expensive. I suggest watching deals on Amazon as well as your local stores may change different products that go on sale week to week.

We have been back to school for a month now. It has been a little easier for me to get back into our back-to-school routine this year then it has been in years past. I think it is because I have a few tips that I started following this year and it really helped us get back into the swing of things.