<![CDATA[NEATLINGS - Blog]]>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 01:26:00 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Classy Halloween Plant Decor Ideas + Printable Pumpkin Carving Stencils]]>Mon, 19 Oct 2020 16:05:13 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/classy-halloween-plant-decor-ideas-printable-pumpkin-carving-stencils
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Please enjoy this guest post by FTD Designs and their festive free stencil printables that can be found in my shop for FREE.

Warm sweaters, pumpkin spice everything, colorful leaves tumbling to the ground — fall is easily the coziest time of the year. And let us not forget about Halloween, the day that rings in a series of holidays we celebrate during the colder months! While we love kids roaming the streets for candy in their cute costumes, tombstones, spiders and bloody teeth don’t really scream classy or chic. If you love Halloween but don’t feel like messing with your design style, look no further. We curated Halloween plant decor that accentuates your style instead of ruining it! 
Whether it’s adding a mystical Halloween centerpiece to your dinner table, a gorgeous autumn wreath to your front door or dried flowers to your bookshelf, florals can soften your Halloween decor and help you achieve a design you’ll be proud of. Get inspired by our mood boards and check out the printable pumpkin carving stencils we created so you can decorate your home with some classy crafts.

No Tricks Just Treats Dinner Party

Who needs a nighttime walk around the neighborhood when you can have a fancy Halloween dinner in the comfort of your home? Invite your friends and family to a ghoulishly delightful dinner party and create a spooky yet sophisticated tablescape with some inspiration from our mood board below. 
Besides pumpkins and candlesticks, you can never go wrong with a seasonal bouquet of flowers on the table. Fall flowers that’ll look great with your Halloween tablescape are asters, violas or dianthus. Pick colors that complement your furniture and other decor for a cohesive finish. ​
Sugar and Charm
If you’d like to get crafty, we suggest this DIY succulent pumpkin for a centerpiece that’ll wow your guests and get everyone in the Halloween spirit! These seasonal succulent planters will last you through Thanksgiving and also make for a cute gift for anyone who’s birthday falls between October and November.
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Welcome to My Boo-tiful Abode

Opt for seasonal yet spooky front porch decor for Halloween this year that won’t scare kids away but still set the mood. Mums the word this time of year and red, orange or yellow chrysanthemums will brighten up the steps to your house and front yard. The earthy and herby smell of these flowers will make you want to sip your morning coffee or tea outside long before All Hallows’ Eve and they’ll still be in style a month later, as the chrysanthemum is the official birth flower of November.

You can decorate your front porch with plenty of mums and pumpkins but for a more unique design, incorporating a few straw bales or corn stalks can do the trick.
​
Don’t think you need an entire front porch to get people passing by to wish they lived in your home? A gorgeous fall wreath and a few carved pumpkins can turn any front door into a haunting yet inviting space. 
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A Homemade Living
A stack of pumpkins already makes for a pretty focal point on your front porch but if the cold season makes you eager to craft, you can add a unique and chic touch to your home with a pumpkin that has your family initial or house number carved into it. Use our stencil to add a pretty pattern around it and light up the dark with your masterpiece.
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Add Some Spook to Your Shelf

Typical Halloween colors may be a bright orange and purple or a midnight black but these colors don’t always compliment a sophisticated interior. If you’d still like to add a little spook to your home, you can do so by picking decorative items within a more neutral color palette. Decorate your home with subtle elements like black candles, white pumpkins or a gold-covered skull used as a bookend. These delicate touches will transform your space in a tasteful way.
A stuffed (fake) raven will look beautifully on a coffee table or bookshelf and give off an eerie vibe without distracting from the everyday design style you’ve created to feel comfortable in your home. ​
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Sanctuary Home Decor
Below is another pretty pumpkin stencil for your home! Whether you carve the design into your pumpkin or trace and paint them onto the winter squash, you’ll send a clear message to anyone looking for a scare. If the “Boo” is not enough, maybe write a poem or a Halloween quote on your pumpkin that’ll keep the evil spirits away. 
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However you like to decorate for Halloween, remember that plants and flowers can soften your design and add a touch of liveliness to this cold and dreadful season. Whether you assemble dried flowers and tree branches to a beautiful centerpiece or spruce up your kitchen counter with a bouquet of fall flowers, they’ll help you feel more cozy and less spooked out!
]]><![CDATA[Valentine Coloring Sheets - Free Printables]]>Fri, 24 Jan 2020 20:26:46 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/valentine-coloring-sheets-free-printables
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Looking for some new coloring sheets for this Valentine's Day? Then you are at the right place. Here are 7 creative Valentine's coloring sheets. These sweet love filled Valentine coloring sheets are free to download and use for your kiddos, daycare, teachers, classrooms, and all your Valentine events. 
These were all made by one of my very talented daughters. (proud mama here)

You can find these for free in my SHOP under Printables->Free Printables or just click here.

For more fun Valentine printables check out these awesome Gift Tags and Conversation Starters from one of our guest bloggers, wikibuys!

Happy Valentine's!
]]><![CDATA[Valentine’s Day Printables and Date Ideas]]>Fri, 24 Jan 2020 19:41:54 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/valentines-day-printables-and-date-ideas
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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we wanted to share these super cute printable Valentine’s day gift tags and conversation starters for you and your little ones to work on. 
Whether you are handing out Valentine’s to your friends and family or are looking to spice things up with your partner these printables are an easy way to add that extra touch.

​Valentine’s day can be costly but If you are looking for a few ways to save a buck or two or need a few date ideas check out this guide and these free flower coupons. Feel free to download the printables below:
Gift Tags
https://cdn.ivaws.com/wikibuy-ads/Valentines-Day-printable-Tags.pdf
 
Conversation Starters
https://cdn.ivaws.com/wikibuy-ads/Valentines-printable-conversation-starters.pdf
A note from NEATLINGS:
This is a guest post by Wikibuy® from Capital One®. Wikibuy has been kind enough to create and share some free printables for you.

You can access the free printables either buy clicking on their included links or downloading them for FREE in my Shop page under Shop->Printables->Free Printables. ​

I must say they created some simply darling printables for you! 

For more valentines fun check out these unique Valentine coloring sheets. Beautifully hand drawn and a fresh take on the typical Valentine's coloring sheets. These won't disappoint!

Happy Valentines Day!
]]><![CDATA[Halloween Coloring Sheets - Free Printables]]>Wed, 09 Oct 2019 16:10:55 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/halloween-coloring-sheets-free-printables
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These sweet trick or treat Halloween coloring sheets are free to download and use for your kiddos, daycare, teachers, classrooms, and Halloween events. 
These were all made by one of my very talented daughters. (proud mama here)

You can find these for free in my SHOP under Printables->Free Printables or just click here.

Wishing you all a happy and safe Halloween, enjoy!

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Halloween Activities


Two new printables for this Halloween. 

1. Color by number 100's mystery picture for little ones.

2. Challenging word search for older ones.
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200 Lunch Box Note Jokes
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NEATLINGS 1-3 Kids Chart ● Dark Blue/Red/Yellow
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NEATLINGS 1-3 Kids Chart ● Purple/Orange/Pink
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]]><![CDATA[First And Last Day Of School Signs FREE Printables]]>Sat, 20 Jul 2019 18:53:03 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/first-and-last-day-of-school-signs-free-printablesFree Printables First & Last Day of School Signs 2025-2026.
Two versions to choose from.
​Free, Fast and Functional! It doesn't get any better.
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I've always been envious of those super cute back to school signs that I see other parents post with a colorful chalkboard sign documenting how much their child has grown and I've wondered how in the world do they have time to get it done when I feel lucky to just snap a quick picture before my kiddos get on the school bus.
​
I now have two versions for you! One is a super cute faux chalk board sign with colorful lettering and the other is great for those that only have a black and white printer and it uses less ink. So now I am excited to offer two different versions for you to choose from. Yes, of course they are both FREE!
This is a super simple way to create super cute first day of school signs and just like my totally awesome chore chart system it's modular! This means you can keep it super simple with just a quick print and click or dress it up a bit with details and a frame.

I've even added a black and white option for those of you that may not have color printers and it's just as adorable!
​
I'll show you exactly what you need and where to get it.
Option 1: Quick,  Easy, and FREE
Three simple steps
Choose, Print, & Click
  1. Download your free first day of school signs.
  2. Print.
  3. Have your kiddo hold the sign and click the picture. That's it!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Keep your printed signs in an easy to grab area and you're all ready to snap a super cute and super quick 1st day of school picture.
Option 2: Details + Frame
​I love this one. I think this is a brilliant idea!
  1. Download and Print your free first day of school printables. All downloads, even the free ones, are now available in our SHOP page under PRINTABLES! 
  2. Next write in your child's details with a white sharpie poster paint marker if writing on the faux chalk board background or just a regular black sharpie marker if using the black and white option. (click the links to find on Amazon - it's Prime) 
  3. Tape the two 8.5x11 downloaded files together on the backside.
  4. ​These will fit perfectly into a 11x17 inch frame!
  5. ​Take an adorable picture with your kiddo and the sign on their first day of school!

Here is a look at all the different files. To download go to our SHOP->Printables->Free Printables then add the desired items to cart, and proceed through check-out.
Special Note: Last Day of School Signs 2025-2026 are here! You can find them in our shop page!

First Day of School Signs 2026-2027 will be available in the fall!
FREE First & Last Day of School Sign Printables
Free downloads have moved!
For your convenience: Free downloads have been moved and are now available in the SHOP under FREE PRINTABLES!
WHERE TO GET THE THINGS YOU"LL NEED!
Frame Options
​(affiliate links will take you to the items on Amazon)
Picture
Picture
Picture
Pen Options
​(affiliate links will take you to the items on Amazon)
Picture
Picture
This white water-based paint pen from this set shows up great on the dark printed paper!​ ​
Sign Options
​(available for every grade in my SHOP page under FREE Printables)
PRINTING TIP*: No matter which version you choose you will want to print them on plain white paper. Last year I was asked a few times if you print the chalk board signs on black paper - the answer is NO you print it on white paper and your printer will print the faux chalk board onto the page.
NEATLINGS Chore Chart System
If you liked this idea then you will LOVE our chore chart, it is by far the best chore system, check out what customers say about it. NEATLINGS has completely rethought the typical chore chart and created a system that truly motivates kids to happily do chores. 

Do you wish your kids were excited to do chores? Of course you do because who doesn't! Then you need to check this out - it is an amazing chore chart system that will have your kids eager to do chores.
NEATLINGS Chore Chart System:
  • expandable to work for ANY size family
  • flexible responsibility and reward system
  • configurable in a multitude of ways
  • can be set up differently for each child
  • works for toddlers to teens
$136.95

Sold out

NEATLINGS 6 Child Chore Chart System
Shop
$74.95

Sold out

NEATLINGS 1-3 Kids Chart ● Dark Blue/Red/Yellow
Shop
$42.95

Sold out

NEATLINGS 1 Child Chore Chart System ● Purple
Shop
Do you want more freebies, special offers, and to be kept up to date on everything NEATLINGS?
Look for this image on our
​home page and sign up!
]]><![CDATA[Valentine Word Puzzles for Kids - FREE]]>Tue, 29 Jan 2019 22:09:35 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/valentine-word-puzzles-for-kids-free
Happy Valentines Day
Wonderful sweet little puzzles for your little Valentine's.
  • Great for car rides, doctors waiting rooms, classrooms, even home crafted valentines!
  • Easier puzzles for younger ones and more challenging puzzles for older kiddos.
Find these FREE Printables and others in our SHOP. There is a whole free section where you can download fun activities for free! While there please check our other clever and fun products!

Valentine's Word Puzzles

Click each picture for a larger view.
Click HERE to go to Free Printables page to download!
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Beginner

Word Search
Word Search Beginner Worksheet
Word Search Beginner Worksheet
Word Search Beginner Answer Key
Word Search Beginner Answer Key
Crossword​
Crossword Beginner Worksheet
Crossword Beginner Worksheet
Crossword Beginner Answer Key
Crossword Beginner Answer Key

Intermediate Puzzles

Word Search
Word Search Intermediate Worksheet
Word Search Intermediate Worksheet
Word Search Intermediate Answer Key
Word Search Intermediate Answer Key
Crossword
Crossword Intermediate Worksheet
Crossword Intermediate Worksheet
Crossword Intermediate Answer Key
Crossword Intermediate Answer Key
Find more holiday activities, free downloads, and other great items available in NEATLINGS SHOP!
]]><![CDATA[Halloween Fun FREE Printables]]>Mon, 01 Oct 2018 20:09:05 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/halloween-fun-free-printables
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Halloween Printables! How I love printables. Mostly I really enjoy making them. 

Fantastic entertainment option for a car ride, while waiting at the doctors office, or just for fun.

Two new printables for this Halloween. 
  • Color by number 100's mystery picture for little ones.
  • More challenging word search for older ones.
Where to download? I have moved all my free printables to one easy location... My SHOP!
Now you can go Shopping for FREE in my new Free Printables Section! 
  1. Just click on SHOP
  2. then click on Printables
  3. then Free Printables!

Once in the Free Printables section you will find the new Halloween printables plus many many more.

While in NEATLINGS shop please check out my GOLD award winning chore chart systems! It is just what you've been looking for to motivate your kiddos to do chores - without complaint! They are availble for 1 child, for up to 3 children, and even for families with up with to 6 kiddos!

Have fun shopping!

Please read:
Having free printables available in my shop does require that the “sale” be processed via my secure checkout which has a single process for ALL shop items, even free printable downloads, but it does skip over the billing step as these are free for you. Please know that I DO NOT retain any of the information that is requested via the checkout process except when the box is checked that reads ‘Send me marketing information’ and then I only retain your name and email. In which case you will then be added to NEATLINGS Newsletter email list which contains periodic updates, promotions, and anything NEATLINGS!

NEATLINGS Chore Chart Systems for 1 Child

Shop

NEATLINGS Chore Chart Systems for up to 3 Children

Shop

NEATLINGS Chore Chart System for up to 6 Children

Shop
]]><![CDATA[First and Last Day of School Signs FREE Printables]]>Fri, 27 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/first-day-of-school-signs-2017-2018-free-printableFree Printables First & Last Day of School Signs 2019-2020.
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Free Printable First Day of School Signs. Now two designs to choose from!
Free Printable Last Day of School Signs. Now two designs to choose from!
Free Printable Last Day of School Signs. Now two designs to choose from!

Click Here for the 2019-2020 Versions

Free, Fast and Functional! It doesn't get any better.
I've always been envious of those super cute back to school signs that I see other parents post with a colorful chalkboard sign documenting how much their child has grown and I've wondered how in the world do they have time to get it done when I feel lucky to just snap a quick picture before my kiddos get on the school bus.
I now have two versions for you! One is a super cute faux chalk board sign with colorful lettering and the other is great for those that only have a black and white printer and it uses less ink. So now I am excited to offer two different versions for you to choose from. Yes, of course they are both FREE!
​
This is a super simple way to create super cute first day of school signs and just like my totally awesome chore chart system it's modular! This means you can keep it super simple with just a quick print and click or dress it up a bit with details and a frame.

I've even added a black and white option for those of you that may not have color printers and it's just as adorable!
​
I'll show you exactly what you need and where to get it.
Free First Day of School Signs
Option 1: Quick,  Easy, and FREE
Three simple steps
Choose, Print, & Click
  1. Download your free first day of school signs.
  2. Print.
  3. Have your kiddo hold the sign and click the picture. That's it!
Picture
Keep your printed signs in an easy to grab area and you're all ready to snap a super cute and super quick 1st day of school picture.
Option 2: Details + Frame
I love this one. I think this is a brilliant idea!
  1. Download and Print your free first day of school printables. All downloads, even the free ones, are now available in our SHOP page under PRINTABLES! 
  2. Next write in your child's details with a white sharpie poster paint marker if writing on the faux chalk board background or just a regular black sharpie marker if using the black and white option. (click the links to find on Amazon - it's Prime) 
  3. Tape the two 8.5x11 downloaded files together on the backside.
  4. ​These will fit perfectly into a 11x17 inch frame!
  5. ​Take an adorable picture with your kiddo and the sign on their first day of school!
Here is a look at all the different files. To download go to our SHOP->Printables->Free Printables then add the desired items to cart, and proceed through check-out.

FREE First & Last Day of School Sign Printables

Free downloads have moved!
For your convenience: Free downloads have been moved and are now available in the SHOP under FREE PRINTABLES!
WHERE TO GET THE THINGS YOU"LL NEED!
Frame Options
​(affiliate links will take you to the items on Amazon)
Pen Options
​(affiliate links will take you to the items on Amazon)
This white paint pen shows up great on the dark printed paper!​ 
Sign Options
​(available for every grade in my SHOP page under FREE Printables)
PRINTING TIP*: No matter which version you choose you will want to print them on plain white paper. Last year I was asked a few times if you print the chalk board signs on black paper - the answer is NO you print it on white paper and your printer will print the faux chalk board onto the page.

Last Day of School Signs 2018-2019 - Free Printables!

They are HERE! Available in both color and black and white versions!
Enjoy!

NEATLINGS Chore Chart System

If you liked this idea then you will LOVE our chore chart, it is by far the best chore system, check out what customers say about it. NEATLINGS has completely rethought the typical chore chart and created a system that truly motivates kids to happily do chores. 

Do you wish your kids were excited to do chores? Of course you do because who doesn't! Then you need to check this out - it is an amazing chore chart system that will have your kids eager to do chores.
NEATLINGS Chore Chart System:
  • expandable to work for ANY size family
  • flexible responsibility and reward system
  • configurable in a multitude of ways
  • can be set up differently for each child
  • works for toddlers to teens
$136.95

Sold out

NEATLINGS 6 Child Chore Chart System
Shop
$74.95

Sold out

NEATLINGS 1-3 Kids Chart ● Purple/Orange/Pink
Shop
$42.95

Sold out

NEATLINGS 1 Child Chore Chart System ● Dark Blue
Shop

Do you want more freebies, special offers, and to be kept up to date on everything NEATLINGS?

Look for this image on our home page and sign up!
Picture
]]><![CDATA[How to Keep Kids Learning During Summer Break]]>Thu, 26 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/how-to-keep-kids-learning-during-summer-break
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Summer learning takes a different approach

​Summer is a fun time for you and your kids to relax and enjoy the break from school, but that doesn’t mean you should stop learning. There are plenty of exciting ways to learn while still enjoying the warm weather and Pure Flix is here today to share their ideas for how to keep your kids learning all summer long! Come fall, their brains will be stimulated and ready for a new year full of learning and new activities. 

Give them chores

​A great way to teach your kids how to take care of themselves and their surroundings is by giving them a set of household chores. Having the responsibility of washing the dishes, cleaning their bedroom, or taking out the trash is a small yet effective way to teach them to grow up with a contributing spirit. To keep the chore process easy for you and your family, utilize a chore chart for kids as well as chore cards for kids. Your kids will get accustomed to helping out around the house and eventually it will become less of a chore and they’ll be asking you what they can do to help out and make things easier for you and your household. 

Go on a nature hike

You can get some exercise while also keeping your kids’ minds active by going on a nature walk this summer. Help your child learn more about their surroundings by going to a local park and hiking around while viewing the leaves, trees and wildlife around you. Your child can embrace the natural science right outside of your home, and experience the behaviors of animals like birds and squirrels. Later when you get home, have your kids write down their observations so they can look back on what they learned that day. 

Watch educational content

​An important component of keeping your kids wanting to learn until school starts up again is to keep things fun. On a rainy summer day, stream homeschool movies and tv shows on Pure Flix to engage their visual learning skills! You can pick videos from different subjects and your kids will learn something new without even realizing it. You can use the educational movies all year round too to keep things interesting during school breaks or on weekends.

Play with sidewalk chalk

​Another great way to help teach your children throughout the summer without them knowing that they’re learning is with creative sidewalk chalk activities. Clear the driveway of your cars so the kids have plenty of space to spread out and play! You can use the chalk to practice spelling with your kids, solve math problems or even teach colors and shapes to your younger children. 

Visit a museum

Who said that field trips are only for the school year? Visit a science museum that has hands-on activities for the kids. Watch live experiments, check out a planetarium, or explore the dinosaur exhibit to wow your kids and keep them engaged. Check your local museum’s event calendar to see what days offer special experiences or family deals! 
]]><![CDATA[Vacation Packing List for kids - Free Printable]]>Fri, 06 Jul 2018 12:45:25 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/vacation-packing-list-for-kids-free-printable
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Tips for Trips with Kids

Travel just makes my heart sing, but preparing for a trip with kids can be overwhelming. 

One of my absolute favorite things is taking trips. We don't get to do a lot of big trips. We live in a super small town and the cities, where I grew up, is about 3 hours away. We do take a lot of little trips for this and that when we typically spend a night or two.
​
Four huge travel tips for trips with kids!  Great tips that will make vacations with kids more enjoyable. I'm telling ya these tips are sanity savers that will have your next trip better from beginning​ to end.

Tip #1: Use a Packing List for Kids

I am going to give you mine - free.

This list is an excellent base and it can be adjusted for anyone.

It works best for children that are at reading age. Maybe about 5-7 years old and up. If you have a child that is younger than that it makes for a great starter list. Just add in the other items that you will need. Some things that come to mind are diapers, bottles, etc.. It can be fun packing with your little ones - they will love being able to check items off the list!

Here is how you use it. 
  1. Print one copy for each kid and write their name at the top.
  2. Fill in the quantities of how many of each item to bring where it makes sense.
  3. Add in additional items by using the extra blank spaces. 
  4. Cross off any unneeded items.
  5. Have your child check off items as they pack. Give the list and a pencil to your child and have them select the needed items. Once they have packed each item they get to check it off the list! 
Keep in mind when they first start using a list to pack they will need a little help yet, but after they get the hang of it it will be glorious!

Also, there are always those few items that you can't pack until right before you go. What we do is we pack everything we can and then leave the list on top of our luggage, then shortly before we go we can easily see what is left on the list, pack them, and we are on our way.
​Every time we travel I print off this packing list for my kids. One for each of them. I make adjustments and then hand them the list with a pen and send them off to pack. The rule is that they can only check items off once they are in the suitcase and once they are in the suitcase they don't come back out. This way they know for sure that they have everything.
Kids Packing List
FREE Printable Packing List can be found in my SHOP under Printables! Enjoy!
We've been using the same packing list for years. I make slight alterations to it with each trip. Depending on weather and where we will be going I will alter what needs to be packed but overall its pretty good. I cutsied it up a bit and have it listed under my free printables shop page for you to download and print for FREE!

Tip #2: Luggage for kids

One of the best purchases I ever made was getting my kids each their own fun decorative suitcase. I got them all a good brightly colored carry-ons with multi-directional wheels. This has been the perfect size for most trips. I have some great recommendations below... we actually own three of those. Also, there is a rare pic of my family with their carry-ons at the bottom of this post. :) 
​
About 5 years ago I decided to buy my kids luggage for Christmas and this turned out to be one of the most used, functional, and all around best gifts I ever gave them. We frequently take trips, if I can find a reason for it - we do it! 
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Luggage for Kids
​Benefits of them having their own luggage:
  • It is easier for them and for me when they pack their own belongings.
  • It takes at least half the time to pack as it used to when I did it all.
  • They have a set amount of space in their luggage and can see when they are running out. This helps them understand when their life sized stuffed bear needs to sit this trip out.
  • They take care of their own suitcase which gives them responsibility and ownership.
What kind of luggage to get?
  • Wheels! I highly recommend getting something with multi-directional wheels. You want something that will be easy for the kids to maneuver.
  • Lightweight. Our luggage is made from polycarbonate which is a lightweight material and easy for the kids to manage.
  • Hard-sided luggage. With kids you want something that is sturdy and durable again polycarbonate provides this.
  • Telescoping Handle. You will want one that slides in and out easily. *TIP: You'll need to be a little careful with these and teach kids that they are not a toy. Kids find them fun to play with but I find the mechanics of them to be somewhat delicate in general and even the sturdiest ones seem to be no match for a tough and tumble kid. If you can cut down on the wear and tear that a kit will surely put on one  the longer it will last.
  • Colorful and easy to spot. Stay away from the standard black luggage. Everyone has black luggage so it is kinda boring, but aside from that it is harder to keep track of. Get your kids something unique and you never have to wonder if they grabbed the wrong luggage. 
  • Airline carry-on baggage policy size. Click here for an easy carry on guide by airline. I offer no guarantee that your airline is listed, but its a good list offered by Amazon. If you think that you will ever travel by plane then you will want luggage that doesn't exceed your airlines carry on size. You will want to confirm with your most used airline providers to get current carry on size limits, but my experience has been that you are pretty safe with luggage that is 22"x14"x9" inches.
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Be sure you know the carry on baggage policy before you buy.
Here are some fun luggage options that fit this description.
Rockland 20 Inch Polycarbonate Carry On, Love
Rockland 20 Inch Polycarbonate Carry On, Pucci
​Rockland 20 Inch Polycarbonate Carry On, Pink Pearl
Rockland 20" Polycarbonate Carry on, Camo
Marvel Captain America Boy's 3D Pop Up 20" Hardside Spinner Carry On Expandable Luggage
Samsonite Luggage NYC Cityscapes Spinner 20, Blue Print, One Size
Please know that the luggage links above are Amazon affiliate links, meaning that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase via one of those links.

BTW... we own 3 of the carry on luggages above and have for about 5 years now. They have all stood up very well to my kids abuse... we are still using them and everything about them still works and we have used them many many many many times! 
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Here is a rare pic of my family. You can see that my kids really do have that luggage and we use it. This time we flew but most trips we drive. We even use these when we go camping once a year and we tent it so you know they are tough. :)

Tip #3 : Home to a Clean House and

Tip #4: Spending Money for Kids

Tip number 3 and 4 are so intertwined that I need to talk about them together.
After  time away on a wonderful trip no one wants to come home to a messy house. I know, I know... as if you didn't have enough to do already just preparing for the trip. But this creates a wonderful opportunity that ties into the second situation we have which is...
When on a trip kids will inevitably want to get a souvenir sometimes they ask for many souvenirs which can add up and become very expensive very quickly that is if we were to say 'yes' to all the requests. So we find ourselves saying 'no', a lot, which gets tiring and sometimes we then feel like the bad guy, saying 'no' to everything instead the fun parent that took them on a trip.
I have a wonderful solution that addresses both of these issues.
About a year ago I implemented a new rule at our house which has worked fabulously! The rule is that I will pay for the hotel (or Airbnb), the meals, and the experiences we do together and the kids need to pay for their own souvenirs and extras.

How do they get money...? Well, they could have saved from the weeks before or money from gifts and such or kids can do chores, cleaning the house and earn some spending money before we go!
That is what we do.
  • We use our awesome chore chart and assign chores to each kiddo
  • The kids do chores and earn money, which also gets our home cleaned before the trip!
  • Then they make thoughtful and selective decisions about which souvenirs are worth their hard earned money.
  • Bonus - I get to continue being the amazing parent that took them on a trip and didn't have to constantly say 'NO'.
Here is a picture of the fabulous chore chart we use. This is one that I created for my family, it works so amazingly that I started a business from it! There is loads of stuff about chores, chores for kids, chore charts for kids and many other things on this site. The chore charts can be made to work for any size family. Just click around if you want to learn more. It seriously has been life changing. (I know that sounds a little over the top, but its true!)
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Those are my top tips for travel with kids.
Wishing you a wonderful trip!
]]><![CDATA[3 EASY STEPS...and your kids will love chores]]>Mon, 14 May 2018 15:36:25 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/3-easy-stepsand-your-kids-will-love-chores
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EVERYTHING ABOUT CHORE CHARTS:
​CHORES, CUSTOMIZABLE CHORE CHARTS, CHORE CHART IDEAS, CHORE CARDS, CHORES BY AGE, HELPING KIDS BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT CHORES, AND FREE PRINTABLES!
​When my house is a mess I get stressed. 

Don't you hate when the house has clutter and dirt everywhere and you seem to be the only one that notices? I somehow feel solely responsible for keeping it presentable and clean. ​
Just the mere suggestion of cleaning used to make my kids panic. Getting them to do chores was frustrating and stressful so much so that it seemed easier to do everything myself. I was doing even the simplest of chores for them like putting their laundry in the hamper, picking up their dishes, and putting their coats and shoes away. ​
​​Like all parents, I want the best for them. I want to raise them to be happy successful adults. This meant that I needed to teach them to better care for themselves and their surroundings.I knew things needed to change.

​​I have 3 kids with different ages and different things that motivate them. I needed a chore chart that was going to work for all my kids.

I didn't want another thing to maintain so it needed to be a system that they could be excited about and simple enough for them to manage.

​I searched far and wide for a chore system that would fit our needs but I couldn't find anything that was going to work. So one day out of frustration, I decided to create my own and NEATLINGS was born!!! I created a customizable chore chart system that met all our needs and my kids were excited - they couldn't get enough chores! They would run off the school bus and start doing chores as soon as they got home - I didn't have to do anything! Eek! It was so exciting!!!
Watch video to get a short overview of how it works or click here for more NEATLINGS videos
Chore chart for 3 kids
Chore chart for 3 kids
​I searched far and wide for a chore system that would fit our needs but I couldn't find anything that was going to work. So one day out of frustration, I decided to create my own and NEATLINGS was born!!! I created a customizble chore chart system that met all our needs and my kids were excited - they couldn't get enough chores! They would run off the school bus and start doing chores as soon as they got home - I didn't have to do anything! Eek! It was so exciting!!!

​My kids' friends would even say that they wanted one too. This is when I knew I had something worth sharing. I made a few prototypes and asked one mom if she wanted to try it. She happened to write a quick thank you on Facebook and within minutes, I had a waiting list!Watch video to get a short overview of how it works or click here for more NEATLINGS videos

Chore chart for 3 kids

I created a system that clearly defines a child's responsibilities, which chores are expected, how they can earn rewards, it can be set up differently for each child with age appropriate chores, it's easy to set up and kids are actually excited to do their chores!

​This product is truly a labor of love for me.
My chore system has even won prestigious awards Gold Mom's Choice Awards and Parent's Choice Approved.
Here's how to create a chore chart that WORKS!

Step 1. SELECT AGE APPROPRIATE CHORES

​Chores fall into one of two categories; there are self-care chores and household chores. 

Self-care chores are chores that each child needs to complete on their own to be considered done. These includes tasks such as brush teeth, homework, exercise, shower/bath, and practice instrument.

Household chores are chores that typically only need to be done once to be considered done. These include tasks such as take out the trash, feed the pets, water the plants, and wash vehicle.
​
​Start by reviewing our Chores By Age free printable. Look over the chores and determine which self-care chores your child is still working on and which household tasks they are ready to take on. There are chores in both categories that are appropriate for every age 2 years and up. 
NEATLINGS Chores by Age
You can use this free printable as a guide to help parents and give ideas on what and when you children may be ready for different tasks. It is not expected that a child do all the chores Adjust the chore as needed.
Take some notes (mental notes work just fine), determine which ones your child is already good at and cross those off. You will not need them as these are already a normal expected part of their life. Take special note of what they are working on now and what you need them to be doing more of or even ones that they need reminders for. If you see any that are not on the list then jot these down too. These will be your first chores.
Toddlers and younger children will have more self-care chores than household chores as they are still learning these jobs.

As grade school children get older this balance will slowly shift. They will become proficient at basic self-care which will then become a regular task and they will begin to take on more household tasks.Click "Chores by Age" image for larger online display.
Click here to download as PDF. Download will open in new window.

You can use this free printable as a guide to help parents and give ideas on what and when you children may be ready for different tasks. It is not expected that a child do all the chores Adjust the chore as needed.

Older kids and teens will have more household chores assigned as they should be pretty good at the self-care tasks by now.
​
*Remember, chores are a teaching opportunity. Don't expect that your child will know how do any task until you have taught them, maybe several times. All children are different and learn in different ways and at different paces. Be patient and encouraging.

Chore List for Kids

Vertical Divider

ages 2-3

self-care chores
​​•Brush Teeth
•Get Dressed
•Pajamas
•Pick Up 21 Things
•Pick Up Toys
•Put Dirty Clothes in Laundry Basket
•Put Stuff Away When Coming In
•Take Nap
household chores
•Clean Bathroom Sink(s) & Counter(s)
•Dust Room(s)
•Feed Pet(s)
•Pick Up Outside Toys
•Pick Up Sticks
•Wipe Down Cabinet Fronts & Appliances
•Wipe Down Knobs, Switches & Railings
Vertical Divider

ages 4-5

(previous chores plus)
self-care chores
​•Bath Shower
•Clear Your Dishes
•Exercise
•Extra Reading
•Learn Home Address
•Learn Phone Number
•Make Bed
•Practice Instrument
​household chores
•Clean Shoe & Coat Area
•Fill Hand Soap & Replace Towels
•Get Mail
•Match Socks
•Plant Care
•Unload Dishwasher
•Unload Groceries/Shopping
•Vacuum Couch and Chair Cushions
•Wash Windows
Vertical Divider

ages 6-7

(previous chores plus)
self-care chores
•Brush Hair
•Clean Bedroom
•Extra Math
•Homework
•Put Away Clean Clothes
​household chores
​•Clean Bathroom Mirror(s)
•Clean Dining Room
•Clean Family Room
•Clean Glass Surfaces
•Clean Living Room
•Clean Play Room
•Clean Shower/Bathtub
•Clean Up After Pet(s)
•Clear And Wipe Down Table
•Load Dishwasher
•Set Table
•Sweep Floor(s)
Vertical Divider

ages 8-10

(previous chores plus)
self-care chores
​•Organize Drawers
•Organize Your Closet
•Pack School Bag
•Take Vitamins​
​household chores
​•Clean Bathroom(s)
•Clean Microwave
•Clean Toilet(s)
•Exercise Pet(s)
•Fold Laundry
•Make Meal(s)
•Take Out Recycling
•Take Out Trash
•Vacuum Room(s)
•Wash And Dry Load(s) Of Clothes
•Wash Dishes
•Wash Floor(s)
•Wash Vehicle
•Weed Garden​
Vertical Divider

ages 11 - TEEN

(previous chores plus)
 ​self-care chores 
​•Purge Clothes That No Longer Fit
household chores
•Clean Garage
•Clean Kitchen
•Outside Work
•Shovel Snow or Rake Leaves
​Once you have a good idea of what tasks are a good fit for each child then it's time to move onto step 2!

Step 2. DECIDE HOW YOU WILL TRACK CHORES

​Next you need a chore system. You will want one that will work for your family size and for the types of tasks that you identified for your children in step 1.
​Did you know... that only 20% of kids do chores today but the #1 indicator of whether children will grow up to be professionally successful adults is whether they did chores as a child. This makes it so important to have a good chore chart.
A good chore system will:
  • be easy to manage
  • be easy to understand
  • work for everyone
  • communicate clear and specific expectations
  • have images for younger ones
  • have enough room to list the desired chores
  • track what chores have been completed
  • track what chores still need to be done
  • motivate kids to do chores
​I recommend NEATLINGS chore system. It is the most flexible and thorough system available. The system comes in different size sets to accommodate different size families. It is available in 3 standard kits: one child system, three child system, and six child system. All the systems can connect together so you can make it as large or as small needed and create a chore chart that will be perfect for your family. Read what others have to say about our job chart.
​
Small job chart set up
Small job chart set up
Customer Image of NEATLINGS Chore Chart
This image is from a customer that needed a private listing with a couple extra pocket chart panels and chore decks
Chore chart for 6 kids
We now offer chore chart kits that will work for families with up to six kids. Works great for small daycares too!
Sure, there are other chore chart ideas out there but these tend to all be list style charts, such as star charts. These typically don't work well. If you want you can read more about it here: Why Star Charts Don't Work.

​You will want to place your chore chart in a high traffic visible location. This way every time anyone walks by the chore chart they will see what has been done, what is left to do and easily see the progress throughout the day.

Great locations that work include the kitchen, mud-room, and hallways. If you can’t find a suitable wall space then you can easily hang it on a door.
​
Setting up your chore chart. This will take a little thought as every family is different and NEATLINGS chore system can be set up in numerous ways. You can find several useful tips and inspiration at Chart Configuration Ideas.
​In our family we have set up the chart several different ways. This is helpful as routines can get stale and schedules can change. When you need a change just freshen up your system and start anew - it will work great every time!
*TIP: To help encourage my kids to complete all their chores without complaint. I pay them double tickets if they complete all of their assigned tasks and do it without complaint. This helps ensure that they will find that last bit of energy to get the jobs done without too many reminders from me.
​​Conveniently, every chore listed on the Chores By Age guide above are also on NEATLINGS Chore Cards. Each deck of chore cards include additional blank chore cards so you can also create our own!
​
The charts are available for purchase at our shop page or at our Amazon store.
Favorite way to set up chore system
My current favorite way to set up our chore chart. Click for larger image. Click image to enlarge!
I was amazed when I first implemented this system. The kids were able to practically manage it all without my intervention. Aside from teaching them new chores the only thing I needed to do was the initial set up of our daily chore chart and settle up with them each night and with 3 kids it only takes about 5 minutes total and because of all the enthusiastic help I had, I gained an hour back in my day every day.

If you are here then you are probably a parent, so you are already crazy busy. I get it, you don't need another thing to manage. You need a system that your kids will be excited about and manage without you needing to oversee them every step. Step 3 is all about incentivesthat will get everyone excited to do chores without the need for you to micro manage.

Step 3. DECIDE ON CHORE INCENTIVES

​This is the fun part! 

But first lets chat...There is a big divide on whether kids should be paid for chores. There are experts on both side of the fence on this one but there is a third option. I recommend giving kids jobs that are simply their responsibilities AND allowing them to do more to earn rewards. 

​Incentives will fall into 3 categories: screen time, money, items from a family store.

Money and screen time are pretty straight forward incentives but what is a family store? ​
​​A family store can contain anything that your kids will be excited about. It can be as simple as a list of items that your kids would look forward to such as choosing the family dinner or game, a special outing or play time with a friend. Or it can be a box full of items that are fun for your kids. Try to have rewards available at different price points so even if a child is low on reward tickets they will still be excited to see what they earned and feel good about what they accomplished. At our family store I have them pay real world value for items. So if an item in the family store cost $10 to purchase at the brick and mortar store then it will cost the equivalent in reward tickets.
Choose incentives that will be exciting for your kids
Choose incentives that will be exciting for your kids
Chore cards are designed to help parents be specific and consistent every time.
Chore cards are designed to help parents be specific and consistent every time.
​​*TIP: Only pay for the Work For Tickets chore cards when the Responsibility chores cards are completed. A child must do all their responsibility chores to earn the privilege of earning reward tickets.
​Consider what motivates your kids? Typically younger ones are more motivated by toys and tangible items that may be from a family store with a bit of screen time. Grade schoolers tend to be motivated by all three with a lean towards more screen time while older kids and teens are generally more motivated by money.

​Our chore cards have writable spaces which allows parents to be specific and consistent. There are also check boxes to select if a chore is a responsibility or a chore that a child can earn reward tickets for and how many can be earned. This is a key feature as not all chores should be rewarded, some are just a child's responsibility.
Need ideas for your family store?
Need ideas for your family store?
99 Ideas for your Family Reward Store
​Determine a value for each reward ticket. At our house we pay $0.25 a ticket, or 15 minutes of screen time, or tickets can be used to purchase items from a family store. 

Here is a quick summery of how it works:
Step 1
Parents select chores & check if chore is a responsibility or one that can earn reward ticket(s) and how many.
Parents select chores & check if chore is a responsibility or one that can earn reward ticket(s) and how many.
Step 2
Kids do chores and earn reward tickets.
Kids do chores and earn reward tickets.
Step 3
Kids redeem their earned reward tickets for rewards!
Kids redeem their earned reward tickets for rewards!
​​Now you have everything you need to know to create a chore chart that WORKS!
]]><![CDATA[Summer Math Routine]]>Tue, 08 May 2018 18:31:07 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/summer-math-routine
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Summer Learning Loss Opportunity

Over the summer kids lose an average of ​one full month of reading skill with an even greater loss of 2.6 months in math, this is often referred to as summer learning loss. Not only do they loose previously learned material but it also takes 4-6 weeks for teachers to reteach students after summer vacation.
It's not all bad news, if your optimist, because this situation also presents us with a great opening to help our kids catch up in areas they struggle or even get a bit ahead. Summer learning loss offers us as parents such an ​amazing opportunity to help our kids stay strong in what they have learned and even catch up in areas that they need help in. 
There is a lot of focus on having kids read over the summer which is hugely important but it seems that not as much focus is given to math which I find odd as that is where the greater loss happens. I suspect that it is because reading is more ingrained into our daily routines, bedtime stories, reading road signs, labels, and directions but math is more easily overlooked.

​I wanted to share what we do at our house for math over the summer. 
Every day my girls have daily math to do. Their daily math is part of their daily chore routine. There are a three different elements that we use and then we mix them up. None of it ever takes very long but it helps reinforce what they learned and keep their skills sharp over summer. We use 3 main tools to do this.

Math Practice Tools

Our three man math components are:
  1. Math Worksheets
  2. Math Flash Cards
  3. Math Moments
We use all of these in different ways. We mix things up to keep the routine from getting stale.
Worksheets: I get  math work sheets from a few different locations but one of my favorites is K5learning.

I like to print one sheet with the problems and antother sheet with the answer key. This gives us flexibility to have them self-correct their worksheets, have a sibling correct, or have me correct (I like to think that their math isn't beyond my capabilities yet but the answer sheet does make for faster corrections). Having the 3 different options on how to correct the worksheets helps keep things mixed up. It also allows younger siblings to correct their older siblings math which can be very fun for them.

Sometimes we just turn it into a role playing game where one kid is the teacher and the other the students. Since even the youngest can correct math problems when given the answer key, they can take turns being teacher, and this keep it fun for all.
K5Learning has great math worksheets
Why I love them:
  • their worksheets are FREE to download and include answer sheets
  • well organized; easy to quickly find what you want
  • their worksheets cover grades kindergarten thru 6th grade
Flash Cards: I couldn't find ones I liked so I made my own.
I needed some math flashcards for my kiddos. I looked for free downloadable printable flashcards but didn't like what I found. Often they didn't have the backside with the answer or if they did you could only print on one side of the page and then you needed to fold the card in half and I assume then tape it together. These are not good for stacking or keeping organized. So, I bought some decks off Amazon but really they weren't what I was looking for either. They had one problem on the back and another on the front so I couldn't set aside cards that my daughters needed more work on. Also I have children so ideally it would be good to have 3 sets. Then there were only 54 cards and didn't have all the facts. So I started a search for the flash cards I really wanted and guess what  - yep, I couldn't find them. So, you know me, I made my own printable ones.
They turned out great. These are the best flash cards I have ever used.

Why I love these:
  • Perfect size for little hands
  • Keep one in your purse, one at daycare, one at grandmas, etc
  • Only one problem per card, makes them easy to organize and group.
  • Pull out the ones that your child needs more practice on
  • Answer is on backside printed in a lighter color to discourage seeing the answer through the card.
  • Easy to print multiple sets: Keep one in your purse, one at daycare, one at grandmas, etc
  • Amazing Low Price!
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Math Moments: These consists of daily teaching moments; intentionally capturing math moments that come up naturally in conversation. 
We drive a lot. I'm not afraid of driving places. There isn't a distance that intimidates me. I've been taking my kiddos on road trips since they were infants. I just love travel, even if most of the travel is confined to where I can get in my car.
One of the great things about road trips is that I have my kids as my captive audience. I get to tell them all about just everything I know... and quiz them on math. If they ask how much longer... I hear a math problem opportunity. If they ask if we can stop for a snack I hear an opportunity to talk about budget. If we see a billboard sign for 0% interest rate well then we get to talk about what that means. We see a home for sale and we talk about financing and why it is important to have good credit.
You get the idea... these are everyday math moments that come up where I get to share my knowledge. I believe that talking about math and finances is a critical component to our childrens education that often gets overlooked.

BTW... I have an awesome download on 10 Money Facts Your Kids Need to Know. This one is really worth downloading. It contains 10 concepts that every child (adults too) should be taught about money. ​

Daily Math Routine

Once you have the tools in place - the routine is easy.
Every day each child does either a math worksheet or math flash cards. It varies if they do addition, multiplication, subtraction, or division. What they do each day and how they do it depends a lot on the overall day and what we are doing. If we have more time they may do more, if we are traveling they may quiz each other with flash cards in the car, if we need a quick hit it may be a worksheet or a quick review of easier facts. All in all we shoot for about 15 minutes of math each day. Sometimes it's 30 and sometimes its 5. We don't get hung up on the exact minutes but try to have fun and do a little each day. 
At our home doing Extra Math is listed on our daily job chart. I call it Extra Math to separate it out from assigned school year math. Each kid has their daily chores listed on the chore board. They know exactly what needs to be done and when they need to do it by. Then they have the freedom to get it done whenever they want within a certain time limit. For us that is normally anytime throughout the day. I will often give them some guidance, such as "we are planning a family movie tonight, so be sure to get your math done before then", or "remember you have Suzie's party today so you might be to tired to do math afterwards, maybe you'll want to get it done after lunch and before you go." Ultimately it is up to them to figure out but I try to gently nudge. Then if they don't get it done they don't earn their reward tickets for that day. In my home my kids want to earn their reward tickets and so they are motivated to get their chores done. 

But you could also do it with everyone at a set time each day. Maybe after breakfast but before play they get it done, or before any screen time or friends over they need to get it done. You'll figure out what works best for you. If you need want to use a job chart then check out my job chart and use a method similar to mine. In my home Extra Math isn't optional, it is a responsibility but I do reward them for it to give them a little extra motivation. :)
One of my personal motto's is
​'all the little bits add up'.
little bit + little bit + little bit = A LOT
]]><![CDATA[Create a good habit - teaching kids about cleaning]]>Tue, 08 May 2018 14:29:32 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/create-a-good-habit-teaching-kids-about-cleaningGuest Post by: Zowie Ashton from Flat Cleaning London
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Good habits start early ​

Teaching responsibility takes time, patience, devotion and consistency. Whether your goal is to teach kids to help with household chores or how to take proper care of their own rooms the process is similar. Kids should be taught that cleaning is not an obligation but just a necessary habit- a habit which will improve not only the overall look of their own rooms but will also help them build a character. Actually, cleaning and tiding up after oneself is the brightest example of a responsibility that each and every kid ought to learn to experience from an early age. We believe that the earlier a kid is involved in the cleaning chores, the sooner he or she will create a good habit.

Set an example ​

Children are easily influenced by everything around them, but their parents have the strongest influence on them. In order to teach your kids how to clean, you need to serve as their example. If parents do not keep their homes neat and tidy, it might be challenging for kids to realize why it is important to clean on a regular basis. We understand that it is tough to keep a home immaculate, especially in the presence of children, but if everything stays where it is supposed to, and the mess is reduced to a minimum, it sets a good example for the little ones to follow. ​

Lay out clear expectations ​

Not only is a good example important. Parents should be specific when they give directions. Saying to your kids something like “clean your room” will not do the trick. The naked truth is that adults and children have different concepts of what a clean room looks like. You need to make sure that you are specific, and your kids understand your expectations. If your kids are younger, try to break the cleaning process down into smaller steps. For example instead of asking your child to "clean the bathroom" you could ask them to "clean the mirror", then once that task is complete then "wipe down the counter and sink", next have them "change out the hand towels and fill the hand soap" and so on and so forth. This way, even young ones, will learn in small steps how to clean a bathroom.

Encourage your children

Beyond everything else, when you teach your children to clean, adults have to encourage their achievements even though they may not always meet your expectations. Nobody was born taught, after all. You need to be prepared because things are not going to be done right, at least not in the very beginning. There might be books under the bed or shoes behind the desk. If possible, let kids pride themselves on their performance by telling them that they did great. Teaching kids about cleaning does not happen overnight. Be patient! With time, little efforts and consistency, the positive outcome will be evident. ​

Avoid controlling language

You do not want to turn into a dictator of the cleaning tasks, do you? Choose your words carefully, and try to go easy on your requests. You will see that if you pick up the right words, your kids will follow your lead without being obstinate. ​

Start cleaning together

If you do want to create a good habit for your kids, you should start doing the cleaning together. With time, children will get used to the process and will not need you to supervise them anymore. Another thing you should have in mind- do not put the bar too high. Do not hold out much hope for the outcome. You have to show your kids how you expect them to do something and they will adapt to your way.
Teaching children how to clean at an early age will help them build character. Yes, some kids may be slow learners but this is forgivable. Be patient and everything will work out!  
About the guest author: Zowie Ashton is a small business owner in London. Her company, Flat Cleaning London, is known for its convenient and reliable cleaning services. Zowie is very passionate about her work and is an expert in home improvement, cleaning, and organization.
]]><![CDATA[Lunch Box Jokes - Free Printables]]>Fri, 20 Apr 2018 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/lunch-box-jokes-free-printables200 Lunch Box Notes - Easy, Free, and Fun!
Clean, funny, kid appropriate jokes that are fun for all ages!
Lunch Box Note Jokes
These are so fun for the kids. All the kids at the lunch table enjoy guessing the answer to the daily joke.
My kids LOVE these! These daily lunch box cards have become such a big hit with my kids and all the kids at their lunch table. They all look forward to the daily joke.
200 jokes cards! I've been adding to these for a while and am happy to say that I have made my goal of 200 which is more than enough to take you through a full 180 day school year with a few extra so that you have a little room to discard ones that may not appeal to you yet still get you through a full year of school. I've done my best to keep these tasteful and easy to understand for all ages. Enjoy...
Brighten up their day...
  • remind your kids you are thinking about them through out the day
  • give your kids something to talk about around the lunch table
  • know you are putting a smile on their face even when you are not around
  • jokes are great conversation starter
  • sneak just a little more reading into their day
I created these because I wanted my kids to be reminded that I love them, miss them, and think about them during the day.
Not just for lunch boxes. You can put them in backpacks, school folders, band instrument cases, next to their breakfast plate or any other place you think your kids will enjoy them.
**scroll to bottom of post for FREE lunch box notes download**
Lunch Box Jokes - Free Printable
Brighten up your kids day... Remind your kids you are thinking about them through out the day. Give your kids something to talk about around the lunch table. Put a smile on their face.
Simple. Just...
  1. Download
  2. Print & Cut
  3. Put in lunch box
OR. Print on Avery.
These are the perfect fit for Avery 2" x 3.5" Business Cards. No cutting required when using Avery perforated business cards.
​
  • Download
  • Print on Avery Business Cards & Separate
  • Put in lunch box

Avery for Ink Jet. Click to find on Amazon.
Avery for Laser. Click to find on Amazon.

NEATLINGS Chore Chart System

If you liked this idea then you will LOVE our chore chart, it is by far the best chore system, check out what customers say about it. NEATLINGS has completely rethought the typical chore chart and created a system that truly motivates kids to happily do chores. 

Do you wish your kids were excited to do chores? Of course you do because who doesn't! Then you need to check this out - it is an amazing chore chart system that will have your kids eager to do chores.
NEATLINGS Chore Chart System:
  • expandable to work for ANY size family
  • flexible responsibility and reward system
  • configurable in a multitude of ways
  • can be set up differently for each child
  • works for toddlers to teens

Download your FREE school lunch box notes here.

​Free downloads have moved!
For your convenience: Free downloads have been moved and are now available in the SHOP under FREE PRINTABLES!
Do you want more freebies, special offers,
​and to be kept up to date on everything
NEATLINGS?
Look for this image on our home page and sign up!
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]]><![CDATA[Last day of school signs 2017-2018 FREE Printables]]>Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:00:00 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/last-day-of-school-signs-2017-2018-free-printablesFree Printables Last Day of School Signs 2017

Updated Free Printables
Last Day of School
​signs for 2018-2019
​now available for FREE in our SHOP!

2 Brothers holding their Last Day of School 2017-2018
Last Day of School 2017-2018 free printables
Free, Fast and Functional! It doesn't get any better.
I've always been envious of those super cute signs that other parents create to document their child's milestones. You know the ones... those darling colorful chalkboard signs showing how much their child has grown and I've wondered how in the world do they have time to get it done when I feel lucky to just snap a quick picture. 
Not anymore...I have created a super simple way to create super cute last day of school chalkboard signs to document the the end of the year and just like my totally awesome chore chart system it's modular! This means you can keep it super simple with just a quick print and click or dress it up a bit with details and a frame.
I'll show you exactly what you need and where to get it.

Option 1: Quick,  Easy, and FREE

Three simple steps
Download, Print, & Click
  1. Download the free last day of school signs below at bottom of this page. 
  2. Print.
  3. Have your kiddo hold the sign and click the picture. That's it!
Keep your printed signs in an easy to grab area and you're all ready to snap a super cute and super quick last day of school picture.
Free Printable - Last Day of School 2017-2018 2nd Grade
Free Printable - Last Day of School 2017-2018 2nd Grade
Girls Last Day of 3rd Grade
Last Day of 3rd Grade
I love this one. I think this is a brilliant idea!
This idea requires a 11x17 frame and white paint pen. If you have something at home already - perfect. If not, then follow the link to find on Amazon.com.
​
This is actually 2 - 8.5X11 sheets that are printed and then taped together (on the backside of course) to create a 11x17 page which then fits perfectly into a 11x17 inch frame! (click link to find frames on Amazon - it's Prime!)
Last Day of School Signs - Ideas
Last Day of School Signs - Ideas
Last Day of School Sign Framed with Favorites
Last Day of School Sign Framed with Favorites
I'm still patting myself on the back for this awesome idea. :)
  1. Download your free first day of school printables. At bottom of this page.
  2. Next write in your child's details with a white sharpie poster paint marker. (click the link to find it on Amazon - it's Prime) 
  3. Tape the two 8.5x11 downloaded files together on the backside.
  4. ​These will fit perfectly into a 11x17 inch frame!
  5. ​Take an adorable picture with your kiddo and the sign on their last day of school!
Vertical Divider

Here is what I used:

This pen shows up great on the dark printed paper!
This is a really cute white frame that I found with Amazon Prime.
Vertical Divider

Here are some other frame options:

Depending on your style you may prefer one these frames better but any 11x17 inch frame should work great!

Here is a peek at all the different files. Scroll down a little further for the FREE Downloads!

Free Printable Last Day of School Signs 2017-2018 for every grade
Free printables Last Day of School Signs 2017-2018 for every grade

NEATLINGS CHORE CHART SYSTEM

If you liked this idea then you will LOVE our chore chart, it is by far the best chore system, check out what customers say about it. NEATLINGS has completely rethought the typical chore chart and created a system that truly motivates kids to happily do chores. ​
Do you wish your kids were excited to do chores? Of course you do because who doesn't! Then you need to check this out - it is an amazing chore chart system that will have your kids eager to do chores.
NEATLINGS Chore Chart System:
  • expandable to work for ANY size family
  • flexible responsibility and reward system
  • configurable in a multitude of ways
  • can be set up differently for each child
  • works for toddlers to teens

​FREE Last Day of School Sign Printables

​Free downloads have moved!
For your convenience: Free downloads have been moved and are now available in the SHOP under FREE PRINTABLES!

​Do you want more freebies, special offers, and to be kept up to date on everything NEATLINGS?

Look for this image on our home page and sign up!
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]]><![CDATA[Easter Puzzles - Free Printables]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 19:41:57 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/easter-puzzles-free-printablesHere are Easter Word Search &
Hundreds Chart Mystery Picture! 
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​These are great to keep kids entertained in the car, a festive filler school activity for when kids get their schoolwork done, and just all around fun to do.
There are two options with the Mystery Picture. With the smile and whiskers already drawn in and the other without. Choose which one you like best or download them both.
​Here are some quick, easy, fun, and free Easter Puzzles for you!
Happy Easter! Enjoy! ​
Free Printable - Easter 100's Chart Mystery Picture
Free Printable - Easter 100's Chart Mystery Picture (example) - Click Image to Download as PDF
Free Printable - Easter 100's Chart Mystery Picture with Smile and Whiskers Drawn In
Free Printable - Easter 100's Chart Mystery Picture (with smile and whiskers drawn in) - Click Image to Download as PDF
Free Printable - Easter 100's Chart Mystery Picture (without smile and whiskers drawn in)
Free Printable - Easter 100's Chart Mystery Picture (without smile and whiskers drawn in) - Click Image to Download as PDF
Free Printable - Easter Word Search
Free Printable - Easter Word Search - Click Image to Download as PDF
]]><![CDATA[St. Patrick's Day Free Printable Activities]]>Thu, 15 Feb 2018 14:58:42 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/st-patricks-day-free-printable-activities​Saint Patrick's Day
​Free Printables for Kids
Happy St. Patty's Day
Two quick, easy, and free St. Patrick's Day activities for kids.
Hundreds chart mystery picture for grades K-2.  Challenging word search for grades 3 and up. 
Shamrock
  • Download files by clicking on each picture below.
  • ​All files are downloadable as PDFs.
  • Each file will open in a new window.
Activity for Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Great activity for kids that are learning or have just learned their numbers up to 100, number relationships, and two digit numbers.
St. Patrick's Day 100's Chart Mystery Picture Activity Sheet
St. Patrick's Day 100's Chart Mystery Picture Activity Sheet
St. Patrick's Day 100's Chart Mystery Picture Answer Key
St. Patrick's Day 100's Chart Mystery Picture Answer Key
Activity for 3rd Grade - Adult
This challenging word search will be fun for your slightly older kids on up. Contains longer words, diagonal words, and backwards words.
St. Patrick's Day Word Search
St. Patrick's Day Word Search Activity Sheet
St. Patrick's Day Word Search Answer Key
St. Patrick's Day Word Search Answer Key

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Want to make your life easier?
Of course you do.
​Then check out our Mom's Choice GOLD Award Winning chore charts
$74.95

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NEATLINGS 1-3 Kids Chart ● Dark Blue/Red/Yellow
Shop
$136.95

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NEATLINGS 6 Child Chore Chart System
Shop
$42.95

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NEATLINGS 1 Child Chore Chart System ● Yellow
Shop
]]><![CDATA[100 Free Lunch Box Jokes]]>Tue, 06 Feb 2018 18:10:22 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/100-free-lunch-box-jokes
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100 Lunch Box Jokes!
40 NEW Lunch Box Notes
+ 60 More Lunch Box Notes 

If you've been following my blog posts then you know that I have been chipping away at creating a full school years worth of lunch box joke notes! I am half way to my goal! Here are 100 free printable jokes for your kids school lunch!
These have turned out to be a big hit with not only my kids but all the kids around the school lunch table. So much so that all the kids look forward to the daily lunch box joke.
  • These cute little cards let your kiddos know you are thinking about them throughout the day.
  • Gives them something to talk about with their friends over lunch.
  • And I love knowing that I am putting a smile on their face when I am not around.
It's easy just - print, cut, and pack in lunch!
Or print them on Avery Business Cards, separate on the perforations, and pack in lunch!
I created them so that they would print perfectly on Avery business cards. They print so easily and then all I have to do is separate the cards along the perforated lines and viola! I then have wonderful sturdy cards that I keep stacked in a kitchen drawer next to the zip lock bags. Of course you can just print on regular paper and cut along the lines, this works great too! Every day when I pack a lunch, I simply grab a new card off the stack.
100 NEATLINGS Free Printables. 100 Lunch Box Note Jokes. Pages 1- 10
NEATLINGS Free Printables. 100 Lunch Box Note Jokes. Pages 1- 10
An added bonus is that my kids tend to just put them back in their lunch boxes so they get returned to me to use again for the next kid. Another fun thing I did was give our stack of already used joke cards to a friend to put it her kids lunchbox. 
Please take a moment and check out my video on NEATLINGS Chore Chart System and then scroll down to download your FREE lunch box note jokes!

A little about me... What I do and why I do it!

If you are here then you can see that I run a small business, NEATLINGS! I never intended to start a small business but when I made this chore system for my kids that was unlike anything else on the market and I saw the immediate and amazing transformation in our entire family life... I wanted to share this with others.

Not only were my kids doing chores, but they were happy about it, they were setting goals and working towards them, if they got bored - they did chores to earn fun things to do, their friends were actually envious of the fact that my kids had chores! My house was cleaner, I had more time to myself, my kids started noticing the mess they made and caring about picking up after themselves, everything just started to run smoother, we had more time as a family, everyone was happier! It really was an amazing transformation and all because of this chore system I created.
NEATLINGS Chore Chart System
NEATLINGS has completely rethought the typical chore chart and created a system that truly motivates kids to happily do chores. ​
Check It Out!
​Do you want more freebies, special offers,
​and to be kept up to date on everything
NEATLINGS?
Look for this image on our home page and sign up!
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Free downloads have moved!
For your convenience: Free downloads have been moved and are now available in the SHOP under FREE PRINTABLES!
]]><![CDATA[Valentine's Day Activities - Free Printables]]>Mon, 29 Jan 2018 17:16:20 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/valentines-day-activities-free-printables1, 2, 3 Easy, Fun, and FREE Valentine's Activities for Kids - free printables!
 (Click Read More then scroll to the bottom for the downloadable files)
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FREE Hundreds Chart Mystery Picture - Purple Koala with Heart

This a fun way for kiddos to:
  • Practice their number place value up to 100! 
  • Recognize colors and  names.
Use the Color Key to color in the boxes and reveal a hidden picture!

1. Valentine 100's Chart Mystery Picture

Valentine's Day 100 Chart Example
Valentine's Day 100 Chart Example
Valentine's Day 100 Chart Worksheet
Valentine's Day 100 Chart Worksheet
Did you know...
Some of my favorite and even most popular blog posts contain free printables! I have found that I really love making these and sharing them with you. It is truthfully a lot of fun for me. For the most part they are easy to make and I enjoy being a little creative and getting to share my creations. I find that many people charge for these types of printables, they can be quite popular but my goal is firstly to be supportive of other parents and secondly draw people to my website.

​I created a chore chart that is unlike anything else on the market and it has honestly changed our lives and I want you to see it too. It may not be the right fit for you but it has worked such wonders for my family that I created my business so that I could share it with YOU because maybe it will be the perfect fit for you too! 
Short Video on
​Awesome Chore Chart!
ReThinking the Chore Chart!
NEATLINGS Chores by Age
My most popular Free Printable! Click Image to go to page and get yours!

Valentine's Day Word Search & Word Scramble

2. Valentine Word Search

Valentine's Day Word Search
Valentine's Day Word Search

3. Valentine Word Scramble

Valentine's Day Word Scramble
Valentine's Day Word Scramble
These are easy and fun activities. The words for the both the word search and word scramble are the same. Here is the list:
  • CHOCOLATE
  • VALENTINE
  • FLOWERS
  • HEARTS
  • PURPLE
  • ARROW
  • CANDY
  • CARDS
  • CUPID
  • HUGS
  • KISS
  • LOVE
  • PINK
  • RED

Download Your Free Valentine 100's Chart, Word Scramble, and Word Search here!

Free downloads have moved!
For your convenience: Free downloads have been moved and are now available in the SHOP under FREE PRINTABLES!
valentines_day_100_chart_worksheet.pdf
File Size: 203 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
valentines_day_100_chart_example.pdf
File Size: 203 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
valentines_day_with_hearts_word_scramble.pdf
File Size: 4408 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
valentines_day_with_hearts_word_search.pdf
File Size: 4857 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

​Want more free printables? 

​Look for this image on our home page
​and sign up to get more free printables HERE!
]]><![CDATA[60 Lunch Box Jokes Free Printables]]>Sat, 30 Dec 2017 22:44:35 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/60-lunch-box-jokes-free-printables​60 Lunch Box Jokes!
20 NEW Lunch Box Notes + 40 More Lunch Box Notes 
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As you can see, I've really been enjoying making these for my kiddos. They have turned out to be a big hit with not only my kids but all the kids around the school lunch table. So much so that all the kids look forward to the daily lunch box joke.
  • These cute little cards let your kiddos know you are thinking about them throughout the day.
  • Gives them something to talk about with their friends over lunch.
  • And I love knowing that I am putting a smile on their face when I am not around.
NEATLINGS Free Printables - Lunch Box Note Jokes Pages 5 & 6
NEATLINGS Free Printables - Lunch Box Note Jokes Pages 5 & 6
NEATLINGS Free Printables - Lunch Box Note Jokes Pages 3 & 4
NEATLINGS Free Printables - Lunch Box Note Jokes Pages 3 & 4
NEATLINGS Free Printables - Lunch Box Note Jokes Pages 1 & 2
NEATLINGS Free Printables - Lunch Box Note Jokes Pages 1 & 2
My goal is to create enough to get any parent through an entire school year, so keep stopping back to see our free lunch notes printables list grow. After all I have to keep them going for your kids and mine too!
I created them so that they would print perfectly on Avery business cards. They print so easily and then all I have to do is separate the cards along the perforated lines and viola! I then have wonderful sturdy cards that I keep stacked in a kitchen drawer next to the zip lock bags. Of course you can just print on regular paper and cut along the lines, this works great too! Every day when I pack a lunch, I simply grab a new card off the stack.
An added bonus is that my kids tend to just put them back in their lunch boxes so they get returned to me to use again for the next kid. Another fun thing I did was give our stack of already used joke cards to a friend to put it her kids lunchbox. 
I create these and other fun printable to share because it is fun for me to create and I feel good about sharing these with you. But I also want a reason for you to come check out my sight so that you will see this AMAZING chore chart I created!
Avery for Ink Jet. Click to find on Amazon.
Avery for Laser. Click to find on Amazon.
I won't go into a long spiel over this but long story short, is that I created a chore chart for my family because I couldn't find anything on the market that would work for us - they all had some issue or another. As they say necessity is the mother of invention and I needed something that would work - so I created it! It works amazingly! It truly made such a tremendous change in my family, and I had more time in my day (WOW!) because my kids were happy and helping! I wanted to shout it from the rooftops and share it with others so I created it into a retail product to share with you. Check out the video below to learn more.
NEATLINGS Chore Chart System
If you liked this idea then you will LOVE our chore chart, it is by far the best chore system, check out what customers say about it. NEATLINGS has completely rethought the typical chore chart and created a system that truly motivates kids to happily do chores. ​
Check It Out!
**now just scroll down a little more to get your FREE lunch box notes download**
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 6
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 6
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 3
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 3
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 5
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 5
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 2
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 2
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 4
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 4
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 1
Lunch Box Jokes - Page 1

FREE Printables - Lunch Box Jokes

Free downloads have moved!
For your convenience: Free downloads have been moved and are now available in the SHOP under FREE PRINTABLES!
​Do you want more freebies, special offers,
​and to be kept up to date on everything
NEATLINGS?
Look for this image on our home page and sign up!
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]]><![CDATA[40 Lunch Box Jokes Free Printables]]>Wed, 22 Nov 2017 17:49:17 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/40-lunch-box-jokes-free-printables20 NEW Lunch Box Notes +20 More Lunch Box Notes 
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​Brighten up your kids day with these cute lunch box note jokes.

Last month I created page 1 and 2 and they were such a huge hit that I decided to create more to share with you. Scroll down and you will find access to all 4 pages for 40 jokes in all!

I have 3 daughters but only my youngest brings her lunch everyday. Each day I slip one of these into her lunch box. Every day her and her friends love guessing the answers to the daily lunch box joke notes!
I created these because I wanted my kids to be reminded that I love them, miss them, and think about them during the day.
Brighten up their day...
​
  • remind your kids you are thinking about them through out the day
  • give your kids something to talk about around the lunch table
  • know you are putting a smile on their face even when you are not around
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**scroll to bottom of page for FREE lunch box notes download**
Not just for lunch boxes. You can put them in backpacks, school folders, band instrument cases, or any other place you think your kids will enjoy them.
Simple. Just...
  1. Download
  2. Print & Cut
  3. Put in lunch box

OR. Print on Avery.
These are the perfect fit for Avery 2" x 3.5" Business Cards. No cutting required when using Avery perforated business cards.
​
  • Download
  • Print on Avery Business Cards & Separate
  • Put in lunch box
Avery for Ink Jet. Click to find on Amazon.
Avery for Laser. Click to find on Amazon.
NEATLINGS Chore Chart System
If you liked this idea then you will LOVE our chore chart, it is by far the best chore system, check out what customers say about it. NEATLINGS has completely rethought the typical chore chart and created a system that truly motivates kids to happily do chores. 

Do you wish your kids were excited to do chores? Of course you do because who doesn't! Then you need to check this out - it is an amazing chore chart system that will have your kids eager to do chores.
NEATLINGS Chore Chart System:
  • expandable to work for ANY size family
  • flexible responsibility and reward system
  • configurable in a multitude of ways
  • can be set up differently for each child
  • works for toddlers to teens
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Picture
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Download your FREE school lunch box notes here.
Free downloads have moved!
For your convenience: Free downloads have been moved and are now available in the SHOP under FREE PRINTABLES!

​Do you want more freebies, special offers,
​and to be kept up to date on everything
NEATLINGS?
Look for this image on our home page and sign up!
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]]><![CDATA[Low and Non Toxic Cleaning Products where to Buy Guide!]]>Sat, 09 Sep 2017 12:59:47 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/low-and-non-toxic-cleaning-products-where-to-buy-guideBetter Cleaning Products
feel good about cleaning again
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There are several posts you can find on the web about how to make your own cleaning products but sometimes it is hard to find the time to go the DIY route particularly for busy moms so I wanted to find some other options.
For some time now I have been looking for store bought cleaning products that are safer for my family. I hesitate to call anything truly safe but "safer" seems to be a more achievable goal.
Many people make their own cleaning products for household chores which is awesome but it's just not me, at least not yet. However, that doesn't mean that I want my home soaked in toxic chemicals. I prefer to choose green cleaning products that I can feel good about. Only difference is that I want them already made for me. I love fast, functional, and easy so grab-n-go is more the way I roll. This is why I am so excited about this months post. Most of the products on my list below are green certified, some are not, but all have high rankings from the Environmental Working Group. Finally, I (and you too) can have the best of both worlds.
I almost feel like you need a PhD in chemicals to truly understand what goes into many of the products, which is something I don't have so I needed some help. I found an amazing resource in the Environmental Working Group website a.k.a. EWG.com. The EWG has an amazing website which ranks thousands of cleaning products from A to F. 
Below you will find off-the-shelf products that rank well on the EWG and are available for purchase via Amazon. Many of these cleaning products may be available in your local stores but there isn't much for shopping where I live so I focused on items that could be purchased online.
My criteria for selecting the best cleaning products for a safer home was: 
  1. Products that have an "A" ranking or at worst a "B" ranking on the EWG
  2. I wanted the products to be available for purchase in as many locations as possible so I focused on products that could be purchased via Amazon.com
Finally non-toxic (or at least less toxic) cleaning products that don't make me shiver with concern! 
Remember to use caution when kids clean and be sure they use the right tools that are safe to use. Keep in mind that many household cleaning jobs don't require any chemicals at all such as vacuuming, sweeping, picking up, and clearing the table.
Safer Cleaning Products
Here is my top hit list for amazing non-toxic (or at least less toxic) cleaning products that have an "A" rating on the EWG and are available in your neighborhood because you can buy them right on-line! Oh... this is so exciting!
Store bought low and non toxic cleaning products where to buy guide! Most products are green certified!
Store bought low and non toxic cleaning products where to buy guide! Most products are green certified!

Are you looking for a way to get the kids to help with chores?

This is an awesome chore chart! Check it out on Amazon here or at NEATLINGS here
Did you know the #1 indicator of if your kids will grow up to be successful adults is whether or not they did chores as a child?
Order NEATLINGS and get your kids helping today!
DISINFECTANTS
Seventh Generation is the ONLY disinfectant that scored an "A" on the EWG. However reviews for this product claim it cleans well but it smells awful so I wanted to give you a second option.
If you worry that the smell of the Seventh Generation may be too much then my next recommendation is Windex Disinfectant.
"A" on the EWG
Green Certified = YES
"B" on the EWG
​Green Certified = NO
ALL PURPOSE CLEANER
I had a difficult time finding an all purpose cleaner that scored an "A", was available on Amazon.  Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner, Lemon Breeze Scent is a good runner up option coming in with a "B" rating.
"A" on the EWG
​Green Certified = YES
"B" on the EWG
Green Certified = NO
GLASS & WINDOW CLEANER
The first two have a ranking of "A" on the EWG while the microfiber cloth isn't listed at all but I thought it worth a mention. All you need is a little water and elbow grease with these to get your glass sparkling. 
"A" on the EWG
Green Certified = YES
"A" on the EWG
​Green Certified = NO
Not listed on  EWG
Green Certified = NA
CLEANING WIPES
Oh how I love cleaning wipes they are such an easy go to cleaning item. I keep one under the counter of every sink in the house. Easy to grab and wipe counters down in a pinch. My typical goto has been Clorox Wipes but not anymore as they score a "D" on the EWG. Time to change to Aunt Fannie's!
"A" on the EWG
​Green Certified = NO
Available in 4 fragrances all ranking an "A"
"B" on the EWG
​Green Certified = NO
KITCHEN
The Fit Cleaner is available as an Amazon add on item. AspenClean is made by a company in Canada and their entire line scores well on the EWG. Hopefully their entire line will be available via Amazon Prime in the future.
"A" on the EWG
Green Certified = YES
"A" on the EWG
​Green Certified = YES
BATHROOM
Finding products specific to the bathroom was a little tough but if cleaned with other items such as the all purpose cleaners, window and glass cleaners and disinfectants you may get away with only the toilet bowl cleaner. Although GreenSheild ranks well it does come with a hefty price tag.
"A" on the EWG
Green Certified = YES
"A" on the EWG
​Green Certified = YES
LAUNDRY
Here the Better Life brand is going to give you more bang for your buck with the per load cost being $0.22.
"A" on the EWG
Green Certified = YES
"A" on the EWG
​Green Certified = YES
If you want to do your own research for safe green cleaning products you can go to www.ewg.com.
]]><![CDATA[Back to School Checklist for Parents]]>Tue, 25 Jul 2017 22:35:27 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/back-to-school-checklist-for-parents14 things to do before the first day of school
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There is just about a month left before my kiddos go back to school. 
I thought this month I would give you a look into what we do to get ready for school. There is always so much to do before the first day. Here is our back to school checklist. 
Here is the quick hit list. Read below for more details.
​1. Doctors Appointments and Forms
2. Organization Station
3. School Supplies
4. Encourage Friendships
5. Brush up on Reading and Math
​6. Lookin’ Good
7. Have Camera Ready
8. Attend School Open House
9. Connect with Teachers
10. Sleep Schedule
11. Bus Schedule
12. New Kids = New Friends
13. Bring or Buy School Lunch
14. After School Routine

1. Doctor Appointments and Forms

Schedule your kiddos doctors appointments and physicals. Send or bring any forms that need to be completed and get them submitted to your kiddos school as needed. 

2. Organization Station

Update your family command center. Write important school dates on the calendar, update your kids chores and responsibilities, freshen up pens and whiteboard markers.

Ideally this should be in a high traffic area and contain a family calendar, a chore/responsibility chart, and help keep everyone organized and up to date with family schedules and communication.

The command center here has everything you need to keep your family organized. You can find where to buy and all the details of this fabulously functional and affordable home command center by checking out our previous blog post. Be sure to check out NEATLINGS Chore Chart System this will be invaluable in reminding your kiddos about their daily chores and responsibilities.

3. School Supplies

Your school should have a school supplies list available on their website. Simply print it off and have some fun picking out their gear for the next year. 

Remember to label the school supplies. This is very helpful to ensure that your kids stuff doesn't get mixed up with others kiddos or if it does it can be easily identified and returned to the proper owner.

4. Encourage Friendships

My kids are not the most social, athletic, popular, or outgoing kiddos but they still all like school. I believe the single most important thing that gets kids to like school is knowing that they have friends there to connect with. 

Setting aside time before school starts to let your kiddos invite friends over and reconnect will help put them at ease and ward off those first day jitters.
Use NEATLINGS Chore Chart System to help your kids earn their play dates and sleepovers by doing chores. After all it is always nicer to have company when the house and the kids rooms are organized and clean. This is also a great way to get the house organized and clean before the busy school season. It's a win win for everyone!

5. Brush up on Reading and Math

If your kiddos have been keeping up their reading and math skills up over the summer then that is fantastic! Keep up the great work. 

If not then spend some time refreshing their skills.

Reading
We use our NEATLINGS Chore Chart System to ensure we have reading on the kids list of responsibilities that must be done each day.

This gets them reading every day to help brush up on their skills. I like for all my kids to do their reading at the same time. That way they are all quiet for each other and no one gets distracted. I set a timer on my phone so they all know when they have hit the time mark.
Math
Again we set this up on our NEATLINGS Chore Chart, this makes keeping track of it and remembering it so easy to do. I have them do one page of math a day. It only takes a few minutes. I use a great website that offers FREE math worksheets for grades K-6th. The website is well organized and the math sheets are quick and easy to print off. ​www.k5learning.com/free-math-worksheets

6. Lookin' Good

Schedule hair cuts as needed.
Go through kids clothes. Donate, hand down, or resell what no longer fits. Purchase any needed wardrobe items.
Purchase school shoes as needed.
Be familiar with your childs school dress code. As a rule of thumb if you stay away from sleeveless shirts or dresses, too short shorts or skirts, and inappropriate writing or images then you should be ok.

7. Have Camera Ready

Check that your camera battery is charged and ready.

Remember to snap some pictures at the schools open house and on the first day of school. 

8. Attend the School Open House

This is such an important experience. It really helps kids work through their first day jitters before hand, lets them meet their teacher, see who else in their classroom, often they get to see where their desk is, where their locker is, and they have an opportunity to bring their school supplies to class and get organized before the first day of school.

9. Connect with Teacher

Help ensure success by communicating with your child's teacher. Are there any special things that your child's teacher needs to know to ensure a successful year? Make sure you connect with them and let them know. 

10. Sleep Schedule

With a new school year upon us we once again are working towards getting our kiddos back on a regular school day schedule. ​Start adjusting your kids bedtime schedule now. You can do this by putting them to bed 10 minutes earlier each night and waking them up 10 minutes earlier each day until you are back on track.
A well rested kid is able to be a better learner. Want to know how much sleep your kiddo needs? Check out our back to school sleep schedule.

11. Bus Schedule

If you child will be taking the bus to school then you will need a school bus schedule. Work with your schools transportation contact to ensure that they are aware of any special arrangements. For example maybe after school your child is to be dropped off at daycare or grandmas, then they will need to know this. You may be required to complete additional forms.

12. New Kids = New Friends

Almost every year there seems to be a new kid in each of my children's classes. I always talk to my kids about being thoughtful and welcoming to the new kids. All my children have made wonderful new friends this way and helped another child adjust to their new school more easily. School  is always better with friends.

13. Bring or Buy School Lunch

Post a copy of the schools lunch schedule in a high traffic area like a family station or home command center. 

If your child will be buying a school lunch then be sure to have funds available in their school lunch account. Even if your child brings their own lunch it is always good to some funds in the lunch account in case they need an extra milk during lunch time.
If you child brings their own lunch then make sure they have a lunch box and that you have a few lunches planned out. ​

14. After School Routine

Start implementing a responsibility and chore system to keep everyone on task. Include this in your families home command center so everything is in one easy place.
We use NEATLINGS to keep us organized. It works for all ages, is expandable to work for any size family, can be set up differently for each child and is beautifully illustrated to make it easy for young ones.
Here are just some of the cards available with NEATLINGS system that will help keep your kiddos managing their after school tasks without the need for parental nagging.
Shop NEATLINGS on Amazon

or

Shop NEATLINGS Here

NEATLINGS Chore System - Chore Chart for Kids | 80+ Chores for Toddlers to Teens | Customize for 1-3 Kids | Size 25”x18” | Teal Household Chore Cards/Dark Blue, Red, Yellow Self-Care Chore Cards

$74.95

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NEATLINGS 1-3 Kids Chart ● Dark Blue/Red/Yellow
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NEATLINGS Chore System - Chore Chart for Kids | 80+ Chores for Toddlers to Teens | Customize for 1-3 Kids | Size 25”x18” | Teal Household Chore Cards/Purple, Pink, Dark Blue Self-Care Chore Cards

$74.95

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NEATLINGS 1-3 Kids Chart ● Purple/Pink/Dark Blue
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NEATLINGS Chore System - Chore Chart for Kids | 80+ Chores for Toddlers to Teens | Customize for 1-3 Kids | Size 25”x18” | Teal Household Chore Cards/Purple, Orange, Pink Self-Care Chore Cards

$74.95

Sold out

NEATLINGS 1-3 Kids Chart ● Purple/Orange/Pink
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]]><![CDATA[1000's Chart for Kids -FREE Printable!]]>Tue, 27 Jun 2017 12:42:52 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/1000s-chart-for-kids-free-printableMath Activity for 1st and 2nd Graders
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Number Sense
​If you have a child that is just starting to learn their 3 digit numbers than this is for you!
This was by far one of the best activities for all my kids when they were just learning the relationship between those 3 digit numbers. 
Each page has the first number filled in for them so they know where to start. Each sheet has random numbers already filled in to give them a guide and reassurance that they are on the right track.
What they will learn...
​Number relationships and patterns (ie. numbers in this row start with a 2 numbers in this column end in an 8 etc.).
1000's Chart for Kids - FREE Printable! Great summer activity for kids! This is one of the best math activities to teach kids their 3 digit numbers and number relationships. Ideal for 2nd graders.
My 2nd grader. So proud that she completed her 1000's chart!
What you'll need...
  • Paper Towel Roll
  • Printer and 10 sheets of paper (colored paper adds to the fun but plain white paper works just as well)
  • The FREE file below (1000's_chart.pdf)
  • Tape
1000's Chart for Kids - FREE Printable! This is one of the best math activities to teach kids their 3 digit numbers and number relationships. Ideal for 2nd graders.
Close up of paper taped to paper towel roll
How it works...
  1. Download the free file below & print. 10 pages total in one convenient file. 
  2. Have your child complete the first page of (1-100).
  3. Once the first page is completed attach it with tape to the paper towel roll and roll it up. Continue adding the completed pages to the previous page as your child completes them.
​
​I recommend that kiddos do one page per week. By pacing it out their brains will have a little time in between to let those pattern and number relationships sink in and be reinforced each week until complete. 
Tips...
For some added enthusiasm consider rewarding your child for each completed page. If you use our award winning NEATLINGS Chore Chart System then you could reward your child one ticket for the first page, two tickets for the second page, three tickets for the 3rd page and so on... by the time they are done they will have earned 55 tickets!
​Best of all they will feel a huge sense of pride and accomplishment! This is the feeling that will keep them coming back for more :) ​

Download your Free 1000's Chart Activity Here!

Free downloads have moved!
For your convenience: Free downloads have been moved and are now available in the SHOP under FREE PRINTABLES!
Giving Credit - Activity inspired by my kiddos 2nd grade teachers!
This is not my original idea. This is an activity that the amazing 2nd grade teachers at my children's school use in their classrooms. It is a "filler" activity for the kiddos, so when they are done with their other work and have a little time they can pull this out and work on it. 

Want more free printables?

​Look for this image on our home page
to stay up to date with all things NEATLINGS and sign up to get more free printables HERE!
]]><![CDATA[Should kids be paid for chores? There's a 3rd option!]]>Mon, 15 May 2017 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.neatlings.com/blog/should-kids-be-paid-for-chores-theres-a-3rd-optionShould allowance be tied to chores?
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This is a hot topic. There are experts and strong opinions weighing in on both sides of this topic. However, there is a 3rd option!
Chores and Allowance - the two main views
Pay for Chores
Adults go to work and get paid so by extension kids should be paid for their work. It instills good work ethic as it teaches kids that earnings come from work and if you don’t work you don’t earn.
Chores as part of the family ​Others believe that kids should NOT be paid for chores. Adults don’t get paid for doing chores around the house. Kids are part of the family and thus should be part of the work.
The 3rd Option - the sweet spot
We should do both. I don't know how we ever got to this either or camp but I argue that somewhere in between is the sweet spot.

When I was first designing my chore chart for my kids I had the unlikely but fortunate opportunity to share my chore chart ideas with a leading Pediatric Neuropsychologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN, Michael Zaccariello, Ph.D, L.P.. Now to be fair he doesn't know that I went on to create it into a retail product, at the time I didn't know that was in my future either, but I want to share what he said because it was in complete support of this 3rd option. 

I shared with him what we were doing at home and I wanted to know what he thought of rewarding children for chores, not all chores but some chores. He said "I think what you are doing is perfect! Children learn with extrinsic motivation at first and the more they do it then it turns into intrinsic motivation." He went on to explain some examples such as when your child first smiles at you, you smile back, or when they say their first words or use the potty you give them an excited show of support which in-turn provides the child the extrinsic motivation. After successes of receiving positive responses of extrinsic motivation a child starts to associate the feeling of the positive rewards received with the event that caused them and thus turning it into intrinsic motivation. Essentially giving rewards now does not mean that your child will always feel a need to receive an external reward for a chore in order to have a positive association with doing chores.
Rewards are not always about money $$
Before I go on I want to be clear that paying for chores isn't always about money. In fact some kids, particular little ones, are not motivated by money at all but there may be other rewards that appeal to them. ​
One great option is to reward with tickets. For each rewarded chore you set a reward level. Maybe a basic chore is worth one ticket and a more in-depth task two, and a complicated one three. Determine the value of each chore then let your kids earn tickets which they can later redeem for rewards that are appealing to them.
I find that rewards tend to fall into three main categories, money, screen time, and then there is what I call a family store. A family store can be virtually anything that might appeal to your child such as play dough, water toys, a craft, or spending special time with mom or dad, having a friend over, or picking what's for dinner.
Chores to reward and chores not to reward
How do you determine what chores the child should do as being part of the family and household and what chores you should reward? 
This is an area that each family needs to decide for themselves but there are a factors that you will want to take into consideration; your child's age, abilities, and any specific areas that need extra motivation.
You might consider rewarding a younger child for more basic items such as putting their dirty clothes in the hamper or clearing their own dishes after a meal but as this gets to be just part of their routine you would change it from being tasks that are rewarded to tasks that are their responsibility and then let them move onto more challenging chores for rewards.
Most older children have these more simple tasks down and easily remember to put their dirty clothes in the hamper and clear their own plates. With older children you can typically expect more and reward them for going above and and beyond their standard contribution. Maybe they have the unpaid job of taking out the garbage everyday but you might choose to reward them for extra chores such as weeding the garden or doing a great job cleaning the living room or playroom.
TIP:
Only reward for chores if at the end of the day (or whenever you decide to settle up) a child has completed all their responsibility chores.

This ensures that your child will complete all their chores, not only the ones that earn them rewards.
Putting away clean clothes
Have you ever had that one thing that you just wish your child would do!? Maybe it was brushing teeth or getting dressed but whatever it was you thought I WOULD GIVE ANYTHING IF ONLY my child would....
Sometimes kiddos need extra motivation to get tasks done that they find particularly unpleasant. I had a family that used NEATLINGS Chore Chart to determine chores for thier 3 year old son. One of the items that this child absolutely hated doing was brushing his teeth. It was  a battle everyday that no one looked forward to. This mom decided to reward her son for brushing his teeth, as soon as they implemented their new NEATLINGS chore chart and began allowing their son to earn reward tickets that he could later redeem the struggle was over. Their little guy completely changed his attitude and loved brushing his teeth so he could flip over his brush teeth chore card and secure his reward tickets. The struggle was over :)
Being Consistent and Specific with Chores
Experts agree that it is best to be consistent and specific with your children. This sounds easy but truly determining exactly what you expect can be a real challenge. It is also best to give short and easy to follow instructions. So if your expectation for them sweeping the kitchen also includes the breakfast bar area then you need to communicate this, or maybe having them put their clean clothes away means that their tops go in the top drawer and bottoms in the bottom drawer.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
  • Homework - Needs to be completed before dinner
  • Clean Playroom - No toys on floor, all game pieces in the correct boxes
  • Clear and Wipe Down Table -  Push chairs in around table
  • Dust Rooms - All horizontal surfaces, lamps, and picture frames
  • Get Mail - Put on Dad's desk
  • Practice Instrument - Do weekly lesson, 20 minutes
  • Clean Room - Nothing on floor & horizontal areas organized
  • Extra Reading - 20 Minutes
  • Extra Math - Flash Cards: subtraction and multiplication, 20 minutes
How do you create a chore system that manages all this?
There are many chore charts on the market and most are essentially all the same in the fact that they allow you to create a list of chores. These types of systems don't work very well; they are more like a flat file than a database. They only provide a list but give you no way of managing all the variables that are truly needed for a good chore system.
A good chore system will:
  • be specific and consistent
  • have a flexible responsibility and reward system
  • have the ability to be set up differently for each child
  • work for all kids in a family from toddlers to teens
  • never get stale or boring
  • be easy to manage
This is why I created my own chore system. It worked so tremendously well that it has completely changed our home life. The benefits of the system and the change in my kids attitudes was simply amazing! 
I had wished something had been on the market when I needed it which is why I decided to turn our at home chore system into a retail product, and share it with you.
I have been amazed by the response. This system has even won multiple prestigious awards and been recognized by industry leaders such as Moms' Choice Awards and Parents' Choice Awards.
NEATLINGS Gold Mom's Choice Award
NEATLINGS Approved Parent's Choice Award
NEATLINGS is a small start-up company that I run out of the basement of my home but it has received the same, and sometimes better, level of awards as larger corporations such as Crayola, Lego, American Girl, National Geographic and Fischer Price. - Which I think is just incredible!
Please check out my short video to learn more about how NEATLINGS Chore Chart System works. BTW...This system is expandable to work for any size family!
What do customers say about NEATLINGS Chore Chart
​System?
"This chore chart has been exactly what we have been looking for and has even exceeded our expectations. It's perfect for multiple children and very easy to set up and organize. 

I am really pleased that it is not time consuming to set up but it's so effective. 

Our children's attitude and independence with starting and completing chores is nothing short of a miracle. No more arguing or forgotten chores. Our kids actually look forward to completing their "main" daily chores so they can move on to the chores that earn them tickets/rewards. A win for all of us! Plus the product arrived quickly and OUTSTANDING customer service. 

​Thank you so much!"

​-J.M. Simonds
"...I have been a parent for 19 years and have tried almost every chore chart on the market. NEATLINGS is by far the best system I have used. It's exactly what I've been looking for all these years."

-L. Ghorley
"I am a stay at home to four boys ages 4-13. I found myself spending all my time cleaning up after them.  They are very capable of doing all these things and I can never get them to do anything. So I headed to Pinterest to find a DIY chore chart and stumbled across NEATLINGS! I love concepts that work and are fun both of which this is! Our chore chart came in the mail late in the day, we got it set up and I figured we could start in the morning BUT my kids were SO excited they wanted to do them ALL before bed. My kids are enjoying doing the things I get so tired of doing alone and they are happy! Thank you NEATLINGS..if you have kids you need NEATLINGS in your life!"

-Heidi
Still not sure if NEATLINGS is the right chore system for your family? Consider this...
It is scientifically proven by a Harvard Grant Study that kids that do chores when they are young are more likely to become successful adults.

Notice that the number one indicator was not a persons IQ but  whether or not they did CHORES as a child.

In fact science has also proven that the best age for kids to start doing chores is between the ages of 3-4 years old. At this early age most kids can't yet read so it is important to have an easy to manage system with pictures so that your kids can be successful knowing what is expected of them and what their chores are. If your kids are already past that age do not worry but make a plan and get them started ASAP. 
Are you ready to set your kids up for success and cultivate contributing, confident, can-do kids with NEATLINGS?
Shop NEATLINGS now!

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.

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