Putting The Pretty In Preschool – Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

Black History Month Positive Affirmations Art

January 29, 2026 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

These Positive Affirmation coloring pages reflect character qualities that black people possess and employ to achieve goals and major accomplishments. As such, they are perfect for art activities that celebrate Black History Month. The positive qualities surrounded by beaming sunrays build self-esteem and are key to Black excellence and resilience.

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The positive affirmations in the coloring pages were inspired by picture books that highlight Black history and culture.

Decorating the Black History Month Positive Affirmations Printable

There are a variety of ways to decorate the sunshine-themed printables, allowing for many design possibilities. 28 sunrays have room for creative patterns with 2, 4, or 7 colors and/or styles.

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The patterns below are inspired by the splendid suns in the storybook “Seven Spools of Thread” by Angela Shelf Medearis. Although written for Kwanzaa, the book is wonderfully suited for a Black History Month theme.

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The seven bright colors in the decorated printable below were inspired by those of the spools of thread in the same book.

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In the next art sample, the pastel colors represent kindness.

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Traditional Black History Month hues (red, green, yellow-gold, and black), are showcased in this last arty project.

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Aside from including these Positive Affirmations coloring pages in an art project during Black History Month, they are a fantastic addition to an “I Am Special” or a “Celebrate Diversity” theme. It is an empowering, easy-to-do creative activity with striking results.

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Black History Month Positive Affirmations Bulletin Board

The finished artwork and the words “I AM” (Brilliant), (Irreplaceable), “I AM A” (Traveller), “YOU ARE” (Brave) (Strong), or “YOU ARE A” (Leader) make a stunning bulletin board display. It is a gorgeous addition to classroom decor.

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Where to Get the Black History Month Positive Affirmations Printables

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The BHM Positive Affirmations coloring pages are available for an everyday low price in my Etsy Skills N Smiles shop. There are 18 pages, each with a different word of affirmation. In addition, there are four editable pages to add words of affirmation to by hand or using a program such as Canva. Lastly, the captions “I AM”. “I AM A”, “YOU ARE”, and “YOU ARE A” are included in the set. The instant download printables are available in 8 ½ x 11-inch and A4 sizes. Download your set today.

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More Black History Month Activities

Three Black History Month Crafts

Black History Month Hair Decorating Art

Celebrate Diversity Heart Art

Black History Month Mixed Media Art

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Snowflake Cafe Dramatic Play Set

January 19, 2026 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Activities with loose parts are definitely a favorite of mine, and there are many dramatic play centers featuring loose parts on this blog. This beautiful printable Snowflake Café dramatic play set is an alternative winter pretend play center. It is easy to set up and gentle on the budget, and it offers many learning benefits.

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The Snowflake Cafe Dramatic Play Set

Whether you live in a climate with snowy periods or not, you can bring winter into your classroom or home with these cozy Snowflake Café printables. Setting the printables up in a dramatic play center will add fresh excitement and creativity to a winter theme. The printables are also perfect for a play date or a family road trip.

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Children get scissor skill practice when helping cut the cookies and hot chocolate. The snipping activity is a great choice for children who finish other tasks early or can be used as a center activity. When participating in a group, children will enjoy socializing while they practice cutting.

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Checking out the price list and filling out order forms gives children practice in reading, counting, and making choices.

Using play money is just plain fun, and customers and cashiers get practice in counting, adding, and subtracting.

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Some children will seize the opportunity to invent their own recipe. Doing a group baking session near the beginning of introducing the winter dramatic play center will help with ideas for what to include.

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Choosing blue, purple or traditional hot chocolate for a pretend drink adds interest to the center. Turning white hot chocolate into blue and/or purple would be a fun science activity to do in addition to offering this center.

What’s Included in the Printable Snowflake Cafe

This gorgeous winter dramatic play set with 40 PNGs includes :

9 winter-themed cookie choices
Cookies in cookie pans
3 hot chocolate choices
Snowflake Café signs
Open & Closed signs
Price list/menu
Daily Special sign
Two styles of order forms (perfect for different ages and skill levels)
Store labels for organizing your café setup
Play money
Recipe suggestion form

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Color Theme Possibilities

With 40 printables to choose from, there are a variety of printing options. You could pick a blue, purple, or mixed color theme.

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The printables in the Snowflake Café digital download are easy to prep and store. They can be printed on cardstock and will be quite durable. Printing on regular paper and laminating the sheets before cutting is also a good option.

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Benefits of the Snowflake Cafe Dramatic Play Center

The Snowflake Cafe has the following benefits:

Practice in teamwork when setting up the center.
Role-play: store stocker, cashier, server, and customer.
Practice in reading and writing.
Opportunity to count, add, subtract, and sort.
Turn-taking opportunities with role play and ordering food.
Making choices as to what tasty treats to purchase.
Exercising creativity in coming up with new recipes.

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This printable Snowflake Café dramatic play set is a delightful way to keep children learning and playing during the holiday or winter season. It is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary students. It will add cheer to a winter day at home or school.

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Related: Pastel Christmas Bakery

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Pastel Christmas Letterhead and Envelope

December 20, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

When I was young, everyone had a traditional Christmas tree, filled with sparkling primary-colored lights and enchanting decorations. As beautiful and magical as they were, I was thrilled to come across Christmas décor in many unique color schemes in recent years. This pastel Christmas letterhead and envelope set is one of my earliest digital designs, and features a soft, modern color scheme.

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How to Use the Pastel Christmas Stationery Set

This festive stationery set, available in letter and A4 sizes, is designed for both children and adults. It is perfect for writing

Christmas notes
thank-you letters
wish lists
invitations
letters to Santa
heart-felt holiday messages

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In the classroom, the gorgeous stationery set can be used to encourage themed writing, and at home, the set adds festive beauty to every holiday note.

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The DIY Pastel Christmas Envelope

The DIY Christmas envelope prints out on 8 ½ x 11-inch (letter) or A4 paper … so easy! Requiring just a bit of cutting, folding, and gluing, it is easy to assemble. The envelope adds a heart-warming, handmade touch to Christmas correspondence. It is a budget-friendly alternative with a charming look.

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In addition to the above suggestions for the Christmas stationery set, this envelope is perfect for DIY holiday cards, gift cards and coupons.

Where to Find the Pastel Christmas Stationery Set

You can find this Pastel Christmas Letterhead and Envelope stationery in my SkillsNSmiles Etsy shop for an everyday low price. Start creating festive holiday notes today!

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December Kindness Activities

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December Kindness Activities

November 30, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

December is an exciting but super busy time of year. The sights and sounds, extra holiday activities, and many tasks to be completed can make people self-absorbed and overwhelmed. There is also much focus on gift-giving and gift-getting.

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These two child-friendly kindness activities encourage children and their family members or classmates to show empathy and goodwill to others, and take the focus off themselves. They also show that there are many ways to show kindness to others besides gift-giving.

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December Kindness Calendar

A Kindness Calendar gives children simple, achievable task suggestions to help brighten someone else’s world.

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To create and use a kindness calendar, fill in a unique, easy-to-do kindness challenge for each day of the month of December.

Then every morning, read the challenge of the day and encourage participants to do it.

Later on in the day, discuss the impact the thoughtful task had on everyone involved.

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December Kindness Jar

A Kindness Jar is another way to encourage children and adults to take time to do caring acts for others.

To create this activity, first choose a mason jar, food container, or large cup. Decorate it and write the words “Kindness Jar” on it. Add a tied ribbon and more embellishments if you wish.

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Next, write various acts of kindness on small slips of paper and place them in the “jar”. Invite family members or classmates to give suggestions if there is time.

Then, each day, one person draws a slip, and everyone who is participating performs the task. Getting to pick a random challenge adds fun to the activity.

The Kindness Jar activities can be completed in one or two weeks, or during the entire month of December.

As with the Kindness Calendar, take time later to discuss how the tasks went.

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December Kindness Activities Printable Set

Instead of making up your own kindness tasks, this gorgeous pastel holiday printable set in my Skills N Smiles Etsy Shop is available to purchase for a low-low price. Download it, and you’ll have the December Kindness Activities ready in minutes!

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These December kindness activities are great for building social-emotional skills, encouraging a feeling of community, and teaching children that small actions can have a big impact.

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More December Activities

Gnome Christmas Stocking Craft

Grinch Christmas Oobleck Bin

Paint Chip Christmas Card

Octopus Christmas Craft

Paper Airplane Christmas Craft

Christmas Small World on the Light Table

Christmas Peppermint Sensory Bin

Monochromatic Christmas Tree Art

CD Case Christmas Craft

Plaid-themed Christmas Rice Bin

Christmas Sheep Craft

Christmas Village Tuff Tray

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Fall Forest Sensory Bin

November 30, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This fall forest sensory bin is inspired by a tiny mouse that snuck indoors. The unexpected discovery led to the question: “Can mice survive outdoors in the fall as the weather turns colder?” The answer is “yes”!

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Although mice will happily seek shelter indoors when the weather cools, they are perfectly capable of surviving outside during the fall and winter months. In the forest, they build nests in sheltered spots such as logs, under tree roots, and underground burrows. They also dig elaborate condo-like tunnels underground, with a pantry, bedroom, living room, and latrine.

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In autumn, the quick little rodents get very busy finding nuts, seeds, and berries to store for winter. This involves many trips to and from food sources. Along with growing thicker fur, the focused, energetic activity helps keep them warm.

This leafy sensory bin with soft late fall hues features a bunch of scurrying mice in a forest environment.