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

Celebrate Diversity Coloring Pages

March 1, 2026 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

These Celebrate Diversity coloring activities with an “I Belong” theme help children feel seen, accepted, and valued. Designed to nurture confidence and a sense of inclusion, this printable set includes three coloring pages (two are editable), and matching bookmarks to color. The printable is available in my Skills N Smiles Etsy shop.

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The self-esteem building printable set offers the chance to decorate with patterns of two, four, or seven colors or designs, adding a math component to the creative coloring activities.

I Belong Coloring Pages

The Celebrate Diversity printable set includes three coloring pages, each with a heart and sunray design. The first has a heart with the words “I Belong” in the center. The other two have different-sized hearts with no text, enabling participants to add their name or a saying of choice.

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There are many ways to decorate the Celebrate Diversity coloring pages. Skin-toned markers or pencil crayons provide a standout result.

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Pastel-colored markers, pencil crayons, or crayons are also great choices. Offering one of the printables in a medium with these soft colors encourages conversations about kindness and self-worth.

I Belong Bookmarks

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The “I Belong’ bookmarks come in a design with 5 color options. Crayons, markers, or pencil crayons in skin tones or pastel kindness colors also work great for decorating the bookmarks.

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Below are the steps to make the bookmarks. Adding yarn or ribbon as a finishing touch offers more choice in personalizing a bookmark.

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How to add yarn or ribbon:

Fold two or three 8 or 9-inch strands of yarn or ribbon in half.
Insert the loop at the top through the punched hole.
Pull both ends through the loop and gently tighten.

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Celebrate Diversity Printable Set Uses

This Celebrate Diversity printable set is perfect for:

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities
Inclusive classroom themes
Back-to-school community building
Anti-bullying discussions
School counselors and therapists
Morning work or quiet time
Library and literacy centers
Homeschool affirmation activities

Grab the easy-to-use Celebrate Diversity printable set in my Skills N Smiles Etsy shop today!

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Celebrate Diversity Paper Craft

Celebrate Diversity Heart Art

Black History Month Positive Affirmations Art

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Lunar New Year Lantern Craft

February 11, 2026 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This Lunar New Year lantern craft is easy to make and looks stunning on display. The gorgeous craft comes in two sizes and five themes, and adds flair to Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year celebrations at home or in the classroom. The hanging lanterns are simple for both children and adults to make.

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At the start of many New Year celebrations in South and Southeast Asia, paper lanterns are displayed indoors in homes and businesses. Outdoors, they are strung along streets and hung on trees. They are most prominently displayed on the 15^th day of the New Year, the Lantern Festival.

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Making the Lunar New Year Lantern Craft

To make one or more of these classic hanging lanterns, first download the paper lantern printable set. It is available in my Skills N Smiles shop on Etsy for an everyday low price, and comes in both 8.5 x 11-inch and A4 sizes.

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Next, print a design you would like to craft. Cardstock paper is recommended for printing, but regular copy paper will also work.

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Fold the printed paper in half, with the parallel lines going upwards from the folded edge to the open edge.

Then cut along the lines from the folded paper edge to the open edge. Stop cutting where the lines end.

Next, unfold the paper and roll it into a tube.

Tape or staple the top and bottom edges.

Lastly, attach a paper or ribbon handle, about 8 to 10 inches long, with tape, a glue stick, or a glue gun.

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Skill Level

This paper craft is beginner-friendly and low-prep. Younger children may need help with each step, but will love the chance to use scissors, tape, and glue. Older kids and adults can easily assemble it independently.

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Lanterns in Two Sizes

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These paper lantern designs come in two sizes for versatile decorating. Both look beautiful on display. The smaller size is perfect for children to carry in a Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year parade, or at a Lantern Festival.

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Variation of the Lunar New Year Paper Craft

In addition to white, these striking lantern designs also look nice printed on pastel cardstock or copy paper. Light yellow, blue, green, cream, and pink paper work well.

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Add a festive, cultural touch to your Lunar New Year celebration or Chinese New Year classroom theme in minutes with this beautiful Lunar New Year Lantern craft!

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“Year of the Horse” Wall Art

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This “Year of the Horse” wall art is perfect for an entryway, classroom, or office. Download it at Skills N Smiles on Etsy for Lunar New Year or Zodiac-themed decor, or a cultural celebration display.

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The “Year of the Horse” art print will elevate your Lunar New Year decor, and is available as an instant download on Etsy. It comes in four print sizes, and PDF and PNG formats.

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Get this “Year of the Horse” Chinese Zodiac-themed wall art today!

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Chinese New Year DIY Decorating

Chinese New Year Sensory Bins

Chinese New Year Chickpea Bin

Chinese New Year Pretend Play

Chinese Money Tree Activities

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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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[Read more…]

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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