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Stretching Your Pennies, Saving Your Dollars

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Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Creative and Budget Friendly Themes

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Crafts, Pinterest Leave a Comment

published date: July 21, 2013
modified datt: August 02,2014

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Welcome to the first installment of the Back to school series – Project Lunchbox! Check out future themed Bento Boxes in the Back to School Series on Frugal Coupon Living.

All to soon those lazy days of summer will be forgotten- traded in for crisp fall days, and sharp # 2 pencils. Don’t be caught off guard, get ahead of the game and follow us on this 8 week journey from Lunch box supplies to simple, and fun lunch themes!

skip-hop-owl

First let’s talk about some of the gear to get you started on being the cool mom around the lunch table. Your going to need a few basic items if your child is “Brown Bagging” it.  Wow them with a simple few additional accessories and your kid will likely leave now veggies or fruit on their plate.

Insulated Lunch Bags

To keep your child’s food fresh and tasty you want to invest in a good insulated lunch bag. It is possible with a good insulated bag to keep perishable foods at a safe temperature.

I love this series from Skip Hop. These insulated lunchie lunch bags are Affordable and adorable! Owls are trendy have been everywhere lately and somehow the cute owl bag made it into my shopping cart this year.

You can go with solids, patterns, or any number of popular characters to keep food cool till the lunch bell rings.

A Really Good Ice Pack

Just like the lunch bag you need one to keep perishables cold. Invest a little more in an ice pack that will keep your child’s food chill. I recommend having several on hand in case one is accidentally thrown away or begins to leak. There are many ideas but I particularly like the Cryopak Flexible Ice Two Pack.

Plastic Containers bento-lunch-box-4

You can go Bento-Style Box. Bento, meaning convenient, is a container that has multiple divided sections like this one. Love the look and durability of stainless steel! The possibilities are endless on what you can do with these cute little boxes!

Looking for something more frugal? You can pick up many cute single containers at Dollar tree, Target, or Walmart. These are perfect for snack foods, soup, pasta’s, cookies, or homemade fruit cups. Grab this Plastic BPA Free Set of 4 for $13.95.

A search on Pinterest will not leave you disappointed! Grab a variety and you will always have something on hand to fit that special treat.

Reusable Sandwich/Snack Bags

Though a bit of a pricey initial investment, Reusable Sandwich and Snack Bags will save you in the long run from buying countless plastic baggies, and not to mention the bonus of being a hip green momma. They are easy to clean and how could your child not smile opening their bag to something as darling as this  – The Green Sprouts Set of 2 Garden Sandwich and Snack Bag?

I have a few fabric snack bags and toss them in the washing machine with our laundry.

Cookie Cutters

Not just for cookies anymore! Use these to cut pizza into fun shapes, how about a PB&J shaped like a football? Cheese Triangles? What a fun way to put a little pizazz in their day! Try a simple set like this to start out like the Wilton Metal Cookie Cutter Classic Shapes.

Frugal-Coupon-Living-Simply-Sprout-lunchbox-note-printables

Some other tools that you may want to consider having on hand to help in creating fun lunches are; a paring knife, apple corer/slicer, lollipop sticks (kids love anything on a stick), cupcake liners, food coloring, and a sense of humor – After all, you might see your winning lunch box theme on “Pinterest, Your’e Drunk!”

FREEBIES

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables!  Make sure to print something fun or create a short personal note!

Stay with us for tips on creating themed lunches that will put a smile on their little faces. I can’t wait to share all that we are working on.



More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

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WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Bug Theme Lunch

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: August 25, 2013
modified datt: August 02,2014

BackToSchool

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Bug Theme Lunch

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Welcome to the fourth post in our Back to School Series – Project Lunchbox! This week’s theme – Bugs! With each series, we create a theme and strive to create fun and inexpensive lunches to give your child a little fun in their school day.

Your little one will go buggy for this sweet and silly lunchbox.  Make a PB&J a little more special using a cute butterfly sandwich cutter. You can find these most anywhere, but I picked mine up at Target Dollar Spot-they also had fun dinosaurs. The little red Baby Bell cheese makes the perfect little lady bug. You may prefer to use a food grade marker to make your spots like these. But since the wax layer is so thick I felt comfortable using a sharpie.

Blueberries on a cut down skewer make an adorable caterpillar. Be sue to cut any points off the tips to prevent accidents and cuts. I thought it looked adorable resting on a lettuce leaf leftover from dinner the night before.  I haven’t had Ants on a Log in forever, how about you? I wanted to try this traditional favorite with a twist, my little one loves Craisins so they became my ants.  Another healthy option is nuts – adds a pit more protein to the meal. Almonds work great!

To include a little dessert, what else could I put in but dirt and worms in this bug themed lunch?  I split a chocolate pudding cup between both of my kiddos, a crushed Oreo each, and a gummy worm.  If your school doesn’t want sweets at school, consider doing sugar free pudding and perhaps breaking up graham crackers. It still is a tasty treat, without going overboard on junk.

Finally, I raided my art bin; a scrap of yellow paper with black stripes colored in with a sharpie, a piece of black construction paper, two google eyes, and a pipe cleaner. I think this little bee really finishes off the theme don’t you?  You could do a butterfly, or even a creepy spider the same way.   Keep it all cool with these  darling bug freezer packs.

To bring a little pizzazz to your child’s lunches with minimal effort begin by designating a drawer or basket in your kitchen. Gather simple items such as a paring knife, some basic cookie cutters, and an apple corer/slicer. Pick up fun items as you go to add to the collection. As you go about your day and life, you will notice little things that can be used for fun accessories or tools when making your child’s meal!

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables – a sweet note is always a great addition. Find more Back to School Series including…



More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

Also check out Back to School Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

signatureFCL (2)

 

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Lunch Theme

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: August 18, 2013
modified datt: August 02,2014

BackToSchool

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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Lunch Theme

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Welcome to the fourth post in our Back to School Series – Project Lunchbox! Today’s theme is – Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! With each series, we create a theme and strive to create fun and inexpensive lunches to give your child a little CONGA in their school day.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, will there be enough room? To contain the cuteness of today’s lunch? This popular childhood favorite is a hit with kids and parents alike.

Whether you have a toddler, preschooler, or early elementary kids, they will love seeking out letters in this fun box. Our tree trunk is a PB&J made of “Texas Toast” since I was only including less than half a sandwich I went with thick bread, and my Kinder loves bread. Use whatever you have on hand for branches; celery stalk ends, fresh spinach, iceberg, or romaine lettuce (ours is made from romaine hearts leftover from last night’s salad) Grapes make great mock coconuts, spread some up and down your tree. To carry on the alphabet theme we used Alpha-Bits cereal for a snack, and used a sharpie to draw those impish lower case letters climbing up the coconut tree on a stick cheese. We chose cheese curls because they mimicked the coconut shape and that seemed to round off the theme well.

You could also use Scrabble Cheez-its, alphabet graham crackers, or a small bowl of alphabet soup to carry out the theme further (grab a few thermoses on sale!) Also consider some ABC cookie cutters for cutting out sandwiches, cheese shapes, and more.

chicka-chicka-boom-boom

The Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Book Series can be found on Amazon. Books as low as $3.59.

To bring a little pizzazz to your child’s lunches with minimal effort begin by designating a drawer or basket in your kitchen. Gather simple items such as a paring knife, some basic cookie cutters, and an apple corer/slicer. Pick up fun items as you go to add to the collection. As you go about your day and life, you will notice little things that can be used for fun accessories or tools when making your child’s meal!

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables – a sweet note is always a great addition. Find more Back to School Series including…



More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

Also check out Back to School Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

signatureFCL (2)

 

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Camping Theme Lunch

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe Leave a Comment

published date: August 11, 2013
modified datt: August 02,2014

BackToSchool

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Camping Theme Lunchbox

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Welcome to the third post in our Back to School Series – Project Lunchbox! This week’s theme – Camping Theme! With each series, we create a theme and strive to create fun and inexpensive lunches to give your child a little SPARK in their school day.

Want happy campers at lunchtime? Treat them to this cute campsite themed lunch.  They can imagine that they’re roughing it while sitting in the cafeteria.  I think your average bear (and boys and girls) would agree it’s a fun pastime, even if you’re just pretending.  I think this lunch would also be great to serve for a camping themed birthday as individual camp lunches, don’t you?

Of course ,we had to start with hot dogs on a stick, remember those days of finding the perfect straight stick to roast your dinner on?  Let’s recreate that in a fun, safe way.  Use skewers, but don’t forget to cut off the pointed end, and I use a bit of sandpaper to smooth the rough edge down a bit. Another option is using popsicle or lollipop sticks.  I “grilled” a bunch of hot dogs on my George Foreman mini grill, and froze the extra, you can cook them anyway you want, but I love the way the little grill lines look.

Next up, you can’t have wienies without the beanies can you?  As much as I don’t like canned foods, Pork N Beans have really got it down pat in the flavor department, so I cave a little.  They also go on sale and you can occasionally fine coupons so it might be something you already have on stockpile. Lastly, If you’re  gonna cook up some grub you must have a good campfire – Pretzel nuggets make great logs and sliced cheese can be cut into flames with a good pair of kitchen scissors (you might remember this pair from our Shark Week lunch!)

And finally, you wouldn’t send your scout off to school the great outdoors without a s’more to finish of their tasty meal – use 1 large marshmallow. A fun size Hershey( better yet buy a large, break off a piece for the s’more and keep the rest for your afternoon pick me up), and a whole graham cracker-broken in half for top and bottom. I heat in microwave for about 10 seconds just so it will stick together. 

I’m sure this lunch will get the stamp of approval from your backpacker. Like the little camping set? Check out one of our favorite toys, the LEGO Duplo Fishing Trip.

To bring a little pizzazz to your child’s lunches with minimal effort begin by designating a drawer or basket in your kitchen. Gather simple items such as a paring knife, some basic cookie cutters, and an apple corer/slicer. Pick up fun items as you go to add to the collection. As you go about your day and life, you will notice little things that can be used for fun accessories or tools when making your child’s meal!

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables – a sweet note is always a great addition. Find more Back to School Series including…



More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

Also check out Back to School Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

signatureFCL (2)

 

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Back to School | Project Lunchbox – A Bitey Lunch for Shark Week

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe Leave a Comment

published date: August 03, 2013
modified datt: August 02,2014

BackToSchool

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SHARK WEEK!

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Welcome to the third post in our Back to School Series – Project Lunchbox! This week’s theme – Shark Days! With each series, we create a theme and strive to create fun and inexpensive lunches to give your child a little BITE in their school day.

Just in time for Shark Week, this fun and ferocious lunchbox will have your little one squealing in delight – not fear. Check out that shark rising from the whitecaps, ready to… be eaten…. Let’s Begin.

If you don’t already have a pair of good shears dedicated to your kitchen, grab a pair. I use mine daily. I just pop them in the dishwasher between uses to keep them clean. Today I used them to cut out the Shark Pizza Quesadilla filled with cheese, pepperoni, and a bit of sauce, after all we need something red dripping from the sharks sharp teeth!

Cut a tortilla, folded over into two half ovals. Use your paring knife to shape out his sharp teeth on one side before cooking. Load with fillings of your choice. I used my toaster oven to just melt cheese and lightly toast. Alternatively, you can pop a bunch of pre-made Quesadillas onto a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray and then into an oven preheated to 400° for about 5-6 minutes until cheese is just slightly melted.  Once cooled, allow to cool, place in freezer bags, label with the date and title, and place in freezer. You now have a quick alternative to PB&J to grab for your child’s lunch box.

The eyes and nostril on the shark are tiny snips of a black olive. Another option is to grab a chef maker (can be used on food and eaten.) For snacks, shark fruit snacks will carry on the theme and of course you need goldfish for shark bait. The ones above in the image are the new French Toast flavor.  And finally for crunch, popcorn is always a big hit – Munch, munch, munch. We shook ours up with a bit of Parmesan cheese for a fun alternative flavor to butter.

Recipe Idea:

To create a healthy dip for the shark bait, mix 2 Tbsp. plain Greek Yogurt with 1 tsp. of honey, and 1 drop of blue food coloring – makes a beautiful fish tank!

To bring a little pizzazz to your child’s lunches with minimal effort begin by designating a drawer or basket in your kitchen. Gather simple items such as a paring knife, some basic cookie cutters, and an apple corer/slicer. Pick up fun items as you go to add to the collection. As you go about your day and life, you will notice little things that can be used for fun accessories or tools when making your child’s meal!

Get creative! There are an ocean of ideas out there to swim in!

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables – a sweet note is always a great addition. Find more Back to School Series including…



More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

Also check out Back to School Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

Note: Shark Week for 2014 Begins on the Discovery Channel August 10, 2014.

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WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Happy Birthday Theme Lunch

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Birthday, Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: September 01, 2013
modified datt: August 02,2014

BackToSchool

back-to-school-project-lunchbox-happy-birthday-theme-frugal-coupon-living-cropped

Happy Birthday Theme Lunch

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Welcome to the seventh post in our Back to School Series – Project Lunchbox! Today’s theme – Happy Birthday! With each series, we create a theme and strive to create fun and inexpensive lunches to give your child a little Celebration in their school day.

If your child’s birthday happens to fall on a weekday and during the school year, why not make it special? A few extra touches can really make your child feel extra loved and celebrated. Celebrate your child’s day by making a birthday themed lunch for your little cupcake.

back-to-school-project-lunchbox-happy-birthday-theme-frugal-coupon-living-steps-1-to-3

I went simple with the food this theme, but included my daughter’s favorites; peanut butter and strawberry jelly, Sour Cream and Onion chips, fruit snacks, and fruit. Our school has a no celebration policy in tact for the classroom (class)… but on her birthday, I decided to surprise her with a little sugary treat (this is straying from my daily healthy lunch)!

To make everyday lunch items special, I raided my birthday stash, most of us have gift bags, wrapping paper, bows, and tissue on hand – This is frugal and costs no additional money. I wrapped her sandwich loosely, don’t want them having to wrestle at lunchtime to get into their sandwich. To make a sweet message, scratch lightly on a banana with a toothpick . Carve out a notes  or picture, the air will darken the peel of your scratch, making your note extra visible. The cupcake went into a small lidded container, with a candle on top- not only does this make the lunch more festive but it keeps the cupcake from moving around if the lunchbox didn’t stay upright during the day.

Descent once more on your crafts stash and grab some stickers! With the stickies, I decorated the outside of the cupcake container and the pack of her favorite princess gummies. Finally, tying some curling ribbon to the handle of her drink container added some festivity to her lunch.  Nestle all contents into a tissue paper bed.

While we all might not have the Martha Stewart of decorating abilities, anything that comes with bows, stickers, pretty colors and gift wrap is sure to excite our little ones! Smiles all the way around, you might even hear a “You’re the Best Mom Ever!” when she jumps in the car that afternoon.

To bring a little pizzazz to your child’s lunches with minimal effort begin by designating a drawer or basket in your kitchen. Gather simple items such as a paring knife, some basic cookie cutters, and an apple corer/slicer. Pick up fun items as you go to add to the collection. As you go about your day and life, you will notice little things that can be used for fun accessories or tools when making your child’s meal!

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables – a sweet note is always a great addition.

Find more Back to School Series including…



More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

Also check out Back to School Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

signatureFCL (2)

 

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Back to School | The Importance of Routine with Children

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

September 21, 2013 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Free, Pinterest Leave a Comment

published date: September 21, 2013
modified datt: September 20,2013

BackToSchool

back-to-school-important-of-routine-with-children

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 Back to School – The Importance of Routine with Children
Lessons from a Former Teacher and Current Mother

If you have kids, chances are you already know what happens when they don’t get enough rest, then there is a shift in schedule or when something doesn’t go just as planned. Kids can get cranky, irritable, inattentive and loud at the flip of a switch. If we have a child that wakes up with those symptoms, while we can be excited to drop them off and get a break in behavior for ourselves, it doesn’t present a very fair day to our child’s teachers or classmates. Routines are vital for young kids in many ways beyond the sleep factor. In fact, routines can be the backbone of a kid’s future habits.

Sleep is the most obvious example but it is not the only one by a long shot. Another important routine for kids is to have homework time. When a kid first starts school, he develops (or doesn’t) the habits that will follow him through his entire school career.While the fight of making your child complete their homework, is never fun, some children need this guidance. Setting aside a time each afternoon for homework to be accomplished allows your child to learn respect of structure, as well as develop proper study habits.

Routine is also important as far as nutrition. Kids that sit at school hyped up on sugar and caffeine all day are not learning at the optimum levels and the chances are pretty good that they are also hindering other kids from learning their best. Giving your child a food routine that consists of healthy proteins, veggies and fruits will boost their learning power and keep their attention more focused. Keeping them off the soft drinks and other caffeine laden items will help them as well. Nobody needs a sugar rush during the school day except perhaps the teachers and staff.

Routines show up in your child’s social skill set as well. Finding ways to ensure your child is social is often overlooked, but necessary. Scheduling “social hour” gives it power and makes it a priority for both you and the child. For example, in my home we schedule time to go do something as a family every single Saturday, and the kids know they are welcome to invite a friend. This gives them a social pattern that they can count on and it keeps them seeking friends. This is very important to a young child who is learning about the importance of family, life and relationships.

Consistency is key. Healthy consistency will produce good habits. Good habits will produce great character! Structure allows your child to not be caught off guard or surprised about a “rule” or “expectation” in the home or the classroom.

What other ways do you create routines for your children? Share successful stories in the comments down below!

Find more on Frugal Coupon Living in the Back to School Series.


WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

Back to School | Raising and Parenting The Class Clown

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

September 14, 2013 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Free, Pinterest Leave a Comment

published date: September 14, 2013
modified datt: August 29,2013

BackToSchool

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 Back to School – Raising and Parenting The Class Clown
Lessons from a Former Teacher and Current Mother

Yep, those are my girls and yes, the child on the right is our little clown!

Growing up I had a friend that was totally incapable of being serious. He would try but somehow it just would not stick. You could give him something as simple as a math problem and he would have to find a way to make a joke of it. Teachers got furious and would inevitably punish him. I always felt sorry for him. I knew him outside of school and I knew he meant no harm. He simply got nervous about learning and social situations. Watching this class clown taught me some things over all those years. What he needed was a teacher that was up to the task.

During our fifth grade year, Jeff (we will call him Jeff) and I ended up with the same teacher. She was a pretty cool teacher because she wore blue jeans to school. It seemed all the other teachers were much older and not nearly as stylish, so we were drawn to her. Almost immediately, Jeff challenged her patience with his comedic antics. That teacher was smart, however, and she quickly ran the class and Jeff’s commodity routine.

The first week of school, she pulled Jeff to the side in private and told him that she thought he was massively talented. She asked him if he would do her the favor of putting on a show for the class. Needless to say that was something that Jeff loved the idea of and he quickly agreed. Then the teacher told him that there was only one catch….Jeff had to behave all week and make his grades to get that time at the end of the school week. (Note: to monitor this, set up a checklist with you and your child or you and your student.)

It was like she had created a new student completely. Jeff not only became a solid student. He continued to be one even after he had moved on and lost his comedy shows. Jeff is now a lawyer that has tried cases you almost surely have heard of… some would say he still is juggling a lot of tricks in front of a “courtroom” full of his peers.

The bottom line here is this. Parents should not panic if their kid is the class clown. Class clowns are inevitably the most creative people in the class…after all, wit and humor cannot be taught. Teaching our clowns a time and purpose for everything, however, is quite important. Class clowns need a release, they need a time where attention is granted, and they also need to be able to conform to society’s rules – for example, not talking or being silly in the middle of a writing lesson.

My youngest, is our silly little girl. When being spoken to in a stern manor, she smiles. She is not being disrespectful, it is her way of handling the situation. Her sister and I are very serious. We tend to be Type A and over worry and over do. It is nice to have the balance of a sister/child that can bring laughter to our day – after all, hasn’t our doctor told us “laughter is the best medicine?” When correcting this child, I have to remind myself not to kill her spirit. I love this joyful heart she has, but I need to teach her as as a toddler how and when is best to use this funny behavior.

Tips for Your Class Clown:

  • Don’t ignore the Student/Child – This personality does “need” attention.
  • Have a cue or hand movement between you and the child so they know when to stop – They will love this “Secret” only you both know.
  • Set a conference – A time for you and the child to meet and find the appropriate time and place for their humor to be displayed.
  • Praise the good in what you see around – That child will want the praise too and will “perform” to what you are giving attention.
  • Provide an outlet or a time for “performance”

As parents you can do the same thing for your class clown. Take the time to allow your class clown to let out energy. This could be in the form of acting, karate, gymnastics or something else that allows them to perform and move around. That outlet made it possible for Jeff to calm himself in anticipation and he learned to focus his talents into a skit each week.

Find more on Frugal Coupon Living in the Back to School Series.


WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Themed Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter & more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next party.

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I am a wife, mother, daughter, blogger, teacher, friend – a woman of many different hats. My delights are my husband, my five kids, reading, shopping, and spending time with friends and family. I am a Florida girl transferred to the heart of the DC-Metro area. I'm glad you're here! Learn more about Ashley.

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