Confessions of a Not So Crafty Momma.

While we officially have just over a month left of summer, most schools in our area start at some point next week. This is a hectic time for many families. It might also be a stressful time for some children who are anxious about riding the school bus. Today, we want to share a few craft and book suggestions to help children overcome their fear of the school bus.

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Crafts

This paper plate craft incorporates painting, cutting, and matching!

This easy shape school bus is made with paper and is simple enough to fit into a hectic day!

Books

I’d love to hear from you! How are you getting ready for the start of a new school year? Are your children anxious, excited, or a mix of both?

When we were preparing for our daughter to join our family, we put a lot of research into finding a diaper bag that would be functional and durable. We ended up with several that all have their unique uses. However, our sweet girl has quickly grown into a very active toddler. As children grow, the things you need to pack in their diaper bag changes. Today, we want to talk about a few things we consider essential in every toddler’s diaper bag.

Diapers or Underwear

It is pretty obvious that you should pack diapers in your diaper bag, but even if your toddler is potty trained, never leave the house without an extra pair or two of underwear! Also, do not be tempted to leave the house with only a few diapers even if you think your toddler won’t need more than one diaper change. Toddlers can be just as unpredictable as infants when it comes to their potty habits!

Baby Wipes

Do not take the wipes out of your diaper bag once your child is potty trained. They will still come in handy!

Two Changes of Clothes

We never leave the house without two extra outfits. One is not always enough.

Snacks

When my daughter was younger, we’d always have a little baggy of Gerber Puffs or Cheerios. Now that she is a bit older, it is still important to pack snacks. We now usually select pretzels or cheese crackers. You never know when a toddler will decide that they need something to eat immediately.

A Bib

Our little one does not usually wear bibs at home anymore, but packing one in her diaper bag helps us cut down on outfit changes while we are in public.

A Book

There are two reasons that we like to bring at least one book in our daughter’s diaper bag. First of all, having easy access to books in early childhood helps encourage early reading and language skills. Secondly, our toddler gets bored very easily and we like to help her stay entertained without technology.

A Spare Sippy Cup

This is a recent addition to our diaper bag. Our toddler has now broken two sippy cups while we were out in public. If one falls on the floor at just the right angle, it is done for. To avoid last minute trips to Target or Walmart, we have started packing an extra cup.

Hand Sanitizer

We are not overly afraid of germs, but we feel like with as much as our toddler touches in public, clean hands are a must. Since soap isn’t always an option, we like to carry hand sanitizer.

We hope you find our list useful! We would love to hear from you! What are your diaper bag must haves? How much has your must have list changed as your child grows?

Traveling to Walt Disney World is an exciting experience. However, it can also be overwhelming. If you or a person you are traveling with have a disability that limits the ability to wait in a conventional queue environment, Disney has a system to make things a bit less stressful. The current program is called the Disability Access Service (DAS) pass. We used the pass last spring and would like to share some useful information about it.

Getting the DAS Pass

You will need to go to Guest Services at a park to set up the DAS pass. This can be done inside or outside each park. We went shortly after we got to Disney. We had planned on spending that evening in a park, but we never actually got inside the park, because the line was very long and by the time we actually got the pass, our child was ready to go back to the hotel. I do highly recommend getting it the night before your first full park day if possible. This can help prevent missed park time. There is no medical documentation needed, but you will be asked to explain why exactly the person needs the pass to wait outside the lines.

How it Works

Once you have the pass, you will visit the attraction you want to ride. The person with the DAS does not have to approach the attraction. Anyone who has been put on the pass by guest services can request a return time. The Cast Member at the attraction will give you a return time for that attraction that is typically based on the current wait time minus ten minutes. You can only get one DAS at a time, but you can use an existing fast pass, ride a ride with little wait time, or find somewhere quiet to rest while you wait. For example, if you want to ride Peter Pan’s Flight and it has a 70 minute wait time, they will likely have you come back in an hour. During this time, you can find rides in the area with typically low wait times such as the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel and the Mad Tea Party. After that, you can sit or have a snack until it is your return time. Our daughter discovered she loved popcorn during our trip, so we would refill our popcorn bucket and find an off the path place to sit. Since Disney banned smoking in the parks, the former smoking areas are now wonderful places to take a break!

A Few Other Things You Should Know

The DAS pass is not given out for mobility based disabilities. If you cannot stand in line, they will recommend you use a wheelchair or scooter. As someone with a rare disease that comes with both mobility and non-mobility related issues, I highly recommend either taking your own wheelchair or renting a scooter from an off-site company. Renting a scooter daily from the parks can get expensive and there is a lot of walking involved outside the parks. If you believe that a DAS card alone will not accommodate a specific disability, please talk with guest services about the specific needs. Disney is probably one of the most accommodating places on earth. They may not be able to address every specific need, but they do try to make every guest’s visit enjoyable. Even though they do not require documentation, please only use this program if it is something that your family needs. The former disability pass was widely abused, so the current DAS was designed to help prevent some of that abuse.

We would love to hear from you! What are your tips for surviving a Disney trip? If you or a loved one has a disability, have you used the DAS system? What other disability friendly travel destinations has your family visited?

Recently, we have been working on crafts and activities that focus on the ocean and things that live in or near it. Today, we want to share a fun painted jellyfish with you.

**This post contains affiliate links. We may get a small commission, at no additional charge to you, for any purchase made from our links**

Materials Needed

• Paper Plate
• Paint
• Paint Brush (Optional. My toddler used her hands)
• Glue
• Tissue Paper
• Scissors
• Googly Eyes

I started by cutting the bottom off of the paper plate in a wavy pattern. After that, I put several paint colors on the plate.

Next, I let my toddler start painting. She decided to use her hands, but you could let your little ones use a brush or even a sponge.

While the paper plate was drying, I cut up strips from the tissue paper. We used a metallic tissue paper that looked different on each side.

After the paper plate fully dried, i flipped it over and helped my daughter glue on the tissue paper.

Finally, after letting the glue dry for a short time period, I flipped it over to let my daughter glue on the googly eyes. This craft is a bit more messy than most of what we do, but it was a big hit!

Book Suggestions

Small children learn best when books and art or activities are paired together. Here are our suggestions to go with this craft.

For more ocean fun, please check out our open ended shape fish and our painted sea turtle!