From Etsy to Shopify: Growing GoodnightFox.com with Email Marketing

My Journey from Etsy to Shopify + Mailchimp

Starting a small business is a journey filled with excitement, challenges, and growth. My adventure began on Etsy, where I launched GoodnightFox.com, a shop dedicated to helping toddlers enjoy learning through play. As the business grew, I realized that to reach more families and create a stronger brand presence, I needed to expand beyond Etsy. This led me to the powerful combination of Shopify and Mailchimp, enabling me to grow my brand through email marketing.

The GoodnightFox.com Mission

At GoodnightFox.com, our mission is simple: to make learning fun for toddlers through engaging and creative play. We offer a variety of sensory play kits, dramatic play setups, and other educational resources designed to stimulate young minds and foster a love for learning. Every product is crafted with care and thoughtfulness, ensuring that each play experience is both enjoyable and educational.

The Etsy Experience

Etsy was a fantastic starting point for GoodnightFox.com. It provided a platform to reach customers who were already interested in handmade and unique items. Sales were steady, and the feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive. However, as the business grew, I realized that Etsy's limitations were holding me back. I needed more control over my branding, better analytics, and, most importantly, a way to directly communicate with my customers through email marketing.

Making the Leap to Shopify and Mailchimp

The decision to move from Etsy to Shopify was driven by the need for growth and scalability. Shopify offered the flexibility and tools necessary to build a robust online store that reflected the GoodnightFox brand. Integrating Mailchimp allowed me to leverage email marketing to engage with customers, share new products, and offer exclusive promotions.

Setting Up Shopify for Your Shop

1. Choose the Right Plan:

Start with a plan that fits your budget and business size. Shopify offers various plans, so pick one that allows room for growth. I started with the cheapest plan so that I could get a feel for it and I haven’t had to upgrade since. I have added a few add-ons and plug ins — Mailchimp has been the most critical to growing my shop. I’ve also tried a loyalty app and an SMS app.

2. Customize Your Store:

Use Shopify’s customizable themes to create a unique look for your store. Ensure it’s visually appealing and easy to navigate. You can also purchase a bunch of pre-made themes for your shop. But I wanted to get my shop up and running quickly, so I made very minimal customizations just to get it looking like my brand.

Pro Tip: You might find that it’s odd that you can’t show a catalogue view on the homepage. I’m not sure why that is, but setting up your catalogue collections is critical so that you can highlight the right products on your homepage.

3. Add Products, Collections, & Navigation:

Organize your products with clear descriptions, high-quality images, and appropriate categories. You can automatically bring your Etsy listings into Shopify using their import feature. But just know that you might want to rewrite your descriptions because the formatting doesn’t come over perfectly. It’s no big deal, just get your shop up and running and start driving traffic to it and you can slowly go back and edit and clean up your listing.

You’ll want to make sure that you tag your listings as you go with the appropriate “Collection”. Collections is how Shopify lets you show certain types of products on your homepage and in your navigation. There are two ways to do collections — you can either have them work automatically based on key words — for example, for my shop, I have “Donut Shop Dramatic Play Kit” and my “Dramatic Play Kit” collection is set to find those words in each listing. Or you can check each product to be in each collection manually — you’ll just want to make sure every time you add a new product, you don’t forget to check that it’s part of that collection.

There are many different ways to use collections — here are a few examples:

• Product type collections: Dramatic Play, Sensory Kits, Flashcards, Play Rounds

• Seasonal collections: Fall Collection, Spring Collection, Winter Collection, Summer Collection

• Discount collections: Bundle & Save, 20% off, BOGO

• Learning Theme: Montessori Basics, Body Parts, Math, Reading, Writing

4. Set Up Payment and Shipping:

Configure payment gateways and shipping options that work best for your business and customers. I enabled both ShopPay and PayPal for my shop.

5. Launch Your Store:

Once everything is set up, launch your store and start promoting it through social media and other channels. Of course, you’ll want to slowly start letting your audience know that you’re not just on Etsy, that you’re on Shopify too! Don’t forget to add a testimonials section to highlight your positive reviews! Shopify doesn’t have reviews built into their basic play, so you’ll want to capture those yourself or search their app store for a ratings and reviews plug in.

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Integrating Mailchimp with Shopify

1. Create a Mailchimp Account:

Sign up for a Mailchimp account if you don’t already have one. Because Etsy is a Marketplace, you’re not able to capture all of your loyal buyers as email subscribers, which makes it very hard to reach back out to turn them into repeat buyers. With Shopify + Mailchimp you’ll be able to turn all of your one-time purchasers into repeat buyers with Customer Journey Builder which creates automated drip series.

2. SETUP SUBSCRIBER POPUPS:

The other benefit is that you can start capturing subscriber traffic on your blog or social media sites by offering a lead magnet. A lead magnet is a freebie or discount that you can offer to your followers for subscribing to your email newsletter. I have two different lead magnets for my shop.

• Free Downloads: Because I offer printables in my shop, I have a free download section of my Shopify site where I send subscribers coming from my blog site.

• 15% off First Order: For my Shopify site, I offer 15% off discount for new buyers. The traffic to my Shopify site is more primed to purchase, so I offer a bigger discount.

3. Connect Mailchimp to Shopify:

Use the Mailchimp app for Shopify to connect the two platforms. This allows you to sync customer data and automate email campaigns. Once you’ve setup the integration, your Shopify data and customer purchase behavior will automatically flow over to Mailchimp. Here are a few of the many benefits of the integration:

1. Customer Profiles: In Mailchimp, you get a full profile view of each of your customers and a timeline based activity feed including how they’ve engaged with emails as well as purchases they’ve made in Shopify.

2. Customer Journeys: See more below for the triggers you can use from Shopify!

3. Audience Segments: See more below for the attributes that you can use from Shopify!

4. Design Your Emails:

Use Mailchimp’s templates to create engaging newsletters and promotional emails. Make sure to include a call-to-action and links to your products. I recommend setting up a few basic templates that you can reuse over and over again. Here are a few that are relevant for shops like mine:

1. Discount Email Template: I use this template whenever I’m having a sale. I spent some time formatting the discount offers to be bold and eye-catching. You’ll want to optimize this email for click through rate.

2. Newsletter Email Template: This is the template that I use most because I send out a weekly newsletter as well as some dynamic content newsletters. This one will pay dividends so spend a little bit of time optimizing the format and making sure you have strong CTAs that drive action to your site.

3. New Product Launch Email Template: Don’t make it a hassle every time you launch a new product! You can create one template for all of your product launches and reuse it over and over again.

4. Educational Email Template: Include in this template all of the good nuggets of information about how to use your products, This could include text, step by step instructions, video content, images and tutorials. Once you have this email, you’ll have this content ready to go for any journey or email where you need to plug it in.

5. Segment Your Audience:

Segment your email list based on customer behavior and preferences. This ensures that your messages are relevant and personalized.

Automatic Segments: Mailchimp will automatically build segments based off of your customers’ buying behavior in Shopify. So if you want to be able to target customers who have purchased more than once, you can easily create a “Loyal Customers” segment using Shopify attributes inside of Mailchimp. Here are some example ideas for segments you can build:

• VIP Customers (purchased over $200 in my shop): Building loyalty amongst your following is critical to getting your shoppers to promote your brand. Reward loyal customers with big discounts, special promotions, early access to new launches. I offer a gift

• Loyal Customers (purchased > 3 times in my shop): Purchasing multiple times is a great signal of loyalty. Continue to reward loyal purchasers — you can even create a unique discount code once they’ve unlocked a certain number of purchases. How awesome is it to make them feel like a special member of your community.

• Local Customers (within a 25mi radius of my location): I used this segment when I did local tradeshows and events at nearby shops. This was a great way to connect with my local buyer community. You can also start to personalize your content based on the weather, local events, etc.

• Hasn’t purchased ABC Flaschards (hasn’t yet purchased my flag ship product): Having this segment for your flag ship products and other offerings is key. This lets you target your customers specifically with product you know they’ll love.

• Teachers, Moms, Content Creators: If you know you have specific audiences that visit your shop, try to use key signals (such as the emails they open or pages on your shop they view to tag them by audience. This can help you send more personalized emails to them.

6. Automate Your Campaigns:

Set up automated emails for abandoned carts, welcome series, and product recommendations to keep your customers engaged.

Customer Journeys: In Mailchimp, you can use events and behaviors from Shopify such as “page viewed” “added to cart” “abandoned cart” to trigger emails directly to your customers. Here are a few that I have turned on:

1. Welcome Email: Welcome all of your new subscribers with a welcome series. You can make this series plug and play. Start by reinforcing your brand with a “Welcome & About Us” email. Then follow it up with a unique discount to thank them for subscribing (I do 70% off my printable flashcards). This warms them up to quickly make their first purchase to take advantage of an awesome deal. Continue to share meaningful content that provides value in their lives related to your niche. And don’t forget the reminders to countdown until the offer expires.

2. Abandoned Cart Email: Remind customers that you’ve saved what’s in their cart so that they can come back to your site and continue shopping. Mailchimp makes this easy with a dynamic content block that automatically pulls this information in from Shopify.

3. Repeat Buyer Email: Turn one time buyers into loyal repeat purchasers with this pre-built journey. This journey helps you follow up after that first purchase and land the second purchase through a series of targeted emails.

4. Order Notification Email: Send out customized and beautiful branded order notifications so that buyers know when your product has shipped.

Tips and Tricks for Success with Shopify + Mailchimp

• Focus on Branding: Consistent branding across your website and emails helps build trust and recognition.

• Analyze Your Data: Use Shopify and Mailchimp analytics to track performance and make data-driven decisions.

• Engage with Your Customers: Encourage customers to leave reviews and share their experiences on social media.

• Offer Incentives: Use discounts and exclusive offers to encourage email sign-ups and repeat purchases.

• Stay Consistent: Regularly update your blog and social media with fresh content to keep your audience engaged.

Getting Started with Mailchimp

1. Sign Up and Set Up Your Profile:

Start by creating a Mailchimp account and setting up your profile with your business information.

2. Import Your Contacts:

Import your existing contacts from other platforms or spreadsheets.

3. Create Your First Campaign:

Design your first email campaign using Mailchimp’s drag-and-drop editor.

4. Set Up Automations:

Use automation tools to create workflows for welcome emails, follow-ups, and more.

5. Monitor and Adjust:

Keep an eye on your campaign performance and make adjustments as needed to improve engagement and conversions.

Transitioning from Etsy to Shopify and integrating Mailchimp was a pivotal move for GoodnightFox.com. It allowed me to take control of my brand, directly engage with my customers, and grow my business in ways I couldn’t have on Etsy alone. With the right tools and strategies, you can also make this transition smoothly and successfully, setting your business up for long-term success.

Discover the Magic of Desert Animals with Our Sensory Play Setup!

Looking for engaging and educational summer activities for kids? Our Desert Animal Sensory Bins are perfect for small world play and exploring the fascinating world of desert animals! Sensory play is a fantastic way for toddlers to learn through hands-on experiences, and this setup is designed to ignite their curiosity and creativity.

Desert Animal Pattern Matching and Flashcards Matching

This bin is all about visual recognition and cognitive development. We've included a variety of desert animal flashcards and pattern matching cards. Your little one can match the animal patterns and learn to identify different desert creatures. This activity enhances memory skills and promotes attention to detail.

Small World Play with Pasta Noodles and Resin Cactus Pieces

Bring the desert to life with our small world play bin! We've painted pasta noodles green to mimic cacti and stuck them in white slime sand. Alongside these, you'll find die-cut animals and resin cactus pieces from @creatingadventuresco. This setup encourages imaginative play, fine motor skills, and sensory exploration.

Wooden Desert Animals Bin with Matching Magnetic Letters

For a tactile and educational experience, our wooden desert animals bin is paired with matching magnetic letters for name recognition. This activity supports letter recognition, early literacy skills, and fine motor development. Kids will love matching the animals to their corresponding letters while learning new words.

25 Desert Animal Vocabulary Words to Learn

1. 1. Desert

2. 2. Cactus

3. 3. Lizard

4. 4. Snake

5. 5. Camel

6. 6. Sand

7. 7. Sun

8. 8. Heat

9. 9. Dry

10. 10. Scorpion

11. 11. Owl

12. 12. Fox

13. 13. Eagle

14. 14. Plant

15. 15. Dune

16. 16. Horizon

17. 17. Nocturnal

18. 18. Adaptation

19. 19. Mirage

20. 20. Oasis

21. 21. Rock

22. 22. Burrow

23. 23. Habitat

24. 24. Prey

25. 25. Predator

The Benefits of Sensory Play for Kids

Sensory play is crucial for children's development. Here are some of the benefits:

1. Cognitive Growth: Sensory activities stimulate the brain, helping kids develop problem-solving and decision-making skills.

2. Fine Motor Skills: Manipulating small objects and textures strengthens hand muscles and improves coordination.

3. Language Development: As children describe their sensory experiences, they learn new vocabulary and enhance their communication skills.

4. Social Interaction: Sensory play

Buzzing Fun with Bumblebee Sensory Play: Free Printable Kits and Activities

Bumblebee-themed sensory play is a fantastic way to engage children in hands-on learning and imaginative play. Our free printable bumblebee sensory play kit and dramatic play setup are designed to captivate young minds. In this blog post, we'll explore four exciting bumblebee sensory activities that will bring hours of joy and learning to your little ones.

Bee Hive Wooden Play Insert

Our first sensory activity features a charming bee hive wooden play insert with tiny bees that can be stuck into the holes. This activity encourages fine motor skills and imaginative play as children pretend to be busy bees working in their hive.

Materials Needed:

• Bee hive wooden play insert from Wonder Years Play https://www.etsy.com/listing/1690965405/bee-counting-kit-bee-sensory-kit-bee

• Tiny wooden bees from Wonder Years Play

Activity Instructions:

1. Set up the bee hive wooden play insert.

2. Provide the tiny bees for your child to stick into the holes.

3. Encourage imaginative play by creating bee-related stories and tasks for the bees.

Wool Felt Bees and Honeycomb Bin

Next, we have a sensory bin filled with wool felt bees, honeycomb, and wool balls in black and yellow. This activity provides a rich sensory experience with various textures and colors, perfect for tactile exploration.

Materials Needed:

• Wool felt bees https://amzn.to/4gvxu3E

• Honeycomb https://amzn.to/4gn6SBK

• Wool balls in black and yellow https://amzn.to/4hLWq7S

Activity Instructions:

1. Fill a sensory bin with wool felt bees, honeycomb, and wool balls.

2. Allow your child to explore the different textures and colors.

3. Encourage them to create their own bee-themed scenarios using the materials.

Mini Sensory Trays with Corn Pops Cereal

Our third activity involves mini sensory trays in a bee theme, using taste-safe Corn Pops yellow cereal. This activity combines sensory exploration with taste-safe fun, making it perfect for younger children.

Materials Needed:

• Mini sensory trays from GoodnighFox https://goodnightfox.myshopify.com/products/bee-counting-play-tray-sensory-kit

• Corn Pops yellow cereal https://amzn.to/4hplDoP

Activity Instructions:

1. Fill mini sensory trays with Corn Pops cereal.

2. Allow your child to explore the cereal, feeling its texture and playing with it.

3. Encourage them to create bee-themed patterns or simply enjoy the sensory play.

Bumblebee Sensory Bottle with GloPals

Finally, we have a sensory bottle from GloPals filled with bumblebees and black beans. This activity offers a captivating visual and auditory sensory experience as children shake and explore the bottle.

Materials Needed:

• Clear plastic bottle or Sensory Bottle from GloPals

• Bumblebees from GloPals

• Black beans

Activity Instructions:

1. Start with a clean, empty plastic bottle.

2. Fill the bottle with bumblebees and black beans.

3. Secure the lid and let your child shake and explore the sensory bottle, enjoying the sights and sounds.

Bumblebee sensory play provides a wonderful opportunity for children to engage in tactile exploration, imaginative play, and fine motor skill development. With our free printable kits and the detailed activities above, your little ones are sure to have a buzzing good time while learning and playing. Dive into these bumblebee-themed adventures and watch their creativity soar!

Bumblebee Play Vocabulary List

1. 1. Bee

2. 2. Hive

3. 3. Honeycomb

4. 4. Pollinate

5. 5. Buzz

6. 6. Sting

7. 7. Nectar

8. 8. Queen

9. 9. Drone

10. 10. Worker

11. 11. Swarm

12. 12. Flower

13. 13. Pollen

14. 14. Wing

15. 15. Bumblebee

16. 16. Sting

17. 17. Garden

18. 18. Yellow

19. 19. Black

20. 20. Insect

21. 21. Honey

22. 22. Hive

23. 23. Fly

24. 24. Bloom

25. 25. Collect

Explore the magic of sensory play with these bumblebee-themed activities and let your child's imagination take flight. Don't forget to download our free printable kits for even more buzzing fun!

By incorporating these sensory activities into your playtime, you'll provide endless entertainment and developmental benefits for your children. Happy playing!

Free Download Ice Cream Shop Best Dramatic Play Printable Kit

Free download

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Free download ~

Discover the Joy of Ice Cream Sensory Play: Free Printable Kits and Activities

Summer is the perfect time to dive into some delightful ice cream-themed sensory play! Our free printable ice cream sensory play kit and dramatic play setup are designed to spark imagination and enhance fine motor skills. Today, we'll explore three exciting sensory activities that will bring hours of fun to your little ones.

Ice Cream Sensory Bin with Play-Doh Parlor

Our first sensory bin centers around the classic fun of Play-Doh. Create a vibrant and interactive ice cream parlor with colorful Play-Doh from The Dough Parlour and the most adorable ice cream cones from TC Play to complete your set. Add to the sensory experience with matching resin fruit pieces from Busy Littles. This combination not only encourages creativity but also helps children develop their tactile and fine motor skills.

Materials Needed:

• Play-Doh in various colors from The Dough Parlour

• Resin fruit pieces from Busy Littles

• Ice cream cones from TC Play

Activity Instructions:

1. Set up a bin with different colors/scents of Play-Doh. Use the flavor labels from the decor kit to label each flavor.

2. Provide the resin fruit pieces and ice cream cones.

3. Let your child create their own ice cream treats, mixing and matching the fruit pieces to decorate their Play-Doh scoops.

Ice Cream Sensory Bottle with Acrylics and Rainbow Sprinkles

Next, let's fill a sensory bottle with enchanting ice cream-themed materials. Using ice cream acrylics from Goodnight Fox and resin rainbow sprinkles, this activity creates a mesmerizing and calming sensory experience.

Materials Needed:

• Clear plastic bottle or the amazing GloPals Sensory Bottle

• Ice cream acrylics from GoodnightFox.com

• Resin rainbow sprinkles

Activity Instructions:

1. Start with a clean, empty plastic bottle or the amazing GloPals Sensory Bottle pictured here! It even lights up!!

2. Fill the bottle with water the ice cream acrylics.

3. Add resin rainbow sprinkles to create a colorful and soothing sensory bottle.

4. Secure the lid and let your child shake and explore the visual and auditory effects.

Ice Cream Scoops and Stacking Cards

Finally, we introduce a fun matching and stacking game using acrylic ice cream scoops and matching ice cream stacking cards from Goodnight Fox. This activity enhances cognitive skills, hand-eye coordination, and provides endless imaginative play.

Materials Needed:

• Acrylic ice cream scoops from GoodnightFox

• Ice cream stacking cards from GoodnightFox

Activity Instructions:

1. Lay out the ice cream stacking cards.

2. Provide the acrylic ice cream scoops.

3. Encourage your child to match the scoops to the cards and stack them according to the patterns.

Ice cream sensory play offers a wonderful opportunity for children to explore textures, colors, and imaginative scenarios. With our free printable kits and the detailed activities above, your little ones are sure to have a blast while developing essential skills. Dive into these ice cream-themed adventures and watch their creativity soar!

Ice Cream Play Vocabulary List

1. 1. Scoop

2. 2. Cone

3. 3. Sprinkle

4. 4. Topping

5. 5. Parlor

6. 6. Flavor

7. 7. Creamy

8. 8. Sweet

9. 9. Treat

10. 10. Dessert

11. 11. Frozen

12. 12. Texture

13. 13. Melt

14. 14. Mix

15. 15. Serve

16. 16. Colorful

17. 17. Layer

18. 18. Stack

19. 19. Play-Doh

20. 20. Resin

21. 21. Acrylic

22. 22. Sensory

23. 23. Match

24. 24. Create

25. 25. Imagine

Explore the magic of sensory play and let your child's imagination run wild with these ice cream-themed activities. Don't forget to download our free printable kits for even more fun!

By incorporating these sensory activities into your playtime, you'll provide endless entertainment and developmental benefits for your children. Happy playing!

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Farmer's Market Printable Dramatic Play Kit: Sparking Imagination and Learning

Are you looking to add a touch of creativity and education to your child's playtime? Introducing the Farmer's Market Printable Dramatic Play Kit! This kit includes an awning, flag, open sign, bunting banner, and food labels to set the stage for a fun and interactive pretend play experience.

Sensory Activity Bins:

Silicone Fruit and Veggies Bin:

Fill this bin with realistic-looking silicone fruits and vegetables from @nugg_butts to spark tactile sensations and encourage imaginative play.

Pasta & Grains Bin:

Utilize egg noodles as a taste-safe filler in this sensory bin to introduce different textures and promote sensory exploration through touch.

Cash Register Checkout:

Enhance cognitive skills by incorporating a cash register into the play, where children can role-play as vendors or customers, practicing basic math and social interaction.

Benefits of Sensory Play:

Engaging in sensory activities like those provided in this Farmer's Market kit can benefit children in various ways, including improving fine motor skills, enhancing cognitive development, fostering creativity, and aiding in language and social skills development.

Vocabulary List (25 words):

1. Fruit

2. Vegetable

3. Market

4. Stall

5. Customer

6. Vendor

7. Cash

8. Register

9. Scale

10. Price

11. Buy

12. Sell

13. Bunting

14. Banner

15. Checkout

16. Open

17. Sign

18. Awning

19. Produce

20. Grocery

21. Basket

22. Shopping

23. Play

24. Role

25. Pretend

Unleash your child's imagination and educational potential with the Farmer's Market Printable Dramatic Play Kit, designed to make learning fun and interactive through sensory-rich activities.

DIY Lemonade Stand For Kids

Summer Fun with Our Lemonade Stand Printable Play Setup

Welcome back to our blog, where we bring you the best in sensory play ideas! Today, we're excited to share our Lemonade Stand Printable Play Setup – a perfect activity for hot summer days that combines imaginative play with sensory exploration. This setup is designed to engage your little ones with a variety of textures, colors, and interactive elements. Let's dive into the details of this fun and educational play setup!

Supplies list:

• Lemonade garland from @Littlebooksandnooks

• Lemonade books / reading list from @littlebooksandnooks

• Printable Lemonade stand kit from @Goodnightfox

• Yellow paper cups

• Pink and yellow paper straws

Sensory Bin 1: Sliced Lemons in Ice Water

Our first sensory bin is all about cool, refreshing fun. Fill a shallow bin with ice water and add in some plastic or real sliced lemons. The cold water and the vibrant yellow lemons create a stimulating sensory experience. Kids will love feeling the icy water and the smooth texture of the lemon slices. This bin is perfect for discussing concepts like temperature, texture, and even a bit of basic science as the ice melts!

Sensory Bin 2: Yellow Wool Balls for Sorting, Straws, and Cups

The second sensory bin focuses on fine motor skills and sorting. Fill the bin with yellow wool balls, which mimic the look of lemons. Provide your child with cups and straws, and encourage them to sort the wool balls into the cups or use the straws to scoop them up. This activity not only enhances fine motor skills but also introduces basic math concepts like counting and sorting by size or color.

Sensory Bin 3: Play Cash Register

No lemonade stand is complete without a play cash register! Set up a small area with a toy cash register, play money, and a few pretend lemons. This bin helps children understand basic money concepts, practice their counting skills, and engage in role-playing as they "sell" their lemonade. It's a great way to incorporate social skills and imaginative play into the sensory experience.

Printable Play Setup:

To tie everything together, we've created a set of lemonade stand printables that include signs, menus, and price tags. These printables add an extra layer of realism to your child's play and help them develop literacy and numeracy skills. Download and print our lemonade stand kit to get started!

Vocabulary List:

Here are 25 vocabulary words to practice with your child during lemonade stand play:

1. 1. Lemon

2. 2. Ice

3. 3. Water

4. 4. Slice

5. 5. Cup

6. 6. Straw

7. 7. Sour

8. 8. Sweet

9. 9. Refreshing

10. 10. Cold

11. 11. Sell

12. 12. Buy

13. 13. Money

14. 14. Price

15. 15. Register

16. 16. Change

17. 17. Count

18. 18. Menu

19. 19. Customer

20. 20. Vendor

21. 21. Stand

22. 22. Sign

23. 23. Mix

24. 24. Pour

25. 25. Sip

Benefits of Dramatic and Sensory Play:

Dramatic and sensory play offers numerous benefits for children’s development:

• Cognitive Development: Helps children learn about their environment and the world around them. Concepts like counting money, making change, and understanding prices are foundational math skills.

• Language Skills: Enhances vocabulary and communication skills as children engage in role-playing and storytelling.

• Social Skills: Promotes cooperation, negotiation, and problem-solving as children interact with others in their pretend roles.

• Fine Motor Skills: Improves hand-eye coordination and dexterity through activities like pouring, mixing, and handling small items.

• Creativity and Imagination: Encourages creative thinking and imaginative play, allowing children to explore different scenarios and outcomes.

• Emotional Development: Helps children express their feelings and practice empathy by taking on different roles and perspectives.

Our Lemonade Stand Printable Play Setup is a fantastic way to combine sensory play with learning and creativity. From the refreshing ice water with lemon slices to the sorting activities with wool balls and the interactive play cash register, this setup offers a variety of engaging experiences for your child. Download our printables today and set up your own lemonade stand for hours of summer fun!

#LemonadeStandPlay #SensoryPlay #KidsActivities #SummerFun #HandsonLearning #EducationalPlay #CreativePlay #MontessoriInspired #EarlyLearning #LearningThroughPlay #SensoryBins #ImaginativePlay #RolePlay #FineMotorSkills #PrintablePlay #DIYPlaySetup #KidsCrafts #HomeschoolingIdeas #PlayToLearn #ParentingTips #PreschoolActivities #InteractiveLearning #MathForKids #LiteracySkills #FunLearning

Stay tuned for more exciting play setups and ideas!

Kid's DIY Lemonade Stand Printable Play

Daisy & PICNIC Themed Sensory Play: Fun and Educational Activities for Preschoolers

A daisy-themed sensory play setup is a wonderful way to introduce preschoolers to nature, gardening, and the world of flowers and bees. Sensory play not only entertains young children but also supports their cognitive, emotional, and physical development. In this post, we will explore the benefits of sensory play and provide detailed instructions for creating three daisy-themed sensory bins: a picnic sensory bin, a bee hive sensory bin, and a flower bin. These activities incorporate relevant learning topics and offer endless fun for preschoolers.

Benefits of Sensory Play for Preschoolers

Sensory play is crucial for preschoolers as it:

• Enhances cognitive development: Engaging with different textures, smells, and materials helps children learn about the world around them and promotes problem-solving skills.

• Improves fine motor skills: Handling small objects and manipulating materials boosts hand-eye coordination and dexterity.

• Encourages language development: As children describe their sensory experiences, they expand their vocabulary and communication skills.

• Supports emotional regulation: Sensory play can be soothing and help children manage their emotions and stress.

• Promotes social interaction: Playing in sensory bins with peers fosters cooperation, sharing, and social bonding.

3 Daisy-Themed Sensory Bins for Preschoolers

1. Picnic Sensory Bin

Materials Needed:

• - Green shredded paper or green-dyed rice (to represent grass)

• - Mini picnic basket

• - Small play food items (sandwiches, fruits, snacks)

• - Mini plates and cups

• - Toy ants and ladybugs

Instructions:

1. Setup:

• - Fill a large bin with green shredded paper or green-dyed rice to mimic grass.

• - Place the mini picnic basket in the bin.

• - Add small play food items, mini plates, and cups.

• - Scatter toy ants and ladybugs around the bin.

2. Interactive Play:

• - Encourage children to set up a picnic using the play food, plates, and cups.

• - Use the toy ants and ladybugs to discuss insects that might visit a picnic.

Learning Topics:

• - Discuss the concept of a picnic and outdoor activities.

• - Talk about different types of food and their nutritional benefits.

• - Introduce the idea of insects and their role in nature.

2. Bee Hive Sensory Bin

Materials Needed:

• - Yellow and black pom-poms (to represent bees)

• - Honeycomb-shaped ice cube trays or bubble wrap

• - Toy bees

• - Small jars or containers (to represent honey pots)

• - Flower petals or silk flowers

Instructions:

1. Setup:

• - Fill a large bin with yellow and black pom-poms to represent bees.

• - Place honeycomb-shaped ice cube trays or bubble wrap in the bin.

• - Add toy bees and small jars or containers for honey pots.

• - Scatter flower petals or silk flowers around the bin.

2. **Interactive Play**:

• - Encourage children to move the pom-pom bees around the honeycomb trays.

• - Use the jars to "collect" honey from the honeycomb.

• - Discuss the role of bees in pollination and honey production.

Learning Topics:

• - Talk about bees and their importance in nature.

• - Discuss the process of pollination and how honey is made.

• - Introduce concepts of cooperation and teamwork as bees work together.

3. Flower Sensory Bin

Materials Needed:

• - Artificial daisies and other flowers

• - Green playdough or floral foam

• - Small gardening tools (toy spades, rakes)

• - Mini watering cans

• - Flower pots

Instructions:

1. Setup:

• - Fill a large bin with artificial daisies and other flowers.

• - Add green playdough or floral foam to create a base for planting.

• - Provide small gardening tools and mini watering cans.

• - Include flower pots for planting the flowers.

2. Interactive Play:

• - Encourage children to use the gardening tools to plant the flowers in the playdough or floral foam.

• - Use the mini watering cans for pretend watering of the plants.

• - Discuss the parts of a flower and the basics of gardening.

Learning Topics:

• - Talk about different types of flowers and their parts (stem, petals, leaves).

• - Discuss the basics of gardening and plant care.

• - Introduce the concept of growth and how plants develop.

A daisy-themed sensory play setup is a perfect way to engage preschoolers in a fun and educational activity. These themed sensory bins not only provide endless entertainment but also promote important developmental skills. By creating these sensory bins, you can introduce young children to the wonders of nature, gardening, and the important roles that insects play in our ecosystem. These hands-on experiences will help foster a love of the natural world and create lasting memories.

Daisy Picnic Play Vocabulary List for Preschoolers

1. 1. Sensory Play

2. 2. Picnic

3. 3. Grass

4. 4. Basket

5. 5. Food

6. 6. Plates

7. 7. Ants

8. 8. Ladybugs

9. 9. Bee

10. 10. Hive

11. 11. Honeycomb

12. 12. Honey

13. 13. Pollination

14. 14. Flowers

15. 15. Daisies

16. 16. Petals

17. 17. Gardening

18. 18. Planting

19. 19. Watering

20. 20. Growth

21. 21. Insects

22. 22. Nature

23. 23. Ecosystem

24. 24. Outdoor Activities

25. 25. Playdough

Engage your preschoolers in these exciting daisy-themed sensory play activities and watch them learn and grow while having fun!

4th of July Sensory Play: Fun and Educational Activities for Preschoolers

The 4th of July is a fantastic opportunity to engage preschoolers in sensory play that is both fun and educational. Sensory play not only entertains young children but also supports their cognitive, emotional, and physical development. In this post, we will explore the benefits of sensory play and provide detailed instructions for creating three themed sensory bins: a BBQ cookout bin, a red, white, and blue sushi rice bin, and an edible American flag bin. These activities incorporate relevant learning topics such as U.S. history and patriotic symbols, making them perfect for celebrating Independence Day.

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Are you looking for a unique and engaging way to celebrate the 4th of July with your little ones? Look no further! Our 4th of July Printable Sensory and Dramatic Play Kit is designed to spark creativity and excitement while promoting sensory exploration. In this blog post, we'll dive into three fun sensory bins you can create that are 4th of July themed. We'll also introduce the printables included in the kit, such as the awning, American flag, United States map, cookout food, and themed concept cards. Let's embark on a sensory and dramatic play adventure that your children will love!

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Benefits of Sensory Play for Preschoolers

Sensory play is crucial for preschoolers as it:

• Enhances cognitive development: Engaging with different textures, smells, and materials helps children learn about the world around them and promotes problem-solving skills.

• Improves fine motor skills: Handling small objects and manipulating materials boosts hand-eye coordination and dexterity.

• Encourages language development: As children describe their sensory experiences, they expand their vocabulary and communication skills.

• Supports emotional regulation: Sensory play can be soothing and help children manage their emotions and stress.

• Promotes social interaction: Playing in sensory bins with peers fosters cooperation, sharing, and social bonding.

3 Patriotic Independence Day Sensory Bins for Preschoolers

1. BBQ Cookout Bin

Materials Needed:

• Play kitchen BBQ set

• Plastic hot dogs, hamburgers, and buns

• Toy spatulas, tongs, and plates

• Fake grass or green felt for the "lawn"

• Small American flags

Instructions:

1. Setup: Arrange the play kitchen BBQ set on one side of a large bin.

2. Add Accessories: Place the plastic hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, spatulas, and tongs around the BBQ set.

3. Create the Scene: Lay the fake grass or green felt to mimic a picnic area.

4. Decorate: Insert small American flags into the "lawn" for a festive touch.

Learning Topics:

• Discuss traditional American foods.

• Talk about summer and outdoor activities.

• Introduce the concept of a cookout and how it is part of the 4th of July celebrations.

2. Red, White, and Blue Sushi Rice Bin

Materials Needed:

• 3 cups of white rice

• Red and blue food coloring

• Vinegar

• Ziplock bags

• Plastic stars and stripes

• Scoops and small containers

Instructions:

1. Dyeing the Rice: Divide the rice into three equal parts. Place each portion in a separate Ziplock bag. Add a few drops of red food coloring and a teaspoon of vinegar to one bag, blue food coloring and vinegar to another, and leave the third part white. Seal the bags and shake until the rice is evenly colored. Spread the rice on parchment paper to dry for a few hours.

2. Setting Up the Bin: Once the rice is dry, layer the red, white, and blue rice in a large sensory bin. Add plastic stars and stripes for additional texture and visual interest. Provide scoops and small containers for scooping and pouring.

Learning Topics:

• Explore the colors of the American flag.

• Discuss the significance of Independence Day.

• Introduce basic concepts of measurement and volume through scooping and pouring.

3. Edible American Flag Bin

Materials Needed:

• Fresh blueberries

• Shredded coconut

• Fresh raspberries

• Large tray

• Small bowls

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Tray: Use a large tray to create the base of the American flag. Arrange the blueberries in a square in the top left corner to represent the stars. Create alternating stripes using shredded coconut and raspberries.

2. Interactive Play: Place small bowls of blueberries, raspberries, and shredded coconut around the bin. Allow children to create their own versions of the American flag or simply enjoy exploring the textures and tastes.

Learning Topics:

• Talk about the American flag and its symbolism.

• Discuss healthy eating and the benefits of fruits.

• Encourage creativity and pattern recognition.

4th of July sensory play activities offer a unique blend of fun and education, providing preschoolers with hands-on experiences that stimulate their senses and promote learning. By creating themed sensory bins, you can introduce young children to important concepts related to Independence Day, such as U.S. history, patriotic symbols, and traditional celebrations. These activities not only engage children in meaningful play but also help develop essential skills that support their overall growth and development.

25 4th of July Vocabulary words for Preschoolers:

1. Independence Day

2. America

3. Flag

4. Stars

5. Stripes

6. President

7. Patriotism

8. BBQ

9. Cookout

10. Hot dogs

11. Hamburgers

12. Picnic

13. Celebration

14. Fireworks

15. Liberty

16. Freedom

17. History

18. July

19. Red

20. White

21. Blue

22. Imperialism

23. Declaration of Independence

24. Thomas Jefferson

25. George Washington

Engage your preschoolers in these exciting 4th of July sensory play activities and watch them learn and grow while celebrating this important national holiday!

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4th of July Independence Day Themed Reading List for Preschoolers:

• Little Presidents

• American Legends Alphabet

• Little Places America Is…

• You’re my little firecracker

Dive into Mermaid and Sea Animal Ocean Sensory Play: A Flisat Table Adventure

Sensory play is a wonderful way to engage children in hands-on learning, stimulating their senses and fostering creativity. It provides an opportunity for children to explore, experiment, and discover new textures, colors, and shapes. This blog post will guide you through three exciting sensory play trays for the IKEA Flisat table, each designed to transport your child to an enchanting underwater world filled with mermaids and sea creatures. Don’t forget to snag the Surf Shack Printables so that you can bring this fabulous ocean theme to life for Ocean Week!

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Flisat Table Bin 1: Mermaid Insert

Our first sensory tray features the Mermaid Insert from WonderYearsPlay. This activity insert is perfect for filling with rice or chickpeas, creating a colorful and tactile experience. We used rainbow-painted chickpeas from @curiouswren to add a magical touch to our mermaid world. To recreate this setup, here’s what you’ll need:

• Mermaid Flisat Table insert (Use code GOODNIGHTFOX to save!)

• Colored chickpeas

• Plastic fish toys

• Bucket & shovel beach kit

• Mermaid match game

• Play shells

• Sea animal waterproof cards

Here’s how you can create your own colored rice or chickpeas at home:

How to make colored rice for flisat table sensory play:

1. Measure out the desired amount of rice.

2. In a zip-lock bag, add rice and a few drops of food coloring.

3. Add a teaspoon of vinegar to help the color adhere to the rice.

4. Seal the bag and shake until the rice is evenly coated with color.

5. Spread the rice out on a baking sheet to dry.

How to make colored chickpeas for flisat table sensory play:

1. Place chickpeas in a zip-lock bag.

2. Add a few drops of acrylic paint to the bag.

3. Seal the bag and shake until the chickpeas are coated in paint.

4. Spread the chickpeas out on a baking sheet to dry.

These colorful fillers create a vibrant and interactive environment for your child to explore, matching and sorting different mermaids by color.

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Flisat Table Bin 2: Coral Reef Tray

The Coral Reef Tray uses magnetic sand as a base filler, providing a unique texture that mimics the ocean floor. To create the coral reef, use dried pasta noodles of different shapes and sizes, painted in various colors with acrylic paint. Here’s how to prepare the pasta:

1. Select different pasta shapes such as bow ties, rotini, and shells.

2. Lay the pasta out on a protected surface.

3. Paint each shape with acrylic paint in bright coral colors like pink, orange, and yellow.

4. Let the pasta dry completely before adding it to the tray.

Arrange the painted pasta on top of the magnetic sand to create a vibrant coral reef, and add small sea animal figures to enhance the underwater adventure.

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Flisat Table Bin 3: Taste Safe Beach Small World Play

Our final sensory tray is a taste-safe Jello beach, perfect for younger children. This tray combines crushed graham crackers for sand with blue jello for the ocean, creating an immersive and edible play experience. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Crush graham crackers to create a sandy texture.

2. Prepare blue jello according to the package instructions and pour it into a shallow tray.

3. Once the jello has set, add the crushed graham crackers to one side of the tray to represent the beach.

4. Place small ocean animal figures into the jello for children to dig out.

5. For added fun, use whipped cream to create white foamy water on the beach.

This tray allows children to enjoy sensory play while also exploring new tastes and textures in a safe way.

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The Benefits of Sensory Play

Sensory play is an invaluable tool for early childhood development. It helps to build fine motor skills, enhances cognitive growth, and promotes language development. Through activities like these mermaid and sea animal trays, children can learn about the ocean, develop their imagination, and engage in meaningful play.

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Mermaid and Ocean Vocabulary for Preschoolers:

1. Mermaid

2. Ocean

3. Coral

4. Reef

5. 5. Fish

6. Seaweed

7. Shell

8. Starfish

9. Crab

10. Dolphin

11. Whale

12. Jellyfish

13. Octopus

14. Seagull

15. Beach

16. Sand

17. Wave

18. Boat

19. Tide

20. Current

21. Anchor

22. Buoy

23. Sailor

24. Lagoon

25. Harbor

By incorporating these words into your sensory play activities, you can help your child expand their vocabulary while having fun. Dive into these mermaid and sea animal sensory trays and watch your child’s creativity and learning soar!

Exploring Sensory Play with a Cinco De Mayo Taco Truck Theme for Kids

Exploring Sensory Play with a Cinco De Mayo Taco Truck Theme for Kids

Sensory play offers numerous benefits for children's overall development. Engaging in sensory activities helps stimulate children's senses, improve motor skills, encourage cognitive development, and enhance creativity.

To create a fun and educational sensory play experience inspired by Cinco De Mayo, set up a colorful taco-making activity using different sensory materials. Use pink, green, and yellow colored chickpeas to represent peppers and corn, flour tortillas as taco shells, and uncooked black beans and white rice for rice and beans fillings.

Enhance the sensory experience with an adorable pink and green themed taco truck decor, perfect for the IKEA Flisat table. This setup not only engages children in imaginative play but also encourages them to explore different textures, colors, and shapes.

After setting up the taco truck station, guide the children through building their tacos using the sensory materials provided. Let them explore the different textures and colors as they create their unique taco masterpieces.

Here are 25 vocabulary words that parents can introduce to their children during this sensory play lesson:

1. Pepper

2. Corn

3. Flour tortilla

4. Black beans

5. White rice

6. Filling

7. Ingredients

8. Texture

9. Colorful

10. Sensory

11. Creativity

12. Motor skills

13. Cognitive

14. Development

15. Exploration

16. Shapes

17. Imaginative

18. Play

19. Taco truck

20. Decor

21. Theme

22. Table

23. Experience

24. Station

25. Masterpiece

Engaging children in sensory play activities like the Cinco De Mayo Taco Truck theme not only provides them with a fun learning experience but also nurtures their creativity and cognitive skills. Encourage your child to explore, create, and learn through this exciting sensory play adventure!