Send Kids Happy Holiday Mail

"Mommy, why do you get all of the fun mail?"

This year, Petit Mail is bringing the joy of holiday snail mail to kids.  

Send that special child in your life a 1-time holiday-themed story postcard. 

Send Happy Holiday Mail

Every child loves to find special mail addressed to them in their mailbox.


What better way to celebrate the joy of the holiday season that to send the child in your life a piece of happy holiday mail?


The Petit Mail Holiday Story Postcard is: Oliver Bakes Cookies


Spark your child's imagination and encourage creative play. With so much of our days filled with technology, it is a wonderful treat to receive real paper mail.



The Happy Holiday Mail Story Postcard is:

(+) full colour, double-sided 
(+) printed on thick card stock 
(+) packaged in a bright, fun red envelope 
(+) Addressed by hand to your child

$7 CAN (Including postage costs) for Canada and US mailing addresses (approximately $5.60 US).  International orders also available. 

All orders will be mailed in early December. 

Order Your Happy Holiday Mail Today

Stocking Stuffers for Kids - Kids Stationery Sets

Stocking Stuffers For Kids: Holiday Inspiration

I'm always looking for new and interesting stocking stuffer ideas for my kids and as part of my ongoing efforts to have less "stuff" in our home, I like things that encourage imagination but don't necessarily stay in the house.  

Introducing: Petit Mail Kids Stationery Sets

Watch the introduction here!

Featuring Petit Mail characters Olivia and Oliver, the kids stationery sets include:

• 2 sheets of lined writing paper, perfect for young writers
• 2 bright, colourful envelopes
• 2 postcards

The stationery sets also include some pen pal tips to encourage your child to write a letter.  If your child doesn't have a pen pal, you can connect with one here, or have them write to a friend or family member (across town or across the world).  

The Benefits Of Stationery For Young Kids

My daughter NJ is in Grade 1, but is reluctant to practice her printing.  Having a pen pal, and using this fun stationery, has really encouraged her to write - so far, she loves receiving snail mail from her pen pal Alice, in the UK.  

These stationery sets are also included as a "free gift" bonus with Petit Mail 3, 6 or 12 month subscription holiday pre-orders.  Holiday subscriptions start in January, but you receive a stationery set of your choice along with a Petit Mail gift card - the perfect way to have a "little something" to open along with your gift.  You can find holiday pre-orders here. 

Holiday Kids Subscription Pre-Order (and Bonus!)

If you're anything like me, you have a child in your life who really doesn't need any more "stuff".

Of course, stuff will usually come, that's the nature of childhood and holiday seasons, but after 2 + years of slowly decluttering our house, I've gotten into a fairly good routine of moving things along when we are finished with them and keeping the number of toys somewhat manageable.

I've also really been making effort toward gifting experiences, even to young children in my life.

Side note: Super proud mom moment recently when my 6 year old daughter announced that for her birthday, she'd like to "go out for breakfast together" and do a "special family activity" - I'm holding on to that one as a WIN!

Petit Mail Is An Experience Gift

The Petit Mail experience is a wonderful way to encourage kids ages 3-6 to grow, learn and read.

Every month, they receive a Petit Mail story postcard, addressed to them in their mailbox. 

Each story postcard has a theme related to art, science, creativity or nature.  Encourage reading skills by reading your story postcard out loud together, then get creative - use the story postcard as inspiration for your own exploration, activities, crafts and more.

 

Parents say: "the Petit Mail cards encouraged me to do easy and interesting activities with my kids that I wouldn't normally think of"

Holiday Pre-Order Now Available + Limited Time Bonus

I like getting organized for the holidays early, so I'm here to help you do the same.

Pre-Order a 3, 6 or 12 month Petit Mail Gift Subscription (subscription begins in January) and receive a FREE stationery set (Olivia or Olivier) with your order, along with a blank subscription gift card that can be personalized.

Kids love to have something to physically open during the holidays, so the stationery set adds that "fun little something" your subscription.

Each stationery set includes:

• 2 bright envelopes
• 2 lined sheets of writing paper
• 2 postcards
• pen pal writing tips

Pre-orders are only available until the end of October, so get a jump start on your holiday shopping now.

Pre-Order Holiday Gift Sets Here

Don't forget that Petit Mail prices are in Canadian Dollars 
(which is a great deal for all of our US customers right now, you're welcome!)

and all subscriptions include postage costs (there are no added shipping charges on your order)

3 Month Subscription + Stationery Set Bonus ($21 CAN ~$17 US)
6 Month Subscription + Stationery Set Bonus ($42 CAN ~$34 US)

12 Month Subscription + Stationery Set Bonus ($84 CAN ~$67 US)

Book Review: Same, Same but Different

The book review series focuses on children's books with a snail mail or letter-writing theme, because WE LOVE SNAIL MAIL!

Book Review: Same, Same but Different

This book is a treasure for kids ages 3-6 and I wish I had bought it sooner. 

The story follows simple and easy to read pen pal letters of Elliot in the United Sates and Kailash in India.  

The vibrant colours are so engaging and it encourages my kids to think about things outside their own front doors and a small taste of other cultures.

Watch my full Book Review of Same, Same but Different:

This is my first attempt at video blogging, but I plan to create more!  Be sure to click in to my new YouTube channel and follow along if you'd like to get updates when I post new videos and book reviews.

Interested In This Book?

You can find full Same, Same but Different book information here: 

http://bit.ly/2xh1BtK

Interested in finding a Pen Pal for Your Child? 

The Petit Mail pen pal group is open to parents around the world.  Connect with other parents, find a pen page of the same age in another country.  

Exchange letters and learn from one another.

We can't wait to have you - request to join the group below.

Kids Pen Pal: Connect And Find A Pen Pal For Your Child

Did you have a pen pal as a child?

I did - she lived in Australia and I loved learning about her life. 

International Kids Pen Pal Group

For quite a while now, I've been thinking about starting a Facebook group so that parents can connect with other parents and find a pen pal for their child in another part of the world.

So, I finally did it.

Join The International Kids Pen Pal Group Here

Let's learn about different places around the world (or even in our own country) - it's one of my favourite things about pen pals. You can spark new conversations and new learning, just by reading a letter!

See you in the group,

Alison

20 Things To Do With Kids In St. John's, Newfoundland (& Surrounding Areas)

1. Book a Fairy Door Tour - an enchanting experience for kids and kids at heart (personally, I enjoy it JUST as much!) discover fairy homes in the woods in the heart of St. John's (Pippy Park) with a guided tour.

2. Visit Freak Lunchbox on Duckworth Street in St. John's for a sugary candy rush!

3. Visit the Watershed Coffee Shop on the wharf in picturesque Petty Harbour - sit outside with a drink and a treat and watch the water traffic go by!

4. Ride the Trolley Line - a seasonal bus service that offers hop-on, hop-off service at various points throughout downtown St. John's, including Signal Hill, the Johnson Geo Centre, and the Railway Coastal museum.  Our kids don't normally take public transit, so the bus ride itself is also a real treat!

5. Visit the outdoor community splash pads in St. John's at Bowering Park, Bannerman Park or in Paradise at Paradise Park. In winter, skate The Loop or go to a family skate at one of the many arenas.

6. Drive to the Southern Shore and take a hike to the LaManche Village suspension bridge - we love this hike and try to visit once a year.  Take a picnic and stay awhile.  There are often seals or otters lounging in the pools under the bridge.

7. Try indoor swimming and splash pads at the Mount Pearl Summit Centre, the YMCA of Northeast Avalon or the Paul Reynolds Community Centre.

8. Take part in a family activity at The Rooms (usually on the weekends).  Children 5 and under are free!  Our kids love to explore the exhibits, and there is always something new to see.

9. Go for a nature walk along Rennies Mill Trail - this is a great walk along part of the Grand Concourse Trail - look or bridges, waterfalls, ducks and other wildlife.  Also a great spot to have a nature exploration walk.

10. Get ice cream at Bergs or Moo Moo's - there are now several Berg's locations, but as a local, the ONLY Bergs option is the original location in Manuels CBS. Or check out Moo Moo's ice cream on King's Road as another great option.

11. Join the Kid Friendly Activities in St. John's Area Facebook group for lots of great ideas, including a lot of date-specific events and activities throughout the year.

12. Visit Lester's Farm - see the animals, ride the mini tractors and take part in seasonal activities, like berry picking and the corn maze.

13. Get creative together at Clay Cafe Avalon,

14. Feed the ducks at Bowering Park or Quidi Vidi Lake.

15. Play family Mini Golf at Sir Admiral John's

16. For  families with older kids - North Atlantic Ziplines is a fantastic family experience and a great day out for thrill seekers!

17. Spend a morning or afternoon at Topsail beach or Middle cove beach.  Take a picnic, find the perfect beach rock, dip your toes in the ocean if you dare.

18. Take a day-trip to the Salmonier Nature Park - a wildlife sanctuary within an hour of the city

19. Visit the marine touch tank and watch the seals at the Ocean Sciences Centre in Logy Bay - this is one of my favourite free ways to spend an afternoon, and the kids love it!

20.  Hike the North Head trail from The Battery to the top of Signal Hill - I just completed this trail with my 6 year old on a beautiful, sunny St. John's day!  I definitely recommend an average or above fitness level, and arriving prepared!  Parks Canada rates this trail as "strenuous/challenging" Adequate footwear is a must, as the trail is rocky and steep. Be sure to keep your children close, as there are a couple of points on the trail with precarious drops to the ocean.  I have lived here my entire life and I never get tired of those views - magical.

Excited about an upcoming visit to St. John's with your kids, or just want a fun new way to read together? Experience a FREE Petit Mail e-postcard story "Oliver visits St. John's", delivered to your inbox and addressed with your child's first name.

Story postcards (including Oliver visits St. John's) are ideal for children ages 3 - early reader.

Oliver Visits St. John's is a short story featuring some of Oliver's adventures in Newfoundland, including:

• finding St. John's on a map, 
• visiting a lighthouse and
• meeting a Newfoundland dog

Sign up to receive your free Oliver Visits St. John's story postcard. 

Once it arrives in your inbox, read together with your child, and use the story as a starting point to learn other things about St. John's. 

Happy Exploring!

Inspired Childhood: Simple Play Spaces

I recently saw Emily post photos of her play room in the minimalism + motherhood Facebook group and I knew I had to ask her to share the inspiration with you here. 

"My children play so much better, more peacefully and for longer periods of time when they are not lost in a sea of toys. There is also less clean up which is nice because I spend less time cleaning and more time with my family"

 "It has made a world of difference to have a play room full of open ended toys!"

"Physical clutter is mental clutter and it's amazing to see how much better my children play in atmosphere that is free from clutter. It's also made us appreciate quality over quantity"

"A favourite is our Melissa and Doug rainbow stacker. That thing gets SO much love here!"

You can find Emily on Instagram @raisingtherussos

Join The Kids Summer Reading Club

As a mom, I look forward to warm Summer days with less of an agenda.  

I'm in the process of creating a Summer fun list - a big list of things that I would love to do together as a family this Summer - simple things like hikes, making homemade ice cream and running through the sprinkler. I'll be sure to share the completed list with you!

One thing we always keep up with over the Summer months is reading together.  We'll plan trips to the library and maybe even take part in a Summer reading program.  

Summer is the perfect time to try Petit Mail, and this month, you can join the Summer Reading Club and receive a story postcard in the mail for June, July and August.

This special edition 3 month subscription is a great way to try Petit Mail. Each month, your child receives a colourful envelope in the mail, addressed in their name.  

The story postcard themes over the Summer are: 

Olivia Plants A Garden
Oliver Goes Camping
Olivia's Science Project

The full colour, double sided stories encourage reading skills, imagination, creative play and learning.  

Kids LOVE to receive mail of their very own. 

The Summer Reading Club costs $7 per month, $21 total (including postage costs - that's right, there are none of those hidden shipping charges at checkout!)

JOIN THE SUMMER READING CLUB TODAY

Don't delay - order by June 10 to join the club

pssssst: USA customers - do you want to know a secret?  Petit Mail is sold in Canadian dollars, so with today's exchange rate, Petit Mail costs less than 16 US. If you've been thinking about trying a subscription, now is a great time!

The Offline Weekend Challenge

What is The Offline Weekend Challenge?

For one weekend per month, challenge yourself to go screen free. Get OFFLINE and connect with your kids without constant distractions.  

I'm doing it.  You can too.

Sign up to join me for the challenge, and once a month, I'll send challenge inspiration and family activity ideas to your inbox. 

Why I'm Getting Offline

I've spent a lot of time over the past few years working on slowing down, simplifying, and getting organized as a mom.  

All of these small steps have helped me move toward a better mindset to spend the little moments with my kids. 

It's working, but I am also a classic overachiever.  There have been a lot of changes in the past few years - being pregnant with my second child, taking a break from my career job to be home with him, returning to my career job and then juggling a job that I love, a family that I love and a small business that I love.  

I started saying "no" to things that didn't fit in with my goals for family time and personal time.  I use the perspective you always have time for the things you put first to guide the decisions that I'm making about my time. 

But. 

There are a lot of days when there still just never feels like ENOUGH time. 

I feel like my mind is constantly agitated by all of the digital information coming at me.  
Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of that information, and it's important to my work, but I also need a BREAK. 

These are the precious years, right?  The ones everyone tells you to hold on to.  They will slip away so fast, they say. 

and a lot of days I don't feel like I'm really truly PRESENT with my kids.  Even with all of that simplifying that I've already done.  I want to be.  I want to be, so badly.  

So, something has to change.

I need it.  I think you need it too. 

OFFLINE WEEKENDS. 

Don't Think You Can Do It?

I'm not saying it's going to be easy.  About a year ago, after reading watching Christina Crook's Ted Talk "Letting Go of Technology", I started an offline weekend experiment.  

It was hard. My husband would literally take my phone and tablet and hide them somewhere.  They would disappear on Friday and reappear on Monday. It worked for a while, but slowly, slowly I find myself slipping back into old patterns.

Hard, but so worth it. 

Calmer.

More Peaceful.

Happier.

Connected. 

So, I've created this challenge to keep myself (and all of us) on track.  Every month I'll send an e-mail with some inspiration to plan and prepare for your #offlineweekend.

What Is An #OfflineWeekend?

An #offlineweekend is basically a weekend without screens

• No TV (exceptions can be made for a special family movie night)
• No computer
• No tablets 
• No video games
• No mobile phones*

*unless your phone is a requirement for being on-call at work, or you expect some kind of family emergency and do not own a landline. Most of the time, a mobile phone is NOT a necessity. If a phone IS absolutely required, tuck it away and check it periodically.  Turn off app notifications and sounds. Be present.   

An #OfflineWeekend is a chance to spend more time face-to-face.  To connect with your kids. To enjoy family activities.  To get outdoors. To learn together.  

I think we can all use a little more of this in our worlds. 

Join Me Here

Take The Offline Weekend Challenge

Are you up to the challenge?
For one weekend per month, go screen-free and make more time to connect with your kids. Once a month, receive e-mail reminders with inspiration, motivation tips + easy activity ideas for ways to spend quality time with your kids.

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