Jun
24
When I was a child, my mother instilled in me the importance of writing a thank you note. It is important to teach your children at a young age that a gift is just that, a gift. It is not a requirement, it is someone taking their time (and typically money also), and spending them on you. When you receive a gift, it is important to thank the person for taking that opportunity to do something for you. Now depending on the age of the child, it’s not likely you are to get a real long heartfelt paragraph on how much that skateboard means to them. However, a quick: “Aunt Mary, Thank you so much for the awesome skateboard! I’ve always wanted one and can’t wait to use it! Love, Mikey” should suffice. Keep in mind your child’s age and writing abilities before settling them down for a pile of thank you notes. Also, make sure they have some input on what they write. The recipient wants the note to sound like it came from the child. Otherwise you might as well have written it yourself. This is fine if they’re still a toddler. But, a kindergartner is capable of...Read More
Jan
7
My 15 year old daughter has a definite sense of style and very strong opinions. She knows what she likes and what she does NOT like. Thankfully, texting has not completely replaced her desire to write stuff down. I still find little notes all over the place. American Stationery carries several products that appeal to my teenager and her girlfriends: the Rainbow Memo Set is a huge hit! This colorful assortment of various sized and personalized sheets covers every situation. The Signature Color Notes are ideal for thank you notes or letters home from camp. I’ve also discovered that these girls like to have their own address labels—they use them in all sorts of creative ways in addition to their intended use. The girls can stick a label on just about anything to indicate it’s their personal property. Cell phones and computers can’t completely replace all beneficial forms of communication!
Sep
5
It can be difficult for some children to meet new people. Adjusting to any new social scene isn’t always easy. Having all new classmates, transitioning to a new school or most of all moving to a whole new community can be tough. This is an exciting and emotional time for everyone involved. You’re trying to keep them interested in the new school year and the new friends on the horizon. Let’s face it, as much as we’d love to, we can’t instantly wipe away their pain because their best friends are left behind or they can’t fit in quickly with the new crowd. But we can ease their discomfort by making the transition a bit smoother. We can help them find ways to make new friends. I think it’s important to teach kids the value of writing handwritten notes. Later in life they’ll be better equipped to send thank-you notes after an interview. They might really enjoy writing if you start encouraging them to write early on. No matter how simple their first notes are, they’ll be bringing smiles to someone’s face. Choosing stationery is one of the most fun parts of the process, and if your kids have a...Read More
Mar
2
Do you want your children to learn the art of letter writing but have difficulty getting them to have fun with it? The following designs are sure to make writing enjoyable and will go a long way in teaching your children to write those thank you notes and perhaps not so much email. Dump Truck Notes – These notes, designed by Dinky Designs, are perfect for the little guy in your family. They are perfect for thank you notes as well as typical correspondence. The notes are personalized with a name and measure 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" and boast Dinky Designs’ signature colorful inside. The size of this fold note leaves plenty of space on the inside for a message of thanks. Pretty Princess Notes – These notes, similar to the Dump Truck Notes, are perfect for the little princess in the family. The note features an enchanted castle and the little girl’s name on the front. These notes also feature the colorful inside made famous by all of Dinky Designs products. To enhance the fun make sure to order matching stickers and labels! Sports Fanatic Notes – These fold notes are another one in Dinky Designs’ collection. These notes are perfect for...Read More
Nov
30
The new year will be upon us before you know it. Thinking back on my childhood experiences I remember staying up late (or at least trying to), eating junk food, and then at midnight my parents would bring out pots, pans and wooden spoons and out to the porch we would trot. We would bang on them as loud as we possibly could. They were homemade noise makers in place of paper horns and blow outs. As an adult, I still ring in the new year with family. Now it’s staying up late, eating junk food and playing games. I’m sure there are others of you out there who have a similar type of casual gathering for New Year’s Eve. In my family, game night is a pretty regular occurrence. If there’s a holiday, there’s a game. If everyone is bored on a Friday night, there’s a game night. That got me to thinking… for a family of game lovers we haven’t embraced the "personal" touch a stationery supplier might offer. So, I decided to check out my options. I have come up with a variety of game related items that would be great as Christmas gifts as well as...Read More
Aug
24
Perhaps one of the largest milestones you will face is a graduation. How fitting is the word commencement (or beginning)? It’s kind of the epitome of what defines a milestone, isn’t it? Graduation certainly does close the door on one era and begins a new one. Graduation signifies a time of completion, a successful end to an academic era culminating with a ceremony, in which you are handed a diploma. Perhaps in the past the most celebrated graduation was high school. Now, however, there is significance placed on preschool and college graduations as well. Pre-School Graduation A pre-school graduation is a celebration for your little one as they prepare for greater achievements in their academic development. One day the achievement of learning their A-B-C’s and 1-2-3’s and writing their name will seem quite insignificant to them. But, as a parent, it’s a huge milestone! You should be proud of how well your little one is learning. They are completing the ground work for a successful education experience. Celebrate, honor and cheer them on in their future endeavors. It will be the confidence builder they need to push them into the next stage they will face. Read: Pre-School | High School ...Read More
Aug
19
The notion of coming of age can take on a variety of meanings. Coming of age could be the transition from being young and childlike to becoming older, wiser, and developmentally more mature. A few familiar representations of this would be the transition from infancy to a toddler or the celebration of one’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Coming of age also suggests taking on new responsibilities. Bar / Bat Mitzvah Though many would think of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah as a party it is actually the term given to represent youth of the Jewish faith who have now reached an age to accept certain religious responsibilities. Many families will celebrate this occasion in a ceremonial manner. Read: First Birthday | Bar / Bat Mitzvah | Sweet Sixteen
Aug
17
The notion of coming of age can take on a variety of meanings. Coming of age could be the transition from being young and childlike to becoming older, wiser, and developmentally more mature. A few familiar representations of this would be the transition from infancy to a toddler or the celebration of one’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Coming of age also suggests taking on new responsibilities. First Birthday Stationery Though a little one may not remember this moment, it is a significant jump. Over the course of a year an infant grows, changes, and develops faster than many other stages in life. It is an occasion to delight in and remember fondly. The birthday boy or girl is special and should be honored by family and friends. A child celebrating their first birthday may not have a huge need for stationery, however, there are items available that will keep a first birthday memory alive or allow a parent to send a quick thank you note from the child to a gift giver. Read: First Birthday | Bar / Bat Mitzvah | Sweet Sixteen
Aug
1
A new school year is upon us. The sights, sounds & smells of the schoolyard will soon be filling your child’s senses. The excitement of seeing who their teacher will be, the activities they can participate in, and the friends they nearly forgot will all come into view in the near future. We would like to take a few moments and explore some of the experiences your child will have this coming year. Pre-School Age Okay, so your child hasn’t quite started school per say, but he or she is about to embark on a new journey. They will soon be getting a taste of the social aspects their school days will offer as well as the learning expectations they will face. It is during these formative years that they will learn their A-B-C’s and 1-2- 3’s. They will learn to express themselves through art and learn to recognize their own names. It is an exciting time to see little ones grasp a sense of who they are. You may begin to look for ways to encourage their development. You may want to give them opportunities to express themselves through art. yet keep some organization to their work space. KaDoodle...Read More
Apr
4
Baby Send announcements, write thank yous, or send general notes using our sweet pastel hand bordered notes. The hot pink hand bordered notes are an especially fun and modern way to communicate with friends and family on behalf of your little girl. Kids Even if your little one isn’t talking or writing on his own yet, you can help him start communicating in style! Stationery personalized for kids is a great option for hand-writen birthday present thank-you notes and more. Kids Critter Notes come with your child’s name and favorite animal. Optional printed envelopes are also available to help encourage your little writer to drop his masterpiece in the mail. The geometric notes are a colorful and popular option for young writers of all ages Teens Teen stationery should be fun AND functional. Custom notes and envelopes allow teens to express who they are in a sophisticated (but not stuffy) way. One great option for teens is the friendly, personal notes, which provide a crisp yet casual look. For the bolder teenage, polka dots or curls and swirls might really be her style. The light-hearted graduation notes are a great way for graduates of all ages to send thank yous, invitations to...Read More