Fantastic Business Ideas That Make My Kids Happy
Kristyn Meyer is on a journey to make herself the best human that she can be. These posts are a reflection of that. She welcomes your support via reading and through commissioned affiliate links within her posts! To stay up to date on all of her shenanigans, please subscribe to her email list! (psst…there’s a free gift involved)
*Free products were given in exchange for pictures shared of my children using them. I asked to include them in a blog post because I am a big fan of the provider’s business and future business plan!
Just a few months ago, my husband and I started talking about how things were different this time around from how it was when Parker was a toddler.
She went to daycare full time, and then on to preschool when she was old enough. Every day she was around kids and other adults.
For my son, it’s completely different. When I quit my job over the summer, it eliminated our need for daycare. He could be home with me while I worked on my blog, and our daughter would be going to school in the fall. So most days it has just been him and I.
I know that it’s important for him to socialize with other kids his age, and also learn to take direction from other adults outside of our home.
We tried a few story times, but I didn’t feel like I could infiltrate that mom group. I was new to the stay at home mom business, and they had been going to these storytimes for a while. I normally don’t have trouble being social, but I just didn’t like the vibe that I felt when I was there.
So then we tried a local playgroup. This was a bit of a better fit. My son gets to play with kids around his age and interact with other adults as well. He likes playing with the different toys that they have and running around. But this is only once a week, and doesn’t take place in the summer.
This lead us to think about starting him in a part-time preschool program next fall. It would be a guaranteed way of getting him interaction on a regular basis, and gaining additional social skills as well.
But I’m just not ready to do it yet! He’s not even three yet, won’t be for another month. I quit my job to be with my kids more, and even though this would be only a few hours a week, it still feels like too much. This little guy could be my last baby, and I’ll have years and years where my days will be just me and the dog when he’s actually in school. I don’t want to rush it. With my daughter, I wasn’t in this place because I couldn’t be. I went to work every day, and I needed to have someone else to care for her and educate her.
Thankfully, I have an opportunity to do differently with this little guy.
But even so, I still want to find a few different opportunities to get out of the house with him. Obviously the storytimes hadn’t been a big winner, and while the playgroup was wonderful it wasn’t going to go on forever. I had heard about MOPS, but they are only once a month where I live. I want something more frequent.
And then I saw it. Like a bright shining star in the sky.
A woman. A fantastic, wonderful woman who is looking to open up a play center IN MY TOWN. A play center with other kids, and wifi, and toys. And hopefully coffee. The perfect mixture of everything that I have been looking for. Little guy and I can go there a few times a week. He can interact with other kids and adults, and I will still be with him. I can play with him or sit and work on my blog. He can have fun and I can get some work done.
It is literally the best remedy for what I need.
The only downfall is that it isn’t open yet! They are aiming for a fall opening, which would be fantastic. Not that it’s all about me, but that would work really well for me!
I immediately signed up for the email updates and checked out their website. The story of this family is just amazing. They spent years in Haiti with their kids, and now that they are back here they sell the most beautiful Haitian items in their online store. The products are made by people they met during their time there.
This is done to both help the Haitian families to provide for themselves, and also to make the play center a reality.
So when she sent out an email that she was now carrying art and craft kits for children, and would anyone be willing to try them out, I jumped at the chance. I think I responded to the email within one minute of her sending it. I happened to be in my email at the time that it popped into my inbox, and I wasted no time at all expressing my interest to her.
I’ve actually been purchasing a few different children’s subscription boxes since the quarantine began. A lot of them have art projects, some have some science kits in them too. Even with the first time subscriber codes I have found, they are still around the $20 mark for each one. These kits at Mezanmi are just $9.99 for FIVE separate projects. Such a better price. Especially when one of the subscription services already turned around and charged my card again a week after receiving the first box.
So annoying.
This is why I love fantastic business ideas that also make my kids happy. Just like Mezanmi.
I wanted to include all of this into a blog post, because all of these things bring so much happiness to my heart. The play center idea is the most fantastic thing I’ve heard and came along at the exact time I needed it. And having it in my own town! Ahh! But also the online boutique with such beautiful and unique products that benefit so many different avenues. I have a few items in my cart currently, and my International Relations degree heart loves all of it.
And lastly, their art and craft kits. During quarantine. My daughter is an arts and crafts freak. She has her own art table in our house and I’m constantly clearing out “projects” that she has done and picking up strewn markers and papers. I think she’s going to be one of the artsy fartsy types as she gets older.
It’s like this woman (her name is actually Renee!) took all the things I love and need and put them into a business to benefit me. Obviously, that is not the case. The first time I ever communicated with the owner was about the arts and craft kits. But it’s just amazing how they all come into one.
So anyway, I wanted to take the opportunity to share how funny things can be. It’s amazing really how God can put things into your life that he knows you need. I just happened to come across her post one day on a Facebook group after finding myself discouraged in not finding exactly what I was looking for for my son.
And there it was. And now here we are. Doing arts and crafts to benefit a great cause! Check them out here!
Comments
So sweet. She’s so proud. Maybe you can set up a ZOOM with some other kiddos and you can do a project together!
Author
She actually zooms often with her classmates!
How fun! This is such a great project. Perfect for kids to do for Easter.
I love that this is not only fun, but there’s a great cause benefiting from it. Sounds like a great win/win for everyone involved!
This is just adorable, I really love projects and encourage my kids to do more and more every time. Support little business is the best brace ever that somebody can get
I love the Easter mobile. And I love how you buying it helped other people! What a great all around idea!
In my opinion, these projects are very fun not only for children, but also for adults to live Easter happily.
This is such a lovely post! I don’t see many businesses that also aim to make their kids happy. You can see that the kids are happy too!
Loving the Easter craft your daughter has made! I know my daughter would also love to get craft boxes!
The play place idea sounds awesome. Moms need a place to hang out with other moms
I loved play centers for my kids. Especially during rainy days and crummy Wisconsin winters!
Arts and crafts are both fun and educational. I included and activity of loomband making with my feeding program for kids.
You can tell your kids really enjoyed making these projects–they are so happy!
That little sheep is soooooo cute! I love finding crafts for my children to do!
I’m loving these arts and crafts. Great ways to engage our kids. <3
Making kids happy during these difficult times isn’t easy, but it’s also important to keep them busy! Great arts and crafts! 🙂
These are such cute ideas! It’s great to get them involved at such a young age.
They are just amazing ideas….. Its like having a play while working..! very inspiring and a best way to engage kids and to keep them safe…..
Awe these are all so great and glad they provide your kids with amusement. It’s great to get them involved so young!
Your kids look like they are having a blast! <3 These are great ideas
That is such a great idea! That mom has literally hit the lottery of brilliant children ideas.
So sweet, the idea is really great. It seems kids are really happ.
Good luck with the play center when it opens up. It sounds like it’ll be great! Subscription boxes are so much fun, aren’t they?
This is a great way to entertain kids during these difficult times.Affiliate marketing is the only thing which worked for me post motherhood – flexibility is great!
Ahh.. this is a great idea and seems the kids are happy with it. 🙂
This looks a fun project for children. She looks like she is enjoying herself with the activity.
How creative! This is such a great project and the kids are enjoying. That’s what matters.
We love to crafts! your crafts are so cute! i will have to check out getting some for my kiddo! He is starting to go stir crazy!
Great work finding creative ways to keep your little ones busy!
I’m a DIYer and love crafts so I think this is super adorbs!!! Love it!
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