News

We’ve been experiencing a lot of rain in our hometown recently and that has inspired us to create a list of Rainy Day Activities for all the Castles & Crowns kids and parents! One of our main things is to let our kids look at the Castles & Crowns website and pick out their favorite new outfits, but we know that won’t entertain them for an entire day. So we have comprised our top 50 activities that keeps parents and kids smiling even when the weather is bad!

Here they are –

1. Bake without losing your sanity – make rainy days more fun with cookies!

2. Whip up a batch of ooblek and challenge your young scientist to define its state of matter.

3. Let the kids raid your closet and put on a fashion show.

4. Cuddle up with a pile of books.

5. Build, create, and invent with STEM-inspired toys.

6. Play “Simon Says” or “Follow the Leader.”

7. Grab a deck of cards and teach your kids the simple joys of Rummy, Spit, or Slapjack.

8. Gather the family to enjoy a story podcast.

9. Make your own instruments; then, lead a marching band parade through the living room.

10. Burn some energy with one of these 25 indoor exercise games.

11. Pop some kernels and watch a classic movie.

12. Get geeky with the New York Hall of Science’s awesome suite of STEM-inspired apps.

13. Write letters (on actual paper with actual pens and pencils) to out-of-town relatives or friends.

14. Check out an online camp—not just for summertime!

15. Freeze Dance using a playlist inspired by these city-based kindie bands.

16. Do anything that involves bubble wrap.

17. Make math fun with these amazing math apps.

18. Blow up some balloons, toss ’em in the air, and don’t let them touch the ground.

19. Learn to code.

20. Keep your heart rate up with Wii Fit or Xbox One games.

21. Make a marshmallow catapult and see who can catch the most in their mouth.

22. Play dominoes or line them up and let them fall—kids will love seeing the chain reaction.

23. Have a tie-dye party, or opt for an easier tie-dye alternative (with built-in science lesson!).

24. Make a watercolor masterpiece.

25. Pull out the building blocks and Legos and create a mini city.

26. Embrace your inner Einstein with cool science experiments.

27. Play “I Spy” or “21 Questions.”

28. Make paper-bag puppets and put on a show.

29. Craft the easiest bird feeder ever.

30. Become an origami master.

31. Grab some sheets and make a good old-fashioned fort. Perfect for playtime—and naptime!

32. Make shaving cream sculptures in the sink.

33. Snuggle up with a warm cup of cocoa or try a vanilla cinnamon steamer as an alternative.

34. Tackle a challenging puzzle as a family.

35. Play-Doh.

36. Explore NYC—in a book!

37. Challenge your brood to a game of charades.

38. Then find your voices with a karaoke concert.

39. Make your own granola bars.

40. Use hallways for classic games like “Red Light, Green Light” and “Leap Frog.”

41. Decorate pinecones, paint flower pots, or make leaf art.

42. Go bowling at home.

43. Learn a few magic tricks to wow your friends.

44. Pillow fight—’nuff said.

45. Get all dressed up and host your own fancy tea party (be sure to invite the dolls and stuffed animals).

46. Crack open those activity books you have piled up.

47. Get everyone together for a family scavenger hunt.

48. Create colorful salt paintings.

49. Have an indoor “camp out” with sleeping bags, a tent, board games, and s’mores.

50. Cook dinner together.

 *Castles & Crowns specializes in smocked, appliquéd and monogrammable children’s clothing in all sizes. We are recognized for our classic styles, unique fabrics, quality construction, fast service and affordable pricing. We are the top Gulf Coast based children’s clothing company and we look forward to outfitting your children in our adorable clothes!

Here at Castles & Crowns, we know that mom life is a busy life. So we are always looking for ways to increase quality family time while making sure that all of the household chores and responsibilities are still taken care of. Being in the clothing industry, it is important to us to provide fashionable yet durable clothing for kids, clothing that can withstand long days of play and roughhousing! If your homes are anything like ours, the laundry pile seems to take on a life of its own! It’s mind-boggling how quickly a small mound of laundry can turn into a mountain! We have done all kinds of research on laundry life hacks and now we are going to share our top picks with you! Hopefully one of these great tips will help you and your kids get their clothes clean and back in their dresser drawers faster than ever so you’ll have more time for the fun stuff in life!

1. Use visual aids to help your kids sort their clothes! – Amy Blevins and her hubby came up with a great system to show their kids how to help sort laundry. Click HERE to find out how to start this laundry system in your home today!
2. Teach your kids how to become “Wash Warriors!” – This laundry life hack turns laundry into a conquest for the kids. Find out how to create you own superhero group of Wash Warriors HERE 
3. Folding Baskets! – We adored this idea. It works wonders in teaching kids how to put up their own clothes and having separate basket for each person saves a ton of time! Find more details on Folding Baskets HERE
4. Printable Drawer Labels – This awesome life hack saves you from having to go in and rearrange drawers all the time! No more socks in the pants drawer with these cute labels. Click HERE to download and print drawer labels today! 

*Castles & Crowns specializes in smocked, appliquéd and monogrammable children’s clothing in all sizes. We are recognized for our classic styles, unique fabrics, quality construction, fast service and affordable pricing. We are the top Gulf Coast based children’s clothing company and we look forward to outfitting your children in our adorable clothes!

Tis the season to start planning for all things summer! Day Camps are a wonderful learning experience that lots of kids take part in during the summer months. Whether it be for just a week or a month, or half-days or full-days, preparing your kids for Day Camp is a must!

Here are some tips for getting ready for Summer Day Camps!

1. Outfits, Outfits, Outfits….One thing camp directors always see is children attending in the wrong attire. Dress your child for comfort, safety and appropriate temperatures. Proper shoes are important too, particularly if they are playing outside. Avoid strappy sandals and flip flops; opt for tennis shoes. Our Castles & Crowns Shorts Sets are the perfect outfits for day camp. They are lightweight, light-colored, durable and adorable! Click HERE to shop our Boys Smocked Short Sets. Click HERE to shop our Girls Matching Sets! 
2. Bring one bottle of water that has been cooled in the refrigerator and a second one that has been in the freezer. As the day wears on, the frozen water will melt and provide cool refreshment for your child. Spray bottles are a great idea too. They keep the face and body cool in the hot sun.
3. Apply sunscreen to your child’s skin before he/she leaves home and send the tube along for later reapplication. Consider sending along a hat for extra protection. 
4. If your child is going to be out in a natural environment, make sure they wear insect repellent. Look for a lotion form that is safe for children; avoid sprays. When camp is over, follow up with a tick check.
5. Any item brought to camp should have your child’s name, address and phone number on it in case it gets left behind. This includes clothing! If they are changing into swimwear at any point, you want to make sure to have all clothing labeled so it comes back home with your child.
6. Finally, encourage your child to enjoy the experience. Mark the first day of camp on the family calendar and do a countdown. Help your child develop a checklist of items needed, pick out their favorite Castles & Crowns outfit to wear on the first day, and don’t forget to share your own camp stories. Remind your child to do his best, obey the rules, be respectful of others and have a great time!

*Castles & Crowns specializes in smocked, appliquéd and monogrammable children’s clothing in all sizes. We are recognized for our classic styles, unique fabrics, quality construction, fast service and affordable pricing. We are the top Gulf Coast based children’s clothing company.