If you haven't heard of Canva yet, let me tell you a little bit about it. Canva is a website that offers users TONS of tools to enable you to design just about anything you could think of (for free!). I use it constantly as a publisher to create ads, banners, social media posts, etc. - but I wanted to share with you some of the ways I've been using it as a mom and how you can have some fun with it too. Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Personalized Invitations
The free version of Canva gives users 250,000 free templates to work with. It's really easy to search for what you're looking for and once you've found one you like, it is as simple as clicking to edit it. Say you wanted to make a birthday party invitation - you would type in "invitations" in the search bar, and scroll through the options until something catches your eye. From there you can edit the colors, wording, size... pretty much every part of it to make it the way you want it. The invitation on the left is the template I chose, and on the right is what I turned it into (minus the address).
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I added a cool retro background, swapped out the controller for one his friends would recognize (even though I totally love the look of this old-school one!), put a drop shadow on the font so that it is easier to see, and changed the shade of yellow to match the controller. Then it is simple to download it to email or to print it to hand out to friends. With 57K graphic elements at your disposal, you can design an invitation for anything: Baby Shower, Graduation Party, Game Night - they even have some really elegant wedding invitation templates.
2. Chore Charts & Checklists
Sometimes it's easier for my kids to have a visual reference for things that need to be done, especially if they need to be done routinely. Summer is harder because there isn't a ton of structure in the day. Visual charts or trackers help them remember what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. This summer we are using a morning chore chart daily, as well as a cleaning checklist whenever we need it. I keep it on the wall in their room, and when I say "Go clean your room," they have a little guidance when it feels overwhelming. Do they still do one thing and get off track and distracted? Yes. But it helps to be able to pull back and say "Ok, I did this and this, what is left?"
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I like keeping cleaning tasks to 5 or fewer. Keeping it super simple helps them not feel overwhelmed (and there are really only 5 things in any space in your home anyway: Clothes, trash, dishes, things that have a place, things that don't have a place). I do realize several items on these two overlap, but that's ok - it will help them accomplish the goal.
3. Trackers
Similar to needing a visual reference for care tasks, visual trackers help my oldest stay motivated to do (or tolerate) activities he doesn't really like to do, like reading. Some kids LOVE to read and would love to fill out a book tracker, and some would rather do ANYTHING other than sit still and look at words on paper. I think I am going to have one of each. So the easiest way to get my less-enthusiastic reader to read - we attack it two-fold: Making reading 10 pages part of his morning routine and setting a reading goal with a fun prize as an incentive. I made this fun bookmark so he can track his progress toward his goal.
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It doesn't matter if you're creating something for your website, blog, social media, classroom, or home - Canva can help you do it. Did I mention it's free?
I have been compensated for my honest review of Canva; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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