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Smile Kit {Free Printable}

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DIY Smile Kit is a fun way to bring joy to children who need a little boost such as new siblings kids who have been injured etc

If your family made the decision to do three acts of kindness together, what would you do?

This post shares the second of our family’s “kindness outings” inspired by the #FordThinking challenge as part of Kidspot Voices 2015.  You can read about our first outing here.  We have been given a Ford Kuga MKII plus petrol vouchers for six weeks and we decided to use it as an opportunity to go on three outings that would pay it forward.

One of our goals was to reach out to a new friend who recently gave birth to her fourth child.  I remember when I had my own newborn and someone dropped off dinner it was a huge relief, so we decided this would be a good project.

Truth be told, I used to avoid making food for people because I never cook anything fancy and I was afraid they would not like what I made.  But I have since gotten over my fears because I know how much I appreciate even simple foods… so now I just do what I can and trust it is enough.

Giving a meal to a family who just had a baby is an easy act of kindness that really makes a difference

As you can see, the meal I prepared was completely manageable.  It took less than half an hour to boil up some pasta, then cook the pre-made meatballs and sauce.  We got french bread and juice to go along with it, and the boys enjoyed picking out dessert – strawberries and chocolate chip cookies from the bakery.  Easy peasy.

While I thought about what else we could do for this lovely family, I reflected on what most helped me after having my third baby six months ago.  When people came over and played with my older kids, I felt supported because I knew the older kids were getting some much needed extra attention.  This was attention that was hard for me to give while caring for my newborn and recovering from labour.  It was also nice when people brought the older siblings a little gift, as many visitors tend to bring a present for the new baby and the bigger kids can feel left out.

Smile Kit example contents

So I decided we could put together a little collection of toys, activities and snacks for the older kids to enjoy while mama was busy with the newborn.  And just for a bit of fun, we decided to name it a Smile Kit.

Smile Kit

Here’s what we included:

  • Mini sticker books
  • Story cards
  • Flash card puzzles
  • Matchbox cars
  • Finger puppets
  • Animals
  • Colouring tins
  • Snacks

Some might worry about the cost of putting such a kit together but, besides the food and sticker books, all the items were pre-loved.  We regularly go through our toys to declutter, so the boys were happy to choose a few things to give away.  I personally try to give away items we do not need anymore instead of purchasing cheap things that will soon break and be thrown away… often toys outlive the play time of one family so it is nice to be able to pass them on to be enjoyed by someone else.  If we did not have anything suitable to give I probably would have created a few little activity books made with free printables I found online (mazes, jokes, word searches, colouring pages, etc).  In any case, Smile Kits do not have to be expensive projects!

Free Printable Smile Kit poem

You can include anything you want in a Smile Kit.  You could give the first clue to a treasure hunt (leading the child to a little treat at the end), some of your personal DVDs they can give back after a month or two, or even a few books lent from the library – just be sure to offer to pick them up to return before the due date so the mama does not have an extra errand to run!  Extended family members might want to create “coupons” for outings such as a trip to the museum or after school excursion to the ice-cream shop.  The contents of a Smile Kit are only limited to your imagination!

Here is the Smile Kit poem I wrote:

This Smile Kit was created just for you

It’s filled with love and fun things to do

We hope you enjoy what is hidden within

And that it brings you a great big grin!

Smile Kit for new siblings hospital patients kids who have experienced loss etc

If you want to use my Smile Kit poem, the file is a JPEG image so that you can resize it however you want.  I printed ours on a full page to glue onto a box we had, but the poem could easily be made smaller and attached to a card instead.  I also included the web address for this article so recipients can create their own Smile Kits as well.

download smile kit poem

Smile Kits are not just for big siblings, either.  They would be great for kids who are in the hospital or spending time sick or injured at home, as well as for children who may have recently experienced the loss of a pet or a difficult situation like a best friend moving away.

Packing the car to deliver the Smile Kit

After getting the meal and Smile Kit together, we went out to pack up the Ford Kuga and be on our way.  It was a beautiful sunny day in Brisbane, and splendid weather for an afternoon drive.  My four year old could not wait to get going!  He always gets a thrill out of seeing the boot open up “by itself”.  I have really enjoyed using double click button on the key fob to automatically open and close the boot because it means I do not have to put down what I’m carrying (like a small baby!) to pack the car.  This feature has been great for getting all our gear in the car during school pick ups and drop offs, and seems to be a bit of “magic” to the kids.

Going on our first highway drive in the Ford Kuga

Honestly, having three young children and living in a suburb that has most everything we need, we rarely go on long drives.  And by long, I mean over fifteen minutes.  So a thirty minute drive in a brand new car was a bit of a novelty for everyone.  My little girl is now old enough to engage with her older brothers in the back seat which got us off to a great start.  We entered the address into the built-in GPS and went for our first cruise in the Ford Kuga on the highway!

Using the Ford Kuga Blind Spot Information System no car in blind spot

Once out and about, I realised this trip was the perfect opportunity for us to try out the Blind Spot Information System.  This is a really neat feature where a light on both side mirrors can indicate whether someone is in your blind spot.  Obviously I could not take any photos while driving so here are some from the passenger seat.  If you look in the top left corner, you will see the little car symbols.  Right now there are no cars in the blind spot…

Using the Ford Kuga Blind Spot Information System car in blind spot

…but in this photo, you can see the light is on which tells you that there is a car in your blind spot!  Notice how you cannot even see the car in the mirror itself.  This is such a useful feature and after using it a lot more since that day, I already feel more secure driving in traffic especially with motor bikes zipping in between lanes.

Arriving at the house to deliver the Smile Kit

After a smooth drive, we arrived at our destination to deliver dinner and the Smile Kit.  The family was very thankful and it warmed our hearts to make the evening a little easier for them.  Plus it was so nice to see a gorgeous four-day-old baby, what a cutie she was!

I look forward to making more Smile Kits in the future.  It will be fun finding different combinations of items to include, tailored especially for each recipient.

Driving in our Ford Kuga after delivering the Smile Kit

Until next time, take care, and we hope to see you in a couple weeks for the last of our “kindness outings” thanks to #FordThinking!

Does anyone you know need a Smile Kit to cheer them up?  Would you like to make them one?

Check out our other #FordThinking “kindness outings” here:

Click to read about the Kindness Plate Click to read about the goodie bags

I’m participating in the #FordThinking challenge as part of the Kidspot Voices 2015 competition, for which Ford has provided me with a Ford Kuga Titanium for six weeks as well as some fuel vouchers.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own. You can follow along with the other bloggers participating in the challenge by searching the hashtag #FordThinking.  To read about sponsored content on my blog click here.

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Filed Under: Acts of Kindness, Blog, My Printables

About Chelsea Lee Smith

Author, certified parent educator, and mother of three with a background in Communications and Counselling, Chelsea provides resources to parents and teachers who want to incorporate personal growth into everyday moments. Follow her @momentsaday on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Melodee

    August 9, 2015 at 1:33 am

    Wonderful idea! I have done similar, but I love how you packaged it and added your delightful poem.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 13, 2015 at 6:37 am

      So glad you liked the poem!! I tried to think about if I was a child, what I might enjoy 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jackie

    August 10, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    I love the idea of adding pre-loved gifts to the Smile Kit. Clever. A really thoughtful idea.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 13, 2015 at 6:39 am

      Aw thanks!! It’s nice for the kids to go through and see what they don’t mind passing on – they are all good things, we just have more than we need! x

      Reply
  3. Melissa

    August 11, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    The smile kit is such a thoughtful gift and it looks fabulous too. It looks like you have been enjoying the Kuga. I really like the Blind Spot feature.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 13, 2015 at 6:40 am

      I am getting so used to the Kuga, I know I’ll be sad to give it back! That Blind Spot feature is sooo helpful, too. I’m a very careful driver and it really gives me more confidence!

      Reply
  4. Bekka Joy

    August 11, 2015 at 9:49 pm

    Beautiful Chelsea! 🙂 I love the Smile Kit added in with the meal – that’s such a lovely idea! 🙂 And I think the taboo should be gone from ‘regifting’ because sometimes passing things on is the most wonderful thing – this is definitely such a situtation! How nice of your boys to choose some things to share/pass on to other kids!

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 13, 2015 at 6:41 am

      Re-gifting is wonderful, and I wish more people would do it! Kids really don’t mind and it’s always better to avoid buying stuff that will just be tossed in the bin after a week, in my opinion anyway!

      Reply
  5. Kate - The Craft Train

    August 15, 2015 at 9:03 pm

    Aww, this post really made me smile! Such a very thoughtful idea, and I’m sure that the family appreciated it. Love the blind spot feature in the car!

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 25, 2015 at 11:09 am

      Thanks for the comment, Kate! Yes the blind spot feature is amazing. I dropped off the car today and am already missing it!

      Reply
  6. Danya Banya

    August 15, 2015 at 10:40 pm

    Love this idea – especially how it can be easily tailored to suit the recipient or occasion. I think it’s just fantastic that you’re using your (awesome) Ford Kuga experience to pay it forward like this. Well done Chelsea. And LOVE Ford’s blind spot light idea – I bet there are a few motorcyclists out there that like it too! xx

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 25, 2015 at 11:10 am

      Thanks Danya, it’s been an awesome challenge and so much fun for us!

      Reply
  7. kate

    August 15, 2015 at 11:25 pm

    I love everything about this!! Firstly just LOVE that you are using the blessing of this awesome new car (intrigued by the blind spot mirrors!!!) to bless other people. I so agree – ain’t NOTHING better than a meal when you have a newborn!!! I was always so grateful for them. And yes, simple is perfect. The smile kit is so sweet too and soooo lovely to let the kids pass on some toys through it. What a lovely idea, great post and fun drive!

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 25, 2015 at 11:11 am

      Definitely agree, meals when you have just had a baby and are hungry while breastfeeding are awesome!!

      Reply
  8. Kate Lloyd

    August 17, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    I love this so very much Chelsea. There are so many people who would appreciate one of these.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 25, 2015 at 11:15 am

      Yes the kit could definitely be adapted in many ways!

      Reply
  9. Sheila

    August 19, 2015 at 1:55 pm

    Thanks for sharing this great idea!

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 25, 2015 at 11:16 am

      You are very welcome 🙂

      Reply
  10. Kristin

    August 20, 2015 at 10:24 am

    What a great idea! Can’t wait to share this with fellow parent ambassadors at my daughters school. This is a perfect and inexpensive way that my daughters school can welcome in new babies or help someone out if they’re having a hard time.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 25, 2015 at 11:16 am

      Oh I love that idea, Kristin! Pre-prepared kits for families would be an awesome service to a school community.

      Reply
  11. Cath

    August 24, 2015 at 11:05 pm

    What a great idea! I used to love those sticker books where r they from?

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 25, 2015 at 11:25 am

      I got them on Amazon a long time ago (I keep sticker books in my stash of gifts to give away!), I think you could do a search for “mini sticker book”!

      Reply

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About the Author

Chelsea Lee Smith is an author, certified parent educator, and mother of three children with a background in Communications and Counselling. She provides resources to parents and teachers who want to incorporate personal growth into everyday moments. Browse the shop and blog categories to find practical inspiration for family life including tips, activities, printable pages, and resource recommendations.

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