This is a sponsored post on behalf of Box Tops for Costco and Acorn Influence. #CostcoBoxTops
Get into the Back To School groove by collecting Box Tops and encouraging your children to contribute to their classrooms!
When the new school year begins, getting back into the swing of things is often challenging for the entire family. Early mornings, packed lunches, homework, and structured schedules can be a drag when we’ve gotten so used to living spontaneously during summertime. It takes time to transition but once we do, it’s smooth sailing until the first teacher planning day.
In two weeks I’ll be dropping off Toodie for her first day of second grade. While she’s excited to meet her new teacher, see old friends, and embark upon a fresh adventure – I’m left asking, “So, when’s the first Box Top Collection?” If you spent the whole summer ripping, snipping, and clipping – you’d probably be wondering the same thing. Box Tops for Education is a wonderful way to give back to your child’s school while purchasing the products your family loves. Why wait for the next fundraiser? Here are 7 reasons why you should start collecting now!
MAKES GROCERY SHOPPING FUN
Grocery shopping with children can be terrifying. Let’s be honest here, it’s practically an act of torture for parents. By the time we get out of the car and venture to the bakery for that free cookie – we’re exhausted. We’ve all experienced the struggle of dragging our kiddos to the store, the LAST place they want to be. Well, this is your chance to add a little fun to the process by encouraging them to pick out products that have Box Tops attached to them. If they’re old enough, give them a list with products you need for the house and tell them to find as many as they can with Box Tops.
GOLDEN BOX TOPS
If your family frequently buys in bulk like mine does, I see Golden Box Tops in your future! Make back to school shopping even better with the “Golden Box Tops Challenge” by purchasing specially marked General Mills products with 8 Box Tops at Costco – all while entering to win an additional 100 eBoxTops! Once you are a registered member of Box Tops for Education, you can enter the unique code and your child’s school will be credited for your winnings. This is a good excuse to stock up on breakfast cereal and any snacks you may need for lunches this year. Most of the items that have bonus box tops offers are back to school essentials, which is why the program is beneficial for both parents and schools.
FREE SAMPLES, COUPONS, & OFFERS
Each month participants can log into the Box Tops website and download coupons for participating products. These include cereal, snacks, yogurt, paper plates, plastic bags, and many other items used on a daily basis. In the process of collecting money for your child’s school, you will also be saving yourself a few dollars on the products.
SCHOOLS CAN BUY WHATEVER THEY NEED
By collecting Box Tops, your child’s school will receive cash to buy the things they need. This could be anything from classroom supplies to laptops for their computer labs. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents and if the majority of students participate, it really adds up.
IT’S EASY & DOESN’T TAKE MUCH EFFORT
Clipping and collecting is easy. It really takes no effort and you’d be surprised how many products you regularly purchase have Box Tops attached to them. Keep your eyes peeled! Before summer ends, perform a quick sweep of your pantry and save those that you remove from qualifying products.
TEACHES KIDS RESPONSIBILITY
The first step to teaching your child responsibility is leading by example. Once the entire family is on board with collecting Box Tops, you can delegate small tasks so they gain a sense of pride from their efforts. Remove Box Tops from their package and store them in the collection container. When you have a good amount or your child is due to bring them into class, have them cut each label out neatly. After the Box Tops are counted and organized, put the container inside their backpack. They can then bring it back home to collect more!
THEY’LL LEARN HOW TO GIVE BACK
It’s never too soon to teach your children to give back to their community and collecting Box Tops is only one of many ways to do so. Start by explaining the importance of being a part of the fundraiser and the many ways their school will benefit. Again, the great thing about Box Tops For Education is that the money received is going directly towards your child’s experience. The school can choose how they want to spend the money and it impacts everyone as a whole. As they get older you can build upon this momentum by venturing into service projects and volunteering. It’s the perfect way to start lending a helping hand locally.
Box Tops can be collected any time, not just during the school year. After removing them from the packages be sure to store them in safe spot. I turned a plastic photo case in a colorful Box Top holder and it’s been helpful in keeping them organized. You can make your own too! These plastic photo cases are usually under $2 and the ideal size. They’re small enough to fit in a kitchen drawer and also easy to slip into your kiddo’s backpack when it’s time for to bring them to school.
For this back-to-school DIY project, you will need the following:
- 1 plastic photo keeper case
- colorful washi tape
- glittered adhesive letters
- card stock
- hot glue gun
- gems, sequins, or stickers for extra decoration
- scissors and/or X-Acto knife
Begin by using the washi tape to create a striped design on the top lid of the photo case. Press tape down firmly to ensure that it adheres. Don’t worry about the excess. You’ll be trimming that off!
There are two ways to go about the next step. If you have an X-Acto knife on hand, use this to trim the excess and create a clean line. If not, your thumb nail will do the trick! Seriously. Just take your nail and it run it over the edge a few times. The washi tape will eventually separate and your line should be just as crisp. With either method, make sure you’re pulling the excess pieces off gently to prevent any rips or jagged edges.
Cut an oval-shaped label out of card stock and attach it to the top of the photo case using a hot glue gun. Make sure to apply the glue onto the washi tape and not the plastic as it may cause it to melt.
Lastly, apply your letters and gems for extra decoration.
Does your family collect Box Tops for Education?
How do you encourage your children to participate?
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