Applejake

11/05/2025

🌷 Happy Mother’s Day! 🌷

Today we celebrate all the wonderful mums who nurture, guide, and inspire us 💖✨
From everyone at Applejake®: Thank you for the love, the lessons, and the endless hugs. You are truly amazing! 🌟
💐 Tag a special mum to show your love!

Emotional Growth with Applejake® – NURTURE, ENGAGE, INSPIRE
👉 https://applejake.nl/
👉 https://www.etsy.com/shop/ApplejakeDesigns

01/05/2025

Happy Labor Day! I came across a controversial post today, arguing that public holidays harm economic growth and that we should work more to fix the recession.

Yes, the idea that “less work = less GDP” is easy to sell, but let’s take a closer look.

On days like May 1st, production lines and offices may stop, but society doesn’t.
Many people still go to work: hospitality staff, nurses, care workers, firefighters, emergency doctors, restaurant teams, public transport operators. These roles don’t pause for holidays. In fact, they often work more, and rightly receive extra pay for it.

Public holidays aren’t “leisure time” for everyone, and certainly not “unproductive.”
For many knowledge workers, longer hours don’t mean better results. Productivity declines after a certain threshold, and mental recovery is essential for creativity and innovation.

Most people don’t “just” work 40 hours. There’s unpaid care work, household tasks, emotional labor, all crucial but invisible. And public holidays are often the only moments when we can catch up.

Like today, I’m enjoying the day off, doing schoolwork with my son, handling household chores, catching up on admin tasks we can’t do during the week because of work, parenting, and life.

We’re also enjoying the sunshine, sitting in the garden with homemade cake, and later there’ll probably be a nap in the hammock. And yes, a long walk with the dog, too.

And finally, let’s not forget what holidays fuel: Restaurants are full, people travel, families spend. Public holidays drive demand in sectors that rely on time off, adding value in more ways than we think.

So instead of asking “How can we work more?”, maybe we should ask, “How can we live and work better?”

Curious to hear your thoughts, what does May 1st mean to you?

20/04/2025

🎲🐣 Game Nights: Easter Edition – Act It Out with Applejake®! 🎭🐰
Looking for an egg-cellent way to bring fun and emotional connection to your Easter get-together? 💕
Try our Applejake® Game Nights: Easter Edition with your Applejake® Emoticon Cards!
Grab your Applejake® Emoticon Cards and try out our Game Nights: Easter Edition!
🎥 Watch the full how-to video and get ready to laugh, connect, and explore emotions together.
Perfect for kids, families, or your next game night crew! 💛

🔹 How to Play:
1. Draw a Card – Each player secretly picks an emotion 🃏
2. Act It Out – Use only facial expressions and gestures! 🤐🙃
3. Guess the Emotion – Once it’s guessed, share a moment in life when you’ve felt this way 💭
4. Keep Playing – Take turns until the cards are done or the giggles take over 😂

💡 Game Twist: Add a fun challenge by acting out a specific scenario like:
“Show how you'd feel if you lost your keys!” 🔑😱

👉 Discover more at https://applejake.nl/game-hub/


Don’t forget to tag us when you play! 🐰🎉

19/04/2025

Working moms enjoying the first ice cream in the Dutch sunshine. We left the kids and hubbies at home to do some serious brainstorming. Stay tuned for new Applejake resources.

08/03/2025

Happy International Women’s Day!

Today’s the perfect day to show the amazing women in our lives just how much they mean to us — and to teach our kids how to do the same.
Which emotions come to mind when your child thinks about their mum, grandma, teacher or big sister? Admiration? Love? Gratitude? Let’s help them find the words to express it!
Let’s fill today with stories, drawings, and sweet moments celebrating the women who make our world brighter — one emotion at a time.

01/01/2025

23/12/2024

💔 Day 23: Disappointment
Disappointment clears space for new dreams. Help kids see it as a step forward, not a setback. 🌟
🎁 Find hope today at https://applejake.nl/advent-calendar/
“Disappointment paves the way for hope.”

Turning Holiday Disappointment Into Opportunity
Disappointment is part of life—and as parents, we feel it too, especially around the holidays. Christmas often comes with high expectations, and when things don’t go as planned, frustration can creep in. The good news? These moments can teach us—and our kids—valuable lessons.
Here’s how to cope and guide your little ones:
1. Acknowledge Everyone’s Feelings: It’s okay to feel let down. Show your kids it’s normal to feel this way and talk about it openly.
2. Adjust Expectations Together: Not everything will go perfectly, and that’s okay. Focus on what really matters—connection and joy.
3. Model Resilience: Share how you handle disappointment. For example, “I was hoping for a quiet morning, but since things changed, let’s make the most of it!”
4. Teach Problem-Solving: Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, brainstorm as a family how to make things better next time.
By navigating disappointment together, you’re teaching your kids (and yourself!) to embrace life’s imperfections with grace and resilience.

21/12/2024

🌱 Day 21: Boredom
Boredom is the spark for creativity! Show kids how to turn dull moments into opportunities for imagination. 🎨
🎁 Create something new at https://applejake.nl/advent-calendar/
„Boredom is the birthplace of creativity.“
Boredom: A Spark for Creativity
In today’s overstimulated world, boredom gets a bad rap. But for kids, it’s a gateway to creativity and self-discovery. Free from distractions, their minds can wander, leading to imaginative play, innovative ideas, and new passions.
Why Boredom Matters
Boredom fuels problem-solving and helps kids think outside the box. Research shows that unstructured, screen-free moments inspire exploration and resilience.
Turning Boredom into Opportunity
1. Open-Ended Resources
Provide tools like art supplies, LEGO®, or journals to inspire creativity without a set outcome.
2. Ask Creative Questions
Prompt ideas like: “What can you make with this cardboard box?” or “What’s a game you can invent?”
3. Create a Boredom Jar
Fill a jar with activity ideas—like building a fort or inventing a dance—and let kids pick one at random.
4. Embrace Free Time
Leave space in their schedules for unstructured play, where imagination thrives.
5. Model Positive Boredom
Show them how you channel boredom into trying something new, like experimenting with a recipe or hobby.
Tools for Reflection
Applejake®’s Emotion Cards and Mindfulness Journal help kids explore how boredom feels and transform it into creative action.
The next time your child says, “I’m bored,” celebrate—it’s the start of something amazing!

14/12/2024

The countdown to Christmas is in full swing, and our Applejake® Advent Calendar is here to make every day extra magical!
🎁 Explore daily freebies designed to spark joy, encourage creativity, and help you connect as a family. From fun activities to inspiring quotes, there’s something special behind every door!

✨ It’s not too late to join the adventure!

Visit https://applejake.nl/advent-calendar/ and make this December a celebration of joy, connection, and growth with Applejake®.

05/12/2024

🎉 Day 5: Pride
Celebrate the little wins! Every small step your kids take builds the foundation for their confidence. 🌟
🎁 Explore today’s door at https://applejake.nl/advent-calendar/
"Take pride in small victories."

Healthy Pride: Celebrating Small Victories
Pride, when experienced positively, is a powerful tool for reinforcing a child’s self-worth and building motivation. Healthy pride stems from genuine accomplishments and effort, helping children and teens develop self-efficacy—the belief in their ability to succeed. Whether it’s completing a puzzle, scoring a goal, or improving on a test, these moments of pride inspire them to embrace new challenges. Over time, this sense of accomplishment nurtures confidence and resilience, both of which are crucial for long-term success.
Nurturing Healthy Pride in Young Children and Teens
As parents, you can help cultivate healthy pride by emphasizing the effort and process behind achievements. Instead of saying, “You’re so smart,” try affirming their dedication with phrases like, “You worked really hard on that, and it paid off!” This approach encourages children and teens to value their perseverance and understand that abilities improve through effort and persistence.
For example, when your child proudly shows you a drawing they’ve worked on or your teen shares how they overcame a difficult challenge in school, celebrate these moments by reflecting on their journey: “How did you approach this?” or “What did you learn by sticking with it?” This helps them internalize the idea that pride comes from growth and effort, setting them up for success in the future.

01/12/2024

🎄 Countdown to Christmas: Discover, Learn, and Connect! 🎄

A lot of families are counting the days until Christmas Eve. To make the wait more meaningful, why not take on an Advent challenge that’s all about emotions and mental well-being?

🎉 Advent Calendar Day 1: Unleash the Power of Curiosity! 🎉

Today, we’re exploring one of the most magical emotions: Curiosity.
Curiosity fuels our desire to explore, learn, and grow—it’s the spark that helps children (and adults!) connect with the world and uncover new passions.

🚪 Ready to open today’s door? Click here:
https://applejake.nl/advent-calendar/

Let’s make this season not just about gifts but about growth and connection. Explore emotions together, one day at a time!

20/11/2024

🌍💙 Happy World Children’s Day! 💙🌍

Today, we celebrate the incredible potential, joy, and future of every child around the world. World Children’s Day is a reminder to give our children the best start in life—nurturing their hearts, minds, and emotional growth. 💪✨

At Applejake®, we’re proud to support parents, educators, and caregivers in fostering emotional intelligence, resilience, and empathy in children. Let’s raise our voices for every child’s right to be heard, loved, and understood. 🌱👶

Let’s work together to create a brighter, kinder world for our little ones. 💖