LBG is 'writing' a holiday diary during half-term fortnight: my sneaky way of encouraging her to keep going with her sound practice (like Mocha Beanie Mummy, we have 'homework') and a good way of charting the days. It's also helpful for me to have a plan for each day, since I thrive on routine and have been struggling with my PND of late: if things are in place, it helps me to keep going too. This is what we have been up … [Read more...]
Crispy Crunchy Chewy Gooey Easy Peasy Rice Krispie Snowballs
These babies went down so well at Pumpkinfest 2011 that I thought I'd use the same idea for a child-centric home-made Christmas gift: an ideal alternative to the hands-off-they-are-mine-Christmas-Pudding-Truffles that I shall soon be making. There are a lot of children in LBG's class so we'll need to start early. These snowballs are really just a reworked version of that party favourite, the rice crispie cake, for which you need: 3 Mars … [Read more...]
How to make saltdough Diwas for Diwali
Today is Diwali, the Hindu celebration of truth and light. Having time on our Half-term hands, LB and I thought we'd have a go at making some Diwas from salt-dough. I've been meaning to try Thinly Spread's super-white-cornflour dough for some time so was delighted when LBG decided she wanted to make pretty lights after watching them being made on CBeebies. Half an hour later, and we had a small 'dispute' about the shaping of the … [Read more...]
What is a Sensory Box?
If you had asked me a few months ago, I'd have been unable to tell you what a Sensory Box is. Now I know that it's a cat litter tray I bought for a bargain price in Poundland. At least that's what passes for a sensory box in our house. And that cat litter tray probably gets as much action as it would if we actually had a cat. When LBG was small and I needed to keep her occupied whilst I did some jobs in the kitchen, I would dig out a few … [Read more...]
Fall craft roundup
It's been a busy Pumpkin-filled couple of weeks as I've been making preparation for Pumpkinfest 2011, and I think I'm just about there. At least I hope I am: I'm not sure I can cope with any more orange!! Here's a rundown of what we've got: 1. Pumpkin wreath, made using neon handwarmers I picked up in the 99p store and a Sainsbury's shopping bag* 2. Awesome Autumn Sensory box: orange buttons left over from the Button Pumpkin, some fake rose … [Read more...]
Autumn leaves are falling down
It's peculiar: you leave the country for a week and you miss the seasons changing. Or rather you miss the leaves turning. We got back from Kefalonia last week to find that Britain was expecting a heatwave: it got as warm in our back garden in the last few days as it had been by the pool in the Greek Islands! Which is why The Girls could be found painting in their underwear in the back garden. Painting the leaves falling from the trees. I ask … [Read more...]
Put on a happy face
If you are in need of a simple preschool craft, then take a sharpie everywhere. It's amazing the things you can put a smile on: … [Read more...]
