Flappy Birds

We made these at our kids club the other day and they went down a storm. Loads of different designs and colours.........

So I thought I'd share the link with you.

The idea was from that excellent site 'made by Joel' I love all the things he does on his blog.

check out the link...... and happy flapping!!

A is for Apple

It's apple time and a great kids activity is get out in the fresh air and pick some apples - either from your own garden or go to a 'pick your own' orchard. Some parks and Statley Homes have 'apple days' this time of year with loads of different activities for the kids and often they combine a food fair with it for the adults. It's usually a fun day out for the whole family......have a look and see whats going on in your area.......

When you get home with your apples - apart from eating them - there are lots of fun things you can do with them - here are a few of our favourites - click on the pictures to take you to the link.....

Make some toffee apple wedges 

Create some artwork with some apple stamping

Get all wet with some good old fashioned apple bobbing

What ever you decide to do get out into the fresh autumnal air and enjoy collecting some apples.

Kids Kebab

 

Kids like nothing more than helping with the dinner and one of the easiest things to do with them is to let them thread meat, fruit & veg on to skewers for the barbecue or under the grill.

Its a funny thing but if you allow the children to choose what they want on 'their' skewer they will eat it all up when cooked! But if you put the exact same ingredients, without them being involved, they will become fussy and refuse to touch it - Murphy's law or something!

Loads of different ingredients can be available for cooking this way from cubes of meat & cocktail sausages; to meat balls & bacon rolls; pineapple & grapes; halloumi cheese; all types of vegetables including mini tomatoes;corn-on-the-cob rings; colourful peppers; black pudding; prawns and I've even tried mango wrapped in bacon.

This is so easy to do all you need are some kebab sticks (or even coctail sticks for mini kebabs) and raid your fridge & freezer for a variety of ingredients (you only need small amounts) to prep and place in bowls for the kids to assemble themselves. When they have finished you can just brush with oil & grill or barbecue.

Serve with simple dips of tomato sauce, mayonnaise or  just a fruit yogurt if they are sweet kebabs.

Have fun enjoy yourselves and let your imagination run riot!

How to draw........

… your very own unsuitable pet

I came across this in my paper today, really enjoyed it & thought I would share it with you.....

Charlotte Voake gives a somewhat scary step-by-step guide on how to draw a less than fluffy friend. It's going to be quite a big one! 

Charlotte is rather fond of strange companions as you can see in her latest book Melissa's Octopus and Other Suitable Pets. Due to be published in October....

Taken from the Guardian Children's Books

Blackberring......

Arm yourself and the children with baskets and containers and head into the wilderness or the local park and pick some blackberries - the hedgerows are really heavy with them this year!

Make sure you avoid hedgerows next to busy roads or areas that might be within reach of dogs.

When you get home try turning your findings into something spectacular 

Try these recipes I found on netmums all are child-friendly 

Back to School Stuff 1

It's hard to believe that summer is over and everyone is back to school this week - and we are all 'nearly' back to our school, work, living routine - only the dog is looking dejected at the lack of playmates...

Whilst reading the paper the other day I stumbled across this list and it made me think that perhaps the way questions are worded would elicit a better response......especially after a busy school day when the kids are happy just to 'shut down' after their day & watch the TV...

have a read of this list & see what you think:-

1. What was the best thing that happened at school today? (What was the worst thing that happened at school today?)

2. Tell me something that made you laugh today.

3. If you could choose, who would you like to sit by in class? (Who would you NOT want to sit by in class? Why?)

4. Where is the coolest place at the school?

5. Tell me a weird word that you heard today. (Or something weird that someone said.)

6. If I called your teacher tonight, what would she tell me about you?

7. How did you help somebody today?

8. How did somebody help you today?

9. Tell me one thing that you learnt today.

10. When were you the happiest today?

11. When were you bored today?

12. If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed someone up, who would you want them to take?

13. Who would you like to play with at recess that you've never played with before?

14. Tell me something good that happened today.

15. What word did your teacher say most today?

16. What do you think you should do/learn more of at school?

17. What do you think you should do/learn less of at school?

18. Who in your class do you think you could be nicer to?

19. Where do you play the most at recess?

20. Who is the funniest person in your class? Why is he/she so funny?

21. What was your favourite part of lunch?

22. If you got to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you do?

23. Is there anyone in your class who needs a time-out?

24. If you could switch seats with anyone in the class, who would you trade with? Why?

25. Tell me about three different times you used your pencil today at school.

*****

Here's the link for the article 'Huffington Post' byLiz Evans