Looking forward to the summer holidays?

‘I can’t wait for the summer holidays’ said one of the mum’s from school

‘Are you completely insane?’ I replied.

Okay, I’m looking forward to lying in, not having to do the school run, making packed lunches, spending more time together and a family holiday but the sheer thought of entertaining my daughter for 6 WHOLE weeks completely freaks me out.  This may have something to do with her being an only child as we don’t have any built in play mates and our cats can only take so much.

Sally Whittle, from Who’s the Mummy, wrote a post a week or so ago, talking about not ‘selling boredom as a virtue‘, it’s worth a read.  I do agree with her to some degree.  But I find it challenging, at times I need my daughter to be able to entertain herself and as an only child I find myself organising too many things for her and then when we have nothing planned, all I get is ‘I’m bored’ ‘what are we doing today’.  She seems to have lost the ability to do this herself and I’m partly to blame.

So, I need to find a balance between organising some things together but also encouraging her to amuse herself a bit more.

Things to do with kid's during the summer

Got any tips?

This is why I’m looking forward to the #matalansummertips Twitter Party this Thursday the 18th July from 1-2pm, where we will all get together to share our tips for surviving the summer.  Join in the chat for and be in with the chance to win 1 of 10 £20 vouchers!

My top tip ‘get a loads of wine in and I mean loads of it”!

Disclosure:  I have been compensated for this post and my participation in the twitter party.

 

 

The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Once a teacher always a teacher?

Not sure what possessed me, whether it’s because I won’t let her have a dog or she doesn’t have any siblings, but at Christmas I bought her a Live Butterfly Garden.  In the box, you get the net, all the instructions plus a certificate to order your baby caterpillars when you’re ready.

They arrived a couple of days after we ordered them.  They come in a small pot with everything they need for the first couple of weeks.Live Butterfly Garden

We were amazed how quickly they grew.  They then make their way to the top of the pot, hang upside down and weave themselves into a cocoon.

Preparing to become Chrysallis

Once they all turn into cocoons, you transfer them to the net.

Chrysallis

Then a week to two weeks later, they turn black and will most likely emerge that day.

We came home last night to find four Painted Butterflies.  Can you see all of them?

Painted Butterflies

Sadly, we can’t keep them forever so we released them tonight, but no tears just a lot of excitement and she learned loads.  However, it did take them a lot of persuasion to come out.

Releasing our butterflies

Releasing Butterflies

Releasing Butterflies

Unfortunately, just after they emerged, one got stuck on its back to the bottom of the net, in the red liquid (Meconium) that they eject after they leave the chrysalis.  I tried to rescue it but think one of its wings may have been damaged.

But on the positive side, there seems to be a baby caterpillar left behind so we can do it all again!

Next year we may try stick insects or an ant farm.

 

How to play cards with kids

I come from a long line of card players.  Some of my first memories of my Grandfather was playing cards.  He was a dreadful cheat. This is how he used to babysit us.  I learned how to play cribbage from a very early age and so did many of my 22 cousins!

We’ve recently started introduce our 5 year old to a variety of card games.  Snap, Go Fish, Memory and Old Maid.  Have you ever tried playing cards with a 5 year old especially when it requires them to hold a mittful of cards?  She is forever dropping them all over the floor and becomes increasingly frustrated.  Bless!

But then I discovered, thanks to the net, this handy little trick.  It’s pure genius.

How to Play Cards with Kids

It’s so simple.  Just using a clothes peg, then they can hold the peg.  Problem solved!

Do you have any other tips when playing games with kids?  Please do leave them in the comments.

If you’d like to learn how to play Go Fish here are the rules.

Friday 5: How to entertain kids in the pub

Before you get the wrong impression, my daughter does frequent the pub on occasion but we don’t go as often as you may think.  If it’s a sunny day we will pop up to our local pub as it has a garden and enjoy a few drinks.  However, we always go prepared!

This is what I’d recommend taking:

How to entertain kids in the pub

  1. Bubbles – hours of fun and they won’t knock any glasses over.
  2. Magazine – stop by the local shop and buy one of those crappy children’s magazines with tat on the front.  The cheap toys will entertain then for a bit and there are usually a few puzzles/games inside.
  3. Skipping Rope – do bear in mind the size of the garden as it can turn into a weapon of destruction;  but beyond skipping it can be turned into all kinds of fun (e.g horse reigns)
  4. Dog – invite your friends who have dogs to join you for a drink, hours of fun for the little ones.
  5. But most importantly, don’t forget a fully charged Ipad loaded with games and movies.  And of course to minimize pissing off the other patrons take head phones!  Plus, they also work well as a drinks tray????

More uses for an Ipad

Apparently the sun may be out this Bank Holiday weekend so get down to your local pub and don’t forget to pack a bag.

Do you have anything I should add to the list?

 

 

 

Activities for Kids Over Easter 2013, near St Albans, Herts

Kids Activities

Just having my pre school holiday panic!  We don’t have any built in playmates for our 5 year old except the cats and us and we can only take so much so I do try and arrange a few things for her over half-term.  As an only child we really like her to socialize with other kids and to be active.

On my travels around the net I found the following activities and thought you may find them useful.  We haven’t signed her up to all of them we do like to set aside a couple of days to chill.

Westminster Lodge is running Activity Camps over the holidays.  It’s a bargain at £20 a day!

Ashridge Easter Egg trail – We are huge fans of Ashridge Forest and have been on the Easter Egg Trail before.  We have plans to go on the Sunday possibly followed by lunch at The Red Lion in Lower Dagnall.

Butterfly World Looks like they have lots on.  I like the sound of Easter Art on Easter Sunday

Stockwood Discovery Centre (Luton) another one of our favourites, also looks like they have a lot on during the holidays.  It’s free to get in but then you just pay a couple of quid for craft activities.  If it’s a nice day bring a picnic and a blanket, alternatively there is a cafe.

Down in the Woods – I’m absolutely gutted that I’ve already booked our daughter into something on the 2nd of April as I love the sound of their play scheme.  Children spend either a full day or half a day  the in the woods playing woodland games, camp building, natural crafts and cooking on an open fire. (scroll down the page for the description)

Fine Art 4 Kids – Are running a series of 2 hour workshops for kids.  They learn about an artist then make their own work of art.  I’m still undecided as I’m not sure if it’s too old for our daughter.

I’d really like to find something that involves dance or drama.  If you of anything please do leave a comment below!