More things to do at home on isolation with the kids

So things have been posted on FaceBook (FB) and ive saved them so i can share with others. Please do the same (in order to keep each and every mum sane during this time)

Many schools have sent out/home homework packs for children to do, but please remember they are just as scared (if not more so) than us adults are. My thoughts are yes do some of the work everyday BUT it's more important to be there for them, so play some board games, read a book together, get a notebook/diary and log down what you do (it's proof they weren't watching tv or on a pc for the next however many weeks.)

This was shared as a joke on FB and it did make me smile, I hope it does you as well. However, my sons Godmother said that after they have counted the rice they need to write one word on each grain of rice and then make stories. That made me laugh even more than the post did.




Before i start adding activities i will share a few websites that WILL be a godsend to all parents/guardians.

• Pinterest has hundreds (more like thousands) of things you can do, it is free to join and you can save all the things you like in one place, make different sections etc, you can find crafts, meals, school worksheets all sorts on there.
• Twinkl has loads of free worksheets and activities use code PARENTSTWINKLHELPS to get more free ones.
• Scouts UK has shared activities you can do at home (you could even make your own certificates and badges to award).
• This blog  has a list of loads of free worksheets and websites, ive not looked at them all but they may help someone.
• Quirky Momma on FB has shared many things including virtual museums  and places you can "visit" online.
• colouring pages can be found everywhere online if you dont have books at home, and this page on FB has shared loads for free - you just need to print them.
• glasgow science center is doing online science bits
• cre8tive resources has loads of free worksheets 

if you google "free school worksheets" there are pages upon pages that come up.

Now for the activities ive saved.

• Make your own monopoly board - use  local places etc, this would be best done on cardboard and use proper monoply money if you have the main set. There are blank templates online for monopoly boards.

• Make a RAINBOW and put in your window - the idea is for people to create rainbows for others to find when they are on a self-isolating walk, there are many groups popping up on FB linked to it, this one is linked to Whitehaven, Cumbria. I have also seen groups doing similar with hearts.
• my personal pinterest boards have hundreds of items saved type in "yummymummyamy" and you should find it.

• In summer 2014 i made an activity journal/book for my sons, yes it's mainly summer themed BUT i'm happy to share it and hopefully you can make use of it with your children. I didn't make the worksheets they were found all over the internet. 

There are also loads of websites offering free courses for adults to do, alison.com, skills network, futurelearn, and the open university have some

i hope this info helps someone.

August 24th 2015 - Summer fun

August 24th 2015 - Summer fun

I know summer isn't over yet but I have a busy few days and then need to be getting everything ready to go back to school.  So I am doing our Summer fun list now.

So far this summer we have:

*had a friend and her children come to stay
*been to a farm
*been on a trail through the woods
*been and met a Viking
*made a garden gnome and wrote about what it did
*played in the paddling pool
*been to soft play
*been to the beach and played in the sea
*been rock pooling
*been to the woods
*painted with car wheels
*painted with animal feet
*been to SJA day camp
*had some bbq's
*toasted marshmallows on open fire
*had an outdoor fire at night
*grown our own veg - peas, carrots, potatoes and sweetcorn
*been swimming (eldest son)
*played on bikes and scooters
* played various ball games
*played with the olympics bits - sacks, egg & spoon, 3 leg race, bean bags
*played on wii
*played board games
*read books
*made a solar powered rainbow
*watched dvds with snacks
*made cakes
*played with lego
*played with trains
*visited an exhibition about minecraft
*made things from recycled bits of card and paper etc
*collected shells
*built a fairy garden
*got a new kitten
*been shopping
*played with cars
*played with animals and boats in water
*guessed what would sink and float in paddling pool
*made cardboard box cars and sat in them
*played tennis with hands and balloons
*painted our own t-shirts
*played football
*made posters from pictures in argos book
*had a pj day
*played with bubbles
*made friendship bracelets
*ridden a donkey (youngest)
*gone to a friends to play (older 2)
*made a crazy golf type course using plant pots and tubs etc
*looked for shapes in the clouds
*made paint blob butterflies
*made a rock pet
*sorted all the odd socks into pairs
*been for a walk
*had ice creams
*had water fights
*had normal fights with brothers
*watched tv
*walked round a maze
*been to a birthday party (middle son)
*played with animals and dinosaurs
*helped with jobs at home
*we have been to the park

AND most of all we have had fun!

With 2weeks until the kids go back to school we still have more planned - we are going to see our family, we are going to Thomas land for the day, we are going to the room on the broom woodland trail, we hope to go to the museum and anything else we can fit in.

It may seem that we have done loads and you haven't but most of these have happened at home and not cost us any money to do.  The craft bits have happened via stuff that is saved in the craft cupboard, the beach and rock pools are both less than 2miles from home so not cost much for fuel,