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.

Shut in with the children - things to do

SO, in light of the current situation around the UK linked to Coronavirus Covid-19, you have found your self on isolation with the children and you don't know what to do. I  have added some ideas below, not all are mine but some have been copied from posts on Facebook and other sites (I will credit where this is due.) They also don't include them being on technology (bonus). Many can be done with things you have around the house so wont cost anything.

The following items are things i have on a chart from school holiday activities for my children to do.

I hope that the above is readable.

The following lego ideas were taken off a page on Facebook (no idea of the original creator). They do seem a bit hard for some children, but you could alter them to the age of your children.

Also with lego you could make a model and then explain to your children how to make it without them actually seeing your model. EG you need a red piece with 8 raised dots, fix that to the bottom of a green 8piece so you have an "L" shape. this can be a fun activity as you get a wide range of models made.

• Pinterest is a godsend for ideas of things to do and you can find many for different ages.

• Teachers pay teachers website has worksheets if you want to do school type work (there are many free sheets as well as paid ones)

• twinkle has a good selection of worksheets and activities, as does activity village, some are free some are not.

There are many other ideas on my blog, please take a look for some ideas.

Take this time stuck at home to enjoy your children, make it a fun time to take their mind off the worries linked to the virus.

competitions

i like to enter competitions (i dont win many) but maybe thats because i only enter certain ones - eg of prizes i can use or are relevant to me and my family.

i was reading a post online where this lady enters every competition she can and she then sells prizes that are of no use to her. i personally think this is unfair on those whose genuinely want the prize.

yes it limits my chances but there is no point me entering to win a weeks cruise when 1.i get sea sick, 2.i dont have a passport. and this applies to holidays abroad as well. also no point in me entering baby comps as my youngest is 10years old.

it just got me thinking as to why people do it. and my answer is greed!

Making of a gruffalo outfit

This year for halloween wea re having a monsters and aliens theme, not a problem halloween is ages away.  Lil man says he wants to go as the gruffalo, so I had a look and there wasn't any in his size, so I said I would make him one.
Skip forward a week and he brings home a letter about world book day and decides he wants to go as the gruffalo!!!  Errrrr we have no outfit.....You can make me one......from what????

THINK Amy THINK!!!

2days later this arrives through the post:

1 brown furry monkey onesie.  After some "minor surgery" the monkey looked like this:

I then set about making the face for the gruffalo from pieces of felt - big orange eyes, white fangs for teeth and a green pom pom as the spot on his nose:

Next came the horns on its head, these were made from a white sock, cut and stuffed:

I then started to make purple spikes for its back from an old purple fleece:

lil man was so pleased with his gruffalo outfit.  He wore it for book day and has worn it around the house since and will wear it for halloween as well.

counting to 10 doesn't work.....

can't you tell it's the summer holidays - kids are fighting, winding each other up, winding me up and them ending up in tears.  I've tried counting to 10 and it doesn't work!!!  I'm sure i'm no the only parent that is having one of those days!

I've joined Amzreviewtrader......

I have recently joined the Amazon review website - Amzreviewtrader.  This means that I request to view  products/items that I am interested in.  The seller than decides if they are happy to let me be a reviewer of their product.

Some of the products are free to try others are at a discounted price and all you have to do is try it and review it and state that you recieved the product for free or at a discount.   How simple is that?

SO I find items that me and my family can use or want or need, request them and if selected use it and review it, which also helps other buyers.

February 24th 2016 - Harry Potter party - part 4 - general stuff

There are lots of other options you could do for the Halloween party linked to Harry potter (HP), the ideas are below:

*Ask all guests to dress up as a Witch/Wizard or character from Harry Potter
*Buy proper HP plates, bowls, cups etc
*cover your ceiling to look like a starry night
*turn different rooms in your house to different rooms from the HP films
*use the outside space as well for games like quidditch etc (not suitable for evening parties)
*hire a proper Wizard for entertainment
*have just 1 Hogwarts house for the theme and use only those colours
*make spells and potions as an activity
*have loads of stuffed animals about like the magical creatures
*play HP music in background