Hello everyone!
I am delighted to be writing a series of blogs with Doncaster Mumbler at this very scary, yet special time we are all experiencing.
I hope to give you a few ideas to help you get through the foreseeable-lockdown-future with arts and crafts, games and activities, tips and advice.
You will notice that most of the things I use you should have around the home so they are accessible to all families and you shouldn’t have to buy any extra things.
I will be here with a new blog every couple of weeks and I can’t wait to share all my ideas with you!
Colouring in envelopesThere are so many arts and crafts going around online at the moment, so I am sure you have so many ideas of things to do!
Sometimes I think it is nice to strip it back and keep it really simple.
It sounds crazy, but have you ever looked at the inside of envelopes?! They usually have some form of repeated pattern in them. Colour in the shapes in different colours and see what artwork you create! Kids will love this as it’s so easy to do and the end result will look like you coloured in a design from a doodle book!
You don’t have to be good at art to do this. Doing art just for a short period of time a day is very therapeutic, for you and your kids, so just give it a try!
It will just give you all time to reflect and quieten the mind…. well, as long as the kids aren’t on a sweets and chocolate high!
Rainbow Candle HoldersSeeing as rainbows are a very poignant symbol at this moment in time, I thought it would be nice to make something simple that we can all create to show our support for everyone working night and day to keep this country going.
You can either keep it as a memory of this time or give to a friend who is a key-worker to show your support, or leave on a doorstep for someone you miss (if they live near you and are on your daily exercise route)
You will need:
– Any glass jar, any size
– Coloured Sharpie pens
– Tealight candle
Here’s what you have to do:
1.Colour the jar in stripes of rainbow colours: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet.
2. Write a special message inside or with some stickers on the top
You are done! So simple. So effective, especially when the sunlight catches it.
You do not have to use sharpie pens if you don’t have them but normal felt tips may rub off. You can use acrylic paint or crayons, anything you can get your hands on! Remember, you can decorate it how you like, it doesn’t have to be a rainbow.
Every time you light your candle you can think about the families of those who have died, you can thank our key-workers and you can take a moment to be grateful for all the amazing things you have experienced that day with your loved ones.
Sink or SwimThis is a game that I often play with my 5 year old son, Reuben, to make bath time a bit more interesting! He always calls it “Sink or Float!”
Alternatively, if you have a larger family you can do it with a bucket so you can all have a go! Mums and Dads you have to guess too!
1. Get lots of items and random toys from around the house – make sure they are waterproof!!
2. Guess if it will sink or swim
3. Drop them into the bath/ bucket and win a point for every one you get right!
4. OR if you have enough small items, you can put them into a plastic tub one by one and guess how many items it will take before it sinks!
Trust me, you will be surprised how many things are deceiving and you get wrong! See if you can beat your child!! Let us know over in the Doncaster Mumbler Chat Group what items you find that are tricky to guess correctly!
Visit 5minutefun.com for 100’s more ideas of things to make, bake and learn with hints, tips and ways to cope!
You can always make these games harder or easier relative to the age of your children. Hours of fun to keep the kids occupied!
– Go outside
– Eat well
– Exercise
– Laugh and play
– Speak to your friends and family
I hope you have found this helpful! Do feel free to visit my facebook page Arty Annie to keep up to date with new activities and ideas.
