Getting it Sorted - Best Foot Forward

 It was daft really. Writing about my sister and her shoes and not starting from there myself. After all, they take up far more room than nail polish and the choices about what to keep and those to throw are far more straightforward.

So, this week the shoe rack has been emptied...

What made the task easier was the fact that the weather has definitely changed so the summer stuff needs storing away - and at least one pair that have still been in use, while only just surviving the ravages of use (and age) isn't worth saving till next year!

I've sorted, thrown and given away some and still have plenty to wear - result - I'm very happy and they are all organised and ready to go.

I also delved into the loft a while back to unearth some rather nice boxes and old wrapping/craft paper. During the recent half term these made it over for one of my sister's childcare occasions when all the relevant parents were working.

They all had individual approaches to covering their boxes with a patchwork of scraps creating their own personal storage boxes. It was not only a fun way to while away a rainy afternoon, but it also cost absolutely nothing as I had the scraps, boxes and PVA glue and found some wooden letters in my card making stores.

 

One great niece chose to cut small pieces choosing the pictures she liked, another decided to go for strips, whilst the 4 year old watched them use the PVA on the paper scraps and they position them onto the boxes. She decided there was a better method. First she pasted a small area of PVA onto the box, then cut out a shape or picture to fit and finally put it onto the pasted surface. It was quick, efficient and far less messy than the other two!

When it came to sticking their coloured, wooden intials onto the boxes, the oldest pair put theirs on the top of the boxes, but the littlest one went for the front 'cos that's where you look to open it!'

(I know the Z is reversed, but that's a normal trait for this particular great niece - as I say, they are all very individual!)

Right, now to tackle this week's Substack offering... I hope you get the chance to check it out. Last week I added the first in the series about helping the process of learning to read with phonics as a building block....

A Camping Trip or Two

 When we were younger our parents were very involved with Scouting and for a while I worked for the Association so we have experienced a bit of camping here and there!

It can be great fun for children to try spending time 'under canvas' although you may not have it in your plans to go away, so...

Month 8 - Bite 25

Having a tent and a garden to pitch it in is fine, but not necessary! Give them the materials to make a camp - either indoors or outside. 

All you need is something to make the shelter - a big tablecloth or an old sheet for example. Next they'll need a structure to hand it on - a clothes dryer, a table a washing line - you get the idea. You might have a play tent or screen - anything will do with some added imagination.

Once the den is built they can 'furnish' it with cushions and a duvet (or sleeping bag if you've got one) for the bed and so on. Of course, there's always a danger they'll move in there with as much furniture as they can fit...

Once in there they'll need to at least eat inside to make them feel the experience......

Month 8 - Bite 26

Having and playing with a den or tent is all very well. How much more exciting is it if you actually get to sleep in it?

Okay it may put your living room out of commission for the night, but it's great fun. You could turn it into a family camp too, or even a festival. Add face paints, bunting, music and wild dancing and who needs Glastonbury?!

Here's One I Made Earlier

 Month 8 - Bite 24

So the holiday is well underway and you've had some great fun. The endless stream of good ideas, not to mention the holiday cash may be stuttering just now. However, you were all prepared for this moment..

Remember that box with the stash of downloaded templates, craft materials and so on. Now is it's moment...

                                     

Discovering all that new stuff for making things should inject some new inspiration and cost little or nothing as you've been saving it for a while. It's an idea we try to repeat for each holiday so that there's always a supply of materials for rainy or cash strapped days.

Sometimes the contents include junk materials or cake kits - anything really that helps the entertainment!

Becoming Someone Else

 Now how about a change of character? 

Not literally, obviously. Here's a chance to explore a different creative side.

Month 8 - Bite 21

Why not let the children loose on some old clothes for a dressing up session? Do you have any old gear that you sorted out during your wardrobe purge that they could experiment with. The items don't have to be used for their original purpose. A skirt could become a superheroes cape or a scarf could turn into a sash  or sword belt.

Let their imaginations run riot as they role play themselves through what's available.

Take note of anything they wish they had - 'if only we had something for a tail', 'what can I use as wings?', 'all I need is a witch's hat'. 

That list will come in handy tomorrow!

Month 8 - Bite 22

Now they can design some costumes of their own. That tail could be made of some left over yarn attached to elastic or a belt. This one I made for a World Book Day for the Big Bad Wolf. It took forever to brush, straighten and fluff after I saw a video of how to do it. Yours doesn't have to be so fancy!

Wings could be conjured up from some filmy fabric attached to bent coat hangers or a witch's hat made from card. You can whistle up a stick as a magic wand or a pillow case for a Pharoah's tunic. I love the usefulness of old pillowcases. Just a slit and cut here and there turns them into a variety of costume basics (watch out for more pillowcase stuff in October and December!).

There are plenty of templates online for masks of different varieties and cardboard cut out stethoscopes for budding doctors or vets.

What will your designers go for?

Month 8 - Bite 23

Now they've got costumes and have practised dressing up, what will they do with their new characters. Plan an entertainment. It could be miming or acting out a favourite tale with a narrator telling the story. They might choose to improvise a dramatic scene or two - suggest a few of your own for example Harry Potter and a Wolf go shopping and see a butterfly taking sweets from a shop - what happens next? They may have some ideas for plays of their own or have found a script at the library that they want to act out. Alternatively there's the chance to put on a musical show with them pretending to be a number of different singers or bands.

Make some noise

Okay I get it, many of these suggestions have been pretty calm or calming and out of doors, so now it's time for some noise!

Month 8 - Bite 14

Go music crazy!

It doesn't matter whether you have any recognisable musical instruments or not - there will be something lying around at home that can be put to work in this activity. And it doesn't have to cost a penny!

Here's a selection I found in the kitchen....

Anything you can bash and bang will act as a drum kit, saucepans, wooden spoons, tin cans, you name it. Then you can use any sealable container part filled with rice or lentils as a shaker. Alternatively use a box or inner toilet roll tube as long as you seal them effectively. Otherwise they could burst and you'll all feel like Cinderella picking up the debris!

You could go a step further and make a stringed instrument to pluck or strum. A sturdy box or container like the plastic one above with different thicknesses of elastic bands round it will be fine.

Got any paper drinking straws lurking? Cut one end into an arrow shape and experiment with blowing through it as a whistle.

Now that was just a quick trawl in the kitchen, what else might be lurking around your place that could be pressed into service?

Once you've explored the sounds you can make, create a band. You could always stream a favourite tune and act as the backing band!

 

Bored or Board?

Month 8 - Bite 11

Search out some free entertainment online that doesn't involve computer games!

There's always times during the school breaks (and at weekends come to that) when there's a need for sit down and do something calm! It's good to have a change from frenetic activity or to have something up your sleeve for days with poorer weather or when everyone fancies flopping about at home.

Have a session of surfing the web, not for cutesy videos of other people's pets or numberless gaming apps to use up your tablet's memory, but for downloadables. There's so much available whether that's quiz sheets, colouring pages, games to cut out and play..... Spend some time having a search and printing some examples off.

Be careful though... you won't want to wildly print off pages and pages of stuff which could a) waste paper and resources if it's not used or b) adds to piles of clutter about the place. Be selective about what you need right now and save other material in a folder for printing as needed at a later date.

With some of the materials you might find you only use one side of the paper, well, save it and print on the reverse next time.

With some of the downloads you could make it a paired or team activity and only print one copy.. just saying!

Month 8 - Bite 12

When I was little we always got a compedium of games either at Christmas or for birthdays. I well remember my mild dad becoming a ruthless hunter during ludo! My husband's family spent many hours playing Touring England - we now have our own game of it with a trophy to play for... There are the perennials too, of course, Scrabble, Mastermind and Monopoly (that often had to left out overnight as we never seemed to finish it.

What's in your cupboard? Have you any old favourites from your past that you haven't introduced your youngsters to? If you don't have any try a look around a charity shop or two to see what they have. 

It'll be interesting to see how individuals develop their own game playing characteristics once you get started.

Month 8 - Bite 13

After all that competition it's time for sharing an experience together. Try a film night, complete with popcorn and ice cream.

There will be plenty of films (or maybe some DVDs if you still have the machinery) to stream - even on free to view platforms. Or you could splash out on an old film you enjoyed in the past and see what the younger members of the family think about it.

Set the scene at home with low lighting and a quick 'speech' or 'trailer' about why the film is your choice. You might even make tickets to be exchanged for front row seating!!

Don't forget to ask your band of film reviewers/critics what they thought of the movie at the end....

 

Playing Outside

 Month 8 - Bite 8

Time to get outside - as long as the weather is on your side, although a little drizzle never hurt anyone... much.

Are there any local sports' facilities that are offering free taster sessions? Do a bit of research online to check it out. There will be some teams and organisations that are recruiting new members by throwing their doors open. See if there's anything your crew would like to try. Many of these will be advertised online or in the local press or down at the library so why not take a look?

Month 8 - Bite 9

When was the last time you visited your local park?

We're lucky round here. As well as the usual swings and grassy areas there are tennis courts, mini golf, a skateboard arena and an outdoor gym. Do you know what's on offer near you? Getting out in the fresh air is good for all of you, especially as (generally) whooping around and letting off steam is easier in open areas.

Phone round and see if one or two friends want to meet up and have a play together. Take some snacks and drinks with you and it shouldn't cost much at all.

Month 8 - Bite 10

In all that sorting out did you uncover a ball, racket, bat, or any such thing? You could all play a ball game together today. It could be a traditional game that you all know the rules for, or you could invent your own... With some improvised skittles (plastic milk cartons) or obstacles to go round or through (chair legs, rope laid on the ground) you can make up your own games and rules based on the number of players, time and space available and the skill set of those taking part!