Activity Village Newsletter

26th January 2007

If you have any behavioral issues with your kids, you might want to check out the Better Behavior Wheel, from Robert and Julie Butler. We've been recommending it at Activity Village for nearly two years now and have had great feedback from purchasers (as well as resorting to it ourselves on occasion!) Available as a real product (sent internationally) or as a digital download, the Better Behavior Wheel allows you to set consequences for undesirable behavior that fit your family - and the unusual and very clever twist of having to spin the wheel to discover your punishment works wonders to take the stress out of the situation for the parent and reinforce the message for the child. This is an excellent product and we recommend it highly.
Product review here
Find out more about the Better Behavior Wheel
Digital version of the Better Behavior Wheel

Happy Australia Day to our Australian readers!

Don't forget to visit our Australia Day page for lots of fun Australia-inspired activities!
Australia Day

Here is a bit of fun for everyone to enjoy - Rolf Harris's version of Waltzing Matilda (including an explanation of some of the Aussie slang words). We've had a good "singalong" this morning in our house! Click on the play button...

NB Please do not let your children browse videos at YouTube unsupervised.

WHAT'S NEW AT ACTIVITY VILLAGE?

From Australia to Africa! I'm afraid that I haven't managed to get all of the promised African Animals theme done this week as my office has been redecorated and I haven't had access to my computer until this morning, but we have some absolutely gorgeous African animal stationery and posters, and Tracy has contributed some fantastic links if you would like to take a look. Much more coming soon!
African Animals Theme

2nd February is Groundhog Day - a US "holiday" which we haven't featured at Activity Village before! Check out all the fun activities (including some cute new jigsaws) we have for you here:
Groundhog Day

ACTIVITY VILLAGE POLL

Here are the results of last week's poll:

Please visit the home page to take part in this week's poll, "What would you MOST like to see more of at Activity Village?" If we know what you would like more of, we can create more of it, so please take part! Results will be published next week.
Activity Village Poll

THIS WEEK'S POEM

"Said the little boy, 'Sometimes I drop my spoon.'
Said the little old man, 'I do that too.'
The little boy whispered, 'I wet my pants.'
'I do that too,' laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, 'I often cry.'
The old man nodded, 'So do I.'
'But worst of all,' said the boy, 'it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me.'
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
'I know what you mean,' said the little old man."

Shel Silverstein

THIS WEEK'S QUOTE

A wise woman once said to me: “There are only two lasting
bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots; the other, wings”.
Hodding Carter

WEBSITE ROUND-UP

Remember, if you come across anything outstanding or particularly useful that you think others would enjoy, we would like to hear about it.. (editor@activityvillage.co.uk)

Here are Tracy's suggested sites for this week:

Print and make these inventor cards – information about 24 different inventors and related activities to try out.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/acProject?project=inventoractivitycards&extsubcat=games&lc
=en&cc=us&dlc=en&extcat=toysstickerspuzzles

Have fun trying out different paper airplane designs
http://www.paperairplanes.co.uk/

And download the pattern for a paper plane which is in the Guinness Book of Records – it stayed aloft for 18.80 seconds! Can you beat it?
http://www.workman.com//fliersclub/download.html

There is plenty to keep everyone busy at this site, lots of topics including science, history, health, reading, writing – as well as lots of fun on-line games and activities. It is great for younger children with no or limited reading skills and there is also plenty of extra information provided for adults.
http://www.brainpopjr.com/

Find out how your name would look in Braille and try more fun games: http://www.afb.org/braillebug/Games.asp

Can you work out which famous children’s books these opening lines are from?
http://kids.nypl.org/arts/ChildrensBookQuiz.cfm