Activity Village News

3rd October 2008

A Message From Lindsay

October is here and it will soon be Halloween - are you ready? This week we have some fabulous new Halloween crafts, including 8 fuse bead patterns which can be used to create mobiles, pins, fridge magnets - great fun! We are all big fans of fuse beads so we'll be adding lots more fuse bead patterns to the website over the next few months, too.

Although we don't have an "official" Grandparent's Day in the UK, there have been moves recently to establish one and it will be celebrated this Sunday, 5th October. If you are interested, check out our Grandparent's Day activities and ideas here:
Grandparent's Day (UK)

I've also been asked to let UK visitors know about The Big Sing. This is a great project which aims to get 1 million children singing together on 27th November this year - led by Des'ree, break a record and raise money for the children's charities CLIC Sargent and Marie Curie Cancer Care at the same time! Please take a moment to read about the project (more below) -  why not tell your child's teacher and see if you can get your school involved?

Finally, I just thought I'd point out that there is so much coming up - Diwali, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Thanksgiving in Canada and the US and Harvest Festival in the UK, St Andrew's Day, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa - that you might want to check your craft and paper supplies and start planning the next few months' activities for your family!

The Big Sing (for UK visitors)

The Big Sing is back, and bigger than ever. Once again it’s time for schools nationwide to get singing in an attempt to smash the World Record for the biggest simultaneous sing along!

This year the choir will be led by singing sensation Des’ree to perform a specially commissioned version of her worldwide smash hit ‘’You Gotta Be’.

3 years ago The Big Sing Choir, including Joss Stone, Lemar and Ms Dynamite, and 293,978 youngsters throughout the UK, performed live from the Royal Albert Hall and smashed the record already held by The Big Sing for the largest simultaneous sing along.

Now, Thursday 27th November 2008 at 2:45pm, live from the O2 arena, The Big Sing returns once again, with the aim of smashing their own record by getting 1 million singers to perform at the same time, also broadcasted live on UK radio.

The Big Sing brings together two of the most exciting music organisations in a collaboration that enables school children to get involved in a memorable and fun project that brings communities together. Youth Music and Young Voices along with renowned children’s charities CLIC Sargent and Marie Curie Cancer Care are reaching out and inviting every school and child, everywhere, to get involved. Join by visiting and registering on The Big Sing website www.bigsing.com and register to be a record breaker today!!!

What's New At Activity Village?

Fuse beads (Hama or Perler beads or generic brands) are a fantastic activity for kids of all ages - not only can children be creative and get the satisfaction of the finished product, but handling the beads and following patterns develops all sorts of skills. We are starting a new page dedicated to fuse beads with some fun Halloween fuse bead patterns for all ages...
Halloween fuse bead patterns

Check out the main fuse bead page for ideas for using your creations, too!
Fuse bead patterns

Also for Halloween, we've added 3 new crafts (and there will be lots more next week too):

Pumpkin seed Jack O' Lantern mosaic

Wooden spoon witch puppet

Sparkly spider web picture

This week Sarah and the boys have been busy making turkeys of all descriptions! Check out the latest turkeys and lots of other great Thanksgiving crafts here:
Thanksgiving crafts

Kid Thinker 5 - "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."
Includes poster, worksheet, things to think about, activity and extension suggestions.
More Kids Thinkers

We have 3 new craft ideas for those of you who will be celebrating Bonfire Night on 5th November. Don't forget to check out our other Bonfire Night ideas and activities, too!
Bonfire Night crafts

6 pretty princesses to color in, including Rapunzel and Cinderella.
Princess coloring pages

Diary Of A New Mum - Week 23
A Day Off
In which Paul rescues me from exhaustion by giving me a luxurious day off my duties - and we all benefit!

New at AV Baby this week:


Baby Photo Of The Week
Reading To Your Baby
Visual Stimulation For Your Baby
Baby Yoga
Baby Gyms
Songs For You And Your Baby

Recommended Product

Goal Setting For Kids
Ever thought about Goal Setting for Kids? Goal setting is one of the most important skills that a person can learn, and the earlier this skill is learned, the more chances there are for successful outcomes in a person’s life. Adults know that goal setting is all about planning, making progress with that plan and reaching final goals or achievements. Once a child learns how to do this, they can use this tool for more success in school and at home.

Goal setting for kids will help your children to do well on their school tests and in activities such as sports, music programs or outside academic or arts programs - even at home, and with their personal finances. Teaching your child how to be a goal setter will give them a sense that they are capable of whatever they want to do. That’s valuable!

To learn more about Goal Setting for Kids, go to 4lifehappykids.com.

Have You Seen?

Recycling posters and coloring pages, crafts, information and even origami!
Recycling for kids

A Giggle!

"When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half."
Gracie Allen

Something To Think About..

If you plan for one year, plant rice.
If you plan for 10 years, plant a tree.
If you plan for 100 years, educate a child.
Chinese proverb

A Poem To Enjoy

A Book

A book, I think, is very like
A little golden door
That takes me into places
Where I've never been before.
It leads me into fairyland
Or countries strange and far
And, best of all, the golden door
Always stands ajar.
by Adelaide Love

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	Don't miss...
	Thanksgiving
	St Andrew's Day
	Advent
	Hanukkah
	Christmas
	Kwanzaa
	Winter
	Shidonni

Christmas is coming!
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