For UK readers:
Those of you with older kids might like to find out more about The Big
Bang, which is the UK’s first national fair celebrating young people’s
achievements in science and engineering. The event is for children aged
11 to 16 and is being held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre,
Westminster, London from 4th-6th March. The Big Bang’s aim is to
motivate schools and young people to embrace science, technology,
engineering and maths.
Over the three days, nearly nine thousand young
people, teachers, representatives from science and engineering
organisations and employers, government ministers, MPs and peers are
expected to attend this event. It will feature theatre shows, activities
and hands on investigations, and opportunities to see the many real
world applications of science and technology. School groups arrive for
half-day sessions, where they will see one theatre show, and take part
in one activity and one workshop from a huge choice.
The Big Bang is free to all who attend but spaces
are limited. Only visiting school groups are able to register and those
interested can do so at
www.thebigbangfair.co.uk.
What's New At Activity Village?
We have lots of new Easter crafts this week, including eggs of all sorts and
this very cute Easter chick and a matching Easter bunny. Easter
crafts
In honour of St David's Day (1st March) we have a new range of Welsh
language printables - mini booklets with all sorts of words to learn. We'll be
adding flashcards, posters and videos, too, in the near future! Welsh
Language Printables
We have only had time to "translate" a few of these printables - and only into
English so far! But there will be more soon. These are great for early readers
as well as children learning English as a foreign language. Learning English
Help Needed! If anybody can spare a little time to help us translate some of our
new language printables into different languages we would be very grateful. We
already have some of our old-style printables in French, German, Dutch, Russian,
Italian and Spanish but we would like to add our newest printables in these
languages, and possibly add some more languages, too, if there is demand. If you
can help, please email me (editor-at-activityvillage.co.uk)
Recommended Product
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 over two years now and have had great feedback from
purchasers (as well as resorting to it ourselves on occasion!)
Available 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
A Giggle!
"Before I was married, I had a hundred theories about raising
children and no children. Now, I have three children and no theories." John Wilmot
Reader Tip of the Week
This comes from Shannon - thank you!
I thought you might like to hear about something I have been doing for some
years now, which works very well for me and my family. I have a folder on my
desktop called "Family Fun" and inside it I have a number of word
documents which I add to whenever I see, hear, read or think of something
appropriate.
1. One is called "Near-by Excursions" and includes details of the local
children's farm and its opening times, our cinema's website details, the
number for the paint-your-own pottery shop, etc.
2. I have another document for "Further Afield Excursions" where I keep
ideas for museum trips and anything else that involves a full day out.
3. "Craft Ideas" - in this I copy and paste the URL for crafts at Activity
Village and other websites that I would like to try with the kids. If they
need special supplies I make a note here too.
4. "Funny Moments" is my journal document, where I keep a dated record of
any of those priceless things that my kids say or do. I used this to make an
insert to my family Christmas cards this year!
5. My "Memory Jogger" document just lists ideas for things to do, which I
cut and paste from articles on the net, newsletters and conversations with
friends. Just to give you an idea, some of the things I have added recently
include: make a bird feeder and feed the birds every week; learn a new card
game; study butterflies; hug a tree; plant up a pot of herbs; give the kids
a little sketchbook each and do some still life studies; hang a crystal on a
sunny day and make rainbows. Whenever I feel stuck for something to do I
just look at my list and I always find inspiration!
Have You Seen?
Spring
Although it is hard to believe it sometimes, and the daffodils are a
long way from coming out in my neck of the woods, it will be Spring
again soon! Perhaps you could start planning some Spring activities now?
Something To Think About..
“The child must know that she is a miracle, that since the beginning
of the
world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not
be,
another child like her”. Pablo Casals
