Activity Village News

13th February 2009

A Message From Lindsay

We just have a short newsletter this week - but still a few new activities to help you keep the kids busy and also a request for help (see below).

I came across a series of videos on YouTube this week on parenting issues, and particularly enjoyed the "glad glad glad" idea in this one:

Coming up soon:

14th February - Valentine's Day
24th February - Mardi Gras
24th February - Pancake Day
1st March - St David's Day
17th March - St Patrick's Day
22nd March - Mother's Day (UK)
12th April - Easter

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

Print out our new daisy alphabet and numbers to use in displays, games etc
Daisy alphabet and numbers

Suggestions for using our alphabets

Pretty flower background scrapbook paper designs in Spring colors

Ideas for using our printable scrapbook paper!

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

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