Hi everyone!
I'm A Mini
Okay so I missed a month on my blog, but I did have a reason! I caught the dreaded flu! February was pretty much void for me! My little boy was poorly, then I became ill, just in time for half term – perfect! NOT! If any of you were unfortunate to have the flu, then you will no that it certainly was not pleasant. As many of know that when you are a parent you still have to carry on – you can’t call in sick and spend the day in bed – it’s just not going to happening. I was lucky though because my husband was off work for the first few days of half term so I was at least able to stay in bed (apart from when he went to football and took a trip to Blackburn).
Once my husband went back to work I had to be a functioning parent again – but to be honest I could barely look after myself. I couldn’t recall conversations I had had, I struggled to make beans on toast for tea, I ended up with too much toast and not enough beans – I was nearly crying in the kitchen because I couldn’t work out what to do (ridiculous I know) My brain was just not functioning, it was like I was having mental blackouts – which if I’m honest being mentally vacant was rather lovely because my brain never stops usually! So half term was pretty rubbish to be honest!
Anyway, it’s taken me a few weeks to feel human again but I’m back in fully working order and able to write this month’s blog. As it’s April and the Easter holidays have either arrived for you or are fast approaching I thought I’d give you a few ideas for activities to do with the kids over the holidays that aren’t going to break the bank!
Movie Night
One idea I’d like to share is a movie night with a twist (this was a friend of mines idea, I loved it and thought I’d share it). Now we all know the holidays can sometimes be hard because you are still likely to be working, keeping on top of the housework, which has dramatically increased with the kids at home (pfft!!) and trying to keep them occupied. So why not use good old fashioned bribery haha! So, you plan a movie night. Throughout the week they have to earn tickets for helping out, good behaviour etc and with those tickets they can use them at the “movie shop” to purchase snacks for the movie! For example, popcorn is free, 2 tickets get you a chocolate bar, 4 tickets get you a fizzy drink and so on. It’s up to you how you ‘price’ the snacks you have. Hopefully, this will help with everyone helping out over the holidays, but then you all get to spend some quality time together as a result.
Treasure/ Nature Hunt
Okay, so this is an obvious one but it can keep the kids occupied for ages. You can create all types of hunts whether it be just hiding random objects around the house or getting outdoors and looking for different types of leaves, or bugs or just a nature scavenger hunt.
If you are creating one around the house, you can create little clues for them, to help them find where the objects are hidden. Now, as it’s Easter this month, this is the perfect for doing an Easter egg hunt! Each year I have hidden little chocolate eggs around the house and given them clues to go help them find them. They have to keep hunting until they find their large Easter egg – the older they are getting the more difficult the clues are. This can at least pass an hour in the morning (I have them going everywhere!).
For a nature/scavenger hunt, take a trip to the park or even just out in your garden, with a list of things they need to look for. They will love exploring and find it so exciting when the find what they are looking for, my kids love doing anything like this. In fact, my eldest daughter has set this morning as I’m currently writing this – they are having so much fun.
Chalk pictures
My kids do this whenever they can get out in the garden. I buy a couple of packs of the chunky chalk and small chalk for the kids and they can draw on the ground in the garden or on a wall. They draw all sorts of different pictures and patterns. It’s a great way for them to be creative and is such a cheap activity to be able to do. Also, for us there is no clearing up – the rain deals with that job! Happy days!
Planting seeds
The Easter holidays can be a great time to spend with the kids, in the garden (if the weather is half decent) and you can get them involved in planting seeds for your garden, whether that be flowers or fruit and vegetables. They can choose what they want to grow, plant the seeds in the trays/ground and continue to look after them by watering and feeding them. It gives them the opportunity to be responsible for something and also to get satisfaction out of watching something grow. It also gives them an understanding into where some of our food comes from.
Painting
Kids love painting as we know, but to make it a bit different why not get them to plant pots ready for them to put their seeds/plants in. They can be as creative as they want and can personalise their own pots. A great way of knowing which one belongs to which child. Also, if they want to make pictures too, let them use different tools to paint with for example, leaves, twigs, pebbles or even use a straw to blow the paint - if it’s a nice day do this outside and you can hang the pictures on the washing line to dry.
Baking
Why not get the kids in the kitchen to do some baking – here’s a very simple recipe that the kids will enjoy making.
Chocolate Nests
You will need:
- Bowl
- Bun cases
- Muffin tray
- Spoon
- Weighing scales
Ingredients
- 100g butter
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 50g milk chocolate buttons
- 75g golden syrup
- 4 Shredded Wheat or cornflakes/rice krispies will be fine too
- Bag of mini eggs
Method
- Place 12 bun cases in the muffin tray/s
- Add the butter, cocoa powder, chocolate buttons and golden syrup to a bowl.
- Place in the microwave and heat on high for 1 minute 30 seconds, then mix together.
- Break up 4 shredded wheat and add to the mixture in the bowl – mix till the shredded wheat in cover in the chocolate.
- Add the mixture to each of the bun cases, then press down the middle slightly of each nest to make a dip and add 3 chocolate mini eggs to the centre.
- Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.
- Then enjoy!
I’m sure the kids will love making these, I know they’ll certainly enjoy eating them. Happy Baking with your mini bakers.
So, I hope the ideas above help you keep the kids occupied over the Easter holidays – you can also check out the activity boxes and packs I make on my website too, if you are looking for something a bit different!
I can’t believe how quickly this year is going! Anyway, Spring has officially arrived which means Summer is only around the corner -I can’t wait for the warmer weather – I’ve hibernated long enough!! Hope you all have a great break (if you can get one, that it is).
Rebecca x
Tagged in Easter