Activity of the Week-Obstacle Courses

Its been a while since I've written an Activity of the Week blog so I thought I better do one.  This week I am focusing on Obstacles Courses.  This can be done with small children to older children and its really fun.
What myself and my charges do is that we get a variety of garden equipment/toys and set ourselves challenges.  We also time ourselves and see if we can improve on our time. Below I have listed some bullet point ideas of things you can do.

• play tunnels to climb through
• bouncing tennis balls on rackets for a certain amount of times
• getting a ball in a net
• hopping on one leg
• jumping in a bin liner/sack race
• skipping
• press ups for sporty individuals
• bouncing on a trampoline
• running laps
• throwing hoops

I'm going to create a pin board on my pinterest with some further ideas link is www.pinterest.com/nbicester

Activity of the Week-making kites

Inspired by the crazy wind today I was thinking this weeks activity of the week could be how you can get outside and experience crazy Doris or whatever they are calling her.  Also I am trying to get this a day early from normal as this will make more sense.

What you will need

• card
• sticks
• string
• tape

The photo below I think describes how to go about making a simple kite but I have linked some instructions below to help you.

Useful links
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Kite
http://www.my-best-kite.com/how-to-make-a-kite.html
http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Paper-Kite-for-Kids/

Happy Kite Making Everybody and Enjoy Doris!!

Activity of the Week-Junk Modelling

Wow we are into February already and hopefully you are all set for half term as children in Oxfordshire are breaking up today. Hopefully you have read my what to do in Half term blog which I posted earlier this week.

This weeks activity of the week is Junk Modelling.  Junk Modelling is so simple as all you need to do is use items that would normally just go in your recycle bin. Some times all you need is a cardboard box and some toilet rolls and there is hours of fun right there.

Items

• paint/felt tips
• carboard boxes
• empty containers, bottles etc
• sellotape, glue
• toilet roll, kitchen roll
• egg containers

What to make

• role play areas
• spaceships
• cars
• models
• houses for animals

I think this is quite self explaintary but tweet me if you need any inspiration @nannybicester

Activity of the Week-Building Dens

This weeks Activity of the Week is building dens.  Who doesn't like to build a den? Whether its getting some blankets and sheets and chairs together in the living room or being more adventurous and gathering sticks and putting them together to build something in the garden.

Below I have showed two very different types of dens.  One indoor, one outdoor.


What you need

• carboard boxes
• blankets/sheets
• cushions, soft furnishings

Children can construct dens themselves particularly indoor ones but may need more assistance with outdoor ones as they are working with least manageable materials.  Lots of outdoor places do den building activities within their opening hours look online to see whats near you.

The eden project website gives some great advice about how to build your own den so I have the link below for you to have a look:

https://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/how-to-build-your-own-den

Happy den building

Activity of the week-Snowy days

Hello hello.
 Have you had any snow yet? There's been a pathetic amount in Bicester not really a lot to do with however I know some of you have had more in the UK  so thought a snowy days blog is appropriate at this time of year/winter time.
 Last night I tweeted a link to my Pinterest board where I did a board on the snowy day activities. Normally for my activity of the week I just do one activity but today I thought I would share a few with you.

1.Snowmen building
I do understand this is completely dependent on how much snow there is which as I said there is none here to do one which is such a shame.

2.Winter themed Small World play

This is so easy to do with a tray from your house.  Put some shaving foam and cotton wool in for the base.  You can then add in some of your childrens toys to make this really fun.

3. Winter Walk and collages
Take your little ones on a walk and collect some items to bring home to make a winter collage.  Take your camera to take some photos and then when you can come home you can create collages of the photos and items you collected.

Hope this has inspired you for some snowy/winter fun.  Check out the link below for my pin board for more ideas.
https://uk.pinterest.com/nbicester/snowy-days/

Activity of the Week-Postcard world and country maps

Inspired completely by my cousin in the states I thought id share a new idea for parents/nannies to do at home with the little ones.

My cousin started by getting a map of the America and asking relatives and friends to send postcards from the different states.  When they received the postcards they would stick them on and learn about the state/place together.  Just to add my second cousin is three years old and sounds very intelligent wanting to learn about the world already.  My cousin has extended this into different countries.  I have a postcard from oxford to send just currently abit useless for sending it.

Such a fab idea so really wanted to share it.

Photo credit-My cousins photo