Author: Miss Anderson

Weaving, finger painting, printing, colouring in, cutting and gluing are all ways to develop your child’s fine motor skills.

Why not use the Christmas cards you are going to discard to make the scales for your own Rainbow Fish.

Use a cereal box to cut out a fish shape cut slots in the card where you could use leftover wrapping paper to weave in between to create your fish.

Using clothes pegs to hold cotton wool or if mums and dads have any bottle corks use these to print the scales on your fish shape.

Or using whatever you can find around the house make a mosaic fish by cutting small bits of car/paper using these to create the scales.

Here are a few different ideas on how to make different bird feeders.

We always have great fun in nursery making bird feeders and learning about taking care of the birds in winter.

An Easy and Adorable Bird Feeder for Kids to Make

Make your own bird feeder using Cheerio’s (breakfast cereal)

Thread breakfast ‘Cheerio’s’ onto string, pipe cleaners, wire, or wool. Tie the ends tightly and hang them on your fence post, tree branches or washing line.

Make a recycled Bird Feeder

 https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/make-a-recycled-bird-feeder/

Make a Recycled Bird Feeder | Fun Activities for Kids – The RSPB Make a recycled bird feeder from the bottles you would normally throw away. This will require adult help with cutting. Be aware of nut allergies! www.rspb.org.uk

Make ​your own Bird Cake

https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/make-a-speedy-bird-cake/

Homemade Bird Food Recipe | Make Bird Seed Cakes – The RSPB Carefully make a small hole in the bottom of a yoghurt pot. Thread string through the hole and tie a knot on the inside. Leave enough string so that you can tie the pot to a tree or your bird table. www.rspb.org.uk

How to Make Ice Lanterns

 https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/biggardenbirdwatch/2021/how-to-resources/eng_id-print_at_home–min.pdf

Sign up and receive your very own pack. This pack includes posters of birds, how to identify different types birds, a form to record your findings (unless you choose to do this online), and a guide explaining about the survey. This takes place anytime that suits you, for one hour in your day, between 29th and 31st of January.

If you look further into the site you will find ideas to make bird cake, bird feeders, how to care for birds in the winter, how to identify their songs and much, much more.

The website has loads of fantastic information for you to search. Although it is mainly about birds it also has great pictures and advice about other garden creatures, bugs, and insects. Have a look!!

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/?sourcecode=BWMITH0230&channel=paidsearch&gclid=CjwKCAiAi_D_BRApEiwASslbJ1lklsZ9yxPmY5vi4061I8Q6FPI1TbcqIb3erS7Zave-BWS1aZtB-BoClM0QAvD_BwE

(PLEASE NOTE : BUYING THE MEMBERSHIP IS A SEPERATE OPTION. THIS DOES NOT NEED TO BE COMPLETED UNLESS YOU WANT TO)

Although the snow has melted away for now, I’m sure there has been lots of snow fun had over the past week or so! Here is a simple snowman song to keep the snow fun going…

Getting dressed for going outdoors can be a lengthy process with little ones (especially in winter with all the extra clothing) as we are sure you are very aware of! But being able to put on a jacket, zip it up, put boots/shoes on etc all provide children with key co-ordination and fine motor practise (which all goes to help with holding a pencil and writing skills). Also being able to get dressed by themselves will fill children with pride and independence!

This extra time at home is a great opportunity to give your children that extra practise. It can provide great conversation as well… what is the weather like today? So what will we need to put on for going outside?

3 Simple Ways for Children to Put Coats On