Keep kids active and having fun with this printable indoor scavenger hunt sheet.
Newspaper art from yesterday’s news
Sometimes the best art comes from very simple materials – especially when you go big and bold!
Newspaper art [Read more…]
Ice breaker games: the Just So Tag I’m It hat
Here’s a super fun active play idea that’s great for an ice breaker game at the beginning of the school year or when groups of children come together: try the Tag, I’m It! hat.
Ice breaker games: Tag, I’m It hat! [Read more…]
How to make a child’s hat
How to make a child’s hat couldn’t be simpler but with a creative kid involved the results are super fun and oh so stylish!
How to make a child’s hat [Read more…]
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party was the perfect birthday party theme for my little bookworm. B turned nine last week and at the weekend we hosted a Book Party for her family and friends, with crazy food and fun activities. The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party was such fun to plan and prepare, with the kids excited about sharing the mad ideas with their friends.
All the invitations were little books, illustrated by B, with the story inside telling the tale of how all the guests were invited to a party. Everyone came dressed as a favourite book character – I was Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, although sadly no photos of that incarnation remain. I do have lots of photos of what we made and what we ate though, so here’s our round up of how we hosted a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. [Read more…]
Meringue recipe
This meringue recipe makes the perfect party dessert and as they’re so easy to make it’s a great recipe for the children to try out for themselves. It also calls for a little showmanship and daring, much to the kids’ delight.
I won’t make any attempt to pass them off as being a healthy option though as they are of course very sugary, but serving them with a pile of fresh fruit balances things out a little. This recipe makes mini meringues, which is a better child-sized portion. Not that I care about easing my conscience too much – they were for my birthday party after all!
Here’s how to make our Mini Meringue Recipe
To make 12 white and 12 pink mini meringues you will need 2 egg whites, 100g caster sugar and two drops of pink food colouring
Preheat your oven to 110C / 225 f / Gas 1/4 and then place your egg whites in a large bowl.
Let the children crack their own eggs – go on! If you have any stray pieces of egg shell it’s easiest to use another piece of shell to scoop them out as like seems to attract like. You only need the egg whites for this recipe. To separate them you can strain the egg through your fingers, keeping hold of the yolk. An easier way with children is to crack your egg on to a saucer or plate, then use an egg cup to enclose the yolk. Then you can pour off the rest of the egg white into your bowl.
Use a whisk to beat the eggs until they form thick, white peaks. This is great fun for the children as the eggs totally transform in colour and texture as you beat in the air- science in action. When the egg whites are stiff enough you can hold the bowl upturned over your (or their) head and the eggs will stay in the bowl – ta-daa! Then whisk in the sugar, adding it little by little.
Line a baking tray with a sheet of greaseproof paper and use teaspoons to place 12 blobs of the meringue mixture on to the tray. Add a couple of drops of food colouring to the remaining mixture and very gently stir the colour through. Use teaspoons again to make 12 blobs of pink meringue on the tray.
Bake for 40 minutes, then turn off the oven. Leave the meringues inside the oven for another 5 minutes if you like yours to have a delicious chewy centre, for another 20 if you prefer them to be crisp.
You can serve them as they are or sandwhich one white and one pink meringue together with some whipped cream. Serve with fresh berries and other chopped fruit. Just right for birthday or summer party.
You can find more recipes here.
happily shared with share your Sunday best and craft schooling Sunday