Children are meant to learn through play – that’s their job! Use these fun and imaginative winter-themed invitations-to-play to let them have fun while they learn about the winter.
Children are meant to learn through play – that’s their job! Use these fun and imaginative winter-themed invitations-to-play to let them have fun while they learn about the winter.
These winter science activities combine art, play, and imagination to introduce children to the science of ice, the Northern Lights, Antarctica, and snowflakes. Hands-on, engaging science lessons for creative kids!
I’ve made a delightful twenty-one-day programme for you and your children that’s rich with meaning, learning, creating, and connecting. There’s something special to do each day.
It’s based on the natural rhythm of the season and on the extra special activities my family has enjoyed as my children have been growing up.
It’s one part educational curriculum; one part seasonal celebration; one part family memory making.
The Seasons School Winter Retreat is like a cosy hug for the long, dark days.
Such a blessing at this time of year when we crave ritual, meaning, comfort, inspiration, joy, and family time.
:: over 70 pages of learning, activities, and printables
:: a complete twenty-one day program of nature, science, literacy, arts and crafts, sensory, and play
:: a planned idea for each day, with plenty of options for flexibility and choice
:: themed around the special words of the season, giving rhythm and ritual
:: follow as a daily countdown, or dip in and out through the winter season
:: materials lists and bonus printables make it so easy for you
:: created with children aged 4 to 10 in mind
:: you want something special this winter, to centre your family life on rhythm, ritual, and connection
:: you want a fun winter countdown of daily activities, for Advent or the Solstice, or the cold months of January or February
:: you want a non-religious set of activities for the holiday season, either to sit alongside your faith celebration or as your own special ritual
:: you want to connect your children to nature and learn about the seasons, Solstice, moon, and stars
:: you want a set of simple activities, using simple materials, to get your children away from their screens and into making, creating, playing, and learning
:: you want to re-fresh your home learning, to get more enthusiasm in the dark winter days
The 21 winter-themed days include:
Bonus printables include:
I’m passionate about keeping children connected to nature and a creative childhood of hands-on learning. My own children have grown up in the garden, at the beach, and in the forest. We use nature as a vital part of our home education curriculum, and it makes our learning joyful and deeply connected to the rhythmic cycle of the year.
I’m the author The Garden Classroom (published by Roost Books) and used to work in school running the Year Four Gardening Club. I’ve also worked in preschool, highschool, and as a childminder, where my provision was rated as ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED.
With over twenty years experience in education I want to share what I’ve learned with you, so you can feel inspired, confident, and supported to give your children the best start in life. Let’s work together to deliver lessons that are engaging, impactful, and fun!
70+ pages of daily learning, activities, and printables
Everything you need for a cosy and connected winter celebration
$19.99
Click here to download your Winter Retreat kit now.
Create a super sensory water play treat for your children with this winter sensory bath.
This Christmas play dough recipe is inspired by the Christmas-flavoured sugar I make each year to go on our Christmas-movie-popcorn.
The sugar smells exactly like Christmas, with a blend of herbs and spices that fills the house with a festive feeling and, as I often have play dough on my brain, I thought why not try it for a Christmas play dough recipe?
Click play on the video above to see our playdough masterclass.
This video gives you everything you ever wanted to know about play dough: how to make homemade playdough with quick and easy recipes; the benefits of playdough for children; and lots of sensory play activities using play dough including playdough math activities, playdough literacy activities, and playdough fine motor skills activities.
Plus find out how to get printable playdough recipe cards and printable play mats. It’s an excellent beginners guide to play dough!
Subscribe to NurtureStore’s YouTube channel to get more gardening and nature study videos!
This article is one of our Christmas sensory play activities and part of our Christmas activities and crafts for children.
Play dough is just fantastic – a super sensory play material that feels good, smells good, doesn’t make too much mess and my kids love it.
It’s great as a calm-down activity for giddy, festive kids, and put together with some Christmas cookie cutters it makes a lovely Christmas gift .
Here’s the recipe with the special blend of herbs and spices that smells exactly like Christmas.
Start by filling your salt with all the Christmas flavour. Take one cup of salt and add:
1. the zest of an orange or two clementines
2. some vanilla pod
3. a good grating of nutmeg
4. three cloves
5. some ground cinnamon
6. a bay leaf
Blitz this with a blender until everything is chopped, mixed and smelling wonderful.
Add two cups of plain (all purpose) flour…
two tablespoons of vegetable oil and two tablespoons of cream of tartar.
Pour in one and a half cups of boiling water…
and some food colouring. Red? Gold? Green? Then mix it and form it into a dough.
Add some extra shine to the play dough recipe by pouring in a little glycerine.
Add a good dash of glitter for some festive sparkle. Knead the dough for a few minutes and then you’re done.
Wrap the play dough in a plastic bag and it will last into the new year.
Join me for a winter art workshop. In these easy winter art projects we are looking at winter skies and the skeleton shapes that trees make.
This workshop is great to combine with a nature walk, or you can stay home and simply use the materials here for inspiration.