Big Bundle of Little Activities

Two of my favourite insta-mamas have started an instagram community using the hashtag #kidartlit with a weekly theme posted by their guest collaborator. You know me, linking books and activities would obviously appeal to me! But what a great bunch of creative people are already taking part after just under a month. So far we have been crafty with penguins, Chinese New Year, snow and my favourite has been the 'STEAM' challenge (Science, Teachnology. Engineering, Art and Mathematics based activities). There is also a fabulous website where you can sign up to access their 'free resource library' which is an online magazine packed full of creative ideas. Check it out here: https://www.kidartlit.com/ This has probably been my main weekly 'kick in the butt' to get an activity going with BookBairn and I'm so glad it has moved me out of my comfort zone and got me motivated!

Last year the bloggers 'Little Button Diaries' launched a wonderfully inspiring book packed full with great activities for pre-school aged children. Divided into sections varying from 'nature lovers' to 'little laboratory' and 'rainy day' to 'paint and print', there are 100 activities to keep fickle and easily distracted toddlers and kids busy. You are truly spoilt for choice with projects from simple pipe-cleaner crowns to more complicated cardboard tube marble drops, there is something for every sort of kid and every sort of parent (you will notice I avoid the messy activities - BookBairn doesn't like messy hands lucky for me!). If, like me, you are looking for inspiration this is a great place to start!

BookBairn loves to bake! And what could be more fun than baking Gruffalo recipes? This is a fun book for any Gruffalo fans out there with 24 recipes from the deep dark wood. We have tried several of the recipes but the 'Purple Prickle Pancakes' were the most fun! Simple enough for kids to join in, and with fun-looking results, the recipes would be great for getting kids to try new foods. We highly recommend trying some of these out.

Shannon is the most creative mama I've come across. Her activities are always achievable and blog and Instagram feeds. She has two kids and one more on the way, so like me she has been keeping her little ones busy by crafting and making at home when she doesn't have the energy to pack everyone up and out for the day. Just love her ideas, my favourite recent post of hers is 'Creative Ways to Entertain Kids (When Your A Billion Weeks Pregnant)' - it's like she was writing it just for me!
realistic and when something goes wrong she's happy to share that too - how many of us have had a 'brilliant' idea for an activity with our kids that ends up with a huge mess everywhere? Well, Shannon sometimes does and she shares them too! Based in Australia, I'm envious of the sunlit photographs on her

I have always loved pinterest but I often pin things and never actually make an effort to do them! Scrap that! Now I'm going to try them out. Follow my boards here to see what I fancy trying next!

I hope that helps and has inspired some of you to get crafty with your kids. Who knows how long I will manage as I get rounder and rounder and begin to resemble a Weeble Wobblen and goodness knows where I will muster the energy with a newborn but I have promised myself I will continue to try. And if in doubt I'll get the sticker books out. Because sometimes simple is just as fun!

Happy Crafting, 

Mummy and BookBairn x