crafts/games

• recycling crafts (1)

articles

• Playdough recipe
• Craft of week : Edible painted egg
• Colouring Easter eggs with natural colourants
• Craft of week: Eggshell Mosaic
• Craft of Week: Marbled Eggs
• Crafts this week – Quilling & Marble Painting
• Craft of the Week: Diary Decoupage
• Craft of the week: Fashionista Fun!
• Craft of the week: blooming flower pots
• Craft of the Week-Tissue Paper Painting and Card Making
• Spring in the garden with kids
• Recycling idea with a plastic bottle cap
• Mandela Day in Orange Farm
• Week 4 : Making fun out of nothing with Nikki Bush
• Week 3 : Making fun out of nothing with Nikki Bush
• Week 2 : Making fun out of nothing with Nikki Bush
• Week 1 : Making fun out of nothing with Nikki Bush
• 20 recommended games to play with your kids
• Made in SA games for kids
• Lets make makarapas for the soccer World Cup!
• The family that plays together stays together!
• Make a mess and laugh a lot

by Sally-Ann Chalmers , mom to  two gardening angels Rowan (7) and Shannon(4)  who enjoy eating the vegetables they grow in their veggie patch.  She offers Little Green Fingers as an extra mural at nursery/primary schools,call her for a free demo or visit her website

Its finally here…….SPRING YIPEE!!!!!!!!!!

Get those sun hats and that suntan lotion on, grab the kids and head outside into the garden for some good wholesome fun in the sun!

Why not try out a few of our Little Green Fingers activities. Get the kids outdoors exploring and discovering nature away from the television. Gardening is an exciting and engaging activity for children which teaches them patience, responsibility and self confidence.  It also involves the whole family and doesn’t cost a lot either.

Dinosaur or Fairy Worlds

You will need:

a flat plastic tray about 200mm x 200mm x70mm.

potting soil

small stones for drainage &  bigger stones to decorate

3 x  plants varying in size from a ground cover,  bushy leafy middle height plant and a “treelike” plant, use different colours and leaf shapes.

Toy dinosaurs, army men, trucks, cars, fairies, kittens etc

1. Start by placing a layer of small stones in the base of your tray .
2. The kids fill up their trays with potting soil, using their hands, the dirtier the better.
3. They place the 3 different sized plants in the tray to create their foliage, using their peter pointer finger to make the holes to place the roots in.
4. Get them to use their imaginations to create a little scene in their trays. They can add toys, create a pond with a shallow lid filled with water plus rocks to make it look real.

Mr Grass Head

The kids love this and its really easy to make. It teaches them responsibility because they have to give it water, sun and loads of love. As a reward they can give him a “haircut” or put a“ribbon or bows in her hair”

You will need:

Old stocking cut to 230mm long , open both ends.

Sawdust  -find at  Builders Warehouse in cutting departmt for free.

Shade grass seeds – any nursery has them

Elastic bands, wobbly eyes, glue.

1. Take stocking and tie a  knot at one end.
2. Turn the stocking inside out and fill it with  2 teaspoonfuls of seeds and sawdust.
3. Knot the open end of the stocking.
4. Make sure the seeds are the top of his head where you will create a face.
5. Use elastics & bunches of sawdust to create the nose and ears and stick on wobbly eyes.
6. Place in a tray of water to soak and wait 2 weeks for  the “hair” to grow.

And finally, how about taking the kids to the nursery, have fun picking out vegetable seedlings and planting them together as a family.

submitted by Angel Conradie, a  mom to a teenage-almost-adult ADHDer,
author of the blog Angelsmind, maker of fabulous cupcakes
wedding planner, tattooed cat slave… come play on my rollercoaster!

This is a great idea to share. Good for us and the environment too.
My mom sent it to me. She got it from someone who got it from someone.
I’ve tried it and it’s even watertight.

1. Incision – cut RIGHT AT the NECK.

2. Stick the plastic bag up through the NECK of the bottle which you have just cut off, and put cap on.

Better than the plastic clips that you have to buy!

Other useful recycling plastic bottle links:
Things you can do with plastic pop bottles
Recycling Ideas For Plastic Bottles:

by Merle Dieterich, passionate mom and businesswoman whose 2 beautiful children, Lerato and Marvin never cease to amaze and teach her about what counts. You’ll find her at  jozikids.co.za

My families response to Mandela’s call to spend 67 minutes helping others on his birthday was to join a friend who invited us to go with them to Quakazani Primary School in Orange Farm. We went laden with children’s books  for the library,  games,  hot chocolate and sandwiches.

We were shocked to find a library containing mainly tattered old text books and empty shelves. Our books barely filled one of  the  shelves.

Then we unpacked a collection of very simple fun games which we spent the morning playing.

.

Our  kids taught other children how to play  UNO, the card game we had brought.

We played  snakes & ladders,  building towers with cards, 4 in a row. There was storytelling,  colouring in, some netball and soccer while some of the adults started helping to document the books we had brought for the library.

It was a wonderful way of bringing these children from such different worlds together to share and play. Thank you Madiba and happy birthday.

What did you do with your children on Mandela day? We would love to hear your stories.

by Nikki Bush, a self-confessed parenting adventurer and mum to two boys. She is also an inspirational speaker, best-selling author, game designer and toy judge.   Her company is called the Bright Ideas Outfit.  Play and connection fuel her work.

Whether you are away on holiday or staying at home, you need to be able to keep your surprise jar full of fun things to do.  You don’t have to be the magician every day, but just often enough to keep your children’s sense of anticipation going and their belief that you are fun to be with, even if you do lead a very busy life.

So, during the very long Soccer World Cup school holidays, take a few minutes every second day to create a “making fun out of nothing experience” which also doubles up as a connection experience between you and your child.  Inspire your child by being fun to be with.

WEEK 4

Here are three ideas for this week which are simple to do and don’t require much in the way of specialised equipment or ingredients.

FINGER KNITTING

Now this may be a blast from your past!  All you need is a bit of wool and your hands.  A fun activity that is enjoyed by both girls and boys.  Do it while waiting between activities, or when travelling in the car or long-distance.  See who can make the longest chain.  A fantastic fine-motor co-ordination activity to strengthen reading and writing skills.  The more you do it the better you get!

You will need:

A ball of wool

What to do:

Make a slip knot and put the loop over your pointing finger (to see pictures, click here, and I am right handed so the loop is placed on my left pointing finger).

Hold the short tail in your other three fingers.

Using the long end of the wool make another loop over the same finger, next to the first loop of the slip knot.  Put the remaining long tail in the same hand as the short tail.

Now, pick up the slip knot loop and pull it over the second loop and off your finger.  Give the short tail a gentle tug.  You have created your first daisy chain.

Now repeat step 3 over and over again and your chain will start growing.  You will find your own rhythm and create your own tension for the stitches so that they start looking even and identical.

SUSHI SANDWICHES

Who wants just another ham and cheese sandwich for lunch?  How about a sandwich with a difference?  Sushi sandwiches!  Just the same old ingredients in a different disguise and fun to make too!  In old-fashioned terms – a pinwheel sandwich.  Sometimes children will eat better when they have had a hand in preparing the food.  I tried this out with my own children and my nieces and nephews while on holiday last week and it was an instant hit from age 5 to 15.  Even my very fussy niece enjoyed her lunch.

You will need:

Fresh bread (rectangular)

Mayonnaise or mashed avocado or butter/marg

Grated cheese

Sliced ham or tuna mayo

Bread board

Rolling pin

Bread knife

Spreading knife

What to do (for ham, cheese and avo sushi sandwhiches):

Place a piece of bread on the chopping board and cut off the crusts.

Now take the rolling pin and roll over the bread, flattening it.

Butter the bread if desired.

Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on next (or mashed avocado).

Now place a piece of ham on the bread followed by a thin layer of grated cheese.  Don’t overfill.

Carefully roll up the bread and, using the bread knife, cut into sushi-sized pieces (approx 2 cm).

Ring the changes with the fillings.  Tuna or chicken mayonnaise and lettuce would work well or make up a vegetarian filling of your choice.  My very fussy niece only used peanut butter and she loved her sushi sandwiches.

PAPER PLANES

Children from age three to teens enjoy flying paper aeroplanes, but few children know how to make them today.  Here are a few instructions which may come in handy as a boredom buster or a cheap way to keep children entertained at home or on holiday.  They are fascinated with the concept of flight and love to see whose plane can fly the furthest.  The design below is for a basic plane (you will need to get involved until the age of approximately 6/7 years).  Paper plane folding is a spatial planning and fine motor control activity.  Many other designs and modifications can be made to improve the aerodynamics – just ask any dad.  The secret to a good paper plane is in the accuracy of the folding.

You will need:

A4 paper (from your printer or photocopier)

Crayons or khokis for decorating if you want

What do do:

Fold the paper in half lengthwise.

Open it out and fold the top two corners of the paper into the middle to form a point.

Fold this point into the middle of the paper, forming a square.

Fold the top two corners of the paper into the middle again to form a point.

Fold the paper in half, creasing well along the centrefold (all the folded bits will be on the inside).

To make the wings, measure a line approximately 2cms upwards from the centrefold.  Fold back the paper along this line and crease well.

For even better aerodynamics, fold the tips of the wings up 1cm.

You’re ready for take off!

Have fun!

For more ideas of games to play with your child these holidays, click here for Nikki Bush’s Top 20 recommendations and here for Week 1 of Making Fun Out of Nothing ideas, here for Week 2 and here for Week 3.

by Nikki Bush, a self-confessed parenting adventurer and mum to two boys. She is also an inspirational speaker, best-selling author, game designer and toy judge.   Her company is called the Bright Ideas Outfit.  Play and connection fuel her work.

Being able to pull fun ideas seemingly out of thin air sets you up as a hero in your child’s life story.  Make sure you have thought it through and have all the necessary ingredients, bits and pieces on hand before suggesting something. It doesn’t have to be complicated – the simpler the better.  Kids love it when they know you have a plan, and in our materialistic world they are still impressed when you create fun out of nothing, particularly if you share the experience with them.

So, during the very long Soccer World Cup school holidays, take a few minutes every second day to create a “making fun out of nothing experience” which also doubles up as a connection experience between you and your child.  Inspire your child by being fun to be with.

WEEK 3

Here are three ideas for this week which are simple to do and don’t require much in the way of specialised equipment or ingredients.

PAPER LACE MAKING

This fun activity can be used for a purpose, such as making ‘lace’ place mats for the dinner table tonight or to decorate gift tags or cards. It can also just be a doodling activity enjoyed by young and old alike. Paper lace making is creative and great for stimulating fine motor control and eye-hand co-ordination. And, if a special someone lives out of town, why not let your child post his / her creation as a gift. The simple experience of posting a letter is and adventure for a young child.

You will need:
* A4 paper (white or coloured)
* Scissors (blunt-nosed for preschoolers)

What to do:
1. Fold the A4 piece of paper in half.
2. Fold the paper in half again (now you have quarters).
3. Using your scissors, cut triangular notches out of the folded sides of the paper. Vary the size so that you create a different design.
4. Cutting rounded shapes is a more advance activity for the older child.
5. The full A4-sized piece is easier for the younger child to use. Older children may wish to use smaller pieces of paper.
6. Why not glue the coloured lace work onto a white or black piece of paper to show off the design.

STRIPEY JELLY

Now here is a very simple but impressive and yummy dessert to make with packets of jelly. It’s also the antidote to instant gratification because your child has to wait patiently for each layer of jelly to set. They will be quite fascinated and the wait will be well worth while. Alternate plain jelly layers with creamy jelly layers for an attractive effect. If you really want your child’s efforts to be appreciated, serve when you have guest around to witness the masterpiece.

You will need:
* Four packets of different coloured/flavoured jelly (or as many as you like)
* 250ml cream
* Boiling water
* Cold water
* Clear glass serving dish or a jelly mould
* Mixing bowl
* Measuring jug
* Spoon

What to do:
1. Make up the first layer of jelly as per the instructions on the packet. Normally dissolve the jelly powder in 225ml of boiling water (parents of younger children need to help with the hot water). Stir until all granules have dissolved and the liquid is clear. Add 225ml cold water. Stir and then pour into the glass serving dish or jelly mould. Place in the fridge to set. This takes 2 – 3 hours.

2. Choose another coloured jelly. Dissolve the jelly powder in boiling water. Now, instead of adding cold water only, add half cold water and half cream (110ml of each will do fine).

3. Gently pour the creamy mixture on top of the first layer of jelly and carefully transfer the dish or mould back to the fridge to set. The creamy layer sets quicker than the clear jelly layer.

4. Make another clear jelly layer and finally top with a creamy layer. You now have a wonderful stripey jelly that is absolutely delicious!

COLOUR-CHANGE FLOWERS

This experiment is so satisfying because it provides results very quickly. You can do it with any white cut flowers (I used iceberg roses from the garden). A good experiment to prove that plants drink water and that water travels upwards from the stem to the petals.

You will need:
* A few white roses or carnations work well
* Two glasses
* Water
* Blue and red food colouring

What do do:
1. Half fill each glass with water.
2. Put approximately half the bottle of food colouring in each glass, making the water in one red, and in the other blue.
3. Now place a flower in each glass and wait to see what happens. Within 1 ½ – 2 hours the flower should have a blue or red hue and then the edges of the petals should start changing colour.

Have fun!

For more ideas of games to play with your child these holidays click here for Nikki Bush’s Top 20 recommendations, and here for Week 1 of Making Fun Out of Nothing ideas and here for Week 2.

by Nikki Bush, a self-confessed parenting adventurer and mum to two boys. She is also an inspirational speaker, best-selling author, game designer and toy judge.   Her company is called the Bright Ideas Outfit.  Play and connection fuel her work.

There are a number of benefits to being a proactive source of magic, wonder and surprise for your children every now and again:

They will respect you

They will enjoy being in your company

They will stop pestering you so much to do things with you because you have taken control and are being proactive in this regard.

So, during the very long Soccer World Cup school holidays, take a few minutes every second day to create a “making fun out of nothing experience” which also doubles up as a connection experience between you and your child.  Inspire your child by being fun to be with.

WEEK 2

Here are three ideas for this week which are simple to do and don’t require much in the way of specialised equipment or ingredients.

EEZI PEEZI PAPER PUZZLES

Making their own puzzles is a fantastic and inexpensive way of keeping children busy and entertained because they can make as many as they like, and they get to choose their own pictures too.  Any bold and colourful picture will do the trick, whether from magazines or personal photographs printed out on the computer.  The number of pieces and size of the pieces you decide to make will depend on the age of the child.

You will need:

1 large photo or magazine picture (A4 or A5 is best)

Cardboard (just normal school project cardboard)

Glue

Ruler

Pencil/pen/khoki

Scissors (blunt nose for preschoolers)

What to do:

Stick the picture onto the piece of cardboard so that the cardboard forms a frame around the picture.

Using the ruler and pencil/pen/khoki draw cut lines onto the picture (please do this for, or help the under 6’s).

For 2 and 3 year olds cut the pictures into two and four pieces.  You can cut them into smaller pieces as your child masters the puzzle.  A six year old should be able to do at least a 24 piece puzzle for school readiness.  As you are working off photographic material here the level of difficulty is higher than if you were working off a clear children’s puzzle picture. Click here for a puzzle age-ability guideline.

As you child masters the use of scissors and cutting accurately along a line, he/she can cut out the puzzle themselves (should be able to do this sometime between 4 and 5 years of age).

Make the activity more challenging for older children by cutting up the puzzles into more pieces or irregular shapes that fit together.  This then becomes more of a problem solving, brain-teaser type activity.

STICK PUPPETS

Now here’s creativity on the run.  Next time your children have ice-creams or ice-lollies, keep the sticks (or ask you GP for a couple of tongue depressors at the next visit, pharmacies stock them too). With a few khoki pens you can create some really fun stick puppets in just a minute or two.  No gluing, no sewing, no cutting.

You will need:

Wooden ice lolly sticks / tongue depressors

Khoki pens

What to do:

Give the ice lolly sticks a good wash and let them dry completely.  No need to do so with unused tongue depressors.

Take your khoki pens and draw eyes, nose and mouth, using different facial expressions on each stick.  Add details such as hair, glasses, a necklace or a tie, etc. (older children can do all this themselves, parents of preschools will have to get more involved).

If you have enough sticks you can create your family for your child to play with, or a bunch of characters for a little play. Write the names of the characters on the back of the puppets to help the puppeteer.

MARSHMALLOW SANDWICHES

Surprise your children with a fascinating, no-bake treat.  They will just love watching you create these Marshmallow Sandwiches.  Do try one first so that you can judge when they are cool enough to eat.

You will need:

Marie biscuits

Marshmallows

Microwave

Microwaveable plate

What to do:

Place a marshmallow on the centre of a Marie Biscuit on a plate in the microwave oven. Cook on high for just a few seconds – watch it the whole time!  The marshmallow will balloon and will almost reach the diameter of the biscuit.

Remove from the microwave and place a second Marie Biscuit on top.  Squeeze gently to make a sandwich with a gooey centre.

Eat while still gooey but not hot enough to burn the mouth.

Have fun!

For more ideas of games to play with your child these holidays, click here for Nikki Bush’s Top 20 recommendations and here for Week 1 of Making Fun Out of Nothing ideas.

by Nikki Bush, a self-confessed parenting adventurer and mum to two boys. She is also an inspirational speaker, best-selling author, game designer and toy judge.   Her company is called the Bright Ideas Outfit.  Play and connection fuel her work.

How often have you said to your child, “Go and find something to play with in your room,” and they have come back saying, “But there is nothing to play with!” even though their room is packed with games and gadgets?  It is true that there has never been a generation of children with so much stuff, and because of this, they have forgotten how to make fun out of nothing.

So, during the very long Soccer World Cup school holidays, take a few minutes every second day to create a “making fun out of nothing experience” which also doubles up as a connection experience between you and your child.  Inspire your child by being fun to be with.

WEEK 1

Here are three ideas for this week which are simple to do and don’t require much in the way of specialised equipment or ingredients. The first two activities will also be reusable in the weeks to come:

SQUEEZY PAINT

This is really fun and adults love it too.  The “paint” is easy to make up and lasts for about a week in cool weather or if kept in the fridge.  Because it has salt in it, when it dries it sparkles and has a three-dimensional effect (it is raised).  Painting with squeezy bottles is great for developing finger and hand strength for hand-writing, as well as fine-motor co-ordination.

You will need:

3 x plastic squeezy bottles (same ones as used for tomato sauce and mustard)
3 x different food colourings
350g cake flour
350g salt
Water
Bowl
Spoon
Jug
Paper

What to do:

Place flour and salt into a bowl.

Add water slowly, mixing to a paste the thickness of crumpet batter.  It must be able to be squeezed out of the bottle.  It should not run out without having to squeeze.  It will thicken up slightly as it stands in the bottle over time.

Divide the mixture into three different bowls.  Now add 2 – 4 drops of food colouring into each.  Mix well.

Using the jug pour different colours of “paint” into each squeezy bottle.

Now they are ready to use.  Allow paintings/designs to dry in the sun.  They may need to be left overnight.  The paint will only sparkle when fully dry.

RAINBOW CRAYONS

I don’t know whether the melt down process or the end product is the most exciting part of this activity, but regardless, it is a fabulous way of using up broken or left-over bits of crayons.  It’s also a good lesson for your children about how to be thrifty with waste.

You will need:

Left over or broken bits of crayons
A muffin tin
Non-stick cooking spray
Oven

What to do:

Heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

Remove all paper from crayons.

Grease the muffin pan with non-stick spray.

Place pieces of the crayons into the muffin pans.  Mix your colours if you want a rainbow effect, or keep colours separate eg. All green pieces together.

Place the tin in the oven for a few minutes until the crayons have melted – keep an eye on them.

Remove the pan from the oven and let the crayons cool completely before removing them.

Now use them to create works of art.

CRUNCHIE BUBBLE BARS

If you have a sweet tooth then this recipe is for you!  It’s also a no-bake recipe so it’s quick and fun to do.  Your child will need supervision when melting the butter and marshmallows on the stove or in the microwave.

You will need:

1 ½ cups marshmallows
60g butter
2 ½ cups Rice Crispies
½ cup hundreds and thousands
Medium to large saucepan
Metal spoon
Baking tray
Baking paper

What to do:

Line the baking tray with baking paper or foil.  Grease lightly or use a non-stick cooking spray.

Place marshmallows into saucepan with butter.  Melt over a low temperature.  Remove from heat.

Pour in Rice Crispies and hundreds and thousands.  Mix well with large metal spoon.

Spoon mixture into baking tray, spread and flatten.

Place baking tray in the fridge to cool and set. Then cut into squares or rectangles and store in the fridge.

Have fun!

by Nikki Bush, a self-confessed parenting adventurer and mum to two boys. She is also an inspirational speaker, best-selling author, game designer and toy judge.   Her company is called the Bright Ideas Outfit.

During the next few crazy weeks of 2010, make time to connect with your child through play. Whether it’s a quick 10 minute game or a 30 minute one, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you want to share the play space with your child for a while.  If you engage in this way playfully with your child on a regular basis, they will also be okay when you say, “Not now sweetie, because I have some work to do.”

Here is a short list of some of my top 20 game recommendations that would be great “bridge-builders” during the long Soccer World Cup holidays.  I have chosen them specifically because they:

are quick and easy to play (no three hour marathon sessions here!)

have no extra long and complex rules – the simpler the better

are both entertaining and educational

are games to play ‘together’ – with you and your child, or as a family – we are after a connection moment that builds your relationship, not just a few minutes of stimulation for your child.

For more information about the games listed below  click here.

2 – 4 YEARS

1. Mega Peg ‘n Play (R145.00)

A fabulous giant pegboard with large plastic shapes.  Great for matching, stacking adn first stage threading (threaders have a plastic needle on the end for easy use) - a must for all preschoolers.

2. No Spill Bubbles (R45.00)

3. Zingo (R150.00)

4. Bear Pairs (R75.00)

4 – 6 YEARS

1. Throw & Blow, a fun first boardgame for the 3 – 5 year olds that is versatile (can be played by 1-4 people) and is unique in that it is a speech game – you blow your way through the game! Players must blow their tokens around the board, picking up matching action cards and following the fun instructions such as:  “Lick your lips as if they are covered in sticky chocolate,” or “Meow like a cat.”   Throw & Blow is great fun for everyone. 15 – 20 minutes a game. **Special on this month, click here for details.

2. Flip to Win Memory Game (R150.00) Five to nine years.

3. Zingo (R150.00)

4. Hungry Caterpillar card game in a tin (R120.00)

6 – 10 YEARS

My First Brain Box (R150.00)

An outstanding visual memory game.  Take a look the picture side of the card until the timer runs out.  Throw the dice and answer the question with the corresponding number on the back of the card.  You have to remember what you saw in order to answer the question, eg. how many teddy bears were in the picture, or what colour was the ball?  10 – 15 minutes a game depending on the number of players.

Ducks in a Row (R140.00)

Question Mark Junior (R140.00)

Flip to Win Hangman (R150.00)

10 – Adult

Sketch-a-Story (R199.00) Eight years and up

Think, draw, tell, laugh like hell! One of the few games that really requires you to use your imagination by throwing stories or tales together in seconds.  This two-part boardgame is played in teams of two. One member of each team is the drawer and the other the storyteller (they alternate with each turn).  The storyteller has to come up with a wacky tale using the pictures drawn by his/her team mate.  For a long game move around the board according to the rules.  For a speedy game, times the number of correct words used by 2, 3 or 4 and move that many number of spaces.

Ducks in a Row (R140.00)

Brain Box World / Maths (R150.00)

Number Rings (R265.00)

Indahoo (R150.00)

Smart Ass in a tin (R120.00) Teen to adult (R120.00)

Smart Mouth (R150.00) Eight years and up

Bananagrams (R185.00)

Blokus Duo (R175.00) Seven years and up

Why not join me for one of my playful and insightful parenting workshops in July Beyond the Nappy Bag™, Parenting on the Run™ and Big Kid Fun™. Click here for more information

If you have ideas of great games to play with kids please share them with us.

Corinne Lamoral is a freelance writer and media consultant, practicing part time corporate communications. She lives with her husband and three children on a koppie in Johannesburg where she pretends the distant hum of traffic is the ocean.

With all the focus on supporting proudly South African products over the World Cup – I’ve rounded up three of the best local products I’ve seen recently.  These make great gifts for overseas visiting children or for your little ones to keep them busy over the long holidays…

STAT-IT WITH MENZO ™

My mom-in-law brought a set of these wonderful animal card games for my children.  Similar to the car, bike, truck and plane comparing cards we played as kids, the Menzo™ cards teach your children stats about South African snakes, mammals and large birds while they play one of three variations of games.  In the snake cards, for example, you can earn the highest or lowest scores for venom, length, reproduction, and striking speeds or you can ask a question about the animal and, if the other player knows the answer, he wins the card.

All the Information on the cards is approved by specialists in the field and Menzo’s™ vision is to educate and expose children to nature while contributing to conservation, so each product is linked to a project at Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT).  The cards are well made, reasonably priced and are perfect for long journeys.  They also make great gifts for overseas visitors as they pop easily into a suitcase.

Available from www.menzo.co.za or at the Irene Market, Ladder of Learning in Fourways, Exclusive Books Monte Casino and selected CNA stores countrywide.

PUO EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS

In an attempt to make raising a bilingual child in Africa easier, the innovative team behind Puo Educational Products has produced educational products in African languages with African images aimed at age 0 to nine years.

I like the thinking behind Puo’s mission – which is to invest in our range of official languages while instilling pride and belief in our varied culture and history.  The range of games currently consists of a Learn to Count game, First Words flashcards and a My Body poster, which includes expressions and senses.

For support and interaction with other parents raising bilingual children, Puo’s website has a blog which covers interesting topics, such as the benefits of learning a second language at a young age and the issues around raising a child in a language that is not your own. Look out for the cute range of T-shirts available online.

Available at www.puo.co.za, Nice on 4th Avenue, Parkhurst, Exclusive books Hyde Park, Sandton City, Brooklyn Mall and Cavendish Square.

52 WAYS TO GROW CREATIVE CHILDREN

by Lisl Barry and her family (Jacana)

This is going to be my holiday handbook during the World Cup. Written by Lisl Barry, a South African mom and artist raising her family in the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve in the Klein Karoo, this book is the real deal.

You can tell that these are ideas and activities that will really work, not just because Lisl has photographed her children and friends doing them all, but also because the instructions make sense, are down to earth and do not require you to be especially creative or experienced.

They have an old-fashioned quality to them – with basics like baking bread, making a scarecrow, making a felt picture board and floating acorn boats. Some ideas need more help than others, such as going camping, or building a tree house, while some are as simple as going walking together or making sand sculptures. The ideas are divided up into the four seasons, which also teaches children to delight in the joys of each season, although many can be done throughout the year.

The 52 ideas are designed to do more than entertain your children; they are opportunities to connect with them, spend quality time together, and to wonder at nature and the joy of simple pleasures.  A gem of a book. Available at selected retailers.  www.lislbarry.co.za

by Merle Dieterich, passionate mom and businesswoman whose 2 beautiful children, Lerato and Marvin never cease to amaze and teach her about what counts. You’ll find her at  jozikids.co.za

I was taken slightly off guard when my son asked me on Friday afternoon if he could make his own Makarapa for the soccer World Cup. I didn’t  have a clue where to start but did what I usually do when I feel clueless, turn to the internet.  Here  I found a couple of ideas about how to begin.

First step was acquiring a protective helmet which we found at one of our local hardware stores. Then a few calls to paint stores confirmed that we would use water based acrylic paint to paint on the plastic. I have subsequently learnt that one can first spray plastic primer on the helmet to prevent the paint from peeling but we didn’t do this.

My kids suggested they use white board markers to draw their initial design ( brilliant suggestion!)   Armed with the helmets,  markers, paint and protective clothing, the work began – designing, drawing and painting

Younger children  can simply decorate the helmet with paint, my 8 yr old  daughter also used spray paint but my son was determined to create a more elaborate sculpture. After some experimentation we  discovered that we could melt, cut and mould the plastic with our gas cooker.  Please note this  does require a lot of supervision and the right tools.  Here are some suggestions:

- use a gas lighter or  blow torch  to melt the plastic slightly ( not more than – 5-10sec)
- make sure you have cloth gloves or a cloth to protect your hands from the heat
- use  a small serrated edge knife to cut through the plastic. (we used the one we  cut tomatoes with),
- once cut and slightly soft you mould the plastic to the shape you want it.

And here we have  the proud artists displaying their work!

It was all so exciting, my son couldn’t stop. He transformed an old pair of rubber sandals, painted a vuvuzela and has ordered some more helmets to keep him busy for the next 2 weeks. The only thing we haven’t figured out yet  is what varnish to use as a fixative, as the acrylic paint does tend to peel.

Now its your turn to help your children make Makarapas and win a prize! Every child who makes one is a winner on Jozikids.
Just send us  a photo of your childwearing their own homemade markarapa to : info@jozikids.co.za. , we will publish the photo and send you the prize.

P.S. We subsequently bought a Gripseal wood sealant which we coated the finished helmets with to prevent peeling.  You can also spray a plastic primer  on the helmet before painting. We found one called Sprayon vinyl paint at Jack’s Paint.