Flora's Funspiration Activity Guide for Kids

We all sometimes need a bit of inspiration when it comes to coming up with new, fun ideas for things for the kids to do.  With the Easter holidays here and the prospect of at least a few rainy days, I know I'll be trying to come up with lots of activities to keep my little ones busy.  So I was delighted to find that Flora Buttery have produced their Funspiration Activity Guide filled with simple and fun ideas for keeping children entertained.

With fifteen activities, each needing no more than five things and taking fifteen minutes to prepare, it's an essential guide for busy parents.  Featuring ideas such as cupcake baking to holding a fashion show to launching a rocket, there is so much inspiration for activities that there will never be a dull moment this Easter!

Written by Tanith Carey, award winning journalist and parenting author, the guide is perfect for when you want to spend some quality time with the kids, trying something new. There are also things that the older kids can do independently to keep them busy. Activities can be adapted for doing indoors or outdoors, so if it brightens up you can take it outside. Everything can be adapted to the age and ability of the children.

Mumsnet have challenged me to try out one of the activities with Kizzy and Freddy.

We loved a lot of the activities, especially the recipes and crafts, but the idea of the Kids on the Catwalk challenge really caught their imagination. All you need is a selection of clothing, accessories, some music and a space for the kids to strut their stuff!

The kids decided on the theme of Summer Wear and Kizzy decided to try her hand at upcycling some old clothes, as suggested in the activity guide as something for older kids to try.  She had a pair of knee length denim shorts and a t-shirt that she she wanted to upcycle into something funky and fresh for the fashion show.

Take some old clothing that you want to upcycle.

Mark out where you want to cut down the item.

Carefully cut the clothing, saving the cut off pieces to use for scrunchies, wristbands etc.

Kizzy got creative and made a funky new outfit consisting of a tie-up crop top with denim sleeves, cut down shorts, hair scrunchies and wrist band! Adding a pair of shades, her outfit was complete.

Freddy enjoyed the accessories and posed in sunglasses and hats, harnessing his inner Romeo Beckham!! He loved delving into the pile of scarves, hats and glasses to change his look.

We set up a space to make a runway and put out chairs for the audience.  We played some summer tunes and the children paraded on the catwalk, with walks that they had choreographed themselves.

It was such a simple activity for the children to enjoy, extended to include the upcycling of the clothing, which Kizzy really enjoyed doing.  It's such a confidence boost for children to get up and perform.  Afterwards, we did a modelling session with me as the photographer snapping some lovely photos of Kizzy in her summer outfit.

We will definitely be trying out some more of the activities - next on the list is to 'Put on a Puppet Show' using odd socks to make the puppets.  I have loads of odd socks at the bottom of the airing basket that will lend themselves perfectly to becoming sock puppets!  I particularly enjoy the activities that incorporate a craft activity followed by a performance, because it keeps the kids busy, unleashes their creativity and I get to enjoy the show afterwards!

The Funspiration Activity Guide from Flora is completely free to download from the Mumsnet website:
http://www.mumsnet.com/pdf/flora-buttery-funspiration-guide.pdf


“I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Network Research Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity”.

Little Puggle Activity Boxes

It's not always easy to find fun activities to keep the little ones entertained, but with Little Puggle you  can receive stimulating and inspiring educational play ideas direct to your door.  With a monthly subscription service or the option to buy one off themed boxes, Little Puggle delivers a treasure trove of creative goodies and ideas for activities which will delight any child.

The box arrives with a thoughtful sticker featuring your child's name and the contents are tantalisingly wrapped in tissue paper. We were sent a Transport Activity Box to try out.

Each box contains a selection of activity packs suitable for kids aged 3-7.  We received a racing car kit, a cardboard police car and felt tips, a wooden yacht with paints as well as some stickers, transport themed sheets of paper, a straw propellor, a tips book for grown-ups and a Kids' Fun Book. 

I was expecting more of an arts and crafts box with things to make from scratch so I was surprised to find the pre-made activity kits ready for Freddy to build and play with.  He was very enthusiastic as he got to work on the Speedway Racing Car Kit.

Once he made the slot together car, he decorated it in the stickers and the finished car lead to some imaginative play.  

Using the extra craft materials he helped make and fly paper aeroplanes, inspired by the transport theme.

He has had a lot of fun with his box of crafty toys (although the cars and planes are now in the recycling due to strenuous play).

Little Puggle takes the effort out of having to source quality activities for your child, providing an easy way to entertain your child with monthly or one-off boxes.  The parents' leaflet gives ideas for extension activities and the kids' activity booklet provides some extra themed fun!  With themes such as animals, superheroes, princesses and fairies and Christmas, there is a theme for every child to enjoy.  They are perfect as gifts, to use for parties or play dates or simply for a rainy day!

Subscriptions range between £12.95 and £29.95 a month, but you can order single boxes to be delivered directly to the little person in your life!   They come in three sizes: mini with 2 activities for £16.95, original with 3 activities for £23.25 and the play date box with 5 activities for £33.25: each with extra craft materials too.

To find out more and to subscribe or buy a one-off box (the Christmas box would be a lovely present idea for a child) take a look at the website: www.littlepuggle.com