Well the weeks are flying by and we are already into to November. The start of the silly season many will say but I say it’s my favourite time of the year. Christmas Craft fairs, wiring cards, wrapping presents, trees, lights, I love it all. Start the weekend with the Parent and Kids group in Kid Island at the Gateway, Belmullet Friday at 11am. €3 per child with tea and coffee for the parents.
Out & About…
However, this weekend is something special. The Mayo Dark Skies Festival. The clocks have gone back and it’s getting dark early so its the perfect time to get out and look at the Night Sky. It’s amazing to have one of the 20 international dark skies parks in the world (outside the US) on our door step. You can view the full line up here here but highlights not to be missed are the FREE Workshops for Kids in Mulranny on Saturday 2nd at 11am there is the Free Robotics Workshop and Free Save the Planet Workshop on the 3rd at 12pm. On Saturday and Sunday there are Free Planetarium shows in Ballycroy. Check the website for times. And if you are kids free this weekend there is lots of good stuff in the line up.
For the Teens….
The Youth Information Centre in Sligo is running a Arts and Crafts UP-Cycling Age 13-17 on Friday the First 2.00-4.30. They will use your imagination to create Art and Crafts through recycling and need to Collect & Bring along your used
Plastic bottles, Jam Jars, CDs, Clothes, Belts, Jewellery etc. A great chance of you to sit and have a quiet coffee.
A great book for this time of year is the Stargazers Journal. For ages 8-13 the it has beautifully designed pages for drawings, observations, poetry or anything else. There are facts, star charts and pictures of constellations to help identify stars, and links to websites to find out more. It’s €12.00 to order and a lovely activity for you to do with the kids as well. Order Stargazers Journal Here
For the younger ones What are Stars? is great for curious little children that can lift over 30 flaps to find the answers to these questions and many more in this delightful introduction to stars and the night sky, with simple explanations and gorgeous illustrations on every page.
For the young adults (14+) something they can get their teeth into is the Broken Trilogy. From the bestselling author this trilogy is an exhilarating epic set in a daring and distorted echo of 1940s America and first in a new trilogy. It has fantastic review “An adventure we couldn’t stop reading.” iBooks “A gripping, fascinating thriller.” Lancashire Evening Post
You can view all my catalogue of books here
https://org.usbornebooksathome.co.uk/dancingatlunasa/
In the house…
It’s always good to have some things to do at home as well as the weather gets worse and it’s harder to get out and about. It’s easy to create activities and sit with them but let’s be realistic…. I need something to entertain the kids while I try and get some housework done. So here are two things to do with them that let you leave them for a while after.
One of my favourites is Play Shop. Set up a little supermarket with tins and packets. You can use toy ones that they have or give them some stuff out of you cupboard – they love that. Use something for a till if you don’t have a toy one and set up a checkout table. The ironing board makes a great checkout and have some bags ready for their purchases.
Create something with a cardboard box. I was saving boxes to make a toy town but soon realised I didn’t need to do that much work. Try a Train with 3 boxes (for the three kids) one is the driver, one is the passenger and the other the conductor. I tell them the conducter has to take the tickets and close all the doors – they love it.
And if all else fails I get them to Clean. I might need to replace my newly purchased hand soap and clear up the water from the bathroom floor but the love the suds and will wash anything I put in the bathroom sink and they love
Here’s some Saturday activity sheet and some colouring for you to print off and do with the kids this weekend as well!
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And for those of you that can’t wait to have a bit of that Christmas Cheer try the Swinford November Market on Saturday 9.30-2pm. I’m sure there will be lots of people there selling their Christmas wares.
Let me know what how you get on x