Advent Meal

I already mentioned our advent meal and wanted to share with you what it's all about!

So every year at Christmas time (well actually from about October) there are always so many awesome Christmas themed gifts around. From handcrafted treasures to novelty gifts, you can get phone cases, decorations, novelty ties, Christmas earrings, socks, pants, pyjamas, even Christmas loo roll!

It's always so tempting to buy these things, however I think people are also reluctant to because if you give them as a gift in Christmas Day, then the person receiving it only gets use out of it on the actual day and the few days that follow before the New Years celebrations.

So as a family we make or buy small Christmas themed gifts and meet up for a meal at the beginning of December (or as close to then as possible). It doesn't always work out this way but in theory, we divide the the meal up into starter, main, pudding, cheese board and coffee and treats and all take control of one (Mum and Dad usually get the main course, I go for mints as u can't really go wrong with them)!

We listen to Christmas songs, eat, drink, give and receive presents and finish the night with a Christmas movie. It's a lovely tradition which we started about 6 years ago. The presents don't have to be amazing, you can make them or buy them, wrap them or don't wrap them, it doesn't matter. It's just a great way to kick start advent and begin the excitement for the countdown to Christmas! With the start of advent happening tomorrow, why not meet up with family or friends over the weekend and have your own advent meal?

So the Christmas jumper had to come out for the occasion.... 

Getting into the festive mood with some Christmas drawing....

Uncle James- Fruit Ninja, preparing the melon for the starters....

George decorated his Amma's fireplace.....

George's place setting....

Adam's place setting......

My place setting.....

George and Daddy....

unwrapping presents......

More present unwrapping....

Uncle James and Auntie Lucy...

My haul of festive goodies....

Homemade hot chocolate stirrers...

Homemade apple and cinnamon vodka...

A homemade festive poster...

George's haul....

watching Elf together....

 

If you do get together and have an advent meal, swap little gifts, or even make some festive things together then we'd love to hear all about it! We'd also love to hear about any Christmas traditions you guys have. Today someone told me they light their advent calender every night and have a story by candlelight during the advent countdown...... love it!

 

 

 

 

Feeling Festive

So it's nearly time for advent and we are feeling pretty festive in the Patterson household! George has worn his christmas jumper, I've pulled out the christmas socks and Adams started making the morning coffee in the christmas mugs! We had our advent meal yesterday at Mums which put us all in the mood to begin the countdown to christmas! For those wondering what an advent meal is, watch this space, it's a tradition we started a few years ago and it has quickly become one if my favourites!! I will post about it soon...... One month till christmas!

Alphabet Balls

Some of you may know, George started school in September and since then we have been working a lot on phonics. Well actually let me re-phrase that, i have been working hard on thinking of fun ways to get George interested in phonics. I ordered these coloured ping pong balls from Amazon and used a sharpie marker to write the alphabet on them. I popped them in a bowl and presented them to George. He picked one out and asked me what it said. I told him the letter and the sound and we carried on like this for a while.

George soon extended the activity himself by swirling the balls around and mixing them all up...

He pulled a few out after swirling them with his hands and then he held the bowl and mixed the balls by moving the bowl around and around...

Lots of concentration went on when manipulating the bowl and balls, just look at his tongue sticking out- a true sign of concentration!

George picked out a few balls he was unsure about, but he was confident enough to have a go at what they were and to ask me if he had no idea. He was very pleased with himself when he picked one out that he recognised. Below is him picking out a 'm'.

This activity was cheap to create and once the balls arrived it was very quick to put together. It can be adapted too. Once George had had enough of swirling the balls around in the bowl, he tipped them all out, picked them one up and tried to identify it before throwing it back into the empty bowl. He carried on this play until all the balls were back in the bowl.

More recently we have done a bit of bowling with them, bouncing them on the kitchen floor and had them in the bath.

In the bath he picked them out at random and tried to name them and then I picked one out and then Daddy did.

George then decided to shoot the ping pong balls out of his pirate ship's canon. 

If you fancy making some of these, it'll probably cost you around £5 if you go through the amazon link above. It would cost you a little less if you brought plain white ping pong balls and be just as fun but perhaps not as appealing to your little one! 

This activity stimulates learning in the following areas:

Language development- as he talks about what he is doing, asks questions and labels the letters

Physical development- manipulating the equipment he uses

Literacy- labeling the phonics

Creative Development- using his imagination to extend his learning and introduce role play

Lets go outside

What is everybody up to today? It is defiantly a cold Autumn day but why not wrap up warm and get outside. You could go for a walk, go on a bug hunt, go bird watching, go to the park, go and splash in puddles, go to the seaside- the world is your child's playground!

For more ideas for outdoor play, or bring outdoors-indoors click here.

I'd love to hear what you and your little ones get up to, so be sure to let us know and share your ideas by leaving a comment below.