By Kate Hodges
25th June 2020
EVENT and DO Splat!
Monday is International Mud Day, a time to celebrate messy play in the outdoors, and to raise a filthy fist to all those who encourage kids to get dirty rather than keep clean. Find out about its history in Australia and Nepal here and visit the wonderful Muddy Faces to find out more about the benefits and joy of playing in mud. There might not be much real-life muck around at the moment – although there is rain forecast across the UK this weekend – but you’ll find it in damp places, near streams and ponds, on some beaches, or you could add water to dust to make your own. Why not try mud painting, make a mud brick house, or make fairy mud? Find more ideas here and here.
RECIPE and LEARN Juicy Fruit
June 27 is International Pineapple Day! We love this juicy, sweet fruit that’s taking over popular culture. Pineapples are the ultimate sunshine fruit, the symbol of hospitality, and even illustrate beautifully the series of numbers known as the Fibonacci sequence; who knew a fruit could teach you so much? Grab one of the spiky-headed fellas and try some recipes; Crushed Pineapple-Rosemary Limeade, Thai Pineapple Fried Rice or refreshing Pineapple Cucumber Salad. Or be inspired to make your own juicy crafts; we love this pineapple pendant, this cute beaded necklace, and this cheery, summery night light made from a jar.
DO and RECIPE The Chain Gang
It’s cycling weather; we are spending days out on our bikes, exploring new pathways and having adventures. With many cafes still closed, bike picnics have become all-important. You need food that will survive a bumpy journey, last in the heat, and still taste great! There are some great tips for packing for a bike picnic here, while you’ll find recipe inspiration here, The Scotch egg recipe is heavenly and practical, and you’ll find a veggie alternative here.
EVENT and DO Arty Party
Ordinarily, during Children’s Art Week, galleries across the country are teeming with junior artists at buzzy events. This year, the creativity is set to be transferred into schools and homes with online events. One week has become three, each themed. First, the Natural World, second, Connecting Across Generations, third, Literacy and Creative Writing. Find events online at the Art Week Facebook page or follow @childrensartweek on Instagram. We are looking forward to ‘Where Did All The Animals Go’, an opportunity to use a biro to draw your favourite wild animal.
DO and EVENT Stringing Along
Play guitar? Ukulele? Bass? Dust off your instrument, and play along to Guitars On The Beach’s mass play-along this Saturday. The UK’s largest guitar festival usually brings together hundreds of players of all abilities on the beach in Lyme Regis, Dorset, where they play along to a selection of well-known songs, forming Britain’s largest band. This year, the event will be virtual, and focuses on family. The main play-along song will be the gorgeous Teach Your Children by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; why not teach it to your children and join in? Find the event page here
What we’ve been reading this week:
Fatherhood Is The New Brotherhood – Why Getting Dadvice Is Necessary
“Dads are always in search of that answer so we can say we did the best for our kids and prepared them for when they go on their own. You can read books on parenting. You can talk with other dads you admire. I have found another way that can lead you to become a great father. You need to be good with yourself first so you can parent in a positive way. That comes with a strong and open mind and a loving heart.
Past generations of dads have had the tendency to isolate their feelings. They didn’t open up. They didn’t share their fears. Some of those men were dealing with a lot of pain. They were not sure on how to share those feelings.
Thankfully today we have seen men sharing their fears. These conversations have helped other men open up. Not only is this necessary for men, but it is a great way to teach our kids to always ask for help. It is an important life lesson to pass on to the next generation.” Read more and explore the rest of this excellent, dad-focussed site here
Found something inspirational to read that you’d like to share? Want to share your lockdown creations with us? Have an idea for things to do? We’d love to hear from you. Email Kate
