By Kate Hodges
17th November 2016
RECIPE Causing a Stir
It’s Stir Up Sunday, the day when, traditionally, households would make their Christmas puddings, soak them in alcohol, and leave them to steep until the big day. It’s a lovely thing to do with your family, and don’t forget to add in some lucky charms or coins to the mix. Need some pud-spiration? Here’s our recipe for a vegetarian Christmas pudding, a vegan version and our vegan and paleo version (you won’t need to make these until much nearer the time).
LEARN Flash Dance
Take advantage of the dark afternoons to learn about electricity by making sparks. Start simply, with these experiments that use basic household items such as balloons and spoons to create tiny flashes of electricity, or try making lightning in a jar. Older kids and teenagers might even like to attempt to make their own Van de Graaff generator.
EVENT Glow Show
The Lamplighter Festival, held in Todmorden on Saturdaysends a glow into the darkest months of the year. Street theatre, giant paper figures, fire spinners, and thousands of twinkling lights combine to create a captivating event that is captivating and inclusive. It’s topped off with a dramatic fiery finale. Why not make your own tiny paper lantern to take with you?
MAKE Tooty Fruity
We love Mr Printables - a site filled to the brim with free, downloadable toys to make out of paper. Their free paper fruit templates will appeal to toddlers eager to create their own shop as much as teenagers in love with the kawaii aesthetic. Making them is a therapeutic, fun way to spend a rainy afternoon.
EVENT You’ve Been Framed
The yearly Framed Film Festival at Barbican in London is a celebration of children’s cinema from around the world, combining carefully-chosen screenings with inventive film-related workshops. We’re particular fans of their pick ’n’ mix showings of short films, which showcase bite-sized stories perfect for little ones with short attention span. Drop in for free sessions where you can make magic lanterns, create your own animated GIFs and join in with games. All weekend.
