Easter activities and things to do

Things happening in York 

 

Families Get Active York

Welcome to our very own photography scavenger hunt this week

#photoscavengerhunt

Post your photos here or to Instagram using the tag york_family_walks

Catch up at anytime through the week

Children and adults can take part

Stay close to home

Have fun !!

Prizes for the most the creative photos

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FamiliesGetActiveYork

 

 Easter Sports and Cricket

 

Fairy Trail by the Foss

A free public river walk with a difference. A fairy trail for all ages to bring a little joy

Ring to book a place (free public event)

 

York Explore Library

Anna Soden and Explore York Libraries present an Online performance of Five Children and It

Age range aimed at: Families with children aged 5+

Cost info: Free

Date of premier and time: Wednesday 7 April 2021 at 6pm on Explore York Libraries You Tube Channel.

Dates when  a recording can be viewed: 6pm Wednesday 7 April 2021 through to 7pm on Wednesday 14 April 2021

Description:  Anthea and her brothers and sister live in a sleepy small Northern town. She's longing for a bit of adventure, but there's nothing to do! Until one day, they make a strange discovery on Scarborough beach. Join actress Anna Soden as she plays Anthea, telling her magical story through music, story-telling and puppetry.  Sometimes the best adventures can happen on your own doorstep.

How book: The performance is free and you can simply go to Explore York Libraries’ YouTube Channel at 6pm on Wednesday 7 April. If you can’t make the premier the recording will be available to view until 7pm on 14 April 2021 . The direct link for Five Children and It is https://youtu.be/PqqD6ovzuXU

Hoglets

Hoglets runs drama and storytelling classes for little ones (from birth to 7 years). Classes are jam packed with story performances, drama games, songs, noisy fun and craft. Currently running online classes - and they're FREE!  See the free event below coming this Easter!

https://www.facebook.com/hogletstheatre/

gemma@hoglets.org.uk

Sea Storm in a Teacup

Monday 6th April 10 am -

Onceupona Virtual Childern's Festival - Easter!

Sunday 11th April 2pm (with added Puppet making workshop)

RURAL ARTS and Helmsley Arts Centre

A mermaid is an amazing gift. But what do you do when it just won’t stop growing?

A chance meeting, an act of kindness and an unusual present lead a lonely young girl on the most unexpected journey.

This new play by Gemma Curry (The Sleep Pirates) will take you on an epic adventure of mystery, magic and mermaids.

Using storytelling, music, movement and puppetry Hoglets Theatre bring this original tale of finding friendship to life for young imaginations.

https://hoglets.org.uk/sea-storm-in-a-teacup/

Aimed at children aged 3-7 years old

Running time: approx 30 minutes

       

 

Little Vikings York - I Spy Trail

Little Vikings have put together the I Spy Trail, a brand new, family friendly walking trail. The trail highlights 22 fascinating features of York, for you and your little ones to look out for as you walk around the city. 

You can download a trail map https://www.visityork.org/explore/loveyork/lovewalking/little-vikings-i-spy-trail

Blank Canvas Art Club

Skills based Fine Art classes for everyone aged 5+.

Arts classes encourage your child to learn about colour and texture, form and shape, scale and perspective plus many more art basics using different techniques and materials. Each term we have a mix of classes, from looking at a famous artist, and try to replicate one of their pieces of work, to practising our skills, to imagination lead sessions.

It's well known that art can help boost children’s confidence and self-esteem as well increase their problem solving abilities and so much more

 Join them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BlankCanvasArtClub/

Tel: 07773 819603

To make enquiries email: blankcanvasartclub@gmail.com

Kixx Football

Kixx Football, the fun, cutting edge, curriculum based football programme designed specifically for 2 - 10 year old girls and boys!

Kixx sessions develop children's physical and social skills simultaneously. Sessions at various venues across York.

http://kixx.org.uk/

Tel: 01302 618080

https://www.facebook.com/KixxYork

Things to do at home

Easter Pom Pom Chick

A very nice Easter creative activity.

 what you will need:

  yellow wool

 orange paper or card

 glue

 wobbly eyes

 needle

 scissors

 pom pom makers (2 sizes)

 Wrap wool around the pom pom makers , both sides. wrap around 5 times or more - the smaller forms the head and the larger the body.

Cut the wool in the gap between the pom pom makers.

Fasten a strand of wall between the gap and tie a little knot. repeat a few times to secure the 2 halves in place.

Repeat for the second pom pom, Once completed secure the 2 pom poms in place together. Thread one of the strands through the other pom pom and sew a few times to secure in place. 

Cut a triangle out of the orange card - you could fold in half and use a corner to create 2 triangles. Glue together at one end to

create an open beak.

Glue to the pom pom to secure in place.  

Glue wiggly eyes in place.

Choose 2 of the loose threads at the top of the chicks head to tie together to create a hanging loop. 

Trim any long strands so that all the pom pom is one length. Give it a little shake to fluff the pom pom up a little.    

 

Baby Lamb Mask

what you will need:

Black card/paper

white or light coloured chalk or crayon

scissors

cotton wool

pink card

black wool

glue

 

Draw the outline of the lamb face

draw circles for eyes

        

Cut out the lamb face shape

Cut out the eyes (fold the paper in half across the eyes and make a little snip to help cut the eyes)

cut out 2 small teardrop shapes for the ears and glue in place

Glue cotton wool to the head of the lamb

Turn the lamb mask over and glue a strip of black wool at each end of the ears, to form a tie to fasten the mask in place

 

Outdoor Messy Play

There are lots of exciting outdoor play activities for toddlers up to preschool that you can do outdoors in the garden . Children love playing with water here is a lovely idea from @TheImaginationTree.

We liked the Dinosaur Swamp and our friend had a go at home during the sunny weather this week.

 

 Here is our little friend enjoying his sensory water play.

All you need is a bowl or play tray, toys and some vegetation such as grass or leaves, buckets, nets. 

The great thing about this type of sensory play is that it not only appeals to little ones (bigger ones too!), its that it is so easy to set up and clear away. You use natural materials and toys your child already has. Children love to feel the natural objects in the water.

 

  

NHS Project Sew/Knit/Crochet a Heart - Volunteer from home  

“Volunteer from Home” is NHS new programme of opportunities that you can do from the following locations;

• Your sofa

• From under your duvet

• From your garden enjoying the weather

• Whilst enjoying a meal at your dining table

• From the toilet.. Ew

• Volunteering from home is a fantastic (and easy!) way to make a difference, without taking up much time.

Are you able to knit, crochet or sew (a felt) heart for families currently separated by the Coronavirus that are unable to visit in hospital? 

Required Role

NHS Heart Project - Knit/ Crochet a Heart // VOLUNTEER FROM HOME

Key responsibilities

Knit/ Crochet/ Sew (a felt) heart 6.5cm.

Desirable Skills

• Creative and design

• Positive attitude

Skill to gain

• Creative and design

• Positive attitude

Hearts need to be roughly 6.5cm.

Mail to;

York Hospital ICU

Wigginton Rd,

Clifton,

York

YO31 8HE

 

Birdsong

It is the time of year when we hear more birdsong. Birds are very, very busy at the moment. Just like this Blackbird in our garden!

They’re singing, breeding, gathering material such as moss and feathers and lichen to make their nests. Have a look to see what kinds of birds you can spot outside your window.

We have come across Lev Parikian’s Twitter Birdsong Project to learn the different calls. Birdsong is a wonderful natural sound and can be extremely de stressing.

Take five minutes on your walk or in your garden or out your window to really listen to nature. You’ll find that the volume starts to turn up as you focus. What can you hear? Birdsong?

 https://twitter.com/levparikian?lang=en

https://levparikian.com/index.php/twitter-birdsong-project/

Chocolate Lollies

All you need is : Block of chocolate or leftover Easter Chocolate, Baking paper, lolly sticks, cake sprinkles, sweets, more chocolate :)

To make the lollies , Draw an egg template on baking paper. Melt chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water or microwave slowly(few seconds at a time until melted), Blob melted chocolate onto templates and use the back of a spoon to spread evenly. place a lolly stick at the base. Use edible decorative sprinkles and as much chocolate as you like to decorate. You could also add fresh berries like raspberries or blueberries.

Refrigerate for 20 mins and peel off baking paper slowly . Enjoy like these two :) !

 

 Make your own flowers

All you need is: Glue, a pencil, scissors, twigs or sticks from the garden. Alternatively you could use lolly sticks, garden cane or try dry spaghetti

Colourful card or paper to make your flowers. If you don't have coloured card or paper, use white paper and colour it any colour you want.

Why not try - using glitter, feathers, sequins, paint or oats to create different textures and make your flowers stand out!

 To make the flowers, draw the tulip flower shape on a sheet of paper or card. Colour in the flower shape then carefully cut out using the scissors. To create the daffodil, draw a circle shape then add the petals around the circle you have drawn to create the petals. Then carefully cut out.

To make the centre of the daffodil, draw a rectangular shape roughly 2cm wide and approx 10cm long. Then cut 6 or 7 slits length ways along the step of paper/card. Keep the slits close together. Once done, roll the paper /card in to a cylinder and glue the edges together. Cut off any extra paper if too long. Open up the slits you created and dab a bit of glue on each tab. Then stick on to the centre of your daffodil that you have drawn. 

Once you have made your flowers, dab a bit of glue on the end length of sticks (or whatever you have used) and carefully press one of the flowers on to the stick. Complete for each flower. You could tie them together with a ribbon, garden twine or an elastic band.  

Grow your own vegetables

It can be both simple and rewarding to grow your own vegetables and you only need resources you may already have at home. You may have to purchase some  seeds which you can buy online from larger supermarkets or homeware stores, or have a rummage in the shed, ask your parents.  

All you need is: Toilet roll cases cut in half, yogurt pots, seeds we used tomato, french beans, mangetout, basil, oregano. Compost or good soil from your garden. Marker pen. Plastic tray or old kitchen bowl. Cellaphane from old packaging or clear plastic bag cut up. Postage tape. Water ;)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

What we did:We then marked the rolls to indicate which seed was planted in it. Placed in the bowl. Used a spoon to fill the roll with compost/soil and then pushed a seed into the soil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then used a jug of water and carefully watered each plant, we let the water soak in, try not to over water. We then covered the  tray with cellaphane and used packing tape to secure it onto the bowl.

 All you do now is water regularly, try not to soak them too much. During the day if it is sunny take them outside in a sunny spot. In the evening bring them back indoors near a window or behind your patio doors. Watch them grow. I will update you on how ours are growing soon.

Rainbow Pancakes

It doesn't have to be pancake day to create pancakes! This is a great idea for all ages, most of us love pancakes. This recipe comes from Juliet Sear, Vegan and Rainbow American Pancakes.  Our little friends had a go and they gave them a huge thumbs up!

American rainbow stack

Ingredients

1 pinch of salt

1/2 tsp baking powder baking powder

1 heaped tsp of caster sugar

2 medium eggs (beaten)

30g of butter (melted and cooled)

300ml milk

220g self-raising flour

Butter for frying

Food colouring gel (I used yellow, orange, blue, green and red)

Optional

Spray cream

Maple syrup

Sprinkles

Method

1. Whisk dry ingredients together

2. Beat egg and butter into the milk

3. Beat all together and leave to stand for a few mins

4. Split mixture evenly into five bowls, add a small amount of colouring and whisk

5. Then fry in a pan with a little butter

6. Stack then cover with maple syrup, spray cream and sprinkles

Simple Biscuit Recipe

Really simple and easy to make. You can make any shape you want - even if you don't have biscuit cutters. Remember to wash your hands!

Makes approx 12 biscuits

Adult supervision required when using hot appliances and sharp objects.

You'll need: an oven, baking tray, parchment paper (or grease the baking tray with butter if you don't have parchment paper) rolling pin, knife / biscuit cutters and scales to measure the ingredients. Plus the below ingredients:

Ingredients

100g unsalted butter; 100g caster sugar; 1 large egg; 200g plain flour (a bit extra for dusting on your clean work top); 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (don't worry if you haven't got any).

Method: Pre heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

Line or grease a baking tray with parchment paper and leave to the side.

Take butter out of fridge and leave at room temperature to make it soft. Heat butter slightly for approx 10 seconds (700watt microwave) to soften. Beat butter to make it soft and creamy using a fork or electric beater if you have one. Then add the sugar and beat the butter and sugar together.

Crack an egg in to a mug - and try make sure no egg shell falls in. If it does, scoop out any egg shells using a spoon. Then add the egg to the butter and sugar, add the vanilla extract if using. Mix it all together.

Add the flour and continue to mix to make a dough. Add a bit more flour if too sticky.

Dust a little flour on to your work top / area. Break off a small amount of dough and make a ball shape. Place the dough ball on to the lightly floured work top and roll out to about a £1 coin thickness.

Now it's time to make your biscuit shapes. Use biscuit cutters or an ordinary cutlery knife and get creative!

Once cut out pop the biscuits on to the baking tray and ask an adult to pop in to the oven.

Bake for approx 25 minutes, until the biscuits have turned golden brown. Ask an adult to take the biscuits out of the oven and put to one side to allow to cool.

Once the biscuits have cooled you can decorate them! You can decorate them anyway you like using melted chocolate, sprinkles, jelly sweets, icing - you decide!

Easy Peasy Cheesecakes

 These are so simple to make and best of all it doesn't require an oven or much mess!

You will need: a small mixing bowl or cereal bowl, little dishes, a teaspoon, scales to measure your ingredients.

Makes two small ramekin dish sized cheesecakes.

Ingredients

125g soft cheese; 1 tbsp icing sugar; 20g melted butter; 2 oat biscuits (you can also use other variety of biscuits if you don't have oat ones!); 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional); Fruit or chocolate buttons to decorate if you wish.

Method:

Crumble the biscuits in to your mixing bowl.

Add melted butter to the crumbled biscuits and mix together. (melt butter in a microwave  - approx 60 seconds (700watt) - check about halfway through.and stop if already melted).

Put the crumble mix in to the two ramekin dishes - put half of the mix in each and press down using your spoon.

Mix the soft cheese and icing sugar together. If you have vanilla extract add here too.

Using your spoon, scoop out the soft cheese mixture and dollop on top of the crumbled biscuits in each dish. Pat down and spread over the biscuits.

Pop in the fridge for approx 2 hours.

Journaling

 Journaling is a great activity for all ages during the lockdown.

 It appears from looking into this subject that there is a lot of evidence of the benefits of keeping a journal. The experiences and benefits that journaling brings are different for each and every one of us because we’re obviously facing different lifestyles, we come from different backgrounds, and we have different goals.

Overall, journaling is known to be useful for:

• Boosting your moods and positive feelings

• Improving your self-awareness

• Reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety

• Improving your memory power

• Enhancing your sense of well-being

• Journaling helps you calm your mind.

• It releases negative feelings and thoughts.

• By keeping a journal, you can write about your feelings.

• Journaling will help you measure your progress each day.

• It’s a record of this place in time and something you can look back at and see how your life has changed.

We found this article from Unicef, #StayAtHome: Journals by children amid the COVID-19 pandemic . These young people tell us about how they spend their time indoors, what worries them and what helps them.

Another example is this free resource created by a parent to help their child through this period of time, 'My 2020 Covid 19 Time Capsule' . You could use it to look back on last year and create a new one for 2021.

 

You can use a notebook and your favourite pen.  You can use this time at home to record where you are in your life and talk about the impact of this time we are all experiencing.