Father's Day Coloring Pages - new "T-shirts" for Dad!

We have added some new Father's Day coloring pages based on T-shirts - great for your kids to make their own cards. And we have a series of blank T-shirt printables too, and all sorts of ideas for using them this Father's Day.

Father's Day coloring pages

Father's Day printables

Gorgeous online dress-up dolls

These beautiful online dress-up dolls - or rather doll, bunny and robot - are so gorgeous that mothers may spend more time enjoying them than children! We enjoyed designing Bunnyfur's room, too.

http://www.jennybharris.com/funstuff/funstuff.htm

Moo Cow Fan Club - fun online magazine for children

This site is well worth a browse with your kids. The past issues page (link below) offers interesting articles on all sorts of subjects for (older) kids - examples include Ancient Egypt, baby animals, sports, Aztecs, space, nature, etc. A good read!

Moo Cow Fan Club past issues

Summer Flower Coloring Pages - New Additions

We have added a sunflower, poppy and hollyhocks to our summer flower coloring pages - perfect for all sorts of pretty projects with your girls.

Summer flower coloring pages

New Father's Day coloring pages

We have added 6 new Father's Day pages to the website, and we think you'll like them!

Father's Day coloring pages

Music for Kids - Catch The Moon

Sadako Sasaki - a sad but inspiring story..

'I will write "peace" on your wings, and you will fly all over the world'.

Sadako Sasaki was a Japanese girl who lived in Hiroshima, in Japan. In August 1945, When she was two year's old, the atomic bomb was dropped about one mile away from her home. She and her family managed to escape, although her grandmother ran back to fetch something from their house and was never seen again.Sadako had a normal childhood and was a very good runner. Her class, which won the school's relay race, was very proud of her running skills. But it was during a running race that she first fell ill, when she was 11 year's old.


Read Sadako's story, learn about the Children's Peace Monument, and fold your own origami crane.

Japan For Kids

Well, it's still not quite finished, but we have been having so much fun with our new "Japan for Kids" theme that we wanted to get it up on the blog anyway! Come and have a look at our new Japanese craft ideas, traditional Japanese origami for kids, Japanese printables, Japan-themed jigsaws, and lots more fun and educational activities to enjoy with your children.




Japan for Kids

Make your own Sock Pharaoh

This is a super craft to make your very own pharaoh from a sock (very similar to the famous sock monkey, but simple enough for children to make). Lovely clear instructions make this very easy to follow.

Make a sock pharaoh

Look out for the new Ancient Egypt theme page coming to Activity Village soon.

Healthy Kids - Printable Activity Sheets

There are four fun activity sheets here to print - to encourage your kids to eat well, take exercise etc. If you click around you can also find some posters, stories and other printables on the same "healthy" themes.

Eat Smart Play Hard

Float or sink?

Play this fun online game (from the BBC) to learn whether objects float or sink, and why - then follow it up at home with a collection of things from around the house!
Float Or Sink?

More science ideas for very young children

Free printable flash cards, number cards etc

There are some really nice - and useful - free printable flash cards, number cards and clock faces here
http://www.nicolaflanagan.com/

A Visit To The Library

We found this video - and many others - at www.TeacherTube.com - You Tube for teachers!

Folding a TShirt the Japanese way - speed up laundry time!

Put Kids In Good Moods Naturally

The moods that kids experience aren’t simply related to whatever is happening to them during the day. They have a lot to do with the chemicals running around their brains and bodies.

Brain chemistry has as much power to shift emotions as does a happy or sad event. Adrenaline and cortisol are brain chemicals that parents want less of in their kids.

Adrenaline is partly responsible for the revved up, ‘cordial high’ and extreme activity that some kids experience. It is very powerful as it causes the flight/fight part of the brain to take over.

When a child gets an adrenaline rush it is a waste of time trying to change their behaviour until adrenaline decreases. That’s why you need to either give amped up kids some space or the time to calm down. Physical activity can help dissipate adrenaline. Having a family life where there is lots of repetition and rituals is one way to lessen adrenaline.

Cortisol is the other brain chemical worth watching out for. It is the stress hormone that gets released with adrenaline. It lowers verbal ability so stressed kids often can’t verbalise their thoughts.

Too much cortisol and you will have an inflexible, stressed out child. Ridicule, put downs and fear can increase cortisol so a psychologically safe environment helps reduce cortisol. Less sugar and more water also controls cortisol. Plenty of sleep reduces both adrenaline and cortisol.

What about ‘feel-good’ brain chemicals?

Read more of this excellent article by Michael Grose ...

Happy Children's Day!

It's Children's Day in Japan - Happy Children's Day to all our Japanese visitors! Celebrate with our Children's Day crafts, printables and other activities.

New Kids Crafts at Activity Village

We have just added lots of new craft projects for kids to the website - some using up odds and ends from around the house to fit in with our new Recycling for Kids theme, and some perfect for Mother's Day and Father's Day gifts.

Take a look and get crafty this weekend!
Recycling Crafts
Gifts Kids Can Make

Children's Day in Japan, 5th May

Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) is celebrated on 5th May in Japan. It is a national holiday on which all children are celebrated and their mothers are honoured.

There are many colourful traditions, including the hanging of koinobori (carp kites) and the display of warrior dolls. Rice cakes wrapped in bamboo leaves are eaten, and everybody enjoys the holiday.

At Activity Village we have enjoyed learning about Children's Day so much that we have created a number of crafts, activities and printables for you to enoy too. And we are working on a theme page all about Japan, for kids, too.

Children's Day printables, crafts, origami and other activities