We had a lovely, laid-back morning here the other day, and I managed to keep the kids happy and thoroughly entertained, thanks to a couple of great websites and free activities.
With no plans in place, I popped over to my Fun Kids Stuff board on Pinterest for some inspiration to do something different. I wasn’t in the mood for activities with lots of setting up, or with lots of mess (though we did that the following day – I will share soon..!), I was just looking for something simple and fun, as it was still pretty early, the kids still contentedly running about in their PJ’s.
I found the brilliant The Gruffalo website, as Boo loves her Julia Donaldson books, and the World of Pip and Posy for Little Man as he adores them. I printed them off some colouring sheets, spot the difference, animal sounds match ups, make a mouse mask and a few other bits and bobs that I thought they’d like. And they did like!
They were absorbed for considerably longer than I expected them to be, well, longer than I expected Little Man to be! Inevitably, he lost interest first, and raided the CDs (clearly it was an activity that required music, an oversight on my behalf!), but Boo carried on and loved completing every sheet and activity….
When Little Man napped later on, Boo wanted to read a pile of Julia Donaldson books, which is always welcome, as I do enjoy them, too, and it rounded off a lovely morning.
Such a simple, off the cuff morning, but we all loved it. It also happened to be World Book Day, which I hadn’t thought about when I did this, but how fitting!
Ahh… I am sure they enjoyed coloring. My little girl never gets tired of this. Thanks for sharing that link. I will head over there and print some of my girlie.
#letkidsbekids
They loved it, thanks x
We love Julia Donaldson books here too, will definately check out the website for there activities, my eldest would love them x #letkidsbekids
Yes, do – there are loads!
I have tagged you in This week in photos: http://giraffeinthebath.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/this-week-in-photos.html
Love your Blog! It is SO visually appealing 🙂 Julia Donaldson is a “Legend”, I need to wait for grandchildren to get all ours out again!
#letkidsbekids
Thanks very much 🙂 Love Julia here, and have it all to do again soon with the little one!
Oh that looks like fun – my Kitty would love the Gruffalo activities so I’ll have to check them out, thank you.
They’re lots of fun – enjoy!
Sounds like a really lovely morning, kids entertained and happy, free, lots of learning and reading…..fantastic! Love the mask.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
Exactly – wins all round!
What a lovely morning, my 4yo often asks me to print out pictures for him to colour, he loves it! The wee girl gets distracted rather easily though 🙂 I love that Little Man needed tunes! #LetKidsBeKids
Thank you. Yes, I suspect it’s more to do with outing buttons than actually enjoying any music!
I donated most of my kids outgrown books to the reception class at school – but not the Julia Donaldson ones, we kept them!
Wise decision! X
What a great idea for random go-with-the-flow sessions… Checking your Pinterest boards!
It was perfect – I’ll be using it again!
Looks like so much fun!
It was, thanks!
It just shows you that children’s activities needn’t be overly complex for them to still be a lot of fun x
Yes exactly. Free and simple, yet they were content, for a while…!
They look like they really enjoyed themselves! There is nothing like a few free printables. Pinning this right now for a rainy day! x Mel
So simple, yet so entertaining!
Checking out the Gruffalo activities as we speak!
Oh, enjoy! X
Lovely way to spend the morning! This stuff wasn’t so readily available when my kids were little!
It’s just all so easy now! Thanks x
What a lovely activity! This is something I can keep in mind for the future. I quite like colouring in myself actually!
Me, too!
Printables are great – and so much easier than looking around for a colouring book! These are great 🙂 Thank you for linking to PoCoLo x
They’re brilliant – the kids love them for a change now and then 🙂 Thanks for hosting x
Sounds & Looks like they had a lovely morning x
Oh yes, and me as I managed to get a few jobs done! X
Great idea to have a pin board for inspiration. Mine are having a real phase of loving colouring at the moment, thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome. I love colouring, too 🙂
The boys loves ALL of Julia Donaldson’s books and I can still recite large chunks of The Gruffalo from heart. And colouring is such a wonderful and timeless activity isn’t it. When asked as a child what I wanted for a birthday I always said a colouring book and crayons!
Oh yes, Boo (and I!) adore them, too – we have loads! I used to love colouring, too 🙂
My son is not yet keen on colors. He loves to draw but he just uses one color. Maybe this will inspire him to use color. Will try this soon =)
#PinITParty
Yes, give it a whirl!
Wow, I had no idea about those websites. Brilliant. Am now following your board too. Thanks so much for sharing with the Monday #pinitparty. Have pinned 🙂
They’re fab! Thank you x