Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2023 i Creative Steps

For all of us involved in the care and education of young children, we are acutely aware of the importance on the first five years of a child’s life. Now there is strong support for this from the Princess of Wales, with the launch of the ‘Shaping Us’ campaign through The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. This campaign, to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the first five years, recognises that positive factors in the early years can play a crucial role in the long-term outcomes for children and, ultimately, for society as a whole. Improving the support and care in these early years has been shown to not only improve future health and career prospects, but will benefit future generations too. In stark economic…

The Creation Station help unleash the wonder within, through fun and educational arts and crafts, classes, parties, events and products. As a multi-award-winning, five-star rated company, they inspire over 14,500 children and families every week with creative arts and crafts experiences across the UK. Creating journeys of discovery, exploration and development to unlock ideas through fun, hands-on activities, here are a few creative ideas, taken from the www.thecreationstation.co.uk website. STORE CUPBOARD ■ White paper ■ Felt tip pens ■ Wooden lolly stick ■ Glue ■ Small sponge ■ Scissors 1 Take a square piece of white paper and fold it in half to make a triangle. 2 Fold it again into a smaller triangle. 3 Open up your triangle and cut along the folded line. You will now have two…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ Medium sized paper plate ■ Pom poms - white, yellow and pink ■ Coloured cupcake cases ■ Wiggly eyes ■ Wide ribbon ■ Strong glue ■ Scissors 1 Start by cutting out the centre of a paper plate to create a wreath ring. 2 To make the flowers, take a paper case and turn it inside out. Fold it in half, in half again and fold it a third time. Cut an arc shape out of the top of the folded paper case. Unfold it and you should have a flower shape. 3 Make 8 flowers from paper cases and glue the flowers to the paper plate rim. 4 Cut out 4 beaks from orange paper or scraps of card. 5 Glue pom poms onto the flowers.…

Cardboard Tube Orangutan ‘The Emerald Forest’ is a story about a mother orangutan and her young in the rainforests of Sumatra. Why not have a go at making your own cardboard tube orangutan? STORE CUPBOARD ■ Orange, cream and white Paper ■ Cardboard tube ■ Black pen or crayon ■ Glue ■ Scissors ■ Ruler 1 Cut your orange paper so that it is approximately 2cm longer than your tube and wide enough to wrap all the way around. 2 Glue along one edge of the paper, fixing it to the tube. Winding tightly, wrap the paper around the tube and fix with more glue to hold it in place. Tuck the ends of the paper into the tube. 3 Using the templates cut two arms and a 'beard' from…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ Thin coloured card or thick paper ■ Plain card ■ Carton or long box ■ Scissors ■ Pencil ■ Glue ■ Ruler ■ Wooden stirring or lolly sticks ■ Paint 1 Paint some wooden stirring sticks or lolly sticks for the tulip stems. Leave to dry. Paint more sticks in different colours to decorate the box. 2 Make the flower planter from a juice carton or long biscuit box. Cut or fold the end to make a flatter shape if the carton has a sloping top. Cut a piece of brown paper to cover one side of the carton then glue it in place. Cut a strip of coloured paper to cover the sides. Brush glue over the carton then stick the strip on top. You may…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ A4 Grey & yellow card ■ Green straw ■ Yellow card ■ Orange card ■ Bright pink card ■ Green paper ■ White chalk ■ Strong glue ■ Scissors ■ Pencil ■ Ruler DAFFODIL CARD 1 Make a grey card by cutting a sheet of A4 card in half and folding it. 2 Cut out the yellow petals and an orange centre. With white chalk draw a circle in the centre. 3 Cut out the stamen from yellow card. 4 Cut out a green leaf. With white chalk draw a line along the centre of the leaf. 5 Cut a straw to fit the flower. 6 Glue all the pieces to the card. 7 Bend the petals inwards to give a 3D effect. TULIPS CARD 1 Make…

■ The eight-day holiday is celebrated each spring. In 2023 it runs from the evening of April 5 to the evening of April 13. Passover is a time when Jewish people remember the deliverance of the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. ■ A Passover meal is an important part of the festival. Passover is a sign of spring, and the dining table is often decorated with a centerpiece of spring flowers. STORE CUPBOARD ■ Paper plate ■ Scissors ■ Pencil ■ Lolly sticks ■ Paints ■ Paintbrush ■ Glue ■ Paper - assorted colours ■ Cocktail stick or small brush ■ Ribbon ■ Sticky tape 1 Glue 3 lolly sticks into a triangle shape. Make another triangle in the same way. Glue the 2 triangles…

I Hear You, Ocean Kallie George RRP £12.99 (HB) www.greystonebooks.com When a child visits the ocean with his little brother, he whispers to him, “The ocean has lots to say, if you listen.” Together, they hear wondrous things, like the rumble of pebbles tumbling and filling the beach with shiny gems, the bark of a seal playing peekaboo, and the whooshing of a shell murmuring messages. Age 3-7 years We say… An engaging story of gentle sibling play and empathy with nature. The Very Hard Book Idan Ben-Barak RRP £7.99 (PB) www.allenandunwin.com This book asks you to imagine and think about some things. That sounds easy, right? Anyone can think stuff. You don't even need to be standing up. We shall see. Good luck. Metacognition is the act of thinking…

Lock Box Set off on waterway adventures with the AquaPlay LockBox. This feature-packed water playset comes with lots of accessories for canal-inspired fun. Help the hippo guide his boat through the waterways to get that cargo to the dock – or splash in the canals to make some waves! With the AquaPlay LockBox, kids can use the working pump to change the water levels in the lock, just like in a real canal. Spin the watermill, race through the waterways and use the working crane to load and unload cargo. Once playtime is over, it’s easy to empty out the water and fold up the playset, locking all the accessories inside until your next AquaPlay adventure. The AquaPlay LockBox even encourages an understanding of cause and effect, showing little ones…

Dr Lucy Cooke, research psychologist specialising in children’s eating behaviour and expert advisor on the non-profit children’s free online game: Teach Your Monster:Adventurous Eating. Exploring fruit and vegetables through sensory play can encourage children to try a wider range of these food types. Using sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste to explore foods makes them more familiar which makes it more likely that children will eat them. What are the five senses? • Sight • Smell • Hearing • Touch • Taste How to get creative with fruit & veg Most children are naturally wary of new foods, but are also naturally curious! So, use imaginative ways to capture that curiosity and help overcome food fussiness. Getting creative with food doesn’t have to mean turning the fruit dessert into a…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ Patterned card ■ White paper ■ Felt ■ Large wiggly eyes ■ Glue stick ■ Black marker pen ■ Pencil ■ Scissors 1 Place your hand on the back of some patterned card. Space your fingers out so they are evenly placed. Draw around with a pencil. 2 Cut out the hand shape. Fold down the middle finger. Bend inwards the thumb and pinkie finger. 3 Cut out the insides of the ears from white paper. 4 Cut out a tummy and bow from felt. 5 Glue the pieces to the hand with a glue stick. 6 Glue on the wiggly eyes. 7 Draw on a cross for the nose and mouth. FUN FACTS! ■ In German folklore the "Easter Hare" played a role similar to Father…

ENCOURAGES: Exploration of Materials STORE CUPBOARD ■ Thick piece of card ■ A4 sheet of plain or slightly textured red paper ■ A4 sheet of plain white paper ■ Small bowls or paper plates ■ Paints in red & white ■ Paintbrushes ■ Computer & printer or thick black marker pen ■ Glue stick & scissors ■ Decorative-edged scissors 1 Before you begin, make sure the childrens’ clothes are protected. Then cut a piece of thick card to make the backing of your picture and put to one side. 2 Take the sheet of A4 red paper and trim it to fit in the centre of your thick card leaving a thin border all the way round. Use a glue stick to fix it in position. 3 Pour some red…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ A4 thin card ■ Pieces of sponge ■ Paints ■ Paint mixing tray or plate ■ Masking tape ■ Newspaper ■ Scissors ■ Pencil ■ Ribbon 1 Draw an egg onto a piece of A4 card then cut it out. 2 Cut a wavy line across the middle of another piece of A4 card. One half of the card can be used as a stencil mask, or you can tape both pieces together with a 2-3cm wavy gap in the middle. 3 To start printing, place the egg shape on a piece of newspaper. Place the card stencil over the top then use a sponge to dab paint over the wavy pattern. Carefully lift up the card then move it down the egg to make more prints.…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ Thick black paper or card ■ White paper ■ Poster paint various bright colours ■ Various-sized circular templates - e.g. bowls, jam jar lids, coins, and cups ■ Toothbrush ■ Paintbrushes, a sponge and tinfoil ■ Scissors and glue 1 Together, look at the solar system's image (provided above) and discuss the planets' names and what you notice about their size and order from the sun. 2 Hunt around your home to find a set of circular templates that could represent the planets, including the sun, keeping their differing sizes in mind. Add a name label to each and put them to one side. 3 Take the black card, the toothbrush and white paint. Dip the bristles into the paint and rub them over the card. The…

20 Ways You Can Help Save The Earth 1 Plant a tree 2 Pick up litter 3 Donate unwanted clothes and toys to charity 4 Start a compost bin 5 Make art from household trash 6 Walk, cycle or use public transport 7 Use both sides of the paper 8 Have a zero waste lunch box – swap plastic wrapped food for fruit and homemade items 9 Always use a refillable drinks bottle 10 Use the library or share books with friends 11 Unplug chargers when not in use 12 Use reusable shopping bags 13 Grow your own food with a garden veg patch 14 Put out garden bird feeders 15 Don’t waste food and get creative with leftovers 16 Use rechargeable batteries in game controllers and toys 17 Switch…

STORE CUPBOARD ■ FIMO Soft modelling clay – we used 11 different colours ■ Plastic knife ■ Roller ■ Saucer – approx 14cm diameter ■ Jar lid or cup – approx. 8cm diameter ■ Lid or cutter approx. 3cm diameter ■ Pencil ■ Wooden skewer or cocktail stick ■ Cord – approx. 70cm ■ Feathers & beads SUPPLIERS Available from Amazon, Hobbycraft and other good craft suppliers. 1 Knead half a block of each colour of FIMO to soften, and roll nto a long sausage shape. Hold all the coloured sausages together, twist them around to make one big strand and then shape into a spiral. Roll the spiral flat until approx. 5mm thick. Place a saucer over the top and cut around it to make a circle. 2 Carefully…

STORE CUPBOARD: ■ Crisps tube & 4 lids ■ 6 drinks bottle tops ■ Black paper & card ■ Small box (approx. 10cm square) ■ Green, black, red & silver paint ■ Gold pen ■ Black marker pen ■ Black bottle lid ■ Glue ■ Scissors 1 Paint the top two thirds of your tube green and the bottom third black. Leave to dry. 2 Use a small box (approx. 10cm square) to create the cab. Using the tube as a guide cut a round hole in one side. Paint the box green and once dry, insert the green end of the tube into the box. 3 Cut a piece of thick card approximately 10cm x 35cm for the tube and cab to rest on - paint the card green…

BLOCK PRINTING 1 Before you begin, make sure your pizza base is clean and dry. Using a blunt pencil, draw around a mug to make a pattern or draw a picture freehand. The idea is to leave grooves in the pizza base and not to go right through to the bottom. 2 When the children have finished making their pattern, cover the pizza bases with paint. We used acrylic paint as it gives a really good covering. 3 Before the paint can dry, cover the pizza base with a piece of white paper. Press down firmly on the paper – we used a rolling pin which really helped. Slowly peel away the paper from the base and you should have a perfect block print of your pattern! MARBLE GAMES 1…

Mucky Trucks – RRP 9.50 Players race to be the first to get their mucky trucks clean! Roll the dice and move the elephant playing piece around the car wash playing board. Land on a colour, and make your corresponding coloured truck sparkly clean - land on a mud splat and bad luck, your truck becomes dirty again! The winner is the first player to turn over all their trucks to make them clean! Players will develop colour recognition and turn taking skills in this engaging colour game ideal for budding vehicle lovers. Farmyard Families - RRP £9.75 Match the friendly farm animals to their babies and post them into the 3D barn. With four different ways to play, this game can progress with your child as they further their…

Everybody Feels Fear Ashwin Chacko RRP £9.99 (HB) www.dk.com This charming book teaches little ones that we all get scared every now and again, and that's okay! Help children talk about, relate to, and laugh about their own fears through quirky text and bright illustrations that make this topic light-hearted. Age 3 years + We say… Fun illustrations with a positive message to inspire kids to face their fears and develop confidence. Big Feelings Rebekah Ballagh RRP £ 11.99 (PB) www.allenandunwin.com Feelings are messages from the heart! Big Feelings helps you to understand your emotions, how they make you feel and how you can manage them. Includes strategies and resources for parents, caregivers and teachers. Age 4 years + We say… Perfect to help you discuss and deal with the…

BOOKMARK to cut out and keep Paint your own MURAL Step by step: How to draw Blanksy with ALLEN FATIMAHARAN COMPETITION WIN a signed copy of Simply: 1. Send us an image of your fantastic mural design at kidsmarketing@faber.co.uk by March 31st 2023, when five winners will be picked. 2. Each winner will receive their own signed copy. 3. Entrants must be from the UK only. Good luck! Join Blanksy the Street Cat as he discovers a talent for painting murals. Using his talent, Blanksy aims to draw bigger and bigger crowds to help his friend Pete the busker become rich. But will money really make Pete happy? Perfect for reluctant readers aged 7-9, this is a heartwarming and entertaining story filled with fabulous illustrations.…

Questions and Answers about Money Lara Bryan RRP £10.99 (BB) www.usborne.com Understanding money today is so much more than learning about notes and coins. Where does money come from? Why do I have to save? What happens if I click BUY NOW? Find answers to important money questions, and some silly ones too in this friendly and useful lift-the-flap book. Age 6 years + We say… Perfectly presented to help kids understand the value and use of money in all its forms. Art and Joy: Best Friends Forever Danielle Krysa RRP £12.99 (HB) www.prestel.com This is the story of two best friends - Art and Joy - and how they overcome the insidious “Art Bully” that criticizes their creative endeavours. As Art and Joy learn how to tap into their…