Alison, from Milton Keynes, talks about throwing a Teddy Bear Picnic. Let’s find out more!…
What did you do?
My daughter is missing her friends and going to birthday parties etc. To cheer her up we decided to have a party at home for our family and for her teddies.
There is plenty of scope to do as much or as little as you like in terms of preparation, we did the following:
- My daughter got dressed up in her favourite party dress. She also dressed some of her teddies in her baby sister’s dresses for the occasion.
- Prepared invitations for the teddies we were inviting. Drew/coloured each teddy and I managed to get my 3-year-old to engage in a bit of writing (mostly her name), which was a bonus!
- Made a rainbow welcome sign.
- Prepared a game of pass the parcel. This kept my daughter busy for ages! For wrapping paper, we used roll paper that we had already painted on and was otherwise heading for the bin. Masking tape instead of sellotape worked well as you can rip it and no scissors were involved – I left her to it! My 8-month-old got involved by playing with the paper which she loved!
- Prepared a kids party food lunch with finger sandwiches, crisps, party rings, etc
- Put on some music, got the picnic mat out, and played pass the parcel/various other party games after lunch.
Any other thoughts about how it went?
It lifted our spirits to have a party. Think it felt like a bit of normality for my daughter as she had been going to quite a lot of birthday parties before lockdown.
My daughter didn’t actually end up bothering with the teddies when it came to picnic time which made us laugh! She told me that as the teddies are not real they do not need to eat! Still, she enjoyed all the prep…..
What’s your next project idea?
I finally got my hands on some more paint! So more of this…
And might do another outside find the letter game with chalk.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
Alison Dawes aged 36 from Olney near Milton Keynes. Mum to Alexandra age 3 and Olivia aged 8 months.
How are you finding being housebound with kids so far?
I’ve enjoyed getting in touch with a creative side that I never knew existed! We’ve done lots of fun craft projects and I’ve even been writing poetry about motherhood (see bottom of article).
Any tips to help people when they are housebound with kids?
- Learning through play works well for us. My daughter won’t sit down with a workbook to do letters, numbers, etc but she enjoyed writing in the invitations.
- Do activities that you enjoy doing with them – if you are having fun they will have more fun! definitely helps me to get through the day! My daughter would happily role play Elsa and Anna or Peter Rabbit all day, but being brutally honest I really don’t enjoy such games so I avoid them as much as possible.
- Don’t forget the simple, tried and tested ideas! My daughter absolutely loves making daisy chains and this keeps her entertained for ages.
- Nothing wrong with having an off day where they watch too much TV…..
- Drink wine once they are in bed 😂
How has the community helped you so far?
Some great ideas to keep the kids busy!
Humorous posts from other parents.
The group has given me a lovely feeling of community, and I really enjoy seeing what other families are up to.
What else could Housebound with Kids do to help more?
Keep going post lockdown!
My poem:
COVID 19, what fun it has been
Living our lives under strict quarantine
Another few weeks? Or even more maybe?
With a child of three years and a seven month baby
Numbers and letters, arts, crafts galore
We move on so quickly, they easily bore
Some play doh, a puzzle, or how about two?
Just wait whilst I deal with this up the back poo
With washing now on, little friends we shall ZOOM
To show them our nostrils, and the state of the room
It doesn’t last long and we’re all feeling dizzy
Then instead of goodbye “that’s enough, I’m too busy”
A board game we start but it’s hardly fair play
Two goes to my one and she’s off and away
“I’m winning again” she squeals with delight
So I think to myself then decide it’s not right
A child must learn they are not always first
The result of which an impressive outburst
Then she runs up the stairs, ignoring my plea
“DO NOT disturb your working daddy”
The office door opens, I hope he’s not cross
Oh no, not again….on the phone to his boss
He turns around quickly to ask her to leave
“Look” she exclaims “a wet patch on my sleeve
I’ll tell you what happened, do you want to know?
I wiped baby’s sick up, now to the kitchen I go”
The begging for snacks, it drives me quite mad
She clearly forgets what she’s already had
“Mummy, it’s time for something to eat”
“No it is not, and you will not defeat!”
“A biscuit or two, please give them to me”
“For ten minutes peace I’ll let you have three”
“Now let’s do some baking” a little voice squeaks
“Ok, we can, whilst baby’s asleep”
She gets out a bowl, then an apron and spoon
There’s no doubt that I’ll be regretting this soon
We make such a mess, the kitchens so dirty
Perhaps worst of all, it’s only 2:30
So what to do now? I’m out of ideas
Perhaps I should speak to some mums of her peers
Could take a walk, but the park we can’t go
Oh sod it, we’ll put on a TV show
It may seem I’m moaning so let’s state it clearly
These children of mine, I do love them dearly
This virus will pass, all in good time
But until that day comes thank goodness for wine
