Our family loves audio books. These were some of the audio books that I gave to the kids this year. How To Train Your Dragon is Meg’s favourite, while Toby love The Guffalo. Ramona The Pest is also hillarious for adults and children, and is read by Stockard Channing (who plays Rizzo in Grease, and Mrs Bartlett in The West Wing). She does fantastic voices.
Hannah was given the My Place series for Christmas by my parents. It is not often that we find a television series that the whole family enjoys, but this is one! I remember reading the book as a child and loving it. The series follows a house in southern Sydney from modern times to before white settlement, and tells the story of the changes through the eyes of the children who live there. The website that goes with the series is also fabulous. We have one episode left to watch, and I think we will knock that one over this afternoon.
My sister and brother inlaw gave us Quirkle for Christmas. I love it because it is a game that the whole family can play (Toby needs a little help) and is equally interesting for adults and children. The idea is to make a row of 6 which match either in colour or symbol, but there are a few tricks as well.
What good things have you been enjoying these holidays? Please share so we all know of some more good things.
The labels definitely help – particularly when they are little and can't read yet.
Love it! Next time I'm in Melbourne I think I will definitely swinging into the Swedish yellow blue shed to get me one. Love the pictures to help too, think I'll have to do this for Eleanor – her OCD neat freak Daddy will love it!
I loved the Trixie Belden books when I was a kid. The paperbacks cost 95c and I got $1 pocket money each week, so I had 5c left over for mixed lollies. Later the books went up to $1.25 but I think I got more pocket money by then. Did you know that there were lots of different authors, not just the two stated, and they were written over about 30 years, I think.
That Ikea storage unit is 'The Bomb'! I store all the different bits and bobs in the canvas boxes too. Its amazing how much duplo fits into one. I love your labelling idea. That will definitely help to get the kids to pack up. I think I've nailed the sorting part when I was told by my 2 year old that a certain toy didn't go in a particular box. It goes in the cars one Mum! Getting there. You are so lucky to have all that space as their playroom…
I loved Trixie Beldon! I'm on the lookout for second-hand books in the series for Arabella. She struggles to get into books (SO not like her mum and dad!) and I'm hoping a series like Trixie will get her going. Enjoy the rest of the hols, Jo. x
Will have to check it out – thanks!
I would really recommend starting out the way you mean to continue. Get the right containers etc from the beginning will save a lot of time and stress in the long run!
Have you seen Mad about Science? Lots of things here, my grandchildren have all loved things my sister and I have bought. A range of prices and ages covered. Prompt service too.
http://www.madaboutscience.com.au/store/
Nadia Wheatley, the author of My Place attends the church I used to go to before I ripped a ligament on pelvis and made both walking and climbing on and off buses very difficult. She is active in the local community, especially preservation of bush corridors . That Quirkle looks interesting. I thought I was up with games, but i don't know that one at all. Can you imagine five grandchildren playing Monopoly together? Ages from 9-15 and all tired from Christmas activities. Noise and more noise.