Surviving
the Christmas Holidays
It’s been a long year – especially
for parents, teachers and children. On the one hand, it was like one long
holiday, but on the other, school has been disrupted and children have
spent more time at home than ever. In a way, this makes the Christmas holidays a bit
of an anti-climax. But, with a bit of
effort, some imagination and planning, you can make it the Best Christmas Eva!
Start by helping your children
write a list of things they can do and what they’ll need. Some items can be
found at granny’s house, tucked away in cupboards or from thrift or charity
shops, craft, stationery and haberdashery stores, second-hand book shops,
party-supplies, and Crazy stores. Under 10s love dressing up and giving concerts;
big cardboard boxes can give hours of creative fun as can old curtains and
blankets turned into tents or garden theatres. When the weather is sunny, children
should play outside. Collect small balls and empty cans as targets, plastic
bottles make jaunty ‘skittles’, bean bags to throw, cardboard rolls make
mock-swords or puppets, make a skipping rope or a hobby-horse with an old sock
on a broom-stick. When it’s indoor weather, get your children to help you make
pancakes (recipe included) or teach them handcrafts e.g. Pinterest and Suzelle
DIY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhXt436oh2o)
are jam-packed with amazing ideas.
Bubbles are ideal when the air is moist and cool. Old socks make ideal puppets
and good old-fashioned board games like snakes and ladders or snap can keep children
entertained (at least for a while).
Get into the Christmas spirit by
putting up the tree and getting the children to make the decorations e.g.
threaded popcorn or fruit-loops on a string. Children can help you bake biscuits or
make Christmas cards for family and friends. TV and video games should be kept
as a treat for good behaviour.
When choosing Christmas presents,
make sure that most of the play comes from the child. Check the age for choking
hazards and double-check cheap toys for lead paint. Avoid balloons – they’re a serious
choking hazard. When choosing a musical toy, avoid cheap imitations because
their tone could spoil a naturally musical ear. When braaiing or using candles,
cooking, boiling and frying make sure little children are well out of the
danger range of getting burned. This can happen so quickly.
For the pancakes you will
need:
500 MLS Dewfresh
Cultured Buttermilk
2 cups cake flour
4 tsp baking
powder
Pinch salt
(option) 1 tsp
ground ginger
3 table-spoons
sugar
3 table-spoons
cooking oil
1 egg
You do:
Mix dry
ingredients together
Beat egg with the
oil, add the buttermilk and blend with the dry ingredients.
Heat a
heavy-bottomed pan and melt a pat of butter to prevent sticking. Put one
spoonful batter evenly spaced (about 3 pancakes) and put the lid on for a few
minutes – or until the batter bubbles. Then turn the pancake over and cook the
other side (no need to use the lid for the second side). Spread with honey, molasses,
jam or syrup while hot and enjoy! Yum!
