Growing Paperwhites

Paperwhites are the perfect thing for children (or grown ups) to grow at this time of year. The biologist in me loves how this project allows children to learn about what happens under the soil as a plant shoots out its roots in order to grow. The artist in me loves how simple yet beautiful these flowers are in the depths of winter, and the Mom in me loves how this bulb can grow these beautiful flowers in the space of 2 weeks so my kids see change every day when they check on them. On top of all this they smell amazing.

The Paperwhite is in the Narcissus family and after you have enjoyed them in doors let them die off and you can plant them out in the spring and they will grow again next year along side your daffodil bulbs if your soil is well drained. Planting them indoors forces them to bloom early but who doesn't like a flower in January? They will not bloom a second time inside.

You will need:

A glass jar or large vase

Pebbles/small stones

A Paperwhites bulb I bulk ordered on Amazon but they can also be found in gardening shops or Home Depot (US readers)

Step 1

Fill container approximately 3/4 fill with stones.

Step 2

Take the bulb and gently nestle into the stones.

Fill the container with water so the water is just below the base of the bulb. Don't let the bulb sit in water because they may begin to rot.

Step 3

Place in a warm sunny spot and wait

Here are some done by the kids before Christmas, they added ribbons and tags to give as gifts.

Make sure you refill the jar with water as needed.

After a few days the dormant shoot will begin to emerge with a newer green shoot, and if you have the kids look carefully they will begin to see the roots being sent down into the rocks.

I love Paperwhites so much I had to plant a few of my own, I used larger stones and vase, planting 9 bulbs together. It was even cooler to track.

After about 2 weeks we had beautifully scented flowers to enjoy.

Our very own indoor snowflakes.

The single bulbs in full bloom.

In the large vase they grew so tall we had to tie a ribbon around them all to keep them up. I think next time we try this I'm going to have the kids measure the plants each day to track the growth because they grow at such an incredible rate.

Christmas Countdown

Isn't it nice when someone does all the hard work and then hands you all the benefits on a plate? Well, your welcome!! Ha ha or should it be Ho Ho? In all seriousness this idea came to me and I thought, "Wow this would be a great help to someone" so I decided to upload it here so you can all use it too.

This Christmas countdown can have you looking like the best Mom in the world and you don't even have to worry about not planning anything until now because all you have to do to start is click HERE and you will be redirected to a FREE PDF to download and print to have your own. This countdown gives you a festive activity a day to try with your child and if you need a little help with each activity just scroll down further and you will see tips and links to help you carry out each task. For some days you may need to gather some basic supplies but hopefully most can be found at your local grocery store. And if you don't fancy using them as a countdown maybe just use them as a post chock full of awesome suggestions for things to do with your kiddos this holiday season.

 

Once you have printed out the paper simply cut the squares out and hang them somewhere for your children to see each day. A couple of examples might be to - hang them on a string on the wall, tie them to your Christmas tree or tuck them inside envelopes and create a mailbox to post them in when they've been completed. 

So here we go:

This one is easy, get your kids to help you decorate your Christmas Tree. Already decorated your tree? No problem, why not cut a triangle shape out of some paper and have them color their own tree and decorate it with stickers, markers, glitter - whatever you like.

Red paper, pens and a few junk mail toy magazines have always been my kids favorite way of creating a list for Santa. Little ones enjoy sticking pictures down before they know how to write.

Colored paper, scissors, glitter, glue leave lots of supplies out for a simple invitation to make cards for all the family.

Ok so mom might need to help a little, search for your favorite slime recipe, we like to use Elmers Glue, water and liquid starch, we add a little color and sparkle. 

For a great how to make no cook playdoh recipe read ours here to adapt it here are the quantities:

1 cup flour plus maybe 1/4 cup more for kneading out
1/2 cup salt
1 cup boiled water
1 tbl oil
2 tbl Cream of tartar
A few drops of peppermint oil
Red food coloring if you need it

Once you've made the dough get creative with it. Maybe dye half red and leave the other half white. Bring out the cookie cutters and other fun accessories to play with it.

Visit your local book store or library and pick out some new Christmas books. Snuggle down and get reading!

I found my Paperwhites on Amazon but I know in the US anyway Home Depot keeps them too. These are such a fun flower to grow this season with the kids, they grow fast and are so easy to plant and I LOVE the look and smell of them. Last year I dedicated a whole blog post to the Paperwhite!

Kindness is contagious I'll let you think of a kind act to suit your family.

Grab your favorite Christmas Movie, pop some popcorn and snuggle down to get yourselves into the holiday spirit!

We love to create a real workshop for Santas Elves to play in this time of year, our Fort Magic kit is perfect for this. (But don't go out and spend money on one unless of course its to go under your tree as a gift - because hey really are brilliant.) Use bedsheets, cardboard boxes, the lounge furniture - most important bring lots of imagination!

Ok so this activity is seriously one of my kids favorite EVER. You can find all you need in your kitchen cupboards or grocery store and CLICK HERE to see details of how to make it.

Ok so you have a few directions here, go buy crazy silly christmas socks to have them wear. Decorate your own silly Christmas Stocking. Or maybe even find some old socks, turn them into sock puppets and tell your own Sock Christmas Story!

Yummy yes please. 

Make sure you get the kids to do the making, its hard to stand back sometimes but they learn much better by doing it themselves.

Woods, park, beach, wherever you are get outside and enjoy a big cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows!! And if you are baking in 80 degree weather why not put chocolate ice cream in the mug instead and pretend its the best hot chocolate you ever tasted!

Do you do Elf on the Shelf? If yes then why not grab some scraps of paper or material and try making  it some clothes or accessories? Ours has had a scarf knitted, a bag and a jacket in previous years, we leave them out beside the Elf and the next day he's often wearing them! No elf? No problem why not try making elf hats for a doll or stuffed toy.

Probably my kids favorite.  Have you watched the movie Elf? Well it appears that Elves LOVE sugar and candy and all things grown ups usually say no too 😆! Elf breakfast for dinner involves waffles, ice-cream, maple syrup and lots of add ons. Go to town its once a year.

The birds will love you for this one and so might a few Raccoons, CLICK HERE to see how you make a Gingerbird house - they won't want any moe sugar after yesterday.

Think warm bath, a little peppermint oil, lots of bubbles, Red Glow sticks. Now turn the lights off and listen to the giggles.

Pick up a cheap felt stocking from the Dollar Store or make your own by cutting it from felt or old fabric. Leave the stocking out with lots of glue and bits and bobs for the kids to have a blast decorating their own stocking.

Cover a large table in a couple of rolls of paper, bring out the cookie cutters and some festive paint, now let your little ones create their own paper.

Coffee filters and Scissors is all you need to create some big beautiful snowflakes to hang in the windows, fold the coffee filters 3 or 4 times across and then have your little one cut around the edges. Opening up the snowflake is always magical and young and old kids will enjoy seeing their snow flake open for the first time.

These smell SO good I'd like them in my house all year. Pick up a big bag of oranges and some cloves when you are next in the grocery store then check this page out for a 'How To'

Oh you know your kids will be bouncing of the walls by now so why not strap them in their car seats and head out searching for the neighborhoods best Christmas Lights. No car? Even better an evening walk around the hood is bound to burn off some steam.

Hopefully  the shoppings done, the presents wrapped and its time to sit down and enjoy yourself. We love to open some new PJs, drink milk, eat cookies and read the Night Before Christmas before dumping our kids into bed extra early so we can pour another glass of vino. You know they'll be up at 3am yelling that Santas been.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas Countdown 2018

Can you believe December is right around the corner? I am in complete disbelief because November shot by quicker than grease lightening! I may still have 90% of my shopping to do, christmas cards to write and a tree to pick and decorate but guess what? I have finished our Christmas Countdown Calendar (priorities right?) and as so many of you said how much you loved following along with last years countdown I thought I would share this years with you all too. Its revamped, we kept some of our favorite pieces because my kids LOVE traditions and I've added a few new surprises.  Just like last year you can download it for free right here and now.   Your going to want to pop back to this blog for a few of the activities as we go through December because I'll be adding a couple blog posts to go along with a couple of the days - I will pop the posts up a day or two before you need the information and share them on Instagram too so follow along with the #bluebarnchristmas hashtag.

So what do you need right now? Well all you need is this link to get yourself a copy of our countdown printed 4 to page ready to cut out and add to your advent calendars or alternatively print it out slightly larger and create a desk calendar by printing this PDF instead with the days 2 to a page and slightly larger.

Below is an example of our daily desk prompts.

And here is the smaller size printed mounted on to a board with tiny pegs to create a daily countdown.

So what do we have this year? Everything from decorating Santa's beard to creating your own kid friendly wrapping station to visiting an elderly neighbor and spreading Christmas Cheer. And remember its not meant to be stressful these ideas are fun prompts to create holiday memories, if you miss one day because your busy or your little one just isn't interested don't stress about it just save it for a different day or even file it away for a cold day in January and dig it out then instead!

December 1

Print out your Blue Barn Christmas Countdown and find a way to display it for the kids.

December 2

Write a letter to Santa, set out paper, stickers, pens etc and have your child write Santa their wishes. Don't forget to mail it!

December 3

Whip up a big batch of Peppermint Playdoh, add rolling pins, cookie cutters, sprinkles the works its time for a cookie workshop.

December 4

Decorate Santas beard. You've seen the new trend for glitter beards right? Well why not Santa, pop to the Blog December 3rd because I'm sharing a fun blog post complete with a printable to give Santa the jazziest best beard in town.

December 5

This was one of my kids favorites from last year, I packed up a big thermos of hot chocolate and took it into the woods along with a blanket, candy canes and marshmallows. It doesn't have to be the woods, your backyard, the beach, a local park just get outside if you can. And if its hot and sunny where you live why not replace it with chocolate  ice-cream and pretend its super hot or if its raining make a hot chocolate picnic somewhere unusual in your house.

December 6

Planting Paperwhites - my favorite Christmas flower and a great activity for children to see the bulbs grow into plants because its quick and the roots can also be seen. So they they can get an idea of what goes on above and below the soil. To see how to plant paper whites visit this blog post of ours.

December 7

An act of kindness. So important for children to think of others during this holiday season so they can truly gain an idea of giving. Have your child think of a kind act for a neighbor or a stranger.  Cant think of something to do I like to have my children pack a Samaritan Shoe Box for more info see this website in the US.

December 8

Decorate a Christmas tree.  Why not have a small tree your children can decorate all by themselves? Don't have a small tree try drawing one on paper for your children to color and decorate with stickers, beads, pipe cleaners, glitter etc.

December 9

Christmas card making.  Set out card and all the bits to create some gorgeous homemade cards for the special people in your lives. Handmade is always best.

December 10

Dress an elf today. Check out our fun blog post today as Elfie gets a set of new clothes.

December 11

Holiday Slime Time, so my kids wouldn't let a christmas craft marathon pass by without a little slime play. Red or white, glitter or candy canes a slime making sensory session is needed.

December 12

Christmas books. There is nothing better than curling up with a good book, so take a trip to your local library fill your bag with all the holiday books you can find and then come home, snuggle up and have a big readathon together.

December 13

A candy cane bath. Another favorite from last year, run a warm bath, add a few drops of peppermint oil and some bubble bath. Then quickly pop in some red glow sticks before turning out the lights! It won't disappoint!

December 14

Spread Christmas cheer. Carol singing, visiting an elderly neighbor and baking them some Christmas cookies, or maybe just wishing everyone that passes you by a Merry Christmas! 

December 15

Decorate a gingerbread house, store bought or homemade spend time as a family decorating it together. 

December 16

Create your own Christmas instruments, scented sleigh bells, or nutcracker drum. Then sing christmas songs loud for all to hear. 

December 17

Set up a wrapping station for your little one tissue paper, tape and scissors along with objects to wrap up, blocks or small toys. let them wrap and unwrap as much as they like. Have older kids? Why not put out some ribbon, card, stamps and ink, pens, sprigs of holly etc as an invitation to create their own gift labels and embellishments.

December 18

Snow Play, no snow no problem mix up a batch of fake snow and set up your own North Pole Winter wonderland to play with.

December 19

Take a walk or stroll around your neighborhood after dark and take in all the Christmas lights. 

December 20

Lets feed our feathered friends today, try your hand at making some simple feeders feeders out of pine cones or go for something more fun and create one of these gingerbread bird houses.

December 21

The solstice is here, lets create a solstice candle if you'd like to read how we make ours see how to here

December 22

Its time for a Christmas movie, pick a good one, get your PJs on, pop some popcorn.

December 23

Time to mix up some reindeer food - we like oats, raisins and a little bit of fairy dust (glitter) be sure to sprinkle it outside your house on christmas eve so the reindeer know where to land!

December 24

Yippee its christmas eve, time to leave Santa a special treat to eat. Take one last look out the window for his sleigh and get an extra special early night.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL