http://www.northwestmums.com/feed/?f=14 Latest topics Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:05:48 GMT 10 http://i65.servimg.com/u/f65/11/85/30/65/untitl13.jpg http://www.northwestmums.com/feed/?f=14 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/insect-watching-t24922.htm Lizzi Give your child a bug box and see how many creepy crawlies they can find in the garden.

Once they have a box full ask them to count them and describe which ones they like best and why.

Once they've finished studying them they can find a good place to set them free.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:05:48 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/insect-watching-t24922.htm#370696 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/insect-watching-t24922.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/cardboard-house-t24907.htm Lizzi Who needs bricks and mortar to build a great house? A couple of big cardboard boxes (one for the building, one for the roof) is all you really need to create a mini child-friendly house and your children will adore decorating it with pens, paints, glitter and crayons. If there's space in their rooms, you could move it upstairs and let their toys live in it for a week or two, plus they'll love showing it off to all their friends. Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:52:47 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/cardboard-house-t24907.htm#370681 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/cardboard-house-t24907.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/camping-t24921.htm Lizzi If you've got a tent, why not pitch it in your back garden and camp out for the night?

This is a great activity for dads to do and kids will love the anticipation of helping to put the tent up, making their beds and putting any toys or books inside.

You could add to the experience by cooking their tea on a little camping stove or barbecue and serving it up in plastic bowls.
]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:04:32 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/camping-t24921.htm#370695 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/camping-t24921.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/garden-painting-t24920.htm Lizzi The best place for messy, no-holds barred play is the garden and if you're going to let them loose on the paints and art materials you might as well do it in style! Lay some big sheets of lining paper out on the grass and let them splash poster paints all over it for their own Damien Hirst-esque creation. They could also dip their hands/feet/toes into different paints and make prints to put on their wall, or as a special treat for friends and family. Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:03:58 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/garden-painting-t24920.htm#370694 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/garden-painting-t24920.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/flowerpot-days-t24919.htm Lizzi Plant orange and apple seeds in cut off plastic bottles then decorate the bottles with paper, tinfoil, felt pens and glitter.

It's wonderfully creative and equally rewarding when the seeds start to grow.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:03:02 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/flowerpot-days-t24919.htm#370693 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/flowerpot-days-t24919.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/play-doh-t24918.htm Lizzi Children will adore making play dough and they will have fun exploring different food colourings to give the dough that lovely vibrant colour. All you need to do is mix together 1 cup of plain flour, half a cup of salt and 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar, then add a cup of water and mix until smooth. Add a dash of food colouring followed by 2 tablespoons of oil and cook on a medium heat, stirring constantly until the dough forms a ball. Non-toxic, cheap and easy. Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:01:37 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/play-doh-t24918.htm#370692 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/play-doh-t24918.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/treasure-hunt-t24917.htm Lizzi Depending on your children's ages, place between 5-10 clues in the house or garden each with activities on lasting around ten minutes. These can be anything from painting each others faces to building a tower and having a quick drinks break (you could place the items they need to complete their task next to the clue). Once the hunt is finished, each child can win a small prize or decide on which games they want to play next. Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:00:49 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/treasure-hunt-t24917.htm#370691 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/treasure-hunt-t24917.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/colour-sorting-t24916.htm Lizzi If you have a million and one things to do and no time to do it, give your kids a container with hundreds and thousands and ask them to sort them into different colour piles.

A perfect rainy day activity, they'll love the challenge and it will give you an extra half an hour to get on with all those extra things you've been meaning to do.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:59:47 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/colour-sorting-t24916.htm#370690 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/colour-sorting-t24916.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/pirate-ship-t24915.htm Lizzi Build a pretend pirate ship in the garden from chairs, blankets, plank of wood, homemade pirate flag and cannons made from old wine cartons and plastic balls.... with a bit of imagination the possibilities are endless.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:58:41 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/pirate-ship-t24915.htm#370689 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/pirate-ship-t24915.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/stick-names-t24914.htm Lizzi Collect little sticks in the park and help your child make the letters of their name.

You could mount them onto card and use them as a door sign for their bedrooms or attach them to string and hang them in their room.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:57:49 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/stick-names-t24914.htm#370688 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/stick-names-t24914.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/make-vases-t24913.htm Lizzi Create vases with recycled bottles and papier mache, and go and pick some wild flowers to put in them.

These make great treats for mums and nans and are a lovely way for children to be creative.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:57:08 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/make-vases-t24913.htm#370687 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/make-vases-t24913.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/make-a-mural-t24912.htm Lizzi Spread some lining paper out and invite your kids and their friends to create drawings, patterns and shapes with as many colours and art materials they can find.

The result could be put on the wall for all to admire.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:56:29 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/make-a-mural-t24912.htm#370686 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/make-a-mural-t24912.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/hanging-mobiles-butterflies-t24911.htm Lizzi Set card, tissue paper, glitter and stickers out on a table and help your child create their own butterfly, bird or animal.

You can use strong card or wire for the frame and hang it in their room once it's finished.
]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:55:42 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/hanging-mobiles-butterflies-t24911.htm#370685 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/hanging-mobiles-butterflies-t24911.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/posters-t24910.htm Lizzi On rainy days sit them down with old magazines and get them to cut out pictures and make a creative poster.

Mis-matching heads with different bodies will add a humorous touch and they could decorate their finished article with glitter and sticky stars.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:55:02 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/posters-t24910.htm#370684 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/posters-t24910.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/lining-paper-fun-t24909.htm Lizzi Lay some lining paper out in the garden and ask your child to lay down, draw around them and then ask them to paint themselves, they can also do hand prints with paintbrushes, sponges and other arty materials - brilliant fun.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:54:23 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/lining-paper-fun-t24909.htm#370683 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/lining-paper-fun-t24909.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/collages-t24908.htm Lizzi You could ask your child to make a collage out of items they've collected from the garden/days out or give them recycled card, paper and materials to create their very own masterpiece.

Another easy way to ensure lots of fun without a penny in sight]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:53:26 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/collages-t24908.htm#370682 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/collages-t24908.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/sculptures-t24906.htm Lizzi Make use of all those used boxes and containers by encouraging your child to create something unique.

You could give them scissors, glue and paint and set them a theme (robots, rockets and princess castles are usually popular) or simply let their imagination run wild and get them to come up with something totally individual.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:52:01 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/sculptures-t24906.htm#370679 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/sculptures-t24906.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/water-painting-t24905.htm Lizzi Who says you need paints and pencils to create a masterpiece?

Fill up a bucket of water and give your child a big paintbrush that they can use to paint the house, shed, patio, bricks....they'll love watching the water stain everything a different colour and going back over the bits they've missed.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:51:10 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/water-painting-t24905.htm#370678 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/water-painting-t24905.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/rainy-day-walks-t24904.htm Lizzi Who says you need sunshine to enjoy a good walk?

Get togged up in your macs, wet weather gear and wellies and head outside for a fun, revitalising walk in the rain.

Children will adore splashing in the puddles and with most people sheltering away from the rain, you're likely to have most of the streets to yourself.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:50:06 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/rainy-day-walks-t24904.htm#370677 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/rainy-day-walks-t24904.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/theatre-afternoon-t24903.htm Lizzi Children have very vivid imaginations so stories and characters often come easy to them. Ask them to help you create a play and decide on which characters they want to play.

You could help them create costumes and invite the neighbours around to spectate.

A creative, rewarding activity that's great for boosting confidence.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:15:49 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/theatre-afternoon-t24903.htm#370676 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/theatre-afternoon-t24903.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/movie-afternoon-t24902.htm Lizzi Whilst we know lots of TV is bad for our kids, a nice children's movie on a wet afternoon is a great way to spend time together. You could make some homemade popcorn, makeshift paper tickets and assign one of your kids the role of steward/stewardess so they can show you to your seats and announce when the movie is starting.]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:14:52 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/movie-afternoon-t24902.htm#370675 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/movie-afternoon-t24902.htm http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/pizza-party-t24901.htm Lizzi Lay out pizza bases plus lots of ingredients and ask your kids and their friends to decorate them. Once they've finished, pop them in the oven and lay a rug or picnic blanket down with some paper plates and cups. Children will love devouring their home made creations and using their fingers to eat with. ]]> Free Family Fun Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:14:14 GMT http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/pizza-party-t24901.htm#370674 http://www.northwestmums.com/free-family-fun-f63/pizza-party-t24901.htm