Seasonal ideas
Winter
Brrrr...it's cold. Time to run around for a while to warm up then make yourself a hot cup of cocoa and do some winter crafts.
Warming up...
You can play this game in your garden or in a large living room. You will need an old newspaper and a few friends. To make it more fun you could have some music as well. One of your group will need to be 'the leader'.
Place four sheets of newspaper around the room with an amount of space between them. The leader shouts 'go' (or turns the music on). You then run around until either the music stops or the leader shouts 'stop'. You and your friends then have to jump onto one of the pieces of newspaper. The person not able to get both feet off the floor, i.e. onto the newspaper or one foot held up, is out.
(This person can then become the leader to allow the leader a turn.)
To make one person the winner you can either take away one sheet of newspaper at a time and then when you're left with one sheet you can either tear it in half or fold it over to ensure only one foot can get on the paper! Good Luck!
Snowflakes
You will need some A4/foolscap sized pieces of white paper, some scissors and, if you are very young, a grown-up to help with the cutting. Fold your paper in half, then half again and once more. Then take your scissors and very carefully cut a jagged line round the outside edge of the paper. Finally, cut small shapes into your paper, making sure you're going through all the layers. Once you're happy with all your shapes unfold your paper to reveal a beautiful snowflake.
If you want to make it sparkly you can decorate it with some silver or gold glitter. Paddington tried using marmalade to help his glitter stick on but you will find it easier to use glue. If you make a number of snowflakes of different sizes and hang them up together you can make a garland or a mobile.
If you want to make it sparkly you can decorate it with some silver or gold glitter. Paddington tried using marmalade to help his glitter stick on but you will find it easier to use glue. If you make a number of snowflakes of different sizes and hang them up together you can make a garland or a mobile.
Add some glue and then sprinkle glitter on
to add some sparkle to your snowflake.
Hot cocoa
Every morning Paddington enjoys a mug of proper cocoa for his elevenses which he shares with his friend Mr. Gruber. There's nothing better on a cold winter's day and if you've done lots of running around you deserve it!
This is the way Mr. Gruber makes it and, if you're very lucky, perhaps a kind grown-up would make some for you. Paddington says that it's very important you should never make this yourself if you're a child because hot water or milk can burn your paws.
The key to a good drink is the mug in which you drink it - and warm cocoa tastes particularly good in a Paddington Bear mug.
Step One - choose your mug!
Step Two - put the kettle on
Step Three - put a teaspoon of sugar into the mug.
Step Four - put a teaspoon of cocoa powder into the mug on top of the sugar and mix in approximately two teaspoons of the now boiled water.
Step Five - mix the ingredients until you have a smooth 'paste'
Step Six - warm some milk up in a pan, or in the microwave, and pour into the Paddington Bear mug, on top of the paste. Stirring all the time.
Step Seven - check the temperature of the drink is to your liking. Add toppings of your choice. Paddington usually has his plain but Jonathan and Judy recommend marshmallows or whipped cream for that extra special luxury finish.
Step Eight - grab your favourite Paddington book, sit back, relax and enjoy!