Sandra Bennett's Blog, page 9

Did you wear your towel on May 25?

DON’T PANIC!‘ in the immortal words of Douglas Adams from The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, I forgot too! Never mind, we all get another chance same time next year. For those of you who may wonder what on earth this peculiar idea is all about, towel day celebrates the life and works of the above mentioned Douglas Adams (1952-2001). http://towelday.org/
I was lucky enough to discover his quirky sense of humour as a teenager when I first read The Hitch Hikers Guide and its “trilogy in five parts”. I then followed along eagerly each week for the next installment of the TV series and finally the movie when it was at last released in 2005. By then my eldest son had reached his teens and also appreciated the humour of Douglas Adams. It was wonderful to be able to share the experience of  both the book and film with him. I’m sure he didn’t forget to wear his towel on Saturday, but as he now lives on the opposite side of the country to me he neglected to remind me. As a starving uni student he had even been known to attend fancy dress parties dressed as Arthur Dent in his dressing gown and towel.
Authors and their characters can have such an impact on our lives. Take J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter for example. Think of how many children all around the world have found the delight of books and reading through her wonderful imagination and story telling. It was amazing to watch thoussands of children dress up as theri favourite characters each time a new book or movie was released.
I believe it is wonderful to see our children reading no matter what the genre.  All fantastic authors need to be celebrated and thanked for bringing joy, imagination, entertainment and knowlede to our youth. Most of us have memories of growing up reading at least one favourite special author. That may change as we grow from childhood to our teenage years, my sons went from Paul Jennings to John Marsden and on to Douglass Adams with a whole lot of other fantastic authors in between including J.K. Rowling. At least their tastes were varied so that they read a wide range of material on offer and kept an open mind to the possibilties of the delights of different genres.
Is there a special place in your heart for a particular author that brought meaning to reading while you grew up? Do you ever take a moment to celebrate or thank that author for their work? I’d love to hear who it was and why?
Thanks to my awesome blogging freind JR Baker for reminding me about this  years Towel Day. http://jrbarker101.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/happy-towel-day-the-awesome-power-of-reading/
I’d like to close with one last quote from Douglass Adams, “So long and thanks for all the fish!’

Have fun reading.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbGNcoB2Y4I
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I Am A Self-Confessed Bookaholic

Ok, I admit it! I am addicted to books even more so than chocolate!
When it comes to reading there is nothing like the smell and touch of a real book. The aroma of the freshly pressed ink, the feel of the paper as your fingers glide across to turn the page.
A line of paperbacks resting neatly in a row along the bookshelf beckoning you over to scan their contents.
As for a bookshop, I haven’t a hope in passing by one without venturing inside inevitably to depart arms loaded with more reading material than I have a hope of finding the time to wade through.
I can’t stand to borrow a book from someone else, if I’m going to read it, I have to own it myself. To be placed on my shelf for all time. (Maybe one day I just might get around to re-reading it).
A lot of my children’s books that I have bought over the years have been used over and over again. They are an invaluable resource to be used in the classroom, and I treasure them.
Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French is  my all time favouite children’s story. The wombat is such a lovable character that manages to get into so much trouble using so little dialogue and simple yet gorgeous illustrations. I have used this book in lessons with Kindergarten through to year 6 and it never ceases to surprise and delight the students in my classes.
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak are two more children’s books I can’t go past when it comes to children’s literature and their education.
I love books of all shapes and sizes, especially big colourful books for little kids.
Books that make them laugh and have fun.
Books that entertain during the learning process.
When I was still teaching my favourite part of the day was always the literacy block.  I am passionate about helping litle ones learn to read and it always gave me so much joy to watch their reading skills grow in cofidence until they became independent readers. When I had the opportunity to teach ESL and Literacy Assistance I was happier than ever as I was teaching reading all day! I admit the hardest time in my classes came when we use to have “DEAR” time (Drop Everything And Read).When the time was up and we had to move onto the next lesson I found that even I (the teacher) had trouble putting down my book. So I understood when there was always at least one person somewhere up the back of the classroom so engrossed in their novel they found it very difficult to re-join the rest of us.
One year I had a year 4 class I decided to read Roald Dahl’s The Witches to. Before I began to read each day I signalled the time by donning my own witches hat. Instantly the class knew it was time for the book. They packed away and sat quietly ever eager to hear and laugh along with Mr Dahl’s marvelous story telling.
Another year while I had Kindergarten I used a dragon puppet and read How to Train Your Dragon  by Cressida Cowell. Each lunchtime while they ate, the dragon and I read the story to an enraptured silently chewing audience.
I can think of nothing better than to engage children in the love of books when they are young and beginning to learn. That is what has prompted me to write my own series of books for early and reluctant readers. I want to continue to share the joy that books have brought into my world with the next generation of readers so that they are able to grow and fulfill their own dreams and passions in life.

Reading is for all Seasons.

As the weather begins to close in around Canberra, the Autumn leaves are ablaze of maginficent bursts of reds and oranges. They whirl and tumble through the winds enabling piles of glorious crackling and shuffling underfoot. Fog and frost blanket the mountains and valleys that surround my little rural community and reminds me that winter is creeping up on me very quickly. Now is the time to sit in the sun on the verandah (out of the wind) and read a good book before the weather closes in.
Mind you I can’t wait to read in a comfy chair in front of a warm glowing fire with a hot cup of tea (or maybe a glass of red wine) beside me either.
Meanwhile in the Northern Hemisphere Spring has everyone excited and preparing for the long hot Summer months ahead. This means holidays and plenty of hours to spend reading that favourite book. Whether at home, camping or a simple day at the beach, there is always time for a little self indulgent quiet reading.
Whether you and your family are packing to go skiing in the Snowy Mountains this winter or you are planning a trip to the seaside for some much needed rest and recreation, don’t forget to pack the books for the kids too! Not only do you need some down time, but so do they.
Reading over the summer months or any holidays keeps the kids minds mentally active and is just as important as physical activity.
Reading keeps the mind stimulated.Encourages imagination and creativity.Promotes healthy discussion and debate.Enhances divergent thinking.Increaes skills and abilities.Relieves boredom.Is a lot of fun.Promotes opportunities to snuggle and share as you read together. Thinking of that last point, I was at a neighbours house yesterday and she showed me her “Story Chair.” A delightful place to sit and cuddle with her grandchildren while reading a favourite book together. One of which just happens to be my book, Gingerbread Aliens. (One of her grandsons likes to sleep with it under his pillow as he is so proud to have an autographed copy). She told me how the chair use to sit outside on the verandah but was unusable there as it tended to habour so many redback spiders it was not an inviting place to sit. Now the “Story Chair” has a very special place inside where everyone can enjoy it so much more! I thought this was such a wonderful idea I asked if I could share it with everyone. Imagine if we all had our very own special “story chairs” to read with our kids or grandchildren, I think we would all make the time to read with them a lot more no matter what the weather happens to be like, winter or summer.This is a great spot to snuggle under a blanket and keep warm and read in winter or a cool spot to relax and read in summer. I just love it!
Before I close I just wanted to add this spectacular clip I have reblogged from http://jrbarker101.wordpress.com/201 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8&feature=player_embedded


If you don’t already love books with their wonderful characters and the amazing places that you find inside them, this will surely help you see the life of books in a new way. It reminded me of  a fabulous book that was made into a movie when my kids were little, “The Pagemaster,” by David Kirschner. I have always loved the concept of the characters in all my books on my shelf coming to life at night while we sleep.
Have fun reading.
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Mothers Day- A day to show we care.

 Mothers Day in Australia is this Sunday, May 12, but regardless of whenever you celebrate mum's special day of the year it is always appreciated if you take a moment to show her you care.
Let's face it, Mother's day. like so many other holidays has become too comercialised but in these economic times who can blame businesses for trying to get your hard earned dollar. This is however not necessary. Some of the best gifts mums receive are those that are hand made. Gifts that are made with love and come from the heart are so much more special, thoughtful and show her how much you apprecaite all the wonderful things she does for you.

Below is a copy of a homemade card I found on Pinterest for you to make with your child at home for either mum, Grandma or for an entire class at school for their mums. It is very similar to one I use to make with my Kindergarten classes. I couldn't find my original so thought this one is just as good (if not better). Inside my cards I would write "Have a cup of tea on me." I didn't have the box to add the teabags to, I simply folded the teapot and sticky taped the teabag inside. It is up to you to choose which way you prefer. I rather like this new design idea, but it is probably a bit tricky if making with a class of 20 or more kids. You can vary the design by asking the children to draw the flowers on the teapot themselves or glue on various flower pictures from magazines and wrapping paper. Either way, it will come up beautifully.

 Reprinted from Teachers Ideas and Resources via Pinterest Teresa Parish via Laura Solomon
http://pinterest.com/pin/165788830003145714/








 

  Taking the time to make a card for mum is so worth it, and not such a big ask when you think about all the things a mothr does for her children not only in a year but a lifetime. There is nothing that irritates me more than hearing someone say "Oh she doesn't work, she's just a mum." Being a mum is one of the most important jobs in the world and it begins not at birth but conception and never ends. A mum is on the job 24/7, from day 1. She is nourishing her children, nurturing, keeping them healthy and safe, constantly worrying about them and never has a sick day off. Mums have a job list a mile long and they never complain. They are the cleaning lady, cook, chauffeur, teacher, bank loans officer, conflict resolutions manager, team leader, coach, time management consultant, driving instructor, advice consultant, travel planner, education liason, birthday party planner and the list goes on and on and on.......

A lot of mums manage all this and manage a full-time working position as well. So please this Sunday, don't forget to say "thanks mum, I love you," and why not take a moment or two to make her a card with her favourite cup of tea. I know she'll really appreciate the love and thought behind it. Kids really enjoy making their own cards rather than a store bought card and again it helps with their reading and writing skills.

As always, until next time, have fun reading. :)

In Commemoration of ANZAC Day

 As Australian and New Zealanders we are born and bred to understand the significance of ANZAC Day to our two nations. A day to stop and remember all the soldiers fallen and returned that have fought battles in all too many wars for our great nations and kept our shores safe. We live in peace and harmony because of these great men and women that sacrificed themselves for us. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts and we remember them with gratitdue and fondness.
There are however members of a younger generation still to learn and develop a respect and understanding that comes with knowledge. I wanted to provide a list of reading material suitable for kids of varying ages and abilities, but decided it was better if they were read with a parent anyway, so ability level doesn't quite come into it as much as I originally pondered. I found this great site linked below titled "kid size living" which not only lists some brilliant ANZAC Day books, but gives a brief synopsis of each book as well. Among them are  "A Day to Remember - the Story of ANZAC Day" by Jackie French ,(one of my favourite authors), and "Why Are They Marching Daddy?" by Di Burke. A great book that not only discusses war and its consequences both good and bad but also our reasons for commemorating on April 25th. The list is definately worth a look at and consider worth buying one or two books to read to/with  your children.
 

http://www.kidsizeliving.com.au/members/anzacdaybooksforkids

Another site that lists a number of different books of varying levels including chapter books for older children to read and discuss the deeper issues of war is linked below.

http://www.mybookcorner.com.au/articles/899-anzac-day-books-for-children.html

After that to lighten things up a little, curious little minds might be interested in finding out about their ancestry. Do they have a grandparent, Uncle or Aunt that has been an ANZAC?  Why not help them
draw up a family tree? How far back in the generations can you go? My grandfather was involved in WW11 and ao was my husbands father. I also have very dear friends whose son has completed two tours of Afghanistan. It doesn't take very long to think of people we know who have experienced war. It touches our lives in so many ways.Another great family activity that also includes reading is making traditional ANZAC bisuits. Following a procedure (or recipe) is loads of fun and yummy too! ANZAC biscuits were sent to our troops in WW1 due to the fact that they had excellent keeping properties. ANZAC BISCUITS
Ingredients
1 cup plain flour 1 cup rolled oats1 cup brown sugar1/4 cup desicated coconut125g soft butter or margarine2 tablespoons golden syrup1 tablespoon water1/4 teaspoon bicarb soda

Method
1. Sift the flour into a bowl. Add sugar, oats and coconut.2. Melt butter in saucepan, add the golden syrup and water.3. Stir the bicarb into the liquid mixture.4, Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.5. Using a teaspoon drop small balls of mixture on a greased oven tray and bake at 175C for 15-20 minutes.6. Biscuits will harden when cool.
Note: If you like your ANZACs a little crunchier, add a little more golden syrup.
I use to cook these when we lived in Thailand for our International school's Harmony Day. They were always a great treat, but for some reason my oven always made them spread so that they appeared lace-like around the edges. I could never work out why? They looked great though. :)

The very first writing competition I ever won was for a poem I wrote about ANZAC Day when I was sixteen years old. I would have loved to share it here but I was young and foolish back then and didn't realise the significance of it at the time. Over the years I let it get lost. I've tried to write to the NSW RSL to see if they have a copy in their archives but have never had any response. The lesson here is never throw away any of your writing, keep it safe!
Hope you found something of interest here.Have an ANZAC story or poem you would like to share? Maybe write one about this years commemorations.I'd love to read it. Add it below.
Remember...have fun reading. :)

Let's Celebrate!

 I have several things I am lucky enough to be able to celebrate and share today.1. My first guest blog thanks to Morgen Baily is now viewable at http://wp.me/p18Ztn-6m22. My first Giveaway on Goodreads is almost complete. The response has been far more than I could ever have imagined. 578 requests at time of writing and still rising!Thankyou to all those wonderful people who have entered the giveaway.
Gingerbread Aliens
bySandra Bennett (Goodreads Author), Hayley Welsh (Illustrator)
Meet the three cheeky Bradberrie brothers, Brian the curious scientist, Simon the youngest and most mischievous and David who is always nervous about…more View Details » Enter to win Giveaway dates: Mar 17 - Apr 17, 2013 10 copies available, 578 people requesting
3. On a persoanl note, my second son and his lovely girlfriend announced their engagement! I am so pleased and happy for them both and wish them all the best for a wonderful future together. :) This brought me to thinking about parties....... birthday parties for kids! Over the years we certainly have had our share. Some that were really successful and others not quite so good! One in particular comes to mind that we thought should have been a fantastic experience for our eldest son and his friends.
 
Mr 12 yr old informed us he was big enough to have a bushwalk for his birthday party and we didn't need to go with them ! "Oh No!" I hear you say. "You didn't agree!" Well, we kind of did. We gathered the boys together, at a local bushwalking track that our family had been on many times before. The boys were determined to go it alone. My husband drew a map in the sand with a stick to explain where they needed to go. They all nodded in agreement that they understood. BIG MISTAKE!

Never assume a 12yr old knows what he is looking at or what he is doing! I had a bad feeling, but agreed to let them go on ahead, giving them a 5 minute start. We would then follow, seemed like a reasonable compromise to me. After all, how much trouble could a group of boys get into if only 5 minutes ahead of us?

We finished the bushwalk and returned to the designated meeting place, but surprise, surprise, the boys were not there!

Fortunately one of them had a mobile phone, which my husband promptly rang. Where were they? Down by the waterfall....but there was no waterfall on the walk they should have been on!

We had to try to get them to backtrack, but the more they did, the more lost they became. Have you ever watched the 'Blair Witch Project"? Fear and terror could be heard in the voices in the background over the phone rather similar to that movie. I went home  to try to calmly explain to waiting parents that the boys had gone on a longer walk than planned, while my husband desperately tried to talk them out. Luckily, just as he was ready to give up and prepared to call Search and Rescue, the boys finally appeared. Exhausted, thirsty and elated !

The moral to this story, keep the party organised and never let your child or your husband talk you into anything you can't control !!





In other words party games at home are probably the best solution all round. As usual being keen to keep the kids reading while having fun, here's a few ideas for games that the kids will love and be reading along as they go!


1. Celebrity Heads: / Animal Heads (For younger kids)
   Use thick strips of cardboard to print names of celebrities (or animals) and staple together in a circle to fit heads.
One person at a time sits out the front with a celebrity name on their head. They have to guess who they are by asking questions. The audience can only reply with yes or no.


2. Charades:
[image error]  Always a fun one. You can use a ready bought pack of cards or make a stack of cards  yourself. Use TV shows, movies, books etc the kids will know.

3. Pass the Parcel with a Twist:
As the parcel is passed around the circle, when the music stops and the person with the parcel has to open a layer, inside they find a note they must read. It will tell them to perform an action, sing a song, tell a tale etc.

4.Secret Message Mystery:
A fun relay race for indoors or out.
Write an invisible message on two sheets of paper. Use Magical ink to write the message. (Magic Ink is easily made with lemon and water.) When the pages are dry add them to two seperate stacks of paper. Diviide the party goers into two groups. One player from each team must race down to their plie and take the top sheet of paper. Return to the team and using a torch see if they can read the message. Keep going until they find the message and perform the task.

5. Word Scramble.
Think of appropriate party words,(themed if the party is themed.) Write each word in large print on cardboard that you can cut into pieces so that each letter is seperated. Place each word in a pile of its own.
Each team may have three or more words to unscramble.
To make this a little quicker and easier to prepare, if you have the game Scrabble you can use the tiles. 

6. Story Challenge Game.
Great for sleep-overs when it is time to settle down into sleeping bags.
Give each team a funny or unusual setting, character etc to start their story written on a piece of paper. It can be used anywhere in the story, not necessarily at the beginning. Each person in the team must add their sentence or two to complete the story. It can go for 2 minutes, 5 or even 10, depending on their imagination. The other team has to try and work out which line was the story starter. eg "In a candy striped house beside the chocolate flowing river an orange bird chirped."

Last but not least Read them a favourite story to settle.

As always have lots of fun reading. :)

Finding a Happy Balance between Parent and Educator.

This week a friend came to me for a bit of advice as both a teacher and a mum. She and I are alike in that we have been both, the difference being where my boys are now grown, her boys are just starting out in the education mine feild. As a parent we expect the best education possible for our children, as a teacher we know we can give that, but if you don't agree with a curriculum decision made in the classroom just how far do to you take it?I pondered on whether or not I should blog about this topic as it was a personal request, but then I decided perhaps whether or not you are a teacher, parents from all walks of life often have issues with the school and are unsure how to deal with them. I considered the perspectives of both parents and teachers and came up with the same conclusion. No matter which side of the fence you appear to be sitting on, we all want the same outcome. That is, an enjoyable, safe and memnerable learning environment and experience for our children.

I remembered many years ago back to when my eldest son was in Kindergarten. I had an issue with the classroom teacher at the time about a decision she made that I definately did not agree with. It effected my son and I was not at all happy. I spoke to her about it on several occassions, but the problem was never adequately resolved. In more recent years I struck the same issue with a boy in my own Kindergarten class. I decided to make sure that I spoke to his parent to reach a mutually satisfying agreeement on how to deal with the issue. This kept everyone happy at home and at school, but what do you do when you can't agree?

As a parent, you do have options. You can speak to the Executive teacher in charge of the year level, you can speak directly to the Principal. Some parents may even feel strongly enough to bring up the issue at a P&C or School Board meeting. All these options do have an effect on your child though whether you mean them to or not. Another option is to quietly withdraw your child from the event in question, (if that is possible). This in turn presents its own set of issues. The child is missing out on a group activity and may not understand your reasoning. However in the end, as a parent, only you know your child the best and what is most suitable for them, therefore you are the only person who can inevitably make the decision. Whatever that is, you and your child have to be happy with the choices you make. 

Your children are at school for many years. Whether you have one child or a dozen children, it all adds up to a lot of time spent co-ordinating between teacher and home. We all want those years to be happy ones.

My advice in the end? Pick your battles. Decide which ones are worth fighting over and which ones you can live with. Try not to stress over every little thing and look at the question from all sides of the equation before you go charging in. These days we all tend to have a little bit of a helicopter parent in us, hovering closely in case they fall. A well known psychologist, Dr John Irvine, once told me I had to learn to cut the umbilical chord and let my child grow. He was absolutely right! We all need to step back at times, take a deep breath and allow our children the chance to make their own decisions. Even if they make mistakes or we don't agree, at least they have a chance to learn, as long as we are there to help when needed.
After all isn't that what good parenting is all about?

Have an opinion or something you would like to share about this topic? I would be interested to read your comments.

Are We There Yet?

This week I was fortunate to be able to join a Jag Rally for a couple of days with my husband. As we drove along the winding mountain roads I remembered all the games we use to play with the kids in the car to keep them occupied to stop the duldrums and chorus of "Are we there yet?" We began our journey as dawn broke over the charming farming community around Bredbo in southern NSW. Rose, lavender and powder blue hues mingled amongst the almost luminescent white mist that hugged the valley floor as the dawning sun embraced the mountains beyond. It was a truely spectacular start to the day. The scenery continued to surprise and delight me with every twist and turn as the day evolved, there was no way I was in any hurry to "get anywhere yet." I savoured every moment especially as we meandered along the winding roads of the high country in the Snowy Mountains that we had never driven along before. With barely a tree in sight it seemed like you could see forever across rugged rocky outcrops and hilltops. Eventually we made our way down into the rainforest where the scenes changed dramatically with tall green eucalypts stretching to the sky surrounded by a thick underbrush of ferns. There was always so much to observe and take in I could never be bored, but then I love driving in the country, not like kids who can't sit still for more than two minutes at a time.

 A game of I Spy obviously comes to mind, but this could be a tad difficult when the countryside is rather sparse. It's surprising what you can find though both inside and outside of the car.

A second great game based on knowing the alphabet is Last Letter where someone selects a category, food, songs, bands, countries etc, they then start by naming that place or thing. The next person has to say the next word starting with the last letter of the first word. eg: bannana, apple, eggplant, tangarine etc.

Another option for an alphabet game is Countries where you simply have to name countries in order from A to Z. When you get to the end you can start all over again as there are numerous countries starting with most letter of the alphabet. eg, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark etc. Argentina, Bulgaria, Chile, Dominican Republic etc.

Once you have practiced using the alphabet it's then time to start with some reading! Find the Alphabet is a great opportunity to have a bit of fun. Players look for each letter in order outside of the car.

Car Alphabet has each person scanning the number plates of passing vehicles for the fisrt letter of the number plate. The idea is to start at A and make your way to Z. Take it in turns, say three cars at a time each before passing to the next person.

Name Game uses the fisrt letter of a number plate as well. When a car goes past, try and be the first player to call out a name that starts with the same letter as the fisrt letter on the number plate.

Bored with number plates? Ok, lets move on to signs, street signs, advertisements, cars, businesses anywhere you see words wriiten along the roadside. Match the Word is a game where you must complete the alphabet by finding words on signs, staring with a word beginning with A, call out the letter and a word, eg A Albatross, then work your way through to Z.

A game where you can have a great deal of fun using your imagination is Rhyme Time. When you come across a sign, read it out loud and make a rhyme. eg South Creek "Be there in a week".

Thinking of using your imagination a great game that can keep the kids amused for ages ia Continuous Story. Each person is given one minute at a time to tell a story about anything at all, but it must continue from the one before. The story can change in all sorts of directions as each person takes another turn. One person, (who doesn't get car sick) might like to write it down.

The key to any of these games is to keep it simple, have fun, and enjoy! Never take car games too seriuosly and remember to take a break and let the kids run around and burn off some steam!

A recorded story to listen to in the car when parents need a break is always a good idea. There are so many on the market these days but another great idea is to get the kids to record their favourtie stories before they leave on the road trip. They'll love listening to themselves (or you for younger ones) telling the story. For a great story even the most reluctant reader will love to read over and over and always get lots of laughs go to www.gingerbread-aliens.com and purchase a copy. Don't forget to supply head phones so you can have some quiet time!

One last option, the kids can always try their hand at writng poetry. On the road there is always plenty to inspire. Below is a link to a copy of my poem titled The Road Trip for added motivation. With the school holidays almost upon us once again, if you are planning a road trip I hope some of these tips help. Enjoy. :)

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1787083-The-Road-Trip

An Expat Family Easter in Thailand

The International school did an Easter Hat Parade, the Pattaya International Ladies Club put on a luncheon to raise money for the children of the local orphanage, but when I informed our boys that we were going to an Easter Egg treasure Hunt and lunch at the Thai Amari Orchid Hotel on Easter Sunday, to say they were excited was an understatement. The gardens at the hotel were spectacular by anyones standards. Orchids of all colours, sizes and species bloomed in abundance alongside lotus flowers, lillies and all sorts of fragrant flowers that were a buzz to the senses. It was a very tranquil setting amidst the hustle and bustle of the beachside resort. A refreshing escape from the turmoil of the traffic of baht buses and bikes rushing around with a constant stream of tourists and Thais hanging from every part of the vehicles

Here we were able to relax and enjoy our Easter Sunday. Celebrate with good friends. Enjoy a smorgasbourd of exotic foods and chat and laugh the afternoon away. The long trellis linen clothed table was covered in an array of tropical wonders. Watermelon, rockmelon, pineapple and star fruit sculptures cleverly decorated the centre in a lusciously inviting manner. Yet despite all the splendour that surrounded us there was only one thing on the minds of our not quite five year old and seven and a half year old sons.

The Easter Egg Treasre Hunt! It couldn't come soon enough for the eager juniour members of the expat community.  Bear in mind the constant humidity and engulfing heat of tropical Thailand, while mums and dads were happy to sit quietly and sip on tall chilled glasses of juice, beer and champagne, the kids were keen to run all over the garden in search of their treasure. Imagine the surprise and disappointment when my boys discovered the Easter eggs were not chocolate! They were beautifully hand painted blown out egg shells. Have you ever tried to explain to a four year old that the Easter Bunny couldn't leave chocolate eggs in the garden because they would melt too quickly?  By the time the eggs would have been found they would have turned to a dripping pool of mush!

It was very hard to find chocolate easter eggs anywhere in Pattaya that year. So the Easter Bunny only left one small egg for each son and a promise to do better next year. Fortunately things did in fact improve the following year as the hotel shops were more prepared for the expat community expectations and needs.
However forwarned is forarmed and to prevent disappointment other activities could have been added to the treasure hunt to make it more enjoyable and memorable.

An Easter Egg Hunt with Games and Activities attached could be a lot of fun and help with that ever elusive reading practice. Since chocolate was out of the question due to the heat,  we could have used cardbourd eggs and hid actions or activities inside them. As the children varied in ages and reading ability, it would be best to pair up older children with younger children. This encourages co-operation and team spitit too! The activities on the cards could include fun hints like "hop like a bunny to the nearset tree", or "jump on the spot and count to ten." When each child or pair has then done a designated amount of activities they could then be directed to a small gift.

A Scavenger Hunt is another great idea when chocolate easter eggs are out of the question and it also provides another source of reading that the kids don't realise they are doing while they are so busy having fun! Give each child or pair, depending on ages and ability levels, a list of things to go and find and bring back. To add to the tension you could set a time limit if you wish.  The list can be kept simple with things like, a tiny fluffy yellow chicken, a ribbon, or a hat, or the list could be more complex with things like a specific coloured ribbon for each pair, a different coloured pencil, or clothes peg, a scarf, the list is only limited by your imagination.

For a lot more Easter fun activities and games visit
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/easter_games.htm

For tips on how to decorate a hard boiled easter egg or Blown out Egg visit http://www.achievesuccess.com.au/east...
While you're in the mood for cooking, don't forget the recipe for making your very own gingerbread aliens is on mywebsite and please take a photo and send them in, I'd love to see the results!
lhttp://gingerbread-aliens.com/recipes...

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