quick: need activity for toddler group

[SenoraPostrophe]

hosting our bilingual toddler group tomorrow and need an activity.

Kids are aged between 1 and 4 (and we usually aim the activity at the 2-3 yr olds).

songs, dancing type stuff OK, but can't think of any! I did think about cooking, but perhaps that's asking for trouble??

[Ameriscot2005]

How many kids?

For a food activity, you could do iced biscuits - make up a batch of icing, and let the children spread this onto plain biscuits, and then decorate with dolly mixtures etc.

Or you could make up some bread dough and let them make it into animal shapes - then bake them if you have access to an oven.

Non-food, you could do a cutting and sticking craft.

[SenoraPostrophe]

5 kids (probably)

iced biscuits is a great idea!

I'll have to check with the others though - one of them is very into her healthy food (to the point where her children don't have sweets at all)

[SenoraPostrophe]

how long does bread take to cook?

[Ameriscot2005]

Not long - 10 minutes in a hot oven. It's an idea to have a trial run yourself just to make sure.

[Ameriscot2005]

Bread animals are good as the kids can decorate them with sesame seeds, mustards seeds etc. Pleasing to even the earthiest mother

[amynnixmum]

How about making some playdough

[Fennel]

Pretzels - healthy, easy to make, and the kids can play with them like playdough, make them into letters etc, and I think they are quick to bake too

[SenoraPostrophe]

hmmm I like the idea of making something svaoury, but you have to leave pretzels to stand for 15 mins, then boil then bak for 12 mins. Bread you also have to leave to stand don't you?

We only have about an hour and I can see problems...

[jamiesam]

Senora
Annabel Karmel (sorry) has a recipe for cheese pretzels which you have to prove for an hour (before group?) and then just bake for 15 mins.
Can post recipe if you wish.

[SenoraPostrophe]

yes, please.

It'll mean getting up early though

[jamiesam]

Cheese pretzels

1 sachet of dried yeast
225ml/8 fl oz warm water
350g/12 oz pl flour
1/2 tsp salt
150g/5oz Gruyere or Cheddar
2 tblsp oil
1 tblsp sea salt
1 tblsp sesame seeds

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Sift flour and salt into bowl, stir in grated cheese, oil and yeast liquid. Bring together to form dough and knead on floured surface for 10 mins (or 5min with dough hook) Place in oiled bowl, cover with clingfilm, leave in warm place for one hr. Break off sm pieces and roll into 25cm/1 inch strands and twist into pretzel shapes. Arrange on greased baking tray. Brush with oil, sprinkle salt or sesame seeds. Bake 200C, 400F or Gas 6 for 15 min until golden brown.

Hmm, sounds alright that! Good luck

[SenoraPostrophe]

Thanks Jamiesam

I've printed it off, but still can't decide whether or not to do it tomorrow as not sure kitchen table is big enough (will make those with dd one afternoon anyway though, they sound delicious!).

any other ideas just in case?