AIBU to not to be able to think of something nice to do?

[Moonflower12]

Sorry I am posting here for traffic. I am an Early Years teacher in an independent school.

The rest of school are going to the Pantomime. Ours are deemed too young for the travel and all that a trip out entails.

What can we do with ours that would be lovely to cheer them us up?
There will be 15 children aged 2-4. We can't have a party as that is already planned for the week afterwards.
Please help wise Mumsnetters.

@2319inprogress

Unfortunately we are in a separate building so we can't wander in the main bit, but otherwise that would have been a lovely idea. Thank you

We could do a scavenger hunt though. That would be good.

I am going to do a selection of all these ideas I think. I shall show my colleague in the morning.
We will have a better time than the panto!

Tell them the basic story of Aladdin one day. Then the next day “find” an old lamp while tidying away. Choose someone to rub it and have your colleague appear in costume as a genie! You could even make some wishes and have them come true … a new scarf (up a sleeve) etc - ending with a bag of sweets for the children. Kids eat sweets, genie goes away and when colleague comes back say “oh Miss you won’t believe what you missed!”

Watch Aladdin in the morning, then throughout the day do activities related to it. Have a few activities to rotate around- magic carpet making on big sheets of paper, make a wishing tree and get them to think of their 3 wishes, print out genie lamps, etc and let them do mark making/colouring in, maybe some dressing up items, scavenger hunt with different characters. Lamp-like shiny items in sand to dig up and pour with etc.

wonderkidsuk.com/wonder-kids-blog/2019/7/2/aladdin-kids-party-fun This might help

Hire a puppet show? Hopefully cheaper than a theatre company but still an event.

@Stompythedinosaur
Thank you. That sounds good.

@Pinkflask
That is excellent! We could combine the two. Make wishes and get 'whisked' away to a snowy land. They would love it.

Thank you so much for your brilliant ideas, everyone.
I will ask if they're allowed to come to school in mufti for a cold place. We normally wear uniform.

We WILL have a better time than the panto. We won't remain sad and bitter.

@ODFOgrinch
That's worth a look. Thank you.

@Antinerak
Thank you too. Lots of fun ideas there.

Honestly if be worried if I was paying fees and you are asking for advice on activities on Mumsnet.

Christmassy themed treasure hunt?

You could put on a puppet show for them.

Could you watch a dvd of a kids panto? My son loved the CBeebies ones.

Maybe wear pjs/onesies/bring blankets and have hot (warm) chocolate, marshmallows and cookies. What about a chocolate coin hunt?

@idontlikealdi

Honestly if be worried if I was paying fees and you are asking for advice on activities on Mumsnet.

How ridiculous.

Asking here is a great idea.

DC's nursery used to get in a local clown who specialised in early years clowning. He did stuff like putting his clothes on all wrong (jacket sleeves as trousers, trousers as hat etc. The children adored him.

Also... Don't be bitter. Taking a bunch of 2-4 year olds on a long journey to sit in a theatre is surely Hell waiting to happen. So much that could go wrong or just be miserable. Even if you just had a normal morning you will have a better time than if you went on the trip.

@idontlikealdi I'd be very happy and appreciative if my childrens' preschool teachers were asking for ideas anywhere (MN is a good enough place as any) as it would show they cared. I'm very thankful to the people who care for my children

@idontlikealdi
All of my 'normal' day to day EYFS and Montessori activities including phonics, early numeracy and Literacy planning is all done with no need to seek out inspiration on Mumsnet.

I was just looking for 'different' ideas from which to draw.

Which all the amazing posters have provided and I'm very grateful.

@chillied
I know this in actuality! We just felt a bit left out, yesterday.

We have looked at all these lovely ideas and are going to have a lovely time.

@Moonflower12 I’m an early years teacher too who hates being left out! If you are in private, could you speak to your head and discuss maybe extending the budget as you want to make sure the parents (who presumably pay a fair bit) feel their children have had a similar experience to school

@ssd
@oneofthose

Thank you.
We do care very much about 'our' children and very much want to give them a brilliant day with lots of age appropriate fun that they'll chat about and really enjoy.

Could you contact the local high school and see if they would come and perform? When I was at high school (many years ago) we used to do a dress rehearsal for our performances with the local primary school watching.

@MamaTutu2

Thank you. We are going to try that and with lots of these ideas we can ask for specifics rather than just money, which always goes down better.

There’s an online panto that you can stream (it for good reviews last year). Or a Christmassy film and get the kids to do some activities around it?

@lillg That's an idea! I will look into that.
@WimpoleHat
Oooh I will look online.

We are thinking of ending the day with a film and a chill out.

@Moonflower12 your other alternative is to do a fundraiser before then to pay for what you want. Obstacle course, sponsored sing etc always brings in a couple of hundred?

Watch Aladdin on DVD

Get a magician

Ask the dogs trust to visit you

Pyjama party with story time

@MamaTutu2
We will look into that too. Thank you