Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sponsored threads

This topic is for sponsored discussions. If you'd like to run one with us, please email [email protected].

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Tell Hobbycraft what activities you will be doing with your DCs during half term – x3 £100 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

360 replies

MichelleMumsnet · 10/02/2015 09:16

The team at Hobbycraft would like to find out the arts and crafts activities you will be doing with your DCs this February half term holiday.

Here’s what Hobbycraft say, “As parents ourselves we know what a challenge it can be to keep the kids entertained away for the TV so for the sake of mum’s everywhere who are in need of inspiration we’d love to know what is your favourite crafting activity to do with the kids?”

The February half term is a tough one on most parents with the weather often keeping children cooped up inside. So what theme will your February half term holiday take? Will you be baking hot goodies to stave off the dreary weather? Will you re-create the outdoors inside by making an indoor den and scenery from recycling? Whatever it is, we want to hear it!

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where three lucky Mumsnetters will win a £100 Hobbycraft gift card.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

OP posts:
nikki1978 · 10/02/2015 10:52

On the days when I am not working we will be cooking some cheese scones as my daughter wants to learn how to cook so we have been doing the basics over the last few weeks.

We will also be making models out of leftover cardboard and bits from the kitchen. My son likes to make robots so we need a lot of aluminium foil!

nikki1978 · 10/02/2015 10:53

On the days when I am not working we will be cooking some cheese scones as my daughter wants to learn how to cook so we have been doing the basics over the last few weeks.

We will also be making models out of leftover cardboard and bits from the kitchen. My son likes to make robots so we need a lot of aluminium foil!

diamondsrock · 10/02/2015 11:25

My DD loves making new things for her bedroom so at the moment she is customising her curtains by sewing appliques on to it, and she has a plain lamp she got from a charity shop which she wants to decorate. She loves her glue gun and lots of sparkly bits! We like keeping bits of broken fashion jewellery or decorative bits from old clothes, and I always snip off buttons too so I have quite a collection which she likes to rummage through.

Cambam2010 · 10/02/2015 11:42

Whilst I am at work DS will be with his dad so anything messy can be done at his house! I plan on taking him to the cinema to watch Big Hero 6, we will meet up with his old nursery friends and will probably create a fort or similar out of the sofa cushions. We may bake biscuits but he's interest wains after the licking of the spoon. I would love for him to be interested in crafts but I think he has picked up my lack of creativity

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 10/02/2015 11:43

Making so many things out of cardboard and duck tape. Also, using string or yarn to hold together a shelter made mainly of tree branches. My eldest will also be needle-felting.

WowOoo · 10/02/2015 11:47

We will be making space rockets from plastic bottles and lots of cardboard and shiny bits and also a robot from various sized boxes.
I want to use up a lot of stuff before I buy and hoard any more bits' n bobs.

BeCool · 10/02/2015 11:50

I will be working and the DD's will be with our childminder.

I would love to spend a week with them making stuff!

howtoapproachthis · 10/02/2015 12:09

baking cupcakes

going out into the forest with wellies and collecting stuff from nature

maybe....painting on a large canvas together

sliceofsoup · 10/02/2015 12:23

Our half term falls on Shrove tuesday, so we will be making pancakes. DD1 wants to do some decoupage with me, so we will hopefully be making her a decoupaged jewellery box.

Dolallytats · 10/02/2015 12:39

We will be doing some baking. My DS (6) wants to bake more often. Not sure what he wants to make, he is having think and will tell me tonight when I order the grocery shop so I can get what he needs.

He will also be making a model with his dad who has a great imagination when it comes to building things with cardboard tubes! They already have a rocket, steamboat and cannon. DS wants something to do with Marvel Superheroes, so we'll have to see what they come up with.

Dolallytats · 10/02/2015 12:41

Oh, I've just remembered that DS wants to make his own compost so we'll be in the garden gathering bits for that-as long as I remember to get a 2 litre bottle.

toothgenie · 10/02/2015 13:06

One of my daughters will be doing some felting and the other working on her cosplay outfit.

aftereight · 10/02/2015 13:12

We'll be junk modelling (boxes and sellotape) and den building with indoor picnic.
I will also be selecting photos and printing them to put in dd's giant 24 pic frame for her bedroom wall.

bletheringboys · 10/02/2015 13:20

My boys sit for ages with Hama Beads!

We also collect sticks etc for collages/mobile making with felt and wool.

I spend a lot of time getting felt pen off my table too - they love colouring, drawing and making 'storybooks' which is nice.

wheretoyougonow · 10/02/2015 13:23

My DS 11 came home from school yesterday with an art project. He is going to make a giant cupcake from fabrics. I have directed him towards my mum for help because she has a sewing machine!

LittleMissRayofHope · 10/02/2015 13:42

We will be making egg free dairy free biscuits for her cousin who she has a teeny crush on and then she has asked for a princess castle so we will be making one of those!!
And visiting a local petting zoo!

museumworker · 10/02/2015 13:49

We try and get out as much as we can to keep me sane! We've got free tickets for Sky Garden, planning to go to the Bank of England museum to hold a real gold bar, take the tweenager to see Grayson Perry at the National Portrait Gallery, and a great adventure playground (local). In fact, these are all free! A cinema outing may also be required.

When I'm forced to admit I'm knackered and have to stay at home, it's hard to find activities suited to a 12 year old and a 2 year old. I've had moderate success with:

  • bean sorting - mixing three different types of lentil/ beans together and giving them three different cups to put them in
  • rice crispie cake making
  • homemade playdough
  • colouring in

Watching with interest to see what other ideas people have!

Hopezibah · 10/02/2015 13:58

even though it is nearly valentines day and pancake day on the calendar in Feb half term, i think we are going to start thinking more about springtime generally with fluffy sheep, daffodils, and chicks.

We'll be doing lots of artwork using oil pastels and also lots of using old boxes eg. egg boxes for daffodils, along with pipecleaners, pom poms, wool etc.

MooseyMoo · 10/02/2015 14:25

I've been hoarding magazines/catalogues so my DD (4.8yo) can make a collage. Also planning on baking brownies and, as a special treat, I am taking her to a local pottery shop to make a mosaic tile.

julker · 10/02/2015 14:43

I enjoy gathering up random bits and pieces (egg boxes, sweet wrappers, toilet roll tubes etc) and just letting kids loose with their imagination to guide them, its amazing what they can think up! To prolong the activity you can then make up a story involving what they have made

Baking is great too, teaches lots of different skills depending on the age of child(ren) and you get something yummy at the end of it, even better if you can use it as a way to introduce a new food as they are more likely to try some if they have made it

BooRadders · 10/02/2015 14:49

I am planning on helping mine decorate decopatch name letters for their bedrooms ( only short names, so won't take too long!)
We will also try some adventurous baking..maybe marshmallows or cinder toffee.
Also there are some felting kits which were Christmas presents, so we may well give them a go!

glenthebattleostrich · 10/02/2015 14:50

Completely outing myself here but ...

A local gallery has a Matisse exhibition and workshop so doing that, which leads nicely into some stuff we ate doing for mothers day.

We are also making pancakes, having pancake races and doing a pancake obstacle course on Tuesday.

Thursday is Chinese new year so we are decorating fans, making stained glass sheep, sticky back plastic sheep and making Chinese food. We are off to a farm on Monday so hoping to get some wool to use too.

Well have the junnk modeling box out to dip into and lots of painting and drawings too.

webminx · 10/02/2015 15:24

We'll be using air-drying clay and Hama beads to make decorations for the Easter tree (this is usually a LONG process, so we like to get a head start!) and using cardboard boxes and coloured card to set up a "shop" where we can practice our newly-acquired maths skills by "selling" biscuits that we'll be baking and icing with lots of sprinkles!

FragileBrittleStar · 10/02/2015 16:03

i will be working- but DP will be spending a lot of time with DS-which will probably end up with a lot of time outdoors- planting vegetables, poking things with sticks, having fires, throwing stones in the sea. If they are in the house and away from ipad- DS's favourite carft activity is making bookmarks - we are trying to make him branch out to other things or at least decorate the bookmarks more but drawing pictureson them is his favourite thing

Itchylegs · 10/02/2015 16:40

Lots of arts and crafts.
A trip to a castle.
A trip to a museum.
some cooking.
Lots of scooters in the park, if it is not wet.