Lions Inbetween

You know what'd make the Millie Inbetween episode 'Out Of The Woods' more exciting? If a lion came out of nowhere, attacked the family and ate Millie whole! RRRAAAARRRR!! But eventually the lion spits Millie out and is revealed to like the colour yellow and a nice cake for tea.

By the way, it's all based on my old Scout doll I used to own back in South Woodham Ferrers. He sung about cheetahs, the colour yellow and cakes. Speaking of lions, now's the time to listen to a Portuguese Nick Jr story about wish biscuits and lions:

Simon's Favourite Song

Sleepy Bear Patterns

Sensory Simon

In celebration of Simon, engage in some long-eared sensory play based on various episodes of Tiny Pop's newest show!

• Simon goes to the beach in most episodes, so this would do for a good cause.
  
• Simon stays with his Granny and Grandpa during a storm, so this should make for thunderstorm-themed sensory play and pirate treasure sensory activities.
• Simon scribbles all over the wall in one episode. Get messy with sensory art.
• In one episode, Mum makes a galaxy mobile for her two little rabbits, so engaging in a bit of space-themed sensory play and some splash-tastic bath games to bring Dad's attempt at getting the boys into the bath and the boys' attempt at getting Elvis the dog into the bath into reality.
• Simon goes swimming on Monday, so exciting pool games can help you ease your fears of the pool before Simon's own fears are conquered.
• Simon goes to the farm in one episode, so a bit of muddy farmyard activities could do for long-eared little ones who haven't thought about the farm just yet.

Don't forget to watch Simon from Friday at 7am and 4:30PM to escape CBBC when it's Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese time!

Simon On Tiny Pop

I was watching Maya The Bee: The Honey Games and found out when Simon is going to air: on Tiny Pop this Friday! So, every morning before Scream Street I'll watch this mischievous young scamp explore his world with the help of his family and friends - much better than Peppa Pig, I guarantee. The episodes airing on Friday include:

• Who's The Strongest - Simon and Gaspard play superheroes.
• Holiday Time - Much like the Bluey episode 'Road Trip' but with rabbits.
• I Made A Mess - Simon scribbles all over the wall.
• I Just Love Surprises - Beach vacations at a relatives' house are tons of fun!

The episodes on Saturday include:

• Stars For Mummy - Mum makes a galaxy mobile for Simon and Gaspard, while Dad wants his boys to take a bath IMMEDIATE!
• I'm Not Afraid Of The Storm - It's like a pirate treasure trove at Grandma and Grandpa's.
• Bath Time, Elvis! - Much like the Fireman Sam episode 'Bath Time For Dusty' but with rabbits.
• Let's Go To The Farm - Simon explores the farm and meets the animals.

The episodes on Sunday include:

• You Did It On Purpose, Gaspard - Gaspard goes annoying on another beach trip.
• Sulky Pants - Simon and Gaspard bicker over who's better.
• The Toy Tree - Ferdinand comes round for a playdate.
• Oh No, Not Gaspard's Friends - Gaspard's little friends come over, irritating Simon a whole lot more.

The episodes airing on Monday include:

• What A Swimming Lesson - Simon goes swimming with his class.
• Hiding The Blankie - Gaspard tries to hide his blankie so it can become stinky even more.
• I Saw It First - Simon discovers a skateboard.
• The Sack Race - Simon partakes in a beach club sports day.

I think I'm going to love this mischievous little newcomer!

Cookie Crumby Christmas Cookies

Be sure to check by this post next Christmas in order to make these Christmas cookies to place near the tree for Father Christmas - don't let Cookie Monster disguised as Santa eat them!

If You Give A Mouse Some Bubble Foam...

While searching for activities themed around episodes of If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, I found this interesting bubble foam activity. You may need to do this in the bath, or add scented oils to see how colours smell!

https://busytoddler.com/2015/11/bubble-foam/

European Christmas Traditions

Find out about Tio De Nadal and more at the Newsround website:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/15790210

Magical Craft Time

Inside Out Activities

Since Inside Out has aired on BBC One - this film is one of my favourite Pixar films of all time beside Toy Story and Wall-E - I'm going to show you two activities based around my favourite scenes in the film: Imagination Land and Dream Productions! Do them at home if you've missed the film, or with your child if you have one who loves the film.

Create your own Imagination Land, then create a dream journal to document the Dream Productions inside your head every night.

If you happen to own Disney+, watch the film first thing before getting down to the fun stuff!

Behold The Giant Teddy Cake!

Make A Grandpa's Great Escape Inspired Model Airplane

Now that you've seen Grandpa's Great Escape on CBBC, read the original book and played the board game (I bet you didn't know there was one), why don't you make and paint a war plane inspired by the ones featured in the film? Click the link below to get inspiration for your model war plane. Up, up & away!

https://www.playideas.com/25-airplane-projects-kids-love/

Home From Rome Postcard Activities

Inspired by Fireman Sam's 'Home From Rome' episode, pretend you're writing to friends on a pretend vacation to Italy or another place of the world with these free postcard templates:

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-m-279-postcard-writing-template

Watch 'Home From Rome' on iPlayer:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p08pj2m5/fireman-sam-series-3-1-home-from-rome

Dog Loves Art - Paint Play!

I found out Dog Loves Art was on CBeebies and had a chance to see it...but missed! If you've seen Dog Loves Art like I have before, you can treat yourself to some creative painting activities. That's sure to get the creative juices flowing!

https://www.mamashappyhive.com/10-painting-activities-for-toddlers/

Watch Dog Loves Art on iPlayer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000j5my/dog-loves-books-series-1-16-dog-loves-art

Activities Of The Week - Scream Street, The Toddler Club, Live Lessons & Tom & Jerry & Scooby Doo Movies

Themed around what's on CBBC and CBeebies in the next two weeks, every week I'll bring you 'Activities Of The Week'. Introduce your toddler to Benjee and Bailee Bear before The Toddler Club has even begun, or ring in new Scooby Doo and Tom & Jerry films with sensory play!

• Make Moon Sand for Scooby Doo: Moon Monster Madness.
  
• Have fun with dragon related crafts for Tom & Jerry & The Lost Dragon.
  
• Have fun with beach sensory play for Scooby Doo & The Beach Beastie.
  
• Learn how to draw a sea monster - or rather, a lake monster - for the Scooby Gang to confront for Scooby Doo & The Lake Monster.
  
• Make Wizard Of Oz cupcakes for Tom & Jerry & The Wizard Of Oz.
  
• Engage in farm sensory play for Scooby Doo & The Spooky Scarecrow.
  

Just like I've accepted Luke, Resus and Cleo as my best friends, why don't you, whether you're disabled and don't have children or have children of your own, accept them as your friends too? Through these fun activities you can bring the episodes airing in the next two weeks into your home - and into your memories forever.

• Conjure your own spell when you're too lazy to clean your room, like either me or my boyfriend Luke, with this DIY printable spellbook for 'Scream Clean'. Make sure your vacuum cleaner doesn't turn into a monster! After this, relax by listening to Alpha's Somewhere Not Here to remind you of your new monster besties for life.
• Learn how to draw a haunted house for Luke, Resus and Cleo to explore, for 'Haunted House'.
  
• Capture Luella's vanity and innocence with this natural flower potion, or go Eefa's route and create this foamy witch's brew, for 'Lovestruck'.
• Take an online music class for 'Wolfgang'.
  
• This is for parents. Teach your children how to write their own song for Brain Drain, inspired by 'Resus Rocks'.
• Learn how to draw a cute-looking scary monster as a friend for Dig and Lulu, for 'Zoo Of The Weird'.
  
• Engage in some mirror sensory play for 'Mirror Mirror'.
• Learn how to draw a scary tree as a friend for the lonely Gatekeeper in 'Banished'.
• Learn how your heart works for 'Heartbreak Heist'.
  
• Grow unusual plants or learn why flowers smell nice for 'The Creepy Creeper'.
  

From January 11th, CBBC will be airing the Live Lessons again, so in case you have missed them in 2019, and if you have older children, it's probably best to engage in those live lessons to learn about science and math in a fun way.

• Terrific Scientific - Feet
  
• Super Movers - Math
  
• Terrific Scientific - Forces, then top it off by dancing to Koop's Forces...Darling!
• Terrific Scientific - Exercise
  

You can also do activities themed around my favourite episodes of my favourite CBeebies shows Love Monster and Dog Loves Books with these calming activities.

• Make a Chinese New Year red envelope for 'Red Envelope Day'.
  
• Calm down with sensory lavender activities for 'Dog Loves Calm'.
  
• Try some bedtime story prompts like Cousin Matilda for 'Dog Loves Bedtime Baboon'.
  

From the 11th of January, CBeebies will introduce an aged-up version of The Baby Club, The Toddler Club At Home. To tie in with each episode, you can do some toddler-oriented activities, stories and songs to get your little bears excited about meeting Benjee and Bailee Bear, and seeing Nigel and Giovanna's friendly faces again.

• Join in with songs saying 'Good Morning' and 'Wake Up' then sing along to this fun song about daily routines, for 'Routines'.
• Read Todd Parr's book 'Be Who You Are' to encourage your toddler to be him or herself, for 'Individuality'.
  
• If your toddler is too young to join me, Luke, Resus and Cleo on our jungle or Arctic adventures raised by animals, engage your child with some fun jungle or Arctic activities to introduce them to eagles or polar bears, for 'Nature'.
• Help your toddler learn about numbers and how they're used in daily life with this Teletubbies 'Numbers' compilation, then incorporate some math, or ask math questions related to the video, for 'Exploring Numbers'.
• Read the book We Are Family or sing some songs about family with Moose A Moose and Laurie Berkner, for 'Building Relationships'.

Have fun!