Jigsaws from Activity Village

Jigsaws from Activity Village

We have added a huge new selection of jigsaws to the website today. First, for Australia Day, we have added three of everyone's favourite Australian animals as well as a boomerang jigsaw. For Chinese New Year we have jigsaws of a Lion Dance and a Dragon Dance, Chinese New Year Decorations, Mandarin Oranges and Chinese Lanterns - all very colourful and great fun to complete. We finally we have added jigsaws for Mardi Gras and even Pancake Day! Valentine's Day Jigsaws are coming soon, too.

All jigsaws come in a selection of sizes so you should find something for every age group. Click on the jigsaw links and either choose Run to play the jigsaw without saving, or Save to save the jigsaw to your hard drive. At only about 250kb, you can build up quite a collection and save to a CD to share with friends, too.

New Year for Kids

New Year for Kids

We have added some exciting new activities for the New Year at Activity Village today. Visit our New Year page to find new paper puzzles for the kids to do while waiting for midnight to strike, a 2006 Goal Sheet to fill out, and 9 brand new fun downloadable jigsaw puzzles to play (you will find something for all ages!).

With best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and New Year to all our visitors!

Activity Village Newsletter December 2005

Activity Village Newsletter December 2005



The December newsletter is now online - click on the link above for all the latest news, including new Narnia activities, parenting articles, a printable version of The Little Match Girl, and some wonderful new family-friendly links to enjoy with your kids!

Narnia - Lots NEW!

Narnia



We have added 6 new Narnia word searches today - so that we now have one for each book in the Chronicles of Narnia! We have also updated our links to include new crafts and other activities for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the other Narnia stories.

Activity Village Newsletter November 2005

Activity Village Newsletter November 2005



It's been a while since the last newsletter came out, but we hope this one will make up for lost ground. We have details of new additions to the website, news of a new UK television show looking for families to take part, our usual poem, quotes and reader's tip, and a collection of links to interesting websites to visit.



"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet

we forget that he is someone today."

Stacia Tauscher

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Narnia



The new Disney film of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is nearly upon us, and I can't wait! I have spend a wonderful afternoon searching the net for Narnia resources and created some of my own, including a word search for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - the other books will follow soon. Enjoy our ideas for quick Narnia crafts and a huge collection of Narnia links, including Narnia coloring pages, desktop wallpapers, learning activities and much more!

Joan Carris Books

Joan Carris Books



This teacher and author's website is a real find: full of inspiring reading ideas for all ages of children and young adults. You will find ideas to encourage children to read (and write) as well as reviews and suggested reading lists by age group. Well worth a good browse!

New Christmas Jigsaws for Kids

Christmas Jigsaws

You might have noticed that we have been adding lots of new jigsaws recently - and here is our latest page of downloadable Christmas jigsaws for kids. We hope you enjoy them!

Thanksgiving Jigsaws

Thanksgiving Jigsaws

We have a new collection of downloadable Thanksgiving Jigsaws for kids all ages - why not have a go?

The Math Worksheet Site.com

The Math Worksheet Site.com



Excellent "make your own worksheet" site which can generate some really nice looking maths worksheets to your specification. The worksheet generators on this page are free; there is also a subscriber only area which we haven't checked out. If you are homeschooling or just want to provide extra maths help at home, this is well worth a look.

Winter Jigsaws

Winter Jigsaws



We have a new collection of Winter Jigsaws on the website: four different designs including a delightful snowman, in 7 different sizes ranging from 6 pieces to 24, so something for all ages. Easy to download, fun to play!

Kid Party Games for Boys and Girls

There are lots of unusal ideas for party games in these two articles:

Party Games for Boys

Party Games for Girls

Teach Your Kids Money Management

Teach Your Kids Money Management

Kids are taught about sharing, safety, acceptable behavior, physical health and safety, and good study and work habits but seldom are they taught about money. These will be things that they take with them forever, after they grow up and move out on their own. Money is an important factor in life and it should be addressed in some manner so kids at least know the basics such as budgeting and saving. Read more ..
Teach Your Kids Money Management

Bath Time Magic for Kids

Bath Time Magic for Kids



Bath time is the perfect opportunity for parents and children to really get to know each other and spend quality time together. Here are some suggestions for making sure that bath time in your family is a fun, memorable experience for everyone involved!

Overweight Children - What Can A Parent Do To Help?

Overweight Children - What Can A Parent Do To Help?

The latest figures released in the US state that 15 percent of children and teenagers are now considered overweight, up from 6% 20 years ago. Statistics in the UK are similar, and rising. Whilst children starve in Africa, kids in the Western world are lining up to suffer a frightening array of weight-related illnesses. What can we, as parents, do to help?

Overweight Children - What Can A Parent Do To Help?

Recycle Christmas Cards

One of Activity Village's most popular craft pages - especially early in the New Year - is about creative ways to recycle your Christmas cards and have fun with your kids at the same time. We have just added another page of ideas which we hope you will enjoy.

10 creative uses for those Christmas cards

Even more ways to recycle your Christmas cards

Halloween for Kids

We have added some excellent new articles to the Halloween pages of the website today:

Getting Great Pictures of the Kids this Halloween - super tips for taking excellent Halloween photos

Great Games for Your Halloween Party - you will have lots of fun planning and playing these Halloween games

Ideas For Toddler Halloween Costumes - these cute costume ideas are perfect for the littlest members of your family!

Free Piano Sheet Music and much more.

Those of you with talented youngsters may enjoy the free piano sheet music offered on the site, ready to print in pdf format. Some of the pieces are offered by Grade, too.

Managing Mealtime Madness

Managing Mealtime Madness: "Managing Mealtime Madness"



Most moms agree that the craziest time of day is from 4- 6pm. Kids need help with homework, everyone is hungry, the phone is ringing and in the middle of it all they are trying to throw a meal together! Managing Mealtime Madness is the story of two families and the way they handle their lives during this part of the day. Additionally, it is full of ideas and tips for managing a busy household during dinnertime.

Free Coloring Pages for Kids

Free Coloring Pages for Kids



We have just started a major revamp and update of Activity Village's coloring page links - and have begun to add many new great coloring pages for your kids to enjoy!



Remember, if you come across any particularly good coloring pages which you think other visitors might enjoy, please let us know so we can add the link.



It seems that lots of people are looking for Kim Possible coloring pages and we have only found a few! If you have come across any good ones please get in touch ...



And would the lady who wrote to me to tell me about her sweet angel coloring pages please contact me again? I wanted to link to her site but lost the details :(

How to play conkers

How to play conkers



"In an age where children spend a huge percentage of their free time playing with expensive computer games, it's nice to know that some old-fashioned games are still being played outdoors and cost absolutely nothing."

Fizzy Sherbet - A Sweet Science Lesson For Your Kids

Fizzy Sherbet - A Sweet Science Lesson For Your Kids!



"Fizzy sherbet in a paper bag with a strawberry lollipop was probably my favorite treat as a child, but I never knew what was in the sherbet and why it sparkled and tingled on my tongue! Try making some with your kids and enjoy a mini science lesson in the process ..."

Watch What You Say

Watch What You Say



"The young mother's words to her small children echoed in my head for several days. While I realized she was probably warning them to not do something against her wishes or something that could harm them, I can't help but wonder about the effects that a situation like that, heard over and over for a period of years, will have on their lives and their ability to realize their potential..."

Halloween for Kids

Halloween for Kids



There is no doubt that Halloween is one of the most popular children's holidays - and Activity Village has a huge collection of Halloween activities to help you celebrate it!



As I type this there are 65 days to go until Halloween, which gives you plenty of time to make sure that your decorations, party and costumes are extra-special this year!

Grandparents Day at Activity Village

Grandparents Day at Activity Village

Grandparents Day is coming up soon! Celebrated on 11th September in the US, it is a good excuse to get the kids to think about, and spoil, their grandparents for a change! We have updated our Grandparents Day page so that you can find Grandparents Day coloring, crafts, printables and more!

Autumn Jigsaws

Autumn Jigsaws



Although we would like it stay summer forever, we have reluctantly started looking at Autumn's offerings on Activity Village and added a page of fun downloadable autumn jigsaws for you to enjoy with your children. We have two cute scarecrows, a squirrel, and some autumn leaves (with a surprise in them!).

Free Worksheets for Beginner Readers

Free Worksheets



Is your child learning to read? Have a look at these free posters, worksheets and flashcards for letter and number recognition, early reading, and letter formation.

Family recipes - new inspiration every day!

Family Recipes



New on the Family Recipes page today is SLIME! We have two slime recipes and a recipe for silly putty too - great fun for a rainy afternoon or a hands-on "science" experiment in the kitchen.

Back to School

Back to School



We've done a major update of the Back To School pages today, adding some new articles, Back to School word searches and a crossword, and some sweet Back to School cards to print. We have also updated our Back to School links.

Back to School - Goal Setting For Kids

Back to School - goal setting for kids



This excellent article starts out by warning us not to spend too much on meaningless "stuff" for the new school year, but I think its real value is in the second half, where the author gives some great ideas for helping kids to concentrate on what they want to achieve from school this academic year. While many of the ideas are clearly suggested for older kids, with a bit of adaption and explanation they would be an excellent way to get even the youngest children thinking about putting their best efforts into everything they do, planning ahead and so on.

Motherhood is a Perfect Adventure

Motherhood is a Perfect Adventure



Sometimes it is too easy to forget the joys of being a mother for the daily slog! This article reminds us of the wonder of parenthood and has some tips to help us appreciate our children for what they are.

Puzzle Japan Kids

Puzzle Japan Kids



We have really enjoyed playing these "Slither Link" puzzles for kids. You will need to look up the rules here:



Rules of Slither Link



Don't be put off by the level of diffiulty in the rules: the kids' puzzles start with some nice easy ones to get them going. Great fun!

Sudoku for Kids - 120 Printable Sudoku Puzzles, Available Now!

Sudoku for Kids - 120 Printable Sudoku Puzzles, Available for Instant Download



Our new "Sudoku for Kids" booklet is now available on the website! With 120 printable Sudoku puzzles - designed with cheerful colors and fun graphics - you will always be able to find a puzzle which is age-appropriate for your child. And of course you can print out multiple copies of each puzzle - perfect for families and classrooms!



Do your kids Sudoku?

More Sudoku For Kids

More Sudoku for Kids



We have revamped our Sudoku for Kids page in anticipation of our new publication which will contain 120 graded printable Sudoku puzzles for children and will be available for instant download!



New on the website you will find our printable booklet, "How to do Sudoku Puzzles" - written especially for children.



Our existing Sudoku puzzles have been improved (now much nicer to look at and print!)



And we have added 8 new Sudoku puzzles for all ages - from the youngest beginner to your most accomplished child.



Also, exclusive to Activity Village, are 2 "Sudoku Extra" puzzles, which include a hidden code word for the children to decipher.



Do your kids Sudoku?

Sudoku - The Hottest Puzzle Craze Since Rubik's Cube

Sudoku - The Hottest Puzzle Craze Since Rubik's Cube

Those of you who haven't tried Sudoku puzzles with your kids yet - please read this article and be inspired! The puzzles are definitely a wonderful way for kids to develop their powers of logic, and Activity Village's free Sudoku for Kids are designed especially to appeal to children, with bright colours and graphics.

We are currently working on a new set of puzzles for the website as well as a downloadable booklet with 100 Sudoku just for kids, which should be available next week.

Kids Activities - 10 Inspiring Ideas for a Rainy Day

Kids Activities - 10 Inspiring Ideas for a Rainy Day



There is nothing worse than a rainy day in the middle of the school holidays, when children are cooped up inside, you have nothing planned, and the inevitable cries of “I’m bored” are not far away! Keep this list of rainy day activities ready for just such a day. Older children may enjoy choosing from the list themselves......

Learning Languages; Learn French, Learn Spanish

Learning Languages; Learn French, Learn Spanish



Looking for a way to keep the kids ticking over through the long summer holidays? Why not have a look at our language pages (soon to be updated!) for some help with learning French, Spanish, German, Italian and even Dutch! Our language pages have a selection of posters and puzzles using early vocabulary and have proved very popular.

When Yelling Is Worse Than Spanking

MSN Family/Raising Kids



Some words yelled in anger can have as harmful an impact as spanking.

By Debra Gordon

Activity Village Newsletter July 2005

Activity Village Newsletter July 2005

5 Tips For Talking To Your Children About What They See In The News

5 Tips For Talking To Your Children About What They See In The News



Extract: "In our efforts to protect our children and preserve the innocence of childhood as long as possible, we attempt to shield them from the atrocities that occur in today's turbulent times. When events such as the bombs in London, the events at the elementary school in Belsan, Russia in September, 2004 and the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center occur, our natural instinct is to not discuss the events of the day with our children. Yet, as news of terrorist attacks or other tragedies surround them, your children may be feeling frightened, anxious, sad and confused."

Harry Potter Countdown!

Harry Potter



Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is due out on 16th July and eager Potter fans around the world can hardly wait! Here is a page full of updated ideas - from Activity Village and other sites - to help your kids pass the time while they wait!

Ten Reasons to Tell your Kids Stories

Ten Reasons to Tell your Kids Stories



An excellent article with an inspiring message.

BBC - CBeebies; Story Circle - A Midsummer Night's Dream

BBC - CBeebies; Story Circle - A Midsummer Night's Dream



Shakespeare for kids! This is an absolutely charming animated and simplified version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - a lovely way to introduce Shakespeare to your children.

Raising Boys

Raising Boys

The last decade has seen heightened interest in and awareness of the issues surrounding boys in most of the western world. It is common knowledge that boys lead the way in all the wrong statistics, including; problematic behaviours, learning difficulties and health problems. Educators and professionals around the world are looking for ways to cater for and engage young males....

(Read the rest of the article on the website)

Time Managment Skills for Children

Time Managment Skills for Children

Cooking with Kids Safely

Cooking with Kids Safely



This article reminds us of safety rules for cooking with children, and includes 3 healthy, summery recipes which you will enjoy preparing together.

Activity Village Newsletter - Latest Issue Now Online

Activity Village Newsletter 25.06.05

Bullying - The Constitutional Solution

Bullying - The Constitutional Solution



Why attempts to stop bullying often don't work - and how you can teach your child to stop being a victim. Very interesting reading.

Bubble solution recipe and links - fun for the summer!

Bubble solution recipe



What better way could there be for kids to spend a summer afternoon than blowing bubbles! We have a recipe for mixing up your own bubble solution, ideas for making bubble wands, and bubble links to keep you interested.

Emotionally Intelligent Kids - Top 10 Ways to Raise Them!

Top 10 Ways to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids

Backpacks and bullies - is your child prepared?

Backpacks and bullies - is your child prepared?l

The Romans - a super school for those learnng about the Romans

The Romans



This primary school site is packed full of work created by the children, including a charming model of a Roman Baths which you can explore in 3d! Have a look with your kids.

Sudoku For Kids! Kids can now enjoy the Sudoku craze too!

Sudoku For Kids!



We are thrilled to be adding a section on Sudoku For Kids to Activity Village's puzzle pages. Adults all over the country are going mad over Sudoku, and there is no reason that kids can't test their logic skills and try to solve our printable Sudoku puzzles too. (NB Adults - if you haven't tried Sudoku yet, we suggest you try one of our easy puzzles yourself and explore the links on the page for hints and tips on how to solve it. Then you can try a puzzle together with your kids, explaining the different logic techniques and making sure they don't resort to guessing, which should not be necessary!) Kids as young as 7 and 8 could give it a try; 9 and 10 year olds will definitely enjoy the challenge. We will be adding more Sudoku puzzles regularly!