Pancake Day Fun!

Pancake Day in the UK is also known as Shrove Tuesday, and is celebrated as Carnival and Mardi Gras elsewhere in the world. Enjoyed on 16th February in 2010, it falls just before Lent, and was traditionally a day of fun and feasting before fasting for 40 days of Lent.  It's less than three weeks away now, so we've been working on our Pancake Day page and this is what we've added:

Two cute new Pancake Day colouring pictures and a pancake doodle - what would you like on your pancake?

Ten pancake tips and twists on the classic pancake recipe to try this Pancake Day

Four steps to perfect pancakes - and some delicious ideas for topping them, too!

We've also got ideas for games, puzzles, crafts and all sorts of pancake themed activities here:

Pancake Day

Valentine's Day - Lots NEW!

It is less than three weeks until Valentine's Day, so it's a good time to plan some activities, make some Valentine's Day cards, print out some colouring pages and have some fun!

We've added 8 really pretty new Valentine's Day coloring pages this year

Two are also available as Valentine's Day coloring cards

Of, for something new and original, try our Valentine's Day coloring jigsaws!

If your child doesn't want to do their own coloring, we have a new collection of Valentine's jigsaws to print. They make a fun, quick activity (and can be adapted to all ages)  but they also make a very exciting Valentine's Day jigsaw card to give to that special someone! Valentine Jigsaws To Print

Snowflake Crafts - Lots New!

Is the snow still falling where you live? Celebrate the beauty of the snow with our five new snowflake crafts - they look wonderful displayed in the window and will cheer up even the chilliest of days!
Snowflake crafts

New Year Doodle Fun - Creative Colouring And Goal Setting For Kids

New Year Doodle Fun - Creative Coloring and Goal Setting For Kids!

Here is the latest in our range of Doodle Fun books - a perfect activity for the New Year! We encourage children to think about and take a look at the year just past, by drawing and coloring some special occasions - and then we start to think about the year ahead. It is a clever way to bring about some gentle goal setting for all ages of children, from the youngest up. Many of the pages are suitable for year round use, so don't worry that they will all have to be completed at once, and we think that teachers might enjoy them for the classroom as well as parents find them useful at home.

Available as a downloadable pdf file only, there are 33 printable pages featuring 24 original illustrations by Adina, who has been creating some or our most popular recent coloring pages at Activity Village. Nine of the pages are repeated with faint lines in case you would prefer the children to use them for writing projects, especially for classroom use.

Click here to buy or find our more about New Year Doodle Fun

Customer comment: "As there is no comment or review section on your site that you often find when you purchase products I felt the need to email you to say thanks for this excellent resource. As a primary school teacher of children with Additional Support Needs I love your site! I have used so many of the ideas and resources. I recently purchased the New Year doodle book. It is just what I need and has saved me HOURS of trailing through websites or creating my own worksheets! I have already planned how to make use of most of the pages and can ideally spread them across the year. I hoped to let others know this to encourage them to buy your products. Thank you very much for a fantastic website and super resource!"
Emma (4th January 2010)

Click here to buy or find our more about New Year Doodle Fun

Driver Dan's Story Train - new CBeebies show

ALL ABOARD FOR DRIVER DAN’S STORY TRAIN ON CBEEBIES!

Weekdays 12.30pm - Starting Saturday 9th January

Launching on CBeebies this January 2010, “Driver Dan’s Story Train” is a CGI animated/live-action series that welcomes its young audience aboard The Story Train, with its cast of loveable new animated friends, led by the grown-up lion, Driver Dan.

The series features a colourful and inquisitive group of 3D animated animal characters of pre-school age, who love stories and adventure. Each full of personality and individuality, the animals join the ‘grown-up’ lion, Driver Dan, on his Story Train as they play games, have adventures, solve puzzles and find out that there is a book for absolutely every occasion.
Read more about Driver Dan's Story Train ...

Chinese New Year 2010, Year of the Tiger!

Kung Hei Fat Choy! 14th February will bring in the Chinese New Year, and this year will be the Year of the Tiger! This is one of the biggest and most popular sections at Activity Village, and we have so many ideas to help you enjoy Chinese New Year and study China, its people and its customs. And of course, this year we have added all sorts of tiger crafts and printables, too!
Chinese New Year

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2010! Our New Year pages have had a big revamp for 2010, and we have lots of great new activities! Get the printer warmed up for jigsaws, booklets, colouring pages, colouring cards, puzzles, bookmarks and lots more! And of course you can try your hand at some super New Year crafts, too.

Happy New Year 2010

Did you submit a collage for our 2010 collage competition? Have a look at the winners, runners-up and other collage entries with a "special mention" here
New Year Collage 2010 Entries

Merry Christmas To All!

A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our visitors from Activity Village! We've just added even more Christmas activities to the site, so if you are still looking for inspiration, have a look at the pages below:


New puzzles added...
Christmas puzzles and mazes


This pretty Christmas wreath is made from torn magazine paper and buttons, and is a perfect Christmas craft for all age of children, from youngest up.
Wreath collage craft


How can something this simple be so pretty? Little children love to rip, scrumple up and stick  tissue paper, and with a result like this you will be hanging the wreath for many years!
Tissue paper wreath


This beaded wreath craft requires only a few craft cupboard supplies but will hang proudly on your Christmas tree for many years! Suitable for all ages.
Beaded wreath craft


This glitter glue wreath makes a quick and easy decoration for the Christmas tree which kids can make themselves in all sorts of designs. It catches the light and sparkles very prettily - the photos don't do it justice!
Glitter glue wreath


Quick, simple for all ages, and pretty!
Sequined wreath


Print out our "Make A Snowman Game" for some family fun - it's just like beetle but snowier! Younger children might just like to print, cut and assemble a snowman to display.
Make A Snowman Game


Here's a little something that you can sprinkle on your lawn to make sure that Santa's reindeer pay you a visit! Make some for your family and perhaps for your friends too... (includes printable tag)
Reindeer food sprinkle


3D Christmas snowman and tree - use for display or as Christmas cards

Christmas Fun - So Much New!

It's not often you get to throw a Christmas pudding about, but you can if you make our Christmas pudding beanbag to play with!
Christmas pudding beanbag


You just need some simple supplies and some imagination to make your own pretty snow globe!
Make your own snow globe



Use our Christmas scrapbook paper to make some cute little Christmas present decorations to hang on the tree .. you could even fill them up with a little treat to be opened on Christmas morning!
Christmas present decorations


Here's a way to make a gingerbread house without having to do any baking!
Gingerbread house craft




Absolutely the best way to make gingerbread houses with a group of kids!
Gingerbread house cookies


Sarah, Jack and Sam's gingerbread house - isn't it fantastic?
Make a gingerbread house


Those busy elves need good shoes to keep them going, and we've got an idea for making very cute elf shoes which you could hang on the Christmas tree, use to hold a small gift, or just put out on display! For older children ssome fairly tricky blanket stitch required!)
Elf shoes


Here's a simpler elf shoe collage craft. All you need are a few craft cupboard supplies and our template! This would make a fun home-made Christmas card, too.
Elf shoe collage




New to Activity Village, these cute printable jigsaws come in 5 Christmas animal designs and 4 levels of difficulty - and each jigsaw features a hidden "shape" at its centre. They make a simple, quick and easy portable Christmas activity!
Christmas jigsaws to print




Print these fun new Christmas language posters for the classroom or home and learn the words for "Christmas" and "Santa Claus" in different languages from around the world.
Christmas language posters


Print, cut out, glue and hang this very cute Snowman Mobile - there are 8 different cheerful snowmen to entertain you as they drift in the breeze!
Snowman Mobile


Mini booklets to print with Christmas covers - perfect for a shopping list or "to do list" to tuck into your pocket or handbag. I can't live without these now! Kids can use them to write stories, keep notes, make lists of present they would like...
Christmas pattern booklets



Fun Christmas organisers to print - December calendar, planner, shopping lists, to do lists and more!


Quirky, charming and very cute! We put this angel on the top of our tree every year.
Wooden spoon angel 2


A pretty new window angel craft. Hang your angel in the window and watch the winter sun shine through and make her sparkle!
Window angel


6 fun new Christmas cards to print
Printable Christmas cards


5 lovely new Christmas coloring cards for older kids.
Christmas coloring cards


2 new Christmas lacing cards for little children


New Christmas classroom printables - great for all sorts of writing projects, shape books, notebooking, and more..
Christmas classroom printables


4 new Christmas templates - great for making homemade Christmas cards, shape books and other projects.
Christmas templates


5 pretty new Christmas scrapbook paper designs for your crafty projects!
Christmas scrapbook paper


A fun way to give money or a gift certificate at Christmas! Three designs...
Christmas money envelopes


If you took part in our online advent calendar last year (2008), you might have had a go at this charming nativity scene to print, cut out, colour and assemble. If not, it is now available on the website...
Nativity Scene to print


Four new writing paper printables have been added - and we think they are very cute!
Christmas writing paper and frames


Two lots of new Christmas bookmarks to print - we now have 8 designs "ready to go" and 1 set for colouring...
Christmas bookmarks to print

National Autistic Society - Keeping Christmas Fun

All information regarding coping with Christmas is available at www.autism.org.uk/christmas. The NAS Autism Helpline is usually open 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday on 0845 070 4004. However, please check the website for opening hours over the Christmas period.

Christmas help for families affected by autism

As advent calendar doors begin to open The National Autistic Society (NAS) has put together a guide to the festive season for families affected by autism.

Individuals with autism can become confused or distressed by the change in routine, unusual foods, noisy shops, flashing lights and increased social activity. The online guide and information pack offers advice to ensure that families can find ways to enjoy this year's festivities.

The NAS has put together ideas on creating specially designed schedules, Christmas free zones and how to prepare for a trip to Father Christmas’ grotto. The guide also gives information to parents on how to ease their children into returning to a normal routine once Christmas is over. The NAS provides support for families throughout the year, but this also allows parents to hear hints, tips and experience from other families.

Pamela Frisby is approaching her fifth Christmas with her son, Sam, who is diagnosed with autism. Pamela and her family use lots of clever ways to help Sam join in the celebrations, and she will be sharing her experience through a number of video blogs on the NAS website, throughout December.

Pamela said ”We fit Christmas around Sam rather than trying to fit him into Christmas. We make special plans like having a Christmas tree outside and cooking Sam a specially designed Christmas dinner to coincide with his gluten and dairy-free diet”.

NAS Helpline Manager, Emma Delaney, said “Over half a million people in the UK have autism and we aim to provide the right support to make a difference in people’s lives all year round. Christmas can be a stressful time for anyone, and particularly for people with autism, so we are putting together this package of information and advice to ensure families affected by autism have the right help to see them through the festive season.”

All information regarding coping with Christmas is available at www.autism.org.uk/christmas. The NAS Autism Helpline is usually open 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday on 0845 070 4004. However, please check the website for opening hours over the Christmas period.

Advent Calendar 2009 Online and Live!

Activity Village's Advent Calendar 2009 is now live! Every day we've got a special, original mini colouring page for our Colouring Advent Calendar (make a banner or book), as well as new printables, games to play, activity suggestions, videos to watch, jokes to enjoy and more! Bookmark the appropriate page for your time zone and come back every day until Christmas to join in the fun!
Advent calendar UK and Europe
Advent calendar Australasia
Advent calendar US and Canada