Nanny Anita Kids Activities

how to make ice cream in a bag

How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag

A few weeks ago we made some delicious slushies as a way to cool down in the heat. This time we made a yummy More

photo hide and seek

Photo Hide and Seek

If you ask parents and care givers what they think about the game hide and seek, you will most likely get a mixed response. More

Recycled Bird Feeder

As the advert for the RSPB says, “Let’s make a Home For Nature”, we decided to spend part of our Sunday making a recycled More

Make Your Own Helicopters

This week I wanted to do an activity that was slightly more geared towards my eldest charge.  He loves doing anything creative; he asks More

Fun Things To Do With Marbles

There are literally hundreds of ways to play with marbles, and here are just a few of my favourite fun things to do with More

How to make Gruffalo sugar biscuits

How to Make Gruffalo Sugar Biscuits

These sugar biscuits are one of my favourite recipes.  I normally find sugar biscuits too sweet, but these have almond extract in which really More

pet parlour imaginative play set up

Pet Parlour Imaginative Play Set Up

It has been a while since I set up an imaginative play scenario.  This pet parlour imaginative play set up was just what BB More

furniture obstacle course for babies

Furniture Obstacle Course for Babies

It seems like over night BB has started pulling himself up on everything and cruising around the furniture. I love to watch him do More

bleached t-shirt

How to Make a Bleached T-Shirt

I had really wanted to have this bleached t-shirt activity posted during the summer holidays, but due to a few setbacks I haven’t been More

Pin Board DIY

DIY Pin Board to Help Kids

As my charge’s days get so busy with school, activities, and play dates, it is sometimes difficult to remember what is going on and More

sliding bowl game

Sliding Bowl Game

You don’t need fancy toys to keep kids entertained.  BB and I have spent pretty much every afternoon after school this week playing this More

Nanny Anita's I'm Bored Jar

I’m Bored Jar – A Great Craft for the Holidays!

Make sure you follow my pinterest page which is filled with 1000s of ideas to keep everyone happy this summer.  The holidays are upon More

a simple friendship bracelet

A Simple Friendship Bracelet

EC and I were watching the latest Spider Man movie and he saw that I was making a friendship bracelet while watching it.  He More

rainbow stacking stones

Rainbow Stacking Stones

Stacking stones are meant to be very calming. I didn’t really put this activity together for that reason (although if it helps calm YC More

Picture Weaving

Picture Weaving

Just before Christmas, while I was doing a craft supply run at Hobby Craft, I came across a giant weaving loom that they had. More

bilateral drawing

Bilateral Drawing

A couple of weeks ago while scrolling through Instagram I came across a post by one of my favourite bloggers (Tinker Lab).  In it More

paper plane elastic band launcher

Paper Plane Elastic Band Launcher

Who doesn’t like to make paper planes?  I think they are similar to bubbles; it doesn’t matter how old you are, paper planes brings More

cardboard winter play scene

Cardboard Winter Play Scene

For Christmas BB had an advent calendar that came with these cardboard figures that you put together.  They were pretty cool, which made me More

toy zip wire

A Toy Zip Wire

The other day while coming home from school pick up, BB was talking about an arts and crafts he wanted to do on my More

cardboard box boat

Cardboard Box Boat

It has been a really long time since I made a cardboard box creation for my charges. I think the last one I made More

calming lavender play dough

Calming Lavender Play Dough

I know that lavender is meant to be very calming and helps reduce headaches, but is there anyone else out there who has the More

multicoloured fishtail friendship bracelet

Multicoloured Fishtail Friendship Bracelet

It is summertime, which means that it is friendship bracelet making time!  At the beginning of the holidays EC and I were cleaning up More

Flight School by Nanny Anita

This flight school is a great way to spend a screen free rainy day during the summer if you have run out of ideas.  More

Basic Magic Tricks for Kids

3 Basic Magic Tricks For Kids

This year for EC’s birthday he did a magic workshop. He has been into learning magic tricks for the last few years. My knowledge More

walking paper caterpillars

Walking Paper Caterpillars

A few years ago, I did a blowing pom pom activity for toddlers that was to help strengthen the muscles used for talking.  Today More

perfect den

How to Build a Perfect Den

I had hoped that I could build this perfect den outside for my charges. However, the English weather had other ideas and decided to More

walking paper horses

How to Make Walking Paper Horses

I originally made these walking paper horses last year during the first lock down, but we did so many crafts and activities during those More

DIY nursery rhyme puppets

DIY Nursery Rhyme Puppets

While I was training at Norland I was placed into a baby room at a nursery for a term. It was a sweet little More

loo roll marble maze

Loo Roll Marble Maze

Do you remember having those ball puzzles where you had to get the small ball to travel through a maze?  I love them, and More

Colour mixing using kitchen towel

Colour mixing using kitchen towels

Make sure you follow my craft and activity boards on Pinterest for more ideas. Early in the year YC and I were tie-dyeing Easter eggs (yes this is More

wooden spoon puppets

Wooden Spoon Puppets for Story Time

While I was training at college, we had to make up our own story bags; they would be full of props to go with More

how to make papyrus

How to Make Papyrus

Last term EC was learning about Ancient Egypt for history. I’m not going to lie; I was pretty psyched about it. I have always More

How to French Skip

Learn How to French Skip

When I was in either year 4 or 5 of primary school French skipping was pretty much the chosen game of all the girls. More

pasta structures

Pasta Structures for Fine Motor Skill Development

Threading pasta is a very easy activity for toddlers and pre-schoolers to help improve their fine motor skills. We have taken it one step More

pom pom mazes

Pom Pom Mazes

Last year I did a pom pom blowing activity for BB. It was a good activity to help with oral development, which is important More

Make Your Own Mini Bow and Arrow Set

Make sure you follow our activities board on Pinterest, and don’t forget to pin the Pin at the bottom of the page. I’ve probably More

cardboard frisbees

How to Make Cardboard Frisbees

When I was making the bean bag toss game I saved up the cardboard disks that I cut out from it. As I was More

Harry Potter Inspired Potion Class

Harry Potter Inspired Potion Class

Since the beginning of the year EC and I have been working our way through the Harry Potter books. So far we are up More

hansel and gretel play set

Hansel and Gretel Play Set

I love making storybook play sets; I think that they add another dimension to the whole story telling process. You can either use the More

pom pom shooter

Pom Pom Shooters

These pom pom shooters are guaranteed to delight your little ones. I pre-made ours and had them on the dinning table to hand out More

Let's go fly a kite - how to make a paper kite

Let’s Go Fly a Kite: How To Make a Paper Kite

Spring brings with it the perfect weather for flying kites; so to finish up our Easter holidays we made some perfect paper kites to More

St. George's Day Shadow Puppet Theatre

St. George’s Day Shadow Puppet Theatre

I always feel that St. George’s day passes the English by with very little attention, which makes me rather sad, especially when so much More

St George's Day Crafts

How To Make Your Own St George’s Shield

First of all I will apologise for the complete lack of photos, we did this activity last year and I didn’t actually write it More

lego challenge

Nanny Anita’s LEGO Challenge

The LEGO challenge is very simple. Each person takes it in turn to name something like an object, animal, plant etc. Then everyone builds it.

capsicle! Help save Captain America from the ice

Capsicle! Help Save Captain America From the Ice

Im not going to lie, I am super proud of this activity. Not because of it’s coolness factor, but because it appealed to the More

Miffy Puppets: A Story Bag

Miffy Puppets: A Story Bag

One thing I remember having to do at Norland was to make a story bag and fill it with props to go with a More

How to make aqua sand

How to Make Aqua Sand

Did you ever play with Aqua Sand when you were younger? I never did. I feel that my mum would have hated having it More

ice rink for lego figures

Ice Skating Rink for Lego Figures

Coming up with winter inspired crafts and activities for after Christmas is always hard. Mainly because in my Christmas is the winter season. Coming More

cardboard box plane for imaginative play

Make Your Own Cardboard Box Plane

Final Calling for flight … My two charges love playing aeroplanes, it is their main game, and results in numerous bags being packed and More

How to Make A Craft Stick Harmonica

I am just going to apologise now for this one; “I am very sorry if the noise of this drives you nuts (but it More

Fine-Motor-Skills-Practise

Make Your Own Activity for Fine Motor Skills Practise

Fine motor skills are so important, without them we would find doing everyday tasks such as doing up buttons and fastenings, cutting, self-care, feeding More

Ping pong ball target practice

Ping pong ball target practice

BB has always shown a love for using sprayers and has amazing accuracy. He has managed to get me right in the eye many More

Do It Yourself Fossil Digs

EC got one of those fossil dig sets last year, and ever since he keeps asking if he can have some more of them. More

string maze

Spy Training: Mission String Maze

A few months ago EC said to me “Anita, do you remember that time we did the spellings under the table?” It took me More

Father’s Day Handprint Poem

I can’t believe that Father’s Day is almost here again. Literally a day or so after last years Father’s Day I found a beautiful More

Marble drop

How To Make a Marble Drop

During half term I had a really quiet week! Mainly because everyone went on holiday. I could have had the week off, but instead More

Nanny Anita's Memory Jars

Memory Jars to Capture Those Happy Days

Let’s face it, holidays are expensive things, and I don’t mean the hotel, transport or food, it’s the souvenirs that can add on all More

Magical Colour Mixing Activity for Kids

I have been meaning to do some sort of colour mixing activity for ages with my youngest charge. When we do any sort of More

Hogwarts house slime

Hogwarts House Slime

This slime craze doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon.  EC and YC are still absolutely obsessed with it all.  They are always More

Shea butter coconut and lavender soap

Handmade Shea Butter, Coconut, and Lavender Soap

The Christmas season is fast approaching and already I have started to think of what delightful homemade gifts my charges can give this year More

Harry Potter Sorting Hat Fortune Teller

Harry Potter Sorting Hat Fortune Tellers

As you know EC and YC are HUGE Harry Potter fans. When they first discovered the series they were constantly arguing about which Hogwarts More

cardboard cookie shop

An Invitation to Play: Cardboard Cookie Shop

The other week both YC and EC had a play date after school so it was a very full house with 5 children running More

Peter Pan’s Trail – A Fantastic Family Day Out In London

We asked our very own Mary Poppins aka Nanny Anita to roam the streets of London and bring us some exciting trails for children of all ages to enjoy.

50 Riddles for children and adults.

50 Riddles for Children (And Adults)

I love riddles!  I am not always good them, but I love to try and think outside the box when answering them.  They also More

gelatine streaking: Edible art

Gelatine Streaking: Edible Art

I first came across gelatine streaking in a video posted to my friends Facebook page. It showed a gentleman making some sort of flower More

How To Make Flubber

How to Make Flubber

When I worked for Disney Cruise Lines as a performer, one of my favourite shows was Supper Sloppy Science: How to make Flubber. It More

How To Make Pokemon Slime

Originally I had planned to do a St. Patricks themed slime, but EC came home from school and was showing me all his new More

How To Make a Bouncy Ball from Slime

Make sure you follow my slime board on Pinterest for more ideas, and don’t forget to save it for later. March is going to More