travel activities

21 Games to play in the car

21 Car Games For The Whole Family

Do you ever get tired of listening to “are we nearly there yet?” I know I do. Here are a collection of car games, More

hogwarts noughts and crosses

Hogwarts Noughts and Crosses Busy Bag

Yes, I know noughts and crosses can be played with just a pencil and paper, but it is still fun to make up a More

How to Make DIY Scratchboards

I remember when I was younger having one of those scratchboards that when you scratched the black covering off you got the vibrant colours More

Making Memories with Nanny Anita’s Postcard Diaries

I’ve always liked to keep a diary when travelling, so that I can look back on the adventures I’ve had. I try to make More

How To Play Clock Patience

Nanny Anita explains how to play popular card game Clock Patience. She will also be teaching other card games, including Beggar My neighbour, Go Fish, Rummy, and Spoons.

Make Your Own Tangram for Hours of Fun with the Kids

Tangram puzzles are thought to have originated in China hundreds of years ago, they are still used today by children to aid creative learning. More

Pentalpha puzzle

Pentalpha Puzzle Brain Teaser

The Pentalpha puzzle apparently comes from Crete, although I haven’t been able to find any information on it. This game is similar to solitaire More

little mouse busy bag

Little Mouse Busy Bag

I first came across the poem of Little mouse when i was flicking through Pinterest years and years ago.  It seemed very sweet, but More

James Bond card game

How To Play the James Bond Card Game

“Go fish” is one of our favourite card games. It is easy and very addictive. Recently I have been teaching my charges a different More

Scrabble Jr Busy Bag

Scrabble Junior Busy Bag

I’m not sure why I decided to make our own Scrabble Junior busy bag but at the time I must have thought that it More

Make Your Own Busy Bags

When it is time for me to get lunch or supper ready my charges will normally go and play with their kitchen in the More

Dot 2 Dot Printable Downloads

As the summer holidays are approaching I am beginning to get together some new activities and busy bags, as I know once the holidays start More

chase the ace

How To Play Chase The Ace Card Game

At the weekends I volunteer at Great Ormond Street in their weekend club. I have been doing it for over 4 ½ years, and More

Magnetic Geometric Shapes

A DIY Magnetic Geometric Shapes Activity for Kids

As I was preparing everything for an upcoming holiday I started to take out some of our busy bags that we might need. It 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

Popsicle Picture Puzzle

I have already done a popsicle puzzle for phonics and numbers as part of a busy bag, but for this one I stuck to More

Nanny Anita's Lacing Animal Bag

Practice Hand Control with This Fun Animal Lacing Busy Bag

On Pinterest I found this massive following of these “busy bags”.  The concept is not a new one, and is something that I have More

Disney Mr Potato Head Busy Bag

Disney Mr. Potato Head Busy Bag

I know that the Christmas holidays have just finished and now is probably not the best time to start a busy bag.  But the More

how to play garbage

How To Play Garbage

The other day, while on holiday, we had a quiet 30 minutes before we headed out for lunch. Actually who am I kidding, no More

10 pen and paper games

10 Pen and Paper Games

I have made many busy bags over the years, but sometimes nothing can beat some good old-fashioned pen and paper games. Here are my More

how to play beggar my neighbour

How to Play Beggar My Neighbour

Make sure that you follow my activity board on Pinterest for more ideas, and don’t forget to save the pin for later. I first More

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

Around the World with Nanny Anita

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in New Zealand with Prince George on their first

five field kono

Nanny Anita’s How To Play Five Field Kono

Five field Kono originates from Korea and is an abstract strategy game along the same sort of lines as Chinese checkers. I’m sure you More

how to play mancala

How to play Mancala

Mancala is a game that has been around for thousands of years.  It is believed to have originated in Africa or the Middle East. More

build your own cupcake busy bag

Build Your Own Cupcake Busy Bag

YC loves new activities so was thrilled to have a cupcake busy bag one to add to the rota. When I showed her it More

Don't wake the shark card game

Don’t Wake the Shark Card Game

The summer holidays are finally here! Which means it is time to get some new games ready for some family time, especially when we More

10 brain teasers for children

10 Brain Teasers for Children

I do love a good brain teaser. I learnt a few of these while I was a guest on board the Disney Magic. Our More

Zentangles for children

Zentangles for Children

The Zentangles method is a fun and relaxing way to create images using structured patterns.  It is meant to help with lots of things, More