Today is the first day of the UK’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which is the world's largest wildlife survey! To take part the RSPB ask you to spend one hour watching and recording the birds that you see in your garden. Everyone’s invited to take part and last year saw a whooping 7,200 people contributing! With the UK being it’s third lockdown, it seems like the perfect activity to keep families busy once homeschooling has ended. To find out more check out the RSPB link below with instructions on how to take part. They also have great section with further outdoor activities for young families like how to make a simple pine cone bird feeder.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

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We’ve created our own bird watching poster which you can download today for free! We’ve added the most common birds seen in the UK to our poster and you can tick off the ones you spot from your window or walk. There’s also space for you to draw and name any other birds you might spot that aren’t featured here.

For further bird inspiration for your little ones we’ve curated a little list of our fave Tender Leaf toys including our best selling wooden Seagull which also has a free printable seagull mobile craft to have a go at making. Check them out here:

\nBinoculars Seagull Puffin\n

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We have two fun activities to help make this years Pancake Day extra special. First off we have a free menu to use today. Print out the menu below, one for each family member, then ask them to tick what toppings they want on their pancakes! Or you could print out one copy, stick onto card, then cover it with clear sticky plastic so you can wipe the pen ticks off so you can reuse!

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If you're looking for something to keep the little ones busy whilst you make the pancakes, why not help them make these simple play pancakes? All your need is yellow card or felt, then draw round cup and cut out! We made ours super special by drawing happy faces onto them. They can pretend to flip their toy pancakes while you flip the real ones! They could even use them for a pretend play Pancake Race! Have fun!

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Take a look at our sister site www.threadbeardesign.com for these pretty aprons.....

We've rounded up the toys featured here and for ones to inspire further pretend play:

\nPots and Pans Kitchenette Bird's Nest Cafe\n

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$\"free$

World Book day is tomorrow and seeing as most children will be at home for this year's events, we've created this activity so that you can decorate your own cosy reading corner! Print out the artwork above, by clicking on the image, then carefully cut along the dotted lines and stick onto some card. Next attach a strip of ribbon to the back of the banner so you can hang it up. You can also add the red fringe along the bottom by trimming red paper as we have in the photo. It is now ready to hang up in your reading corner.... all you need next is your favourite book!

For more inspiration on creating your reading corner in your home check out the beautiful ideas rounded up in The Spruce and our Tender Leaf furniture for more ideas here....

https://tenderleaftoys.co.uk/collections/furniture

https://www.thespruce.com/best-reading-nook-ideas-2504800

The World Book Day website has absolutely loads of fun and free activities to try with your family...

We particularly love the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory costume idea and the activity printout for one of our all time favourite books, The Tiger who came to Tea. Check them all out here....

https://www.worldbookday.com/resources/

Pictured here is our gorgeous pencil case from our sister company ThreadBear Design - check out their site for some beautiful textile gifts created by our own Creative Director!

ThreadBear Design Pencil cases

ThreadBear Design gifts for children

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Today is International Women’s Day and this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day in the UK, so to celebrate we have a free printable card to make plus a paper doll chain to hang in your window. We’ve teamed up with our friends at Thread Bear Design and used their gorgeous new Mini Dolls for inspiration for the illustrations below.

To use the paper doll template below to create a cute Mother’s Day card, carefully cut the doll out below. Next fold in the middle, colour in and write inside ready to give to your mum!

$\"dolly$ $\"free$ \n

To make the Paper Doll Chains Get a large piece of paper (ideally A3 in size) and cut it into 3 strips

horizontally, then fold like we have here. Next print the template out at 50% then

trace half the doll onto your folded paper as we have in our example on the print out below. Ask a grown up to help cut out the paper chain, then unfold and you have your paper doll garland!

You could copy the illustration below onto each doll or the draw faces of important women in your life onto each doll.

$\"mothers$

To see the rest of the Mini Dolls from ThreadBear and for more doll inspiration check out some of our favourites here:

https://threadbeardesign.co.uk/.../mini-gigi-dolls-house...

Ayana Amy Mrs Goodwood

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Notebook

Big Garden Birdwatch

Pancake day fun!

Create a banner for your book corner

Celebrating women across the world