I hope you are enjoying the sunshine, it is great to go out without putting on scarves, gloves and hats!

We are taking names for the May activity bags, we hope that these will be the last bags and we can move to a new version of Toddlers in June, there will be more information about that in a couple of weeks.

The May bags will be distributed on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th on the Church steps with a simple activity for the children. Again this month we have to keep to the limit of 15 adults at a parent and toddlers group, so we do need you to book in, as a trial we are using our facebook group to manage the bookings (link at the bottom of the page). We really hope to see you there, it was great at the Easter Garden to catch up with some families.

Thanks to Liz for our sparkly activity.

What shall we make today?

Rainbow fish.

1 The rim of the goldfish bowl could be decorated with dots, or coloured with crayons. You could put glue on the rim for your child, then let them scatter glitter on the glue, if you have any glitter handy.

2 You can put weed in the bowl using glue and the crepe paper supplied. This is quite fiddly so this step could be left out with very young children.

3 For older children you could draw and cut out a couple of extra fish, so you have five.
You could sing “1,2,3,4,5, once I caught a fish alive,” and even write the numbers in each fish.
Or maybe keep the three fish provided for the bowl, and make 5 different fish for the numbers.

4 Now stick sequins to the three fish provided, then glue them to the bowl. You now have your Rainbow fish!

Liz who made the craft for us this week enjoys the story of The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, it might be good to look for it at the library now it is open again or you can listen online.

Time for singing, can you touch your nose and now your toes? Then we are ready.

Happy birthday

This month I only have one person on the list, don’t forget to let me know your child’s birthday and we will give them a mention as well.

Happy birthday to Lola who is going to be 3 this week.

Lola is one of the children who sends us photos of the crafts, we love to see them, thank you to everyone who does this, all photos welcome.

Although lots of things are returning to normal, it is okay not to be okay, and for some of us, the changes can be challenging, so don’t forget there is help available.
The Bower House Counselling Service has some places, there is a donation of £10 per session after the first assessment and a limit of twelve weeks. It is a Christian Counselling service which is open to people of all faiths and none.
If you don’t want to talk, you can text SHOUT to 85258 and a volunteer will text you back, it may not be immediate, but they will get back to you, it doesn’t mean they don’t care – just that they are busy.
You can call, email or write to The Samaritans, their tagline is ‘We’re waiting for your call’.
Health visitors will also give you support of course.
If you just want to chat with someone who cares you can contact us and one of us will ring you back.

It is good to find something positive in each day, something that made you smile, something beautiful or a good conversation, as Christians we give thanks to God for these things, but we know that remembering good things is positive in itself.

Jenny, Vikki, Jane, Liz, Nikki and Susie.