Welcome to another week online, it is very disappointing that we are still so restricted, but we need to keep safe, so let’s get on with it.

It is 30 years this month since the very first Toddlers’ Club and we want to celebrate it. In your activity bag there is a piece of card with a frame printed on it, we would be really pleased if you could get your child to draw or make a picture of themselves and if you are passing the church on your daily exercise put it through the wooden door. We will put them up in the windows so everyone can see it is our birthday! If older children have been part of Toddlers as well and they would draw one as well there is a copy here. There is no pressure from us, if it doesn’t happen don’t worry, and if you have time that’s great.

Thank you

* for your donations to HomeStart South Leicestershire

* for making Christmas cards which we delivered to the older people at church

* and for sending us your photos, we love to see them. When you send photos could you write in the message whether you are happy for them to go on the website, on facebook/instagram or whether they are just for the leaders to see.

What shall we make today?

How to make a mouse!
in your bag you have got a cut out mouse body and ears, spare card & template, wool tails. If you don’t have a mouse it is quite easy, draw around a wide mug to give you the body and then follow the instructions.
1 Fold circle in half.
2 Glue the straight ends of the ears on either side of the fold, about a third of the way along.
3 Fold the rounded ends of the ears forward and give your mouse a face.
4 Open out the circle and glue the wool inside the fold to make a nice, long tail.
If you wish, use the rest of the card to make a family of mice! Don’t forget some babies.

Time for singing

Will you be doing exercises with Joe in the morning next week? We need to practise. Stretch up as tall as you can,
Now roll up small, and jump up again.

Hair and shoulders, knees and toes
knees and toes
Hair and shoulders, knees and toes
knees and toes
and thighs and calves and heels and toes
Hair and shoulders, knees and toes

Old MacDonald had a farm
E I E I O
and in that farm he had a …………
E I E I O
with a ……… here
and a ……… there
here a …….
there a ……….
everywhere a ………
Old MacDonald had a farm
E I E I O

I think that on the farm this week there is a mouse (squeak squeak), a duck (quack quack) and a dog (woof woof).

Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider,
And sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away

We’ve got to sing a song with a mouse in it, how about this one?

Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock, tick tock.

Grandfather Clock, Clock, Zimmeruhr, Antique

Happy birthday

Isaac who is going to be one
Peggie who is going to be two
and anyone else who is celebrating this week, we hope your day includes cake and fun, video calls and cards.

We know that these days are difficult and we hope that those of you who are balancing childcare and work are finding ways to make it possible, and those who are feeling isolated can remember that there are people who care.
I really like this post from HomeStart South Leicestershire, every one of us is dealing with the lockdown but all of us have other things going on as well, and it’s okay to feel however you are feeling, but if you want to talk get in touch with us.
If you need someone who doesn’t know you, text SHOUT to 85258 and a volunteer will text you back. There’s a bit of a delay at the moment but it isn’t that they don’t care, they will get to you.
When my children were small we used to find three things to say thank you to God for at bedtime and that can really help to end the day sharing good things.

I’ve created a Facebook Group for people who are part of Toddlers Online, I hope that you can join it. There won’t be many posts, but it will be useful to be able to remind you to pick up the bags, order the next one and to share photos, without it being seen by everyone who follows our church page.
It is a private group so only people that we approve can see who belongs and what is posted.

We are praying that these days will soon be over and that you won’t feel overwhelmed by all that is going on.
Jenny, Vikki, Nikki, Susie, Jane and Liz.