A Ripple Summer 2022 article
The festive season is family time and whether your grandchildren visit from near or far, spending time with them can be one of life’s greatest joys. However, when you hear the dreaded, “But I am so bored”, you know it’s time to be inventive!
We’ve rounded up a few activities for you to try and get them away from screens and out of shopping centres this holiday.
1. Create together
Get the kids to make their own home-made gifts!
Depending on the age group, you can make paper flowers, cards, origami birds or even paint rocks. Crafts are a great way to get those creative juices flowing.
If you are not inclined to create yourself, why not go to where it is facilitated for you? In this manner you get out of the house, and you find a new experience together.
Clay Café
The Clay Cafe makes for a memorable visit of creativity and recreation for all ages.
Choose from a vast array of unfired bisque (already made pottery pieces); and a wide selection of colourful paints and tools to create crockery that is both personal and completely unique, not to mention functional (all items once fired are dishwasher proof, microwave proof and oven proof). Spend a leisurely few hours painting in a relaxed environment with our friendly staff at hand to assist you while enjoying one of our many farm style breakfasts or lunches. They also sell alcohol, just I case grandma or grandpa needs a little “refreshment”.
They have a lovely branch in Hout Bay, which also has a children’s play area, or you can visit the branch in Cape Town’s CBD in Bree street.
2. Games
Don’t let board games, become bored games! There are many games you can teach your grandchildren, from playing cards to Monopoly and other board games. This not only keeps them busy, but it exercises their little minds too!
3. GARDENING
What better way to get some assistance in the garden then by asking little eager beavers to help out? From planting, to pulling out weeds and an all-time favourite with children – watering -, you can keep them busy for ages.
4. GET SOME FRESH AIR
Get them off the couch and into the outdoors! If you have a beach nearby, you don’t have to do too much to get them out and about. Take a soccer ball, tennis ball and bat or just allow them to run around. Kids and adults of all ages love the beach.
You can even combine your outdoor adventure with a picnic. If you are not near the ocean, find a park or a nature reserve where you can spend some time outside. Here are some suggestions:
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
(Pensioners’ discount and children’s discount available)
(Pensioners’ discount and children’s discount available)
If you would prefer to relax while the kids run around, there are several wine farms that offer picnics throughout the festive season. Inside Guide has put together a lovely list of the 25 best picnic spots in the Winelands and Cape Town.
5. To the kitchen!
Most children love to mess about in the kitchen, especially if it’s something fun like cookies, cakes or cupcakes. They also feel incredibly proud by exclaiming that they made something or helped ouma make it.
The festive season is the best excuse to bake and use some glitter!
Here are two easy recipes to try out.
Peanut Butter Christmas Mice
Ingredients
– 1 cup creamy peanut butter
– 1/2 cup butter, softened
– 1/2 cup sugar
– 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
– 1 large egg
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Decorations:
– Peanuts, split in half
– Brown M&M’s minis
– Miniature semisweet chocolate chips
– Black shoestring licorice, cut into 2-inch pieces
Directions
Step 1
Beat peanut butter, butter and sugars until well blended. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture (dough will be soft). Refrigerate until firm enough to shape, about 1 hour.
Step 2
Preheat oven to 180°. Shape dough into 1-in. balls; taper one side to resemble a mouse. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Add peanuts for ears, M&M’s for noses and chocolate chips for eyes.
Step 3
Bake until set, 8-10 minutes. Immediately insert licorice pieces into warm cookies for tails. Remove from pan to wire racks to cool.
Touch-of-Gold Christmas Trees
Ingredients
– 1-1/2 cups butter, softened
– 1 cup sugar
– 1 large egg
– 1 teaspoon almond extract
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour- 1 teaspoon baking powder
– 2/3 cup Nutella
– Gold pearl dust
Directions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 180°. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, milk and extracts. In a separate bowl, whisk flour and baking powder; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
Step 2
Using a cookie press fitted with a Christmas tree disk, press dough 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake until set (do not brown), 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Step 3
Spread Nutella on the bottoms of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies. Brush tops with pearl dust. Store in an airtight container.
