January
| Published: 14th January 2008 11:29 |
January
January is typically the coldest month of the year even though Christmas and the old year is over it can also feel somehow that winter is over too, I can guarantee it is not. It's still pretty chilly out there, so reign in your urge to get on with the New Year and relish the winter. There is still plenty of time for snow and lots of frosts to come before the first warmth of spring reaches us.
Things to do out and about in January
1. January is great for spotting wildlife as the vegetation has died back allowing animals to be seen more easily, also food is in short supply so animals have to venture further and be braver to get their dinner.
2. Usually the coldest month January is the most common month for snow. If we are lucky enough for snow get out in it! Build a snowman, and remember to take photos.
3. Play Pooh sticks, I play this with my 2 year old daughter who thinks that it's truly wonderful. Find a bridge over running water you'll need a stick each (choose quite different ones, as there can be arguments as to whose stick was whose), stand on the side facing the current and on the count of three drop in your sticks. Go to the other side of the bridge and the winner is the first stick to appear.
4. Plant some bulbs, crocus, daffodils, snow drops and irises are good.
5. If you plant garlic now then it'll be ready around June. Last year my daughter and I planted out a head of garlic cloves, nothing special just a normal garlic bulb. Plant it about 5cm deep in a patio container, it's not really spectacular to look at but when all of the greenery has died back you'll have your own garlic to harvest.
Events around the world in January
New Years Day January 1st
New Years day always feels like a new beginning, so get out there and do something together as a family that you would like to do as a family, we always seem to end up going for a walk together, something we should do more of but it always seems to get sidelined through out the year.
Epiphany January 6th
Traditionally the feast of the Twelfth night was the major feast at Christmas time. Held to celebrate the visit of the Magi (three wise men) to Bethlehem. Try retelling the story of the three wise men and their gifts, (gold, frankincense and myrrh)
Makar Sankranti January 14th
Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious day for the Hindus, it is the day when the glorious Sun-God of Hindus begins its ascendancy and entry into the Northern Hemisphere and is celebrated widely throughout India. A celebration of the day when the sun changes it's position from one sign of the Zodiac to the other it also coincides with the harvest season and marks the end of the winter season.
Burns Night January 25th
In Scotland feasts and parties are held as a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The main course of the feast is always a Haggis, which is ceremonaly brough to the table accompanied by the babgpipes, the host then usually recites the ‘Address to the Haggis' and plunges a knife into the haggis splitting it open. There are also traditional toasts, dancing, bagpipes and poetry readings.
If you're feeling energetic the try some Scottish dancing http://www.scottishdance.net/highland/dances/BargennyTwasome.html
Australia Day January 26th
A celebration of all that is great about Australia, Australia day is a national holiday. Celebrated in Story Bridge Hotel, Brisbane, by a very unusual kind of racing, cockroach racing! The World Championship has been held here since 1982, and is even on TV. T-shirts & hats can be bought to show your support for your favourite team, just like football, but the players are a lot smaller. The cockroaches are kept in a box, which is turn upside down on to the middle of the pitch. The referee then lifts the box, and the winner is the first to the edge of the pitch. A truly wacky event, but all the money goes to charity.
Try playing a game of Aussie rules football, I would explain but I really don't understand it, from what I can gather it's a cross between rugby and football.
Find out more about Australia day at http://www.australiaday.gov.au/pages/page19.asp
Favourite Websites:
iChild has produced free printable activities that cover child development and education from birth to 11 years! These are perfect for keeping your kids busy and are both fun and educational!
One of the things we should all put on to our new years resolutions is reduce, reuse recycle. Recyclezone is fun and informative website aimed at getting children into the habit of recycling.
http://www.recyclezone.org.uk/
No snow? Then go to this great little site to make a snowman online.
http://www.myfreecolouringpages.com/online_fuzzy_felt/snowman_fuzzy_felt/snowman_fuzzy_felt.htm
Fun things to make in January.
Australian Flag
Cutting and sticking always goes down with my kids. Try making an Australian flag for Australia day. Australia's flag is also called the Commonwealth Blue Ensign. It has three main design elements on a deep blue background the British Union flag is in the upper left corner (noting Australia's ties to Great Britain), The Southern Cross constellation (5 stars) is on the right side of the flag, (the Southern Cross is a major navigational constellation in the Southern Hemisphere), The large, white, seven-pointed Commonwealth Star (also called the Star of Federation, it is symbolic of the original states of Australia.)
You will need
1 A4 sheet of navy blue card (or a piece of white card coloured in blue)
1 Large White star
4 Medium White stars
1 Small White star
2 Long Red card strips 1.5 cm thick
4 Short Red card strips 1 cm thick
4 Long White card strips 2.5 cm thick
Glue
Scissors
Method
1. First take your A4 sheet of blue card and assemble on it the design of the Australian flag, cutting the white and red strips of the Union flag to size with the scissors.
2. When you are happy with the positioning, glue the pieces down.
A Snowman
Ok this may seem a little obvious but if you've never built one, how would you know? There are two accepted methods for building a snow man, the first is the easiest, the second I consider to be the traditional method. 
The ‘pile' Snowman
Easier to make if there's less snow, this is in my mind a more American style snowman. The important thing to remember with this type of snowman is not to make him too thin or you risk collapse, also the more robust you can make him, the longer he'll last.
You will need
Snow
1 Carrot
7 Small pieces of coal (or dark pebbles)
1 old scarf
2 sticks
Method
1. Select a patch of ground that was before it snowed fairly clean, if you're at the park beware of dog poop.
2. Pile up the snow into a rough cylinder shape, make sure it is wide enough or it will be unstable.
3. Round off the shoulders leaving a flat base for the head.
4. Make a ball with a diameter of roughly 2/3rds of the width of the shoulders. You'll need an adult to lift up the head on top of the shoulders, used a little snow to pack around the neck to secure the head.
5. Use the carrot as a nose, two pieces of coal for eyes and five pieces of coal for a mouth. Use the sticks as arms and tie the scarf around his neck.
The ‘rolled' Snowman
The snowman I remember from my childhood, it needs adult interaction for placing the torso and head. This method is great if there's lots of snow. You can make a two or three ball snowman depending on how much snow you have. Try and keep to the 2/3rds ratio or you risk your snow man toppling over, remember to take time to secure each section as if your giant snow ball drops off you'll be starting again.
You will need
Snow
1 Carrot
7 Small pieces of coal (or dark pebbles)
1 old scarf
2 sticks
Method
1. Select a patch of ground that was before it snowed fairly clean, if you're at the park beware of dog poop.
2. Starting with a small snowball sized ball roll your snow ball along the ground pushing down slightly, the ball will pick up the snow. Roll the ball until it is as large as you want, or in the case of my sister and I, until you can't push it anymore). If you're rolling this down a hill remember that you'll either have to roll it back up the hill or build your snowman at the bottom of the hill.
3. Make a ball with a diameter of roughly 2/3rds of the width of the hips. You'll need an adult to lift up the head on top of the hips, used a little snow to pack around the neck to secure the waist.
4. Make a ball with a diameter of roughly 2/3rds of the width of the shoulders. You'll need an adult to lift up the head on top of the shoulders, used a little snow to pack around the neck to secure the head.
5. Use the carrot as a nose, two pieces of coal for eyes and five pieces of coal for a mouth. Use the sticks as arms and tie the scarf around his neck.
Chocolate cookies
Use up some of those left over chocolates in some wonderfully easy to make and really quick to bake cookies. I make this recipe by throwing in whatever I have at hand Butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, dried fruits or nuts, I haven't found anything that hasn't worked yet.
Makes: 10 cookies
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10-12 minutes
Ingredients
75g Butter, softened
50g Soft brown sugar
50g Caster sugar
1 large Egg
1 tsp Vanilla extract
125g plain flour
½ tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
100g Plain chocolate chips
Method
1. Set the oven to 180°C/gas 4. Lightly grease two baking trays.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add the egg, if it looks like it's splitting add a tablespoon of the flour after the egg.
3. Put the flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda into a sieve and sift into the butter mix. Fold to thoroughly combine then add the chocolate chips.
4. On a baking sheet, drop 10 teaspoonfuls of the batter on to the greased tray roughly 5cm apart as the cookies spread when cooking. Bake in batches for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack and store in an air tight container.
Thanks To Emma Allsop
Community Comment:
Add your comment:
You will need to sign in to post a comment to this article. if you do not have an AboutMyArea account, you can join now for free.
