Babies (2)

Babies The arrival of a baby is a new beginning for every family, bringing lots of joy and change to all. This week in Play School, we learn about babies and their growing stages through songs, stories, films and creative play. We also look at ways to involve young children with their new brother or sister to avoid feelings of displacement and encourage them to feel proud of being “big” and their capabilities. Throughout the week, we feature a special series of baby films that look at different aspects of a baby’s daily routine, such as sleeping, playing, eating and bathing. Episode 2 PRESENTERS Abi Tucker – Jay Laga’aia PIANIST Peter Dasent TOLD STORY Cheeky Monkey’s Dancing Day (A story told by the Play School team) FILM Baby Clothes Washing Day (Play School, ABC) BABY FILM SERIES Babies Playing (Play School, ABC) IDEAS FOR LATER Make a baby roller rattle with a plastic spaghetti container filled with colourful ping pong balls. Pretend to dance like a monkey, a hippo, a parrot or an elephant. Make some tissue box blocks for a baby by covering the boxes in colourful contact. SONGS Two Little Eyes Composers: M. Miller & Paula L. Zajan Publisher: Allans Music Down in the Valley Composer: Traditional Publisher: Origin/ABC Music Publishing Hey, Hey, Hey Composers: Judith Keyzer & Peter Dasent Publisher: Control/Origin/ABC Music Publishing If You’re Happy and You Know It Composer: Traditional Publisher: ABC Music Publishing MAKE AND DO How to Make Gingerbread Babies You will need: - 125 grams softened butter - 1⁄2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1⁄2 cup golden syrup - 1 egg separated, plus an extra egg white - 2 1⁄2 cups plain flour - 1 tablespoon powdered ginger - 1 teaspoon mixed spice - 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda - 2 cups icing sugar - A gingerbread man biscuit cutter - Food colouring – any colours you like Preheat oven to 180C. Grease a baking tray. Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Beat in egg yolk and golden syrup. Use a wooden spoon to mix in flour, ginger, mixed spice and bicarbonate of soda. Tip mixture onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Cover with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. Place refrigerated dough between two pieces of baking paper and use a rolling pin to roll out until about 5mm thick. Use a gingerbread man biscuit cutter to cut out your gingerbread babies. Place on a greased baking tray, leaving a little bit of room for spreading. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown. Allow to cool on the baking tray for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. To make icing, beat two egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Gradually stir in sifted icing sugar. You might like to spoon the icing into a few small bowls and use food colouring to make different colours. Leave one batch of icing plain. Use a piping bag, a spoon or your fingers to decorate the gingerbread babies. Give each baby a white nappy and use different colours to give each one eyes, a nose, a mouth and hair.  How to Make a Ball Splat Painting You will need: - A ground sheet - A large sheet of paper, such as butcher’s paper - An easel or a clothes horse - Pegs - Three sponge balls - Blue, yellow and red paint poured into separate recycled plastic containers This activity is very messy, so it’s best to set it up outside. Lay a ground sheet down before you begin. You might also like to put on a painting smock or apron and keep a bucket of warm, soapy water and some old towels on hand to clean up with afterwards, Hang up a large sheet of paper on an easel or clothes horse with pegs. Take a sponge ball, dip it in one colour of paint and toss it at the hanging paper. Use a new sponge ball for each new colour. See how these colours mix to make new colours.