Starcatchers’ Wintertime Wish List
The festive season is a time full of wonder, magic and love but sadly is often clouded with the pressure to do everything “right”, to make it better than last year, and to buy expensive presents for loved ones.
With the cost-of-living crisis and the ongoing climate crisis means this winter more families are re-thinking what they buy this Christmas; while fancy toys and expensive days out can be exciting, they’re not always accessible or sustainable for all.
In the words of a wise green Grinch: “Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more”. (How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr Seuss)
What do wee ones REALLY want for Christmas?
Our very own Christmas Wish List hopes to take the pressure off whilst sprinkling that all important Festive Magic for you and your wee one – these ideas are not just for Christmas but all year round!
If you try out anything from our Wish List, please share it with us! Tag us @StarcatchersCS on Twitter and use #StarcatchersWishList.
Boxes are full of wonder and possibilities waiting to be explored. So dig into your recycling or grab a couple of extra boxes at the supermarket and seek out the joy the humble box gives.
Ideal for festive baking and festive play. A simple sieve offers an array of ways to explore things a little differently.
When Santa gets stuck, he gets a little help from a stick – you know the story we mean! Bring a little piece of nature home from your next winter walk, have your wee one pick their own stick – mossy, snowy or extra twiggy!
Envelopes, festive ads, old bills – there’s plenty coming through our mailboxes at this time of year. Whether you’re tearing and scrunching or wrapping and ripping, a little bit of positive destruction can be a real gift for wee ones and grown-ups alike.
Old or new – any tea towel will do! Keep the surprises coming by exploring all that this fabric can be and do (aside from helping with the washing up). See our tea towel ideas here.
While new socks are always a welcome gift, let’s not forget about their good ‘old’ friends. It’s great for wee ones to learn that old things can be re-invented and loved – holes and odd ones too!
Wooden or plastic, rainbow or plain, all pegs are magical – oh yes they are! Turn them into a festive puppet and create your very own Christmas Panto! Or use them to help with the all-important wrapping with our Peg Parcel idea.
The greatest gift Scotland gives, some might say, and there’s certainly no shortage of them! Puddles are a great excuse to wrap up warm and get outside during the winter months. Giving wee ones the time and space to explore their natural environment in all its icy, muddy glory can be a real treat.
Making a splash isn’t just for the summer. Amid all the festivities, water can offer wee ones a little bit of much-needed calm (or, sometimes, a little bit of much-loved chaos). To avoid giving yourself extra laundry, you can explore these ideas towards the end of the day and pop wee ones into their jammies afterwards.
For any wee one, spending quality time with their grown-up is one of the greatest gifts of all. Taking time to connect and explore together through creative experiences is a truly wonderful way to spend the holidays.
5 Ways With…A Present for You!
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all is not quiet..All is too much and some calm and peace is needed. It’s important to take time for yourself this winter – you deserve a break too! Thankfully, wee ones will find something creative in anything and everything. They really are the gift that keeps on giving.
“Just remember the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” (Santa, The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg)