What Black History Month Means to Us

As Black History Months draws to a close I have been reflecting on what exactly it does mean to me and my family and as a family that is fortunate enough to be rich in a number of different cultures I feel it is an important job for me as a mum to educate my children on all of the different histories and cultures that make up 'us' as a family. Whilst this is performed as part of our daily lives in the food we eat, languages and terminology used, family practises and tales of old, Black History Month is a great way of highlighting some wonderful and courageous people who have helped shape the world we live in today and bring to light the many different traditions from around the world.

One of the reasons I felt compelled to write this post is as a mummy blogger I frequent many parenting forums and networks and there has been very little mention of black history month and in some cases no mention at all.

I could spend hours going on about what black history month means to me and reel of names of many black people who have contributed to the world we live in but this post isn't about that, it's about seeing and hearing what black history month means to my children.

I asked each of them what black history month means to them and here are their responses 

Mikhayla-Jae, 11

"I believe Black History Month is a celebration of achievements and movements made by not just famous individuals but by lesser known people too. It is a time to reflect on what is great about our cultures and traditions and acknowledge some of the wonderful things people have done for us. We can also use this month to let our mentors and role models now how proud we are of them and grateful for their contribution to our lives."

Jason-Derrecce, 9

"To me Black History Month means achieving goals  and proving that skin colour shouldn't limit our ability to be who we want to be."

Samuel-Lewis,4

"It means I am proud of who I am and love my mummy and daddy, 2 grandmas,2 grandads and nanny. It means that I get to eat lots of different foods and hear different songs. I love my family."

Couldn't have put it better myself.

M xx

Top 10 Halloween Activities

Halloween will soon be upon us and with it it brings a school holiday. If like me, the only way you can survive these are by planning activities and days out for the kids then look no further. I've put together a list of 10 activities and days out that you and your family can enjoy this Halloween.

1. Paint a Scary Canvas

Using a small canvas(these can be found in most pound shops), get your child to use their hand or footprints to make a spooky picture. They can embellish these with glitter, foam shapes, pipe cleaners and more.

2. Go Pumpkin Picking

There are many farms in the UK that have pumpkin patches open to the public. So why not take your children to pick their own pumpkins ready for decorating? Just don't forget your wellies!

Here are some pumpkin patches around the UK

Riverside Farmers

Kenyon Hall Farm

Ivy House Farm

3. Decorate a Pumpkin

Once you've picked your pumpkin your children will be desperate to start decorating them. For the older kids, challenge them to be as creative as possible with a pumpkin carving kit and for smaller fingers why not give them a box of craft goodies and even paint and let them get arty with their pumpkin                                                                                                                               

4. Make Frankenstein's Hands

A fun activity for children of all ages is making these scary Frankenstein hands. They are inexpensive enough to make that you could even hand them out to any trick or treaters. Using food safe gloves get your child/ren to put a single sweet into the tip of each finger of the glove. Then simply fill the rest of the glove with popcorn and bingo...Frankenstein's hands! Don't forget to tie the top of the glove with a ribbon or band.

5. Visit a Spooky Place

There are lots of attractions and farms that really go to town decorating and installing some fab Halloween attractions so why not take the kids to visit one. If your lucky enough to have a child free evening around Halloween then there are also adult events taking place.

Tulley's Farm have some great events taking place in October, from family fun daytime spooks to adult fright night specials, not to mention the farm shop, animal enclosure and playground and tea rooms. Everything you need for a family day out.

6. Bake up a Halloween Treat

Using Halloween coloured chocolate(green, orange, purple etc) cover plain pretzels in the melted chocolate and leave to dry on baking paper. Once you have some in each colour, put in a cellophane bag and tie with ribbon.

Make some cake pops and decorate them like eyeballs.

Make some toffee apples and get the kids to cover them in decorations of the choice.

Either bake or buy some fairy cakes and get the kids to be as creative as possible decorating them.

7. Host a Movie Night

Why not invite some friends over, close the curtains, serve up some of those Halloween treats that you made and put on some spooky films. Some favourites in our house are Hocus Pocus, The Haunted House, Scooby Doo and Harry Potter.

8. Make a Spooky Game

Get the kids to paint six 2ltr bottles white then paint on eyes in black. Paint a face on a small pumpkin and remove the green stalk. Set up the bottles like bowling pins and they'll have their very own ghostly bowling game.

9. Play Dress Up

The kids will love nothing more than getting together and dressing up in some of their favourite costumes and they don't have to be Halloween costumes. Let them paint each others faces and enjoy the fun. 

10. Throw a Party

If like me you just can't resist, then just throw a Halloween bash. Get friends and family to each bring some nibbles, make some ghoulishly fun drinks and play some games. Any excuse to get everyone together and have a giggle.

Whatever you decide to do, Have Fun and Happy Halloween!

Do you have any plans for Halloween? I'd love to hear what activities and other things you get up to.

M xx