If you’ve got littlies in the house, or perhaps joining you on your travels, you’ll know it can be tricky to keep them entertained. The Living World by Rachel Rohloff is packed full of activities that help young children learn about the world around them. In this extract, we’ve got two easy recipes to help keep young minds busy, while also teaching a great range of useful skills. Plus, the local birds and pet pooch will be pleased too!
Bird ornaments
Bird watching is such a relaxing and magical experience for children. Encourage birds to visit your garden by providing some food. These birdseed ornaments look great and birds will love you for them.
- In a large bowl, combine ¾ cup of flour, ½ cup of water, 1 tablespoon of gelatin, 3 tablespoons of golden syrup. Mix well.
- Add 4 cups of birdseed and mix again.
- Line a baking tray with waxed paper. Spray the baking paper and the cookie cutters with cooking spray. Place the cookie cutters onto the tray and spoon the mixture into them. Make sure you press the mixture firmly into the cookie cutters.
- Cut paper straws into 5cm lengths. Poke the straw into the mixture and make sure that it goes all the way through the mixture as this will form the hole. Leave the straw inserted into the mixture.
- Leave in a warm dry place for 2-3 hours. Remove the cookie cutters and straws. Leave the ornaments to dry further overnight.
- Tie a ribbon through the hole in the ornament and then tie to a branch.
Dog cookies
These cookies are a lovely present for children to make for their pet dog or their friend’s pet dog. Follow the recipe below as it is easy and uses ordinary ingredients. Also the ingredients are fine for human consumption, although not particularly delicious for humans. Once the dog biscuits have cooked and cooled, wrap them up in cellophane and ribbon for a posh dog treat. Children will love doing this, and the dog will love the result even more.
Ingredients:
- 2½ cups whole wheat flour (substitute regular flour or oats if your dog is sensitive to wheat)
- 1 egg
- 1 beef or chicken stock cube
- ½ cup hot water
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 150°C.
- Dissolve stock cube in hot water.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Knead dough until it forms a ball (approximately 3 minutes).
- Roll dough until 1.5cm thick.
- Cut into slices or bone shapes (you can purchase a bone shaped cookie cutter to make shapes with).
- Place dough pieces on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
- Cook for 30-45 minutes until the dog cookies are completely dried out and hard.
THE LIVING WORLD by Rachel Rohloff can be purchased from curiate/products/book-cd/ako-books or from New Shoots Publishing and selected bookstores nationwide RRP $47.99
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