By Kate Hodges
29th December 2017
DO and EVENT Walk in a Winter Wonderland
Now underway, The Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks has been running for over 25 years and aims to get more people walking through and exploring Britain’s dramatic, bare landscapes. This is a great time of year for a stroll; wild animals and birds are more visible and all that tramping keeps you toasty! There are thousands of free walks to choose from; burn off that pudding and turkey!
EVENT Sky Writing
Enjoy an innovative approach to storytelling in Edinburgh. Scottish writer Val McDermid’s new story, New Year’s Resurrection, will be projected across the city’s buildings and landmarks until Burns Night. She has collaborated with projection-makers and soundscape artists to create an immersive, creative piece that can be read in one extraordinary walk, or each chapter savoured over a longer period. Best for older kids, teenagers and adults. More here
DO Write On
New Year is the traditional time to start a diary. There are many benefits for kids in keeping a journal – they don’t have to be a straight ‘what I did today’ format - get some alternative ideas here. Making your own book in which to write encourages you to keep up the discipline - we like this super-easy notebook with a lock idea to keep your innermost thoughts secret. Diaries don’t have to be analogue - some children find it easier to write their thoughts online - there are some ideas for ways to approach digital diary keeping here
EVENT and COOK Join the Resolution
Need a new year’s resolution? Why not go vegan for January in Veganuary. The new year is a great time to try an animal product-free lifestyle, or, if you’re already following a plant-based diet, to try some new ideas. It’s easy for vegan packed lunches to get a bit repetitive, so head to the Veganuary website to make a pledge to eat vegan, find some practical ideas for batch-baked, time-saving, yet delicious recipes, and some tasty options for school and work meals-on-the-go.
DO Good Traditions
New Year is a great chance to come together as a family and reflect on the year that has passed, as well as hopes and dreams for the year to come. We love the idea of an ‘interview’ or letter to help record achievements as well as wishes. We’re also fans of exploring other countries’ traditions – there’s a great list here. Try the grape-stuffing challenge from Spain, Russian wish-burning or perhaps deck the whole family out in red pants!
