I made two major observations at this fare. The first was the excitement on several “fairies” faces as they purchased goods for their oven buns. I observed this, with eyes that remember the feeling of wanting to purchase or acquire any product that was going to make my babe look cute, feel comfortable, become smart or make me look cute, feel comfortable or become a smart mommy- despite the pregnancy porridge brain. I also noted the moms pushing prams who had mastered the “no thank-you” nod as they were approached by sales people. They were there for business, come in, get the free stuff, get the cheap stuff, watch the Barney Show and then head on out.

That brings me to my next observation. (I said there were two) If babies and toddlers could vote, Barney the Purple Dinosaur would be president of the world. I have never experienced such baby hysteria. Hundreds and hundreds of kids shouting for Barney, cheering, clapping, singing for Barney. Of course my little one would not be one of these followers. He would not succumb to the catchy tunes and cheerful characters. He would be different.

Ok, ok. I admit. My son was no different. He clapped, head bobbed, danced and looked at me countless times as if to question me as to why I had been keeping this “Barney” away from him for so long. It was amazing to witness how thoroughly entertained these children were. More than this was the enjoyment that the parents got out of the Barney show too.

It seems like Barney is part of many a happy family!

Here are some activities you and your little one can do on the ball. My boy’s only nine months so there seems to be no age limit.

• Drum Ball: The ball has a lovely hollow sound when hit like a drum.
• Bouncing Ball: You bounce the ball and your babe tries to help bounce it.
• Bouncer Ball: Sit your little one on the ball and while holding him/her, bounce up and down.
• Roller Ball: With his/ her feet on the ground, roll the ball and lift your babe as is rolls so that he/she rolls with the ball.
• Thigh Master: Sit your baby on your lap, place the ball on your outstretched legs and lift them so that the ball rolls toward your baby
• Bicycle Ball: Place your little one on its back. Raise the ball over his/her feet and let them kick at the ball as if riding a bicycle on his/her back.
• Peek-a-boo ball: Hide behind the ball then roll it away to surprise him/her.

As scary as the thought may be, having the gymn ball out for entertainment may encourage it to be used for exercise!

Here’s my version:

• 2 cups of cut up marshmallows
• 1/4 cup of butter
• Cocopops
• liquorice strips (optional)
• smartie eggs or speckled eggs

Melt the butter and the marshmallows, stirring frequently. Stir in the cocopops. Immediately press this mixture into a muffin pan. Also press in the liquorice to form the handle and allow to cool and harden, preferably in the fridge. If you’d prefer them to look like birds nests, then leave out the liquorice. Once the baskets/nests have hardened, fill the baskets/nests with the smartie eggs or treats of your choice.

You will need: 

• A packet of marshmallows
• A packet of marie biscuits
• A box of smarties or jellytots
• 1/4 cup icing sugar
• Water
• A slab of chocolate (optional- but yummy)
• kebab sticks

Place a single marshmallow in the centre of a marie biscuit and put it in the microwave until the marshmallow begins to balloon. Remove from microwave and press the kebab stick into the marshmallow (and the optional chocolate piece) and put another marie on top to make a marshmallow/ kebab sandwich.

Next is decorating the pinwheel: I cut slices of marshmallow with a scissors to form petals and used smarites for the middle of the flower. I used the icing sugar mixed with a little water to become the consistency of toothpaste to stick these decorations onto the maries. For a little more colour, add food colouring to the icing.

Playdough:
Put all of the following ingredients into a medium sized pot:

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 cup plain flour

½ cup salt

1 tablespoon oil

1 cup water 2 teaspoons food colouring

Put your pot on the stove on a medium to high heat and stir ingredients together so it all mixes, you will notice it starting to pull away from the sides, keep mixing it and until it forms together in a ball, take it out the pot and kneed it once it cools down a little. Voila! Your own playdough, I promise it takes less than 5 minutes. Keep it in a plastic packet in a sealed container and it will last quite some time.