Any tips...

[smilingcat]

Spending time together is so important. Her mom's attention is all on Lore so the 11 year old may feel left out. So I think its important to spend time together with her.

I would definitely spend time on craft: making personalized Christmas cards, painting, I used to do charcol and pastel drawings around that age. And boy did I love to cook even back then. Took over my sister's Easy bake oven

If you don't want to make cookies from scratch, buy the mix in a bucket or even the ones in a tube from pilsbury. It could even be baking biscuits. Having hot biscuits you baked is a big treat for your niece. And crafts don't have to be just drawing or painting. It could be knitting, sewing. Make a simple pillow (case) with cute trim. Have her make one for her little sister. Or watch a movie together and share a bucket of pop corn.

And see if any neighbors have children her age and introduce her to them. When I stayed at my Aunt's house or my Uncle's house growing up, I used to play with kids in their neighborhood. My aunt would show me how to cook. and over at my Uncle's house, I used to draw, try to learn Calligraphy from him and went on nature walks.

If you are not sure ask your niece.

sicerely,
smilingcat

[Tuckervill]

Yeah, there's no reason you have to schedule every moment together. Follow her lead, let her do what she wants, make yourself available to her for whatever she wants to do. If you have errands or chores, include her in it, especially if it's something particularly interesting (like drawing out your next sculpture). Offer her tasks to do that help you out, that she may not be trusted with at home. Be patient. Listen. Hug.

Karen

[SadieKate]

I heard someone today say that you can make the gingerbread house with just cardboard, and decorate it with real candy and frosting. And I think the same lady said that you should not put the roof on the same day you put up the walls.

Karen

Hmm, I've never heard that and I've thrown parties with 10 couples each making their own house with lot. It depends on the frosting you use. Royal Frosting is best and you want to use a stiff gingerbread dough. I don't have a recipe handy, but it shouldn't be hard to find.

Here's a recipe for Royal Frosting.
http://www.recipekitchen.com/All_Des...rosting19.html

[PscyclePath]

I may have missed something, but the obvious answer with this crowd hasn't turned up yet...

Bundle up and go for a bike ride!

[SadieKate]

Did we need to state the obvious?

[SadieKate]

I thought of another that is always fun -- make taffy!

[Tuckervill]

Hmm, I've never heard that and I've thrown parties with 10 couples each making their own house with lot. It depends on the frosting you use. Royal Frosting is best and you want to use a stiff gingerbread dough. I don't have a recipe handy, but it shouldn't be hard to find.

Here's a recipe for Royal Frosting.
http://www.recipekitchen.com/All_Des...rosting19.html

I looked for the article on CBS Sunday Morning that I saw the Gingerbread Lady of Virginia on. I could have misunderstood what she meant, but I have to tell you that her creations are fabulous and extraordinary. Johanna Shalloway is her name. I'm sure it was her opinion born out of experience!

Karen