Any tips...

[solobiker]

Does she like to do crafts? Do you have any old clothes pins she could paint? I have seen people that have made them into snowmen and santas. How about making her own jewlery with beads? These are just some things I have seen my niece do when she was aoubt that age.

[Brandi]

These are all really great idea's! Thank you so much! the good thing is I am totally loaded on craft supplies so i won't need to buy any. tons of craft paper,crayons, marker's,paints etc.. I really like the idea for the ginger bread house i think we will have to do that!

[Grits]

All the craft and cooking ideas are great.

I don't know anything about where you live, but if there happen to be any children's museums or just good museums in general around, my kids liked those when they were 11.

[sundial]

All the kids love to play in my art stuff, so break out big pieces of paper and crayons, markers, pastels, you name it. Also, if you have any fun games, kids can be entertained with that pretty easily.

[tulip]

If you do the gingerbread house from scratch, you can stretch it out at least two days...do the baking one day and then the decorating the next day. You might want to have a kit as backup in case the original one falls apart (it happens).

Baking bread is also good--kneading dough is such a good thing to do when you're stressed, and no doubt she's stressed.

Cookies, too. Different kinds.

Lasagne's also a good thing to make, and so tasty (and easy)

Soup from scratch.

Obviously, I like to cook.

[Tuckervill]

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

[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

[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