Bonfire Night Toddler Activities

Bonfire Night came about because Guy Fawkes and other Roman Catholic friends planned displace the Protestants rule by blowing up the Houses of Parliament in England in 1605. Now on the 5th November it's an English tradition that we make a scarecrow-like effigy of Guy Fawkes and burn it on a bonfire. Fireworks, treacle toffee and jacket potatoes play their part too.

Here's a variety of Bonfire Night toddler activities so they can join in the fun too. Funnily enough your toddler may find it easier to do these activities the day after Bonfire Night. But they are also a good way to prepare your toddler for the experience so I've provided a couple of aids.

Bonfire Night Toddler Art

Here is a video of the lighting of an enormous bonfire like those lit on bonfire night. It has loud and exuberant people so you may want to mute the sound.

Now, to make that fire collage....
Provide yellow, orange and red tissue paper, black paper or card (sugar or construction paper is perfect) and some glue. Show your toddler how to tear the tissue paper and stick it on.

Firework Drawing
I have included a video of fireworks for you both to watch for either preparation and reflection of fireworks. Provide your toddler with black paper or card and a variety of coloured chalk.

Firework Splat Painting
As I'm sure you can imagine this is a VERY messy toddler project, but many toddlers love mess! I would suggest you either do it in your back garden (yard) or in the garage. Cover the floor/ground and anything else with a home decorating protective sheet and pop old shirts over clothes/coats, with old/cheap trousers (pants) and shoes.

You'd also need a few different brightly coloured poster paints and paintbrushes and a large black paper (if possible). You could show older toddlers how to knock the bristles, but they would probably find shaking the brush over the paper easier and more satisfying. I suggest you stand well back as he shakes that paint off those brushes.

The following are activities for 2 year olds and up

A Touch of Drama

Unfortunately I couldn't find a video of fireworks with sounds other than bangs but it's more fun to add them in to the drama as well. Sounds you could make are whoosh!, whizz, wheee! etc. This is a beneficial toddler activity that encourages sound discrimination (needed for reading and writing later), develops controlled and expressive movement and gives her practice in imitation.

Campfire Songs

Camp fire's burning

Camp fire's Burning,
Camp fire's burning,
Draw nearer,
Draw nearer,
In the glowing,
In the glowing,
Come sing and be merry,
Come sing and be merry.

Camp-Fire Song

Campfire's burning brightly, with welcome and gladdening glow.
We gather round nightly, and friendship amongst us grow.
Our work and our play fulfilled for the day,
now shades of the night surround us.
Oh! Let us rejoice with our heart and our voice,
and join in a glad and a joyful sound!

(Songs from http://www.djmorton.demon.co.uk/scouting/campfire.htm)

I hope you and your toddler enjoy these Bonfire Night toddler activities.

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