Something Fun to Try: Poetry Teatime

[TwinMama]

No, it's real--the tea and treats are what's so enticing to the kids.

Tea: anything herbal. My kids' favorites are "Throat Coat," "Licorice Spice," and Peach. We once did hot chocolate (though I don't usually go that sweet). We will do iced tea as it gets warmer. Sometimes we add cream, sometimes just as is.

Treats: I have really bent my feeding-kids rules on this one. I decided to let loose and go with treats, though I'm usually the no-sugar teacher. (So crazy--I do muffins for birthdays, but treats for poetry teatimes! But I decided the treats make them adore the poetry, whereas birthdays they love anyway.) We often do popovers with jam; it's one of my daughter's favorites. Sometimes savory things, like little tea sandwiches. But often sweeter things that I wouldn't usually do--today it was pear-cranberry-pecan bread from the bakery and ginger snaps. You can do anything you want, as long as it has an air of "specialness" about it. The kids went crazy the day I made them tangerine snails. I normally do pretty plain snacks, so anything "cute" is special.

Here's my pinterest board where I've been keeping ideas and recipes.

Here and here and here are some pictures of our poetry teatimes.

I love it! Awesome! Thank you!

[CityGarden]

I love this idea and will certainly be adding it to our weekly rhythm!! Thank you for sharing I can use this for both my preschool and my school age dd.

We love Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein and Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. I think it is a great time to also add Mother Goose and Nursery Rhymes.

[CityGarden]

Omg...I am so doing this when my school aged kids are here in the summer.

What do you serve for tea and snack? Or us it just play?

My 9 year old dd & I have tea daily and have since she was a tot. Always real tea in real tea cups and normally with a wholesome snack.

Teas: We have a ton of tea but often opt for tea by the Republic of Teas as they have a good variety of decaf flavors.

Snacks: We LOVE scones and loaf breads. In a time crunch though I will just cut up some fruit or bake some biscuits with butter.

For tea this afternoon dd & I had Ginger Peach Tea and raspberry scones. (For tomorrow was will have tea with zucchini bread) Typically whatever we have for tea one afternoon will also be breakfast the next day.

[childcaremom]

Thank you all for the book suggestions. I put what I could find on hold and just got notice that they are in.

I spilled the beans to my big kids and they are so excited for Friday! I went thrift shopping for some special mugs, some serving trays and also found a cute little vase for some flowers. Now to dig up a tea pot and tablecloth!

I checked out the pinterest board... yum! I am off to look for some recipes now.

[nothingwithoutjoy]

Thank you all for the book suggestions. I put what I could find on hold and just got notice that they are in.

I spilled the beans to my big kids and they are so excited for Friday! I went thrift shopping for some special mugs, some serving trays and also found a cute little vase for some flowers. Now to dig up a tea pot and tablecloth!

I checked out the pinterest board... yum! I am off to look for some recipes now.

Yay! I hope you love it! :-)

My daughter especially loves it when I send her out to the garden to choose the bouquet.

[childcaremom]

Update: We loved it! I set everything up during rest time so it was ready when the dcks woke up and my own came home from school.

We ate our snack and treat, drank tea, and read! I have a 4 yo dcb who was completely taken in by the fact that he got to drink out of a mug!

Thanks so much for sharing this idea. lovethis Can't wait until next Friday!

[nothingwithoutjoy]

Update: We loved it!

Oh, I'm so glad! :-)