Days out diary - child friendly and family activities

Family days out camping holidays with young children Family days out butterfly farm Family days out UK holidays Family days out Thomas land and children railways Family days out zoos Family days out Avoncroft building museum Family days out London area

Christmas art picture with photo baubles

In the past few years we've created a family craft project at Christmas. This has normally been a large Christmas picture such as this one from 2011. This year I've been teaching my daughter to program through a Code Club at her primary school, and therefore thought it would be good to create a craft project using electronics and programming on the Raspberry Pi.

Reindeer head - Christmas decoration powered by the Raspberry Pi

We came across the DecoPatch Reindeer Head at Hobbycraft and it was ideal for an interactive Christmas decoration, with just enough space inside for the Raspberry Pi an electronics. It includes a PIR sensor on the front to detect someone walking towards the reindeer, flashing LEDs (including light-pipes) and it can place pre-recorded Christmas greetings or short music clips. Something a little different!

See the YouTube video available from the link below.

I'm continuing with my other Christmas tradition in giving an extra gift in the form of a donation to an appropriate charity. This year my thoughts go out to children in hospital over the Christmas period and so I have given a donation to Birmingham Children's Hospital and their Super Santa fundraising campaign.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.