June 29th, 2011 Do playgrounds and sand mix? Posted by Melitsa in Education, Outdoor play, play activities

Recently we were all taken to a new playground where under our feet was sand. We had a moment or two trying to decide whether to take our shoes off or keep them on.

It was a hot day and the brightness of the sand was very real but the coolness of the sand underneath very welcome.

The blowing sand a pain for the smallest ones but the building friendships and sharing opportunities with buckets and spades nearby priceless.

With all the different substances you can have underfoot which is your favourite and why?
a) bark
b) springy tarmac
c) concrete
d) sand
e) mixed spaces
f) grass

g)mud

h) other?

We really enjoyed the sand and the community the boys had was different than the usual playground experience. The springy type is the hottest and we’re not really keen on this one at all. We do like the natural, grass ones and mixed. Certainly right now the #1 playground is one with sand.

What’s on the ground in your playground?

April 26th, 2011 DIY kids play stove Posted by Melitsa in Homemade, language, Memes, Outdoor play, play activities, pretend play, Sites to visit, Thought of the week

Meet our latest kitchen addition.

The one benefit of having lots of boxes from a move is the endless fun you can have with them.

I’ve been on the lookout for a kitchen set for a long time but everything I’ve seen didn’t fit for one reason or another. We’ve never been shy about our creations even if they don’t look the greatest I’ve never been shy to share them. Some will laugh and point the finger and I hope you are inspired to do better then. The best thing about these types of project is how we all get involved. It’s not about how perfect it looks but how functional.

Two brothers

This is how the minds of two brothers think for their little brother one Easter holiday….with a little help from mum.

Small empty box wrapped in white paper

Kids:We don’t want to see that writing and maybe we can paint it

Me: Thank goodness as I kept meaning to get a better covering for it.

Kids: We need bits on the top……[looking around the room] How would I draw a circle?

Me: Introduces a cereal bowl.

Kids: off to find paper. Problem 1- no paper in the size for 4 burners so improvise with white ( we’ll colour it) and red card – probably left over from St George’s day craft.

squabble over who will do what…….

Brother runs off with paper ….

Discussion about distracting the LO and working together. MO decides to play or distract his brother while the BG can quickly finish the colouring and cutting.

Peace …… negotiation complete

me: How do you turn it on then?

Kids: run off. MO comes back with lid from a bottle. Puts it on the box. Lots of different bottle tops tried. Some from things in use………….

A little while later, the DIY stove is fully functional with Chef MO cooking up a feast and Chef LO lining up the ingredients.

There were more steps inbetween these.  Lots of excitement, diversions, breaks for snacks etc But over the course of one morning it was completed.

This picture was taken at bedtime as activity is too fast and furious during sessions. The beauty of this stove is………

portable

homely

precious

full of memories

lovingly made

Designed and mostly made by brothers for their brother

played with by all.

Don’t be put off with making your own play activities or encouraging your children to do so.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of DIY projects check out childhood 101.

Sorry ….. I have to go………..been invited around for some tea and a baked bean tin?

This post is part of the meme We Play: Pop on over and view the other players

November 23rd, 2010 Play anywhere Posted by Melitsa in Education, Homemade, Outdoor play, play activities, pretend play, Seasonal play, Thought of the week

Never think that the kids will not find something to do after the say, “I’m bored!” “There’s nothing to do!”

My kids were feeling exactly this way as we packed up to move countries in July. Mum and Dad were a little bit preoccupied with cleaning the last little bit so we could leave. There was nothing in the house. This was a huge draw to be able to run, scream ( echo) throughout the house.

To save our harried nerves of recleaning and get rid of channel this energy we banished them outside like thousands of other parents have before. We stopped short of locking them out there as it was still hot. There was plenty of shade, garden, hose and lots of water what more can you need.

Still we got…………… There’s nothing to do out there. Now admittedly they really wanted our attention. It was day 3 of cleaning living in a hotel and they wanted something to do that was specifically for them. We were hurrying to finish to do exactly that. So there was anxiety on both sides.

Now we had silence for a while we peeked out the window and saw they were busy running around the garden we just couldn’t hear them. So we went downstairs to check………… and this is what we found.

They were really pleased with what they had made. This person was reconfigured many different ways and this is the one they asked for a picture to remember.

Here you are literally nothing to play with and they find this.

We had a good hour of cleaning before they came in soaked from the sprinklers which was enough time to finish and be leaving.

Pretend play and water fun

It’s a great memory of the last day in our American house.

October 26th, 2010 Developing confidence in the Early Years Posted by Melitsa in Education, Outdoor play, play activities, Thought of the week

Stuck!

Confidence is something you often explore in the Early years as it is fleeting. They master somethings really quickly and others it takes a lot of time. There are so many things that they are learning that it is no wonder that sometimes they just come to a dead halt.

This local park had the best trees for climbing and while on our family walk, my husband and I reflected on our tree climbing fun we had from childhood because there were excellent trees to climb all around.

It wasn’t difficult to encourage the boys to give it a try.

One was up and onto that tree pretty quickly. Feet planted carefully, hand gripping and always looking for the next foothold.

One was up and then gripped the tree for dear life and had to be talked on. He was laughing at his own predicament. He knew but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t let go so we could catch him. He insisted he wanted to go on but refused to let go of one hand or ungrip one leg.

Fear!

I want to say it was all our kind words of “You can do it!” that got him down but it was the kindness of strangers others who were walking by. They said the right words ie. they came from other people.

That gave him the confidence to let go and move………ever so slightly.

Along came another family, popular route, who remarked  to their children, “Look that boy is really going up that tree! I bet you can’t do that.”

We were there a while so the first lady and the dog came back, she’d not gone far up the path. She stopped and spoke to us loudly enough that he could overhear when we were a little anxious trying to talk to her and keep and eye on our clinging on “Koala” son. But it gave him a chance to listen to his own voice.

He uncurled.

He moved up.

We moved on.

Everyday opportunities for play. You don’t always see your role or have to have something ready. Here we were on a family walk.. no learning ‘planned’. We learnt that this particular child no amount of encouragement for the instant performance would work it infact paralyzes him. But leave him a moment and he’ll work it out.

Both are avid tree climbers now much to my hearts complaint.

Are you that stranger that makes a positive comment that encourages that under 5 child? Would you have walked on in this situation? Unpeeled your “Koala” and moved on?

How have you helped your child’s confidence this week?

October 14th, 2010 Miniature Gardens with little ones Posted by Melitsa in gardening, Homemade, Outdoor play, play activities, Podcast

Since the interview with Caroline Webster of Small Fry Outdoors, we have been inspired to take more of our indoor activities outside in our quest to play outdoors. The boys love to pretend play and it is encouraging that Superhero play isn’t the only play we do and especially if you have lots of other characters about. This is our newest family members to our play characters box.

With the weather being so nice and the collection of natural items we keep collecting on our walks we decided to make a miniture garden for our new family. This whole thing was an idea we had together. The boys wanted to build a garden for them and I felt having a portable one would be better for us and a more realistic target.

How to make a miniature garden

• Use a tray, shallow baking tray or any item with sides to contain soil.

• Collect lots of ingredients to make the garden such as soil, rocks, moss, twigs, dried flowers. Be inspired by the season and your imagination from your garden. We found it best to heap the items in piles around the plate to help inspire us.

• Plan your garden using the resources you have available.

Getting Started and Assembling a Miniature Garden

• Cover the table with newspaper

• Build up your garden.

Decorating Your Miniature Garden Imaginatively

Add your washing line by using two twigs and some thread. Wind the thread around the twigs. Cut out clothes from a magazine and glue or tape to the line.

• Push each twig into play-dough that affixes to the tray. Cover the play-dough.

• Add people to your garden and let the imagination begin.

Miniature gardens bring a little of the outdoors indoor and provide an ideal play starter or activity to use with imaginary play and story telling.