A lot of the time it is hard to know how to start things. Like changing a habit or how we can get more outdoor time. Finding an outdoor program or occasional family trip to nature is a good start, but let’s make a point to discover the everyday nature first; that local park or ravine in your community. Little explorers are not born to skiing on Whistler or hiking the Rocky Mountains. Exploring starts in your neighborhood, in your backyard and in the many natural space you can find around you.
Organizing outdoor playgroups
Debra, Mari, Kristen and Cinza are all organizing outdoor playgroups in their communities in Toronto. Free and open to anyone who wants join. Why do they do it? Debra organizes so she makes sure that she has one set day that she gets out of the house. Mari is an active woman and loves to spend time outside. Her passion in life is skiing and wants to meet like minded parents and kids. Designer Kristen has a quite connection to nature that she wishes to foster in her children. She is a walker and loves to discover bugs and create nature art Cinza is a new mom and a runner who looks forward to connecting with other moms for a high energy stroller tour around her neighborhood.
Grassroots without any rules
Outdoor playgroups get organized differently for individual reasons. Some have one activity when they meet while others are constantly changing. An outdoor playgroup is not meant to be a program or service to any particular parent, it is suppose to be a place where parents discover nature, play together and build connections between parents, their kids and nature. It is not any different than a indoor playgroup, other than it is just The beauty of an outdoor playgroup is that it is inherently grassroots. There are no rules how you are to do it.
At Activekidsclub.com we like to believe we are living dangerously when we live our motto no bad weather, only bad clothing. Basically we see ourselves as a part of nature and bad weather is… well it is natural.
Making sure that you get your outdoor time
Whether you love to be outside or maybe just want to live healthier and give your kids some much needed green time, being part of an outdoor playgroup is an excellent way to make sure that you get your daily nature time. It is more fun in groups. As an added bonus, it can create friendships among both the kids and the parents.
Wanna start an outdoor playgroup where you live?
Join Debra, Mari,Cinza and Kristen here at Activekidsclub.com and start your own outdoor playgroup. Collectively we know a thing or two about organizing a group and what to do outside so we have created some useful tools for you. We bet you have lots of other ideas that we would of never though of without your input. Together we can move mountains.
Kari Svenneby is the founder of Activekidsclub.com .–Discovering the wonder of nature with kids and adults .Get inspired with simple solutions.Let’s play
There has been talk lately about talking directly to your child about race instead of hoping that they get the message that “We are all the same”. Whatever your take or stance on whether that last message is the right one or not we live in a diverse society. It’s up to us to teach and lead our children.
Whether you mention race at home or live in a diverse neighbourhood. We live in a diverse world. Here are a few quick and easy ways to include diversity in play. There are many other ways and many other things to do but at the very least having some play items from around the world will start the discussion and maybe lead to a story.
Everyday objects will always hold a fascination to the little ones. We don’t have a huge separation of objects as toys but do have ones some that belong to them and belong to us. Largely because we need the object at the same time so it is just easier. But mostly we share.
Yesterday you saw the LO sorting.
He is loving this pouring, dumping and putting back stage. To help him I placed in his cupboard two empty icecube trays. After banging on these for a bit I brought him a small baggy of sticky letters and shapes . His brothers were crafting with them around the corner. He merrily sat there for quite a while filling each hole. Dumping them all and filling each hole again. I stayed and played with him for a minute naming colours as he dropped them in. Rearranging them into groups of colours. He dumped them when I did this so I got the message and stopped .
I do control the baggy after play otherwise that stuff would trail around the house.
………..Turning little moments into playful moments.
Thanks for reading Tell me Thursday. If you would like to see the WW photo that goes with this post please go to WW: Sort it out!
Raising Playful Tots is an Internet radio or Podcast available 24hrs a day . Host: Melitsa Avila of Play Activities. Download each episode yourself visit each show notes to do this or have iTunes do this automatically for you.
Week 28th Feb 2010: Large family play….with Meagan Francis of www.thehappiestmom.com shares her experience of managing a family of 5 and play. When you have a large family the way you play may change and the dynamics of play.
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