Archive for the 'Seasonal play' Category
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October 21st, 2008
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In our neighbourhood, while we were out someone came around and heaped the leaves into big piles on our lawn. Seeing all those little hills looked like we’d had an evasion of giant moles. Something drew us to the pile. The kids were soon jumping, throwing and rolling in them. Looking down the street, kids were emerging and doing the same. We love Autumn leaves and thank you to the mystery someone who made a pile for us. We loved playing in it.
There’s something about the crunch and feel. The colours and the sunlight at this time of year. Now’s the time to go on that Autumnal walk and try a few outdoor play activities.
Don’t forget the other Autumnal sensory play ideas for your little ones. Also if you want a little Autumn in your home, try a natural display.
Our toddler has been collecting leaves wherever we go. The car and stroller are full of the leaves, some in good condition, whilst others all in little pieces. What to do with his love of leaves..?
Coincidentally, I received a baby newsletter in my INBOX.
Here’s what we did….
Our home is filling up with Fall placemats now they have the idea. I think they’ll only stop once the contact paper runs out.
The BG and MG loved arranging and choosing what to display. All I had to do was peel the contact paper and apply it.
Even though we made them for the MG, so he could have a placemat on his tray. He’s spends his time admiring it instead of eating now. I think he’s rather proud of his art and doesn’t want to use it as a placemat.
….. I can see pumpkin placemats in my future.
For a bumper amount of outdoor activities try 365 Outdoor Activities You Can Do With Your Child (365) or 365 Unplugged Family Fun Activities: A Year’s Worth Of Ideas For Tv-Free, Video-Free, And Computer Game-Free Entertainment
********How are you playing in the fall?***********
Popularity: 20% [?] Technorati Tags: Autumn leaves, play activities, sensory play ideas, toddler, baby, Fall placemats If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
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October 10th, 2008
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Bubbles
Alternate who has them. When you have them you’ll find other children gravitate towards you and it helps to facilitate friendships. At our local park it’s always a little windy so we get so many more bubbles for little effort- a big bonus for the Middle guy who’s learning to blow.
Snack + drink
Bring something nutritious to keep up their energy and head off the, ” I’m hungry! Let’s go home”. Or worse food envy from the other parents with their snacks. Keeping hydrated is so important too.
Ball or Frisbee
Something that can be shared. Kicking a ball is no fun by yourself or with your sibling…again. But having a toy can be a great way to meet new friends at the playground.
Camera
This is a tricky one. I love taking pictures. But try very hard to take them just of my kids as many parents don’t like it. I get my camera out and make a big deal of it so parents who don’t want their child in the frame will either move away or say something. That’s fine by me. Catching those smiles and pure play excitement on camera is the best.
And one for the parents…………. your attention.
Catching up on email, voicemail, calling back folks and generally multitasking any of those things mean you are not 100% present.Going to the park has become to some like sitting the kids infront of TV , a way to get things done. Although this is a better solution than TV, it’s no fun having your parent there but not, head down typing.Nor is it fun hearing kids yelling constantly to get parents attention..
Plan more trips to the playground without the phone or laptop than with.
Join in and run around with your child like this family. Playgrounds are a lot of fun for both of you to connect with laughter and strong memories.
………forgot my camera as Big guy made it across the Monkey bars for the first time. I wish I had captured that expression of absolute surprise, delight and triumph. The inspiration for this post.
*What must haves do you swear by to take to the playground? *
** Don’t forget what you can win in the celebration contest open until Wednesday 29 Oct 2008. **
Other great playground posts
Pinpoint public playgrounds along your road trip route
Save grungy socks for indoor playgrounds
Upper playgrounds
Playground at Kew Gardens, London
Popularity: 16% [?] Technorati Tags: Bubbles, friendships, park, playground, play, TV, Monkey bars If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
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September 5th, 2008
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Now we’re in September, we’re able to sit back and enjoy the veg garden.
It’s our first veg garden and it’s not gone as well as I had hoped but the boys have loved seeing the garden grow.
- They have watered the garden with the garden hose. The attachment was a lot of fun to turn it and get different strengths of water coming out. The plants always made a good recovery after the high pressure blast the little guy loved to use.
- Each morning they would go and check to see if anything was growing. They counted each new vegetable.
- They learnt that courgette and zucchini are the same thing.
- We all wondered why the cauliflower grew big leaves but a cauliflower the size of plum.
Here’s some pics of the boys picking veggies from the garden.
  
Connecting the food we have in the shops to what grows in the ground has been a lot of fun. Both boys are good vegetable eaters already but definately ate the courgette the time they picked it.
  
Not too many courgettes to make bread but enough to love it for dinner.
Lots of interesting discussion about food and growing food this summer.
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Have you listened to the latest from play activities radio?
Perfect listening for back to school : Is Your Child on The Fast Track to Successs? Rae Pica with Denise Pope, Ph.D.
( Top right hand sidebar)
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Following the birth of the newest little one, the family are taking a well deserved break to spend some time together getting to know the newest little brother.
**Play activities blog will be taking a very late summer holiday. Be back soon.**
Other vegetable gardens
Welcome Pumpkin!! (and welcome home Phil)
Highs and Lows of My Vegetable Garden
Let The Children PLANT!
Kid-safe garden spray
Popularity: 23% [?] Technorati Tags: garden If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
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August 29th, 2008
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Back in late May/ early June the kid’s planted a garden with Grandma, as mummy can’t bend like that anymore with Baby on board.
Here’s the update……..
Nothing grew as I expected and certainly not as high or as fruitful as I expected. We think it was down to the soil and lack of a good potting soil and fertilizer, soil type- very sandy and windy conditions. But ah well. Here’s what we have so far.
Two types of tomato plant: grape tomatoes and vine tomato
Can you see the hidden tomatoes? Our first ones
The cauliflower is on the mini side but perhaps will become an ornament instead
We thought we’d lost the aubergine ( mini plant of the left) but it’s coming back. Don’t think it will make it but it’s beginning to flower.
The carrots are growing well all along the edge. As our the courgettes. New ones coming up.
Sadly here lies the spinach and lettuce. Some other insect enjoyed them.
Still got a little summer left and we’re watering daily so perhaps some vegs will arrive soon.
Big guy is getting excited as look what’s for dinner tonight……………
Planted, watered and watched by him for the last months. Our first harvest from the garden.
Hope they taste yummy.
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