We have all heard that being outside in the fresh air has amazing health benefits. We have also heard that planting flowers can be therapeutic. But did you know that gardening has amazing developmental benefits for children? Here are ten amazing reasons to get children gardening; Engages All the Senses Children learn best when engaging all their senses. With gardening, kids can touch and feel the dirt (the bit they enjoy the most), seeds and flowers, see the vibrant colors and varied ...
Thoughts and happenings
10 ways natural playgrounds help benefit children’s development
Playgrounds aren’t just about entertainment – they’re a key part of a child’s development. From confronting danger with climbing structures to social skills garnered by interaction in a play environment, playing outside helps children grow. Natural playgrounds and adventure playgrounds, built using wood, stone, sand and water, are a growing trend thanks to their sustainability and their suitability in a wide variety of landscapes. Put simply, they blend more seamlessly into different ...
A small window in time – let them play
The statement in the above picture is one I often think about. It was written by Magda Gerber who was an early childhood educator in the United States and is known for teaching parents and children. When you have children you pretty much presume they will pick a book up and in time the words will click together and with support from you and teachers, reading will come naturally, like walking and talking. Sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes things happen to make it more difficult than that. In our ...
Anxiety and me
78 days (at this current time) since the doctor told me to take time out. 78 days since I was told I have anxiety and stress. I could break it down to the hours and minutes. This winter we had snow, enough snow to build a igloo. With nothing but a ice cream tub and a few pairs of gloves we had a good go at building a igloo. I told Dylan to be really careful as we started to make the walls higher. It was curving in and I knew that if we put on any more bricks it would fall down. This is the best ...
Tuesday’s thoughts – Being a exausted working mum
I have been working crazy shifts. Working though the night and working till 11pm with the odd 7am shift thrown in. It works around the children and childcare and I am lucky to be able to swap shifts when i need to but I am tired. Worn out. Shattered. Eyes drooping, squinting at the TV as if I was drunk, fighting the urge to go to bed at 8.30pm, unable to conduct a sensible conversation exhausted. I’m propped up on the sofa, intermittently nodding off, desperately trying to make conversation ...
Animal Tracking with children
Before becoming a mum spending time walking in mud and splashing in muddy puddles was not on my list of ways to have a good time. Things have certainly changed! We spend so much time outside and living in the country we are lucky to have so much nature on the doorstep. As part of the Autumnal RSPB challenge we have been out and about looking for animals and animal tracks. The RSPB also have a downloadable sheet to try and help with all of the tracks you may see, my two loved using this ...