Tag: children

Old Mill Wisdom

On a recent trip to the park with family, we were pleasantly surprised to find an old mill museum open for visitors. The boys had a blast checking out the old stone mill, watching it turn and grind the grain into flour, and the best part – feeling its smooth texture on their hands.

The woman who was volunteering at the mill that day was so patient with the boys, and so encouraging of their exploration and play. She didn’t tell them not to make a mess, or to keep their voices down. When it was time to leave, the boys were covered in flour. Her wise response – it’s nothing a good roll down the hill won’t take care of!

We need more people like this woman who can encourage and empower our children. Who understand that children are not just little adults. I am so thankful for the gentle reminder I received that day, and well, the hill was a huge hit.

June 14, 2013
This Moment

“A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.”

{joining Soule Mama today}

If you’re inspired to follow along, please leave a link to your moment in the comments!

April 26, 2013
snow + a mud pie kitchen
You don’t have to let the snow stop your children from enjoying nature exploration. Whether you have several feet of snow, slush, or just plain mud in your yard, you can provide tools for your children to create an enchanting natural play area they will adore.

Over the past few years, some of our kitchen wares have migrated from the kitchen to the backyard into the children’s mud pie kitchen. The kitchen itself travels around the backyard, settling in on a tree stump only to be moved the next hour or day underneath the trampoline, or over into the garden. The important parts are the tools and the imaginations of the children who use them.

A few things that will make your mudpie kitchen the place to be in your yard:
- muffin tin
- wooden spoon
- old pot or pan, or child size versions
- bread tin
- strainer/colander
- baking tray
- metal or plastic bowls of various sizes
- tongs, flippers, and other kitchen tools
If you have small sizes of the above, that will make them easier for little hands to manage, but anything will do. Really.

An adorable little book that I learned about from Ginny over at Small Things, is Mud Pies and Other Recipes by Marjorie Winslow. Overflowing with charming illustrations and recipes – from Wood Chip Dip to Pine Needle Upside-Down Cake, it is a great addition to the bookshelf and would be a sweet gift, especially paired with a second hand muffin tin and wooden spoon.

When the need to move on from the mud kitchen wears off – don’t overlook the novelty of playing in a sandbox surrounded by snow!

Have fun in your outdoor kitchen this spring!
March 10, 2013
Games for Kids: Puzzle Bingo & Balancing

Recently I shared a couple of our family’s favourite games. Carrying on with that, here are a couple more that are adored by our children.

TRAVELLING BINGO

This simple, and whimsically-designed game has a permanent home on our learning shelf in the living room and is brought down to the carpet area once or twice a week. The kids love the combination of puzzle and bingo and little ones love flicking the spinner and watching it go round and round with eager anticipation of where it will land.

Djeco’s Travelling Bingo is simple enough that our youngest played it when he was two, but still entertains older children for at least a round or two. The illustrations are endearing, but do be careful how you store the puzzles as they are made of a sturdy cardboard that can peel or bend if handled roughly.

PANDABO

Neighbour to Travelling Bingo on our living room shelf, Pandabo, by Hape, is a beautiful and fun game. Sustainably made with bamboo and water-based paints, Pandabo offers a strategic challenge and can also be played cooperatively. The idea is to be the one who never causes the stack to tumble, but our family plays together, giving advice and cheering one another on. We aim to get the stack as high as we can as a group. Little ones can practice shape recognition and it’s really fun to see the wheels turning in the minds of older children plotting how best to ‘stay balanced’ as the stack grows.

March 8, 2013
Timing is Everything

We had a blast out at our friends’ farm this weekend – playing outside, planting some wheat grass for the chickens, playing games, a daddy dance party, cooking and eating, and sharing in a snowshoe adventure. What were we reminded of through this adventure? Timing is everything. We let the morning get away from us, and didn’t head out with the snowshoe crew until lunchtime was almost upon us.

Two very eager boys made off like a shot toward the forested trail. One little one abandoned his snowshoes before the rest of us were even fastened into ours, and another didn’t want to leave the steps. One of the boys who was eager at first, ended up squeezing in behind little brother on the sled, and promises of a tasty lunch and homemade cocoa were the only things to keep them all going through the deep snow.

Despite the sore legs, tears, and complaints, each and every one of our crew made it back to the house in good spirits. Next time, the snowshoe adventure will happen right after breakfast, so we can maintain that all-important rhythm of the day that helps our children flourish. The rhythm that carries them through the day so that they can be fully present and enjoy each other and the farm as much as possible.

More posts on daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms to come. Do you rely on a daily rhythm at home? Share it with us in the comments!

Check out our recipe for Nourishing Hot Cocoa here.

February 11, 2013