When we get outside everyday, I can rest in the fact that all of my children are getting what they need at the same time. So often, I feel like I'm neglecting one child's needs to tend to another's, but the moment their feet hit the earth, I know that all of our needs are being met, even mine. For that reason, I love sharing nature study with … [Read more...]
Froebel’s Alphabet Sticks: ABC’s Outdoors
Ever since writing my post about Charlotte Mason and kindergarten, I've been trying to get more familiar with Froebel's ideas. Friedrich Froebel lived in the late 18th century and early 19th century, and his principles on early education deemed him the affectionate title "the father of the Kindergarten." Unfortunately, Froebel did not have an … [Read more...]
Easy Clean-up for Messy Outdoor Play
Letting our kids participate in messy play outdoors is SO good for them- it lets them have an enhanced sensory experience and paves the way for their creativity. But as easy as it is for kids to get dirty, it's hard for moms to cope with the mess. Being totally okay with kids getting messy outside means that most likely, some of that mess will get … [Read more...]
How to Start A Family Nature Journal
Over the past year, the time we spend outside has increased, and so has my appreciation of nature. I used to just look- but now I see. I see the different shades on the petal of a flower, and the shapes that compose a tree's sprawling branch. The habit of observation has finally struck me. It fills me with joy to think that it most likely won't … [Read more...]
Nature Tools for Little Explorers (From Amazon)
As much as I love decluttering and striving for less stuff in my home, I'm realizing that offering kids items to explore with outside adds value to their nature play. Our backyard is strewed with toys and nature tools. Often, when I decide that our home no longer has room for a certain toy or item, it becomes a backyard toy. My children can tinker … [Read more...]
