Depending on where you live the weather is getting warmer and spring is spring around you. a great way to teach your kids about nature (and food which we will talk about in June) is to start a garden! Who doesn't love to play in the dirt? Ok well some kids don't but my DD (dear daughter) is a tactile person and if she could play in dirt and water all day she would be one happy kid. weather you have a windowsill or a huge back yard you can plant something. you can sprout seeds and put them in the dirt and water them and watch them grow and if they are food eat them in the end. herbs are good for this because most of them seem to be pretty hardy.
table top herb garden
(great to do with a moms group or group of people so you can share the seeds)
you will need a a few herb seeds say 3 different kinds
an cardboard type egg carton
dirt
some rocks or gravel
a clear glass wide but not to tall vase such as this one from target
http://www.target.com/Glass-Hurricane-Vase-8-2/dp/B0026RMDOQ/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton
to make
put rocks in bottom of the vase
put dirt on top of that
put some of the dirt in the egg cartons.
put a few seeds in each dirt filled egg carton. Cut those ones out and place them on top of the dirt in the vase. Water and make sure they are getting good light
as time goes buy your seeds will sprout. you can talk to the kids about thinning the seeds. Have your child or children pick which ones they think look strongest and take the selected ones and plant directly into the vase. you can continue to water and care for the plants per the instructions for that herb and you have a fun centerpiece that is educational and interactive to some extent.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
more nature walks
As long as were talking about nature walks. The girl scout saying “girl scouts take only pictures and leave only footprints” comes to mind.
If you have a collector; figure out a way to make collections without removing things from the environment. You can pick up the leaves and rocks and sticks and look at them. How do they feel? Are they heavy? Rough, smooth, slick? Are they shinny? You get the point. Ask your child what do they like about the object. So Rose can’t always answer that but she will be able to some time. Older kids can draw in their journal about all the things they found or saw along their walk. Another fun way to collect is to take pictures. Either you take a picture of them holding the object or older kids can take their own photos.
If you have a collector; figure out a way to make collections without removing things from the environment. You can pick up the leaves and rocks and sticks and look at them. How do they feel? Are they heavy? Rough, smooth, slick? Are they shinny? You get the point. Ask your child what do they like about the object. So Rose can’t always answer that but she will be able to some time. Older kids can draw in their journal about all the things they found or saw along their walk. Another fun way to collect is to take pictures. Either you take a picture of them holding the object or older kids can take their own photos.
Friday, April 8, 2011
nature walks
Its April
Its been forever since my last sharing with you but like they say you can start a diet in the middle of a bag of potato chips so you can restart your dreams any time
So April we stick the dominate theme of the month. Nature and Earth. As a human and a mother these two themes have a special place in my heart. What kind of earth will we leave our children? Their children? The health of our Earth is directly related to the health of our bodies.
So Rose and I will be doing several things this month and I will share them with you. The first is nature walks. Look at birds hear them sing. Talk about what you see and feel. How does the wind feel? How does the air smell? Bring a little bag with you or a backpack and pick up trash along the way. If you go out on a walk even 4 times this month and pick up a bag of trash each time that is a big step and it is teaching your little one the good values of being stewards of the earth as opposed to pillaging it for it’s resource.
That’s today’s tidbit, remember we are blessed to have our children lets enjoy them and celebrate our life with them.
Its been forever since my last sharing with you but like they say you can start a diet in the middle of a bag of potato chips so you can restart your dreams any time
So April we stick the dominate theme of the month. Nature and Earth. As a human and a mother these two themes have a special place in my heart. What kind of earth will we leave our children? Their children? The health of our Earth is directly related to the health of our bodies.
So Rose and I will be doing several things this month and I will share them with you. The first is nature walks. Look at birds hear them sing. Talk about what you see and feel. How does the wind feel? How does the air smell? Bring a little bag with you or a backpack and pick up trash along the way. If you go out on a walk even 4 times this month and pick up a bag of trash each time that is a big step and it is teaching your little one the good values of being stewards of the earth as opposed to pillaging it for it’s resource.
That’s today’s tidbit, remember we are blessed to have our children lets enjoy them and celebrate our life with them.
Monday, August 30, 2010
end of the month
so I have been meaning to write more but alas. been crazy busy. Before we head on into September and our next theme I have a few more ideas that I have been wanting to share.
One of the things I love about my church is that for the coming of age classes, when the kids are becoming full members of the fellowship community they go visit other churches/temples/ places of worship. They do this with a mentor from the fellowship who is not related to them. I think this is a sweet and loving idea. I like that they can see the options out there and choose what is right for them. I encourage everyone whether you attend a place of worship or not to go visiting. If nothing else it should teach us all a little more about religious tolerance and I think this world could use that.
I have talked before about letting kids see you live your life. Some times even things that are not great have to be shared. On a very personal note I have been struggling with depression. Maybe post partum maybe not. This is going to have an effect on my life and of course my family. While my daughter is still very young and may or may not understand it yet she can feel when mommy is tense and cross. For me what I have done is acknowledged my feelings, talked to her about it, and made a plan to take better care of me. I don’t mean that I tell her I’m depressed but I can tell her that I am sorry I’m tired or whatever it is and that I love her very much and that I am completely happy with her. I can also play the game with her that a dear friend of the family taught me in kindergarten. Oprah calls it attitude of gratitude. List 3 things you are grateful for. My family friend used to ask me. “what 3 things did you like about school today? Not counting lunch or recess.” So I can tell Rose “I’m sorry mommy is a little sad today but it has nothing to do with you. I love you very much and you make me happy. What other things make us happy.” I can list off my 3 to her and when she can talk she can list things that make her happy too.
One of the things I love about my church is that for the coming of age classes, when the kids are becoming full members of the fellowship community they go visit other churches/temples/ places of worship. They do this with a mentor from the fellowship who is not related to them. I think this is a sweet and loving idea. I like that they can see the options out there and choose what is right for them. I encourage everyone whether you attend a place of worship or not to go visiting. If nothing else it should teach us all a little more about religious tolerance and I think this world could use that.
I have talked before about letting kids see you live your life. Some times even things that are not great have to be shared. On a very personal note I have been struggling with depression. Maybe post partum maybe not. This is going to have an effect on my life and of course my family. While my daughter is still very young and may or may not understand it yet she can feel when mommy is tense and cross. For me what I have done is acknowledged my feelings, talked to her about it, and made a plan to take better care of me. I don’t mean that I tell her I’m depressed but I can tell her that I am sorry I’m tired or whatever it is and that I love her very much and that I am completely happy with her. I can also play the game with her that a dear friend of the family taught me in kindergarten. Oprah calls it attitude of gratitude. List 3 things you are grateful for. My family friend used to ask me. “what 3 things did you like about school today? Not counting lunch or recess.” So I can tell Rose “I’m sorry mommy is a little sad today but it has nothing to do with you. I love you very much and you make me happy. What other things make us happy.” I can list off my 3 to her and when she can talk she can list things that make her happy too.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
little bits of spirit
As I said before I think that spirituality is about a personal relationship. While it may be based on your particular religion it is much deeper then that. Just because it is deep doesn't mean it is complicated. Let you child see the things you do every day. for example I often give a few words of praise and light a candle before I start to cook dinner. Let your kids participate in your life.
hit the books
always a good choice and a favorite activity for kids and parents. for younger kids you can read to them, but as the kids get older you can take turns reading. Switching off every paragraph of page so that everyone is actively involved. Besides all the wonderful things reading with your kids does for their development, It is a great way for you to learn how and what they think about things. At the heart of activity is really just a way for you to connect with your child.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
spirituality and kids
Today lets think about spirituality a little. No matter what religious beliefs you do or don't ascribe to spirituality is more personal and in my opinion like you own private relationship with the divine. I vividly remember at 13 when my mother told me she thought I needed more spirituality in my life.
Perhaps during journal time today you can ask you child to write about their spirituality. How do they feel about it? Are they confused by it? In what ways does spirituality take shape in their life? Again for the little ones they can draw their thoughts, feelings, story in a journal and for the really little ones just talk to them about it. I am constantly talking to my daughter. Asking her questions (that she can't answer because she can't talk yet) and explaining why I am doing something. It may be crazy, but I really do think she soaks stuff up.
Perhaps during journal time today you can ask you child to write about their spirituality. How do they feel about it? Are they confused by it? In what ways does spirituality take shape in their life? Again for the little ones they can draw their thoughts, feelings, story in a journal and for the really little ones just talk to them about it. I am constantly talking to my daughter. Asking her questions (that she can't answer because she can't talk yet) and explaining why I am doing something. It may be crazy, but I really do think she soaks stuff up.
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