Using your " I's " outside

3 Ways to Enhance Outdoor Time

Investigate, Interact, Imagine

Investigate: Look at things often overlooked. Ask questions about the environment then seek answers. Spend time observing plants and trees over time, or bugs in their natural habitats. Let children experiment with what water does to sand and how the wind blows maple leaf pods. Ask "What are you experiencing with (each of your senses)?" as they explore.

Interact: Kids need to expend energy, and groups of kids are great at encouraging each other to do just this! You can often observe groups of children making up or playing games which are full of movement and action (gross motor development). Practice the fundamentals of sports with a few of the neighbor kids or teach them one of the games you used to play at recess when you were younger. The neighborhood park can be a comfortable place to practice early social skills.

Imagine: It takes time for children to conjure up imaginative plots and story lines. Give time to develop imaginative play. Set out a box of simple props or costumes OUTSIDE and they'll look at them in a whole new light! If children have a good thing going, give them time to play out the scene without interrupting.*

*I can remember having quite long periods of time outside with the neighborhood kids where we'd have to entertain ourselves and the longer we had it seems the more creative we had to be to occupy that time!

Happy UN-birthday!

You're invited! If it's been awhile since you've had a party, plan an UN-birthday. If it's not your birthday, then by golly it's your UN-birthday. It's like an excuse to have cake! Take a page from Alice's book. Ask your preschooler to help you plan the celebration from cake to decoration and enjoy a party just because. Pull out some mismatched party decor from parties past, bake and frost cupcakes, put up the balloons your child got for being a good kid while you waited in line at the bank, invite neighbor Nelly. You get the idea. Pretty much anything goes and your little party planner will be sure to love the special and unexpected day.

Buried Treasure

Ahead of time: Adult spray several rocks with gold paint and let dry. Bury in the sand for later discovery!

*Variation: Seashells or coins

Postal Clerk

I'm going to forgive myself the last week or so that I haven't posted. I've had an awesome time with my boys and my husband and enjoying summer has been our top priority!

Set up your very own pretend post office with a table and chairs and various writing utensils, paper, printing tools, and materials to encourage writing. Include materials for mailing- envelopes, stamps (stickers), address labels, greeting cards, postcards, stationery, lined and unlined paper, etc. Write, sort, and deliver!

*Extension: This is a great use for "junk mail," especially business reply mail envelopes. Pat yourself on the back for recycling!

Iceberg, Right Ahead!

Fill a few plastic containers with water and food coloring. Put some small toys in the colored water and place into the freezer. These frozen blocks are a fun addition to water play or in the bath tub. Discover what happens as the ice melts.

It Looked Like Spilt Milk

Just want to recommend a book that might inspire a few activities this summer. It's called "It Looked Like Spilt Milk" by Charles G. Shaw and published by HarperFestival.

*Extension: Cloud watching.

*Extension: Paint white paint on blue paper and then fold it in half. What does it look like now?

Color INSIDE the Box

**Set a large cardboard box in the middle of the living room for their discovery, with a box of crayons inside. Watch what happens next!**

Build a Fort

**Pull out a few sheets and blankets and build a good old fashioned fort together in the living room. Beyond structure and architecture, climb inside and read a good book together by flashlight.**

Toilet Paper Tube Binoculars

Share recycling with your children.

Is this the world you want to leave them?

Tape two toilet paper tubes together and you have binoculars for a bird walk or spotting animals at the zoo. Maybe a nice addition if your little man is playing soldier for the day or if your princess is looking out the window for her prince charming to come along. Decorate 'em, paint 'em camo, add a string...make it yours!

Play Food

Since it is C's birthday, I wanted to talk about probably his all- time favorite "toy" and it's pretend food; play food. Now I've seen this done plenty of ways- you can spend money on the plastic or wooden version at the toy store. If
you are crafty and have some time, you can make fake food from felt. If I were only so talented I would, it can look really beautiful.




Over the years, C acquired a few sets of the plastic stuff. But I just wanted to call your attention to recycling food packaging. Empty oatmeal cylinders, cereal boxes, spaghetti noodle boxes, rinsed out plastic condiment bottles and juice cartons. It is the very cheapest play food! And you can cycle the old out as you eat the new, bringing excitement back to playing house all over again!

Share recycling with your children.
Is this the world you want to leave them?

Great Zoo Escape

Hide several of your child's plastic or stuffed animals, counting as you go so that none get left behind later. For younger children, you might find it easier to stick to one room of the house. Exclaim "Oh no, (number) of animals have escaped from the zoo!" Ask your child for their help returning the animals safely. Count as you go.

*Variation: Take the game outside for an outdoor safari. Colorful gardens work especially well.

*Variation: Have a sandbox? Bury some treasures for later discovery. Jewels from the craft store are especially exciting, or rocks painted gold. Be sure not to give away the secret and watch your child's reaction.