Currently viewing the tag: "holidays"
Heading up the track to the farm
One of the fabulous benefits of having children or spending time with kids is that you get a reminder of how much joy they get from the world.
Discovering new ideas. Exploring the world. Playing. Laughing at silly things. Living in the moment. Kids are masters are stopping to smell the roses. Slowing down and moving at their own pace. Adults are always searching for ways to relax, meditate, calm down. Most kids have got that in the bag. Watch a small child playing with Lego, matchbox cars, playing a game of make-believe, and you can see they are fully immersed in the moment. My kids are staying at my family's farm this week. I know already that they will spending their time, exploring, digging in the sandpit, catching frogs and generally having a grand old time. There will be no structured plan, no to-do list. Just fun, sunshine and spending time together. Hope you are enjoying the sunshine, taking time to relax, and most importantly finding the time to have fun. Enjoy xx
One of my poppets sketching to create her own masterpiece
- Write up a list along with your kids of a list of easy activities/ ideas, then laminate it and stick it up in the kitchen/another high traffic area. Some ideas to think about including: play heads up, build a Lego city, play with the kinetic sand, play a board game (guess who, monopoly), play a card game, paint your nails, plan and put on a puppet show, go to the reading nook and read a good book, make icy poles for later, bake cookies, set up the lounge for a movie (popcorn, tickets, etc). When one of the kids says 'I'm bored' simply point to the list.
- Try planning each week together, then write it up and pop it on the fridge. Schedule in lunch, morning snacks, play in the park, free time. The kids can then run the show! Kikki K has some great planners, and you can also get some printable ones here online.
- Keep 'go bags' packed and ready to go. We have a tub for helmets and hats, a spot for scooter and bike parking, and a bag for beach/ pool. After we get home, we clean out and repack- the bag. No more last-minute scrabble for goggles, towels and thongs...
- Ask around! Whether you ask on Facebook, at the park, friends or family, ask and you will get new ideas, hot tips and even playdates. Better yet offer to have some of the kids friends over and give your friends/ family a break and give your own kids someone new to play with. I am always amazed how adding an extra child or two to my bunch is less work rather than more.
- Visit your local library, art gallery, museum, cultural centre, and then give the kids a sketchbook or notebook. Encourage them to document the day, copy the paintings, draw what they see.
