Archive for July, 2010
5 Fun Summer Activities
July 22nd, 2010 | Author: Shannon
Gearing up for a summer weekend? Here are a few ideas for family activities that are fun, healthy, and interesting!
1) Fly a kite! Every time we drive by a flying flag my son says,” Today is a good day to fly a kite!” Although kite flying is a bit of an art, just head your kite into the wind and it will take off! Advanced kite fliers can do tricks, or keep the kite flying for a long time…. but for some kids, the fun is in the take-off, so “failure” leads to great fun and success!
2) Explore tide pools. Bring a bucket and a net, then head out to the coast, turn over rocks looking for crabs, barnacles, feeder fish, snails and other little critters. Wear a hat, bring some pb&j, and make it a family outing! If you want, pick up a field guide and identify all the critters (unless you already know them!)
3) Pick wild flowers.The fields, hills and valley are full of beautiful flowers; spend half a day outside exploring the various types of flowers that grow in different habitats. Bring some home to adorn a nature table or the dinning room table… just keep in mind that these flowers are part of the eco-system and birds, butterflies and bugs rely on them for food and shelter, so always leave at least half the flowers for our animal friends.
4) Follow your nose. Leave a “plan” at home, head out the back (or front) door and off into your neighborhood, community, woods, fields, where ever is around your living area… regardless of an urban, rural or suburban setting… the trick is… leave the car home and just explore. In the city, look for plants growing up between the concrete imaging how much that plant wanted to live in order to grow from a crack in the pavement!
5) Kayak or Canoe. A little expensive if you’ve got a budget, but small boats can be rented or maybe borrowed from a friend- small children can ride in adults laps; nooks and crannies, usually inaccessible by foot or large watercraft, can be discovered and explored. Always wear a life jacket and bring some extra water!
Always remember safety and FUN are the most important ingredients to a great day with kids!
What are your favorite summer activities?
We’re going on a ……. hunt!
July 20th, 2010 | Author: Shannon
As a child I spend most daylight hours outside, building forts, digging in the mud or dirt, helping in the garden, playing in our awesome tree house, riding a mountain bike, rolling down hills.
We played “we’re going on a bear (lion, tiger) hunt” everywhere we went.
Now, as an adult, I still turn to these engaging and freeing activities when life is just plain overwhelming. But now, it’s at the beckoning of the children.
That’s why the children and nature movement is so important to me.
Just across the swamp the neighborhood is full of kids, some late summer nights I can hear their noises after dark and Ienjoy hearing their laughter and knowing they are kids being kids.
So moms and dads, caregivers, teachers… lets reach out, take a child by the hand and go explore the forests, rivers, ponds, oceans, mountains, valleys…. or perhaps the best place to investigate is right outside our front or back door.
Share your findings with me! ~ The Backyard Mama
Picture Credit: That’s me as a tiny tyke climbing in Mesa Verde- my parents surely took me by the hand!
Nature Based Yoga
July 19th, 2010 | Author: Shannon
(Video clip of Storytime Yoga)
I am offering classes for children 3-5 and 5-7 at All That Matter’s in Wakefield, RI starting September. Come over and loosen up! Or email me with yoga in the subject line and I can send you a complete listing my yoga classes.
On Saturday I attended a wonderful yoga class in a South Kingstown playground… the setting was awesome. Warming up on the dew covered grass was soothing and cooling to my body then, the sun rose above the pine trees just in time for us to offer Sun Salutations of gratitude. Our bodies warmed from the external heat from the sun and the internal heat of giving time for our inner light to shine.
Family Yoga is a wonderful option for a delightful outdoor activity.
Enjoy! ~ The Backyard Mama
10 Ways to Beat the Heat.
July 6th, 2010 | Author: Shannon
10. Dive in the water… any water… play in the hose…. in a kiddy pool…
9. Clear out your freezer. Wet your clothes, put them into the freezer- when frozen- get dressed!
8. Lay in a pool of ice.
7. Go for a run… it’s sure to cool you off when you get back.
6. Run around naked with a wet rag on your head.
5. Sit in front of a fan with a wet towel around you.
4. Go shopping in the frozen section of the grocery store.
3. Head out in an air conditioned car and get some ice cream.
2. Enjoy it! This too shall pass. Watch the birds they’re playing in the water!
1. I’m remembering the fun I had making this snow angel… and am cooling right off!
