Rhode Island

There is a Maple Syrup Festival at the Tomaquag Indian Museum, Exeter RI this Saturday at 1 pm.

I joined the wonderful PlayWatch listserve this week. It’s facilitated by the Children’s Museum of Providence. Contact playwatch-request@LISTSERV.URI.EDU to subscribe.

Other then that, do check out the KidoInfo for ideas for great things to do with the children!

Best of all… spend sometime outside, playing, getting dirty, going to the beach in any weather… be creative imaginative and free!

Around the Web

Need some gardening tips? The Veggie Gardener has it all! Links to 15 great gardening blogs!

PBS discusses the importance of the creative process for children and goes on AT LENGTH about the importance of play! Play is learning!!

Even with our busy lifestyles, it’s still possible to turn to Mother Nature for a healthy, wholesome… dare I say “green” meal. Here is some food for thought!

Another obstacle to nature-play, skyrocketing park-entrance fees in CT- can we really afford to make nature unaffordable?

Ever have kids that just don’t want to go outside? Yeah, we all do. Here are some tips to get reluctant kids outdoors!

We’ve been talking about building our little tree climber a tree-house, and then I came across this post from Slow Family Online and yes, I am so inspired!

Spring is really a time of new beginnings… I have been noticing the bulbs and buds peaking out from their winter hiding places. Part of this newness means new goals. Here’s some outdoor goals from Go Explore Nature!

We’ve been making mud pies this week, have you? It’s so fun and educational also!

Back Home in My Backyard

I have been feeling a little under the weather this week… but fortunately, that’s not all that bad because the weather has been spectacular.

On Monday my son wanted to take out our little pool to splash in the water… it was only 50 degrees my friends, but he’s ready! Yesterday I let him have an early tubby time, so he got in some water play.

I worked with my under 4 year old crew of gardeners spreading composted manure and seaweed on our garden area. It was so fun to be outside in a t-shirt working in the dirt!

I DID IT! I really put in my seed order and my moose tuber (seed potato and onion sets) In a few weeks the good will arrive and then….

we’ll have to wait to May to put most stuff in the ground.

So, all you folks out there planting seeds, playing in the dirt, waiting for veggies to grow. Oh how I wish I live in a different climate zone!

I have spent a minimum of 3 hours a day this week in my backyard… so I am a very happy Backyard Mama!

See you next week and have fun outside!

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Rhode Island

It’s maple syrup season!! Head over to Tomaquag Indian Museum March 13th, at 1 pm for Harvest of Maple Syrup. (30 Summit St. Exeter)

Maybe your three year old would enjoy a trip to RISD. Here’s one success story!

Don’t forget about the upcoming RI Families in Nature Hike on March 20th at Trustom Pond in S. Kingstown. (One of my favorite places!)

The Audobon Society of Rhode Island is working to connect folks with nature. There are tons of wonderful naturey things to do through them, and they have scholarships for schools who want to take kids on trips!

Around the Web

Every heard yourself say ” it’s too or I don’t ….. to go outside?” Here are answers to all the excuses so tomorrow is full of nature play!

Take Action! New Jersey congressman has introduced a Farm to School bill.. wow kids eating healthy food at school!… the bill needs sponsors. Call your congress folks today!

Good stuff folks all parents of young children read this! Needs of a three year old… sweet peace!

Wouldn’t these container gardens be great in an early childhood classroom? Can you imagine the glee of little ones eating fresh peas right out of containers they helped make? Try it and let me know!

I’ve been doing some homework on the Let’s Move campaign of First Lady Michele Obama two complains: where’s the recess? and where’s the nature?

Under ever good parent (or adult) is a WILD CHILD… take a walk on the wild side for National Wildlife Week! Yeah!

Try to squeeze a few of these great winter activities into your upcoming Green Hours… cause spring is just around the corner!

Back Home in My Backyard

I love my backyard… the play area is fenced in as a container for children, but it’s expansive and free, not a typical boundary.

We spend a good three hours outside today… even spread some manure on the garden! I got my hands dirty!!!

We also: played in the sandbox, used “tonka” diggers to move the compost, ate a picnic lunch on the back porch, okay foxtail and kick ball, got muddy and tired and trekked dirt through the house.

I must confess folks, I have not yet put in my full seed order… this week I promise! It’s started, the forms filled out… it need to get from the desk to the mailbox, or I really want to just fill it in online.

It’s a good day folks. See you next week!

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Indoor play areas can be imbued with natural colors and objects that come from nature or reflect the natural world.

This picture is of our play area and this gateway serves as a doorway into the incredible world of the beaming imaginations of young children.

This area has been:

~ A doctors office.

~ A library.

~ A restaurant/ coffee shop/ bakery.

~ A fire station with rescue workers poised and ready.

~ A construction site.

It changes daily and these young ones are learning so many vital skills as they create and re-create stories. They see themselves as heroes and heroin.

I’ve been reading through early childhood materials that act as a guideline for what teachers are “supposed to do” in their classrooms. This kind of play fosters:

Language development- as the children communicate with one another they are listening, comprehending and speaking.

Literacy- as they learn to tell stories they become interested in writing stories and see their story as book worthy.

Mathematics-  the spatial relationships between items and object and the materials teach geometry and patters.

Creative Arts- this is dramatic play where the children see themselves as others and take on roles.

Social and Emotional Development- as the children play together in their world, “un- adulterated” they are learning to cooperate, self- regulate, and have social relationships with peers.

Approaches to Learning- they are interested and curious, engaged and persistent and are finding their own solutions as they use these other skill domains.

Physical Health- these play stands are moved and removed and covered and uncovered a bazillion times, using fine and gross motor skills. As they engage in the play (especially doctors office play) they are also demonstrating understanding of good healthy practices.

(In bold are 7 of the 8 domains of early child development per Head Start).

Play is REALLY fundamental to learning.

How have you fostered a child’s imagination today?

This is part of the 30 minute blog challenge of Steady Mom. Post time start to finish 30 minutes.

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I love it when I see folks doing meaningful work with their creative genius. I went to school with the guys that made this video about the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.

Thank you Remedy for this gift from your Heart.

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Rhode Islanders

This week is full of great opportunities for fun and community!

A nature-based, expeditionary learning charter high school is in the works for Rhode Island! Yeah! Support the Green School with donation, ideas, or some good old sweat and muscle!

An Evening of Refreshment is this Saturday 2/28/10 from 7-10 pm; hosted by mommy blogger Erin Goodman.. head over for great music, good food and fun company. Tickets are $20.00 online or $25.00 at the door and proceeds go to support the RI Food Bank and Coastal Growers Market.

The Children’s Museum in Providence is open from 5:30pm to 7:30pm this Friday 2/26/10 and admission is FREE! My handsome chicken farmer loves the Children’s Museum- head over to see us too this Friday!

Save the date March 20th for RI Families in Nature Hikeat my favorite bird watching walk- Trustom Pond.

Saddle Up the Chicken and head over to the Coastal Growers Market Saturdays in North Kingstown and March 20th from 7-10pm is a fundraiser for the market and celebration of the Vernal Equinox.

Around the Internet

Challenge your kids to spend time outside and learn how one Headstart Program in Alaska is encouraging nature play for their students. This is a great idea!

Garden lovers, Alison has shared why she gardens; are you ready to chime in?

The lovely pictures and sweet heartedstory by author and mother Marghanita is such a wonderful reminder of one of “mama’s” many jobs.

Lately, I’ve been observing my son as he builds with his blocks incredibly houses and then explains in great detail the forces at work. I enjoy watching him as he finds his passion. Then I read this post and really understood why I want to observe and not push.

I feel lucky to have the ocean so close, but for those further away, here are some great idea for how to heal and relax to the ocean. On a health note: nature needs to be a part of any good health plan.

Gardening is for the kids!I can’t wait to get my hands dirty, so reading this post from a California mom got me looking through seed catalogs.

Back Home in My Backyard

The little addition to our family is crying right now so I have to make this quick!

It’s raining it’s pouring…. we’ve got the rain boots out and ready for some puddle splashing!

I am really going to put in my seed order this week- although I have been saying this for three weeks.

In April 10th and May 8th the Backyard Mama will make her debut as a workshop presenter at early childhood conferences here in Rhode Island. I am excitedly nervous.

And that’s a wrap. I’ve enjoyed scanning twitter this morning for articles from all my favorites and am looking forward to keeping up better this week!

Thanks for the support and the great contributions!

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One of my favorite summer activities is to build little forts and huts in the nooks and crannies of trees, or built a  tipi with sticks and cover it with bark… all for the fairies of the forest.

This winter I decided to build winter fairy houses (cause the fairies need a place to stay all year- right?). So out in the winter-scape of sled tracks and snow angels, we built this lovely little igloo for the fairies of our forest.

After we built this, part of me climbed in to wait out the rest of the winter. I dragged myself out today to write this post… but I might end up back in hibernation.

How are y’all doing out there? I heard it snowed in Texas today- how ’bout that?

This is part of the 30 minute blog challenge of Steady Mom. Post time start to finish 20 minutes. (Although it took me all day to get the 20 minutes of sit down time!)

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*** Wednesday comes too often.I feel like I just finished the last edition and I’m back at it again sifting through twitter finding all the great stuff from this week. I know I miss huge numbers of awesome articles. So consider this a snippet of what I am taking inventory of this week. Remember too that I forget stuff all the time, so if you read or write something great- send it to me! {Please!}

Rhode Island

Friday the 12th is the Mamaste Mother’s Circle with Erin of exhale.return.to.center. Mamas get a little Valentines Day Treat in for yourselves!

Author Pat Hastings {Simply a Woman of Faith} is leading a great program on Monday Feb. 15th on Spiritual Resiliency. She is a very cool woman with style and class… if you can’t make the class- get her book. It’s worth every penny.

Go birding this weekend at any of the great natural places we have in our wonderful state… it’s the Great Backyard Bird Count! Other’s else where please do the same!

Around the Internet

Being able to roam, explore, create and play are some of the greatest skills for children. Sue was inspired to write this post by the Free Range Guru herself.  Did you have a Free Range childhood?

Finally proof! The NAEYC has written about the importance of nature based play and gardening in early childhood. Here ya go! There’s proof!

From Camp Creek Press {this blog was totally new to me this week and I am SO glad I found it – or it found me}. Education is being driven by testing, rather then by raising healthy, happy children. This is a must read for everyone pondering school choices!

What magical characters have inspired you to connect with nature? Toffee the Highland Cow shares some outdoor activities that lots of kids will love! Also from Marghanita beautiful pictures to inspire trekking into the woods to hunt for….

Another great post about enticing kids to play outside more! Nature is such a magical place and Caro writes of this with such ease.

Leave the references at home and go outside, explore, be adventurous, let go of the fear of not “knowing”. Bethe writes of all the great reasons why… and gives us some ways to learn what we don’t know!

A couple from the Nature Mama team, pulled together this week to write about great kids gear tips for those preparing for the snow (oh boy we need this!)

My first guest post over at Loving Nature’s Garden! Thanks once again Alison and all the rest of you, go birding this weekend and learn about some birds!

Back Home in My Backyard

We’re snowed in! We only got a few inches but it’s “wet” snow perfect for making snowman and snowballs.

Today, as the snow fell, we made Valentines Day cookies and Jeremiah painted what will become cards.

We went for a walk, at dusk, in the snow- my little man on the sled, me pulling, the pine trees dumping their little balls of snow on us the whole way.

We made a snowman!

Yesterday, in preparation for this storm, my under 4 year olds helped carry in about 7 loads of wood and had SO MUCH fun. When we needed a break from the work we went on a little walk {also to get the baby to sleep} the kids found a pile of old snow that is mixed with rocks and pine needles and proceeded to climb up and run down giggling!

I have spent less time online this week, but more “quality” time finding great blogs… and I am just in awe of the blogosphere and humbled to be a part of this great network of vast intelligence and information.

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There are all sorts of ways to enjoy nature: hiking, walking, running, stroller riding, investigating, learning, adventuring… but to me, one of the greatest ways to enjoy it is eating.

I remember backpacking trips where the entire day was full of splendid views, animals, butterflies, flowers, and what I remember the most is sitting down at the end of the day with my little whisperlite stove and cooking up something good.

I remember trips to beach with my grandparents, playing in the sand and the surf, flying kites, and going on walks yet what sticks out the most? Eating peanut butter and jelly and being told that this is why they call it a SANDwich.

I remember schools trips where we snacked in parks, fields, or in the woods: I even remember in first grade there was a huge forsythia bush that we played and ate under.

These days I love to take the kids in the stroller or just out out backdoor into the back field where we sit on a blanket and have a picnic.

It tickled me to death the day my son and his friend took their lunch trays out the backdoor for a “T.V.” lunch- this is what it looked like!

Kids are so creative when the walls of the house aren’t barriers.

How have you opened the door for your children today?

This is part of the 30 minute blog challenge of Steady Mom. Thanks for stopping by and remember to check out all the other great posts and help Jaime in supporting Love 146.

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Head over to Loving Nature’s Garden to see what my adventurer has planned this weekend!

Thank you Alison for this great opportunity!

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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ” 1 Corinthians 13:4

According to Hallmark 188 million valentines cards are given world wide; which means the cards are manufactured, shipped, distributed, purchased, sent or give. A whole lot of energy and fuel goes into this love holiday.

I challenge readers to hand make valentines cards, chocolates and buy real plants or seeds for their loved ones this year. Find lovely verses, like the age old favorite, “roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.” Hand write your love.

I challenge readers even further to let your love shine throughout the year with love letters. Make simple hearts out of construction paper and send them to friends and family, teachers, bosses, ministers, priests, librarians, all the people who serve our lives. I am going to send a love letter to my husband once a week this year. Reminding him of all the reasons why I chose to spend my life with him.

Homemade is special

In third grade, I have my teacher a handmade Valentines Day card, I made if from purple construction paper and glued dried flowers on it. When I graduated from eight grade, he gave it back to me as a memento from elementary school. Handmade cards mean so much to the giver and receiver.

Three years ago, instead of giving everyone in my family chocolates, I made a meal and invited all to share it with me. I decorated the table with chocolates, a beautiful table cloth and our best china, we spent the evening together. I did purchase little cards for each person, but I had a newborn baby and only had time for either cooking.

Three ways spend that special night

1) Have a potluck. Instead of heading to the restaurant, invite friends over for a candle light dinner; plan for a house large enough to accommodate kids with a movie and special dinner while the parents (adults) have a special night of conversation and cocktails. The romance can happen at home!

2) Go for a walk. Watching the sunset, snuggled under a blanket at the beach or on a mountain top or in a field of long grass is more romantic then any restaurant. Bring a picnic basket of your favorite finger foods, leave discussion of bills, and school, kids, or cars problems at home, and spend the evening basking in the last rays of the sun and the warmth of your honey’s arms.

3) Partner Yoga Find a class or get a DVD and roll out the yoga mats in the living room (maybe by candle light). Learn a new way of relating to your loved one by moving together through yoga poses to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility and bring you closer. (Other stuff can come later- that’s out of my comfort zone folks- I am talking YOGA here.)

What other simple fun (inexpensive) ways do you share your LOVE on Valentines Day?

This post was originally a contribution to 5 minutes for Going Green. Check out what the great writers over there have to say!

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