Family finds

Our little family discovered geocaching about a month ago, and we have been having great fun.  It's a perfect family activity that involves all of us; we get out in fresh air, find treasure and make use of technology that is always in out pocket.  Baby boy calls it treasure hunting, and loves to be in on the race to find what we are looking for.  

The small things

We have been pretty busy over here, with all the life important things that can fill your days and nights if you let them.  Fortunately, I have also been able to find time for some 'slow' activities with baby boy.  And have remembered how much we loved doing things together (just the two of us).  Play dough is now his activity of choice, and he will happily sit for hours if only I will sit next to him.  I forgot how simple structured activities can fill his mind with wonder, if I do them with him, and focus my attention on only him.  

If you haven't read this post yet, i highly recommend it.

play time

I must admit that sometimes my 'play' time with baby boy isn't as imaginative as I would like.  We get so busy that sometimes I forget that instead of just pulling out some toys I need to actually sit down with him and play, and show him the diffrent ways he can play with his toys so he can then use his imagination to take it further. 

This week I bought the beautiful wooden castle above (and I will be honest and say that good wooden toys aren't cheap), but as soon as we bought it home and put it together I felt relieved that my expense was all worth it.  Baby boy sat down at his table and played with the castle for nearly an hour.  

 To set this off I first explained to him who all the characters were (the witch with the cauldron is called 'the cook' ;0) and showed him how they could be used, how they could go through the little doors and how we could make them talk and play with eachother.  He loved it!  

So now I just need to keep reminding him that playing with his castle is more exciting than watching tv (which is another area where I really need to improve).

I bought the castle from Oxfam which also helps me know it was made using fairtrade practices.

Discovering

I love those days where you just decide "We are going to play today", you forget about the housework, work and all your other responsibilities and just go with the flow to do what ever entertains baby boy. 

We had one of those beautiful winter days a few weeks ago and decided to go crazy with bubbles!  Baby had a blast, and so did I...blowing bubbles around the yard for as long as we felt like.  And we learnt something new.  Chickens do not like bubbles!  It was so funny watching them freak out and run away whenever we blew bubbles their way.  

So imagine if we didn't designate that day as 'play day', I would never have known about bubbles and chickens ;0)

And even better, Dad joined in when he got home from work!

Nature and Nurture...

We were all struck down by a horrible virus last week, and in attempt to get some fresh air we headed to our favourite local park.  It is always fun to go to the park, but is now so much more fun that baby boy is big enough to actually 'play' at the park.  He played on the slide, with the music area and on the swing.  

I was listening to a radio program last week that talked about how our kids are really in danger of never having a relationship with nature.  The speaker said that because of a lack of green spaces that our kids can own and explore they will lose the chance to really feel comfortable with nature and all the gifts that that brings to a child.  I know how much baby boy just loves to go outside to play and I am so glad that we live in a country with weather that allows him to do that most of the time

My goal is to try and regularly take baby boy into nature so he can develop that 'relationship' with God's beautiful creations.  Does that mean camping?  I hope so! (hint...hint to man of the house)