Time outdoors - Encourages exercise and well-being
We spend too much time indoors, especially during the school term. By day, we are cooped up in our offices or classrooms surrounds by 4 white walls. At the end of the day we retreat to our homes. Even the modes of transport whether it be buses, trains or by car keep us cut of from the outdoors.
Autumn is a great time to get outdoors when it's not to hot and not too cold. Do the daily things you normally do inside, outdoors as much as possible. Be a role model for your kids by encouraging them to take pleasure in simply being outdoors. Here as some ideas;
- Story time- throw a rug outside and read to your children. Pick a night or weekend and read to your children outside. You could pick a tree to sit under with a flashlight this will make the experience memorable for your kids.
- Mealtimes - Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert or just a picnic under the sun, stars or moon. You don't need to go any where special just the backyard or verandah. Take your meals outside and enjoy your food.
- Playtime- Take the kids toys outdoors. Dolls, barbies, farm animals, dump truck or just colouring in; whatever your child is into. let your child play with their favourite toys in the fresh air.
- Hopscotch- Chalk is inexpensive. If you live in quiet street draw on the road or a driveway and if you don't have anywhere to draw on scratch a hopscotch into a patch of dirt.
- Hula hoops and jump ropes - Another inexpensive item. Allow your children to explore their imaginations while jumping, rolling, and running.
- Lastly walk or ride to the park, or to the local shops instead of driving. Once you get into the habit you will natural think of more activities you can do outdoors. Every little thing helps you and your family towards living a sustainable life.
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Let's get Dirty!!!- Stimulates create play and problem solving
Dirt can be one of the most fun natural elements that nature has provided us with. It washes out of hair, clothes, nails so don't worry about allowing your child to get dirty. But if you are concerned about the clothes just designate 'play' clothes that wont matter if they have stains on and keep in mind that that dirty clothes are a very small price to pay for the benefits of imagination and creative play. It is important to encourage your child to play in dirt without the fear of getting dirty. If you have a child who doesn't like to get their hands dirt, encourage them by getting your hands in the dirt to and showing them it ok.
In a patch of dirt or a garden bed, provide your child with some small shovels, buckets, old spoons, cups, matchbox cars etc. Also collect some objects from nature sticks, stones, feathers, leaves, flower petals, nuts and bark. What can you make or build with dirt? Mountains, Volcanoes, Walls, Castles, Animal Shapes or you could scoop away the dirt and make tunnels, rivers, or mini ponds. Create buildings or walls and decorate them with rocks, leaves, twigs and whatever you find from nature.
Playing with dirt can also be a great learning environment; Watch how the water reacts to the with your creations. Pour water into the channels or the pond you have made; Does the water remain in the pond? Does it absorb? or does it follow into other areas? Explain to your children why? Pour the water on mountains or on the bridge you created; what happens to the shape? This is an excellent way to help your children understand.
Mud!!!!
Let's not forget when dirt is wet. Squish mud through our fingers. Ask your children to roll it up in a ball, make bowls or cups and press leaves, rocks or twigs into it. Then ask what impressions do they make? Can you draw or paint with mud? Use your hands and fingers to create mud prints!!
