MILO sent the SquiggleKids a fantastic play kit (final photo) to use in the backyard – and I’ve got one play kit to give away to a lucky SquiggleMum reader as well!  The kit contains soccer nets, cones, a selection of different balls and even a ball pump for your kids to use outside, plus a couple of tins of MILO.

So of course, you know what my kids have had the most fun with, don’t you…?  The tins!!  

Kids have been inventing games with MILO tins for as long as MILO has been around. The labels might have changed, but not much else has. Here are 5 activities that are sure to bring back memories, and your own kids might like them too:

1.  Tin can stilts

2. Tin can telephone

3. Tin can bucket (on pulley rope)

4. Tin can bowling

5. Tin can drums

The kids have had SO much fun playing with a couple of tins. Sometimes I think commercial toys are entirely overrated.  That said, they were also pretty excited about this stuff:

To win your own play kit thanks to MILO, just leave a comment below sharing what your kids like to play with in the backyard. Do they prefer sports-type activities? Imaginary games? Or creating their own fun with un-toys like mine?  [One entry per person please. Australian and New Zealand residents only. Winner drawn at random on Monday 23/4/12 8pm Qld time.]

Disclaimer: I receive payment for consulting services as a MILO Play Ambassador, and received the MILO Play Kit free of charge.

* THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED*

Congratulations to the winner, Cherie!

• all living things have a common name and scientific name
• every different type of living thing has its own special scientific name
• scientific names have two words (usually)
• scientific names have funny words that sound different to every-day words
• animals that are similar might have similar names (eg: first word the same, second word different)

So this week, when we discovered an unusual species of fungi in the yard, I asked the kids this question…

If you were the first scientist to discover this amazing species, what would you call it?

I know – weird, right?!  We discussed its unusual shape, vibrant colour, pungent smell, and “tentacles” while thinking of a name.  Miss 5 said the first word should be Fungus (based on her understanding of scientific names).  Maybe Fungus Octopus? What about Fungus Redstar or Fungus Crazy?  

And then… the game was on!  Armed with a clipboard, crayon and magnifying glass, the kids set about making up names for other fungi they found around the backyard.  They made their own signs and took careful photos of their discoveries.

Here are the, ahem, un-scientific names of species as decided by the SquiggleKids:

Fungus Orangey

Fungus Rosy (named and written by Mr 3)

Fungus Goldiae

Fungus Umbrellus

The kids ran with this activity because it was of interest to them.  (Not all kids would find fungi so fascinating!)  Even my three year old wanted to “write” his own sign, and I loved seeing his purposeful scribble.  This kind of scribble is early writing at its finest.  I especially liked my daughter’s Fungus Umbrellus.  We discussed how the word umbrella sounded like an everyday word, but umbrellus sounded like a “science” word.

Both kids were so proud of their efforts too, and couldn’t wait to show SquiggleDad their discoveries. I think I have a couple of young naturalists on my hands!

You may also enjoy reading:

• Identifying Birds Eggs
• Fantastic Fungus
• Watching Nature Unfold

Me: I think that’s a cicada nymph.  Can you see the shell underneath? We sometimes find empty cicada shells, don’t we? It looks like this little guy didn’t quite make it out.  

A few minutes later…

Miss 5: Mum, I don’t think he’s dead after all. He’s moving!

Me: You’re right! He’s pulling himself up to the tree now, and I think those wings are getting bigger.

Miss 5: Now his whole body has come out of the shell.

Me: Wow, look how his abdomen curls out like that. It really IS weird and cool. You were right.

Miss 5: I know.

Me: Whoa! Check out his wings!

Miss 5: Are they growing?

Me: No, I think they are just getting bigger as they are drying out. See how they are wrinkly and curled up? I think they need to be all smooth before he can fly.

Miss 5: Butterflies have to wait for their wings to dry before they can fly too.

Me: Good thinking. I wonder if all flying insects have to wait for their wings to dry…?

Miss 5: Do you think his wings are ready now Mum?

Me: I don’t know. I guess we’ll have to keep watching.

Miss 5: He’s crawling away from his shell now.

Me: Maybe he’s not quite ready for flying yet…

Mr 3: I can get him and “fly” him for you if you like

Miss 5 and Me: NO!!!

An hour later…

Me: Dinner time kids. Time to come inside now.

Miss 5: But I want to see him fly away.

Me: Let’s take one last photo before the sun sets. Can you see how his wings are much closer to his body now?

Miss 5: Before they were out flat.

Me: I think he will stay there now until it’s dark, and fly away in the night.

Miss 5: I’ll check if he’s gone in the morning…

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If you have a child who is into bugs, you might like to watch the following 5min documentary snippet from Sir David Attenborough about the life cycle of cicadas in America.  (Stop it at the 4min mark if you aren’t ready to explain what the male and female adult insects are doing together…)  In Australia, our cicadas don’t emerge on mass the same way – but they are still pretty noisy!

Other SquiggleMum posts about kids observing nature:

• Backyard Lifecycles
• Bug Hunt
• Fantastic Fungus
• Googling The Great Outdoors

I love the headline too: Swing back to good old fun.  Couldn’t have said it better myself!  Even after receiving lots of lovely new things for Christmas, my kids are still happiest when they are monkeying around freely in the backyard.  This $12 rope ladder has provided hours of priceless fun and is still going strong after a year outside!

The front page pic is accompanied by a story and photo on page 5 about playscapes.  In the article, Rebekah Hurworth from Your Architect says, “… by incorporating sandpits, rockpools, cubby houses, reading areas and outdoor kitchen areas, children can spend hours entertaining themselves outside.”  If you are interested in natural playscapes, you might also like to read this great pdf fact sheet from Kidsafe.

You can see our sandpit, the dry creek bed and one of the bridges in the background, plus a bucket hanging from a pulley under the trees.  Our playscape is ever changing and growing, and always has something to offer.

What do your kids do in the backyard?  And what did YOU do outside as a kid??

PS – Yes, my kids usually have hats on outside

PPS – Yes, the architect is also my little sister

Two words: Erythrura gouldiae

This handsome guy is a Red headed (dilute mutation) Gouldian finch. Look at that colour!

Red headed Gouldians have a fiery reputation, and this one is certainly The Boss.

This lovely lady is a Black headed (normal) female Gouldian finch.

She is absolutely divine.

I also have a couple of cheeky Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

These two girls are totally BFFs.

*  *  *

I am completely in love.

I have been scouring second hand shops and sites for a while now, hoping to find a small sink for our much-loved dirt kitchen.  So, I was completely delighted to come across this discarded laundry tub recently.  I hadn’t considered a laundry tub, but the deep single trough is perfect for outdoor water play.  I also love the green colour which blends in fantastically with the dirt kitchen and surrounding trees.  (The kids’ needs come first in our playscape, but I’ll admit I still prefer the back yard not to be an eyesore!)

I thought about building a simple wooden structure to support the sink, but the kids were desperate to start using it so I propped it up on some bricks.  I made sure there was enough clearance underneath for the drain to flow freely, and the kids dug their own channel for the water to run out into the yard.  As it turned out, this has worked perfectly – so the bricks are staying for now!  The sink is tucked away beside the existing dirt kitchen, nestled between the trunks of a few big trees.

I’m pleased to report that the grand total for this project was only a couple of dollars.  Yep, the cost of a plug.  I could have spent a hundred dollars on a fancy plastic water table, but I doubt my munchkins would have any more fun with it than they do with this tub.

Please don’t be fooled into thinking you need to spend big dollars on your children.  Keep your eye out for “treasures” and just let your kids be kids outside.

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Like this post? You might also enjoy reading:

• Outdoor Chalkboards
• Backyard Letter Box
• Outdoor Multi Age Play

Although you can go on a bug hunt with nothing but a pair of eyes, kids often respond more enthusiastically when they have a few “tools” to use.  You might even like to make up a bug-kit for your child, with some of the following items.

• Magnifying glass – for looking up close. Even young kids enjoy the magic of magnification.
• Camera or smart phone – our tech savvy kids are quite used to having Mum’s phone on hand to take photos of interesting things!  This is a good way to let them have a go at taking photos independently.
• Notebook and pencil – older children may like to make a list (words or pictures) of the insects they find.
• Tweezers – not for bugs!! These can be useful for gently lifting up leaves and bark from the ground to reveal creatures hidden underneath.  Great activity for developing fine motor skills too.
• Bug catcher – Depending on what your kids find, they may want to put an insect into a bug catcher to observe more closely. Unless we are sure an insect is safe to touch, we put critters into the bug catcher by picking up the leaf or stick they are on, rather than picking up the bug.  I encourage my kids to release any creatures they have caught at the end of the day.

Activities like this also provide an opportunity for conversations about nature. Try asking some of these questions when your child discovers an interesting critter.  Remember that open ended questions require your child to think at a higher level, and create much richer discussions.

Simple Questions

• What colour is it?
• How many legs does it have?
• Where did you find it?
• Is it bigger or smaller than your fingernail?

Open Ended Questions

• Is it similar to any other bugs you have seen? In what way?
• If you were a scientist in charge of naming this creature, what would you call it?
• What do you think it eats? Why?
• What do you think might eat IT?
• Do you think the babies and adults of this bug look the same as each other, or different. Why do you think that?

Happy hunting!

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My kids don’t even know what a sprinkler is.  Water restrictions have been in place for years here in Queensland, and despite the odd flood or cyclone – the grass is still so brown and dry around Brisbane that it crackles under the kids’ feet.  So can you imagine how excited we are that water restrictions have been eased for a week?!

If it’s been a while since your kids enjoyed water play, try some of these ideas:

• Run through the sprinkler.  Make sure you move the sprinkler around the yard every so often so that the garden gets a good watering too.  And for those also in SE Qld, don’t forget that sprinklers do use a lot of water, and we still have to pay for the extra water we use this week.
• Washing up.  This is one of those tasks that mums detest and kids love.  Take a big bowl outside filled with water and a little dishwashing detergent.  Let the kids wash duplo blocks, playdough cutters, dolls, plastic cars, whatever you like. Just sit everything on a towel in the sun to dry.
• Water fights.  Depending on the age of your kids, you might like to try soaking each other with spray bottles, water pistols, water balloons or even just the hose.  Kids love it when parents get involved too.
• Water walls.  I have seen several posts (via Let The Children Play) and pinterest pics lately featuring water walls.  I think my kids would really enjoy the challenge of designing their own wall somewhere outside.
• Free creative play.  Often the best fun is the fun you make yourself.  Simply put out an assortment of objects and a large container of water, or hose with a trigger nozzle, and see what your kids come up with!  They are bound to entertain themselves.
• Bring back the slip’n'slide!  (Just remember that little bodies cope with slippin’ and slidin’ far better than grownup bodies.  A trip down memory lane could result in a trip to the hospital.)

What other water activities do your kids enjoy?  Share in the comments below so that we can all try them!

I enjoyed talking to Allan about how outdoor play has changed over the last couple of generations.  Gone are the days of all kids climbing trees.  Gone are the monkey bars from playgrounds.  Gone are the games of cricket in the street with the neighbourhood kids.  And gone are the mums who say, “Off you go and play, but be back by dinner!”

The result is that many of today’s kids have poor gross motor skills and a lack of confidence in their physical abilities.  This is being seen by early childhood educators and sports coaches alike.

Organised sports activities can be a great way to develop your child’s skills, but sport doesn’t take the place of all important free play.  Different things are learned in each, as I discussed on air this week.

(If you missed it, you can catch the podcast here: 25oct_SquiggleMum_podcast)

The benefits of free play include:

• general gross motor awareness and development
• problem solving
• independence
• creativity and imagination

While the benefits of organised sport include:

• specific skill development
• discipline
• commitment
• cooperation
• “belonging” to a team

My opinion?

I think sport is great, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of free play.  Kids need plenty of free play outdoors during their early childhood and early primary school years, so that they can step confidently into organised sports.

What’s your opinion?  Are your kids involved in organised sport?

.

Thanks to Louisa from Brand Meets Blog

and QLD Cricket for the wonderful afternoon,

and to Hannah Millerick for the amazing photography.

Such excitement over a simple leaf. She then dropped it, of course, and so we set off on a search for another 6-shaped-leaf.  I suggested we look for other numeral shapes as well.

Before long we were all engaged in a hunt for nature’s numbers.  I grabbed a long piece of cardboard for our collection, and we attached each numeral with sticky tape.  Because we didn’t always find numbers in the right order, it was a challenge for Miss 5 to stick them down in the right place, while still leaving enough room for other numerals as we discovered them.

We spent an entire afternoon outside in nature; exploring the leaf litter, collecting sticks, looking for shapes and thinking about numbers.  What a delightful way to learn together.

When I look back at my classroom teaching days, I wonder how many activities like this I could have taken OUTSIDE…

(My daughter took her nature numbers to show at school

and they are now proudly hanging in her classroom.)