Outdoor

Lost and Found

We had an unexpected visitor to our backyard in the form of a tame Budgerigar.  The poor thing was being swooped by our resident Noisy Miners and seemed unable to fly away.  We could see an identification band around its leg, so assumed it was someone’s pet. Using a towel we carefully caught the bird without frightening it.  The only container we had to put the budgie in was the one we also used for the frog! ...

On Air: Ideas for Outdoor Play

I was on my favourite local radio station this morning 96five talking about the importance of outdoor play. Click on this link or the image below to hear a podcast of the interview. If you are looking for simple outdoor play ideas while the kids are on holidays, try some of these: Ideas for Under 5s Mud pies – set up a simple dirt kitchen and let the kids cook with mud. Give them some utensils and bowls and they’ll...

Painted Dinosaurs

I picked up these wooden, unpainted creatures at an art supply store for only $2 each.  I think one is actually a lizard, but we called them both dinosaurs.  The kids loved the way the cuts in the wood enabled the creatures to move. I set up some paints in egg cartons and let the kids go for it!  My little one just needed me to hold his dinosaur still for him, but apart from that he painted it all by himself.  Here...

Get Grubby Giveaway – with dirtgirlworld

Have you met dirtgirl yet? I knew I would like her the first time I heard about her, before I even saw an episode of the brand new Aussie children’s program.  Dirtgirl is a gumboot-wearing, tractor-driving, veggie-growing girl who loves to sing and get grubby!  My kind of girl. Dirtgirlworld is a celebration of life outside!  Each episode is packed with outdoor goodness and includes issues like recycling, composting,...

Literacy Lava 6

The sixth edition of the free publication Literacy Lava has just been released this week.  It’s a fabulous resource for parents who want to be literacy-aware, and who want to encourage their children as readers and writers.  This time I have an article included on Story Stones.  Here’s a snippet: Stones and rocks have been used in different cultures throughout the ages to tell stories to children and adults...

Climbing Trees

I wonder how many children will grow up without ever having climbed a tree? More and more in the city I am seeing tree-less backyards.  Children aren’t allowed to climb trees in the vast majority of childcare centres or schools either, and kids today just don’t have the free outdoor time we did a generation or two ago.  As a result I’m guessing some children will never know the triumph of conquering...

Across The Backyard Story Bridge

I can’t believe it’s the last day of Book Week and I’m only just getting up my Book Week post!  The 2010 theme is Across The Story Bridge.  Seeing as though we have an actual bridge in our backyard over the dry creek bed, I thought we would take reading outside this week.  I spread a small rug on one side of the bridge with a selection of current favourites. There’s something special about...

Buckets and Strings

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best, aren’t they?  This week I put a piece of string up and over the branch of a tree, and tied a coloured bucked to each end.  Genius.  Mr Almost-Two has played with these buckets constantly. Blue bucket down, yellow bucket up. Yellow bucket down, blue bucket up, up, up! And if you’re very, very clever – you can get both buckets to stop half way and fill them...

The Local Show

It’s Ekka time of year here in Brisbane!  The “Ekka” is the annual show or exhibition held in the city with rides, showbags, animals, entertainment and fireworks.  One day, I’m sure we’ll take the kids to the Ekka, but for now we are content to take them instead to our local show held on the outskirts of the suburbs.  A smaller show has much to offer a young family, without the crowds,...