Snow Day Friday

We got SNOOOOOWWWW!
Not much so far but enough to venture out to the shed to look for the sledge PJ thought she had come with and was in the shed - but no,
No sledge in the shed.
humpf
So, instead we -
Put on hats, gloves, wellies, coats (all big achievements)
Go out for a walk in the snow,
Into the park to crunch in the snow,
Run around in the snow,
Do some Snow Angels
Throw snow,
Buy new sledge in the sales - bargain - red - she wanted blue like her old one (aww)
Brrr.
Come inside and get dry and warm.
chase the cat,
Drink hot chocolate.
Back outside to build a Snowman,
With stones for eyes and buttons, pine cone for a nose,
Adorn with a hat and sandcastle bucket for fun and a windmill,
Throw more snow
knock down the snowman (oops!)
Throw more snow,
Eat snow,
Collect as much snow as you can in your arms
Try out the new sledge.
Come back inside again to get warm and dry.
drink hot chocolate,
chase the cat,
play with Christmas playdough set,
watch a DVD

So now we have completed 2 snowy things to do of our 50 challenge

Happy Snowy Friday!

Mud or Snow?

Here is the idea.
Brilliant!
All aimed at helping Children to get Outdoors more.
Fun and fresh air all in one breath.
50 things to do before you are 11 and 3/4



So far, we have completed 4 things.
Number 22. Taken a look from inside a tree.
Number 18. Balanced on a fallen tree - with help, admittedly!
Number 6. Ran around in the rain.
Number 19.  Swung on a rope swing.
Hoping to complete number 11 and number 15, if the weather forecast brings us the snow: Throw some snow or go sledging.....
What are our chances?
We might end up doing 13 or 20 instead....as all we have rain and lots of mud at the moment!

50 things to do Outdoors

My new daughter, PJ is 3 and loves to be outdoors and I love some fresh air and to wander around with the smell of fresh air too. She loves to run and run fast. I mean fast. No one ever believes me when I say how fast she is at running. Then, if they come for a walk with us, they say: "She is fast isn't she?" Wellies slow her down, I have discovered - although I haven't told her this, of course. Chase me she says and off she goes and doesn't stop. The skill, I have learned, is to run after her when her face is set forwards as she runs and then to pretend to be walking as soon as she turns to look at you. This gives a chance of catching up with her a little without her realising. Chase me she yells and runs off again. Sometimes she falls over, which slows her down considerably more. Otherwise, she would just run and keep going thinking it is a game. Yelling stop or wait doesnt work as she is in a state of high arousal and is very intent on running. At great speed. She has no sense of danger. We are working on listening skills, where we practise really good listening, where we play let's run to the next landmark and I give lots of praise when she does what I have instructed. So, what is a new Mummy to do with a little 3 year old girl who loves to be outdoors and loves the sense of freedom that running around brings, and yet I neeed to make sure she is safe where she runs and have to also run with her, as well as finding a variety of experiences for her to enjoy and develop her mind and interest. After all, she needs a balance of finding freedom as well as the safety of boundaries and to learn the rules of conformity. I am a member of the National Trust and so it seemed a natural thing to contnue with my new little girl. Membership is free for a child under 5. It is a no brainer and it is always fun in the rain and shine. But have you heard of this? 50 things to do before you are 11 and 3/4 It is an amazing discovery and is something we are beginning to do. Everything from looking inside a tree or running in the rain to kyacking and climbing a tree. You can pick up books to complete from national trust shops or do the challenge online and collect badges as you complete each of the 50.
We have started.
4 badges all completed already.
To be continued.... until she is 11 and 3/4. We have 8 years. I think it will be a while before we build a dam in a river....