Summer in my mind equates with good old fashioned mess. Squishy wet beach sand between your toes as you prance along without shoes. The tangy sweet smell of sunscreen on warm, tan skin fresh from the lake. Sticky, gooey and delicious campfire s’mores and burnt marshmallows squashed between your finger tips. Before you head off…
Montessori Monday: 5 Ways To Get Gardening with Toddlers
I’m already starting to plan my garden for 2014! It’s hard to believe that the growing season is almost upon us with all the snow we’ve been having. It’s no secret that I’m big into growing my own food. I sit on the board of the local greenhouse society, I grow edibles in my front garden,…
Bring Back That Summer Feeling
Summer just doesn’t have the same feeling once you’re a parent. Between work, camp drop offs, playdate pick ups, keeping the yard in order and doing all the other household chores when the sun is shining outside can make summer feel like all work and no play. But summer can be the sunny season again….
My Outdoor Roots Were Forged in Guiding (or Why You Should Enroll Your Daughter in Girl Guides)
We all have to start somewhere. For me, my love of camping and being outdoors were forged in tents, and on the shores of Lake Erie. From ages 7 to 16, I attended a Girl Guide summer camp for at least a week. These were not the type of camps we think of…
Mini-Adventures: Dining En Plein Air
It’s been a hectic couple of weeks while we pack our house to move. There is very little remaining to do, and the choices for what to play with, what to entertain ourselves with and what to eat grow slim. Thankfully, kids are incredibly adaptable. I think we should all take a lesson from them…
Bubble Play
Bubble Play Bubble play is at the top of my list for outdoor activities when the spring weather hits. It’s fun and it’s an easy way to engage kids of all ages and abilities. In fact, it’s my secret weapon for mornings when there hasn’t been enough sleep, afternoons when the kids are over-scheduled, or those evenings…