Posts Tagged ‘Outdoor play’

Taste the Chill

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Homemade frozen treats are a great way to beat the heat this summer. Here are a few simple treats you and your child can make together to cool down on the hottest of summer days.

  • Frozen Fruit Pops: Use frozen berries and/or fresh fruit and experiment with different combinations. Blend your fruit of choice in a blender with a bit of all-natural fruit juice and pour into ice cube trays. After the cubes have set up for a few minutes, insert Popsicle sticks into each one and freeze completely. When ready, pop them out one by one and enjoy!
  • “Ice Cream” Sandwiches: Spread a bit of sugar free Cool Whip on a graham cracker and top with another graham cracker. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. When completely frozen, unwrap and savor your tasty “ice cream” sandwich creation!
  • Frozen Bananas: Peel a banana and cut it into two pieces. Insert a Popsicle stick in the flat end of each piece of banana. Use a butter knife or spatula to cover the banana with your choice of peanut, soy or sunflower butter; honey or chocolate syrup and roll in granola, whole grain cereal or chopped nuts. Place the bananas on a tray covered with parchment paper and freeze. Children will “go bananas” for this fun frozen treat!

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Outdoor Activities & Park Play with Your Children

Monday, March 14th, 2011

A day at the park may seem like ‘just another day,’ but learning and bonding experiences flourish at the park!

Pack for Safety

Include drinking water, sunscreen, hat, water to wash as well as wipes for hands, sneakers or other closed-toed shoes, a change of clothes or a towel for the seat, small first aid kit for those little scrapes and a small trash bag to keep the earth litter free.

Expect to Get Dirty

Going outside is about the freedom to explore and the only way to explore is to touch it, and yes, it is dirty–it’s outside! Dirty does not mean ‘germy.’ Roll in the grass, stomp in the mud, touch the frog and splash in the puddles.

Infants & Teacher with Bubbles CInfant to Six Months

  • Pack for safety: A blanket to crawl on and a sturdy pair of pants for crawling on rough surfaces. Be prepared to change diapers on the go.
  • Be prepared to climb and crawl yourself. This is the best way for you to ensure your child’s safety. Watch for items going into your child’s mouth.
  • Hydration: The outside air and activity increases the amount of fluids you both need to consume. And while you’re packing the water, pack a snack.
  • Point, name and describe: As your child explores, point out the details; name objects and talk about your experience.

First Steps (12 to 18 months)

  • Pack for safety: Bring a blanket and a sturdy pair of pants for crawling on rough surfaces. This is not the place for skirts or dresses.
  • Plan for breaks and pack snacks, water and a few books.
  • Dig and touch: Collect items to further explore when you get home.
  • Walk the trail with your little one on a riding toy. Don’t forget the helmet.
  • Park Play Etiquette: If your little one finds a playmate, ask the other parent if both of you may join in the play. Your child will learn to ask for your approval before playing with strangers and the parent of the other child will appreciate this overture.

Toddler and Get Set (18 to 36 months)

  • Plot the potty path!
  • Bring balls to throw and kick or bean bags and a bucket.
  • Move beyond the park and walk a trail or explore a nursery. Go to the stream, lake or pond and skip rocks. Turn the rocks over to find creepy, crawly things.
  • No breaks required–but pause for a moment to re-hydrate.
  • Look through binoculars–even two toilet paper tubes offer a new view of the world.
  • Tent it! A pop-up tent is an instant playhouse.
  • Take an umbrella and put on your galoshes–take a walk in the light rain.

Preschool to Pre-K (36 months +)

  • Lie down and look up: Children like to see the world from a different perspective.
  • Picnic: Let your child be a part of packing the necessities and preparing the sandwiches.
  • Play “I Spy” or “I Hear.”
  • Read or draw under the trees.
  • Bring a magnifying cup for bugs and objects to view. Research your bugs and objects when you return home to learn more about each.

Go outside all year long–visit http://www.scdconline.org/PDF_files/weatherwatch.pdf to know what is considered safe outdoor weather for children.

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Gardening with Young Children

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

Teaching your child how to garden is a fun, hands-on learning experience that encourages patience, imagination and environmental awareness.  The best part about learning to garden is that it’s something your family can enjoy together, indoors or out!

Before you begin, talk with your child about the whole gardening process to peak their interest and help them become excited about the experience.  You could also pick up a children’s book about gardening or visit a children’s gardening Web site.

When you’re ready to start, gather a few supplies and child-appropriate tools—soil, seed cups, watering cans, etc.  Take a trip to the garden center together to pick out your supplies and seeds or seedlings for planting.  Some great plants for children to start their gardening experience with include sunflowers, snow peas, cherry tomatoes and strawberries. Read seed packets and plant tags—anything with easy care and a short growing season are perfect for little ones to plant! Be sure to acknowledge that some non-edible plants can be poisonous.  Check the National Capital Poison Center Web site for a list of some poisonous plants and always supervise your child while gardening.

Now that it’s time to plant, choose your location. If you have a large garden, section off an area or, if you don’t, use an old sandbox filled with soil as your child’s own special garden. Encourage your child to care for their plants throughout the entire process—from seed, to seedling, to mature plant, to harvest. How exciting it will be when the whole family is enjoying the fruits and vegetables they raised all on their own!

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Bike Readiness & Helmet Safety

Friday, June 25th, 2010

During the summer months, it is important to verify bike readiness by running through this checklist to ensure your children’s safety.

  • Make sure their helmet still fits properly. If the helmet is too small or has previously been involved in a crash or has been damaged, replace it.
  • Clean off all the dust on the bike and check for loose parts, this includes the seat and handlebars.
  • Check and inflate the tires. Also, check for tire wear and dry rot.
  • Adjust the seat. Your children have grown since the last time they rode their bikes. When seated on the bike, your child should be able to stand on the balls of both feet.
  • Check the handlebars. They should be easy to grasp without leaning forward.
  • Make sure the brakes are working properly and there is no wear.
  • Buy the appropriate sized bike. Never buy a bike that your child will “grow into.”

Bike Helmet Safety

Many children do not like wearing helmets because they fear they are “uncool.” Because of this, it is important to have your children start wearing a helmet with their first tricycles or play vehicles to get them in the habit. Let your children know you expect them to wear a helmet every time they ride. Be a role model and wear a helmet when you ride your bike; your children are more likely to wear a helmet if they see you demonstrating good safety.

Allowing your children to choose their own helmet will increase the probability that they will want to wear it. Make sure when purchasing a new helmet that it is the correct size. Never buy a helmet that your child will “grow into.”

  • The helmet should sit level on your child’s head. It should be low on the forehead, about one or two finger widths above their eyebrows.
  • Adjust the straps so they meet in a “V” right under each ear.
  • Adjust the chinstrap snugly under the chin so that no more than one or two fingers fit under the strap. Keep the helmet tight enough so the helmet pulls down when you child opens his or her mouth.
  • Always make sure helmet straps are buckled when your child is riding.

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Fun in the Sun – How to Protect Your Family

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Babies under 6 months:

The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However, when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant’s face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.

For All Other Children:

  • The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
  • Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater that protects against UVB and UVA rays.
  • Be sure to apply enough sunscreen – about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
  • Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
  • Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

Source:  http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips.cfm

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Stay-cations: Affordable Family Fun

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Stay-cations may not only provide a more frugal family vacation, they may also provide an opportunity to create and experience a higher level of bonding with your children.

Upsides to stay-cations include nominal packing as well as minimal airplane or car ride entertainment.   Stay-cations, however, provide the challenge of getting into vacation mode when the remnants of your day-to-day life are all around – planning ahead is the key.

Fun, frugal stay-cations include:

  • Go on nature walks, hikes and bike rides.  Collect rocks to paint.
  • Organize day trips to zoos and/or museums.  Create a family scrapbook to commemorate your experiences.
  • Choose a miniature golf outing and enjoy a little healthy competition.
  • Plan a family mini-spa day.  Prepare a healthy lunch from your vegetable garden.
  • Go camping in your own backyard.  Don’t forget flashlight tag and S’mores!
  • Plan and prepare yummy goodies and enjoy a picnic together in a local park.
  • Rainy day stay-cations are fun too!
    • Play board games
    • Assemble jigsaw puzzles
    • Watch family movies

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Turning Mother Nature into a Classroom

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Infants & Teacher with Bubbles AMother Nature is a wonderful teacher and the great outdoors is her classroom! Children learn so much through the experiences they have with nature. Exposure to the environment provides many benefits to children including stress reduction, improvement of attention span and a boost in creativity. Parents can strengthen bonds with their children by exploring nature together.

Today’s children may be the first generation at risk of having a shorter lifespan than their parents. Screen time along with schoolwork and extracurricular schedules have led to a sedentary lifestyle and made physical outdoor activity practically obsolete. A growing body of research supports that more time spent in nature can support a child’s well-being and counteract the rising rates of depression, obesity and attention disorders.

Nature is closer than you think, so make it a priority to spend time connecting with your children outside. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Explore

Remind children to use their senses as they take in the beauty and wonder of nature. Home, sweet home! Have your child look around and see if they can spot homes of wildlife – bird or squirrel nests, bee hives, and holes in trees or the ground. Ask if they can identify which animal or insect lives inside.

  • Can you hear me now? Stand quietly in the middle of a wooded area and listen for sounds from the forest. Discuss what was heard and the possible cause of the sound.
  • The nose knows! Find a few objects with different scents, like a flower, grass or a pine cone. Instruct your child to keep their eyes closed as you place an object near their nose. Now let them try to identify the object by using only their sense of smell.

Create

Collect vines and branches to create a wreath together. Find a few small pine branches full of needles and let your child use them as paint brushes. Set up a piece of cardboard outside for their canvas and let them create a masterpiece.

Play

Prepare your child for a safari scavenger hunt! Hide several plush animal toys outside in the yard, give your child a few hints if necessary and watch their surprise and delight as they discover each of their beloved creatures.

Learn

Put together a “feely” bag full of nature’s treasures, like leaves, twigs, grass, stones and tree bark. Have your child reach into the bag without looking, select an item and guess what it is based on the way it feels.

Appreciate

Take time to enjoy nature with your child. Go on walks and talk with them about the things in nature that are changing as each season passes. Let their curiosity of the mysteries around them initiate opportunities for teachable moments. Eating outside is also a good way to get out in the fresh air and add some excitement to mealtime. Have a picnic lunch on a blanket or set up a table and a few chairs to eat dinner under the stars.

Enjoying free time in nature is one of the keys to children’s healthy development and creativity. These family fun adventures together are sure to create lasting memories.

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Take a Hike and Create a Learning Adventure!

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Infants & Teacher with Bubbles CSpring can be a beautiful time of the year.  Leaves are budding, plants are sprouting and temperatures are starting to warm – it is a great time to go on a learning adventure with your child in the great outdoors!

  • Find an appropriate location.  Start small; you do not want to intimidate your little one by trying to climb to the top of a mountain in one day!  Contact your local visitors’ center or tourism office for maps of trails or parks in your area.
  • Once you have found the perfect trail or park, map out a path with your child and stick to it.  Carry the map with you and do not wander too far off the trial, especially if you are not familiar with the area.
  • Hiking is a physical activity, so take a few minutes to loosen up and stretch at the beginning of the trail.  Let your child suggest a few stretches, too.
  • Pack water and healthy snacks.  Drinking water often and nibbling on food throughout your hike will keep you and your child energized.
  • Enjoy the beautiful scenery and look for signs of wildlife, such as paths in the weeds, mounds of dirt or footprints in the mud.
  • Collect objects such as leaves or rocks (check with the park/trail authority to ensure this is permitted) or take pictures of things that interest your child.
  • Remember to ‘carry-out’ your trash.  Food and trash can be harmful to wildlife.

Have fun and enjoy this wonderful learning and growing opportunity with your child!

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