Make your own constellation

     I've talked a lot about fostering a love for things, so I wont go off on another rant about it haha.  You can read my rant here if you want to know why its so important.  Remember my blog about cloud watching?  Well lets take it a step further and star watch!

     Henery's Stars is a story about a pig who sees a great pig constellation in the sky and rushes to the barn yard to tell his friends.  His friends all see something different in the stars and it causes an argument until Henry can't see his pig anymore.  This story is a great way to introduce constellations in a way that shows that we can create our own.

     Another great book is Star Climbing.  This book is full of beautiful art work and a sleepy story.  It introduces constellations in a way that promotes love over education.  We loved this book so much that we renewed it three times!  I am a sucker for good art work.  There is also a section in the back that briefly explains the story of the constellations in the book if your child is interested.

     Now on to the activity.  I kinda like to do this one on the same day I do the cloud watching because they go together so well!  On a camping trip is the perfect time.  I get really excited to do these activities for the first time so while we are waiting for it to get dark I like to do some connect the dots, and Chloe LOVES connect the dots.  If you can find one about constellations all the better!
     The activity part of this is pretty easy.  You can lay out a blanket and look up at the stars.  If you lay out at the end of sunset you can watch as more and more stars come out adding to the educational experience.  Start saying what shapes you see in the stars and allow your kiddo to join in when they are ready.  It can also be fun to have a telescope and a phone with the star app ready for further fun!

Let me know what you see in the stars!

5 Things to Keep Kids Entertained and Unplugged

madhyamam

    Have you ever let your child watch a little (A LOT) to much TV?  I'm Guilty.  It is so easy to get in the habit of setting your child in front of the TV when you have something to do.  Many of us feel guilty about it later when we realize how much of those "things I need to get done" add up for our child and their TV time.  I am not going to preach to you about how to much TV is horrible for your child, there are already plenty of people much more qualified than I already doing that.  What I am going to talk about are a few different tools you can use to break the habit.

1.  Fun Shelf: I don't know about your kid, but mine is obsessed with learning.  She loves to trace things, color, search and find, and look at picture books.  So we have a book shelf full of things just for that.  Every morning I would put her on a show while she ate so I could get something done.  I realized that I was making a bad habit for her so now we sit at the table for breakfast and do a sticker book together or color.  I am still able to get things done between my turn or I get up for a few minutes and then come back.  Always make sure that you come back so that they learn to trust that you will and wont bother you to come back all the time, you will get a lot more done in the long run trust me.

2.  Basket of Exploration:  Cooking can be one of the hardest things to do with a child up your butt.  I let Chloe help as much as she can but there are a lot of things that she just cant do fast enough or at all yet.  So I prep ahead of time with a basket of fun.  All you need to do is go threw some old toys that your little hasn't played with in a while and present them in a new way.  For example: put a bunch of legos in a basket (if you already keep them in a basket put them in something else), add a few other things in there that could possibly enhance the play like toys to play on the Legos, and leave it somewhere that they will see it or make a big deal about it when you bring it out.  You will be surprised how much more use you can get out of a discarded toy.  This also works in a pinch.  When I was filling this basket for a picture Chloe jumped right on it!

3. Table Top Design: This one can be really fun for many different occasions.  Get a bunch of paper, tape it to the top of your table, put some markers out, and watch the master piece come together.  When your child starts to bother you and you need some space, ask them to go add something to the table for what ever reason pops into your head at the time.  If you have older kids or adults who want to join in the fun encourage them to write things on it as well.  This can be a quote, poem, made up story, funny words, anything really.

4. Theme Box: This one takes a little bit of prep work, but the fun also lasts much longer.  Pay attention to what your child is expressing interest in, although I am sure you are already doing this, and create them a box with that theme.  For example a doctor themed box could have doctor tools, lab coat, patients that need mending, books about doctory things.  If your child is older then it could be a bunch of old broken toys and the materials they would need to fix them.  Your child is interested in space?  Pull out those star stickers!  Pinterest is a great resources for this one.

giftofcuriosity

5.  Shadow Tracing:  So you really want that space?  Shut your kid in the closet, or a room without windows, well unless its dark... and give them some paper, a flash light, and things to trace with.  Show them how to put a object in front of the light and trace it on the wall (don't forget to put paper there!).  Teach about shadows as much or as little as you like and let them have at it.  For extra time encourage them to color in the shadow and not just tracing it.  (This ones picture just never turned out right)

     There are so many things we can do with our kids that will allow them to grow more than a TV will allow.  We just have to get creative and break our own habit.  What do you remember from childhood, was it the things you did or the shows you watched?

What do you do to keep your kiddo busy when you need some time?

Why is it Important to Fall in Love With Things?

     I think that we all have at least one thing in common, we want our kids to be happy.  I talk a lot in my blog about how creating a love for something is more important than teaching the facts.  For example in my blog about cloud watching I say "This isn't about learning the cloud names, its about promoting a love for the clouds that will later inspire them to learn the clouds names and so much more."

     When you love something you want to explore it and learn everything there is to know about it.  Think about something you were/are passionate about.  For me it is early childhood education, I have 5+ books on my shelf about children and another 15 about other things that I am interested in.  I have never learned so much in my life.  In school you are taught how to get all the right answers, to learn what they say you should know, and it really can turn some people off from learning.  Look back onto your school experience, what do you remember learning about the most?  What knowledge did you retain?  I bet it was about something that you loved.

     You are responsible for teaching your child how to love things and how to explore those passions.  Teachers can only teach so much about any one thing, they cant focus just on what your child is craving to know about.  

     So next time your at the park and want to throw in a bit of education, lay down and make a story with the clouds.  Someday this love for clouds could grow into so much more.

What do you love?  How do you promote passion in your life and the lives of your family?

Until next time =]

A Natural Parents Toolbox

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