We start every day with a nature walk. I let my son take the lead and just let him wander as he will throughout a park. I try not to distract him or direct him. This is his time to explore. On the way home (this particular day) we gathered several nature items.
Then we returned to our yard and separated out our nature treasures into four bowls. You can use anything for this. Rocks, acorns, chive blossoms, clover, etc.. Panda played for over an hour exploring colors, textures, smells, sorting, scrunching, pouring, stacking, picking up, and carrying!
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When we were done, we washed the bowls together. First I washed them in the sink and then he washed them in a Tupperware bin. That was another splashy, soapy half hour of sensory play.
Just four little wooden bowls, and a whole lot of learning and growth.
Just four little wooden bowls, and a whole lot of learning and growth.
Have fun, and Shine on!
Nature toys are the best! Love those bowls.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim, we use these bowls everyday. There are 9 in the set.
DeleteHow wonderful... I forget how old is your little one again? I know he is older than mine... does he look to put it all in his mouth? That is the one thing that always stops me from letting him wander. I've had to dig rocks, bark, dirt, really non-edible plants out of his mouth so often, it becomes a stress more than a pleasure. I would love to pick your brain about how you motivate your son to keep the activity "tactile" and not so much a strange buffet!
ReplyDeletePanda is now 15 months old. I stay near with a ready arm, but unless it will do him harm I let him go. These plants are edible but have tastes he might not like. Dandelion, white clover, lavender, and a tree whose name is escaping me just now. By letting him experience the bitter flowers instead of just stopping him from trying, he has picked up that flowers are yucky and won't try them anymore or any others. It's a start for us.
DeleteNow if my son could only realize that rocks are yucky, he would maybe stop trying to swallow them. LOL! But little man is bigger than mine, so I'll keep hoping he'll outgrow the choking-hazard-fascination-phase soon. :-)
DeleteHe will. They all do sooner or later. Panda still samples rocks now and then, but he will spit them out now if I catch him and remind them they taste yucky.
DeleteBesides being educational and sensory and all those great things, this activity is just beautiful! Those bowls are great, and I love the bright colors of nature inside. Your boy is like a bright, sweet flower himself. :)
ReplyDeleteAwe, thank you.
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