Search Results

An Article by Angela Kidd Children are life's most wonderful blessings but you have to admit, they're no angels at all times. It's quite natural for toddlers to test your patience often because they're still developing their behaviour and discovering what's right from wrong (on top of their endless reservoir of energy). When you're at your wit's end with your little one, follow these tips to staying patient with toddlers: Level with your child In situations like this, you have to stop thinking like a grown-up! More often than not, especially with young kids, their troublesome behaviour isn't deliberate. It mainly stems from either frustration or innocence. That's why when they're acting "bad", treat it as a teaching moment - say what you need to say, ask questions, then move on. Have the extra patience knowing that if they can't communicate what they want properly, they'll act out. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand in their level. Offer choices Nobody wants to be told what to do all day, even children. Being told "no" to almost everything will naturally frustrate them. When they ask for something and you won't allow it, give them another option. For example, if your little one asks for a lollipop right before bedtime, you can politely explain why she can't have one then offer a glass of milk instead. This way, she doesn't feel like she can't do anything or have anything at all. Observe your own behaviour Kids watch you and pick up on your actions more than you know. If you whine a lot, complain when there's nothing good on tv, raise your voice when you're upset or don't finish everything on your plate during meals? Don't expect your little one to have perfect behaviour when you yourself are showing some bad habits. Always be careful about what you say or do around your kid because you are their role model! Let things be One of the best parenting advice you can get - don't sweat the small stuff. If they spill cereal on the floor, played with your lipstick or made some other mistake, it's really not worth your time and energy if you get mad and scold your child. Correct the mistake and leave it at that. Simply put, let kids be kids! Kids won't have maximized their childhood if they didn't get on their parents' nerves! Just follow these effective tips to staying patient with toddlers! Angela Kidd is an author and illustrator, a wife and a mother to 3 beautiful children. In her spare time, she would personally create storybooks and colouring books for her children for fun and they loved it.. And so did she. Angela quit her job and created her own line of educational activity books for children of various ages, with the main goal of making learning fun! You can check out some of Angela's amazing colouring books here.My personal favourites is the daily gratitude journal book for kids and the Camping Colouring Book:- A Colouring Book of Nature With Beautiful Illustrations of Mountains, Lakes, Forest and the Stunning Outdoors

Lynn Lamont M.A. holds a B.S. Degree in Speech Correction and a M.A. Degree in American Sign Language Education from New York University in New York City. She is currently a certified teacher in Michigan and Florida, where she resides and presents live Sign Baby Sign Workshops. She is a published author and baby sign language influencer.This is Her interview. What is baby sign language all about ? Baby sign language, is a specific gesture-based communication designed to interact with newborns, It has grown in popularity over the past couple of years. It is designed to assist extremely small babies in expressing their wants and desires faster than they would normally be able to. What are the benefits of baby sign language ? Baby gesture specialists think that just by removing the barrier between a child's way of communicating and their capacity of expressing, anger and outbursts may be prevented. Toddlers as young as five to six months old may acquire the necessary fundamental signals that includes items or ideas like "hunger," "milk," "drinking," "tired," "warm," "cool," "play," "bathroom," and "soft toy." The skill to express simple things might aid interaction by creating a link to the spoken words. It can even aid in the subsequent development of spoken and textual modes of interaction. What are the Advantages of Sign Language for Infants and parents? The following are some of the advantages of teaching your children signing language: The higher capability of grasping the verbal language, particularly between the ages of one and two. Faster usage of verbal communication ability Early usage of sentence form in verbal communication Reduction in toddlers wailing and screaming Improved parent-child relationship Possible IQ boost Signing enhances one's learning experience for the rest of life. Most sign language using families claimed that the young children could express more to parents throughout the key periods, even feelings. Every parent of an infant understands. It can be tough to know why the kid is acting the manner they do. However, gestures allow the kid to convey themselves differently. What Is the Best Way to Teach Toddler Sign Language? You need to create the sign every time you utter a phrase in daily life. The secret is dedication and perseverance: Utter the phrase "milk" and make the "milk" gesture each time you offer the kid milk. Specialists advise that whichever gestures parents choose to introduce initially must be utilized in combination with talking loudly. It is essential always to display the gesture and utter the phrase or word. Never get disheartened if the infant does not replicate a gesture immediately. You'll have to show it several times over several days until they get it. The following suggestions will help you teach faster: Start by displaying only a few symbols It will be simple for parents to recall when to show gestures and to execute those regularly. Begin only with words you believe are beneficial, such as "eating," "drinking," or "sleeping." Consistently speak the words that the gesture represents. Parents want gestures to serve as a link to spoken communication rather than to replace it. Continue to use the gesture whenever you say that term it represents - continuity is important. Don't be too fast in signing off. Toddlers acquire by repeating. Thus, when you're questioning the kid whether he's thirsty, use the "drink" gesture many times as well as the phrase the query in a unique manner each moment: "Do you want anything to eat?" "Would you like to have food?" etc. When creating a gesture for a thing, indicate it, state the location, and subsequently do the procedure thrice more. After several weeks of focusing upon the initial signals, broaden the toddler's vocabulary using gestures of items that excite him. Kids usually take quickly and like making gestures for items or people they adore, like books, toys, dolls, caps, even pets or creatures like a puppy, parrot, or fish. How can we find more about baby sign language? People in our network are providing helpful tips for teaching baby sign language. We aim to improve interaction and IQ levels in early kids, empowering them throughout their school and professional lives. We can assist you in teaching baby signs.You can buy our - sign baby sign book here . links contain amazon affiliates, if you purchase from them, BarefootChild will receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you More helpful books to help you on your baby sign language journey include: Baby Sign Language Made Easy: 101 Signs to Start Communicating with Your Child Now Baby Signs: A Baby-Sized Introduction to Speaking with Sign Language My First Book of Baby Signs: 40 Essential Signs to Learn and Practice The Baby Signing Bible: Baby Sign Language Made Easy

An Article by Helen R William Helen is the Editor at Consistent Parenting Advice.com Her site addresses HOW to adopt a firm, clear, consistent parenting approach, while enabling you to enhance and increase your emotional well-being. I believe that being a consistent parent is both vitally important and totally necessary to ensure a happy family life. Spiritual Parenting helps your children to affirm their innate sense of truth. The core of your child's being is his spirituality. From here grows his sense of self esteem and the values and morals which bring his sense of belonging. Spiritual Parenting allows you to nurture your child's spirituality by creating magic through dancing, music and nature, and through sharing feelings and imagination. Here's how to embrace your child's spirituality Music Sing together often. Use music cd's, dvd's, instruments, pot lids, the sound of the wind, rain drumming on the roof, your voices, concerts, community events. Sing while you walk, bath, cook, clean and play. Make up songs, create nonsense rhymes and tunes, sing the words of favourite books instead of reading them. Dance Dance with your children often - through this glorious experience children learn about the joy of music and movement. Be a mirror to your child through your own sense of delighting in dance. Imagination Open your child up to beauty and wonder by endowing the daily routine with peace and magic. Reveal this through loving guidance, through imaginative play and through your words, actions, songs and joy. Nature Go out often into nature through the changing seasons. Let your child get wet in puddles, skip together instead of walking, stop often to notice a different smell, make sure that you yourself delight in the marvel of the great outdoors. Learn together the names of plants and trees and delight in each others knowledge. Set up a nature table at home where new discoveries can be invited and encouraged. Feelings Teach your children to name their feelings by acknowledging and naming your own. "I'm feeling sad right now. That makes me feel very happy. I feel upset. I feel surprised". "I feel" statements will encourage your children to come up with their own, thus creating a healthy and wholesome sense of self. Ask them often, "How does that make you feel?" Listen to your child as well as talking with him. This validates not only his sense of self, but allows for the growth of his intuitive self. Really listen for what he is saying and show him that you hear. Magic Show your child that life is magical, enchanting, rich and astonishing by creating unexpected pockets of surprise for them. Spiritual parenting helps your child cope well with change in life by giving life a mystical quality instead of a fearful approach. This enables a sense of adventure. Years later my two eldest children still talk about the time their father woke them up at midnight, and then took them in their pyjamas on a car ride to see the first lights on the village Christmas tree. By creating a magical adventure through his own infectious joy, their father gave them an opportunity to extend their own inner magic through his spiritual parenting approach. Silence Don't be afraid to teach them about the beauty of silence. Encourage your young children to enjoy undisturbed quiet moments in your company. Show them by enjoying moments of silence in their presence, sitting quietly with your eyes closed. Teach them the value of walking together without talking. This is how they learn to feel their own inner peace. Cherishing Cherish them with physical affection, with words of love, with little gifts of flowers, unusual finds in the garden, written notes and through reading, playing and singing together. Give them your undivided time and attention when you are walking with them, encouraging them to talk about their day, their friends, their hopes and dreams and encourage, encourage, encourage. Bedtime Create bedtime rituals that focus on the special nature of each of your children. Settle them into sleep feeling nourished, cherished and special. Try telling them "I love you today because..." and add a new reason for every night. Spiritual parenting in this way is a calm, child centred approach.

First of all What is Unstructured Play you ask? Unstructured play or free play is simple - it means letting a child be a child with no interference from parents or adults on how they should be playing and spending their own time.Children can engage in open-ended play that has no specific learning objective, there is no strategy behind it and no directions to follow. The play is based on how the child sees it "pretends " with their own minds and how they mimic adult dutys.When children engage in unstructured play, their play is motivated by their own desires and curiosity, and guided by their own mental rules.Free Play is something that they willingly engage in, deciding for themselves when to start and when to stop. Unstructured play doesn't necessarily mean a child plays alone.In fact your child may roleplay with other children,each choosing the roles they want to play, where they improvise and imagine scenarios So there is 2 types of play Unstructured play & structured play Unstructured play Unstructured free play is creative and open-ended the child is free to start and stop when they like , they create and see as they please, there is generally no rules or guidelines to follow , unless they child makes up the rules .A child can improvised with no set goals , no boundaries and unlimited possibilities. They imagine. Example building a house out of blocks how your child imagines it, picking up a paintbrush and painting whatever they chose freely wrestling with siblings, playing games with no main goal - just for fun, (floor is lava,) finishing school and free to play as they choose dressups, loose parts play , open ended toys,roleplay using sticks and other natural objects as swords, imaginary things Unstructured play takes many shapes and forms , its pretty much sums up to Play that your child enjoys,chooses and immersing themselves in without a authority figure (parent , teacher,coach) - giving directions.There is no time constraints, no goals , just natural learning and curiosity guiding them with their imagine structured play Structured play Is goal-oriented play, It generally involves using logic to solve problems,Structured play involves following rules or instructions to reach a particular goal.It means that an end result is expected out of that play/activity. It can be mental or even physical activity and involves specific learning. Usually, structured play activities are done under supervision (Parent, coach, teacher). Examples following instructions on how to build a lego house ,car model, experiment toy Going to art class after school , following planned lesson, painting a number to colour painting going to karate lessons, soccer , ballet , playing games with a goal and rules finish school and have to go to a structured class/lesson group ( music, speech) Structured play sums up to play that has a pacific purpose - to learn, win and follow directions.The play has structure , start and finishing times, rules and instructions to follow, the play is " controlled" Why is Unstructured play so important? Unstructured play - plays a vital role in child development. According to the American Academy of Paediatricians (AAP), unstructured play is essential for healthy brain development. Playing helps young brains develop, The experience of the "playing " affects the connections between neurons in the brain’s prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that controls thought analysis and decision-making),Play is helping kids develop executive functions like the ability to regulate emotions and solve problems. Research also suggests that pretend play helps foster abstract thought and the ability to envision other perspectives, Because unstructured play involves trying out different strategies without particular goals or serious consequences, children get to practice different activities during play and see what happens.Experts say that unstructured play teaches us how to deal with the unexpected—a critically important skill in today's uncertain world. 7 Benefits of Unstructured Play Through unstructured play – both solo and with friends – kids develop and reinforce a number of life skills including: Creative thinking – thinking outside the box to solve problems. Creative thinking helps kids excel in the classroom, their careers and their hobbies. Creativity and imagination: Because there are no fixed rules to follow, children can make their own games and guidelines. This opportunity to create and use imagination is important to cognitive development. Conflict resolution – sharing and fair treatment of playmates. Conflict resolution teaches kids ethics, relationships and about treating people fairly. Decision making – Who does what, helps who or takes the lead? Decision making helps people take action and is key to strong leadership. Problem-solving – Problems are an everyday part of life. Problem-solving helps kids overcome everyday challenges and builds resilience.Problem-solving abilities: Children work together during unstructured play to solve problems. While activities should be supervised, unstructured play allows children time to work together on problems and resolve a conflict or question. Even if the play is with an object (blocks) and not another person. Negotiation – swapping, agreeing rules and responsibilities. Negotiation will help your kids learn about compromise and how to agree a solution. Resilience – things don’t always work out the way we hope. Resilience teaches kids about life’s ups and downs and the importance of perseverance. Teamwork – playing with friends or siblings. Teamwork is an essential skill in play, family life, the classroom, workplace and in society! Social skills: Unstructured play encourages social skills and teamwork. Children take turns, learn to listen and share with each other, develop imaginary scenarios and make decisions together. Because they are the ones driving play, they have the chance to learn on their own among friends. Stages of Play Below are the 4 stages of play according to Dr. Smilansky, which contribute to a child’s development and learning. These are: 1 Functional play Functional play has been described as the first play of children. Beginning in infancy, as a child learns to control his actions and make things happen, he finds enjoyment in shaking a rattle, splashing in the bath, and dropping objects repeatedly from his high chair. These repetitive actions are slowly replaced by more complex forms of play, but functional play is enjoyed by children throughout their childhood as they discover new actions to master.1 Infants first learn to exercise their “wired-in” behaviors with simple actions, and as they discover how things work, they develop their motor responses. Repeating a behavior leads to mastery and that gives the child pleasure. Play begins when the child deliberately engages in the activity for pleasure What is Functional Play? Any repetitive action that the child finds enjoyable is considered functional play. Throwing objects, opening and closing things, stacking blocks and then knocking them over, filling and dumping containers, pushing a toy back and forth, and banging objects together are all examples of functional play. The benefits of functional play The repetitive nature of this play is how children learn about their world. They learn about the properties of physical objects and cause and effect. These simple discoveries prepare them for learning more complex skills later on. Children also develop their gross and fine motor skills through practice and gain confidence as they develop new skills. 2 Constructive play When children manipulate their environment to create things, they are engaged in constructive play. Experimenting with materials, they can build towers with blocks, construct objects with miscellaneous loose parts, play in the sand, and draw sidewalk murals with chalk. Children learn basic knowledge about stacking, building, constructing, and drawing, discovering which combinations work and which don’t. Constructive play focuses the minds of children through their fingertips to invent and discover new possibilities. It is a form of hands-on inquiry where children seek to learn something they don’t already know by physically manipulating materials. They have a natural desire to find out things for themselves, and children build knowledge through active questioning and information gathered as they engage in constructive play. what is constructive play? By the age of two, children are able to play for longer periods of time at one activity. They move from functional play, where the child uses materials in simple, repetitive, and exploratory ways, to constructive play with purposeful activities that result in creation. Children’s desire to create is satisfied with open-ended materials, such as blocks, paints, scissors, paste, paper, carpentry tools, wood, sand, and water.3 On the playground or in classrooms, sand boxes offer a great opportunity for constructive play. Using shovels, buckets, and other containers and toys, children have an endless number of opportunities for exploration. The benefits of constructive play Playing with sand encourages the imagination and creativity of children. Constructive play develops imagination, problem-solving skills, fine motor skills, and self-esteem. Research has shown that block building can help children learn important spatial relationships needed for mathematics.Children who are comfortable in manipulating objects become good at manipulating words, ideas, and concepts. Creating gives children a sense of accomplishment. Controlling their environment empowers them, especially since there is no right or wrong in their creation. Constructive play helps children develop character virtues, such as tenacity, flexibility, creativity, courage, enthusiasm, persistence, and adaptability. Social interaction and shared imaginations are often involved in constructive play, which leads to children learning to cooperate, stay on task, self-regulate, and be more responsible. 3 Games with rules Games with rules is a level of play that imposes rules that must be followed by the players. It requires self-regulation by the children who play, so they can successfully follow the rules and curb their own personal ego needs. Games with rules are often characterized by logic and order, and as children grow older they can begin to develop strategy and planning in their game playing. what is games with rules? School-age children are often found on the playground playing games with rules at recess. They could be enjoying a game of marbles or jacks, playing hopscotch or foursquare, or chasing each other playing tag. Team sports require very specific rules that must be followed that promote cooperative play and teamwork. Whether children play a game of softball on the playground or a soccer game in uniform, they must follow the rules to play effectively. Board games help children develop reasoning strategies and skills when playing games, such as chess, checkers, and Chinese checkers. In strategy games they must consider both offensive and defensive moves at the same time to succeed. Many board games have been adapted to be played on electronic media. New electronic games are being developed all the time for children of all ages including toddlers. The games require practice to master the challenges and often allow children to imagine they are in a fantasy world as they play through the game. While electronic gaming was usually a solitary activity in its earliest days, there are a lot more opportunities for group play in today’s gaming world The benefits of games with rules When children initiate their own games with rules, they realize the need to determine rules for playing the game as well as the rules for social interaction as they play their game. They may modify an existing game to their own rules or the game might be a game of competition in a motor skill, such as jumping, with rules to determine a winner.4 As children develop the concept of their game, they need to negotiate with each other to make the game enjoyable for all players with various skill levels. Adapting the rules to make the play fair for everyone makes the game more fun.School-age children develop understanding of social concepts, such as cooperation and competition, and are able to think more objectively. They are able to grasp the concept of the game having a clear beginning and end where they are required to take turns and follow certain procedures to complete the game. 4 pretend play Pretend play is a form of symbolic play where children use objects, actions or ideas to represent other objects, actions, or ideas using their imaginations to assign roles to inanimate objects or people. Toddlers begin to develop their imaginations, with sticks becoming boats and brooms becoming horses. Their play is mostly solitary, assigning roles to inanimate objects like their dolls and teddy bears.Preschoolers, from ages 3 to 5 years, are more capable of imagining roles behind their pretend play. Their play becomes more social, and they enjoy make-believe play. They assign roles to themselves and others involving several sequenced steps often with a predetermined plan, like pretending to be at the doctor’s office or having a tea party. Pretend play, is also called imaginative play, is a form of unstructured play that involves role playing, non-literal behaviour and object substitution. If you see your child pretending to cook,pretending a sticks a sword and their a knight ,or perhaps pretending to be a "mom" taking care of her dolls, that's them immersed in imaginative pretend play! Experts believe that pretend play is a vital contributor to a child's normal development and here's why: It improves creativity and imagination A recent research found that early pretend play helps encourage a child's creativity and cognitive flexibility. By playing an imaginative game, no matter what it is, children are training themselves to think creatively, to exercise their thinking and imaginative skills and more importantly, independence. It's like Albert Einstein's famous saying - "Logic will get you from A to Z, but imagination will get you everywhere." It encourages emotional and social development Children are dabbling into the emotional and social roles of life when they play different roles or control things in their own environment during pretend play. Engaging in imaginative play improves a child's sense of self, how the world works, how they fit in the environment around them and how it feels like to be in someone else's shoes. When they play with other kids, they learn even further - they discover responsibility and how to share it with others, cooperation, empathy and boundaries. It helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills It all seems simple to us adults, but the mere act of pretend play presents plenty of problem-solving opportunities to little ones. They have to decide what game to play, what toys or materials are needed to play, what role to take on, who else will be involved, what rules will apply to the game and more. Further along, they will encounter "problems" they will need to solve or scenarios they will have to think about carefully. Their little brain will constantly be at work recreating what they observed from real life. "For example, your little one is pretending to be a mom cooking a meal for her children. She engages in abstract thinking, trying to play out scenarios based off - her memory. If she remembers you frying eggs or pouring out juice in glasses, she's likely to act those out." If your child is collecting sticks and twining grass around to form a ninja sword that's pretend play Additional Research on the Benefits of Pretend Play Studies show that the importance of pretend play in child development extends beyond simply language development. Smith and Simon (1984) found that play can enhance children’s creativity and problem solving skills. Bagley and Klass (1997) and Stone and Christie (1996) found that when books and other literacy-related materials were added to dramatic play, children used more varied language and showed an increase in reading and writing activities. According to Pellegrini and Galda (1980), children who re-enacted stories with a beginning, middle and end demonstrated improved story comprehension as well as an understanding that others can have different thoughts, views, feelings and beliefs. contains amazon affiliates Here are great books about childs play and the benefits, you can purchase these from amazon by clicking on the links Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children Lisa Murphy on Being Child Centred book The Power of Play: Learning What Comes Naturally A Child's Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play If you liked this posts about the benefits of child's play, please share

post contains amazon affiliates How we Unschool So this month the sun is still shining but our Tassie weather is getting colder again, but that doesn't mean we stop our adventures, our natural learning together or stop embracing the great outdoors.Alot of Natural learning has already happened this month and it is only the 10th.So this is some of the things we have learnt in our Unschooling Journey over the last week! This Month's Natural learning so far We found our very own secluded beach,by 4wding the kids practised parkour and balancing over rocks, questions were asked by indie about why the rocks were so smooth and round on the beach -so I googled this on my phone- they all learnt (myself aswell) that - Over time they are worn smooth from being rolled around by waves and these are The 3 main effects that take place Abrasion- Rocks collide causing the rocks to chip and become smooth. Resistance- the sand creates resistance and acts like sand paper to smooth the rocks. Motion of the water- The motion of the water pushes the rocks and causes the rocks to collide with the rocks and stream beds. We also played maths addition games, whoever get the most correct answers out of 15 won the title of calling our new beach's name - Huey won so of course he called it Huey's beach. - covering science, geography, pdhpe, English,maths subjects We explored around the rockpools and to our delight found some carpet starfish, the kids held and observed them .We discussed how starfish have no brains or bones, and how they have a eye on the end of each arm,that are colour-blind.We also discussed how they can only survive in saltwater- Then this conversation brought up what the difference between salt water and fresh water meant. - covering more science,geography, english subjects We went fishing a few times and caught lots of Australian salmon, Huey and Julian were really interested in this, dad taught them how to cast and a technique on how to wine in the lure-to act as a fish.They measured and realised the smaller ones back into the ocean.They all pretend played floor is lava, balancing on the rocks and sliding down the big sand dunes and indie decided to do some list writing ( she loves making lists) - she wrote some ideas for her Roblox café she was designing - covering science,geography,pdhpe,creative arts,english subjects Where we live the mountains meet the beach and that means the farms to ,we drove past a Mumma cow and her calf on the way fishing and got to have a great little conversation of the great facts I research about cows, then and there - while we pulled over the car to have a better look.So we got discussing how Mumma Cows are devotional mothers and are known to walk for miles to find their baby calves, we also discussed how cows just like people form friendships and often hang around 2-4 certain cow friends in their lifetime,We learnt together how cows are extremely curious and inquisitive animals that will investigate everything,and that they get excited when they solve problems like a research study found when a cow is faced with the challenge of trying find out how to open a door to reach food, their heartbeats went up, their brainwaves showed excitement, and some even jumped into the air. How cute is that! My daughter just loved that fact ! and We learnt together that cows have 3 exceptional senses their sight -they have almost a 360 degree panoramic vision, their smell - they can detect odours up to five miles away and cows have great hearing - cows hear both low and high frequency sounds beyond human capability - Unschooling is all about great learning opportunities like that! covering - science,geography,english subjects We went to our favourite waterfall swimming hole ,(you'd only find this great spot if you new a local)- the kids swam against the little current,timing each other to see who can stay the longest with their heads under the flowing waterfall wall,(you can breath under there) whoever won got a soda! (they all ended up with a soda )- we discussed about salt water vs fresh water again,as they learnt about this a couple of days ago.My curious son asked where does the water come from ? We discussed unlike the ocean water (which is salt water), the swimming hole was from freshwater, that comes from the rain falling down the mountain creating a little freshwater river system.The kids practised their rock climbing skills remembering their safety precautions we always talk about . covering science,geography,maths,pdhpe subjects Our new lift the flap Usborne books have finally arrived The kids have been doing alot of creative arts , we finally received our amazing lift the flap Usborne books ,They cover so many awesome subjects and facts about everything from science,geography,history,money,english and more . My kids aren't much "book readers" they'd rather read stuff online and when natural reading opportunities come up, but we cant get enough of these,they have flaps that you fold up to find more about underneath, anyways my daughter sat there for hours reading most pages and would excitingly tell all of us the new facts she was learning,you can find these books HERE . Indie created her own cafe signs for their pretend cafe roleplay game,They played with our natural open ended toys and done some art colouring competitions, indie painted a unicorn for a tree of life giftcard competition and the boys colouring in for a Bunnings voucher competition ( they love tools and building stuff) covering creative arts,english,science,history,geography subjects We went for over a hour drive to explore special sand dunes amongst a rainforest ,whenever we have long trips we play eye spy games (to help my youngest son learn letter soundings for his spelling - we say the word sound instead of letter, the oldest to will spell out the word when they get it right )so we had many games of this, the kids love it. Anyways- at the Dunes we read the sign and discussed that The sand dunes reach heights of about 30 meters, and are Formed from over hundreds of years of roaring forty winds blowing the sand from the beach through the rainforest forming these sand dunes.We climbed these huge sands dunes covering english,geography,pdhpe subjects We went 4wding , the kids love standing on the back of the ute tray while we drive (i loved it as a kid too) - we came by a poor dead stingray that had been washed up, but this lead to a great science lesson about the stingray, I googled some stingray facts and we all natural learned together that stingrays have no bones in their body – and that their skeleton is made up of flexible cartilage (the bendy stuff that your ears and nose are made from!).We discussed how they use a super set of senses to search for food these are Special gel-filled pits across the front of their face, (called Ampullae of Lorenzini), which allow them to pick up electrical signals from other animals when they move – how cool is that! and the stingray protects itself with venomous spines or barbs in their tail - hence their name.We all learnt as well that the stingray enjoys munching on crustaceans - small fish, snails, clams, shrimp and other small creatures.The kids ran around , climbed sand dunes like always and threw sand bombs at each other. and we also celebrated a birthday girl this month a big 10 year old. Recently she has been drawing dress designs,watching youtube videos of diy textiles , and creating her own fashion,so we got her one, also found this great mini doll fashion design kit for her, it was packed full of how to -guides, fabric, scissors everything you could imagine to make mini clothing, she loved it all,- she also got a hanging boho chair that she really wanted for her room ,second hand iphone (why pay thousands for a new one right?) and a flower press among things. Things she got were to create,make and enhance her curiosities. You can purchase these to from clicking the below links : Hanging boho chair kids mini sewing machine doll fashion kit ( I got mine from kmart but i so wish i saw this one first) flower press ( I got mine from kmart aswell but these ones are just so cute) They also played online gaming- I like to call it (educational software) as so much learning happens while they play- roblox,fortnite, watched various youtube videos,Indie created more gaming videos for her youtube channel and the each asked many many questions throughout the week, alot more went on aswell that I cant quite think of. Natural learning is about experiences like that Unschooling is all about natural learning, when learning opportunities pop up from everyday life, you jump on that opportunity to learn - side by side with your child in that moment. You embrace their curiosities, follow their lead and know that learning is happening naturally. Its so easy to turn just about everything your child does into " so called" subjects. Look what we achieved in little over a week naturally. ill be adding more to- how we have been Unschooling so far for this year,over the next couple of weeks, to show you how nature and natural curiosity work with unschooling.so stay tuned and don't forget to share this post :)

An article by Angela Kidd Post contains amazon affiliate links What parents want most for their child Parents want to provide their children everything - food, shelter, education... But most of all, what parents wish for is that their child has a happy and memorable childhood, and that they grow up finding love, success and happiness on their own. As a parent, you can only do so much - but a few parenting methods might work while you're raising them. Follow these 3 secrets to raising a happy child: 1 A connected child is a happy child If your child feels connected (to you, to the people around him and to his environment), it's a big factor that contributes to his lifelong emotional well-being. This is because he feels that he belongs and not left out - he feels loved, needed, understood, acknowledged and wanted. This connectedness is hand in hand with happiness and experts have proven through studies that this was the biggest protector against risky behaviour, emotional distress and even suicidal thoughts later in life. To achieve connectedness, never miss the chance to show your child that he is loved. Also give him plenty of opportunities to form loving connections with others as well like relatives, friends and even pets. 2 Happiness isn't short-term If you raise your child giving in to their every demand and desire, you're not setting them up for long-term happiness. If you try too hard to keep them happy in the short-term, they'll grow up thinking that's how life works when in fact, that's not how. Many parents think that they are responsible for their child's happiness and they have difficulty allowing them to feel negative emotions such as anger, sadness and frustration. Kids who grow up this way never truly learn how to deal with negative emotions and are in more in danger of being emotionally crushed when they grow up. Be there for your child in times of distress - but don't try to "fix" everything. Allow him to develop resilience and coping skills on his own. 3 Nurture your own happiness Happy kids are more likely to have come from a happy home with happy parents. While you can't control your child's happiness, you are the captain of your own. If you're always grumpy, angry, tired and in a bad mood, that's what your child will absorb. On the other hand, if they see that you are always in a good mood, they will most likely be in one, too. so try these 3 secrets to raising a happy child! Angela Kidd is an author and illustrator, a wife and a mother to 2 beautiful kids. In her spare time, she would personally create storybooks and colouring books for her children for fun and they loved it.. And so did she. Angela quit her job and created her own line of educational activity books for children of various ages, with the main goal of making learning fun! You can check out some of Angela's amazing books here. We just love her African Fauna Colouring Book

Is your child abit of a so called wild-child, one of those children who love being immersed in nature,hanging from the trees, chasing the butterfly's and cooking up mudpies and potions.Well we have put together the Top 27 nature inspired gift ideas to keep them busy.Each product is environmental friendly, allows for exploration, imagination and wild adventures We use affiliate links ,that means if you make a purchase from something we have shared below-BarefootChild will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. 1 Your Wild Journal #natureobserver We just love this wild journal book!! This journal explores the concepts of mindfulness, kindness and gratefulness. It introduces nature connection exercises such as a Sit Spot and a senses scan.This guided nature journal is a wonderful gift for young and old who are seeking more ideas for nature connection. Journaling can help children slow down, process feelings, encourage observation and build writing skills.It a perfect size to fit in their backpacks to take with them ,while exploring to take notes and observations. Inside this beautifully illustrated journal, you'll find: An overview of how to use the journal Moon, sunrise and sunset tracking pages A green time habit calendar Detailed colouring pages Step-by-step instructions for how to draw common natural treasures Open-ended writing prompts Log pages to record nature sightings Lined, blank and dotted pages for open ended writing and creativity. Printed in Australia on local, sustainably sourced paper. Your wild journal book only $25 au What better way for your little eco nature explorer to observe, identify and collect wild findings -Who’s up for a nature walk? Add tons of fun and excitement to any day outdoors with these great finds #NatureExplorer 2 Nature hunt wooden observation list -There are12 items that can be found in your backyard, garden or local park. Once your child finds each item they can use a piece of chalk to tick it off the list, this is a great gift idea for the keen nature explorer. Nature Hunt List only $20 plus delivery 3 Round nature find display Is your child one of those nature treasure hunters, who love collecting different specimens they find while out exploring? This wooden round Nature find display chart is a great way to showcase their findings for the day, take a picture, research and discuss together, this is a great natural learning and observation platform for your wild one. round nature find display chart - only $15.40 4 Magnify bug/specimen viewing box This sweet little wooden bug box is perfect for displaying your little ones found treasures ,that they find out in nature.It has different size compartments and magnifications for their different findings whether it be - their bugs, flowers, leaves, shells or seeds they collect,they can easily observe them and keep them safe. Bug viewing box only $16.99 5 #littlewhitewitch Natural eco craft kit We are just so inlove with these Eco Craft Kits.They contain natural materials for fun activities that don't harm the earth - think fairy potions, natural science experiments, natural play dough, natural paints and many more magical crafts Each kit contains: *4 types of dried flower petals *2 types of botanical colour powders *1 biodegradable glitter *1 wooden spoon *1 recipe & craft ideas booklet All materials and packaging are plastic-free and compostable or re-usable, which means nothing has to go into landfill after the kids are finished with it. Eco craft kit only $29.99 plus shipping Have you got a little wilderness man in the making? You know one of those boys from peter pan , who love running wild,climbing trees and pretending they are about to fight captain hook,Well we have found the perfect tools to let their wild imaginations grow while improving their hand and eye coordination as well. #wildernessyounglings 6 Bamboo bow and arrow set We just love this Bamboo wooden archery set with soft rubber ends , Watch your child spend hours running around outside ,shouting target and pretending they are the lost boys bamboo bow and arrow set only $45.90 plus postage 7 Set of 2 wood old fashion style sling shots Iv just ordered these for my boys, !! This set of 2 slingshots are 100% handcraft with natural wood, they are very durable,great to let your wild one practised target shooting with, watch your child spend hours in make believe play.A must have for any little wilderness man. 2x sling shot set only $21.96 plus postage 8 personalised child's pocket knife This personalised first pocket knife is perfect for your young adventurers .Each tool includes a knife (with blunt point), saw, scissors a awl and your choice of engraving. Ideal for carving, cutting, sawing and punching. Great to take for mini adventures, your child will find many uses out in the wild , with this one. personalised pocket knife only $51.52 plus postage 9 Your wild imagination book #yourwildimagination Not Sure how to incorporate more nature filled activities into your childs life? well this book has got you covered.You will discover new ideas for outdoor play, and also find ways to bring nature indoors - perfect for those times when you're stuck inside. Included are more than 150 stunning full colour photographs, accompanied by simple and easy to follow instructions. Nature provides an environment of high engagement. Research shows that children learn best though play, and the benefits are even greater for child-led unstructured play. Its time for More green time, less screen time!! Your wild imagination book only $35 plus postage These are great for those little flower child's out there,let your child run the meadows , pick wild flowers and create there own unique flower art with these great finds #flowerchild 10 flower press This is a Full flower press kit with a herbarium journal,it comes with all the tools needed for flower pressing,in this preservation kit,you'll find many things like tweezers, scissors, utility knife, manual, sealing bags, saving bag, pressing fresh flowers & leaves for journaling, scrapbooking, and a herbarium notebook . Teach your child how to dry and preserve wildflowers, encourage exploration and nurture their 5 senses. complete flower press kit only $79.99 plus postage 11 Diy flower kaleidoscope The kaleidoscope is handmade and eco-friendly and is such a cute gift, this diy kaleidoscope comes with everything required for your child to build themselves and when there finished , watch them be amazed at the dried flower abstracts, The Colours of Magic,-In our childhood everyone of us had created our own unique world of miracles and fantasies where forests were full of elfs and fairies dwelling in flowers, where trees were inhabited by mysterious spirits.The random play of colours of the kaleidoscope induces memories of carefree childhood summers and their mysteries. Even today we cannot know if it was the forest spirits that created it's magic mosaics. diy flower kaleidoscope only $44.30 (also comes in a pre built version) 12 earth paint set - This is an outstanding eco-friendly and plant-based paint kit its gluten free and vegan friendly .The paints are made from 100% plant ingredients. The colour range is derived from plant, root, spice and flower pigments.Great gift for your wild artist,or maybe you might want to create your own eco paints with your child heres a great how to guide This eco earth paint Kit contains: 8 x 50g plant-based powdered paints eco earth paint set only $42 plus delivery Its time to get them out the house,running wild through the gardens,stopping to smell the flowers to observe the fluttering butterflies fly past its time to get your little green thumb excited about the outdoors with these great finds #littlegreenthumbs 13 Little Peeps Gardening Kit | Butterflies & Bees A thoughtfully assembled gardening and seed planting kit perfectly curated for little garden lovers, This gardening kit comes with everything your child needs to grow their own flowers that attract butterflies and bees, watch them observe, nurture and get excited about earths little things gardening kit only $28.50 14 Australian native seed gardening kit This super adorable kit comes with all the information, tools & materials your child needs to plant their own native seeds. Did you know ? ,that children gain special benefits from gardening and develops new skills including: Responsibility– from caring for plants Understanding– as they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water, weeds compete with plants) Self-confidence – from achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown Love of nature – a chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place Reasoning and discovery – learning about the science of plants, animals, weather, the environment, nutrition and simple construction Physical activity – doing something fun and productive Cooperation– including shared play activity and teamwork Creativity– finding new and exciting ways to grow food Nutrition – learning about where fresh food comes from. aussie native seed kit only $39 15 kids foraging basket - These basket are a must have for your little forager. Your child will be able to carrying all their treasures they find out adventuring like wild flowers,seeds, rocks ,shells for their arts and crafts projects. These Baskets are completely natural, each one lovingly made by hand with elephant grass which grows in the rich flood plains of the White Volta,They are All stunning with their own humble character, they are made in Ghana in the traditional 'Bolga' style weave that is strong and sturdy. foraging basket only $38 plus shipping 16 #mindfulnessmunchkin Mindful Craft and Potions Box Subscription This subscription is a must have , to get your child into great natural play,they will be excited boiling up potions and making different concoctions. Each month you get delivered a new subscription of different nature inspired theme sensory play kits to your door.These boxes will help your children work body, mind, and emotions through mindfulness, sensory play, and exploration while having fun! - you can choose 3-6 month subscriptions for this year still. Eco enriched toys created from nature to help inspire the 5 senses, while creating memories to hold onto like the art they draw to their tiny hand prints preserved, These are the must haves for the #naturewarriors 17 coloured twig pencil sets This set of 12 coloured twig pencils are a great addition to add to your childs natural art resources,the different textures of the twigs will engage their senses and create curiosity for the natural element.They are hand crafted from recycled mango wood the twigs and branches are then used to create these fun wood short colouring pencils. set of 12 twig pencils only $16.89 18 Kinfolk eco-made Bubble Wand -Dragonfly These wands are made out of recycled and plant-based materials.They are the sweetest addition to your child's toy collection, watch them run around outside immersed in the beauty of floating bubbles,while chasing and popping them Bubble play is a fun and immersive way to nurture fine-motor skills and sensory learning. kinfolk bubble wands only $7.95 plus shipping 19 A Day at the Beach Sand Casting Kit Preserve your favourite summer memories with A Day at the Beach Sand Casting Kit from eco-kids! This kit includes everything you need to create a special keepsake or unique gift of your little beach bums handprint. The simple instructions to mix, mold, decorate, and bake make it the perfect activity for any time of the year! sand casting memory kit only $15.99 plus postage Your little wild child will love using hands on time creating nature projects to bring them joy for mother earths resources, these are great find we found to encourage exploration #motherearthschild 20 build a bee hotel Want to help teach your child to save the bees? Why not create them this cosy temporary home for when they come to visit the delicious flowers in your garden! This build your own bee hotel kit creates a home for solitary or travelling insects, bees in particular.Your child will have such joy observing those busy bees. Do your bit to keep them healthy and working so we can continue enjoying delicious honey for years to come! build a bee hotel only $24.99 plus shipping 21 MAKE YOUR OWN FLOWER PRESS FRAME KIT This diy kit is perfect for your child to create their very own bespoke framed artworks from dried flowers and plants! This kit is perfect to express their creativity through nature, get them out side picking and drying their own flowers and leaves to create one of a kind pieces flower frame kit only $14.99 plus shipping 22 potion bowl set Potion bowl sets- are a must have for any nature child, how else are the going to whip us up a lovely say yes spell potion or make us a yummy mud pie. This beautiful natural wooden set comes with 7 pieces, a mixture of bowls and spoons to get your little one creating. potion bowl set only $64.90 plus shipping You can always try your local charity shop, for natural play dishes Let your little day dreamer explore nature,while emerging themselves with magical and exiting roleplay with these great finds #daydreamer 23 MAKE YOUR OWN INSECT HOUSE IN A TIN Want to cultivate a beautiful natural garden with your child? Why not start by creating a cosy home for the creepy crawlies when they come to visit the delicious flowers in your garden while your at it ,with this cute make your own insect house kit . The House creates a home for solitary or travelling insects. It's a sweet little house for ladybirds, bees and lots of other insects! Your child will spend hours outside observing all the busy insects who come to visit. make your own insect house only $24.95 plus postage 24 fairy garden kit We absolutely love this fairy garden kit handcrafted in the middle of the rainforest in Bellingen from fallen tree branches ,upcycled wood pieces, and naturally source materials from the rainforest.Its complete with a sweet little wooden fairy house and a gorgeous collection of materials ready for your child to create their own whimsical fairy garden and get lost in their magical imagination . This little fairy house is available in 8 different colours and comes with over 20 accessories. fairy garden kit only $102 plus shipping 25 wooden engraved bow and arrow set These beautifully crafted wooden bow and arrows are ideal for your little robin hoods, they are created with soft felt ends on the arrow tips and include a engraving of your choice.Archery requires careful interaction of the body and equipment, both must work together in harmony to hit a target. Kids must learn how to plant their feet and apply just the right pressure to release the arrow. Therefore, every time your child focuses on hitting a target they are improving eye-hand coordination and balance. wooden engraved bow and arrow set start at only $35.21 plus postage. 26 #sensoryplay little wriggles sensory play We just adore this shop, they have so many choices of different themed sensory play kits to choose from. Each kit is filled with loads of different textures and goodies, that your child will spend hours being immersed in open ended play with. Set them up a spot outside beneath the trees and watch their imagination flourish 27 #treechild personalised engraved custom swing and lastly on our list are these beautiful custom swings made from Australian Blackbutt hardwood, with your choice of engraving to give it a personalised feel. Your youngling will be swing amongst the trees like tarzan, soaking up the summer air and feeling one with nature. engraved swing started from only $235 BarefootChild is dedicated to finding the best natural and eco friendly children's products,the net has to offer- to help children connect with nature,spend more time outdoors and embrace the inner wild child. If you liked this post, don't forget to share it.Your support makes us possible.