Sara

  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    How to Create a Magical Day in the Forest for Children

    Forests are naturally magical places with all kinds of possibilities for creative play and exploration. Today, we have Mary Henley, UK blogger and mom of two darling littles, here sharing how she infuses magic into a forest adventure with her kids. She’ll give you all the inspiration you need to create a magical day in the forest with your children, complete with magic wands, potion and imaginative activities! This is the perfect way to spend a day exploring or use this as a starting point for a children’s birthday party theme!

    Creating experiences and memories for my children is one of my favorite aspects of parenting. However, sometimes we just want to get outside to play without having to do too much planning, preparation or packing. Outdoor adventures with your kids don’t have to be elaborate or complicated to be fun for them. Sometimes the simplest things mean the most to them and allow them the freedom to play and create their own experience. Often, when children are free to roam and play surrounded by trees, they feel better, behave better and (in my experience) ask for fewer snacks!! Unrestricted nature play is a great opportunity for children to lead their own play time and work together to make it fun. Plus, it’s more relaxing for us parents, too. Win, win…right??!

    A magical forest day

    Today, I’m excited to share our recent magical adventure in the forest and how you can recreate this experience with your kids. On this particular day, my husband was away playing golf and I wanted to spend time outdoors with my children, Freya (5 years) and Chester (2.5 years). It was one of the first lovely sunny and warm days of the year and we were all ready for an adventure.

    We decided to design a day that was all about finding magic in the woods. We chose to go to the woods in the New Forest in Hampshire, UK. Such an amazing place, although to be honest all forests are beautiful. There is something so majestic and wonderful about trees, and calming too. I’ll tell you more about that in a bit.

    Some of the magic of our day was “inspired” by me, but most aspects of our magical day were straight from the forest and took care of themselves. Very little planning was involved – just enough to add some magical touches, but still give the children the freedom to play and create. I’m sharing plenty of ideas below that you can pick and choose from to create your own adventure. And no matter what you choose to incorporate, I promise that you will all benefit from the magical wonder of just being in the forest.

    Gather your magical ingredients & supplies

    Before you head out into the woods, grab a few of these simple household items so that you can create some magic! These will be the supplies for making a few magic wands and some magic forest potion.

    • Ribbon scraps cut into similar lengths. Choose all different colors, widths, and patterns and stuff them all into a jar, bag or basket. Feel free to get the children involved in this part of planning, too. Scissor skills in action!
    • Glass or plastic bottles (small size with lid). You’ll need one bottle/jar for each child. If you have time, let the children decorate these with stickers, gems, paint, etc. before you go to help build the excitement (and keep them occupied while you are packing the car!).

    Now, all you need to do is decide which forest area you will go to and grab your go-to snacks, packed lunch and drinks!!

    Magical wands

    When you arrive at your forest destination, look around for a table or bench. This is a great place to make the magical wands before heading too far into the woods. Making a magic wand is simple and creative. First, the children will need to go on a treasure hunt to find some twigs. Next, let each child choose their ribbons and tie them onto the twigs. If your kids are old enough, encourage them to do this themselves, while little ones may need your help.

    Freya watched me tie the first one and then she went on to make 3 more wands. As she learned how to do it she got very excited and was incredibly pleased with herself! My two waved their wands around the entire day. They didn’t want them out of their sight for long. And after your magical day, they can even take them home as a memory of the day and to show their friends at school.

    Beware: magical wands can turn you into anything! Some of ours were used to grant wishes! Sometimes they were used to turn me into all sorts of animals, which I had to then act out! Such a great exercise for the imagination and so much fun! Freya was convinced her wand made her run faster! You never know what powers your child’s wand will possess.

    Magical forest potion

    There are plenty of natural treasures to find on the forest floor. These magical items will be the starting point for making a magical forest potion! While you’re out exploring the forest, have your children collect any small treasures they can find. Add some water to the bottles/jars you brought along and then add your treasure! While we were out, we found tiny fir cones (so cute!), pine needles, mud, stones, tiny twigs, acorn shells, pebbles and leaf debris.

    Combine all your treasures into your potion, give the bottle a swish (great fun jumping up and down while doing this) and then away you go! Let them explore the woods armed with a magical wand and magical potion! Think of all the things they could do! Let it all unfold and enjoy the magic you’ve helped create!

    Mindfulness

    I always like to add a few minutes of mindfulness exercises to our day when we need a moment to gather our thoughts or calm down. Mindfulness techniques come in handly any time anyone starts getting a bit tetchy (parents included… it happens to the best of us, right?). We sat down and took a few minutes to quietly take in our surroundings. Then have the kids name 5 things that they see, 4 things they could touch, 3 things that they can hear, 2 things they could smell and one thing they could taste. We each took it in turns. This really helped to ground us and because I was doing it as well, I enjoyed the calming benefits, too. It was a nice way to refocus and reset for everyone.

    Benefits of being in a forest

    Being in nature is great for us in so many ways, but being in the forest is very special. Spending time in the forest has been found to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and anger, strengthen our immune system and boost overall wellbeing. Wow!!!

    There is a higher concentration of oxygen in the forest, according to Japanese medical doctor and researcher Qing Li, compared to an urban setting. Exposure to the plant chemicals, that are part of their defense system, has measurable health benefits for us. Benefits such as a reduction in physiological stress, lowered blood pressure and heart rate. Evergreen forests are particularly beneficial for our health. You sleep better when you spend time in a forest, even when you don’t increase the amount of physical activity you do.

    It is simply enough to just be in the forest. Nothing additional is required! You do not have to walk or jog or do anything other than exist! However, chances are you will all naturally move around the forest. Whether you are hiking, wandering or not…we all know it’s pretty hard to sit still when you have children around. But just know that this experience is good for all of you, no matter what you end up doing.

    This all sounds great, doesn’t it? What are you waiting for?

    Yoga/grounding pose

    Another fun activity to do on your magical forest day is to have your children become the forest! Ask your children to stand like a tree. Have them show you how strong the tree is by standing straight, imagining the roots are pulling your feet firmly down onto the ground. They could start off with arms by their sides and then show the branches with arms out, keeping feet firmly grounded still. It might then get a bit windy, and their branches sway, but they mustn’t fall over!! The parents could be the wind and see if they can blow them over. Really great fun and gets those imagination juices flowing!

    Fun with leaves

    If it’s the right time of year, have fun with the leaves in the forest. Have the kids try kicking piles of leaves or throwing leaves in the air! Running about and jumping in the leaves. Making a pile of leaves and jumping on it or twirl around like a tornado. Cover up your wellies with fallen leaves or bury yourself in leaves. We had great fun picking up handfuls of leaves and throwing them up in the air. We were then showered with leaves, wearing leaf wigs as they settled in our hair! Great exercise!

    Den building

    Den building is a great way to make a trip into the woods magical and get the whole family involved. It’s also a challenge for everyone and involves working together as a team. Have your kids choose what kind of den to build and how big it’ll be. Will it be small and just for fairies or toys? Or will it be big enough so you can all have your picnic lunch in it? Will it be a lean-to or a teepee style?

    Den building is a great activity for all ages, particularly teenagers get a lot out of this, making it as challenging and big as they can. There were some 12-13 year-olds near us dragging great big fallen branches across the ground to make their den out of. They were having so much fun doing this and their parents ended up joining in too! The branches can be smaller for younger children.

    Finding shapes and faces in trees

    Isn’t it lovely how children notice things that adults don’t? They have such an amazing imagination. Put it to work finding the magic in the forest and you’ll be amazed at what is right in front of you that you might not be seeing! Freya was climing a tree and stopped and said, “Look! Look, there’s a face in the tree!” And there was! The bark and branches gave the appearance of a face, which only she noticed. This started our game of spotting what we could see in the tree bark. This is so much fun and imaginations go wild! A rabbit and bear were also found!

    Reflecting on the day

    At the end of the magical day, be sure to spend some time talking about and reflecting on the things you experienced and the values that were shown during your time outside. For those of you with children at school, I expect each has their own school values. Freya is in Year R, so we have heard about these a lot while she has been learning about them. This was a lovely way to pass the journey time on our car ride home and we felt good about all that we had done. If you find you have sleepy children on the way home (quite possible with all the fresh air and exercise) this could be done at home afterward, maybe chatting about it over a family dinner.

    Demonstrating values

    • Collaboration – working together to help each other find the ingredients for the magical potion.
    • Reflective – deciding what the fairy wand will look like, what ribbons to use. Also, deciding what will fit into the bottle for the potion (Chester learned that the big fir cones couldn’t be pushed into the bottle!).
    • Persevering – climbing trees when it was difficult and finding alternative ways to get up. Learning how to tie a knot in the ribbons when attaching to the twigs and then keeping trying to do it themselves.
    • Creative – how to make their magical wands, making adventures with their wands and potions.
    • Respectful – listened to Mummy when she was showing how to tie ribbons. Listening while each took their turn with the mindfulness.
    • Caring – Freya helped Chester tie ribbons on his wand. When Chester fell over, Freya ran to him to see if he was ok.

    About Mary

    Mary lives in Hampshire, UK with her husband and two children. She is passionate about wellbeing and creativity. She’s a country girl at heart and loves the outdoors. Mary especially loves making things out of twigs and natural finds picked up during walks. Follow Mary on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with her latest creations and other passions. Mary’s entertaining and inspiring blog, Rose and Lewis, is a great read for craft ideas for your home and to make with children, plus, parenting and wellbeing tips and more outdoor family adventures.

     

     

  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, FAVORITE GEAR, GOOD FOR NATURE, PHOTOGRAPHY

    Making a Difference with Vivobarefoot Kids

    We humans have been pretty terrible to the planet we live on and the animals that inhabit it. Just since 1970, human activity has destroyed 60% of all the world’s animals. There are now over 16,000 endangered species threatened with extinction. Scientists estimate that 150-200 species of plant, insect, bird, and mammal become extinct EVERY 24 HOURS. Insect populations are declining at a rate that could be “catastrophic” for our ecosystems within two generations. Scientists are describing what’s happening to animal life on earth as “biological annihilation.” Something has to change. And that change starts right here, with us! We are making a difference, one kid at a time!

    making a difference - ways kids can help take care of our planet

    Here come the wild ones

    Last month we had the honor of teaming up with one of our all-time favorite outdoor kid’s shoe brands – Vivobarefoot Kids – to host a hashtag campaign to raise awareness for our planet and its animals. VivoKids recently launched a new line of eco-friendly kids shoes inspired by endangered species. These “Wild” shoes have minimal impact on the environment and are made with cleaner, greener materials. For example, the Ultra Blooms are made from algae blooms and each pair returns 25 liters of clean water and reduces 6 balloons worth of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

    A portion of the profits from the sale of these shoes go directly to The Aspinall Foundation, a British charity that works to promote wildlife conservation through education, captive breeding programmes and, crucially, by reintroducing endangered species into the wild wherever possible. Over the last few years, the Aspinall Foundation has successfully reintroduced a range of animals (including 8 black rhino, 49 Javan Langurs, 9 Javans gibbons, 11 European bison and over 60 western lowland gorillas) back into the wild in their natural habitat.

    #wildkids4wildlife campaign for endangered species

    #wildkids4wildlife

    In connection with this amazing collaboration, we became inspired to encourage kids (and their parents!) to learn more about the animals in whose footprints they are walking and to take action to help our planet. We believe the more kids know about the environment and wildlife, the more ingrained it will be in them to care for it and act accordingly as they grow.

    During the month of March, we ran a hashtag campaign on Instagram with VivoKids and our favorite hub @wildandbravelittles. We encouraged kids (and parents) to take action with a good deed for the earth and tag us! Our #wildkids4wildlife campaign was born and it was absolutely amazing! Throughout the month we featured these tagged images and were blown away with the incredible response and feedback we received.

    vivokids eco-friendly shoes for kids

    Be the change you want to see

    We saw kids doing all kinds of good deeds, from picking up litter to planting a tree. From gardening and composting, to recycling and attending rallies on climate change. Some kids made donations to their local wildlife rehabilitation centers, stopped their use of single-serve plastics and wrote letters to their congressional reps about changes that could be made to protect our earth. We saw kids reading books about endangered animals, visiting their local zoo and learning about them and making a commitment to help. It was inspiring! We hope this will be the starting point for a lifetime of conversations, actions and changes so that we can all be kinder to our planet.

    With VivoKids’ help, we chose three “winners” from the tagged images. Each of these winners received shoes for their kids from Vivobarefoot. Their images were not only inspiring but told a beautiful story about the compassion and power of kids. We asked the winners a few questions about their images and the story behind them. Their answers are below.

    no one is too small to make a difference@amys.place

    NSW, Australia, on the Coffs Coast
    4 children; Lara (10), Dylan (7), Freya (5) and Ciara (3)

    The story behind the image

    On 15 March 2019, I accompanied my eldest daughter to a local student strike against climate change, which was a globally organized event inspired by Greta Thunberg, a Swedish student who began striking each Friday in August 2018. Greta has been a source of inspiration for my daughter, who is an aspiring biologist and who cares deeply for our planet. On 15 March, Lara woke early and set to work on her sign. Her message was clear, and indeed helped set the theme for the day, that no one is too small to make a difference.

    How do you teach/inspire your kids to help protect our planet?

    My husband is an environmental scientist and I have a legal background. Both he and I have raised our children with an awareness that our planet cannot be exploited and taken for granted as it has in the past. On a household level, we make efforts to reduce our waste and produce our own food when possible. We use solar energy at home and we collect rubbish from waterways, parks, bushlands, and beaches. Our children all know and recite the phrase “take three for the sea,” (though we often end up with large collections of plastic after a beach trip). We continue to educate our children to respect our planet and to advocate for it. We encourage them to enjoy it, to learn from it, but to never to take it for granted. They will, after all, be the next generation of leaders and decision-makers. Moving forward, I hope that they will learn from our mistakes, but I also hope that we can show them that we learned from them too. We must not wait for the next generation to fix what we broke, because this is impossible. We have to make the change now.

    how to teach your kids to take care of the earth

    @soulshinephotographer

    Southeastern Wisconsin
    2 children – Lorenzo (4.5) & Halona (3)

    The story behind the image

    This photo was taken while we were planting our first garden at our new house. We really wanted to have the kids be hands-on (literally!) with the gardening process, which they love. This picture was taken on our transplant day when we moved our plants outside. We started all our vegetables from seeds, so when the time was right, most had to be transplanted outdoors into the garden. The kids and I spent the day transplanting our little seedlings with love, care, and tenderness. Yes, it took most of the day as we have well over 200 plants growing!

    How do you teach/inspire your kids to help protect our planet?

    We are a homesteading family and have been teaching the kids all about the natural world and how to help protect it since they were babies. Taking care of our environment is a big part of our lives. Getting the kids involved in gardening has really helped them become aware of the earth and all it has to offer when treated right and what happens when you don’t. I love talking to the kids about the process and teaching them when to water and feed plants, how the soil absorbs the nutrients and what helps the plants grow strong. Then we introduce other ideas, such as what might happen when other (harmful) things are absorbed by the soil? I like to introduce these types of open-ended questions and let the reasoning happen naturally.

    We are also a big hiking family and on our hikes, we observe the natural world. On these hikes we be sure to bring our reusable bags and pick up any trash we see on the way. We have been teaching our children the importance of taking care of our earth by also doing the things listed below. Things you and your family can do too to help protect our earth!

    What are some everyday activities we can do to make a difference to our planet?

    Some everyday activities we have done/do to make a difference to our planet:
    • turn the lights off when you are not using them;
    • unplug things not in use;
    • use cardboard for burning to reduce the amount being put into landfills;
    • use reusable bags instead of harmful plastic bags;
    • recycle;
    • hang clothes on the line to air dry;
    • use cloth diapers;
    • potty train as soon as possible to eliminate diapers and extra laundry;
    • pick up trash even if it’s not yours;
    • be a part of the community and participate in clean ups;
    • plant tree and bee-friendly flowers;
    • grow our own food to alleviate food transportation waste; and
    • eat less processed foods.

    simple things you can do to help the environment with kids

    @erinbethray

    South Florida
    2 boys, ages 7 and 8

    The story behind the image

    My images show my boys cleaning up the Broward County waterways. We participated in the 2019 waterway cleanup, which is held across our entire county, from the beaches all the way to the Everglades, and everywhere in between! Wherever there’s a waterway, river, or canal, we’re trying to clean it up.  It’s our county’s largest and longest running environmental event! 

    How do you teach/inspire your kids to help protect our planet?

    We are constantly learning and trying. Every day is a learning experience on how we can help mother earth and protect our planet. I believe if you do good, your kids are always watching and, in turn, they’ll do good! I try to lead by example. We also love to learn about animals. I believe that if you teach children that our earth is the home for these animals, it can help them want to do better for those creatures and our planet. Give them a love of the world and nature and they’ll WANT to help. 

    What are some everyday activities we can do to make a difference to our planet?

    I think one of the easiest things people can to do to make a difference for our planet is to use metal straws. Also, if you’re going out into nature (to the beach, a park, trail, etc.), bring a bag and pick up as much garbage as you can. It’s simple and effective! Also, we should all recycle as much as we can! 

    how kids can help make a difference in the environment

    The earth is not ours to inherit – it’s on loan from our children and grandchildren. If we want there to be anything left we have to act now. All of us.

    * This hashtag campaign and giveaway is sponsored by and in collaboration with Vivobarefoot Kids. 

  • BEACH, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY, SUMMER

    10 Tips for Taking Amazing Photos of Your Kids at the Beach

    Summer will be here before we know it and I know lots of you are already planning your upcoming beach adventures. Today, we have the amazing Jeanni from JKutz Photography sharing all the tips, tricks and advice you need to know for capturing amazing photos of your kids on the beach. Make sure you read this awesome tutorial on beach photography before your trip and keep all these things in mind when capturing your cuties in the sand this summer.

    10 tips for taking amazing beach photos of your kids

    The mountains or the sea? Where does your photographer’s heart call you to go? While I love the mountain views, there is something about those ocean waves that keep me coming back over and over again. The beach is truly a magical place and a great one for photographers. One of my most favorite things to do while sitting on the sandy shores is to capture images of my crew. I’ve learned a lot about what to do (and what not to do) when photographing kids on the beach. Here are my top 10 tips for capturing beautiful beachy images of your family.

    how to get great beach photos of your kidsbeach photography tutorial

    10. Avoid high mid-day sun

    I know, you have heard this a thousand times, but there is a reason photographers avoid the super-bright mid-day sun. That harsh bright sun creates harsh bright photos. And although we (as beach-goers) hate those overcast beach days, they’re much more photograph-friendly. If you are looking to create softer light airy beach photos, try photographing on a slightly overcast day. Beautiful beach photos happen when the bright sun is a bit muted by some cloud cover.

    how to take great beach photos of kidsmust take beach photos of kids

    9. Be patient

    Sit back, relax and wait for the right moment. Some of my favorite beach photos were taken when no one realized the camera was around. I like to sit a distance away from my children and watch them play. Forcing a cute playful moment often ends in frustration, tears and resentment of the camera. Try sitting back from the action and observing. You are guaranteed to see the magic moments unfold before your eyes and will be better prepared to grab the camera when the time is right.

    tips for taking photos of kids at the beachbeach photo tutorial and tips

    8. Small can be mighty

    Like every mom out there, I think my littles are the star of the show. I often fill the entire frame with their sweet beach babe bodies. Although these images are adorable, over time they can all look the same. I have to remind myself to mix up my shots by stepping back and capturing the entire scene. Try making your littles a small part of the shot by filling the frame with more of the beach. This is a great way to capture the entire experience of your beach trip.

    how to take awesome photos of kids at the beachadvice for taking photos of kids at the beachmust take beach photos of kids

    7. Find the path less taken

    Half the fun is getting there, am I right? The path leading to the beach might just have as much charm and beauty as the sandy shore itself. Take time to look around for that dreamy spot just before you reach the shores. You will end up with great views of the sea in your background.

    tips for bright fun beach photos of kidsbeach photography tutorialbeach photography kids tutorial

    6. Get cheesy

    Getting that creative praise-worthy photo is every mom/photographer dreams. Candid images that tell a story are all the rage, which means cheesy posed images get a bad rep. However, sometimes a good old-fashioned stand there and smile photo is so worth it. Especially if you have young children that are always on the move because it can be really difficult to capture their sweet face. There is nothing wrong with a classic stand there and say “cheese” at the camera kind of photo.

    how to capture the best beach photos of kidschild beach photo tutorial

    5. Find the small details

    As much as I love capturing the entire scene, I really love zooming in on the small details of the beach. Not only will the detailed pictures help you remember the way the sand felt in-between your toes, it will also give a good amount of variety of your gallery of beach images. Pay attention to those details and be sure to capture the tiny little details you never want to forget.

    photography tips for taking pictures of kids at the beach10 tips for taking amazing beach photos of your kids

    4. Sunrise can equal sunset

    There’s a reason you see so many classic beach sunset photos – sunsets can be epic. We all love the pastel colors that paint the sky and we’ve all tried to capture that beauty as our kids frolic and play. But, depending on the direction the beach faces, the sunrise can actually create better images than the sunset. If the beach looks out towards the West, try photographing the “sunset” photo in the morning. When the sun is low, the landscape can block some of the harsh sun that is often found on open beaches.

    how to get great sunset shot at the beachbeach photos sunrise and sunsetphotography tutorial for beach sunsets and sunrises

    3. Look for the quiet moments

    The best beach moments don’t always happen on the beach with a sand shovel in hand or while the littles are jumping in the waves. Napping on the beach often results in a frame-worthy photo. As do beach picnics, snack breaks and all the little moments in between the action when the kids are resting and refueling.

    10 tips for taking amazing beach photos of your kids10 tips for taking amazing beach photos of your kids10 tips for taking amazing beach photos of your kids

    2. Get directional

    Do you have a perfect beach photo in your mind that you desperately want to create? Me too! Help your children create that image by positioning them where you want them and letting them know just what you would like them to do. Use gentle encouraging directions to get the shot you envision. Start by pointing out a perfect spot on the beach where the light is just right. Then suggest that your crew build a sand castle there or have them pick up that super cute floaty. Need them to turn and face the ocean? Ask if they see any dolphins jumping in the waves. Get creative and they’ll never know that this is all part of a plan.

    beach photography tutorialkids beach photo tutorial

    1. Keep it simple

    Cutting out the clutter of a beach trip will absolutely give your images a more editorial and stylized look. I am in no way suggesting not to pack all the coolers and bags. You need those! However, when it comes time to capture that perfect beach image, leave them out of the shot. Try having all the beach chairs, towels, and fun floats behind you or off to the side so they’re not in all your images.  Move the kids away from the gear, for a few shots. If you have a lens with a longer focal lens, try zooming in or moving closer to cut out that clutter. One or two cute beach toys might be just perfect, but three or more is definitely a crowd.

    10 tips for taking amazing beach photos of your kids10 tips for taking amazing beach photos of your kids

    More photography resources

    If you’re interested in more photography resources, download our FREE guide with our best tips and tricks for taking better photos of your kids’ outdoor adventures with the camera on your PHONE! From creative composition tips to our favorite editing apps, this guide includes everything you need to know to make the most out of the camera in your pocket!  

     

     

    Jeanni, originally born and raised in St. Paul MN, has traveled the country and world searching for a place to call home. She is a mom to a crew of 4 littles; 1 boy and 3 girls. After a 7 year career as an early childhood teacher, Jeanni is now proud to be working as a full-time mom. The bittersweet emotions of watching her children grow motivated her to pick up a camera and become a photographer. Photography is her heart’s work and she loves to capture joyful, natural moments. As a lover of natural light, Jeanni strives for fresh and airy images. She also has a deep love for her husband, a strong cup of coffee, the color white, and all things vintage. It is truly her great joy to share her work with you at jkutzphotography.com.

  • CRAFTS, GARDENING, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    How to Make DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs with Kids

    One of our favorite outdoor crafts is to make DIY wildflower seed bombs. Not only are these DIY seed bombs easy enough for kids to make in under an hour, but they’re good for the birds, bees, and butterflies in your area. They only require a few ingredients and have the added benefit of letting kids get their hands really messy! Make these and let your kids “seedbomb” the neighborhood or give them as homemade eco-friendly gifts to teachers, neighbors, family, and friends. Everyone will love watching the seed bombs grow into a beautiful patch of colorful wildflowers.

    Making DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs with Kids

    Guerilla gardening with seed bombs

    Did you know that “seed bombs” originated in New York City in the 1970s? People use to make these tiny “green grenades” of native herb, flower, and vegetable seeds and then “bomb” large vacant lots where it was illegal or impossible to plant. They called it guerilla gardening! It’s definitely caught on and now seed bombs are still the main weapon guerrilla gardeners use to grow flowers in bare spots, creating pockets of beauty and habitats for pollinators. Seed bombs enable seeds to be sown in hard-to-reach places and locations where the gardener is unable to adequately prepare the ground for traditional gardening.

    Bomb responsibly

    I’m sure you already know better, but make sure you bomb responsibly. Do not drop seed bombs on private property or in protected parks. Try to stick with spaces that have been neglected or local public areas that could use a bit of rewilding. You may want to check local ordinances before bombing around your town or neighborhood. Also, make sure that the seeds you use are local and native to your area. You wouldn’t want to introduce any new or invasive species of plants or flowers into your local ecosystem with these seedbombs. 

    how to make diy wildflower seed bombs with kids - earth day craftswhat to put in wildflower seed bombs

    Benefits of wildflowers

    Growing a patch of colorful native wildflowers not only adds beauty and charm to your space, but they provide many benefits to the world around us. Wildflowers are native to the area where they grow, meaning they’re conditioned to thrive there.  They require less water and fertilizer, are less prone to disease and are more tolerant to pests. They also provide critical habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects and wildlife, which is important for ecosystem function and pollination. Wildflowers can also improve soil health, prevent erosion, improve water quality, increase yields and enhance forage conditions for livestock. When choosing seeds to use in your seed bombs, make sure you use wildflowers that are local and native to the area they’ll be planted to avoid introducing invasive species.

    making seed bombs with kidsdiy seed bombs with kids

    Make your own seed bombs with kids

    Wildflower seed bombs are surprisingly easy to make and so fun! They only require a few ingredients and about an hour to make. They are definitely messy though, so be prepared to have a tub of water or a hose somewhere close to rinse your hand. My kids loved this project and the sensory feeling of squishing the clay between their fingers. They also loved gifting their homemade seed bombs to our neighbors and friends. We can’t wait to see patches of wildflowers sprouting up around our area soon!

    earth day project for kidsplanting wildflowers with kids for earth day

    What you need to make seed bombs

    • Air dry clay (we used this clay for the bombs pictured here, but we’ve also tried this one and it works just as well)
    • Potting soil or compost
    • Native/local wildflower seeds
    • Water

    nature craft seed bombshow to make seed bombsmaking wildflower seed bombs with kids

    How to make wildflower seed bombs

    Step 1: Mix the ingredients

    Mix together about 4 parts clay to 1 part potting soil. You don’t have to be exact, but you want more clay than soil so the bombs hold tightly together.

    Add your wildflower seeds to the clay mixture (we also added some sunflower seeds). Be sure to only use seeds that are native to your area and not invasive. Native plants will grow better and support more wildlife than non-native species. Not all of the seeds will sprout, so it’s best to have an assortment of flower species and varieties.

    Step 2: Add water

    Add a little bit of water at a time and squish with your hands until everything is mixed and about the consistency of thick cookie dough. This is definitely a good job for the kids! Make sure not to use too much water or it gets gooey and runny. If you use too much water, add more soil.

    Step 3: Roll into balls

    Once everything is well mixed, roll the clay into balls about the size of a golf ball. Set them on a tray and let them dry completely until hardened. This may take a couple hours or a couple of days, depending on the humidity levels where you live.

    Step 4: Bombs away

    Once dry, package your seed bombs in small envelopes or bags to gift to friends, neighbors, teachers, or family members. They’d make great gifts for Earth Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Teacher Appreciation, or just because.

    earth day crafts for kids: wildflower seed bombsmaking seed bombs with clay

    A few extra tips for making seed bombs

    We made these seed bombs on a pretty chilly day. This led to our clay being very hard to squish/mold initially and made our fingers very cold! We ended up using warm water in our mix, which helped tremendously. So, if your clay is really hard or cold, try warming your water for the mix.

    If storing your seed bombs to gift or use at a later date, just be sure to keep them in a cool, dry, dark location to prevent them from germinating. 

    If you want to package them use as gifts, I found this cute printable label, which I printed on cardstock and attached with washi tape.

    how to make seed bombs with kidsmaking seed balls with kidshow to make diy seed bombsclay based seed bombs for kids

    When to bomb

    The best time to get out there and start slinging your wildflower bombs in the spring. Check your local weather and try to get them out just ahead of some rain and choose a sunny spot. That will give them the best chance of growing. If there’s no rain coming, maybe add some water. Plant your seed balls anywhere in need of some beauty and color. Hopefully, in a few weeks, you’ll have the beginning of a beautiful patch of your own native wildflowers!

     
    diy nature gifts made by kids

    Not interested in getting dirty?

    If you’re not into getting your hands dirty, or perhaps you can’t get your hands on all of the ingredients you need, there’s another option! Seedbombs can also be purchased. Seedles makes a really cute and colorful option. Or you can purchase a large pack of 50 native wildflower seed bombs. 

    earth day gifts and projects for kids

    Have you ever made seed bombs?

  • INFORMATION, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Tapping Trees & Making Maple Syrup with Kids

    The process of making maple syrup is one that absolutely fascinates me. The whole concept of tapping trees, collecting sap and creating your own syrup is something I’ve been curious about and interested in for years! Today, the amazing and inspiring Leslie Alvis is back sharing her family’s adventures in tapping trees and making maple syrup on their family cattle farm in Ohio. The Alvis family takes maple syrup seriously. They have nearly 300 taps and quite the set-up. While this may not be practical for everyone wanting to try their hand at making maple syrup, it is absolutely fascinating and you’re sure to learn a lot about the process and walk away with a newfound appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into making delicious treat!

    tapping maple trees and making maple syrup with kids

    Winter is ending

    Every year, just when Ohio winters have reached the peak of their monotony and we’re not sure if we can’t survive another week of dreary coldness, a subtle shift occurs. You can smell it in the air when you step outside in a crisp February dawn – a hint of green, of dirt, of life. It can be heard it in the trees, as the bird cacophony increases. You can feel it in the ground, as the frozen dirt begins to soften. In the rhythm established by our great Creator, the world is waking up.

    And we are ready. The end of winter means the days are lengthening and temperatures are finally rising. Although, by this time cabin fever has become a very real malady, and we are overtaken by another sort of seasonal madness: maple sugaring! Each year our family heads to the woods in these late winter days to begin the age-old process of making maple syrup.

    tapping maple trees and making maple syrup with kidshow to tap a maple treedrilling a hole in a maple tree for a tapmaple tree taps

    Maple sugaring

    For hundreds of years, residents of the North American continent have tapped holes in maple trees in late winter. They’ve collected the sweet sap that flows through the trees as the days warm above freezing, and boiled it down into pure maple syrup. The Native Americans taught this process to the early settlers and the tradition has continued throughout the years, changing and adapting with inventions and technology.

    Today, major producers in the maple syrup industry tap hundreds of trees. They collect the sap through a vacuum tubing system and boil it down in huge, state-of-the-art evaporators. On the other side of the scale are the small hobby producers, who tap a handful of trees in their yards and boil the sap in a single pan. Our operation falls somewhere in the middle. We put in between 250-300 taps each year, collect it in buckets, and boil it down in a moderate sized wood-fired evaporator.

    tapping maple trees for syruphow to make maple syrup with kidshow to tap a maple tree with kidscollecting maple sap for syrup

    A family affair

    Maple sugaring is a family affair for us. We began this enterprise, together with my parents, 6 years ago. My husband had dreamed of making maple syrup for years. My parent’s farm has acres and acres of woods with hundreds of maple trees. After talking about it for ages, we finally decided to give maple syrup making a try. We went to a local maple supply store with the idea that we would just dip our toes in the water, so to speak. We thought we’d put a few taps out in Dad’s woods, boil the sap on a propane burner and see what happened. Somehow, with a little education and evaluation of our woods’ potential, this plan quickly escalated into a full-blown project.

    We bought a used 2’x6′ evaporator, put in a lot of hours scrubbing it up, and began tapping trees. Before the first week was over, we were back at the maple store buying more taps. Only our limited manpower and evaporator capacities have kept us limited to 300 taps!

    getting kids involved in making maple syrupkids help making maple syrup

    We include our children in every part of it. From washing buckets to tapping trees, gathering sap, splitting and hauling wood for the evaporator. Making syrup is a huge amount of work, but it is also a grand adventure. The children love being in the woods….as long as we keep their hands and feet warm and their tummies fed. I learned early on to have snacks, lots of them. And a full change of clothes for every child. Those two things are key to making sure the kids have fun throughout the long days we spend making syrup.

    chores for kids when making maple syrupcollecting sap for maple syrup

    Timing is key

    Our “sugar bush” (stand of maple trees) is tucked deep in my dad’s woods, down the road a half a mile from the main farm. The sap begins to flow when the days rise into the 40s and the nights fall below freezing. Producers like us who have open taps have a 6-week window once we put in the taps. After that, we risk harmful bacteria getting into the trees. So we watch the weather carefully to decide when to tap. As soon as we see a weather pattern of days well above freezing with nights still dropping into the 20s, we start putting in taps and the clock is ticking.

    maple syrup making with kids

    Tap carefully

    We tapped our trees on a chilly day in late February this year, with snow still on the ground but sun warming the trees. The trees immediately began dripping sweet sap into the buckets, and the beginning of a new season filled the air with excitement as we hurried from tree to tree. The children raced around with buckets, handing them off to their dad, uncle, and grandpa as they drilled holes 1.5” deep in the trees.

    There’s a careful science to tapping trees responsibly to avoid injuring the tree and to allow for the best yield. We don’t tap any trees under a 12” diameter, giving them time to grow. A large tree can support 2-4 taps, and our largest tree has 5 buckets hung from it! We move the position of the taps in each tree from year to year, allowing the tree to heal up and continue to grow and be healthy.

    maple sugaring with kids

    Old-fashioned fun

    When the sap is running, it has to be gathered and boiled frequently or it will spoil. So when the days warm up, we head out every day to gather sap. We haul 55-gallon barrels out to the sugar bush on a trailer behind a four-wheeler. Everyone tall enough to carry a bucket grabs a couple and we start going from tree to tree, emptying the buckets from the trees, then carrying each bucketful to the barrels. This is the old-fashioned way to gather sap, and there is no way to make it easy. But as long as it’s not pouring rain and the four-wheeler doesn’t get stuck in the mud, we have a lot of fun.

    We are trying to teach the kids that they can work hard and have fun at the same time. Fun conversation, cheerful encouragement, and frequent smiles as we trudge through the woods remind us that our attitudes make all the difference. Despite the heavy work that needs done, we are doing this because we love it. After all, the woods are one of our favorite places to be. And making syrup is a fascinating and fun experience.

    how much sap do you need to make maple syrupbest way to collect sap for maple syrup

    Gathering the sap

    The amount of sap we gather varies from day to day and from tree to tree. Some trees are big producers; filling their buckets with startling ease. A tree that isn’t as healthy or doesn’t have as large of a spread of branches overhead will produce much less. But with 275 taps, even if every tap only produces an average of one gallon of sap in a day, that’s a lot of sap to boil!

    Our sap has averaged 1.5% sugar content this year, which means it takes 58 gallons of sap to produce 1 gallon of syrup! That’s a lot of work for a small yield…which may help you understand the high price of a gallon of pure maple syrup. The entire process is incredibly labor intensive.

    collecting sap for maple syrupmaple tree sap for syrup

    Sugar shack

    After we gather the sap, we haul it back to the main farm to boil it down in the little “sugar shack” near my parents’ farmhouse. It takes our evaporator an hour to boil down 30 gallons of sap. So, a big day means ten hours of work in the sugar shack. My dad, my husband, and I all take shifts running the evaporator. The evaporator allows the sap to flow through a series of pans as the water boils off and the remaining liquid increases in sugar content and density. When the syrup flows into the final pan, we monitor the temperature until it reaches its finished temperature of 219 degrees.

    using an evaporator to make maple syrupmaple syrup evaporator

    Running the evaporator means: (1) pumping the sap into the preheat tank, (2) monitoring the fluid levels to make sure a constant flow is feeding into the evaporator, (3) feeding the roaring fire every 5-10 minutes to keep the boil going, and (4) constantly checking the temperature of the syrup. Finally, we draw off the finished syrup, opening the nozzle and trickling it through a triple-layered filter to remove any impurities before we bottle and seal it.

    how to make maple syrup using an evaporatorsugar shack for maple syrup

    Sugaring safety

    The sugar shack is a cozy, steamy place to be on a chilly late winter night, but it is also a frightening place to have children! The evaporator fills the space like a fiery beast, breathing out smoke and spewing maple syrup. We are ever-conscious of the dangers of having little ones around this fiercely hot boiler. The rule is that if they are in the sugar shack, they have to be sitting down in one of the seats along the wall.

    Most of the daylight hours the children spend running and swinging and climbing trees outside anyway. Sometimes after dark on a chilly winter evening, after they are worn out from playing and working outside all day, we get out a tiny portable DVD player and have a family movie night while we boil. It keeps everyone still, safe, and warm together. We keep a picnic table nearby and eat our meals at the sugar shack. March picnics are a real thing during sugar season!

    reducing sap down to syrup using an evaporatormaple sugar making process using an evaporatorboiling down sap for syrup

    Dedication to the craft

    This year’s maple season has been a good one, with some major runs and long boils. Usually, my husband does the majority of the boiling after his day job. He runs the evaporator till late in the night, then gets up at 4:30 a.m. to go to work again. This year, I’ve also spent a lot of hours boiling sap during the day, just to keep up with our sap flow. We’ve also been keeping our homeschooling days going on the run. Plus, I’m constantly trying to watch out for our two littlest ones! They are all independent, busy, outdoors-loving rascals who love to run around the farmyard, play on the swings near the sugar shack, and help Grandpa with his chores in the barn.

    sugar shack syrup making safety

    I have spent the last couple weeks a little wild-eyed and wild-haired. I’ve been shoving wood in the evaporator, checking the temperature and fluid levels, then dashing back outside to do a head count on the kids. One on the swing behind the sugar shack. One doing school on the hale bales in front of the sugar shack. One reading in the top of the juniper bush near the swings. One headed to the barn to see Grandpa. With everyone okay for the moment, I hurry back to check on the syrup. Every time I’ve been about to lose my mind, Grandma or a friend has arrived to help me out. I have been so blessed by their extra hands and eyes.

    making maple syrup with kidshomemade pure maple syrup

    End of the season

    Despite the hard work and busy days, the kids get up every morning and ask me when we are going to the farm. If our toddler even thinks she hears something about going to the farm, she’s racing for her boots and coat. But the calendar has turned to spring and the maple season is beginning to wrap up as the days warm and the trees begin to bud out. When the trees bud is determined by the number of days we’ve had over 50 degrees. We are nearing that limit for the maple trees. The sap begins to turn cloudy and sour-smelling and the flow slows down. Soon we will pull our taps, wash hundreds of buckets, and clean out the evaporator so everything will be ready for next year as the rhythm of the seasons continues.

    pure ohio maple syrup tapping maple trees and making maple syrup with kids

     

    Leslie Alvis is a wife, mom, follower of Christ, and lover of all things outdoors. She uses writing and photography as ways to keep her sanity amidst the chaos of rearing and homeschooling four children. Outdoor activities with her family are some of her favorite things. You can see more of their family’s adventures on Instagram at @c_l_allofus.

  • INFORMATION, OUTDOORS INSIDE, URBAN NATURE

    20 Ways to Incorporate Nature into your Daily Life

    While getting you outdoors with your kids is our main mission, we are also parents and know that’s not always easy or possible. Sometimes weather, work, illness, injuries, lack of daylight, chores or other circumstances keep us from getting outside as much as we want (or at all). In those instances, there are tons of ways you can bring the outdoors in. Today, we have Jessica Jackson here sharing 20 simple ways that you can easily incorporate more nature into your daily life and routine. These tips are great for anyone (even those spending tons of time outside) wanting more nature in their homes and indoor lives.

    20 ways to incorporate more nature into your daily routine

    Getting out can be difficult

    This past winter began with the best intentions of spending lots of time outside and doing lots of outdoor exploration. We were excited to bear witness to the changes that happen during the cold season. We love learning about creatures and wintertime habitats as they survive the cold temperatures. Watching the sky colors change, catching snowflakes, and sliding about on frozen paths were all on our winter bucket list. There is so much beauty and wonder in our world during the winter season.

    However, as the winter passed, we also began to feel it’s brutality. Record-breaking lows, piles and piles of snow, slippery ice, power outages, school closures, early darkness and dangerous road conditions kept us inside more than we expected. As beautiful as the winter can be, it can also feel isolating and dreary. We faced one polar vortex after another. The negative temperatures and brutal conditions halted our winter outdoor play. Even after properly bundling up, sometimes it was just too much for the kids to endure and enjoy.

    This is also the time when seasonal depression can set in. We can feel trapped in our own homes and hopeless in winter. We crave sun, warmth, and the reawakening that spring brings. Kids feel this, too. After the initial appeal of sensory bins, indoor tea parties, new holiday toys, living room obstacle courses, dance parties, and basement forts has worn off, we just want to get back outside and into nature. We desperately want to hike, camp, fish,  garden, swim, and enjoy the beauty of our outdoor world. 

    bringing the outdoors in

    Incorporating nature into your life

    I’ve found that there are may ways to combat the wintertime woes, which can also be used year-round to improve your mood and mindset. Incorporating more nature and natural elements into our daily rhythm has been therapeutic and rejuvenating. Bringing bits of the outdoors into your “indoor life” is a great way to stay connected to all the beautiful things nature provides. These elements reduce stress, relieve anxiety and refocus your attention when it’s not practical or possible to get outside. By incorporating these ideas into your daily life and routine, you can keep a healthy, positive outdoor mindset year-round.

    Here are a few small things you can do to incorporate nature into your daily indoor life.

    bring nature indoors with plants

    1. Sprinkle plants in every room

    Bringing more plants into your home is a great way to incorporate nature into your life. Pick out a selection of plants that are easy to grow indoors. Consider where you’ll place them in your home and how much sunlight they’ll get. Make taking care of the plants a family-centered activity. Let your children choose plants for their bedrooms and let them be responsible for their own plants. Feeling ambitious, try growing an avocado from a seed. Adding plants throughout your home is such a fun hobby and a great way to get your kids involved. Plus, plants help reduce the number of airborne pollutants in your home, so it’s a win for everyone!

    use nature in your interior decorating

    2. Choose natural items as decor

    Another way to incorporate nature into your home is to use natural items as home decor. When choosing storage bins, accessories, and colors for your interiors, consider choosing natural-made or natural-looking items. Select a color palette inspired by your favorite garden or landscape. White and grey stone pair well in minimalist settings. Wood furnishings can be dressed up or down to suit any theme. Taupe, tan and camel are trendy neutral beachy colors that pair well with nature-inspired wall coverings or rugs. Incorporate decorative items made from wood, stone, antlers, branches/stumps, driftwood, pebbles or other textures found in nature. Paint a mural of trees or frame pressed flowers. Buy wicker baskets for storage and shelves.

    bring the scent of nature indoors with essential oils

    3. Natural scents

    You can also bring the smell of nature into your home.  You can find candles, wax melters, diffusers, and sprays in many natural scents like pine, rain, fresh cut grass, citrus, oregano, lavender or lilac. There are so many different applications to bring scents into your home to excite your sense of smell and fill your space with something fresh and natural.

    nature journaling and bringing nature indoors

    4. Nature journaling

    Nature journaling is a great hobby that you can do both in and outdoors with a focus on nature’s fine details. Gather a quality-made journal, pens, colored pencils, and some watercolors. Or just some scrap paper and your kids’ crayons! No need to be fancy. Take your time and draw nature. You can draw what you see, copy from a photo or sketch from memory. If you need extra inspiration, go sit in a forest and journal about every detail. If you can’t draw, find a nature-themed coloring book – there are great ones for both kids and adults. Getting creative by practicing this stress-relieving form of expression is a great way to unwind with nature.

    5. Indoor Herb Gardens

    Incorporate nature into your life by bringing the garden indoors. You might be surprised to know how easy it is to grow edible plants in your home. All year! Simple clay pots of herbs next to a window are always a good place to start. Basil is an easy choice and will provide lots of yummy leaves for salads, pesto, pastas, and more. Turn your countertop or windowsill into a small garden with pots of your favorite herbs such as rosemary, mint, and thyme.  You can also regrow some vegetables from kitchen scraps. Try your green thumb on regrowing celery stalks, green onions and romaine hearts from leftovers. Countertop hydroponics gardens are another neat way to garden indoors. It’s easier than you think to grow everything you need to make your own salsas, salads, and more inside your home!

    incorporate more nature into your life

    6. Edible flowers and fresh herbs

    Another way to bring the outdoors in is to opt for edible fresh flowers and herbs to garnish and cook with.  You can do this easily by freezing them directly into ice cubes to add to your drinks. You can cut up herbs and flowers and use them to brighten up a salad or garnish a plate. Adding these bright bites into your daily meals will not only please your palate but give you a boost of antioxidants and vitamins. You can grow your own (see above) or find them at a natural grocer or your local farmer’s market.

    7. Soundscapes

    Tap into your auditory sense by bringing the sound of the outdoors inside. Create a nature-themed playlist that you can listen to at home, in the office, or on your commute to work. Nature has its own music – ocean/wave sounds, gentle rain, whale songs, thunderstorms, bird calls or a crackling campfire.  Close your eyes, listen carefully and connect yourself to the sound of nature for instant relaxation and stress-relief. Kids really enjoy these sounds, too and you can incorporate them into so many daily activities. Next time you’re playing with your kids, turn on the playlist and see how they react. Pretend you’re SCUBA diving while listening to whale sounds. Or hide out in a blanket fort in the basement while listening to a thunderstorm track. The meditating and playtime possibilities are endless.

    20 ways to incorporate more nature into your daily life

    8. Scroll nature

    If you’re going to be online, incorporate nature into your media by following accounts and pages that share amazing shots and videos of nature, wildlife and outdoor activities. Consider this time as research to get inspired by new adventures and activities when you get back out there. Relax by looking at photos of the depths of the oceans, wildlife in the desserts, or camping under the stars. Overload your feed with all things nature. Stay connected with local farmers, garden shops, florists, and state parks. Find online nature-based communities and become involved – this is a great way to also meet other like-minded parents in your area and make new friends. Incorporating nature into screen time is a great escape to beautiful places and a nice break from the daily grind.  

    ways to bring nature indoors

    9. Nature studies

    Find a good nature study book or nature-based curriculum and follow along with the activities to learn new things about the outdoors. Set up a bird feeder outside your window and place a bird guide and binoculars next to it for easy access. Read about wildlife habitats, local flora and fauna, and study trail maps for hikes you’d like to go on. Learning about nature can be done through books when being outside to study isn’t possible. Learn about the plants that grow in your area and identify the trees in your neighborhood. Review animal track guide to figure out who made those footprints in your yard. There are so many ways to study nature on a daily basis that will inspire many adventures to come.  

    how to incorporate more nature in your life

    10. Garden dreams

    It’s never too early to start planning your outdoor garden space and figuring out what you’ll plant this year. Use the time and preparations indoors to kickstart a thriving outdoor garden. Research what zone you’re in, what plants grow best there and when to start planting. Learn about soil types. Start indoor seedlings. Stroll through your local nursery to get ideas and ask questions. Collect planters and supplies during the offseason when things are on sale. Gardening can be a year-long adventure and a part of your routine every day. And when you’re ready, choose some easy vegetables to grow with kids and work on your garden together.

    how to incorporate nature indoors

    11. Find a sunny spot

    Pay attention to the times of days when the sun is shining through the windows of your home and find that super sunny spot to warm yourself and soak in the sunshine. Set up tables in that spot, play areas or cozy sitting spaces. Add a comfy chair and some pillows and turn it into a reading nook. Rotate your houseplants in this sunny spot. Notice how the light changes in that location throughout the day and at different times of the year. During the perfect time of day, when the sun is shining through, sit, play, and enjoy it’s warmth.

    bringing nature from outdoors indoors

    12. Fresh flowers

    Decorating your home with bouquets of fresh flowers are a wonderful way to incorporate nature into your daily indoor life. Grab a bouquet of cut flowers during your next grocery trip. Take time to hold each flower and smell its fragrance. Carefully trim off leaves and snip the end of the stems. Place all the flowers in a vase or spit them up into lots of smaller bouquets. Spread them throughout your home in places where you spend a lot of time: next to your bed, on the kitchen counter, or on a mantle. Seeing bright bouquets can bring so much freshness and happiness to your indoor space.

    13. Nature-themed play

    To keep your kids connected to nature while playing indoors, choose toys that incorporate nature into your children’s daily lives. Look for toys inspired by nature or made from natural materials like wood and stone. Create nature-themed sensory bins. Bring in bowls of snow for the kids to play with and eat! Paint on collected leaves, sticks and rocks. Use loose flowers and let them make their own arrangements, dissect them to see all of their parts or use them to make flower jewelry or crowns. Create little worlds of landscapes and leave animal figures inside. Creating natural themed play areas is so satisfying for parents and kiddos and will encourage them to be curious about the world outside.

    incorporate more nature into your lifestyle

    14. Nature documentaries

    When getting outside isn’t possible, take advantage of the vast selection of earth and natural wonder documentaries on your streaming services. These exciting series can take you to places you’ve never even heard of and introduce you to animals you never knew existed! Choose episodes of places you dream of going or wish to revisit.  Watch as life cycles change, seasons pass, and animals travel. The calming voices and beautiful cinematography are captivating to all ages. Discuss what you see with little ones and ask them lots of questions about their favorites and interests. Use what you see to incorporate into play area themes, sounds, and journaling when you need a fresh perspective. 

    start a nature journal with kids

    15. Display nature art

    Displaying nature art on the wall of your home is another easy way to incorporate nature into your indoor space. Shop thrift stores and find vintage paintings of landscapes, wildlife, herbs, plants or other natural elements. Order canvases of photos of your kids/family on your latest adventure or enjoying nature. Purchase prints from your most admired nature photographer or a local artist. Display projects that you and your family have created together, such as pressed leaves or flowers.  Switch them out through the season or with holiday decor.

    ways to bring more nature into your life

    16. Open the curtains

    Bringing the outdoors in can be as simple as adding more light to your day. Make a morning ritual of opening the curtains and let the fresh light fill your space. This can be just as invigorating as your morning coffee and is a wonderful natural way to start your day. Bringing natural light into your home is so much better on your eyes, and aesthetically pleasing. More light will improve your mood and help your body adjust to the day. 

    17. Plan celebrations

    There are so many wonderful ways to celebrate nature, the seasons and holidays. Plan celebrations around the changing of the season or the full moon. Plan a garden tea party or a May Day celebration in the middle of winter. Check out some of the more obscure holidays and plan a celebration around them, such as World Wetlands Day, World Bird Day, World Soil Day, International Mountain Day and World Animal Day. Craft natural decor, design invitations, and plan a fresh menu when you are needing some nature inspiration.

    nature celebrations for kids

    18. Indoor magic gardens

    Kids love creating imaginative worlds, so play to that strength using natural elements. Painted rocks, figures, and tiny accessories can turn any potted plant into a magical world. Use your child’s favorite dinosaurs, fairies, or lego figures to create a magic forest around a plant and make it special to them. Adding whimsical touches into your house plants is an inviting way to add some more focus onto them. Choose one item and move it around regularly and make a game of who notices first. 

    incorporating more nature into your life

    19. Pressed flowers

    Save flowers throughout the year from your bouquets, gardens, or dandelions given by kids. Find a couple of heavy books and press flowers inside sheets of wax paper. Wait a few days to reopen the pages to reveal a preserved flattened flower. These are delicate reminders of bright blooms that will lighten your space and bring back precious memories. Use the flowers in artwork and hang them on the wall. Glue them onto paper and create cards and stationery to send to friends and loved ones. Cut them up and use them to make an organic confetti mix.  

    20. Botanical baths

    Finally, one last way to incorporate more nature into your daily life is to literally bathe in it! Fill your tub with bubbles, salts, scents of your choice and a sprinkle of fresh or dried flower petals. This is the perfect way to warm up after a long winter day. Unwind in a botanical bliss and transport yourself to a luxurious spa after the kids are in bed. The flower petals are a perfect touch of nature to a relaxing indoor bath.

    Bringing nature indoors

    These are just a few fun ways to incorporate more nature into your day. If you’re looking to make some changes and bring the outdoors in, I recommend starting small. Choose one thing from these ideas and grow from there. You do not have to be an outdoorsy naturalist to reap the amazing benefits of bringing nature into your daily routines. Look for moments to bring in small touches and add them all year long. You will appreciate them during long winter days and throughout the year. Especially on days when getting outdoors wasn’t feasible. Incorporating nature into your life is important for all ages and lifestyles and can add so much value to your days.

    About the author

    Jessica Jackson is a homeschooling mother of three. She currently has roots planted near Kansas City, Missouri where her and her family live, grow, and explore. Growing up in Colorado, Jessica has been an avid nature explorer, hiker, and camping enthusiast since childhood. She spent some time living in the Caribbean, exploring beaches, ocean life, and island landscapes before settling into motherhood. Jessica enjoys photographing, nature journaling, and sharing about her family’s adventures.

    Instagram: @irieideas

     

  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Nature Study: Raising Tadpoles with Kids

    Spring is here! And with the warmer weather comes a plethora of new opportunities to experience nature with your kids. One incredible way to teach children about wildlife, the phases of metamorphosis and caring for animals is by observing the life cycle of a frog. Today, we’re sharing the amazing experience of raising frogs, from spawn to tadpole to froglet! Ann Owen is here with the most beautiful images and the story of her family’s adventures with tadpoles. She’s also included everything you need to know before go and what you should have on hand if you want to collect and raise your own tadpoles this spring. Happy frogging!

    Everything you need to know about raising tadpoles and froglets with kids

    Tadpole season

    Last year was our first time raising tadpoles. Watching our frogspawn go through their metamorphosis into little froglets was such an incredible experience for our family, especially for my daughter, Phoenix, that we had to do it again this year. Spring is the best time to find frogspawn, so now is the perfect time to share all the lessons we learned last year on how to raise them.

    I hope this blog post will help anyone else who would like to give raising tadpoles a go. I highly recommend doing this with your little ones, as it’s such a great way to observe the life cycle of a frog and learn about metamorphosis. Plus, it’s a great excuse to get outside and go on an adventure in search of frogspawn! We definitely had lots of fun collecting ours this year!
    collecting frogspawn to raise tadpoles finding frogspawn in the spring collecting frogspawn to raise tadpoles collecting frogspawn eggs to raise into tadpoles with kids

    What you will need

    You don’t need a ton of fancy equipment or specialty items to get started raising tadpoles. Here’s a short list of a few items that you’ll want to have on hand when you get started. Most of these items can be found at your neighborhood pet store (or online, of course).

    • Water from the pond/stream where you found the frogspawn (you’ll use this for the initial water in your tank)
    • A small fish tank (we bought a 6 liter one but this year bought another one due to having so many)
    • A bag of aquarium gravel or rocks from the pond
    • Some artificial foliage/plants (so that’s the tadpoles have places to hide, otherwise, they can get stressed)
    • A few larger stones
    • Bottled still water (tap water will kill them; however, you can use tap water if you let it sit for 24 hours)
    • Tropical fish food flakes (for young tadpoles)
    • Freeze dried bloodworm (for tadpoles when they begin to form legs )

    tips for raising tadpoles with kids

    Important things to remember

    Here are a few things to remember and bits of advice that may not be obvious to you, particularly if this is your first time raising tadpoles. These are all lessons we learned last year from our tadpole experience.

    • Once the tadpoles begin to form legs and arms it is extremely important that the gravel in your tank is at an incline so that they are able to get in and out of the water easily.
    • When your tadpoles turn into froglets they will not eat for a few days because they get their food from eating their tail!
    • Make sure you regularly clean the tank and add fresh water.
    • Once they have transformed into froglets, release them back into the wild. Ideally, you should release them where you found the frogspawn.

    tips for finding and collecting frogspawn to raise tadpolesfrogspawn in puddles and streams

    Our tadpole experience

    Our tadpole experience all began last year when we were on a walk in the woods and we came across some frogspawn. We didn’t know we were going to come across this and therefore hadn’t planned to bring any home with us, so we were unprepared. We only had coffee cups to put our frogspawn into, but it did the job until we got home! Since we weren’t prepared and didn’t have a tank we put them into a bowl until we could get one.

    raising tadpoles from frogspawn

    The bowl was not going to cut it, so we immediately ordered a tank. It arrived within a few days and straight away we added the gravel and foliage. We also added some extra water (bottled) to the water from the pond.

    Due to our indoor environment being so much warmer than the temperatures outside, within a week the frogspawn began hatching. In just a few days we had hundreds of little tadpoles. This was incredibly exciting for my daughter, who was almost three at the time. She instantly fell in love with all of them called them her “babies!”

    tips for raising tadpoles with kids

    She took her feeding duties very seriously and it was something she looked forward to each day. We started with fish food flakes, once decent sized pinch a day usually, depending on how many you have (be aware that overfeeding them can kill them).

    what to feed tadpoles and froglets

    Tadpoles to froglets

    A couple of months after we had found the frogspawn we finally saw little legs begin to form. We had also reached a stage where the more developed tadpoles began eating each other and many of our tadpoles didn’t make it. I was totally unprepared for this! Just know this is part of the lifecycle and prepare your children for the carnage.

    raising tadpoles with kids what you need to raise tadpoles at home

    About a week later more and more tadpoles developed their back legs and we had our very first froglet who we named Star. Isn’t she beautiful?

    raising tadpoles and frogs with kids nature study tadpoles and frogs raising tadpoles with kids tips and advice for raising tadpoles with kids how to raise tadpoles at home in a tank watching tadpoles become frogs how to raise tadpoles with kids

    Sadly Star didn’t make it. I had found her dead in the water the next morning. She had drowned. It was an absolute tragedy in our house and we were all so sad. However, from her death, I learned the importance of the tank needing to be at an incline so as to allow the frogs to get out of the water and breathe air. We revamped the tank straight away. During this phase (when the froglets take their first breath of air and go out of the water), they are at their most fragile. During this time they also get all that they need from eating their tail, so you may notice they don’t eat their fish food for a few days.

    raising tadpoles with kids

    From here on out, things began to happen fast. More and more tadpoles developed their back and front legs. At this point, we had to remove some of the water and give them space to get out into the air. Around this time is when we introduced freeze dried bloodworm and this they really loved!

    tips for raising tadpoles and frogs with kids homeschool nature study tadpoles and frogs studying tadpoles and frogs with kids raising froglets with kids from tadpoles

    Releasing our froglets

    Unfortunately, around this time we lost a few more froglets. However, the ones that came after those were much more robust, hardy and healthy. About a week later we finally reached the stage where we could release a couple of them! You are supposed to release the froglets where you found them to give them the best chances of survival. However, the puddle where we found our frogspawn no longer existed, so I found a nice little stream nearby where we could release them. Phoenix loved being able to set them free. She carried their little container ever so carefully, constantly kissing them. We gave them a beautiful little send-off and thanked them for their time with us.

    when to release frogs into the wild tips for reintroducing your frogs to nature taking your tadpole frogs back to nature releasing froglets with kids releasing froglets with kids raising frogs from tadpoles with kids

    A few days later we had more frogs to release! From here on out we kept getting more and more little froglets and released them back into the wild a small batch at a time.

    raising frogs from tadpoles with kids studying frogs and tadpoles with kids

    This was a very exciting time because pretty much every day we would have another new little froglet to love.

    studying and raising frogs from tadpoles with kids studying and raising frogs from tadpoles at home with kids studying and raising frogs from tadpoles with kids studying and raising frogs from tadpoles with kids studying and raising frogs from tadpoles with kids studying and raising frogs from tadpoles with kids studying and raising frogs from tadpoles with kids

    Fun with froglets

    At one point, I had to clean out their tank, but with so many frogs I didn’t dare open it up! Even tiny frogs can really jump! I didn’t want dozens of little froglets jumping around our kitchen, which would have gone terribly wrong since we have cats! Instead, I just scooped out as much of the dirty water as I could and replaced it with bottled water. Phoenix constantly asked to hold the froglets, but I would always tell her they were too small. However, it was finally time! When she was finally able to hold them, we discovered how much fun they are. She especially loved having them on her face!

    studying and raising frogs from tadpoles with kids

    Operation Freedom

    About three full months after we first found the frogspawn, it was finally time to do a big release back into the wild. We called it Operation Freedom! On this day we released about 22 little froglets back into the wild! But not before telling them goodbye and doing a little photo shoot. It was such an amazing experience for all of us and one I hope Phoenix will remember forever.

    Have you ever raised tadpoles?
    We’d love to hear about your experience.

    I’m Ann. I live with my husband, Kevin, our 3-year-old girl, Phoenix (AKA Nixie) and our newest addition to the family (born in January of this year), our little boy Forrest. Craving a quieter, more peaceful life and one closer to nature, we relocated a couple of years ago from the big city of London, England to the beautiful New Forest a few hours away, where we are surrounded by the forest and the sea.

    I’m a wanderer and a nomad at heart. I feel the most at home when I’m out in the wilds: the forests and the sea are my tonic. They are sacred to me. I’m a lover of love, synchronicity; of the unknown and its infinite possibilities, a lover of opposites; of light and dark, our mind and heart, our soul and spirit and discovering all the different ways they work together.

    I’m a family photographer and I love finding the beauty in everyday moments. Since becoming a mama my most favorite thing to photograph is our own family life, it feels like such an honour and such an incredible gift to be by our children’s side as they explore and discover our world. I’m also a holistic massage therapist/bodyworker and have a deep interest in all forms of healing but especially people’s journey into their authentic, true selves.

    You can see some of our adventures on Instagram @therisingphoenixuk.

  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Fun with Fungi: Grow Your Own Mushrooms

    Today’s post is a fun one! Kari from rewildhood.com is back, sharing her family’s adventures with fungi. From finding wild mushrooms in the forest to growing your own mushrooms at home, this post is filled with fun ways to incorporate fungi and mushrooms into your nature study and kitchen!

    Fungi fanatics

    The kids and I have been really focused on mushrooms this year, heck we’re practically fungus fanatics by now. Mushrooms have been popping up all over our wet forests since late fall and have really enchanted the kids. It’s safe to say we’ve been hit by the fungus bug hard this year. The world of fungi is so captivating and there is so much to learn about these magical forest dwellers.

    mushroom growing kit for kidsfinding wild mushrooms with kids

    Fungi fun facts

    The more we see mushrooms, the more interested the kids are in them. This has led us to discover some fun facts about mushrooms. Here are a few things the kids and I found interesting and fun about mushrooms.

    • Mushrooms are a fungus, and unlike plants, mushrooms do not require sunlight to make energy for themselves.
    • The mushroom is a very nutritious food. Differing species can be a good source of vitamin B along with essential minerals such as copper and potassium.
    • Mushrooms can be useful for antibacterial, anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. While also helping to reduce blood pressure, moderate blood sugar, reduce cholesterol, enhance the immune system, reduce stress and help in fighting many types of cancer.
    • Mushrooms are made up of around 90% water.

    mushroom study dissecting mushrooms with kids

    • A “mycophagist” is a person who collects mushrooms to eat from the wild.
    • There are a few mushroom varieties found in the wild that are highly poisonous. A number of these look like common edible species, therefore it can be risky collecting wild mushrooms without good knowledge for identifying mushrooms.
    • There are over 30 species of mushroom that actually glow in the dark! The chemical reaction called bioluminescence produces a glowing light known as foxfire. People have been known to use these fungi to light their way through the woods.

    fun mushroom facts for kidsMushroom dissection

    In order to maximize our mushroom experience, I started looking for some kid-friendly mushroom activities that would allow for hands-on experience. Our first activity involved going to the grocery store and loading up on several of the “chef samplers” mushroom packs. We took the packs home for study and eventually ended up dissecting the mushrooms, which was really fun! We studied the structure of the mushroom and its parts, including the stem, cap and gills. However, this activity was short lived and extremely messy. I’m still cleaning up mushroom particles off the floor!

    organic mushroom growing kit for kids

    Grow your own mushrooms

    After some research, I purchased one of the Back to the Roots Mushroom Kits thinking it would be really fun to watch mushrooms grow on our window sill. The kit was really simple to set up and straightforward. It came with a bag of organic substrate, an instruction card, a mini spray bottle and a box which serves as the mushroom’s home while it grows.

    The substrate is made of upcycled agricultural materials like sawdust, wheat bran, and corn cobs. It’s specially formulated to maximize growth and is 100% organic. The spawn from which the mushrooms will grow is already inside of the substrate bag. They lay dormant until you cut open the bag and water the substrate – that’s what kickstarts their growth!

    mushroom study - growing mushrooms with kids

    About the growing process

    The kit we purchased was for oyster mushrooms. These mushrooms are commonly found in Europe and Asia. They’re used in a variety of cuisines for their velvety texture, smooth taste, and dense nutrient content. Mushrooms are each unique and grow in such a way that it is very hard to predict exactly how many mushrooms you’ll grow and harvest. However, the company that makes the kits guarantees you will have 1-2 servings of mushrooms from each of two harvests.

    how to grow oyster mushrooms at home

    Watch them grow

    The instructions say that the mushrooms will grow in about 12 days. The main factors affecting mushroom growth are humidity and temperature. If you live in an arid or dry climate, your mushrooms may need more frequent waterings or you could place a humidifier in the room. In addition, they grow best when the temperature’s between 65-68 °F (18-20 °C). If it is a tad cooler or warmer, they will grow more slowly, as the temperature affects how much water is absorbed by the mushrooms.

    Get the kids involved

    I love that the kids can participate in all the steps of preparing, growing and harvesting the mushrooms. From the beginning, they were really excited about the process and all wanted to be involved in each of the steps. The first few days were rather quiet with zero observable activity. The kids took their job of keeping the mushrooms damp very seriously (after all, it did involve a spray bottle!). After about day 5 we saw the tiniest mushroom babies starting to poke through and boy were we excited!

    mushroom growing kit for kids

    Fun with fungi

    The mushrooms grew extremely fast. I’m fairly certain they doubled in size a few days out of their growing season. Once they’re ready, you can harvest them, cook them and eat them! You should be able to get two harvests from one kit. It’s fun that never ends. The kids really loved taking care of their little mushrooms and I’m eager to grow a few more types of mushrooms in the future. In fact, once I conquer the box mushrooms I may try my hand at actually growing mushrooms outside.

    If you’re looking for a fun and exciting mushroom activity, this box might just be the perfect way to learn about the mushroom’s exciting life cycle.

     

    Kari is a mom of three little explorers who love adventuring in the ocean, forests and mountains of Oregon (along with a wiener dog). She can be found on Instagram at @rewildhood and  on her website – http://www.rewildhood.com – where she writes about her family’s unschooling adventures in the Pacific Northwest.

  • INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Sensory Processing Disorder & How to Incorporate Nature into Therapy

    We all know that nature is good for our children’s minds, bodies and well-being. But what about those children that have a hard time processing natural occurrences like raindrops, birdsongs or the feel of grass under their feet? Sensory processing disorder is a common symptom of autism, however, most children with sensory issues are not on the spectrum.

    Today, I am beyond honored to bring you a post on how to incorporate nature and the outdoors into therapy for children with sensory processing disorder. Katharine Vogel is a professional photographer and mom of a child with sensory processing disorder. She’s here sharing all kinds of simple ways that you can use outdoor activities and nature in sensory integration therapy to help your child process the natural world around them. She has such a beautiful story, with wonderful suggestions and I know this will be so incredibly helpful to a lot of parents.

    Seeing the signs of sensitivity

    Our son Jase was between the age of 2 and 3 years old when we noticed that he was different compared to other children of his age group. He had strange sensitivities to touch, sounds, smells and wet textures. Getting the slightest bit of water on the sleeve of his shirt or raindrops on his shoes resulted in a total meltdown. He didn’t enjoy playing in the snow, running through puddles, or making artwork with finger paints. He was uncomfortable getting into a sandbox because the texture of sand was too gritty on his skin. A trip to a public bathroom required earmuffs to mute out the sounds of a flushing toilet and automatic hand dryers.

    Jase absolutely couldn’t handle any sensory overloads and often cried out in fear. We were so torn in trying to understand why he was so overreactive and overstimulated with his senses. We decided it was best to get him evaluated and see if there was some way we could help him get comfortable with his senses.  In May of 2018, Jase was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder.

    Sensory Processing Disorder

    By definition, Sensory Processing Disorder (“SPD”) is a neurophysiologic condition in which sensory input (either from the environment or from one’s body) is poorly detected, modulated, or interpreted and/or to which atypical responses are observed.  In other words, individuals with SPD are oversensitive to things affecting the senses, which can be quite painful or overwhelming for them. Certain sounds, sights, smells, textures and tastes can create a feeling of “sensory overload.” Bright or flickering lights, loud noises, certain textures of food and scratchy clothing are just some of the triggers that can make kids feel overwhelmed and upset.

    There are two types of sensory processing challenges, and many kids experience a mix of the two. One is oversensitivity (hypersensitivity). This leads to sensory avoiding—kids avoid sensory input because it’s too overwhelming. The other is undersensitivity (hyposensitivity). This causes kids to be sensory seeking—they look for more sensory stimulation.

    Sensory integration therapy

    It was recommended that Jase undergo sensory integration therapy to retrain and help rewire his senses. Sensory integration therapy aims to help kids with sensory processing issues by exposing them to sensory stimulation in a structured, repetitive way. The theory behind it is that over time, the brain will adapt and allow kids to process and react to sensations more efficiently. The therapy is usually sensory specific, with focus on noise sensitivity, tactile sensitivity, taste sensitivity and visual sensitivity. It also includes things like balance treatments, movement therapy and carefully designed and tailored physical activities.

    Incorporating nature into therapy

    Jase has been seeing an occupational therapist for sensory integration therapy for a few months now with great success! At home, we incorporate sensory therapy in many different ways.  One of our favorite ways to do this is by exploring the great outdoors!  This is a wonderful way to get the senses in tune with surroundings.

    Below, I’ve listed some creative ideas that correspond to different sensory inputs. These are some of our favorite ways to get Jase in tune with his senses by using the beauty of nature! Each of these activities is a natural way that you can use nature and the outdoors to help a child with SPD process the world around them.

    using nature in sensory processing disorder

    Sight

    1. Skygazing and stargazing – carry a pair of binoculars or visit a park with a viewfinder. Point out the shapes of clouds or look for any constellations!
    2. Identify plants, fruits, fungi, and animals – during the right time of year, be on the lookout for cicada exoskeletons and butterfly chrysalises!
    3. Notice the changes in seasons with leaves – have your child point out and identify all the different colors.
    4. Look for birds and insects – catch and release fireflies if they’re available or watch butterflies flit and float around the sky.
    5. Watching the changes in weather such as rain or snowfall – we often do this on our front porch or through the window to avoid any sensory overload. Talk about why it snows and why it rains.
    6. Go outside during sunrise or sunset – identify the changing colors of the sky and the differences between night and day.

    Touch

    1. Discover fallen nests from trees – encourage your child to feel the texture and special markings!
    2. Find puddles after a rainstorm – identify the temperature of the water, the depth and the clarity. Have fun making splashes with your hands and feet!
    3. Find various sizes of rocks, pinecones, sticks, or leaves – feel the differences in the textures between them. Categorize them from small to large or (proprioceptive sense) throw them into a pond or lake!
    4. Go visit your local orchard or berry farm – pick strawberries or apples! Identify any smooth or rough textures.
    5. Touch the snow – feel the cold of snow, frost and icicles.
    6. Pick and identify different types of flowers – feel the petals, the leaves and any thorns.

    Vestibular

    1. Run, walk, or ride a bike through a park or on a trail. Have your child push their bike up a hill.
    2. Climb a tree or climb at a playground.
    3. Go swing on a swing set!
    4. Walk and balance on large logs or large rocks.
    5. Throw rocks and sticks in the water!

    Smell

    1. Smell the flowers – compare the smells of different species.
    2. At the grocery store or farmer’s market, smell the fruit and identify what they are.
    3. Smell the fresh air.
    4. Smell the rain – talk about why rain has a distinct smell.

    Hearing

    1. Take a walk and listen to the wind rattling the leaves.
    2. Listen for birds and other animals – try to identify what they are just by their call or song.
    3. Listen to water – throw rocks and listen to splashes in the water or sit by a running creek and listen to it babble.
    4. During the right time of year, listen to cicadae in the trees!

    Tips for parents

    While these activities will give you a great start for incorporating nature and the outdoors into your therapy, there are some tips for parents who have children or know children with SPD that you should always remember. First, be mindful of areas and parks that tend to have a lot of noise or are prone to being muddy or wet. It can create a sensory overload and often results in meltdowns.  Research the area beforehand to determine if it’s a good fit for your child’s sensory issues.  Bring 2 extra pairs of clothing with you, just in case clothing gets wet or dirty. Plus, bring an extra pair of shoes and a pair of earmuffs or headphones to ensure your child is comfortable.

    Second, let your child lead and explore on their own terms.  If they become overwhelmed, find another place to explore.  Be open and flexible to any sudden change of plans. Make the outdoors fun and inviting for your kids with SPD!

    Katharine Vogel is a natural light portrait photographer living the rural life out in Iowa.  She is a photography graduate and a Click Pro member through Click & Company. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Charlie, and together they have one amazing son, Jase. On her free time, she documents her son’s progression and challenges with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder through the art of photography.  She shares his story on her Instagram account.

    Website:  http://www.kvphotographer.com

    Instagram: @katharinevogel

    Facebook: @katharinevogelphotographer

     

  • HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    How to Be Prepared when Desert Hiking with Kids

    Hiking with kids is one of our all-time favorite activities. It can be done nearly anywhere, doesn’t require fancy gear or weeks of planning and can be adapted for kids of all ages. No wonder it’s one of the first activities that most parents resort to when getting their kids outdoors. And while it may sound (and be) relatively easy, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared…especially when hiking in locations such as the desert. Today we have Chelsea Bowden from Las Vegas, NV here to share all her tips and advice on hiking with two little ones in the desert.

    Tips and Advice for Desert Hiking with Kids

    Desert hiking with kids

    We live right outside Las Vegas, NV and enjoy finding beauty in the desert. I have two kids (four and three years old) who love to be outside exploring. They need their daily dose of fresh air and outdoor fun. Even on days when I feel too tired or overwhelmed to do anything or go anywhere, my kids encourage me to get out of the house, which is something I never regret afterward.

    One of our favorite family activities is hiking. I use the term “hike” loosely, though. To us, hiking can be something as simple as a walk around our neighborhood or as complex as a planned adventure through the mountains. We love hiking along paths we discover while playing at the park and hiking middle-of-nowhere desert trails. There’s no one way to hike and so many great places to go, especially in the Nevada desert. Today I’m sharing some of tips, advice and recommendations on how to be prepared when hiking with kids in the desert.

    Hiking in the desert with kidswhat to pack when hiking in the desert with kids

    What to pack

    For any desert hike, water is essential. On short hikes at a local park or around the neighborhood, I typically just carry one large water bottle for all of us to share. Otherwise, a good size water pack (we use CamelBak) with room for lots of ice water and lots of pockets.

    In addition to water, we always keep the following essentials in one pocket for hikes:

    • a utility knife
    • compass
    • small sunscreen
    • small first aid kit with baby wipes (for cleaning off scrapes or wiping hands before snack)
    • medicine (such as Neosporin)
    • Band-Aids

    These are things we’ve kept in our pack ever since we bought it years ago. No need to unpack! Just replace as needed. I also like to keep a towel and an extra pair of clothes handy in the car for each kid. It’s hard to stop my son from jumping in a muddy puddle when he occasionally finds them.

    For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families. 

    desert hiking with kids las vegasbe prepared desert hiking with kids

    Don’t forget the snacks

    Kids constantly need to refuel, so make sure to bring snacks. If traveling on a longer hike, I use one pocket in our backpack dedicated to snacks. My kids love snacks, as do most kids. They would honestly eat snacks all day long and have no sit-down meals if it were up to them! I usually let them help pick one or two things that will go in the bag to get them more excited about our adventure.

    We use snacks as motivation on our hikes and it keeps them going when they start getting tired (which will happen). Whenever they say they are getting tired, they want us to pick them up, or we hear any kind of whininess, we motivate them to keep going by saying something like, “when we make it to that bench (big rock, sign, tree, or whatever landmark we can point out ahead) you get to pick out a snack and have a drink of water. We save “treats” (like small chocolates or gummies) for the very end.

    snacks for desert hikes with kidstips for hiking with kids in the desert nevadanevada kids hiking

    Here’s a list of the most common snacks we’ll bring with us:

    Pro tip: Don’t leave home with an empty belly – make sure your kids have some food in their bellies before beginning any adventure.

    desert hiking with kids nevadatips for desert hiking with kids

    Where to go

    Know your kids, but still start small. Kids have a surprising amount of energy, but they still get tired quickly. We’ve gone on enough walks around the neighborhood to know our children’s limitations. They can handle around a 2 ½ mile hike on their own without us needing to carry them a lot. If we go any longer distance, I need to be prepared to carry someone at least part of the way. For those distances, I try not to go with the kids by myself. I’ve been using the app AllTrails for some time now and always look at the difficulty level and length of the hike before deciding where to go.

    We’ve also found that a lot of parks we go to have trails within them, as well. These trails won’t necessarily be labeled a “hike,” but as I said earlier, we use the term hike loosely. A new path of any kind where we might discover new plants, flowers, animals, rocks, etc. is exciting for the kids. And it’s a bonus when I say we are going to the park and then we get to add on additional time there for a newly discovered hike.

    hiking with kids in the desert

    As the kids get older, it will be fun to explore more challenging hikes. But for now, we are in the “easy zone” and try to make hikes pleasant for everyone. Hikes with little kids should be fun for them and not stressful or scary. Because if the kids are having fun, they’re much more likely to want to go hiking and exploring again in the near future.

    hiking with kids las vegas nevada

    How to make it fun

    Walking to/from the park, climbing a mountain (or small hills), going through a tunnel, seeing a river, lake, waterfall (or any sort of water, for that matter) makes hiking a little more exciting! These elements make hiking trails more of an adventure and are a great way to keep kids motivated to keep going. My kids love exploring new places and are so excited to see what’s around the next corner. Along the way, we often find ourselves singing songs, looking for different colored rocks, pointing out what kinds of animals live along the trail, and finding “good picture spots.” My kids really like to run, so we often have races along the way to see who can make it to our next “benchmark” first.

    tips for hiking with kidswhat to pack when desert hiking with kids

    Handling the weather

    We’re very lucky in that 9-10 months of the year we experience pretty great weather. For most of the year, we don’t really have to worry about what time of day we are going to be outside. However, in the middle of the summer, it can become dangerously hot, with temperatures up to 118° F. If you want to do any outdoor activities during this time of year, its best to be up with the sunrise and get your activities in early.

    Also if you’re adventuring in the summer, be prepared with lots of extra water, sunscreen, and shade. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it gets colder in the desert than people may think. You may need gloves, hats, and an extra jacket during cold weather, especially if traveling up to the mountains. Here in Nevada, Mt. Charleston is where we usually head each year to get our snow fix and go sledding.  It’s only about an hour away with lots of good sledding hills for kids of every age.

    desert mountain hiking with kids

    Hazards on trails (cactus/critters)

    Hiking in the desert comes with its own hazards in the form of cactuses and desert critters. My son once picked up a large piece of cactus that had broken off along a trail, which embedded spines into his hand. Thankfully, it was close to our house, so I was able to run home and grab a pair of tweezers to get all spines out. Needless to say, he’ll never touch a cactus again and tells everyone else not to touch them either. Lesson learned, I guess! Make sure to warn children of the dangers of cactuses before your little one makes the same mistake.

    As far as critters go, we usually don’t see too many on the trail. However, if you venture a bit off the beaten path, it’s not unusual to run into snakes, scorpions, or spiders. Most of them tend to avoid main paths and trails, so if you’re hiking with little kids, keep your eyes open and stay close to the trails.

    nevada hiking with kidstips for hiking with kids in the desert las vegas nevada

    What we’d do differently

    I think everyone probably has a story about an adventure that went wrong. While they can be very scary, they also teach us valuable lessons. Recently, we went on a hike without being too aware of the weather. As I mentioned before, our weather is usually good and doesn’t catch us off guard too often around here. We usually check the weather before leaving the house, but this time we didn’t. There were gusts of wind up to 40 miles an hour! They could almost blow my children over! Needless to say, we learned our lesson and called it a day. If you find yourself in a similar situation, know when to turn back and be ok with not finishing what you started. There’s always another time to come back and try that trail or hike again.

    desert hiking with toddlersdesert hikes for kids nevada

    Also, when hiking with little kids, you’ve got to time it right. You know your child’s schedule best. If they have the most energy in the morning when they wake up, try going for a hike early. If they get afternoon antsy, then try going after lunch. Need to burn energy after being cooped up all day, try an early evening hike. However, always make sure to give yourself enough time to be done before it’s dark out.

    desert hikes for kids

    Wrap it up

    Hiking with kids is always an adventure and gets a little bit easier every time you go out. We have so many great memories from our family hikes and have such a great time exploring together.  Hopefully, these tips and advice will help get you and your kids out the door and on the trail. Because when we plan ahead a little, it makes for a much happier hike!

    hiking in the desert with kidstips for hiking with kids

    About Chelsea

    I was born in Orange, CA, but raised in the small town of Boulder City, NV (about a 30 min drive from Las Vegas), the youngest of 4 with older brothers. Early on I took dance classes but eventually turned to sports to be like my brothers. I played everything from basketball, softball, volleyball, and track and field. My parents always encouraged us to be active. I met my husband at 20 and we married the next year! Immediately thereafter, the Navy stationed him near Seattle, WA. We spent the next four years in the Pacific Northwest. I grew to love the different climate and all the hiking trails we discovered there.

    In 2014, we had our daughter, Chloe. One year later, my husband was ending his career in the Navy and I was 6 months pregnant with our son Logan, when we packed up to head back to Las Vegas. We stayed with my parents while saving to buy our first home. After getting settled, I ended my 8-year career with Starbucks to become a full-time stay at home mom. We are now expecting our third child in September. Even though my energy is low these days (pregnancy wipes me out) we still love to explore the outdoors as often as we can, even if it can only be for 15 minutes some days.

    You can find Chelsea on Instagram at @Mrschelseab

  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Lessons Learned from Adventure Cats

    I could not be more excited to share this story with you today about a family in England and their adventure cats! Yes, you read that correctly…cats! When you think of outdoor adventuring with animals, man’s best friend (the dog) usually comes to mind. However, this post goes to show that cats make wonderful adventure companions for kids and families. Cats can teach us all kinds of lessons about being curious, cautious and patient. They make us more aware of our surroundings and force us to slow down and take in the beauty of our natural world. Plus, they’re pretty funny!

    lessons learned from adventure cats

    Meet the family

    Hi! My name is Lynda and my family and I love the great outdoors. I live with my husband and son in a beautiful location called Devon in England. We are so lucky to call Devon home, as we’re surrounded by natural beauty. We enjoy going off exploring the wonderful scenery and countryside that is all around us, but we also enjoy spending time outdoors close to home.

    When we’re exploring around our home, we have two very sociable cats that love to join us on our outdoor adventures. They especially enjoy joining us on nature walks.

    cat walks with kidsadventure catscats in nature

    Meet the adventure cats

    Spike is the black and white cat with the enormous fluffy tail. He is very high energy (and quite high maintenance)! He seems to think he is a dog as he comes with us on a walk almost every day. If we aren’t available to take him on walks, he will go for a walk with our neighbor! He is also quite protective of us. He once attempted to defend us from a dog over twice his size that approached us and was being over-friendly!

    kids and cats

    Blossom is our little tabby cat and is more of a home bird. She loves the fire and spends most of the day sleeping by it. She will come for a walk with us if she is out and about, but often ends up hitching a lift back with one of us or making her way home early at her own pace.

    Both of the cats are very vocal and love their cuddles.

    benefits of having a catnature hikes with catshiking with catskids hiking with cats

    Cat walks

    My son Toby loves it when the cats take walks with us. Spike and Blossom have such wonderful personalities. Plus, it is great for Toby to have the extra company while out adventuring. Our cats are such curious and gentle souls, but of course, they can be quite funny too! We love it when they play chase with each other and run up trees after squirrels. Spike will climb just about anything, so the hay bales in the fields are a favorite location. Toby and the cats have great fun climbing and jumping from them, too.

    outdoor adventure catstoddlers and cats hiking

    The cats also love to chase Toby and he chases them! They have great fun (I think). They join in with games too, chasing sticks, battling leaves and pouncing on pieces of grass. And if Toby is “fishing” in the stream, they will sit and wait for his “catch” or they will investigate the stream. However, once water starts splashing around, they are out of there!

    outdoor catskids and cats outdoors

    Safe and slow

    The cats are very curious and love investigating with Toby. They help us all slow down and notice more around us, which is a wonderful lesson to learn in our fast-paced society. I’ve noticed that we pay more attention to our surroundings, the noises, animals, smells, and details of our environment when the cats are with us. They keep us curious by finding little things we may not have noticed, like a flower or animal track.

    lessons learned from having catsoutdoor hiking with cats

    Sometimes the cats like to stop and just sit and admire the view. And that’s a great activity for us to do as well. They will sit with us during our picnic breaks, especially if it means they get a little bit of sandwich (cheese for Blossom and cucumber for Spike).

    The cats also help teach Toby about the dangers of traffic. Occasionally, we walk a small distance on a quiet lane to the fields. Sometimes there are vehicles on the road and it makes Toby very aware of the dangers of traffic and mindful that he and the cats need to move in out of the way. 

    outdoor adventures with catskids and cats

    Cats and kids

    Spike and Blossom’s relationship with Toby changes all the time. We’ve had the cats longer than Toby, so having a baby was an adjustment for all of us together. At first, the cats were a little scared of the noise and paraphernalia that appeared when he did (so were we at times!).

    But, they quickly accepted him. They’ve taught him about love, patience, gentleness and caring for others. Although they are still a little wary (as he can be very excitable and loud…he is a kid after all), they love him as part of the family and he loves them back. I love watching their friendship grow and look forward to many more adventures together.

    lessons learned from adventure cats and kids

    I am Lynda, I live with my husband, our son, two cats and one chicken.

    We love going on adventures but also spend a lot of time outside in our garden.

    I recently changed careers, which means I have more time to focus on my love of the outdoors and photography and launch my business, Life’s Little Adventures Photography.

    I am really passionate about getting children out in nature and so lucky to live in the beautiful county of Devon (UK) where we are totally spoiled with so many wonderful places to explore.

    You can see some of our adventures (Toby and the cats) on Instagram at @ourlittleadventures.photo
  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Cattle Farm Chores with Kids

    I absolutely love hearing all of the amazing ways our readers and followers spend time outdoors with their children. The reason I started this website was to help inspire parents to get their children outdoors more with activities, crafts, and adventures. However, in the process, I’ve been inspired and overwhelmed by the incredible parents out there that are instilling a deep love of nature and the outdoors in their children. I am thrilled to share one of those stories with you today. Leslie Alvis is a homeschooling mother of four in Ohio. She occasionally has the opportunity to take over the chores at her father’s cattle farm with the kids. She’s sharing the tale of their most recent January farm adventure. I couldn’t love this more! Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the read.

    winter cattle farm chores with kids

    Meet the family

    I’m Leslie and I’m a hopeless fresh-air addict. I was raised on a farm, with the belief that green grass, fresh air, and sunshine will cure just about anything. My husband grew up in the country, roaming the woods and helping his dad with outdoor projects. We’ve gotten each of our four babies (now ages 10, 7, 4 and 1) outside as early as possible. They all inherited our love for green grass, fresh air, and sunshine. We rarely turn down any excuse to get outdoors, no matter the season. Although we don’t currently live in the country, we love any opportunity that lets us pretend that we do. And that’s where today’s adventure begins.

    kids cattle farming choreskids helping with chores on the farmcattle farm chores for kids

    The farm

    My dad, a retired veterinarian turned gentleman farmer, owns a small hay and grass-fed beef cattle operation in Northeast Ohio. There are usually between 40-80 cattle on his farm at any given time. He uses rotational grazing to optimize his pasture and employs science in the care and maintenance of his herd. He maintains a careful system for each part of his twice-daily feeding schedule.

    Any time my farmer father needs to leave the farm, he asks us to do the farm chores and we say YES! Maybe I’m nuts…I usually end up thinking so, somewhere between a million heavy buckets of grain, countless bales of hay, and all those spools of temporary fencing wire. Why, in the madness of my days caring for and homeschooling four children, do I think I should add the responsibility of keeping several dozen cattle alive?

    cattle farm chores for kidscattle farm homeschooling with kidschores for kids on a cattle farm

    Embracing it

    When my dad leaves, he scrawls all the necessary information on a sheet of notebook paper, walks us through the process, and then entrusts us with the care of his livelihood. The first time I pull into the farm driveway after he departs, I always wonder what I’ve gotten us into. Every single time. There are a lot of hungry cows waiting on us. And I have four children in tow. Sometimes they are hungry, too! Snacks are a necessity. Along with rubber boots and heavy duty jeans.

    Still, my children love every excursion to Grandpa’s farm. And really – even though the craziness of it overwhelms me sometimes – so do I. I love our family working together outside. I love teaching my children how to care for livestock and seeing their confidence grow. And I love getting everyone up first thing in the morning and heading out into the crisp dawn air. I love the simplicity of filling hungry bovine bellies and knowing they are content for the day. And I love working outside at sunset, watching the colors of the sky shift and glow and reflect on my kids’ faces.

    cattle farming with kidskids helping out at the cattle farmlife on a cattle farm with kidsWinter farm chores with kids

    Last weekend we took over farm chore duty for my dad. It was our first time doing winter chores at the farm. January in Ohio can be brutal – I remember breaking through inches of ice in my calves’ water trough each morning growing up. However, the weather cooperated for us, with days of sun and mild temperatures. Being out in the sunshine and crisp air was medicine for this housebound mama and her stir-crazy crew. Plus, we learned a lot about the differences between seasonal chores. I discovered that feeding hay is less intense than the summertime chore of moving temporary fence twice a day and rotating the cows to new grazing areas. It was also easier to have the kids help pitch hay.

    winter chores on the cattle farmcattle farm kidsfarm chores for childrenkids helping out on the cattle farm

    Finding our routine

    We divide up the chores and find a routine pretty quickly. Everyone helps out, based on their ability and dependability. I send Noah (10) out to start pitching hay to the cows in the barn. Meg (7) starts filling a trough with water. Lauren (4) helps me fill buckets of grain. And of course, I find a secure place for toddler Eden (1) so I don’t lose track of her. Thankfully, none of our children have ever been frightened of the cows. It’s much more likely that the cows will be scared of the children! We try to teach them early to move slowly, talk quietly, and stay clear of the electric fence.

    cattle farm chores for kidsfarming chores for kidskid friendly farm chores

    Staying safe

    Safety on a farm is always an issue and it’s something I think about a lot when we’re doing chores and exploring the farm. I want to encourage exploration and adventure, but I admit that sometimes I do worry about the children’s safety. Especially when they are off on their own, having adventures of climbing through the barns, hiding in the huge square bales of hay, or disappearing into the waving grass of the summer pasture. The farm feels vast and empty when my parents are gone and I’m the only adult there. I relax more when my husband can join us after his day’s work. But, when we’re on our own, I keep everyone within the sound of my voice as we work from one area of the farm to the next.

    farming with kidshomeschooling on a cattle farmraising kids on a cattle farm

    Daily grind

    We start by caring for the cattle housed in the huge barn near the house. Usually, there are only a few animals in the barn: some calves being gentled for sale, new or expectant mothers with special needs, and the occasional animal requiring medical attention. The barn chores involve feeding hay and grain, filling water tubs, and bedding stall areas. Noah and I carry heavier buckets of grain or push wheelbarrows full of hay. The girls can help water the cattle, but I have learned to keep close tabs on whoever has the hose running. We had a disastrous flood once when a child forgot their responsibility to turn off the hose before we left the barn. That was one of those “What in the world are we doing???” moments. I think we all learned from the experience…especially as we all worked hard to try to clean up the mess.

    ohio cattle farm with kids

    After we finish in the barn, we move to the cattle in the pastures. We feed grain and hay to four separate herds. Some live in the pasture on the main farm and some across the road. Sometimes these cows are alarmed by the activity and noise involved with four children running around. However, their stomachs usually overrule their anxiety and soon they are nose-to-nose with the kids, munching on the hay and grain we pile into their feeder. The kids absolutely love it. They dump grain in uneven piles on the ground that we have to spread out. They haul hay toward the feeder in little handfuls. And they giggle at the cows’ long tongues, huge eyes and woolly faces. Lauren thinks she is Cinderella, singing to herself as she tosses out grain and hay to her barnyard friends.

    farm chores with kids on a cattle farmwinter farm chores with kidslife with kids on a cattle farm

    Farm life with kids

    Of course, there are tears and fights and whining and dirty diapers and potty emergencies…because this is life with kids! And, for a few days, it’s life with kids and cows. So we add bellowing and overflowing water tubs and spilled wheelbarrows to the madness. We flex with the challenges, deal with the necessities, and try to extend grace to each other. But sometimes we fail. Sometimes I sit a child down on an overturned bucket or a bale of hay until they can adjust their attitude. Sometimes I just have to keep working while I counsel them through a disagreement or the tragedy of muddy jeans. But, we work through it. Because dusk is falling and the cows have to be fed. Life goes on.

    cattle farming with kids

    But the good far outweighs the bad and I know these are experiences my children will cherish forever. My favorite moments at the farm are when we have the time to just enjoy the experience: the smell of sweet hay, the sounds of the cattle munching, and the feeling of being outside together in the open spaces of the country. As hard as it is, I know it’s making a positive impact on the children when they get up the first morning after Grandpa’s return and beg, “We want to go help Grandpa do chores at the farm!”

    winter farm chores with kidsfarm chores with kids

    “It isn’t the farm that makes the farmer – it’s the love, the hard work and the character.” unknown

    Leslie Alvis is a wife, mom, follower of Christ, and lover of all things outdoors. She uses writing and photography as ways to keep her sanity amidst the chaos of rearing and homeschooling four children. Outdoor activities with her family are some of her favorite things. You can see more of their family’s adventures on Instagram at @c_l_allofus.

    Also, check out Leslie’s post on Making Maple Syrup with Kids.

  • FRIDAY FAVORITES, PHOTOGRAPHY

    Friday Favorites: Favorite Outdoorsy Instagrammers, Part 2

    For this week’s Friday Favorites, I’m sharing another installment of my favorite outdoor Instagram photographers. Two of my biggest passions are getting kids outdoors and photography, so I get so excited when I find other parents that share those loves. I’ve selected 8 gorgeous accounts from some of the most talented and inspiring photographers from our little online community. Each of these feeds is chock-full of gorgeous photos, beautiful words and lots of fun outdoor adventures, big and small.

    If you follow us on Instagram, you probably recognize these photographers from our feed and you will certainly see them again (and soon…hint, hint). I have found Instagram to be a wonderful place to not only find an incredible outdoor community, but also to scout locations and get ideas for planning your own outdoor adventures with your kids. I’ve included some fun info on each of the accounts below with links to their feed, their websites and their answers to a few questions about getting their kids outside. I hope you’ll go check them all out and follow along on their adventures! favorite outdoor instagram photographers - @angie_mahlke

    @angie_mahlke

    Angie Mahlke
    Minnesota
    http://www.angiemahlkephotography.com

    • Favorite outdoor family activity: We really enjoy camping together as a family. As soon as the snow melts in the spring, we pack up the camper and go! We go as often as we can until the campgrounds close in the fall.
    • Biggest struggle/obstacle to getting kids outdoors: In the winter it’s hard because of the cold temps in Minnesota and all the layers involved. Sometimes it takes us thousands of hours just to get out the door, but it’s always worth it once we’re outside and having fun.
    • Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: Getting outside with your kids doesn’t have to be a grand adventure. It doesn’t take hours of planning or preparation. Just going for a walk to look at the nature right outside your door. Or scribble on the driveway with chalk. Kids like the simplicity of being outside and you can often follow their lead on what to do.
    • Tips for taking outdoor adventure photos of kids: The easiest thing to do is take photos of them in the action. Candid shots versus posed ones. That way you aren’t interrupting the moment or bothering them with a camera in their face. You’re just on the edge of the action simply documenting them having fun.
    • Best lesson your kids have taught you about adventuring: Let go!! Don’t control and plan every minute of your outings or adventures. Just go with it and let the moments unfold before you.

    favorite outdoor instagram photographers - @life_of_glow
    @life_of_glow

    Robyn Chubey
    Western Canada
    http://www.lifeofglow.com

    • Favorite outdoor family activity: The kiddos and I love to go hiking and exploring to collect outdoorsy treasures and learn about wildlife and plants!
    • Most anticipated outdoor activity with your kids this winter/spring: Winter is all about tobogganing, skating, and playing in the snow. Spring is all about gardening and hiking!
    • Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: The more you do something the easier it gets. I try to be sure to get outside with my kiddos (with or without my camera) every day for at least an hour. It’s so good for them to get that fresh air and be wild!
    • Tips for taking outdoor adventure photos of kids: My best tip is to go out with a task in mind for them, building sandcastles, hunting for snails, picking a bouquet of wildflowers, puddle jumping. Buckets are always a fave accessory of mine because it gives them a chance to collect and hunt for things to carry back with them. Having a task makes for engaged images that keep them looking busy and entertained!
    • Best lesson your kids have taught you about adventuring: Never EVER leave home without snacks!

    favorite outdoor instagram photographers - @hollynicoletimekeeper
    @hollynicoletimekeeper

    Holly Awwad
    Michigan

    • Favorite outdoor family activity: We love the great outdoors. We are blessed to live in the woods, and we love to hike and hunt for treasures all year round. We also love to camp and own a travel trailer that allows us to get out and explore areas outside of our own backyard.
    • Biggest struggle/obstacle to getting kids outdoors: With my older kids, the biggest struggle is technology. The older they get, the more they are glued to devices. However, we keep a daily limit on screen time and encourage them to get outside when the weather/schedule permits. I rarely have to struggle with my youngest to get her outside. She would play outside 24/7 if I let her!
    • Most anticipated outdoor activity with your kids this winter/spring: In the winter we love to build snowmen and go sledding. Although I will admit, I am already counting down the days (hours!) until spring. I love watching nature bloom all around us and it seems like there is something new to discover almost daily.
    • Tips for taking outdoor adventure photos of your kids: I tend to take a more candid approach. I want to be in the moment, so I sit back and observe and when I see something that inspires me I’ll snap an image. If you force photography on your kids when you are out with them, they will hate it. So make sure you put the camera down and be present as well.
    • Best lesson your kids have taught you about adventuring: Don’t be afraid to get dirty! The best times and the best memories often result in needing a full body hose down before you go back in the house!

    favorite outdoor instagram photographers - @in_thislight

    @in_thislight

    Shelby Zavala
    Longmont, Colorado
    http://www.inthislightphotography.com

    • Favorite outdoor family activity: My favorite outdoor activity do with the kids or as a family would include anything that allows us to enjoy the beautiful scenery Colorado has to offer! Everything from exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, to our local nature areas or even the open space behind our home. We really enjoy anything that gets us away from the street noise and to where we can fully immerse ourselves into nature!
    • Most anticipated outdoor activity with your kids this winter/spring: Warmer weather always brings an increased level of excitement to explore. After the feeling of being cooped up all winter, the warm weather is greatly welcomed and our real adventuring begins! We love to revisit our favorite spots and it is always refreshing to view the scenery through a new lens when the landscape starts to turn green!
    • Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: Just go! The hardest part is usually just getting out the door! Once you’re outside, it’s like a wonderful refresh! Let the kids run and just enjoy the scenery for yourself. My favorite times to go play outside is either an hour or two before naptime, or that golden hour before bedtime. Plus, kids nap better after coming in from playing hard outside!
    • Tips for taking outdoor adventure photos of your kids: My biggest tip would be to just let kids be kids and capture that! Toddlers (especially) do not take direction very well and you will both end up frustrated if you try to make them do something that they are not willing to do (talking from experience here!).
    • Best lesson your kids have taught you about adventuring: The biggest lesson my daughter has taught me about adventuring is to slow down and notice the little things. There are so many little things to see when you take the time to zoom in on the details. The sparkle of a rock, a trail of ants, a leaf in the shape of a heart. It’s amazing what kids will notice. Let them lead your adventure!

    favorite outdoor instagram photographers - @jessie.b.photo

    @jessie.b.photo

    Jess Buttermore
    Seattle, WA
    http://www.JessieBPhotography.com

    • Favorite outdoor family activity: Our family is happiest when our feet touch the sand, specifically Pacific Coast sand. We love climbing rock formations, searching for sea creatures, exploring caves, drawing in the sand, creating zen gardens, and collecting stones and shells. These are family experiences that never grow old and are fun for every age. Since relocating to Seattle, we’ve completely fallen in love with all the beautiful parks and beaches that line both the Washington or Oregon coasts. We pack up the car and venture to the water’s edge every chance we get.
    • Biggest struggle/obstacle to getting kids outdoors: Rain. We are in the midst of rainy season here in Seattle, and it can really put a damper on adventuring. To make matters worse, adventuring along the coastlines can also mean high winds, especially during the colder months, and let me tell you, the sideways windy rain is just no fun for anyone. We keep an eye on the forecast and make the very most of the rain-free and light-rain days. Moreover, we’ve learned to embrace overcast and even come to love it as preferred adventure weather.
    • Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: I encourage you to embrace both old and new adventures. For example, if you have a particular location that is meaningful to your family, try visiting it during all four seasons. It’s amazing how different your local lake, beach, park or hiking trail can look and feel in different weather conditions. Alternatively, exploring locations that are new to your family can be some of the most memorable. There’s nothing like watching their excitement as they approach a new bend in the path. It’s one of my favorite parts of visiting new locations.
    • Tips for taking outdoor adventure photos of kids: When I photograph my kids on adventures, I have a few goals in mind. First and most importantly, I hope to capture their personalities and their special sibling bond. Second, I love capturing them as they explore and discover. Much of the time, they don’t even know I’m photographing them, which is when I get the most genuine candid captures. Third, I make sure to always pull back to capture the bigger picture and beautiful scenic views of all of our adventure locations. Sweeping views help me tell my story. And finally, I love to capture the details. Adventuring with my children gives me endless opportunities to capture and freeze those precious details forever. Like their little hands showing you the stones they collected, the stone tower they are so proud of, or their favorite adventure sticks.
    • Best lesson your kids have taught you about adventuring: They’ve taught me to stop and breathe the salt air. To look up, look down, and admire and appreciate all the little details nature leaves in our path. And that the woods and the beach are better playgrounds than a jungle gym could ever be.

    favorite outdoor instagram photographers - @susan.grimes

    @susan.grimes

    Susan Grimes
    North Carolina

    • Favorite outdoor family activity: I love playing anywhere there is a little bit of water. Creeks, lakes, and oceans all seem to excite and entertain my kids more than anything else. I think it is partly because they can interact with the environment more. I love just watching them explore and pretend in a new place.
    • Biggest struggle/obstacle to getting kids outdoors: I feel like our schedule is our biggest obstacle. As my kids have gotten older, after-school activities have reduced our free time to just get out and play.
    • Most anticipated outdoor activity with your kids this winter/spring: I always look forward to those few scattered warmer days where we can get out and feel refreshed by the sunshine. We just created some natural play spaces in our woods and I can’t wait to see them put to good use.
    • Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: My advice would be to choose adventures where the kids can take the lead. As we are out exploring, I find my kids have a lot more patience when we go slow and I let them decide our path, stop to search for treasures, or just give them time to sit and play for a while.
    • Tips for taking outdoor adventure photos of kids: I try to be a quiet observer first and watch how they are exploring, then think of creative ways to take the scene. I will look for ways to add depth with foreground or framing with the natural elements.

    favorite outdoor instagram photographers - @susanbrooksby

    @susanbrooksby

    Susan Brooksby
    Colorado
    susanbphotography.com
    • Favorite outdoor family activity: hiking, taking our pup out for a walk
    • Biggest struggle/obstacle to getting kids outdoors: winter months in the cold
    • Most anticipated outdoor activity with your kids this winter/spring: we love to go snowboarding!
    • Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: find new places to explore together
    • Tips for taking outdoor adventure photos of your kids: let the kids run around and explore while you stay back and observe

    favorite outdoor instagram photographers - @nataliegildersleeve

    @nataliegildersleeve

    Natalie Gildersleeve
    Portland, OR
    nataliegildersleeve.com
    • Favorite outdoor family activity: We love pretty much anything outdoors. Anywhere there is space to experience a deeper sense of freedom and wild fills our souls. Hiking, biking, climbing and days at the river are some of our favorite activities. We live pretty close to the coast so we spend time there whenever we can. We love the dunes, tide pools, crabbing and making driftwood forts. Also, we love camping and sleeping under the stars.
    • Most anticipated outdoor activity with your kids this winter/spring: Skiing is one of our favorite winter activities so we look forward to more of that this winter. The kids love Spring skiing when they can wear tank tops and cruise around comfortably in the sun. We also love to road trip every Spring. It is so nice to have a trip to look forward to after the gray winters we often experience here.
    • Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: My kids love an exciting adventure. Tell stories, teach them about the area, make it exciting. When they are little, start slow, but get outside as often as possible so it is just part of what you do. Encourage them by reminding them of how strong they are. Be a team. Also, plenty of snacks and comfortable clothing are essential.
    • Tips for taking outdoor adventure photos of your kids:  I love to get candid moments of my kids. Often, I just follow them, moving around to get different angles and perspectives as we adventure. I find myself running a lot!  I will ask them how fast they can run to something or to check out something cool … any prompts to create action and genuine interest. It is also important to have time to settle in, whenever they have space to just be the most magical moments happen. Forcing them to pose never works for us.
    • Best lesson your kids have taught you about adventuring:  It definitely not about the destination. Remember to pause and take in the beauty. Let go of rigid agenda.

    A huge thanks to all these amazing outdoor photographers for sharing their tips, photos, and worlds with us. Make sure to follow them on Instagram and let them know we sent you their way! We’ll be featuring more of their inspiring images on our feed over the next few weeks.

    For more outdoor photographic gorgeousness, check out Part 1 of our Favorite Outdoorsy Instagrammers.

  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    DIY Kid-Friendly Herbal Cleaner

    We are big believers in the benefits of involving kids in household chores, both inside and outside the home. My kids love projects and they get so excited when they get to help us out around the house and be a part of the team. Their favorite chores usually involve the hose, a water bucket or a sprayer. But store-bought cleaners can be harsh or even dangerous to little ones. That’s why I’m so thrilled to have Kari, founder of PNW Kids and one of my Insta crushes (@rewildhood) here today. She’s sharing her recipe for an all-natural DIY kid-friendly herbal cleaner you can make at home with just a few simple ingredients. Make this cleaner now and it’ll be ready just in time for some serious spring cleaning!

    DIY kid-friendly herbal cleaner with apple cider vinegar

    A safer solution

    My first foray into herbal cleaners sparked from an unfortunate incident involving my two-year old’s mouth and a store-bought all-purpose cleaner. Fortunately, nothing happened to my little one but the incident got me thinking about our home cleaning solutions. Given that my kids (well, at least the little ones) love to help around the house (and really love it when spray bottles and cloths are involved), I wanted a safer solution. I began researching all-natural cleaners that are safe for everyone, actually clean well, and smell nice.

    kid-friendly cleaning solution with herbs and apple cider vinegarDIY all natural cleaner with herbs

    Apple cider vinegar cleaner

    I started making my own version of an apple cider vinegar cleaner and now I don’t clean the windows or kitchen with anything else. Not only does it do a great job cleaning, but it also smells fantastic. My kids join in on the cleaning fun and love to scurry about the house with spray bottles in hand. I also appreciate that the cleaner is kid-friendly and safe. That way, if one of my kids feels inclined to spray one of their siblings in the face (which happens on the regular, if I’m being honest with you), I no longer worry!

    how to use herbs to make an all-natural cleaning solutionsafe all-natural cleaner for kids to use

    My recipe uses apple cider vinegar, fresh herbs from our garden (or store-bought ones), and some essential oils if you want to soften the cider smell. We grow herbs in our garden in large quantities specifically for their cleaning properties and scents. The kids love to tend to these hearty plants knowing they’ll end up in our special cleaning solutions. If this is something that appeals to you, think about starting your own herb garden with the kids this summer.

    make your own herbal cleaner with apple cider vinegarDIY herbal apple cider vinegar cleaner

    Herbal All-Purpose Cleaning Solution

    Today, I’m sharing the recipe for our all-natural, all-purpose, kid-friendly, DIY herbal cleaning solution. That’s a mouthful! This herbal solution is made with just a few ingredients, but it does a great job cleaning and smells great. Plus, it’s a fun way to get kids involved in both cleaning with it and making it. Making an herbal cleaning solution is a fun gardening/kitchen DIY project that even the youngest among us enjoy!

    Ingredients:

    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Bunches of rosemary, thyme, and lavender (rosemary and thyme will do if you don’t have lavender)
    • Optional: Essential oil of your choice (I like lavender oil)

    DIY herbal apple cider vinegar cleanerherbal cleaner solution recipe

    Directions:

    1. For every two cups of apple cider vinegar, put in a handful of each herb into a mason jar(s) and seal.
    2. Allow the herbs to steep for 6 weeks in a cool area.
    3. After 6 weeks, strain the herbs out and pour into a spray bottle. If you are adding essential oils, now is the time to add those in.
    4. Use the cleaner for windows and all kitchen surfaces.

    making an herbal cleaner with kidsdiy kid-friendly herbal cleaner

    Do you make your own herbal products? 

     

     

    Kari is a mom of three little explorers who love adventuring in the ocean, forests and mountains of Oregon (along with a wiener dog). She can be found on Instagram @rewildhood and at http://www.pnwkids.co where she writes about kid-friendly adventures in the Pacific Northwest.

     

     

     

  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Infusing Yoga into Nature Play

    Yoga and nature go hand in hand. Yoga helps us be more present and mindful and practicing yoga with kids outdoors is an excellent way for them to connect to the natural world. Today, we have Angela of Simple Ayurveda here showing us how anyone can help children enjoy the benefits of yoga and mindfulness outdoors. Incorporating fun poses with storytelling and adventure, children practicing yoga outside use all their senses to establish a link with nature and enjoy feelings of peace and connectedness.

    nature yoga with kids

    Why practice nature yoga with kids?

    Practicing yoga with your child offers a special opportunity to bond through play and provides your undivided attention. With yoga, together, you and your child practice taking moments to pause, breathe and reflect. These techniques teach them how to control reactions and manage stress.

    There are so many great benefits to practicing yoga with your children. Studies show that yoga helps to:

    • create a calm mind
    • increase focus
    • balance energy
    • improve emotional control
    • build strength, and
    • cultivate confidence over competition

    All of these benefits are compounded when you add yoga into a natural setting. Being immersed in nature is also good for children’s immune systems and has been shown to reduce stress and build confidence. Nature combined with yoga is doing double duty wonders for you and your children.

    So, are you ready to get started?

    Keep it simple

    Yoga with kids should be simple and fun! The whole purpose of practicing yoga with your children is to build a foundation for mindfulness. As any parent or teacher knows, children can bend and move in ways that seem uncomfortable for adults. They are flexible in ways we are not. You don’t have to worry so much about their alignment or whether they are creating a perfect pose. We’re less focused on form and more focused on the activity in general. The idea is to get them moving in a way that they pay attention to their body and breath. Here are some simple ways to encourage movement with mindfulness.

    Tell a story and act it out

    Storytelling during yoga is one of my favorite ways to make it spontaneous and fun for the kids. You can tell a favorite fairytale or story your kids love from a book or movie. Or, you can make one up right there on the spot! For example, “Once upon a time, there was a brother and sister walking through the woods. They saw a big rock covered in moss. Let’s do rock pose.” You can make up a pose or use the Yoga Pretzels deck to learn a few poses.

    Take five deep breaths in each pose with your little ones. They’ll mimic you at first, so the bigger and more dramatic your breath, the better. Continue with, “All of a sudden the rock started moving and it turned out it was actually a troll rolled into a ball.” Now they can roll around in a pile of leaves. Or maybe they would choose to stomp around like a troll.

    Now, ask your child what happens next and let them add to the story. Kids have amazing imaginations and sometimes come up with the best stories. Plus, giving them creative control lets them be a more active participant in the activity.

    There are endless possibilities for creating your own yoga story. Try alternating heavy movement (stomping and jumping) with stillness for five deep breaths. As you practice yoga with them more often, you will notice whether they need heavy movement to release energy or if they need stillness to reign themselves in. Use the story to help dictate the actions they need.

    Imitate what you see in nature

    Another fun way to incorporate yoga into a nature walk is to imitate what you see or to act out what you think might live in the environment. Are you in the mountains? Ask your child to stand tall and strong like a mountain for five breaths. Are you in a desert environment? Have your child imitate a cactus. Ask what animals they might see in that location. For a silly snake, lay on your belly and let your child climb on your back as you slither and hiss.

    Encourage your child to look around and see the movement in nature. How does the butterfly move? How do leaves fall? What does a tree look like in the wind? Ask if they can move their body in the same sort of motion. What would it look like to make a rainbow with your body? What would a tornado look like? How about light snow?

    Make it fun

    Be silly and have fun with yoga. That’s the best way to get your kids to love what they’re doing. Make up fun silly actions for them or imaginative challenges. Is there a unicorn running through the forest? Or perhaps your child said there’s a penguin swimming in the creek. Can you act out the pose and let them be as creative or silly as they choose to be? Maybe the penguin is visiting from his actual home.

    Let them lead

    Kids love being in charge and telling grown-ups what to do. Let them take the reins every now and then and lead the yoga session. In the beginning, you may have to create the story or offer pose suggestions. As your child becomes familiar with the practice of yoga, allow them to make up the story and teach you the poses. They can lead the breath by telling you to breathe in and breathe out.

    Relax

    A traditional yoga practice ends with a deep rest called savasana. Parents and caregivers usually have to be a little bit more creative to encourage that final deep relaxation. You could sprawl out in the grass or on a blanket. You could also just take a few moments to relax in silence. Another way to end is to sit with one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly while breathing slowly. Another gentle relaxation is to lay down and imagine you are floating on a soft and supportive cloud. The rest could be related to your story, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s also nice to simply look up at the clouds and watch them pass by.

    Final notes

    Practicing yoga with your children doesn’t have to be intimidating or rigidly scheduled. It can be done anywhere and anytime. Yoga poses could be sprinkled throughout the day or you could set aside a specific time. My kids usually come in and out of “practicing” yoga. We keep yoga books and the yoga pose deck laying around the house to spark their interest. We also love listening to yoga music.

    Back at home after an outdoor practice, you can let them draw an animal or plant from nature or a portrait of themselves in a pose. Don’t hound them about it, but it’s also nice to offer a little inquiry around feelings and movement: What is yoga? How did it feel to act like a giraffe? What was your favorite pose of the day? What was your favorite part of the story? How did you feel when we finished?

    My hope is that you use your own intuition to offer mindfulness and movement with your child.

    Resources

    Books

    Props

    Music

    Apps

     

     

     

    I’m Angela, mama to two beach babies. I blog and podcast about motherhood, minimalism and incorporating Ayurveda and Yoga into everyday life at Simple Ayurveda.

    Let’s connect on Instagram or Facebook.