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Water Play and Children

by Raechelle Masuda

June 22, 2009

Yesterday was the official start to summer, and it rained. Very typical of our Maritime weather! However my thoughts cannot help but wander to those beautiful, glorious sunny days we will be experiencing once the rain lets up.

Like most children, my kids adore playing with water. Luckily water is relatively inexpensive and easy way to entertain kids in the summer months. They are especially eager to pull out our kiddie pool and the slip and slide for immersed water fun, however the temperatures have not quite reached pool/bathing suit suitable yet.

In the meantime we have found many ways to still incorporate water play outside. First we save all our plastic containers that cannot be recycled. In Halifax we can only recycle number 1's and 2's. Unfortunately we still get some other plastics. These are perfect to collect rain water to measure after a rain, make raccoon stew and search for the ingredients to make fairy dust.

We also have some pretend dishes so we can have tea parties with the butterflies, serve goulash to our brother and water the plants with our special recipes. It does not take much or expensive materials to spark their imaginations. Even the hose can entertain them longer than you would imagine. Be prepared for them to become soaked but the tomatoes and flowers will get some water as well.

Bring some ice cubes out and watch them melt. Coat them in dirt to see if they will melt faster. Raise the ice cubes down the slide or add food colouring to the ice cubes before freezing.  Why not try washing some doll clothes then hanging them out to dry? Or have a car wash for all the little cars and diggers? We have a sand box that we have made rivers and then built bridges for the cars to cross.

I can hardly wait to get the pool out and watch them splash around, but luckily we have great imaginations that will help us make it through the weather till then!  Read more...

Summer Backyard Essentials

by Raechelle Masuda

June 02, 2009

We have started quite the collection of backyard essentials over the years. We haven't even had a backyard most of the time, so that is not a requirement! Kids love the outdoors. I have repeatedly encouraged and shred ideas to get your children out no matter what the weather. Rainy days and snow days are great in their uniqueness, but nothing beats a beautiful summer day.
 Read more...

The Great Outdoors

by Raechelle Masuda

March 30, 2009

Rain or shine, show or sleet kids need time outside. That is the mantra right? Yet somehow it isn't always that easy. When we were children we were sent outside. It was an expectation not an exception. Our mothers and caregivers let us loose in the world without a care. We were free to explore, learn, debate, wonder and dream. The endless days of summer were truly endless.

In our time as parents things have changed. We no longer send our children out to play without a worry in the world. In fact all we do is worry. Society has made us afraid, untrusting and unknowing. On my street I am the only mom that stays at home. When my children are out playing, they are the only children out. The people that live behind us have this awesome play structure yet we have never seen any one in their backyard.

Children are indoors a lot. I realize that not every family has a stay at home parent. However what about the weekends? Evenings? Where have all the children gone. In all the fear, we have lost sight on the things that are important to child development. Kids need to be outside. They need time to discover things on their own without a parent holding their hand. They need to play at the playground and discover their own forms of conflict resolution. Parents with the best intention hover over their children taking away what little freedom they have left. I have experienced this over and over again at the playground. Most parents are amazed that I give my children so much freedom.

It is a balance, between safety and freedom. Children need room to roam, to play to experience nature. Yet even in our our yard we are not free from fear. My children were playing outside, while I fluttered from inside to outside, making dinner and supervising their activities from a far, when a car pulled over unrolled the window and spoke to my children. I flew outside as they were pulling away. My preschooler did not know what they said, when I asked she shrugged her shoulders. Was it an innocent comment about playing or was it a predator?

One of my goals as a parent is to have my kids outside once a day. Either to play, for a walk anything to get them out in the fresh air, exploring their world. I cannot say that I reach this goal every day, but we try.

What are your views on outside play and freedom? Are you afraid?

Tomorrow I will share with you some ideas of what to do when you get the kids outside.  Read more...

More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in halifax

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Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle

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Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune

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Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues

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Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors

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Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun

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A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories

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Tot's Science Fair:
Science & Nature Sites

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Splash, Spray, Play! Local Spots to Get Wet

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The Most Fun in Life Is Free!

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The Best of... Our Top Can't-Live-Without Spots

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Raechelle Masuda

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