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Slow afternoons are my favorite. Preparing a large, healthy-ish snack and setting out an art or play-prompt gathers my crew and the children who tag along with them. I love a full yard of kids. Yes, it’s messy and chaotic. But it also creates a wonderful sense of love and community. I like creating a safe, fun space where my kids can bring their friends to play and unwind. I’m going to miss the crazy one day, so I’m embracing it while I can.
Here are my top tips for creating an environment where children and adults love to come together.
SNACK TIME
Prepare a healthy-ish snack, and lots of it! I like to do a tray of cut up fruit- watermelon or summer cherries are always a big hit. Pair the fruit with a crunchy dry snack like a big bag of popcorn, pirates booty, or pretzels. Then add a “treat” which might be chocolate chip cookies, popsicles or mini Trader Joe’s ice cream cones on a hot day.
I bring out a big pitcher of icy water or juice boxes and a fat black sharpie marker. A marker? YES. This way everyone can label their cups/ juice boxes and you avoid waste and confusion.
ACTIVITY
Put out a SIMPLE activity to draw the children in when they first get home. The trick here is to use what you have, keep it very simple and inexpensive. Pay attention here…. DON’T put a lot of effort into it. That way you won’t be annoyed if they ignore the activity and run off to scooter. It also ensures that you won’t feel put-out or burned out over time.
SIMPLE YARD ACTIVITIES
My go-to is usually chalk, mallets, brushes and water (SEEN HERE). The kids can draw with chalk, or smash it up and make chalk paint. This activity is great for all ages. There are few kids I know who can resist the mallet to smash up some chalk… so therapeutic!
Sometimes, I’ll dig around in the garage and find old wood scraps and bring out hammers and nails and rubber bands. If they get super into it, I’ll add paint or sharpies.
Another simple one is a large thrifted mirror and paint sticks (SEEN HERE). Not messy, very engaging and lots of children can work on it at a time. Bonus? Clean up is a snap. You just need to hose it all down at the end.
GROWN-UP HANGS
With full tummies and after some time spent relaxing with the activity, the children all usually grab bikes, scooters and wagons and take off running and playing. This gives the adults a chance to catch up and get some much needed grown up conversation in.
LIMIT SETTING
Sometimes, I don’t mind if the children wander in and out of the house…. But sometimes, my house is clean and I want it to stay that way. We set clear limits about whether or not going in the house is allowed. I’ll just say, “Our house is closed today, sorry!” OR “It is an outside-only day.” Setting clear and firm limits regarding what you are comfortable with is KEY to enjoying big get togethers and not dreading them.
I am extremely lucky to live on a dead end street with lots of awesome families. My favorite Spring afternoons are spent on the front lawn with the dog running up and down fetching a ball while the kids get dirty and have a blast. Of course, there are many tantrums thrown, kids who argue, and skinned knees. But that’s just part of the fabric.
Do you have any neighborhood favorites? Tips for gathering your favorite crew of people? Share them with us!
I hope you found this post helpful. If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.
-LIzzie
Here is your clickable resource for everything Nate used to create this landscape. Some of these are affiliate links, thank you for supporting The Workspace for Children.
It’s Spring Break over here, so there is no school this week. The kids and I made a list of things we would want to do with our time and NYC was high on the list. We are very lucky to live a short train ride away (about 50 min.) so that made it an easy YES.
We had loose plans to take the train to NY Penn Station, walk to Madison Square Park, play and eat lunch, and then head to the Math Museum. But… the day was too beautiful to spend inside. Here’s how it all went down.
The big kids walked to the train station and Sloane scootered. She is six, and too old for a stroller. Her tiny little legs have a hard time keeping up with the big kids sometimes. Before we left, we talked about bringing the scooter. We called it her “commuter scooter” and we chatted about how riding a scooter in the city is WAY different than taking runs up and down out street. It’s different because we didn’t wear a helmet, which is usually a non-negotiable. It was different because instead of riding independently, she had to stay right next to me and if she wanted, I would pull her along. It’s so easy to “tow” your child with THIS scooter. Two feet on, and I can easily pull her along and steer.
Sloane’s face when she saw the subway….
We took an 10:38 train in. We got to the station a little early and I let the children each choose lifesavers or gum for the train ride. I know they’d be fine with nothing, but for me, it’s the little things in life, and I like to make our adventures special. We rode the train in and walked across town to Madison Square Park and ate at Shake Shack. The kids had never been there before, and it did not disappoint. Next stop in the plan was to go across the street to Mo Math, The National Math Museum, but the kids asked to go to the playground first. Sure, why not (see me being flexible over here?!)?
The kids played and I sat in the sun, feeling good. I watched them run, squeal and climb, when I suddenly decided that the weather was too perfect to head inside to a museum. Their favorite NYC playground is the one in Union Square but I wanted to try something new. I did a quick Google search and decided on The Ancient Playground in Central Park. I called the kids over and asked them if they still wanted to go to a museum or if they were up for a new adventure. Guess which one they picked?
We headed off to the Subway and hopped on. It didn’t occur to me before, but Sloane had somehow never ridden the Subway! She was mesmerized and it was the absolute cutest thing. Nate and Ruby played their favorite game of “spot the rats” in the tracks while Sloane asked me a billion and one questions about how the subway works. We got on and the train was pretty empty. The kids seriously had the best time holding on and riding the bumps. I fought my inner germ-phobe and went along with it. I am so glad I did. They LOVED it.
It was an easy trip into Central Park and we headed into the playground. Kids were off and running and again, I was sitting on a bench in NYC on this beautiful Spring day. Besides a few hiccups with Sloane, we could’ve stayed for hours, but I know from experience that it is SO important to quit while you are ahead. I knew we still had to get back downtown and get on a train back to Maplewood before the evening commute began. I enticed them with ice cream cones and off we went.
We made it back down to Penn Station and as luck would have it, a train to Maplewood was boarding. Thank goodness, because at that point we were all getting a bit tired. We made it home in one piece and I am so grateful for another adventure in the books.
Here are my quick takeaways:
Front end load. Pack snacks and water, wipes, and layer clothing. Knowing that basic needs are easily met means you can relax.
Follow your child’s lead. We literally went to the city to play at the playground. Could we have done that at home? Sure, but it was way more special this way. The kids had a blast and since they were happy, my job was much easier.
Quit while you are ahead. Remember NOT to stretch them to their limits. It can be tempting to stay when you are having fun, but ending on a high note is so much better.
Have a plan but be flexible. We switched it up today and instead of the museum, we hit up a new playground.
You know your child best. Think about what you will need to do in order to meet their needs and keep them feeling successful. For us, this was bringing along the scooter for Sloane. I knew she’d feel tired and frustrated trying to keep up on foot. The scooter was a total game changer.
Get out of your comfort zone and adventure with your kids! It will not always be as smooth as today was, but it is SO worth it. The adventures that don’t go well are learning experiences for everyone, and they will only make your next adventure easier.
I hope you found this post helpful. If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.
-Lizzie
My six year old has letters and numbers on the brain. After a bit of a slow-to-warm-up phase, she’s loving kindergarten. Recently, her class has been learning about skip counting. Sloane has taken it to heart and I hear her skip counting her toys, singing rhymes about skip counting in bed at night and using her fingers to figuring it all out. The other day, as I sat and procrastinated emptying the dishwasher and switching the laundry, an idea popped into my head and a skip counting activity was born.
Table Salt
A Shallow Tray
Cardstock or Index Cards
Black Marker
I had punched a lot of circles last week for another project the were working on, so I pulled those out and labeled each circle with a number from one to fifty.
Then I poured some salt in our tray to make a skip counting base.
I set it all out on the table and left it to see what Sloane would do.
After some initial frustration because she couldn’t locate the numbers she was looking for, it was a hit. She was able to demonstrate a visual representation of skip counting by two’s, five’s and ten’s.
This activity would be a great number sense activity if you added some mini pom-poms for setting up a number line with the corresponding amount of pom-poms. In addition to practicing her skip counting, Sloane enjoyed the sensory aspect of running her fingers through the salt, drawing in the salt and making hand prints. There are lots of great ways to use salt trays to set up an invitation to create. The best part? Salt is a cheap, readily available, and you likely have it in your kitchen pantry. Have you used a salt tray?
Looking for another salt tray activity? Click HERE.
I hope you found this post helpful. If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.
-Lizzie
Remember last week when I went on my tangent about reading readiness?
I know that Sloane is feeling ready and excited about becoming a reader so I’ve been pulling out lots of sight word activities. You all requested more activity how-to’s and this one couldn’t have been easier.
Here’s the deal…I wrote her words on little index cards, poured our jar of gem letters into a shallow bin, and set it out to see what would happen.
Guess what? She independently practiced her sight words for twenty minutes…didn’t even look up. She got in the zone and I could see her practicing, testing herself, getting frustrated and working through it, and more. All from this one activity that took me about five minutes to pull together. It was a huge win for me. Have you had any wins lately? We all deserve a little celebration for a win. Drop yours below. It does not have to be parenting related! Just tell me your latest win and how good it made you feel.
I feel the same way about play as I do about learning to read. I believe that if you are respectful of your child’s need to play and explore at a developmentally appropriate level, you are already WAY ahead of the game when it comes to reading readiness.
First, know that reading and writing readiness is DEVELOPMENTAL. It is different for every child. Like many of you, I need to remind myself this very often. It is so hard not to compare your child to siblings and peers. I’m speaking from my own direct experience. I struggle with this almost daily.
Having a print-rich environment is always a good idea. Lots of books,magazines, signs, and opportunities to see print as meaningful. I bet if you look around your home, you already have this. See? Told you that you are already ahead of the game!
Show your child that his or her words matter. This means writing down what they say, listening carefully when they are telling you a story, or when they want to sing you a song. For little babies, this includes sounds and verbalizations.
Sing! Lots of us sing to our little babies, but then we begin to feel silly as they get older. Don’t stop singing! Make up funny songs, silly words, or even sing what you are about to do. All of this word play is tremendously helpful in growing our children up to be confident learners.
Show your child that his or her mark making, scribbling, invented spelling matters. Do this by turning your entire attention to their work. Listen and look. Do not put your own spin on it, just listen and nod encouragingly. Instead of asking what they drew, just notice details aloud and then see what THEY say about their work. Listen carefully.
Show your child that YOU read and write every day. Think out loud when you are writing. Model your thinking. Get in the habit of doing this (it feels super weird at first but is a real game changer with all kinds of learning with children).
Write and draw what they say. When they are telling you a long story, made up or true, grab a pencil and let them watch you write it all down. They can revisit it later. Maybe they will even illustrate it. Don’t make it hard though, or you’ll never do it. Any old scrap of paper will do.
Give your child access to books and open ended art materials. This can be as simple as crayons and blank paper.
Label items that your children already know. When Nate was little, I made labels with letters or words on familiar items like the milk pitcher and his bed. He would “read” the words to these very meaningful objects and see himself as a competent and capable learner. (Hmmm, maybe I should do this for Sloane.)
Place value on time spent with books and stories.Spend time reading separately but together. Sometimes we all sit and read together, but silently, each in our own books. Yes, small children can do this. It takes practice and modeling.
Keep note pads and paper everywhere. Write and draw your child notes. Even when they are small. I like to leave a note under their pillow, or in the bathroom. It’s okay if they cant read yet! It is a fun surprise to discover and you can read it to them. Show your children that print and marks are important and necessary.
Most importantly, DO follow your child’s lead. If he’s not ready, he’s not ready. Don’t forget…Kindergarten now is what first and second grade was in years past.
Develop a love of learning in general and all will be well. Always encourage risk taking, question asking and mistake making.
Of course, there are apps and reading programs that will teach your child to memorize words and letters from a very young age, but they lack relevance. In order for your child to learn the love of reading and writing that will last a lifetime they need meaningful, rich connections to the work they are doing. This happens over time. This happens with intention. This happens when we value our child’s individual development and life experience.
Over the next few weeks, you might see me working with Sloane on her literacy journey. She is “there”. She is ready. I know this because I see her thinking constantly about sounds and letters. I see her making sense of text in context. She’s sounding out street signs, menu words, etc. She’s beginning to label her own pictures and she’s spending lots of time reading to her dolls and stuffed animals.
Sloane is six. Nate was developmetally ready when he was four. Ruby was probably five and a half. Guess what? It doesn’t matter. Look around at your friends. Do you know how old they were when they said their first works? When the took first steps or mastered the potty? Nope. Because it doesn’t matter in the long run. So try, as hard as I know that it is, not to RUSH reading and writing. Enjoy the journey. And when you child wants to read to YOU at bedtime? Grab a big glass of wine… it takes A LOT of patience and time ;)
I hope you found this post helpful. If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.
-LIzzie
Last week we had the pleasure of taking a vacation with the kids to Playa Mujeres, Mexico. Before we ever book a trip, my husband and I set some intentions. We decide if we want to do a trip or a vacation. A trip is where we know it will be a lot of work on our end, and that we will plan on sight seeing, adventuring, and WORKING. We go somewhere we’ve never been, eat the local food and push ourselves and our children to embrace a new landscape. OR, we decide that we want to freeze time for a second, relax, and just enjoy being together. That means we stay mostly in the resort, say yes to late bedtimes, lots of ice creams, and night swimming. We lose all sense of day and time and just BE with the kids and with each other. This trip was most certainly a vacation. Sloane just turned six and still has trouble keeping up with Nate and Ruby. It would not be fun (for anyone) to drag her around a new city or time zone. We wanted something simple, relaxing and fun for everyone.
WHERE WE STAYED:
We chose Playa Mujeres because the flight was not long, it has good proximity to the airport and the weather is amazing. We used a local travel agent, Vacations by Heather, and she helped us a find a resort that was in our budget. We stayed at Dreams, Playa Mujeres. The room was clean and spacious, the view was beautiful and food was good-enough. I like staying at an all-inclusive with the kids because they can eat as little or as much as they like, whenever they want. Takes the pressure off. It also helps us to budget and stay on track, which means less stress for us.
BE PREPARED:
I did a ton of front-end loading before we left. I packed our favorite travel art supplies, snacks and toys in easily accessible pouches for the airplane, restaurants, and pool side. When were in the airport and the kids got antsy? Boom. Out came Magnetic blocks. When my girls needed some quiet time and I didn’t want to leave the pool? Out came my pouch filled with watercolor paper and Ooly travel watercolor kit. Masterpieces were made and I didn’t need to turn away from my book and my cocktail.
Also? We brought devices. The children were allowed to use them on the airplane, and for a little while each day while my oldest babysat in the room and my husband and I snuck downstairs for a quick kid free cocktail.
WHAT WE PACKED FOR THE AIRPLANE (click the image for the link):
WHAT THEY WORE (click image for links.):
If you liked this post, you might want to check these out as well:
HOW TO TRAVEL WITH YOUR KIDS AND ACTUALLY RELAX
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR KIDS WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT THEM
This blog post was not sponsored in any way, but does contain some affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Workspace for Children. -Lizzie
