Outdoor play idea: using summer toys for winter fun

by on January 9, 2013
in play learn explore · 6 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

Today I’ve got a super simple outdoor play idea for those of you who, like us in Indiana, are enjoying some January snow:  use your Summer sandbox toys in the Winter snow.

As we made our way through the garage on our way to play in the yard after our first really big snowfall of the season, I noticed the kids grabbing the sandbox shovels and pails along with the snow shovels.   It seemed to be instinct for them and it ended up being a lovely way to play.

The scoops, shovels, buckets, and castle molds were great fun in the snow!

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Play, learn, and explore in January

by on January 2, 2013
in play learn explore · 7 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

It is January and that means fresh starts.  At our house turning the calendar always comes with a sigh of relief for me. We’ve made it another year, though thick and thin, for better or for worse, here we are together.  And now?  We get to hold hands and step forward into another year, together.

I love new beginnings and clean slates.  January at our house is quiet evenings, warming up by the fire, snow days,  steaming bowls of oatmeal and baking molasses cookies.  It is wool socks and snowsuits and cocoa by the mug.  It means making plans, new calendars, and ordering seed catalogs to feed the dreams of Spring gardens.  365 days of possibilities!  Isn’t that fantastic?

We’ve got a fun January planned for you at SimpleKids.net. Coming this month we’ll be talking about goal setting and new beginnings.

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Taking dictation: crafting stories with young kids

by on December 28, 2012
in play learn explore · 28 Comments

The following post is by contributor Amy Anderson of Let’s Explore and originally appeared in November of 2011.

There is really nothing like the imagination of a young child. Long before they can write their own stories, children are ready and eager to tell their own stories. It is wonderfully empowering for a child to see her words written down as a “real” story. So, what are you waiting for? Grab some paper and get started!

If your child needs a little inspiration to get the creative juices flowing, here are some fun things to try:

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How to encourage kids in their journal writing (plus a Gadanke giveaway!)

by on November 20, 2012
in giveaways, play learn explore ·

Written by guest contributor Katie Clemons of Making This Home.

When I was young, I dreamed of writing a fabulous journal that other kids would read at school some day. I’d curl up in whatever tight corner I could find, and I would write my legendary entry for the day with an erasable black pen.

Or at least I tried to write.

That blank notebook page hit me like a snowstorm in the South. I shut down. I didn’t know what to write. I had no idea how to document the things that made me feel alive or led me to jump out of bed in the morning. As a result, my journal pages became rambling bits of boring information or – and this was usually the case – the pages were left blank. The notebook went forgotten.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a kid or an adult. Sometimes, journal writing is hard. Heck, a blank page can offer an intimidating experience for any type of writing.

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Outdoor play idea and a new post-Halloween tradition: smashing pumpkins

by on November 12, 2012
in holidays & celebrations, play learn explore · 8 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

This year our family started a new post-Halloween tradition:  pumpkin smashing.  Normally I might process the pumpkin and save it for pies and bread, but this year the pumpkins that we carved were a bit past their prime and starting to decay.

My husband and I thought breaking the pumpkins open so we could explore their insides would make an excellent learning and messy play activity for our family.  Any time we can all play outdoors and make a mess together is a good time for us!

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