Keeping cool on hot days: baby doll washing

by on June 13, 2013
in play learn explore, Unplugged Play · 3 Comments

washing baby dolls

Yesterday proved to be quite a wild weather day here in Indiana.  In the afternoon the temperatures soared into the 90s (though it felt even hotter) and by late evening we were listening to the wind howl and the rain pound our roof as storms rolled in.

Before the scorching temps and thunderstorms, however, the kids and I spent a happy morning outside, beating the heat with some cool water play (before the eventual humidity and roasting temps sent us indoors in the afternoon).

This summer I’ve noticed that my littlest girls still love one of their favorite Unplugged Play ideas from last year:  giving their baby dolls a bath.

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Unplugged Play: Solar Oven S’mores

by on May 21, 2013
in crafts, Unplugged Play · 7 Comments

SKsmoresTOP

Note: there are affiliate links within this post.
Yesterday the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and it was the perfect day to kick off the Fleck Family Backyard Summer Nature Camp!

We’re using the ecurriculum I’m a contributor to and an affiliate for, the At-Home Summer Nature Camp ecurriculum from A Natural Nester .

There are 8 weeks of activities – kid-friendly lessons, outdoor activities, indoor projects, arts & crafts, recipes, field trip ideas, book & media suggestions, and more in a full-color PDF you can read on your computer screen or tablet, or print out.

I have emailed the pdf to my Kindle account, so we’ve got a paper print out in a binder and I’ve got a copy on my Kindle.  We’re all set and ready to go!

Yesterday, to kick off the week on a sweet note, we chose the Pizza Box Solar Oven S’mores activity.

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Unplugged play idea: kiddie pool + bubbles = awesome!

by on May 16, 2013
in Unplugged Play · 5 Comments

SKbubblekiddiepoolTOP

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far in central Indiana and, after the long winter, the kids and I were ready for it!  We’ve been loving the sunshine and the blue skies.

This week has been the first week of the year we’ve been using the pool, which is always one of our favorite backyard summer treats.

Normally we have a larger pool that uses a filter to keep it clean and the water clear all season long.  This year, however, my youngest doesn’t quite have her sea legs, though she’s eager to explore the water, so we decided a smaller kiddie pool would be best for our backyard space.

A kiddie pool for the summers we have toddlers seems to be a family tradition and my big kids don’t mind too much as long as we take them on plenty of trips to the big pool, too.

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Unplugged Play: sidewalk chalk

by on April 1, 2013
in play learn explore, Unplugged Play · 7 Comments

sidewalkchalk

After a long winter, the kids and I were thrilled that the Easter Bunny brought a glorious warm and sunny weekend with him.

Spring has been around for a few weeks, at least according to the calendar, but it certainly hasn’t felt like it at our house.  In fact, this time last week we were enduring a snowfall that made March one for the record books.

Hooray for changing seasons! Last weekend was gorgeous and sunny and we, of course, headed outdoors to celebrate!

Jackets were shed, sunglasses were donned, and one of our favorite sunny weather unplugged play toys came out:  the sidewalk chalk.

I bet it is one of your family’s favorite unplugged play toys, too.

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Unplugged play: no batteries required!

by on September 30, 2012
in play learn explore, Unplugged Play · 56 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.  Update:  I didn’t quite get the original 31 days series written back in October, but this is a work-in-progress and I’ll keep adding Unplugged Play ideas as we go.

Today’s the day!  We’re beginning our much anticipated series on  Unplugged play:  no batteries required.

It seems, at times, like play and childhood are becoming obsolete.  We live in such a hurry-up world that it can be easy to forget that life doesn’t have to be that fast-paced and play doesn’t require batteries or the endorsement of a television character.   I invite you and your kids to slow down and reconnect with simple play.  It is time to get back to basics and have a little fun doing so!

Unplugged Play

Each idea will feature a short post with a simple idea or two for “unplugged” play – no batteries or power cords required.  Whether or not you choose to unplug from all other electronics (video games, television, computer, other screen time, etc) is up to you.

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