Sunny Morning of Outdoor Play

Finally the sun has returned to Yorkshire and no better excuse (not that we need one!) to play outside this morning.  Some time on the trampoline and then the children decided on sand.  Boy climbed in to the sand box and Girl was happy to work around him.

Boy experimented with tipping and pouring the sand.  I asked 'what does it feel like?' He replied 'Runny.'  I said 'like water?' and he said 'yes a bit but not wet, it's cold.'  

He's using the vocabulary he knows to describe the properties of sand and how it moves - likening it to water, but realising it isn't a liquid.  He's drawing on his experience of playing with sand in the past to make these statements.

Girl wanted to fill buckets with sand and did this unaided and without spilling much.  Her physical hand eye co-ordination is developing to enable her to do this.

The sand she did spill she used to experiment with mark making using both her fingers and sand toys to do this.

Boy then wanted to bury 'treasure.' He used shells as treasure and covered them with the sand.  He noted, 'the sand isn't wet so it doesn't stick.'

There was so much in this play.  Communication and early literacy, science and investigation, turn taking, sharing, physical development, mathematical capacity calculations, critical thinking, creativity and imagination.  It's all learning through play, not a worksheet in sight thank goodness!

Seashell painting

I wondered what the children might come up with if I gave them paints and shells.  This is what happened.

We used paper, red, blue and white paints and some large shells.  First we mixed some paints to make blue and pink.  Then we used the shells to make marks and patterns on the paper.

Then we needed some more paint so I put some red and white onto the plate.  Before I could mix them Girl began using one of the shells to mix the paint and to put blobs of it onto her paper.

It made gave some really interesting results.  Then she asked for some blue.

Here is her finished artwork.

Boy decided he wanted to do some colour mixing.  He said 'Mummy, if you mix blue and white it makes light blue right?'  Yes I said and he mixed some.  Then he added red and said 'this will be purple I think.....it is!'

Here is his shell painting.  After he'd finished that he did some hand prints and and covered a page in purple paint he had mixed.

It can be interesting to find other ways to use paint by using objects as tools.  Be creative and see what you and your children can come up with!

Water painting

First of all I have to admit that this idea was inspired by Mr M who decided to let the children play with some old paintbrushes from his stash in the garage.  He filled an old bin with water and just let Boy and Girl get on with it.

They dived in and painted the paving in the garden, a wheelbarrow and the water and sand tray.

Boy wrote his name on the ground during the activity.

This was a really great way of letting them explore mark making but in a different environment and using different tools.  They had a marvelous time and it was all cost free!

Getting creative outside

This afternoon we decided to get creative outside with some music and art in the open air.  I made a music area in the corner of the garden for the children to have a go at making some noise!

I've used some old plant pots (two plastic, one ceramic), wooden wind chimes which I picked up at The Range for £4 a couple of weeks back, three jam jars and a tin watering can which I've hung from the fence using string.  Some pieces of wood to use as drum sticks and we've got our very own homemade outdoor percussion set!

Both Boy and Girl enjoyed this, despite the rain, and hopefully didn't disturb the neighbours too much.

After having let loose our musical creativity we felt it might be good to have a go at some art next.  We started with the chalkboard and then we decided to decorate the paving too!

Writing his name on the ground.

And here is the finished masterpiece which lasted only a few moments because shortly after this the rain washed it away.

Take a look at this great selection of other outdoor play ideas hosted by Mama Pea Pod.

Outside chalk and white boards

We finished the chalk and white boards we've made for outside today.

We used an old wooden easel which didn't get any use.  We took off the hinge and sawed off the legs, painted the frames and then drilled some holes to hang them up on the fence.

Girl enjoyed testing out the chalk board this afternoon.  Boy was far too busy on his trampoline but agreed he would enjoy it another time.

Hopefully we can use these for painting too by using clips to attach paper.  Using the outside space you have can really make your home seem much bigger.  It also makes messy play much more practical!

Mark Making

Since having young children I have become interested in the ways they develop.  In particular, encouraging them in pre reading and writing.  Before children learn to write, they experiment with making marks of various kinds.  Often this can be with pencils/crayons and paper but if you get a little bit creative, you can give them opportunities to make marks using different methods.  Some examples are; using finger paints, a thin layer of salt or sand in a tray, in the soil.  I'm sure you can think of more.  Give your child the chance to use different tools to make marks; cutlery, cotton buds, sponges, brushes, whatever you can find!

I was clearing out some old art books I had as a teenager from my parents loft space and I came across an idea which is great for encouraging early mark making.  You can see Boy and Girl having a go!  Make a thickish batter using flour and water and add some paint.  Spread a layer over a sheet of paper and then let the children make patterns and marks using a variety of tools.  We used plastic cutlery, cotton buds, brushes, fingers and Mr M made some out of cardboard.

Boy especially enjoyed this activity and was keen to try and write his name.  He doesn't usually want to do drawing so this is a good way of encouraging him to explore mark making.  Wearing his cowboy apron here!

Girl is a fan of drawing anyway so she really took to this too.  Once the pictures/patterns are finished and dry you can cut them up and use them to make cards or gift tags, or just add them to your children's gallery!