Guest Post: 10 Ways to keep toddlers busy so Mom can get some work done!

I am so excited to have Ashley from Navigating Homeschool as a guest today. She has some great activities to keep your toddler busy while you work. I know I'll be trying some of these out with my youngest. Her post comes at a perfect time because so many more parents are trying to work from home during the COVID pandemic.

Guest Post: 
10 ways to keep toddlers busy so Mom can get some work done!

All of us moms are insanely busy. It never seems like our to-do list ever ends, and if you are a working mom, you need to have that time to focus. Have you tried to entertain your toddler so you can get things accomplished, but it didn't seem to work? Well, today I want to share with you 10 different ideas to keep your toddler busy, so you can get things done!

1. Give them different items to transfer. Pom poms and bottles, spoons, paper roll, etc.

Young children love transferring things and putting small items into other objects. Give them some pom poms and a bottle. Let them fill it up and then try to get them back out. You could even give them two different bins and a spoon for them to transfer them. There are tons of things you can do with pom poms.

2. Playdoh

Playdoh is such an amazing resource. It helps strengthen those little hands for future activities. You can find several different playdoh mats on Pinterest. These are a great addition to your playdoh collection.

3. Car mat

You could create a quick car mat for your little one to drive on. All you would need is a large construction board and some markers. The lines don't have to be perfect! Add some different lines for the cars to follow and some colored parking spots. As a bonus, take some of your child's toys to place around the mat as some landmarks!

4. Box with crayons

Do you have any large boxes you recently received from a package? If so, hand your child some crayons and ask them to draw you a vehicle. After they completed drawing and if they come running to your feet, tell them to go drive their new car around the house!

5. Noodles and string

Almost everyone has a box of pasta in their house. Hopefully, you carry some of the hollow ones. If you do, grab some string, a few handfuls of pasta, and give them to your child to make a necklace or noodle rope. Don't forget to tie a large knot at the bottom of the string.

6. Bubble wrap

This is a super simple activity. We had leftover bubble wrap from Christmas that I decided to keep to reuse for another package. Instead, I decided to give it to my kids. It's not what I wanted to use it for, but it enabled me to get some things accomplished around the house. Do you remember the pure bliss of popping those tiny bubbles as a little kid?

7. Sticky wall

A sticky wall is a great way to keep young children entertained while you focus on your important task. All you need is some adhesive protection liner and some items they can use to stick. When placing the protection liner against the wall, chair, or whatever you are using. Fold the sides of the protective liner, so they stick to your desired surface. If you are worried about pulling paint off of the wall, you can use painter tape. Ask them to create a scene on the wall for you to see whenever you are done with your task!

Here are a few items for a sticky wall

• pom poms
• foam letters
• sticks, leaves, and flowers
• stripes of paper
• cereal, noodles, etc
• small toys

8. Sensory bins

Young kids love playing with things they have not seen before or in a long period. They also enjoy messes, but sensory bins do not have to be a complete mess. Of course, there are going to be some things (or all of the stuff) that falls out of the bin from them playing. However, you can choose to make a sensory bin out of items that do not make a huge mess, as rice or beans would. We do rice and bean sensory bins frequently and let me tell you... My husband just loves finding rice and beans weeks later (not!).

Here are a few ideas you could use for a little less messy sensory bin.

• Pom poms
• cotton balls
• scarfs
• thick scraps of paper

9. Crayola magic markers coloring kit

These are perfect for the times you need to focus on something. Let's face it when you hand a kid a crayon or marker there is a good chance they are going to color on something they shouldn't.

These markers will not draw on anything besides the special paper! We use them whenever we are traveling or eating out at a restaurant. They are completely awesome.

10. Knock over towers

Another favorite is knocking over paper towels or toilet paper. If you have any of these items with the plastic wrapping still on them, show your kids how to set them up and give them a light ball they can knock them over with. My kids always make a b-line for the packs of toilet paper whenever I bring them in the house. They love stacking up these larger, light items and knocking them down!

Final Thoughts...

Busy moms need time to get things done and I know we don't want our children sitting with a screen in their faces all day. Give some of these ideas a try. It may take some time to figure out what activities really entertain them. They may even look at one activity for only a few minutes or they finish it quickly. In case that happens, set up a backup plan to hand them while you are working. Overall, I hope these ideas help you!

What is one of your child's favorite activities whenever you are busy? Tell me in the comments below!

Meet Ashley!

Ashley is the writer of this post. She has a background in psychology and is a homeschooling mom of two young children. They strive to learn through play. Her homeschooling method is more relaxed and enjoyable. You can find more of her content at www.navigatinghomeschool.com

Weary mom, I have been there too.

Out of steam, weary and broken, my friend I have been there. You are not alone in your struggles.

Today I want to share my story with you, if I may. I know that you will be able to relate but, more so I want to offer you hope. Life doesn't need to stay this way. You are not stuck.

I have three beautiful, active, fun and crazy boys. They bring me joy and frustrations all within the same half hour. In addition to my boys I also homeschool them, and do all the office administration for our family electrical business. Over the years I have also run my own businesses and been very involved in the homeschool community. Needless to say I'm busy (too busy perhaps).

Our lives ran into a particularly rough patch as a family. The summer after my second miscarriage was the lowest point of my parenting journey. Our family business was struggling and my children needed me. The neighbours were complaining to us about everything and, my parents staged an intervention telling me I needed to put my kids in school and get help. It felt as though my whole life was caving in on me. I was drowning with no one to turn to. No part of my life had any peace. 

Obviously if people were noticing that our family was struggling, I couldn't hide it any longer. I had been trying to manage my own emotions, but it all ended up spilling over. We were always yelling, the kids were fighting, I had given up on teaching them anything. I had nothing left to give. It was purely survival mode. I knew I needed help. When I prayed, God told me school wasn't the answer. So I started seeking out help. I worked one-on-one with a parenting coach while also taking the online parenting courses and an empathy communication book club. The transformation has been huge. 

After having taken these courses I had specific tools I could use to help me in my daily interactions with the kids. I was surprised at how I could apply some of those same tools at work and with my friends. Not that I’m telling them I used parenting techniques on them. Lol

The coaches gave me more confidence. Instead of feeling hopeless and giving up, I had some things I could try and I felt pretty sure they would work. I guess I felt empowered.  For example, after doing some of the roll play activities I realized I sounded like I was nagging my kids. Now I am remembering to ask more questions to engage their help in getting things done. Family meetings have also been helpful. The kids feel heard and often come up with some pretty good ideas.

I also felt like I wasn’t alone because I’d taken some of the class with other parents. We got to share our problems with each other and learn from each other. It felt good to find some like minded moms who got what I was going through. They didn’t try to judge or tell me what to do. I’ve already made contact with one mom outside of the group because our boys are the same age and both like similar activities.

I think the main difference between taking the course and reading a parenting book was my level of commitment. I had an investment in putting in the hard work and some accountability because we checked in during our sessions to see how things were going.  I’d read so many parenting books but it never sunk in. Honestly, how many half read self help books do you have on your shelves at home. 

I also was able to get real time help, with my real problems, not just what some author thought I was going through. So honestly if you want real change you do have to do some real work. But once you see the results coming then it motivates you to keep going.  I found the journaling hard sometimes, because I didn’t want to reflect on my past. At first I didn’t understand what that had to do with disciplining my kids.  Boy was I wrong.  Like I said we did learn a lot of practical tools to do with the kids, but I found the real change came to our house when I worked more on myself.

I had to re-parent myself before I could parent my kids. Too bad I couldn’t hit the pause button in life and fix myself up before moving on. But that is again why I was thankful to have the community to reassure me everything was going to work out. I felt secure and safe.  I also found it helpful to practice on myself so I could be a better model for my kids. I had to learn about my own feelings and needs, see how working through that impacted me. Then I could bring what I was learning to me kids. I found I was way more enthusiastic about guiding them when I knew how much it really helped me. Now I don’t mind slowing down to work on coaching my children because that is the point of parenting. Coaching them now so they will be more successful later.

I guess I learned to look at the big picture. Focusing on the end goal helps.  I began to let go of a lot of battles.  I used to worry so much about every little thing. I’d get caught up in the little details, bed times, meals, getting dressed. Everything was a battle. Now that I have a clear picture of what I really want for my kids, those little details don’t seem so important. Because I’ve lightened up, my kids are more cooperative. 

We are also enjoying each other more. It is hard to want to spend time with someone who is acting up. I’m having way more moments of peace in the week. I caught myself the other day taking a mental photo capturing the moment, just a simple hug freely given. It warmed my heart.

Oh I have to tell you about this great win! Oh I’m so excited! So my oldest was having a melt down. He got set off my something seemingly small. But I recognized that it was about something bigger (yay me). He had a huge melt down, but I was able to stay calm and not get caught up in it. I remembered some of the things we had been learning and helped him to calm down. We had a great talk and later he actually thanked me for helping him!! Can you believe it. This is why I don’t mind the hard work. This is better than I was expecting when I signed up. I figured I’d learn a few techniques to get my kids to listen to me better. But my son thanking me for helping him through a rough time! That is priceless.

Another bonus is that other people noticed the changes in me too. I’m less weary, happier, and it shows.  I was finally ready to tackle some other areas of my life that had been put aside because I was bogged down by the worries and struggles of parenting. I now even do something special for myself, I had put aside my hobbies. I matter now. I think I found me, and I like who I am. I can do hard things.

We aren't perfect all the time, but I am so much more confident and peaceful. I want to share the possibility of something different with everyone! Which is exactly why I became a parenting coach. When something this life changing happens in you life, you can't keep it to yourself.  I have studied all I can and worked very hard to bring the absolute best to the families I work with.

Because as mom, we wear many different hats and our lives are not neatly separated into compartments, I offer my coaching to encompass the whole family. I work with parents to offer solutions t homeschool, parenting, clutter and more.

It has been a pleasure sharing my story with you I'd love to hear from you. what is your story? Where are you at? Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. I also have a very special Facebook community focusing on positive/gentle parenting.

If you'd like to learn more about me check out this page with the best of me!

If my story of transformation is something you are seeking, or perhaps you have a friend that might need some support right now, I invite you connect with me for more support. I offer individual and group coaching.

For more support for you parenting journey follow Joyful Mud Puddles on Facebook and Instagram @joyfulmudpuddles 

and join our Facebook Support Group

Crisis learning – the 2020 version of homeschooling

Pandemic crisis homeschooling is what we are doing right now. It is not the same as homeschooling really, but you are still wanting to make sure your children are learning.

Today I am excited to have a guest post from Jen at History At Home. She has a wealth of knowledge and fabulous resources at her blog and Teachers Pay Teachers. I am so grateful she has come to share some practical tips about crisis learning.

Crisis learning – the 2020 version of homeschooling

Crisis learning – I think that is where we are as a nation. Whether you homeschooled before Covid-19 and quarantine, or if you were basically forced into schooling at home because of it, it all adds up to living in a “crisis” situation.

We have homeschooled for the last 13 years (this is my last year doing it). My baby is a senior and graduates next month. Because she is only taking dual enrolment classes at the community college this semester, the only thing that has really changed is the classes are online.

She still gets to finish her schooling and hopefully gets to have a graduation ceremony when things open back up. We are definitely having a family celebration and will plan a bigger one with friends and extended family once it’s safe.

All that to say – this hasn’t affected our homeschool situation. But what about you? Have you, like so many others, suddenly become a home educator? Do you like it? Is it hard?

Educating at home can be hard

I would guess it’s hard. Not because you aren’t capable but because this is not what you signed up for! If your kids went to public or private school before the coronavirus, you probably never thought a whole lot about schooling them at home. I’m not being judgmental – I have been where you are. My oldest two went through the public school system K-12^th, and my 3^rd and 4^th kiddo came home in 6^th grade. We brought our youngest home in 4^th grade.

When my son came home in 6^th grade, we took him out at Thanksgiving break. So I had a little prep time, but not much of it. I learned a lot on the fly.

You, however, had zero to very little time to prepare for this huge life change. Quite possibly you have several kids at home, you may be working from home, and you are having to coordinate their learning, Zoom time, etc. I cannot even imagine! My heart goes out to you, and I hope you give yourself a big pat on the back. Especially if you (a) fed them today, (b) kept them alive, and (c) gave them a hug or kiss.

Maybe you’ve been put in the situation where you haven’t been given any resources, and you are scared they will fall behind. What do you do? Where do you turn?

Homeschoolers love to help (and we aren’t all weird)

In my experience, homeschoolers love to help! So please, ask questions. Even if you just want to finish the school year out and keep your child on track, just ask! We would be happy to give you our advice and insight. Don’t be afraid to tell us what you’re looking for, or that you just need resource ideas for right now. If anyone tries to tell you that you should commit to homeschooling, and you don’t want to, then let them know. You can always tell them I said it’s okay! 😉 Because we are in crisis mode, and the world is just weird.

You may be seeing a whole different side of us homeschoolers now! I fully embrace my nerdiness, but I am still not a “typical” homeschooler. The funny thing is I see so many different types of homeschoolers. So, as my daughter’s BFF says, “You be you.” Weird or not, it is alright to plod through this strange time and do what you can.

**Some links on this page are affiliate links. 

Concrete ideas

I have some ideas that I hope will help you as you find your way:

·      If you’re looking for free or paid resources – check out Pinterest, Google the subject, or take a look at TeachersPayTeachers.

·      If you need to know what to teach your kiddo(s) at this stage, there is a series you can get called What Your _______ Grader Needs to Know. You can check out the one for 1^st grade here.

·      Let your child pick some fun things to do. Scavenger hunts, games, puzzles, explore museums and zoos online, and even watching child-friendly documentaries are all ways to learn but have fun at the same time.

·      If you have been considering homeschooling before Covid-19, you might want to do more research on learning styles and how to homeschool.

·      In case you are confused if you’re supposed to be doing school all day with your kids, no you aren’t! Older students may need more schoolwork time, but typically younger kids spend anywhere from 1-3 hours per day on their work. Now, I can’t say they won’t drag their feet and draw that time out!

The important stuff

I think it is important to remember a few things. One, like I said, we are living in weird, crisis times. Two, school is almost over (in the U.S.) and some people just want to make this time into the longest summer ever, and that is fine. Three, your situation varies from everyone else, and you can only do so much in a day. Four, I truly doubt your child will be behind when school starts back. The teachers and students are all in the same boat, and I am sure that provisions will be made in the schools to get everyone back on track.

And lastly, whether you are a long-time homeschooler or a possible homeschooler or a no-I-will-never-do-this-again homeschooler, we are all in this together. We have to be kind to each other and work to make this time the best we can for our kids. We can all use this time to learn too – learn more about our kids and their education!

About the Author

Hi, I’m Jen! I’m a homeschool mom (almost an “empty-nester!), and I love to help homeschoolers and educators of all kinds find great curriculum and learn more about educating our kids! I have 13 years of homeschooling under my belt. I teach Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor, I’m a freelance writer, and I write curriculum under History at Home on TeachersPayTeachers. When I’m not working, I’m spending time with my kids and adorable granddaughters! 

Connect with me on my Blog, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!

A Guide to Working at Home with Kids

Working from home with your children home too is possible. I won't sugar coat it though. It is hard to find a balance and each day will present it's own challenges. But I have been homeschooling and running two businesses from home for years. This guide will provide you some practical solutions and tips to help you manage the chaos.

Getting Started

Determine your priorities and essentials - Think about getting back to basics and the bare minimum you would need to accomplish in order to feel like you got a handle on the day.

• What is the basic work that is required of me? Skip the nice to have and future projects, what are your daily tasks or immediate project that absolutely have to get done?
• What is the very basic school work that the kids need to accomplish? Are you required to actually submit work? 
• What meals do we need prepped? This is where a meal plan is handy
• What is the basic housework that needs to be done so we can function?

Once you have the very basic list down, you can begin to make a layout, schedule or rhythm to your day or week. You need to keep in mind that working from home will look very different from doing your regular work day in your house. Home is where the family is and they will also need your attention. You day will be broken up, so anything that you can group together into blocks of time will help you to feel more organized.

The Plan

Now that you know what needs to happen we can determine when it will happen. Again this will require you to be flexible. It may not be your strength, but with a plan in mind you will feel more confident going into your day.

NOTE: A schedule and rhythm are not the same thing. A schedule has times attached to it which can be both helpful and stressful. If you have to work between certain hours than you'll need to keep those times in mind. A rhythm on the other hand is more of a general flow to your day. You know what should happen in order but you aren't strictly tied to the timing.


Firstly figure out when your family eats
Then add in any required times you need to work or be somewhere
Next work around those anchors and add in all your other essentials

Here are two sample rhythms that our family has used. I set my work schedule around periods when I know the kids will be occupied:

Option 1
Wake
Breakfast
Morning walk or movement 9dance party, yoga etc)
Snack
Activity or the day or academics
Free play inside or outside
Lunch
Rest/nap or quiet time
Snack
Free Play
Dinner
Evening

Option 2
Wake
Breakfast
Movement 
Snack
School/activity and chores
Screens (fun)
Lunch
Quiet Time
Snack
Free play/outside
Chores
Screens (academic)
Dinner
Evening routine


When are you actually going to get your work done?

• You could try to get up early before your children wake
• You could work in the evenings after they have gone to bed
• Quiet time or naps are also another good block of time to use
• Take turns with another adult in the house. Each could block off set times to work or care for the kids
• Block time for older siblings to play with little ones (be flexible here as they may need your help)

Setting up a place to work

• Make a safe place for all
• Set up a safe space or play yard near your work area for little ones
• Work outside while the kids play
• Wear little ones
• Offer up some office supplies so your child can play office while you work
• Make a sign on the door when you really do not want to be disturbed or you are in a meeting

Meals

Food is key when it comes to families and children. Those anchor points in our day not only sustain us (no one likes to be HANGRY!) but they also bring us together for a time of connection. Our children want to connect with us as much as possible, they only want you, have you noticed that? So make the most of meals and snacks to check in with your kids, give them a hug and fill their buckets.

In our family we have breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner. In order to go to the grocery store less often I plan out our dinners for the week.

Another tip is to involve your kids in meal planing and preparation. Each of our children is in charge of dinner one night a week. This way they look forward to their favourite foods, and they are learning valuable life skills like cooking and planing.

Education

What we are going through is not the same as homeschooling, is is crisis schooling. I encourage you not to try and recreate a whole school day or school environment at home. In fact if your children are home from school they will likely need some time to decompress and get used to this new normal. That is called deschooling. Focus your time on activities that bring connection such as reding together, baking, playing board games, getting outside, imaginative play. They will still be learning a lot, but also helping your whole family to bond better.

If your family feels that academics are a priority, then by all means slowly work that in. But keep in mind that most school work can be completed in 1-2 hours depending on their grade. 

You could feed into your children's interests and passions. Get to know your child and what they want to learn about. Say yes to projects, documentaries and online resources that go along with topics they like. You can incorporate almost every subject that way. Pinterest has lots of wonderful ideas!

Make use of the many wonderful resources being offered during this time online. Teachers are organizing materials for students, major companies and even actors are producing and offering activities online. Think of this as a buffet and only choose what works for your family. If you need further resources let me know. You could also join a Facebook or LinkedIn group specifically for COVID homeschooling.

Workbooks and worksheets are an easy open and go option as well. You may find that your children are a bit more resistant to anything that looks like "school". Remember two things. They may not be used to you being in a teacher type role in their lives, and they are going through a lot right now too. They have big feelings that need attending to. 

Finally the point of education is learning how to learn. Your whole family's mental healthy is most important. Work on big feelings and emotion coaching. Model self care and how to handle stress. These will help your children to succeed far more that forcing them to complete one more worksheet before bed.

Practical Suggestions to keep kids occupied

• Audio stories and podcasts are great to keep kids occupied
• Sensory play seems to keep kids attention longer (water table, play dough, kinetic sand)
• Screens or other technology
• Have snack trays available
• Make sure you spend time with your children first before working so their needs have been met

You will need to loosen up your expectation and standards a little while working from home. There is lots of support available. Remember too that I am here if you need me. As a homeschooling and parenting coach I work with parents guiding them from overwhelmed to confidence and peace.

Watch working at home with children on my YouTube channel

For more support for you parenting journey follow Joyful Mud Puddles on Facebook and Instagram @joyfulmudpuddles 

and join our Facebook Support Group

It is okay to get Angry

It is okay to get angry. Anger is a natural response to injustice, or a trigger alerting us that something is wrong. Even Jesus in the bible got angry. Having feelings is totally normal.

What we don't want is to stay angry, or to act upon that anger in a way that causes harm to ourselves or others.

Anger is like a warning light that goes off and let's you know that something isn't right. Our goal then should be to find out what is the real message behind that anger.

The first step is to calm ourselves down. Why? So that we don't act rashly, and we are able to look beneath the anger at what is really going on.  You may have heard of our initial stress responses of flight, fight, freeze. Much research has gone into this. I love Daniel Seigel's explanation about flipping your lid. He has several videos and articles (here is a little google search for you) Basically when we are operating under stress, and anger, we are not utilizing our whole brain, just those basic stress responses. By taking a few deep breaths and pausing a moment we can reengage the whole brain and think more clearly.

This sounds simple enough but it really takes a lot of practice. One simple mantra that I've come to appreciate comes from Dr. Laura Markham of Aha! Parenting. She uses STOP, DROP, BREATHE.

Stop - physically stop what you are doing
Drop - drop your agenda, most of life isn't an emergency
Breath - take some breaths to calm down

Karol Ladd shares another acronym that is also effective in her book "A Positive Plan for Creating More Calm, Less Stress".

S - Step away from the situation
T - Take several deep, calming breaths
O - Objectively look at the situation and employ self-control
P - Pray

A few other ways to release that anger include:

• Visualizing yourself releasing the anger,
• Moving your body in ways that help like yoga
• Meditate
• Walk away or take a step back
• Take a time out for yourself
• Journal
• Pray to whomever you believe in
• Just the simple act of getting a drink of water or washing your hands is tactile and gives you a chance to gather yourself.

I also have a free PDF full of ideas on what to do when kids push your buttons (this also applies to any situation) that you can get free when you subscribe to my newsletter.

So now that we are calmer. Where does that leave you? 

READY FOR MORE??

Now we are ready to look at the feelings and needs behind the anger. 

The processing of your feelings and needs, and being able to present your requests in a way that leads to more empathy, come from the works of Marshall Rosenberg.

We want to next clearly look at what happened. Observations are different that judgements. State only what you can with your 5 senses, not what you are thinking. Often our judgements of others or a situation prevent us from moving past the anger towards solutions.

How then do I feel in relation to what I observe. What are my feelings or sensations? Remember we are talking about your emotions not about the issues or what other people have done. If you say, "I feel like...", that isn't a true feeling.

Now take hold of your own thinking. Offer yourself empathy, reflect on your feelings and search for the needs associated. According to Marshall Rosenberg all feelings when we are upset are a result of an unmet need. What values or needs to I have as a result of how I feel?

List of Feelings 
List of Needs
4 part process

Once you know what your deeper feelings and needs are it is much more productive and easier to proceed. Well truthfully it might not be any easier, but you should by now have some clarity. Now you are ready to make a request. This can be of yourself or someone else. 

If you are interested in learning more about communicating your requests with empathy, contact me and we can work through that or, I can direct you do the best resources and people who taught me. 

Do check out  Non-violent communication for more on empathy communication.

For more support for you parenting journey follow Joyful Mud Puddles on Facebook and Instagram @joyfulmudpuddles 

and join our Facebook Support Group

Interview on parenting that brings peace

I had the absolute privilege to be interviewed by Candice Dugger from the Reimagine Education Conference. Since their in person conference has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they decided to move to online. It gets better, because they actually have turned it into a daily show covering all sorts of topics from parenting, homeschooling, bullying, and more!

I am sharing my heart for parenting that can lead to peace and how that also relates to homeschooling. click the image below and you'll be able to watch the whole thing on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe and watch all the other great interviews available.

Highlights included

• Connection before correction
• Stop, Drop and Breathe
• Care for yourself before you can care for others
• Work on emotion coaching
• We also talked about specific things you could do such as family meetings
• Help kids to feel capable and needed

Resources Mentioned

• Marshall Rosenberg and Non-violent communication
• Dr. Laura Markham and Aha! Parenting
• Joyful Mud Puddles Parenting Coaching

What did you think of the show? 

What were your biggest take aways?

For more support for you parenting journey follow Joyful Mud Puddles on Facebook and Instagram @joyfulmudpuddles 

and join our Facebook Support Group

Exploring Nature with your 5 Senses (Part 5 Touch)

We are at the end of your series on exploring nature with our five senses. I hope you'll use the links at the bottom to check out the other four posts. The sense of touch is probably a favourite with my boys, who move through life with their whole bodies. So let's jump right in to see what else we can do to feel our way around outside.

1. I've mentioned this before, but each time you head outside there is something new to discover. I highly recommend you look for a scavenger hunt that include some textures. Go on a five senses scavenger hunt. There are any options for printable versions or you could make your own.  Perhaps you could make a separate poster for each of the senses you are exploring. Below are the links to a few scavenger hunts I found online.

Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable by Childhood 101 
Five Senses Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt on Teachers Pay Teachers
Nature Walk Worksheet on Teachers Pay Teachers
Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt by Backyard Brilliant
Nature Hunt Showdown by Earth Rangers

2. Go with a partner and use a blindfold to feel your way around your yard, or an obstacle course. see if you can guess where you are as you go along.

3. Gather a variety of natural objects, place them in a box or bag, or use a blindfold. Now have a partner guess at what they are feeling.

4. Get messy (or not) with sensory experiences. You could do this inside with a sensory bin, or better yet head to the source outside. Try adding some toys or small world animals and objects to extend the play. Some options that are good for any age include

• mud 
• dirt
• sand
• gravel
• grass
• leaves
• snow
• ice
• water
• corn or beans
• playdough
• foods with texture

5. Create a mud kitchen. This could be as elaborate or simple as you'd like. Children can make all sorts of concoctions, imagine a house or restaurant too. A few items to include are

• bowls
• tongs
• baster
• spoons
• pots
• pans
• whisk
• shelves
• buckets

6.  What animals have a good sense of touch? How do they use touch to help them? Learn all about animals and the sense of touch in a fun and engaging way. You could visit a zoo or shelter, watch videos or documentaries, research on the internet. 

Animals with good sense of touch
Cat fish
Mole
Aligator or crocodile
Manatee
Seals
Cicket
Spider

Did you know some animals have senses that people do not?


I've gathered a some more links with ideas to get you exploring outside with the five senses. I also hope you'll share your experiences, stories and photos with me on Facebook

• My Pinterest Board related to nature and senses
• There are some interesting articles at Earth Rangers you could search
• National Geographic Kids articles on touch
• Animals with best sense of touch
• Weirdest Senses Animals Have That People Don't

Be sure to check out the rest of the series as they are posted

Sight

Hearing

Taste

Smell

Exploring Nature with your 5 Senses (Part 4 Smell)

Here we are in part 4 of our series on Exploring Nature with your 5 senses.Be sure to go back and take a look at the rest of the blog posts. There is a list below with the links.

Today we are focusing on our sense of smell. It is spring here and the perfect time to get outside and rediscover all the smells that have been buried under the snow all winter.

1. Go on a five senses scavenger hunt. There are any options for printable versions or you could make your own.  Perhaps you could make a separate poster for each of the senses you are exploring. Below are the links to a few scavenger hunts I found online.

Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable by Childhood 101 
Five Senses Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt on Teachers Pay Teachers
Nature Walk Worksheet on Teachers Pay Teachers
Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt by Backyard Brilliant

2. Pick one item in nature and try to compare it with other samples of the same thing. For example you could compare the smell needles on a variety of pine trees. Do the same for flowers and see if they have a different sent.

3. For flowers there is a lof you can do there. You could compare the strength of the fragrance and also learn about what types of insects are attracted to the various sents.

4. Make up a variety of teas either from your pantry or items in nature. Do they taste the way they smell? Which ones do you like the smell of?

5. Talk about how different smells make you feel. Often there is a memory associated with that sent and feeling.

6. Gather up some different scents from nature, check your fridge and cupboards too. Then have fun trying to guess what they are while blindfolded! If you want to take this further and relate it to taste you could see experiment with plugging your nose while tasting to see if it makes a difference.

7. Make some scented play dough. There are many simple homemade play dough recipes out there. Add to the sensory experience by adding in things like pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, mint, lavender, lemon, vanilla.

8. Learn all about which animals have a great sense of smell. Have fun with this by watching videos and documentaries, visit a zoo or animal shelter, talk to experts and read books together. Children are far more engaged when the can experience things first hand, when they can ask questions and have fun.

Animals with great smell
Bears 
Dogs
Elephants
Rats
Cow

Did you know...
Whales have no olfactory nerves and can not smell at all
Snakes can smell with their tongue

9. Ask some other interesting smell related questions and find the answers. 
What is the worst smelling plant?
Why do some animals stink?
Why do animals need good sense of smell?
Why do they mark their territory and how is that related to smell?


I've gathered a some more links with ideas to get you exploring outside with the five senses. I also hope you'll share your experiences, stories and photos with me on Facebook

• My Pinterest Board related to nature and senses
• Animals with the best sniffers
• Wow in the World 
• National Geographic Kids Smell related articles

Be sure to check out the rest of the series as they are posted

Sight
Hearing

Taste

Touch