Tag: backyard

Categories
Family

You said what? You must be TIRED!

Have you said something silly? That makes no sense? Or it could make sense but not at the time of day or the place when you said it?

Well I have! And it is happening more due to kids, being super tired and on the go all the time!

The other day hubby said this:

“I vacuumed the backyard and it is looking good”

Now I don’t know about you but most men or women don’t use a vacuum to mow their lawn. A mower is the tool of trade and it does the job quite nicely.

Maybe hubby knows something we don’t. The vacuum must put the finishing touches on his perfect lawn and makes it look amazing.

As soon as this came out of his mouth the kids could not stop laughing and I of course got the giggles. He was obviously very tired to be saying this.

Or maybe he wanted to vacuum as well? I will not stop someone who wishes to do more housework.

Daddy vacuuming the backyard! Yes that is the way he keeps the place looking a million bucks. You should try it! Man vacuuming by Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net, but grass added by me.
Daddy vacuuming the backyard! Yes that is the way he keeps the place looking a million bucks. You should try it! Man vacuuming by Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net, but grass added by me.

Earlier this week after I got home with kids from school I said the following:

“Get your luggage out of the car”

Then I got this reaction.

Lillian told me, while laughing.” Mummy you are tired! They are not our luggage, there our school bags!”

Maybe I was tired, but it does feel at times that I have heaps of luggage in the car.

 

Kissing and cuddling your daughter to then tell her "Good night" but this was at school drop off. Now I need to have more sleep if I'm doing this! Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Kissing and cuddling your daughter to then tell her “Good night” but this was at school drop off. Now I need to have more sleep if I’m doing this! Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

And there is this one that I said when kids started pre-school and sometimes still do it now and they are in grade one:

Saying  “Good night” when dropping kids at school.

Yes I know they are at school but maybe I have wishful thinking. Maybe I will get a nap or they will have a rest too? It does show that I am tired or brain is elsewhere.

Have you done this too? What is the weirdest thing you have said to the kids or someone else? Did you think it was a sign you needed to go back to bed? I do at times.

Let us know your thoughts. Why not continue the discussion on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

 

Categories
Review

Review: Beetle Bottoms and The Eyes in the Night

Do you love books that are wonderful to look at? How about books that get your children to get outdoors and explore? Well I do! Beetle Bottoms are just the answer if you want your kids to be involved in nature, reading and have some fun. The kind people at Beetle Bottoms sent me their latest book and the kids loved it!  (Read to the bottom as you will get a promo code for a free game with the order of this book)

Beetle Bottoms new book. Eyes in the Night.
Beetle Bottoms new book. Eyes in the Night.

What are Beetle Bottoms?

Beetle Bottoms are tiny people that live in gardens all over the world. There are a handful of people that have noticed them as they are no bigger than an apple pip.  Why not go outside to see if you can spy any beetle bottoms playing in your backyard.

Beetle Bottoms have books and story play games that encourage fun, reading, exploration, children’s creativity and confidence.  If you are looking for a great gift that kids will adore this is well worth a look. The twins love the books and especially the story play cards. 

What is Beetle Bottoms and the Eyes in the Night about?

After a swarm of bees lands in her tree, Pip wakes to discover a pair of eyes looking at her. She soon discovers that they belong to a boy called Hummer. This is the first time Pip has met a Beetle Bottom that has different colour skin than herself.  Although shocked and amazed (she did not know there was another lot of Beetle Bottoms that lived in the garden), Pip likes Hummer instantly and they are firm friends.

This book shows acceptance of people, races and cultures. It helps children see the world through others eyes.

The book is so beautifully illustrated and a joy to look at.

A page from the book, Beetle Bottoms and the eyes in the night.
A page from the book, Beetle Bottoms and the eyes in the night.

Great offer from Beetle Bottoms

Would you like to get a free memory and snap game when you purchase the book, Beetle Bottoms and the Eyes in the Night? What a great gift this would make!  The wonderful people at Beetle Bottoms are giving my readers a promo code to enter and it will automatically add the memory snap game to your order when you purchase the book.

Promo code: Play Time

 

What a great way to get a fabulous present for your child, friend or grandchild. Fun educational games and books are just the key to a happy child and parent.

 

After reading this latest Beetle Bottom book the twins had to go into the garden to search for Beetle Bottoms.

 

                             Do you think we found some? 

Here are the Beetle Bottoms living in our garden
Here are the Beetle Bottoms living in our garden
Do you think the Beetle Bottoms live in the mushrooms?
Do you think the Beetle Bottoms live in the mushrooms?

Enjoy reading the new book from Beetle Bottoms and you will love their memory snap game as well. Why not check out their other products as well. The girls love exploring and creating stories to do with the Beetle Bottoms. What about your kids? Let us know.

Categories
3 years and beyond

Unstructured for social skills

Unstructured play is now a very popular term for just leaving the kids alone to play. Well they are not actually alone as you are still keeping an eye on them; however you are not participating and helping with their play/downtime.  When I was young we were left to play without parents interfering, nearly all of the time.

My girls run around the backyard and have the best time; they invent games, songs, pretend that they are someone else and just have a have a ball. When did this stop being the norm? Why is it that we are seeing articles spruiking the positives of unstructured play?

Today on the Essential Kids website, there is an article “The chance to play without interference” by Andrew Daddo. I agree with Andrew here, that we are finding this so interesting, and as he rightly points out, “Play something you shouldn’t have to plan – play is just play.”

The other day I saw another  article on Essential Kids: “Put the fun back into child’s play” by Melinda Ham. This article details a study that Professor Anita Bundy, of the University of Sydney and a team of seven academics are conducting. The experiment was conducted in 12 primary Schools in the inner west of Sydney. The academics put recycled materials, bales of hay, tyres, and plastic tubing in the playground to see how the kids interacted with these items, how it influenced play and the children’s social world.

Through this experiment children learnt how to cooperate, ask for help, join in with others and be one of the team.  I would be very interested to see more of the results from this study.

Having the children play by themselves or with playmates in the backyard, park or friends house is not a new idea. I suppose we as parents think that we need to control, look after and make sure that there are toys and things to do… if there is not the kids might get bored.

I think that a little bit of unstructured play, or just plain old creative fun helps development.  I am sure that it has helped my girls, I have had chats with Annabelle, Tananda, Grandma, Grandad, Nana, Opa and that is just some of the people they were pretending to be, just this afternoon.  The amazing stories that are concocted in the backyard are just amazing.

What do you think about the new term unstructured play? Did you have unstructured play when you were little? Do you feel kids need more of this?  Do they have too much of teachers, parents and others telling them what to play and with? Send in your comments.

Categories
3 years and beyond Feeling Frumpy University Study

Sun, exercise and study

Today I went for a nice long walk in the sunshine. It was wonderful to be all on my own and to be finally exercising. Yesterday I did about 20 minutes on the Wii Fit and then it was a bit crazy with the fact the kids kept on pulling out toys, hard to have room to do things with the floor filling up with toys and junk.

So now mummy and daddy have had lunch and rested. The girls got a vegemite sandwich each and not much has been eaten.  I am about to do some study and work on my assignment for university, while the girls and daddy are in the backyard.

Daddy however wants to tidy and clean the backyard and the kids are more interested in building houses out of branches and leaves, and making a mess.  Off to get my cuppa tea and get started on the study. Wish me luck, hoping to not get interrupted.

What do you have planned for the day or the weekend?  Have you had time to yourself to do what you like or exercise? I must say that just going for that walk made me feel ten times better about myself.  Note to self, fit it more walking. Send your comments in.