Tuesday

Last night Nathan had asked me to keep my sewing machine out on the table so he could do some sewing today. It's been a while since he had a go at it. We found some scrap fabric and decided on a little bag to store some things in. Danielle also wanted to have a go which she hasn't done before.

Nathan has taken an interest in Star Wars and after we looked at one of his Star Wars reference books I'd picked up at a library sale a few months back he decided this morning to modify a couple of their wooden swords into lightsabers by colouring in a wide strip of paper and taping it onto the sword.

After lunch Nathan got out a few jigsaw puzzles and made his way through doing them. Danielle who'd been down in her room playing with her little dolls and things came and joined him.

A friend came and played this afternoon (our official "last playdate" for winter...) and the kids set up a game outside with various toys and pop up tents. We all then wandered down to the local playground for a while. The kids headed straight for the surrounding bush/hills again before having a short play on the equipment. As the sun went down the air suddenly went icy cold so a quick walk home to the warm house.

I am currently reading Last Child in the Woods and read a piece this evening that research shows that if you give a child a flat, tidy field to play in, they tend to gravitate to the rough outer edges where there are ravines, rocky inclines and natural vegetation - certainly happens here! This is not an anti-TV book, just one that really promotes providing the outdoor time and space. Although it hasn't as yet presented anything new to me (or that I don't already do), it does present some good research into children's behaviour and emotions and the part that nature plays. I have been reflecting on the way that my kids are certainly calmer and move at a pace that is so stress-free and relaxed when outside. I know the feeling myself when I get out of the house and down into the garden or off for a bush walk. It has certainly encouraged me to get us all outside even in the middle of winter. (The key for me being ok about standing or sitting around in the cold is to be comfortable myself. So whether that is taking a blanket to sit on, a cup of tea and a book and call it down-time while the kids play).