Author: jamie carter

Play can be messy business, but it’s the best way for children to explore the world around them. When children are given free rein to be creative, you can be sure that they’ll end up wet, muddy, dirty, sandy and just plain messy. That’s how it should be. Children are happiest when throwing themselves wholeheartedly into a new challenge, with little concern for grass stains on their trousers or paint on their faces.

Sometimes, it’s hard not to get hung up on our mud-splattered children and their messy clothes at the end of a busy pre-school day. However, sensory play and messy play are vital life experiences for children. By trying to avoid them, we’re depriving our children of valuable modes of learning and discovery. For any parents worried about the mess associated with taking part in messy play activities at home, we’ve put together a list of tips and tricks to facilitate easy clean-up and still guarantee lots of fun for your children!

  • Establish boundaries

When doing messy play inside, you should designate a section of your house to limit the activity to. Put down an old mat or even a shower curtain to protect your floors and clearly mark out the messy play area for your children. Be clear that bodies and supplies must remain on the mat until all of the children involved in the activity have finished what they’re doing.

  • Teach children to clean up after themselves

With some help, even toddlers are able to clean their own paint brushes, wipe down surfaces and put their supplies away after painting. Children may need some reminders to do this, but it’s the best way to get them to start practicing good habits. If there’s a spillage during play, they should have the independence to quickly grab a towel to wipe it up and then get back to what they’re doing.

  • Have a clean-up plan ready

While your children are taking part in a messy play activity, you should be sure to have a towel (or two) at hand and some wet wipes to deal with spills and wipe faces as needed. Children may also need their hands wiping mid play, and this will prevent them from wiping them on furniture and clothes. You should try not to leave the area once messy play has started.

When they are done playing, help them to carefully remove their clothes so as to avoid spreading the mess. Wring out clothes to prevent any paint from dripping and wash their hands straight away. You should also remove all physical materials from reach once the messy play has come to an end. Toddlers are constantly driven to touch the objects around them and you don’t want to leave any temptations in their way.

  • Choose supplies wisely

Invest in a small handheld vacuum or a Dustbuster – it’s the quickest way to clean up small pieces such as sequins and scattered rice grains while children are still playing. Even if the messy play is taking place on a mat, spills are inevitable here and there. It’s convenient not to have to drag out a large vacuum every time this happens. Wet wipes, sponges and even old dish cloths are great for wiping children’s hands during play. Make sure that you keep harsh cleaning products out of reach from little ones and that you’re using non-toxic paints and glues.

  • Take messy play outside

If the thought of dough, goo and slime inside your house stresses you out, then take it outside! Messy play should be fun and not stressful. When the weather doesn’t permit outdoor play, you could get creative and conduct the activities in an empty bathtub or on a tiled kitchen floor. This will keep the mess contained and cleaning up will simply be a matter of turning on a tap or mopping the area.

So now you know that it is possible to facilitate messy play at home, and still keep your interiors intact! Here at Garden Play, we love all things messy and we want children to get the very best from their play time. We hope that these steps have inspired you to get stuck in and embrace the delightful chaos of messy play.

 

While the idea of birds and insects nearby may not be a positive prospect for some, they can actually play a really unique and exciting role in elevating the enjoyment of a garden, particularly as a place for children to learn and enjoy themselves. Here at Garden Play, we’d never advocate for ants close to the kitchen, but there are a range of bird and insects that can be a really positive presence in the right areas of your garden.

As well as looking exciting and giving an opportunity to teach children about the animal kingdom, certain creatures are really useful at dealing with pests and contributing to the overall wellbeing of your garden through pollination. Rather than using a host of pesticides and insecticides to keep insects away, you can actually create an environment that attracts the right creatures back to your garden. Here are some tips:

Bird Table/Feeding Station

Birds can create a beautiful scene in your back garden as they settle take on some food and then fly away gracefully. The regular presence of a variety of birds to watch can be entertaining enough for adults, but it can be mesmerising for kids. A bird table or feeder attracts bird and is easy to maintain, with the wide range of bird species that could come into your backyard able to be fed from seed, fat balls, peanuts and dried fruits among other things. Once they find you to be a source of food and water, they’ll always come back.

Pollen & Nectar-rich Flowers

Pollinators are essential in the ecosystem and can be attracted by planting pollen-rich plants. These plants will attract both bees and butterflies. Some of the fragrant varieties of plants include:

– Lavender, one of the most common flowers, provides nice scents as well as attracting the right insects.

– Dahlias are also highly recommended for new gardeners because they are easy to grow and maintain.

– Foxgloves are a favourite flower for bees since they are bell-shaped and easy for the insects to suck nectar from. Foxgloves attract hummingbirds, butterflies and moths.

– Marigold is also popular among gardeners because it can grow in any soil and has bright and beautiful flowers that brighten the garden.

Create a Butterfly Feeder

In case your garden is too small to fit an area for larger plants, you could construct a small butterfly feeder. Butterflies are some of the most attractive insects with their beautiful colourful patterns. Butterflies enjoy eating sugar and succulent fruits, so you could construct a really simple butterfly feeder by putting some slices of over-ripe fruits on a plate next to some bright flowers. After a short while, you will find the butterflies flying between the succulent fruits and the flower petals!

Construct an Insect Hotel

An insect hotel is created by imitating the environment of the insects to attract them to settle in a given place. Since there are fewer insects by the day due to the widespread application of insecticides, insect hotels are an important and increasingly novel feature. Insect hotels are known to attract ladybirds.

A beautiful backyard can be naturally decorated to attract a variety of insects and birds. All you need to do is to create conducive conditions and provide the food, water and plant life. Although it may take some time, these birds and insects will get used to the safe haven that you have provided and become an exciting cast of visitors for you and your children to enjoy.

Play spaces provide a nice environment where families and friends can have fun, relax and bond together. It encourages children to be creative and explore playing and learning with freedom. Creating your own garden play space offers all those qualities in your own home whenever you want them, but designing an ideal play space and making it both engaging and safe needs some thought. Here are some key qualities of a good garden play area.

Durability

The equipment in your playscape should be able to cope with the four weather seasons. They must also be strong enough to carry you and your children without collapsing. Metal, plastic and certain woods are some of the best materials you can consider.

Appearance

It will be wise if you utilize your yard by using equipment that does not occupy a lot of space. The equipment should also match some of the equipment you already own to make the place look attractive.

Safety

Injuries at the playscape should be avoided at all costs. You can improve your playscape’s safety by adding sand, mulch, rubber or gravel to the surface. Painting and sealing of woods is good to prevent splinters. Coating swing chains with a layer of plastic also prevents delicate fingers from getting pinched.

Flexibility

Designing the playscape in the simplest way possible is encouraged. This allows your children to be creative and design it further so as to make their play even more enjoyable. Children will be able to turn simple elements such as a blackboard or a sandbox into something fantastic.

Budget

Making the playscape simple will benefit the children and also help you cut a lot of costs. This can be done by utilising some of your old elements such as worn-out tires which are cheap and may also spur more creativity from your children.

Climbing Options

Many children love trying new things, with climbing a healthy exercise that helps their upper body to build grip and strength. You can encourage them to climb play equipment or even trees by having a ladder on a tree at a safe height. You can also have a rope net to guarantee them a safe climb and fall or better yet purchase play sets that have pre-built ladders and ropes. These sets also contain perches including other landing points which enable the children to stand or sit on them. Other climbing pieces you can buy include walls with nubby protrusions that can be used for rock climbing or you can size a hill nicely in your own design.

Swing

This is one thing you can never fail to include in your playscape. Almost all children love the idea of swinging, hanging and spinning. All you have to do is provide a soft landing area that will guarantee the safety of the children to prevent you from getting nervous as they play on the swing. There are a variety of swings you can use, from the old tire swings to the monkey bars. But you should always ensure that the grips on the monkey swing are smooth to prevent your kid from getting frustrated.

Safe game time is a priority for families, especially when you are looking forward to fun under the sun. With endless options for fun during summer, it is important to keep certain safety tips in mind when you are getting ready to enjoy an active summer. There are many things you can do to ensure a safe, happy summer vacation.

Sun Protection

There are many misconceptions about the need for sun protection. Most parents think that sun protection is needed only at the beach. The truth is that sun protection is needed all the time your child is outdoors during the daytime. You should ideally not allow children outdoors too much during the daytime, especially when the sun is at its peak. However, kids being kids, there is little you can do to restrain them home. So your next best option is to use powerful sunscreen. You would also need to apply the sunscreen several times through the day, depending on the time spent outdoors and other factors. Sun protection also includes dark glasses to help protect the eyes against glare.

Food & Drinks

Food and beverages are an important part of staying healthy during the season. It is easy to forget the body’s need for hydration during the excitement and games. However, it is important to keep sufficient supply of water or beverages handy. It is important to eat healthy and sufficient meals, so that the child can retain their energy and bear better the hot sun. It is important to keep snacking when needed, because three meals a day may not be sufficient for very active children.

Injury Protection

Injuries can occur during play. With the right protective gear, such as bicycle helmets these injuries can be kept to a minimum. You could also include a first aid box in your supplies and ensure that the contents are always fresh and in stock. You would also need bug spray and other products to keep insects at bay. Other safety measures include having emergency contact numbers handy for the child. The child should be able to contact trusted people during an emergency. It is important to survey the location and mark spots that you feel can be dangerous to the child. You would also need to explain to the child the need to avoid these spots. Also, the child should know who to trust, and when to not interact with strangers.

It is very important that children be aware of basic first aid, if they are old enough to apply first aid. They should also be taught how to deal with potentially risky situation relevant to the location. For example, if you are indulging in water sports, the child should know what type of waves to avoid, why they need to not go to the deep end of the pool and so on. Also, the child would need to be taught other first aid measures. You would need to ensure that the child is under responsible supervision when needed. You could be attending to the child, or allocate the task to an adult you trust.

Parents who want to ensure that their kids turn out brighter and have a more successful life would want to turn to participation reading. Research has yielded many insights into the benefits of participation reading which is a simple, low cost way to boost cognitive development in children. The latest in the line of research was a study conducted by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Research has in particular looked at the link between reading and neuroscience.

Research Findings

The American Academy of Paediatrics has been informing parents about the benefits of reading to children, for a while now. You don’t have to wait until the child can form coherent sentences to read to them. Reading to them while they are still infants can offer a great time for the family, fulfilling the emotional needs of the child and helping them learn things about communication. Reading has been a time to bond with family, and participation reading only adds to the benefits of reading to children. Children who read tend to develop more empathy, particularly if they have been exposed to reading fiction. This has been the conclusion of another study.

Backing up the research is actual evidence. MRI scans of children whose parents read to them in an engaging tone showed that the children had higher brain activity in the regions related to brain development. Making reading more engaging is therefore key to attaining benefits for children. This means that parents don’t just read aloud to children. They would also need to participate in discussions with children, or have them interact with the reading process in other ways. Some children love to point to specific spots on the page when the parent is reading. Older children may have questions for their parents, on the role of the characters in the story and other elements of the story. If the child participates in the reading process, it makes the process more fun for the child.

Additional Benefits

It also boosts brain activity and this helps strengthen cognitive abilities. Older children may like to discuss the intricacies of the plot, muse about alternative plotlines, and thus gain a cognitive edge on how the world is shaped. The studies are not conclusive and there is scope for further research. There can be other reasons for greater brain activity in children engaged in interactive reading. However, the proof as it is very strong, and it won’t hurt in any way to start creating a fun reading routine with your children.

You would also need to ensure that the routine is followed diligently. This would mean lessening interruptions during reading time, and this would include interruptions from the digital world in the form of computers and phones. Reading to children has been a fun activity for children and parents for a long time. However, in the light of recent research, it might be a good idea to make the reading process more interactive. Children who interact with parents during the reading process acquire many cognitive skills and brain development benefits, as suggested by research.

The role of mothers in the cognitive development of children has been documented extensively; however, research has also started focusing on the contributions of fathers, grandfathers and other male influencers. Having a male input during the early stages of the child’s life can shape their future in many ways. Children as young as three months can show indications for male involvement. This is because the role of fathers or men was deemed more playful and stimulating, and this helped the child develop an approach toward exploration. The latest study was performed on fathers and three month old children.

Differing Styles

Of course, you can’t generalise across entire genders, but on the whole, fathers were found to interact with their children in a freewheeling and spontaneous manner, without the use of toys and tools. A study was also performed on the children when they were two years old and the father read a book to them. The interactions between the fathers and their children were rated by researchers with expertise in assessing infant cognitive development. Also, the children were tested in aspects such as colour and shape recognition. More than 120 sets of fathers and children were studied. There was some indication that fathers who are more involved with children at the age of three months, can help boost brain development for children by the time they are older.

The outcomes remain regardless of the child’s gender or income and age of the father. The quality of the interactions has a major impact on the outcomes. Fathers who showed less engagement with children could be a contributory factor towards children scoring lower in tests. Researchers were of the opinion that the distant behaviour of the father might be hampering the child’s learning development because the child was unable to receive cues that help support communication and build social skills. On the other hand, fathers who are more involved with the children, offer sensitive and calm interactions, are correlated with children who show better cognitive development in later life. The skills attained by these children include attention span, language, socialisation, and solving problems.

Psychological Impacts

A separate study has also delved into the issue of how fathers perceive their role as parents. Fathers who showed more confidence and positive approach toward their role as fathers were less likely to be correlated with children with behavioural problems in their teens. Children with fathers who were enthusiastic about fatherhood were less likely to be associated with behavioural problems in pre-teen years. These studies prove that the role of fathers is critical to shaping the child’s cognitive development. In addition to interacting with children, fathers also need to ensure that the quality of interactions is good.

This offers the best outcomes, ensuring that the child becomes bolder and more inquisitive. Fathers who feel positively about their parental role are likely to offer better outcomes for children, who are less likely to show behaviour problems in the pre-teen years. Since there is a lot of research on the role of mothers in shaping cognitive capabilities of children, the research on the role of fathers is expected to fill a gap and throw more light on how the type of interactions offered by the fathers can shape cognitive development of the child.

Summer, in as much as it exists on our shores, is right around the corner. With the right plans in place, it could allow you to go out and have a summer you’ll never forget, while at the same time staying fit and healthy. To start off, here are seven outdoor adventures to try out this summer:

  1. Have a Summer Walk

We’ll start off simple, and remind you that here is something inherently refreshing and self-fulfilling after spending a period of time in nature. Take a scenic trip gives you a fresh break from a stressful week from school or work. Aside from these, trekking provides many health benefits. One of this is cardiovascular strength due to long distances covered. It also strengthens bones due to jumping, dodging, and stretching to climb up and down a hill or mountain.

  1. Go Cycling

Cycling is a leisure activity that almost everyone surely enjoys. It also is one of the most convenient fit exercises you can include in your daily routine. You can allocate at least 150-minutes every week which can improve your cardiovascular fitness. Bike through your neighbourhood, through beaches or even use it as a means of transportation. Take out that old bicycle in the garage and start cycling.

  1. Swim with marine life!

Snorkelling is a recreational pastime which gives individuals access to discover the majestic beauty of swimming with the marine life. While exploring the beauty of the underwater, an individual’s oxygen uptake is improved. Snorkelling allows an individual to have a better breathing. It also improves an individual’s overall fitness. So while having fun, you are basically working out your quads, calves, ankles, core and even your shoulders. It is also good for your heart.

  1. Try caving

While not many may enjoy the luxury of caving, it is an adventure worth including in your seven outdoor adventures to try out this summer. According to sports psychologist Frank Young, caving helps an individual be mindful and focus in the present. It involves mobility, flexibility and strength as you navigate through, which benefits muscles and joints.

  1. Wakeboarding

For someone who likes water sports such as skiing or surfing, wakeboarding is a must try. Not only does it offer fun and excitement but it also allows you to have a great exercise. Wakeboarding requires holding onto the rope and performing air tricks which efficiently builds upper body strength. It also mindfulness as you constantly need to maintain balance while in the presence of surface water.

  1. Experience Water Rafting

Allow yourself to experience the thrill of having waves crashing around you and try out water rafting. Water rafting is truly is a one of a kind outdoor adventure that you should try out this summer. In addition to the fun and excitement, it offers numerous health benefits. Similar to trekking, water rafting allows you to get the fresh air you rarely inhale while in the city. It is also a great exercise for your muscles as it requires you to paddle and balance through the wave.

  1. Rock Climbing

If you loved trekking then you might as well enjoy rock climbing. Rock climbing is a fun leisure which demands physical and mental versatility. It offers a great workout for your cardio and strength which shapes your body as well as strengthening and toning your muscles.

On Saturday, May 13th, 2017 the royal family threw a huge party for children who had lost a parent in the line of duty. This party was a way to show these innocent souls that they are not forgotten rather appreciated for their sacrifices and painful moments. It was a fun filled day that lit up the garden in Buckingham Palace.

The Invite and welcome

The invites to the party were sent a month earlier from the three royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince Harry. Prince Harry with his fun side stated that they should not dress up regardless of the venue of the party. They could wear anything they wanted. Funny enough, he dared them to do that. Furthermore, this was a fun day that had different activities that many children would enjoy. The guards at the palace welcomed the children with the song, let it go’. A favourite song from Disney film, Frozen.

The beneficiaries of the party

Among the attendee was a young six-year-old, Jack Rigby, son of Fusilier Lee Rigby who was murdered by a violent extremist group outside the Royal Artillery Barracks, south London in 2013. His mother appreciated the efforts from the Royals. She said it was a good way to show their support and that Jack and the other children were never forgotten. She also added that the event was an excellent platform for all the children to interact and share what they went through during those sad and painful moments.

The activities

The entertainers of the day were Nina Conti, a ventriloquist famous for the puppets named granny and a monkey named Monk, singer, Jess Glynne and the winner of Britain’s Got Talent, Lance Corporal. These three gave out their best performance that made the children forget their painful past for a moment.

The Duchess was not left behind as she stepped in with some excitement and launched a water balloon. Prince Harry played with George Hinchcliffe at plate spinning’. George was the son of Captain Richard Hinchcliffe who was a Royal Armoured Medical Corps. He was shot while in civilian clothes in 2015. According to one of the parents at the party, the direction that the Royals are taking is bright with a good future.

A sense of empathy

Prince William and Harry have both served in the military, and lost a parent at a young age, so in many ways they understand the issues these children are facing. The major difference is that they are Royals, but on this day that barrier was broken, and many children were happy. Prince Harry noted that the Palace had never seen so many visitors in the recent past and it was an honour to have them.

Later on, there was a performance form the RAF Falcons who launched some of their parachutes and made many delighted for attending the event. The event was successful in the end. These types of occasions are a good example of what is in store if a Nation is together in fostering unity and love. The military men and women are the most priceless asset a country can ever have, therefore; taking care of loved ones should be every state’s priority.

Planting flowers is therapeutic and provide gardeners with an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air. Gardening provides kids with exceptional developmental benefits. Gardening together with your children provides them with an opportunity to play, learn and grow. Here at Garden Play, here are some key benefits we see:

Planning & Organising

Gardening is a time-consuming art that involves sound planning and organizing. The gardener must know the right time to plant the seeds, the duration and the time of the year that the flowers bloom. When kids are involved in the process, they sharpen their planning, as well as, problem-solving skills.

Learning Patience

Gardening requires patience and performing different tasks together with kids teaches them to embrace patience. Gardening is quite slow and helps to neutralize the immediate gratification associated with children. Children learn to wait for their vegetables and flowers to grow and are rewarded when the plants/flowers sprout.

Learning Responsibility

Kids become more responsible as they engage in different gardening activities. Children take care of their seedlings and ensure they become healthy plants each day. Parents and teachers can prepare a checklist for kids like watering, and mulch to ensure they take care of their plants each day.

Fostering Family Bonds

Many kids love to garden together with their parents. The tradition continues even in adulthood. Parents and their children work together and decide appropriate plants and vegetables to grow at different times of the year.

Introducing Science

Gardening introduces children to the world of science, particularly chemistry, biology, and botany. Kids become curious as they plant their first seeds, monitor how the seedlings are doing each day and develop.

Motor Skill Development

Motor control grows through pouring water, placing seeds in different pots, and scooping up dirt. Gardening with kids helps to develop critical motor skills that assist them to boost academic skills like typing, cutting, and writing.

Encouraging Healthy Eating

Healthy eating optimises body and brain development. Parents and educators can help kids eat different veggies and fruits, as children will love to eat the veggies and fruits they have grown, like lettuce, carrots, and beans.

Engaging the Senses

Children tend to learn better when they engage all their senses. Kids love gardening because they get an opportunity to see the different sizes of the plants and touch and feel the flowers, seeds, and dirt.

Gardening helps children in many ways. Gardening with your kids will equip them with valuable academic and personal development skills. Gardening offers children with the best opportunity to learn, play and grow.