Creativity + Play

DIY Holiday Gnomes

December 8, 2012 by Natureal Mom Comments

This simple, affordable and fun project is sure to delight your little ones! Here is an easy tutorial on how to make these cute little holiday gnomes.

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

You can either use wooden Peg People which come in different shapes and sizes or old-fashioned wooden clothespins. Peg People and Wooden Doll Pins can be found at your local craft store or there is a nice selection here and on Etsy. You will also need some pieces of Eco-fi felt, a hot glue gun and a pair of scissors. I chose three different colors of felt for Hanukkah. Red and green would be festive for Christmas or Kwansa

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

First, I made the little cloak by cutting a rectangular shaped piece of felt long enough to fit around the wooden body. I rolled it around the body and secured the edges together in the back using a hot glue gun.

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Next, I made the little gnome hat by cutting a triangular shaped piece of felt, making sure it was just the right length to fit over the wooden head when glued together.

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Using the hot glue gun, I glued the two sides together. Then I put just a dab of glue onto the inside of the hat and positioned it onto the gnomes head so that it was tilted slightly backward.

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Isn’t he a cute little fellow? He’s ready to spin some dreidels and eat some latkes!

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Happy Winter Crafting!

Filed Under: Creativity + Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: crafting, creative play, DIY, felt crafts, gnomes, holiday, holiday decor, imaginative play, kid crafts, seasonal, Waldorf, winter

10 Outdoor Activities to Connect Kids to Nature

July 30, 2012 by Natureal Mom Comments

Image © waddler.co.uk

Some of my most treasured childhood memories are of playing outdoors… swinging from a tire that my Dad tied to a big oak tree, picking ripe juicy plums, running through the sprinklers and picking red seed pods out of Magnolia tree cones.

Nowadays, children hardly get outside. According to several studies, the average American child spends just four to seven minutes playing outdoors each day, and more than seven hours each day in front of an electronic device or screen. This shift profoundly impacts the wellness of our children.

Research connects the lack of outdoor time to increased obesity, depression, stress, diabetes, ADHD and poor academic performance. More children are out of shape, tuned out and stressed out because they’re missing something essential to their health and development: connection to the natural world.

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Here are 10 outdoor activities that require very little planning or money and will help you and your kids build lasting memories, unplug from technology and plug into nature:

Birdwatching. This is a fun activity that everyone can enjoy. You’re never too old to learn or young to start a hobby that could last a lifetime! A great way to begin is right in your own backyard. Invite birds in by making DIY bird feeders.
Plant a garden. Children are natural gardeners- they’re curious, learn by doing and love to play in the dirt! Gardening teaches children about life cycles, pollination, and nutrition. If you don’t have a yard, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers can be planted in raised beds that sit directly on the ground or placed on patios, decks or porches.
Make art from nature. Go for a walk and let your child collect wildflowers and leaves to make beautiful keepsakes. To press flowers, simply put them between sheets of wax paper and close them in a heavy book for about two to four weeks. To make leaf prints, use a sponge to ink the leaf and press it into a sheet of paper for an instant artistic creation!
Get dirty. Dedicate a small part of your yard as a digging station or set aside a large container or flower box just for digging in the dirt. Put a spoon or a small shovel in your child’s hand and they will go to town digging holes, building mounds and making mud pies. Research shows that good old-fashioned dirt play exposes children to a myriad of bacteria, viruses and microbes that strengthen their immune systems.
Observe the night sky. Exploring nature doesn’t have to stop when the sun goes down. Grab a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa and spend some time gazing at the moon and stars. Trace constellations, look for shooting stars or help your child keep a moon journal to understand the different phases of the moon.
Build a fort or tee-pee. Children love outdoor forts- it gives them a place to call their own. All you need are some simple materials like long branches, a large cardboard box, a broom, sheets and blankets… get creative and your child’s imagination will run wild!
Watch the clouds. You don’t need any supplies or special expertise for this one. Picking out shapes in the clouds is a classic childhood activity. All that’s needed is a sky filled with big fluffy marshmallow clouds and an imagination.
Nature collection. Take a walk on your favorite trail, through the neighborhood or along the shore to collect natural trinkets like rocks, shells, branches, pinecones, leaves, flowers, acorns, tree berries and seed pods. These little treasures can be stored and displayed in a number of ways- in a bowl, on a seasonal nature table or grouped and labeled in jars or boxes.
Puddle jumping. Don’t let the rain stop your child from playing outside- just make sure everyone is dressed appropriately for the occasion. Once everyone’s rain gear is on, go in search of puddles and get jumping!
Enjoy the simple pleasures. Sometimes the simplest outdoor activities leave the most lasting memories for kids. Teach your child how to skip a stone, make a daisy chain or blow a grass whistle.

In our busy and hectic daily schedules, it’s important to remember that children (and adults) need time to get outdoors and unplug from technology to think, dream, build, create and explore.

What was your favorite outdoor activity as a child? Do you have any outdoor activities to share? Add to the list by leaving a comment below!

Filed Under: Baby + Kids, Creativity + Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: Earth Day, imagination, imaginative play, inspiration, nature, outdoor activities, outdoors, play

DIY Pinecone Bird Feeders

July 29, 2012 by Natureal Mom 1 Comment

Image © Natureal Mom

Old fashioned pinecone bird feeders are fun, easy to create and you probably have most of the ingredients on hand:

Pinecones
Nut butter (Omit if anyone has a nut sensitivity or allergy)
Ghee or butter
Finely chopped nuts, seeds, dried fruit

Steps:

Tie a piece of string around the pinecone. This is a great way to re-use ribbon, twine or jute.
Image © Natureal Mom
Mix together equal parts nut butter and ghee. Thoroughly spread the mixture over the pinecone.
Image © Natureal Mom
Roll the pinecone in the mixture of nuts, seeds and dried fruit.
Hang it on your favorite tree or where the birds will find it.
Watch for feathered friends to visit!

To keep the birds coming back to your spot, keep the following tips from the National Audubon Society in mind:

Provide birds with a variety of quality seed.
Provide fresh water for drinking and bathing.
Give the feeder ample cover, preferably provided by native plants. Native plants also provide potential nesting sites and a source of natural food.

Filed Under: Creativity + Play, Inspiration, Projects + Crafting Tagged With: autumn, crafts, DIY, kid crafts

Creating an Inspiring Playspace

April 22, 2012 by Natureal Mom 2 Comments

Image © Natureal Mom

I wanted to create a playspace that inspires creativity and imagination and nurtures growth and development. I invested in a few key pieces that are open-ended and will grow with a child, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create an inspired playspace. Many items can be made by hand, found around the house, thrifted or upcycled.

Simplify

After our babe’s birthday and the holidays last Winter, we received more toys than we knew what to do with! More toys mean more clutter and too many choices can overwhelm a child. Too many toys can also take away the “specialness” from individual toys and lessen the chance to fully explore any one toy. To keep things simple, we rotate toys to keep them fresh but are also careful not to take anything away that he is taken with. We also choose to invest in a fewer amount of heirloom quality toys that are natural and non-toxic. Extra toys and clothes have been donated to a wonderful local organization Baby2Baby that distributes new and gently used toys to underprivileged children.

Environment

Because the environment is so important to a young child, I wanted to create a space that is welcoming and comforting. Toys have been arranged on low shelves and in shallow baskets so that they are inviting and accessible which encourages self-motivating play. The walls are painted in a warm neutral shade and the windows covered with natural bamboo. Lighting is kept soft. I found these two beautiful wall hangings on Etsy made of soft wool that have been hand painted and wet and needle felted.

Purchased at Sunflower Wool Art; Beads & Fairies Etsy Shops

I did splurge on a soft high pile sheepskin that has been vegetable tanned with extracts from African mimosa trees and is certified free of harmful chemicals. My little guy loves how soft it feels and it’s a popular spot for reading books and cuddling together.

Image © Palumba

Toys for imaginative play

We have a small amount of plastic and battery operated toys. As an adult, I get overwhelmed when surrounded by noisy toys with flashing lights so I can’t imagine what it must be like for a small child who can only process so much information at a time. These toys also tend to “think” for a child. Open-ended toys inspire creative play, foster development and grow with a child which makes many of these items a good investment.

Play kitchen - Our pediatrician has a play kitchen at his practice that our little guy loves playing with so much that we had to get one. A Simple Hearth by Camden Rose is a truly beautiful hand crafted heirloom quality play kitchen. There is plenty of space for “cutting up” veggies, a faucet and stainless steel sink for “rinsing” dishes and a four-burner stove top. There are shelves and a cabinet for storage and an oven with baking rack. Accessories are limitless – pots and pans, bowls, utensils, towels and play food. My little guy loves making me soup and feeding it to me!

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Playstand - Playstands with canopy arches and shelves are very versatile and can be used to create a cozy “space within a space” where a child can find refuge.

Image © Palumba

This is another great item that will grow with your child. They can be transformed into spaces for household play, puppetry, caves, storefronts and more… the possibilities are endless. We recently added a market shelf add-on with paper pulp baskets and filled them with play fruits and veggies.

Image © Palumba

Playsilks - Playsilks are a staple for creative play. They can be used for playing peek-a-boo, making forts and puppet theatre curtains, used as capes, walls and roofs of houses, hammocks, rivers, ropes, blankets, table cloths… there is no end to what they can become. Scarves and pieces of fabric work just as well.

Available at Mosey Etsy Shop

Dolls - A little blanket doll is the perfect doll to introduce to a baby. It usually has a formed head with a simple face and soft flannel body with small knots at the corners. I soaked the knots in chamomile tea to soothe my little guy’s swollen gums. For toddlers, handmade dolls with arms and legs and clothes that can come off and on are warm to the touch and feel more real than synthetic and plastic materials used in commercially produced dolls. I like that the facial features are intentionally made simple which allows a child to imagine the doll experiencing different emotions. There are many benefits to doll playing for both boys and girls. It allows children to develop love and care for other people.

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Musical Instruments - Our son (like most) absolutely loves music. He bangs on his floor tom or djembe drum, plays the xylophone and tone block, shakes rain sticks and strums the strings of his small guitar.

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Felted wool balls - These are amongst his favorite toys. I found some gorgeous artisan wool balls with intricate designs. He loves to play catch and cart them around in his wooden push wagon. Wool dryer balls are great too.

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Wooden toys - We have a few wooden toys that he really loves like these organic recycled rubber wood fruits and vegetables from Plan Toys. He also enjoys wooden puzzles, pull toys, cars and stacking toys.

Image © Natiueal Mom 2012

Push wagon - We got this because he was obsessed with pushing the stroller around the house. Now he loves pushing around some toys… and occasionally the dogs.

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Books - We have a few simple books. These beloved classic Elsa Beskow books are beautifully illustrated. Gerda Muller’s seasonal books are also a favorite.

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Nesting/sorting/stacking bowls - These are lots of fun and can be used in many ways. We have some colorful crocheted ones.

Image © Rebekah Desloge

Blocks - Stack and knock down. Repeat!

Image © Natureal Mom 2012

Tree blocks are wonderful for older children and can be handmade.

Available at Monkeys on the Roof Etsy Shop

Nature objects - Baskets of natural objects like gnarled pieces of bark, sticks, rocks, shells, branches, pinecones and acorns are great because they can mostly be found while out on a nature walk. Just be careful to supervise small children with these items and avoid anything that can be a choking hazard.

Costumes - A few simple costumes can greatly enhance a child’s play. Children love to dress up and transform into characters who can act out roles in imaginative play – especially with other children. Having a few special hooks for capes and a shelf for hats can make costumes easily accessible and suggestive of imaginative play. Our little guy loves putting on “silly hats.”

Finger puppets - These are lots of fun!

Here are some of my favorite places to find beautiful and imaginative toys ♥

Filed Under: Baby + Kids, Creativity + Play, Environment + Decor, Home, Inspiration, Natural Living Tagged With: eco friendly toys, green toys, imaginative play, montessori, non-toxic, playroom, playspace, simplify, toys, Waldorf

Fun Eco Project: DIY Terrariums

March 18, 2012 by Natureal Mom Comments

Terrariums are wonderful, magical environments. They are fun to make and are a great opportunity for children to learn how ecosystems work. Terrariums are essentially miniature ecosystems that can sustain themselves for long periods of time, very similar to that in the real world. The glass lid creates a continuous rain cycle: Moisture evaporates from the soil and plant leaves, water gathers on the top and sides of the jars, and then it returns to the moisture-loving plants. This was a fun and educational eco project that my niece and I did together to celebrate the early days of spring.

Items You Will Need:

* A glass jar and lid (apothecary jar, mason jar, candy jar, repurposed food jar, etc). Make sure the opening is large enough.

* Small stones, pebbles or aquarium rocks

* Activated charcoal (found at your local garden center)

* Potting soil

* Moss

* Small live plants – Select plants that have similar environmental needs. Slow growing, low light varieties work well.

* Decorative objects – I used a miniature gnome and mushroom toadstool to add character to my whimsical woodland-themed terrarium.

Instructions:

1. Find a good spot to assemble your terrarium – it can be a little messy.

2. Clean your jar well to prevent bacteria from growing and so you can see all the wonderful things growing inside.

3. Place a layer of pebbles on the bottom of the jar to allow for proper drainage.

4. Add a small layer of charcoal on top of the pebbles to filter the water and keep the soil fresh.

5. Add a layer of moss on top of the charcoal to keep the soil out of the drainage area.

6. Add a layer of soil deep enough for proper root growth.

7. Add your plant selections. Be sure to loosen up the roots a bit and pack the soil tightly around the plants.

8. Add the decorative objects to their new habitat.

9. Mist with water to dampen. Place the lid on.

10. Place your terrarium where it will receive indirect sunlight.

With a little care, terrariums can last many years. The plants will need to be trimmed occasionally to keep the balance of the ecosystem, but most maintenance will be to mist or slightly water the terrarium about once a month. A little condensation is ideal but be careful not to over water. If it is too wet, simply remove the lid and it will evaporate.

Enjoy!