Have tree, will climb. The Playlist.

What is it about trees and climbing that kids find irresistible?

 

The adventure?

The thrill?

Or a quiet place to hide?

Master R was outside climbing 'his' tree yesterday, before he had even changed out of his pyjamas. He has been climbing this tree in our backyard from the day he was big enough to pull a chair to its base, for a leg-up to the lowest branch. Miss A had a bit of a climb, but she usually prefers to stay on the ground and keep an eye on her big brother...She does however have a huge fascination with tree-houses, and if there was a house nestled up in that tree I don't think you would get her down!

The Playlist is all about encouraging outdoor, imaginative free ranging play.

For more tree climbing fun, or to join in with The Playlist, visit 1000 Homes of Happiness.

In the mudpie kitchen for The Playlist

Miss A and Master R got to work in the mudpie kitchen this weekend.

Cooking utensils were assembled, ingredients were sourced, water was added, and mixing, pouring and slopping took place.

Chocolate

Sugar

Mudpie Cafe was opened for business, and mummy was served a lovely treat, complete with Ice-cream container lids for plates and an extra special drink on the side.  Mmm...delicious x

The Playlist is all about encouraging outdoor, imaginative free ranging play.

For more fun in the mudpie kitchen, or to join in with The Playlist visit 1000 Homes of Happiness.

Out in Nature, for The Playlist

One of our favourite places to visit for an outdoors adventure is Kings Park, Perth's Botanic Gardens. But with CHOGM happening here this weekend, and 120,000 people flocking to the banks of the Swan River for a glimpse of the Queen (and a BBQ sausage!) we decided it was probably best to avoid the crowds and road blockages. But by no means was there a shortage of outdoor play, and exploring of our natural surroundings, at home.

Miss A is rather fond of little critters, and she showed me the little house she had made for her new found friend...

Little Baby snail!

She showed me her tiny new plant, in its pot decorated with leaves...

And when I returned home from a morning of shopping, a beautiful bloom was waiting for me...lovingly picked by Miss A and Master R, and popped into a little vase.

Master R and his Dad went out on their bikes to explore the neighbourhood, and had a not-too-pleasant close encounter with a swooping Magpie (thank goodness for the bike helmets!). 

And we all spent the afternoon just hanging out in the garden together, playing with sand and water, doing a little gardening and enjoying the warmth and sunshine.

For more nature play, or to join in with The Playlist, head over to 1000 Homes of Happiness.

Rain - for The Playlist

When it rains, the first thing three year old Miss A thinks about is how happy the trees and plants will be. She loves to get out in the garden, just like her dad, and will always join him when there is planting to be done. On Friday, I captured them doing just that.

With perfect clear blue skies, warm weather, and no sign of rain, Miss A took to making her own rain, and gave those new plants and flowers a lovely big drink of water.

And with all that beautiful sunshine, who would've thought we would wake up the following morning to grey skies, thunder and the promise of rain? By late Saturday afternoon, the rain had set in, and when the kids went outside to give their pooch his dinner, there was of course no stopping Master R from running out from under the covered area and into the rain...

to run, jump, get as wet as possible...

And I even caught him trying to catch a few drops of fresh rain water in his mouth!

For more rain play, or to join in with The Playlist, pop over here.

Getting Sandy for The Playlist

This weekend has been one of the warmest so far for Spring...and we made the most of it by getting outdoors as much as we could. As always the kids gravitated to the sandpit...Sand will keep my children occupied for hours!

And why wouldn't it...there are so many possible games and adventures to be had in the sand. Sometimes they will be building castles, and sometimes tunnels and tracks for their cars...

...but when the weather is warm, like it was today...a little water is added and the sandpit becomes their very own beach!

This post was inspired by 1000 Homes of Happiness who have set up the Playlist, after this recent news article stated that kids need to get barefoot, wet and dirty to become smarter, wiser and more resilient adults. I love this idea, and if you would like to get involved in The Playlist, head over here.

Hope you have enjoyed the great outdoors this weekend!