The Empowered Educator

Inspiring ideas, training and resources for early learning.

A Sultry Slimy Weekend!

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It seems we have skipped Spring and gone straight into Summer in our little part of the world! This past week we have had some really warm weather and i must admit to being  a little unprepared! I love Spring and the time it gives to get out into the gardens and give everything a tidy up as well as plant new seedlings and flowers before the heat of Summer arrives.

Many of those jobs had to be  pushed aside as we scurried for the shade or cool of the verandahs instead….at least the toddler twosome seem to finally be over the nasty virus that has plagued the household for over a fortnight now!

So although i didn't get to cross off the huge list of outdoor jobs i had planned for the weekend….i did take a step back and enjoy the simplicity of some messy play in the early morning shade and the joy of just being in the moments as they occurred. The list will still be there for next weekend…apparently the world didn't end because i didn't get the jobs done i wanted to.

 It's the reality of life with young children and a hot climate and i am trying to teach myself to take it a little more as it comes rather than planning everything to the last dot point…and becoming frustrated when it doesn't happen!

So here's a few pics (yes…you know i mean  a lot…) of  my ‘unproductive' weekend!

Miss Teen practised her breadmaking skills for her food technology subject….pretty good for her first time i thought!!
There was a little straw sticking to contact paper on the verandah …and we decided to add the dried up playdough bits too just to keep it interesting!
 
We finally got around to netting some of the fruit trees so perhaps we might get to actually pick some fruit before the birds gorge! Anyone have any other tips for keeping birds away?
 
 
 
A little tidying and weeding of the vegie patch in the mornings before it got to hot….
And Miss Teen came home with a new friend after visiting our local show…..could have found a worse companion so i am most grateful…..hehe!
And i did a little messy play with the toddler twosome……my version of….
SLIME PLAY
 
I mixed up a little cellmix (it is a powder that you sprinkle on water and mix well…after leaving for a little while it thickens to a wallpaper paste type consistency) It has a slimy, gooey texture so is fantastic for fingerpainting.  You just need to add the colour of your choice!
 
Our jacaranda trees are in bloom at the moment so i decided to pick a few to lay on the slime and then watch to see how the toddler twosome might incorporate them into the play!

 
I also added a few of their favourite sponges to add to the sensory experience and allow them to really explore in their own ways!
Tara enjoyed placing the petals ‘just so' as only a toddler has the patience to do when playing!
 
 
 
I left the slime a little lumpy to add some texture…..Tara enjoyed using the peg sponges to try and squash the lumps!
I also wanted a few different choices for Ruby as she is having some difficulty recognising that she needs to put some things down from one hand before she can pick something up. This is part of crossing the midline and i plan to incorporate more activities to help develop this skill.
 
You can see she has both hands occupied  in this pic but she really wanted to pic something up from the tray and stood staring at it for quite a while….i used this opportunity to talk about putting something down and what she wanted to do next. We talked about cause and effect in simple toddler terms really!
Tara decided she wanted to ‘clean' the flower stems with her sponge and some slime! I just love watching how children incorporate nature into play…i would never have thought of that!
They also enjoyed picking the petals and placing them around the tray in patterns…then fingerpainting to move them!
 
 
To extend the activity i added a few little zoo animals to the slime and the toddler twosome absolutely loved that idea and went into their own little world of discovery!

 
After all that walking ‘through the mud' the animals needed a wash…and what better than a nice purple flower to wipe off all that slime!
 
 
Not to mention a dip in their own personal bath……
 
Ruby decided to practise her balance skills….i made it a little harder by setting them up so that they wobble and tilt a little now!
Nothing beats the simplicity and fun of walking a plank in the outdoors!
 
 So the weekend was probably not as unproductive as i thought….just busy in a different way….and we did get to enjoy some spectacular sunsets!
 
 
 
 
 
 
I hope your weekend was a good one…..do you find your priorities and expectations change a little as the warmer (or cooler) weather rolls in?
 
Have a wonderful week everyone….we are hoping for a healthy one!
 
Warm Wishes….

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