Runny noses and sneezes have taken hold of the toddler twosome again this week so I have been trying to introduce a few quieter toddler friendly activities that still allow them to have fun with some play based learning but also just sit and rest at times to.
We live in an old federation style house which I absolutely love but it is freezing in Winter…it is nicer outside and healthier for the twins to be in the sunshine and fresh air when sick so on a particularly chilly Aussie morning we headed out the back with our coloured window blocks for some experimenting…
An added bonus of using the boulders was that both girls were able to find their own space and create in the way they wanted to and yet still come back to play when they felt inclined to work together.
It was also pretty exciting to see their own shadows too!
As the sand is shallow and softer it made it easy for the girls to position the blocks where they wanted them and to move easily to change the shapes and patterns made….They also made fantastic towers and obstacles for the cars and animals!
Elmo being told to look through the coloured window and the building of a ‘gate’ for Elmo (Ruby’s current best friend)
Building trains and gates became the game and I heard ‘red means stop’ quite a few times! But they did eventually help me pack everything back into the basket!
I’d love to live in a heritage home. We just live in a post war weatherboard- which is cute.
I call our house a Summer house. We have floorboards throughout and high windows. So, it’s also freezing in winter. I almost can’t stand it- but I don’t want to add carpet. So my poor kids suffer. 🙁
Know what you mean Jackie..yikes those floorboards can get chilly with the gaps! It’s always colder inside than out in the sun! We have a few mats but not many!
Ooops! Was meant to say that the images of your girls playing with these blocks are amazing. I must get some 🙂
I love this – it’s amazing how engaged they can become when you move things to a different space and give them a new perspective. I’m definitely going to take our window blocks outside now, as long as we get enough sunshine. I suspect our English summer isn’t much warmer than your Australian winter – it’s not much more than about 15 degrees most days!!
Oh my goodness Eleanor…that temperature is a cold Winter day for us here lol although we usually get under 10 overnight hehe!I really loved watching how engaged the girls became with the blocks outside…it was like they were a totally new toy!
This is a lovely idea: fun, educational, pretty! Lovely photos.
What a lovely comment Sara…thanks for stopping by!
Beautiful photos of your block play! I love that you put them in the rice as a prompt. We have these blocks too and my kids love them! I posted some pics on my blog last night but I haven’t taken as many wonderful photos of our block play as you have. Just lovely! Hannah @ Paint on the ceiling
Thanks Hannah…will have to pop over to yours for a look! They are great blocks aren’t they and we loved taking them all over the yard!
Another wonderful activity that the girls extended naturally with their great imaginations. I hope they are feeling much better and thanks for sharing your great outdoor fun with Country Kids.
The girls are beginning to feel better although this cold just seems to keep coming back unfortunately! This activity certainly did keep their little imaginations busy!
I love these coloured window blocks, they are just gorgeous. I am gonna have a hunt around for some of those.
Love these blocks. I just ordered some and can’t wait to get them. You’ve got some great ideas for playing with them here 🙂