This weekend we had absolutely glorious Winter weather…blue skies, 24 degree sunshine and a light breeze…it was of course to good to stay indoors so we made the most of the weather while we could and combined a little play with some household jobs. The toddler twosome are at an age where they want to help and be involved in everything we do as adults so I find a few simple tasks passed their way keeps them happy, feeling a sense of importance and self worth and not quite as demanding (I did say not quite….)
This lovely sensory activity actually comes from the twins themselves. I had put a warm tray of water out in the yard and sprinkled some pure lux soap flakes over ready for whisking to a thick gooey slime…I went inside to get a few more things and when I came back the girls had collected grass clippings and flowers and added them to the tray along with a good stir and whisk!
So the original activity changed according to their own interests and imagination and had now became grass slime cooking or ‘soup’!
I was happy to let them explore their own creativity and decided not to add more soap flakes to get a thicker consistency as the girls were obviously very happy with just the thinner slime and their own addition of grass clippings! If you want to do this with a thicker slime you can follow my easy recipe.
I added a few saucepans, bowls and whisks but they went in search of their own cooking utensils from the sandpit anyway.
The more they stirred and whisked the more slimy and frothy their mix became….
They went in search of more grass clippings and it was a joy to observe Ruby as wet grass is usually a texture that concerns her. She is not keen on wet grass sticking to her hands or feet. Using the utensils she was happy to come into contact with the grass and pour water to wash it off. At one stage she did start complaining of ‘prickles’ so I encouraged her to move over to the pallet kitchen to continue cooking her masterpiece!
Tara was very specific as usual about what she wanted to put into her saucepan to mix…it was a very detailed process….and yes she is wearing her pyjamas in the afternoon but they are new and there is no way they were coming off apparently!
The sun was going down fast but the girls were not going to be dragged away from their grass slime cooking.
They had an absolute ball with this one and there were so many sensory challenges….slippery soap, bubbles, froth, wet grass and flowers! A little sand in the pallet kitchen added to the sensory experience.
We also managed a trip to the park…look at that sky…wonderful! Miss Teen came along to workout in the exercise park they have here among the kids playground.
We were busy watching her jump hurdles when I noticed a cheeky little monkey climbing high behind her….Daddy came to the rescue, she had to get to the top, climb over and back down again!
In the afternoon the girls helped me feed the chooks and clean out their little house. They will be moving into their new fancy house in the backyard soon. Those chooks will have the best view in the house the lucky things!
We then moved onto the next job of watering our new kid’s vegie patch which is growing well…we gave the seedlings a little feed with a weak seaweed solution to help them cope with the warmer weather!
We went into the big vegie patch and had fun picking purple beans, shallots, broccoli and cabbage. Tara also collected lots (and I mean lots!) of white daisies! Ruby collected rocks and more rocks….that kid loves her rocks!
Very proud of her little harvest!
As was Ruby…..
As the sun began to set again I finally managed to get everyone inside where the huge pile of washing was waiting to be folded and dinner needed to be cooked……but that weather really was to good to miss!
Hope you had a nice weekend too!
I’m linking this post up to the fabulous Country Kids at Coombe Mill…where they celebrate all things outdoors!
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Warm Wishes….
Loving the cooking antics, shame about coming inside after such a beautiful outdoorsy weekend.
Thanks for stopping by Kirsty….it really was a shame to come inside…so lucky to have Winter in this part of the world!
We’ve had such nice weather too, far too nice to spend indoors. That slime looks like great fun, soap flakes are now on my shopping list!
Love lux flakes slime…and everyone smells so clean afterward!!
It’s fantastic to see how much use the girls make of their pallet kitchen, it really is one of the best ideas I’ve seen for a very long time. Your pictures are fabulous, the gorgeous weather and your gorgeous girls all just having so much outdoors fun. Really lovely post Jodie x
Thanks Nichola, how lovely of you! You made my day!x
What a fun filled day – you really made the most of the weather 🙂 Lots of great activities – must try the lux flakes slime!
Lux flakes slime is the best Sara…you must try it! Loving our weather at the moment!
I love that they were fascinated with it for so long. What a perfect activity. Learning and having fun. Perfect.
It really did hold their interest for ages which suprised me a little as they are always cooking something out in the sandpit anyway!I think the texture and the look of it kept them amking more creations!
slime cooking, did they make you taste it?
Not me thank goodness Angela but the chooks and the dolls got a taste!
The cooking reminds me so much of my childhood..i used to make ‘pies’ and ‘perume’ in the garden!
Such lovely photos of all your girls having great fun outdoors. The messy and creative activity with the flakes is such a good idea, I can see they how it held their concentration and thanks for sharing the recipe and your ideas with Country Kids.
It is great how their imaginations work isn’t it, and that they can occupy themselves. My teen also came out with us this week – it really is nice when that happens isn’t it. The veggie patch is doing well and they have every right to be proud of their harvests.
love the slime cooking idea i know two boys who would love to do that! thank you x
It’s so much fun playing outside. Love the slime cooking idea too x