Posts Tagged ‘outside’
Playing in a Winter Wonderland the Inupiat Way
Written By: Melainie
Now that the temperature has warmed up slightly, we are able to enjoy the snowy outdoors. Anneliese has always been an outdoorsy girl and, although it took some adjustment, she loves playing outside even in the arctic winter. Whenever we go out, she runs and plops down in the snow making snow angels.She also has had tons of fun sledding with mommy and daddy.
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10 Ways To Convince Your Kids To Play Outdoors
Written By: Guest Blogger
I wish my children smelt like flowers and sunshine. Unfortunately if there were such a smell for televisions, Xboxes, DVD’s or Nintendo 3DS’s this would surely be the aroma lingering through my home. Being indoors seems to be the modern day norm for most children with all of the technology available for them today. So how can we get our homes smelling more like sunshine and less like computer screen cleaning spray? It’s actually simpler than you think. Here are 10 ways to convince your kids to play outdoors.
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My Baby’s Arctic Summer
Written By: Melainie
Wildflowers Blooming by the Beach
What is summer time like in the arctic? Well, it almost reminds me of spring time in Alabama. Wildflowers are blooming everywhere, it’s raining on and off, and the temperature is mild (in the 60′s). Other than those similarities, our arctic summer is a very new experience.
The most obvious is the fact that the sun has not set at all in the past month. On the occasions when I am called in to work at 3 in the morning, it is so strange to see the sun sitting low on the horizon. Sunrises and sunsets are long lasting and run into each other, so you never know if the sun is coming up or going down around here. My Husband and baby seemed to adjust pretty well to the 24 hour light, but I have to wear an eye mask at night to get any sleep.
A Toddler on the Farm
Written By: Melainie
Leo the Lamb
It is the time of year for baby chicks, ducks and lambs. Here on my parents’ farm we have a baby lamb that was rejected by her mother, so we have been bottle feeding it. Anneliese loves feeding and playing with the baby lamb, and they looked so adorable together. Although it is a lot of work caring for a baby lamb when the mother rejects it, bottle feeding the lamb makes it more docile and less afraid of people.
Anneliese loves feeding Leo, the baby lamb.
After filling his belly with milk he was ready for a romp around the yard. Staying true to his nature, the lamb followed Anneliese around everywhere.
"Mary had a little lamb, it's fleece was white as snow..."
After playing with the baby lamb, it was time to feed the other sheep and the chickens. At the moment, we have a breeding pair of Silkie chickens separated from the other chickens while they sit on their eggs. These are the most docile, mild mannered chickens I have ever seen, and they are so soft. Anneliese was able to pet the hen but she frightened the rooster when she started running around while screaming and flapping her arms.
The sheep on the far right is the bad mom who rejected her baby.
Playing on the farm was so much fun! My baby especially had fun with the lamb baby, although she was a little jealous whenever the lamb would get a bottle of milk. I had to let her taste the milk, then she realized it was not as good as it looked. I ended up having to give my toddler a bottle of milk afterwards.
A Week of Free Summer Activities for Baby
Written By: Melainie
Summertime is almost over, so here are some ideas if you want to make the most of this last month of summer. I have compiled a list of my favorite free summer activities I enjoy with my baby all laid out in a one week timetable. When you are trying to conserve every penny like my family, you may not be able to afford a vacation trip but you can plan a week of fun, quality time spent as a family for free.
Top 7 Things To Do With Baby
Monday- Go Hiking! No matter where you live you can usually find some good hiking trails at a nearby state or national park. Put on your baby carrier or sling and let baby enjoy the sights and sounds of nature- or take a nap. Just make sure to bring some snacks, plenty of water, and a clean spray bottle filled with water to mist yourselves- this really helps keep you cool.
Hiking with My Baby
Tuesday- Water Play! Spread out a tarp or other durable plastic sheet on a level spot in your yard and pour about an inch of warm water. Set your baby down and splash in the water together. You can also bring out some food coloring to change the color of the water or make it bubbly with some baby shampoo. Just make sure your baby doesn’t get sunburned and keep a close eye on her, because babies can drowned in just a few inches of water. I read about this on FamilyEducation.com and thought it was a great idea.
Wednesday- Picnic at the Park! Pack the picnic basket with lunch for everyone, plenty of drinks, and a blanket. Head to your local park and enjoy a day at the park together- swing your baby in the baby swing (my baby giggled and squealed so much), spread the blanket on the ground and let your baby crawl around. Bring some balls to roll in the grass for your baby to play with, and bring some bubbles to blow. Don’t forget the sunscreen though!
My Husband Swinging Our Baby
Thursday- Get Artsy! Put your baby in the highchair wearing nothing but her diaper and let her finger paint with pudding and fruit puree. My baby thought this was so much fun. She loved it, but she was a mess afterwards. We headed straight to the bath when we were done playing. (While your getting messy you could go ahead and make footprints and handprints of your baby using non-toxic paint.)
Friday- Window Shop! Head out to the local mall and just walk around with baby window shopping and people watching. If it is a nice day I like to walk down Main Street with my baby and window shop (occasionally I will stop in the bakery and buy us a yummy treat).
Saturday- Browse the Flea/Farmer’s Market! (or Local City Activity) During the summer there is usually something free to do in our area on Saturdays, but if we are not checking out the festivals, we like to walk around the farmer’s market. Sometimes we will also head to the local flea market and browse around. (If you are not sure what events may be planned in your area, go to your city’s website or call your local Chamber of Commerce.)
Sunday- Go for a Stroll! Take your baby for an afternoon stroll and try to describe everything you see. My baby loves to just listen to me and she soaks in the knowledge like a sponge. Sometimes after our walks together we will listen to classical music as I “dance” with her around the house. Just have fun giving your baby attention, and your day will be a success.
My Baby Playing at the Park
So get out and play with your baby before summer is over. If you don’t have much money to spend then that’s okay, you can still have tons of fun entertaining your family. What do you do for fun during the summer with your baby?
