Discovering Outside
Today is the first day when I could feel that the spring is here! It was there in the warm air and the birds singing. :)
Haven't posted in a while, days are flying by. One big part of our days is going outside. And as the weather gets warmer and nicer, and there is more and more to do outside, I think our focus will be shifting a lot towards outdoors. Probably we will spend a lot less time for indoor activities and new projects, and a lot more for simply discovering outside.
In the last few weeks I have noticed that Adelaide is different outside than she used to be. She didn't anymore want to walk quite the long distance that we used to walk (pretty much daily, for half a year or more), so we started to take shorter walks, in a different direction, closer and around our own yard, and she has been perhaps covering shorter distances, but instead - she is so much more interested in all the little details on the way! It seems that she could just spend all day there (and once it's warm and I'm not cold anymore!) we probably will.
The winter is going away, the snow is melting and there is mud everywhere! :D This time of year might not be pleasant for parents.. But it sure is fun for kids. Last couple of days Adelaide has come in quite muddy. She was helping Mr. Husband to dig up the soil in the greenhouse on Saturday, they came in to show me the worm..
She likes the last bits of snow, is bringing me snowballs.. And she is obsessed with all kinds of swings and swinging lately, we brought out our yard swing for her.
She likes ice, is picking it up.
She likes to find rocks..
She likes splashing in the puddles.
And we have a balance beam nearby, it's perfect! (Balance beams are quite a Montessori thing for gross motor..)
She can't exactly walk on it on her own yet, I have shown it to her and have given a hand, but she's super excited about it. The winter boots and all make it more difficult, but I'm sure, once the summer is here and we can go barefoot, it will be a different story.
On Sunday we decided to take a little break from home and went to Haapsalu. (I just love Haapsalu.. It's always so nice there.) Well, this time we weren't really lucky with the weather, probably not the smartest decision to go to the seaside in this time of the year.. This is what we got. The end of the world. :)
It was also really cold and wet. However, Adelaide again was enjoying it a lot..
We took a little walk in the Haapsalu castle ruins..
..and found a really cool playground there! Adelaide was just crazy about it!
I was hesitant to let her climb there, however.. Not because I would be afraid that she would get hurt, it was exactly very low and good for her, but there was a really huge and deep puddle under it!
The thing with Montessori-style parenting is, that we're supposed to let children do it themselves. That includes climbing, playgrounds.. and even falling, perhaps, of course, if it is not too dangerous. Because actually children, when let to develop naturally, will most likely know their ability. Of course, they will try to achieve more, but that's how progress happens. If they are let to explore on their own and fall a bit, they will naturally know, that it hurts to do too much, and they will not be reckless. However, if you interfere way too much - saying: careful! You will fall! No, don't climb there! all the time, and are holding them from behind and lifting them down.. Then they will not have a chance to discover on their own, what are they really capable of, and when getting a chance, might do something reckless.. And if there's no one to catch them then, it might end badly.
I sometimes do say: Careful! But really try to keep my calm.. And as I was giving this lecture to Mr. Husband at this playground.. Saying: don't help her! ..she took a nice big fall straight into the big puddle. :D
It would be fine.. If she wouldn't be all wet, we weren't prepared for this, didn't have any spare clothes with us and were risking with her getting cold.. So we got in the car and had to come home. Adelaide was definitely not happy about it. But we will return to this playground for sure, when the weather is a bit nicer!
I hear that parents often don't take their kids out, when it's not perfect sunshine outside. When actually it's fun outside in all the weather, almost.. And clothes can always be washed. ;)
Haven't posted in a while, days are flying by. One big part of our days is going outside. And as the weather gets warmer and nicer, and there is more and more to do outside, I think our focus will be shifting a lot towards outdoors. Probably we will spend a lot less time for indoor activities and new projects, and a lot more for simply discovering outside.
In the last few weeks I have noticed that Adelaide is different outside than she used to be. She didn't anymore want to walk quite the long distance that we used to walk (pretty much daily, for half a year or more), so we started to take shorter walks, in a different direction, closer and around our own yard, and she has been perhaps covering shorter distances, but instead - she is so much more interested in all the little details on the way! It seems that she could just spend all day there (and once it's warm and I'm not cold anymore!) we probably will.
The winter is going away, the snow is melting and there is mud everywhere! :D This time of year might not be pleasant for parents.. But it sure is fun for kids. Last couple of days Adelaide has come in quite muddy. She was helping Mr. Husband to dig up the soil in the greenhouse on Saturday, they came in to show me the worm..
She likes the last bits of snow, is bringing me snowballs.. And she is obsessed with all kinds of swings and swinging lately, we brought out our yard swing for her.
She likes ice, is picking it up.
She likes to find rocks..
She likes splashing in the puddles.
And we have a balance beam nearby, it's perfect! (Balance beams are quite a Montessori thing for gross motor..)
She can't exactly walk on it on her own yet, I have shown it to her and have given a hand, but she's super excited about it. The winter boots and all make it more difficult, but I'm sure, once the summer is here and we can go barefoot, it will be a different story.
On Sunday we decided to take a little break from home and went to Haapsalu. (I just love Haapsalu.. It's always so nice there.) Well, this time we weren't really lucky with the weather, probably not the smartest decision to go to the seaside in this time of the year.. This is what we got. The end of the world. :)
It was also really cold and wet. However, Adelaide again was enjoying it a lot..
We took a little walk in the Haapsalu castle ruins..
..and found a really cool playground there! Adelaide was just crazy about it!
I was hesitant to let her climb there, however.. Not because I would be afraid that she would get hurt, it was exactly very low and good for her, but there was a really huge and deep puddle under it!
The thing with Montessori-style parenting is, that we're supposed to let children do it themselves. That includes climbing, playgrounds.. and even falling, perhaps, of course, if it is not too dangerous. Because actually children, when let to develop naturally, will most likely know their ability. Of course, they will try to achieve more, but that's how progress happens. If they are let to explore on their own and fall a bit, they will naturally know, that it hurts to do too much, and they will not be reckless. However, if you interfere way too much - saying: careful! You will fall! No, don't climb there! all the time, and are holding them from behind and lifting them down.. Then they will not have a chance to discover on their own, what are they really capable of, and when getting a chance, might do something reckless.. And if there's no one to catch them then, it might end badly.
I sometimes do say: Careful! But really try to keep my calm.. And as I was giving this lecture to Mr. Husband at this playground.. Saying: don't help her! ..she took a nice big fall straight into the big puddle. :D
It would be fine.. If she wouldn't be all wet, we weren't prepared for this, didn't have any spare clothes with us and were risking with her getting cold.. So we got in the car and had to come home. Adelaide was definitely not happy about it. But we will return to this playground for sure, when the weather is a bit nicer!
I hear that parents often don't take their kids out, when it's not perfect sunshine outside. When actually it's fun outside in all the weather, almost.. And clothes can always be washed. ;)
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