Thursday 23 March 2017

Australia

Had a lovely walk this morning spotting all the trees with blossom on them and the children trying to jump over all the puddles they found. Then home for a snack and to read this weeks story which was from Australia, we had a look at some Aboriginal art . Then left the children to come up with their own patterns, using paint and cotton buds. I was given this box of cotton buds, when O was born nearly 19 years ago, think they sat with the baby stuff for a while before migrating to the art box, I'm sure we must come to the end of them at some point but the box always seems to be nearly full, however many art projects we do!



So we have butterflies and flowers




 and a rainbow exploding.


We then spent ages looking at our Maps book and talking about all the different things they could see.


We have added to our books with these too Atlas of Adventures and Atlas of animal Adventures, they are beautifully illustrated and go very well with the Maps book for extra information.



L loves being read to and we do this a lot during the day as well as several bedtime stories but she had reached the point where she had listened to her favourites so many times she wanted a change, we do use the library but she wanted something different. She loves fairy tales, so thought I would try Scottish Folk and fairy Tales, some are variations on the traditional tales others are brand new tales and she has loved them all, now on our second reading through.


I started knitting my new project, been a while since I have knitted anything in a chunky wool, it's so lovely to have something pretty, that knits up quick too, this is the  pattern, I am making the cardi. Reading a mixture at the moment, I normally have more than one book on the go, especially if the book is the type I like to ponder and act on, others like Braiding the Sweetgrass, each chapter stands alone but also leaves you lots to think about. Jane wrote about Honeycomb Kids on her blog Adventures at Tiny Toadstool Cottage and really liked the sound of it, only on chapter 4 Competitions vs Connection, how we want our children to cooperate and talk about team work but so much of what we do is about competition ,the winner and the losers, the games we play, the activities we encourage. We can build on the idea that co-operation and sharing is better than being the winner, love the example of the game musical chairs, how it encourages, shoving etc rather than co-operation. But change the rules to everyone has to try and sit on a chair, you still remove a chair each time but they need to work out how they can still all sit on the seats left, you have a co-operative game that builds connections and relationships.

 I have been trying to sort through all my books, which has been a hard process, now have lots that I want to reread before a let them go or not as the case seems to be. Reading Simplicity Parenting for the 3rd time, it's been a couple of years since I read it last, still relevant and still very aware that we still have too much stuff, we are reducing and simplifying life but when you child mind and home educate it tends to complicate the simplifying bit or at least it does for me and that's without adding in my crafts! A simpler life in many ways is an easier life and with less objects you have more time to do the things you really want to do, we will get there.


Linking up with As Kat knits for Unravelled Wednesdays

8 comments:

  1. We did some painting with cotton buds not so long ago - pointillism a friend called it, but yes it's like aboriginal art. Lovely pictures! I love Simplicity Parenting - it sets you on the right track. Enjoy. And I think I will be getting that animal book you recommended as we don't have anything about animals and my daughter is studing Man and Animal this year at school and both girls are obsessed with animals. Sounds good - something to pore over in their spare moments when they aren't playing! Lovely cardigan. That sounds like an interesting book. I agree everything is so competitive these days. My children are so sensitive, we very much avoid that sort of thing wherever possible. Like the idea of musical chairs working together to get everyone on the last chair :-) Thanks for sharing.

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  2. You have just added another addition to my art repertoire and a way to expand the art we have just done thank you. We love the animal book, lots of interesting things going on in each page, so plenty of things to talk about, hope they enjoy it. I love the co-operative games, thought the musical chairs was great idea too.

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  3. Thanks so much for the mention! Glad you liked the book. I often feel alone in trying to encourage co-operation rather than cutthroat competitive behaviour. There is a place for both but we seem to have made it as though co-operation is somehow weakness which is sad for the future of our society.
    Love the cardi - it will be gorgeous.
    At my boys school, every second year we have an Aboriginal artist come to visit and he arrived this weekend. I will have to share some photos of the work they are doing with him. We are planting a bush tucker garden to supplement the regular school veggie garden and they are painting some poles in the garden with Penong. On the last day of his visit, we have a campfire and cook kangaroo tails (and kangaroo burgers for the less traditional!) It is always a great visit for the kids.

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    1. The book is lovely and love the look of some of the other books you have mentioned on your blog, have a nice wish list. Your not alone but feel there should be more talk and activities about co-operation and not just competitive play and actions. I look forward to seeing the artwork photos, the girls and I will love to see them, sounds a wonderful experience for your boys.

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    2. I also have some books from your blog. Although my library does not have Braiding Sweetgrass, which I was sad about. Tomorrow is their Indigenous Studies Learning Celebration, so I will be going along to see all they have been up to.

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    3. Hope you all have a good day and enjoy their Indigenous Studies Celebration, that's a shame about Braiding the Sweetgrass. I love books and love see the different books you have, thank you for sharing.

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  4. I love the painting! Beautiful!! (And, gorgeous knitting as well!) Welcome, and thank you for joining us!

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    1. Thank you, looking forward to joining your unravelled Wednesdays and seeing what everyone crafts, cooks and reads.

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