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Nature to Nurture

Apr 29
0

Our Multi-Sensory Adventure To Strangler Cairn

By | Development Theory, Nature to Nurture
Hidden deep in Conondale National Park is an interesting egg shaped cairn, designed and constructed by British sculpture artist Andy Goldsworthy. We were keen to check it out and embarked on the circular walk with our 3.5 yr old and 6 month old. The walk was mainly forest walking, perfectly shaded with just the right amount of diversity in terms of hills, steps, winds and log climbs to keep us all interested. The walk starts and ends at the Booloumba Day Use Carpark near the information sign. To arrive here there are 3 creek crossings so a 4x4 is recommended. We took our time and enjoyed the journey, covering the full 6.5km circuit. Although the walk suggested a completion time of 2.5 hours, we took over 3 and ended with a dip in the river at the Booloumba Creek Day Use area.
Strangler Cairn
We set the scene for the walk prior to leaving by making up an imaginary quest story to find a mystery egg. Our 3.5 yr old drew her own map of what she thought we would encounter on the quest and how we were going to locate the egg. We collected sticks along the route and pretended they were bow and arrows to keep us safe and warn off enemies who may try to stop us in our tracks! She climbed fallen trees crossing our path, swung on strangler fig vines and looked for animal tracks along the way.
Our Trip to Strangler Cairn

Although the walking tracks are easily accessible I would not recommend taking a pram as some parts are narrow and there are quite a few fallen trees to scramble over. We took two lightweight baby carriers for the girls which worked well, particularly for the return journey when Miss F's legs were tired. The creek is beautiful in the afternoon and perfect for a safe paddle for little ones due to the calm, clear water and shallow areas. If you are looking for a manageable nature walk to shake of the cobwebs after self isolation then be sure to visit the Strangler Cairn. Further information can be found at this Weekend Notes review or at Aussie Bushwalking.
Jun 04
0

The Little Things That Add Up

By | Nature to Nurture, Resources
stick counting game

How To Introduce Counting To Your Toddler In Fun & Exciting Ways!

The surrounding world is a fascinating and complex place, jammed-packed with new adventures and lessons that envelope our conscience. Now try to remember what this world is like as a 2 year old - how exciting and rewarding it is when behind every door awaits a new concept and lesson to be learned. But with new experiences comes the need to learn new skills to express and share what we have learned to those that surround us - otherwise we become frustrated. Speech is one of the fundamental communication essentials that allow us to express what we are thinking, feel, want and need. The ability to numerically quantify a volume, or count, is another. It helps us make sense and communicate what we want.

Make Counting Exciting With Interactive Multi-Sensory Games

  Toddlers may find learning to count a challenging experience. Playing, however, is fun and exciting and provides the predominate activity to learn. Joining the dots between the two helps your little one engage with counting and enjoy the discovery of each new step and each new number. Creating interactive games that build the recognition of number patterns whilst growing multi-sensory skills help make learning  intriguing and impelling.  

Our Favourite DIY Counting Games

  1.Sticks & Plasticine  / Sand
Bring the outdoors in or adventure to the beach by creating a simple stick counting game. Make the game more challenging by creating different sized holes in a wooden block, improving your child's hand  / eye coordination and decision making skills.
Wooden Counting Game
2. Homemade Counting Cards 
Break out the pens or paint and craft counting cards with your toddler, letting them choose the design and shape (however abstract this may be!). Order the cards and play matching games with animals or objects from the world that surrounds them to expand their vocabulary. To get started check out these free printable "Match & Count" cards (courtesty of PowerfulMothering.com). 
3. Buttons!
Raid the sewing kit and dig out the buttons, creating patterns and ordering in colour sequences. Safety is always a priority so supervision is really important to make sure they remain on the mat and not in their mouth!
count with buttons
4. Make Bath Time Count
Foam numbers float, stick to tiles and help to make bath time a space to learn.
5. Get Active with A Chalk Hopscotch
Draw out a hopscotch and count each step. As your child develops get them to add the numbers together as they hop between the steps.
hopscotch
6. Hit The High Notes With Classics!
Rhymes, fingerplays and action songs play a fundamental role in helping your child learn and remember the relationships between numbers.  Every one loves Five Speckled Frogs, 5 Little Ducks and The Ants Go Marching (but maybe not after the 5th hour!)

Practise Little & Often

  With any new concept or skill overloading your little one will make the game forced and they will soon become uninterested. Playing little and often and rotating the games keeps things fresh and matches their ability level  / interests to the activity as they grow. At this stage it's all fun and games so keep it that way and enjoy the journey with them.

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Jun 04
0

It’s Child’s Play!

By | Development Theory, Nature to Nurture
2 toddlers finger painting

The Importance Of Socialisation & Making Friends In Your Child's Development

Your child is like a sponge. From early years to adolescence, interactions with those around them help to form an understanding about social norms and behaviour - helping them make friends, learn and have fun! Subsequently socialisation through exposure to different people plays a pivotal role in in your child’s development and influences their ability to learn about the wider world.

The Importance of Child Socialisation in The Early Years

 

The fundamental point of socialisation is for your child to be able to function successfully in a social community - “success” in this context being the ability to communicate and remain relaxed in a social environment. Naturally parents, siblings and the wider family are often the first exposure a baby has to other human beings, the differences in other people's behaviour and personality. From their first months, recognition of your voice and face, rewarded with a smile, form the basis of initial interactions and being the process of socialisation (and brighten your day)!

Babies playing on mat
Introducing additional people to this mix is important to help your little one adapt comfortably to different social groups, changing environments and cope with children of the same age that all demanding the same thing - attention!

Socialisation within the early years (0-4) brings the following benefits:  

    • Begin to converse with children their own age (rather than with their parent) - this brings a new set of challenges when both participants are at a similar formative stage. It may result in your child taking the lead for the first time
    • The recognition that “give and take” is a fundamental quality to human connections. With babies, this is simple game playing with giving a smile when their name is called.
    • How to take turns and appreciate the art of patience! With little ones aged 1 ½ to 3 it can sometimes feel like it’s “me me me” all the time. That’s because to them it is! They are egocentric. Placing them in a scenario when other people are competing for attention will start to teach them about other people’s needs.
    • Empathy for others emotions and making up when things go wrong. Exposing your child to a scenario where their behaviour causes another child’s unhappiness will help them experience what the dynamics of human communication are and the impact of negative behaviours on others.
    • Self-control by recognising that things will not always go their way - having a tantrum - and making up!
    • Dealing with rejection! It is difficult to see our little ones facing the tougher lessons of life but not everyone can be friends straight away or all the time. Learning how to accept this “knock-back” is a vital social skill in life.
    • Begin to choose words to describe their feelings and thoughts. With exposure to new situations comes exposure to a broader range of vocabulary and the recognition of its appropriate use

    • Understanding another child’s point of view and accepting it

    • Growth of confidence. Within a group setting, this comes with meeting new friends and exposure to new experiences.
Learning Together With Socialising Together

One quality that is an extremely beneficial outcome from making friends and group socialising is curiosity. Stimulating the exploration of their surroundings through offering fresh environments helps your child learn through experience, from others, ask questions and draw their own conclusions. This sense-making is fundamental to their further development as they approach ages 4 and above.

 

 

Child Socialisation Opportunities In The Sunshine Coast

 

 

Early Years - 0-5

    • Learning Beyond Walls “Stay & Play” session - bring the little one to our weekly "Stay & Play” session. These promote socialisation in a natural setting for ages 0-5
    • Playgroup Queensland- join online, your first year is free and you can take part in one of many playgroups on the coast.
    • Events at the Sunshine Coast libraries- these are mostly free and provide excellent opportunities to sample some of the well known child centres activities held on the coast. They also run free, weekly ‘Rhyme Time’ for 0-2 year olds and ‘Story Time’ for 3-5 year OLDS. They are often followed by a toy lending library, providing socialising opportunities for parents and little ones.
    • Natureweavers has a nature based WildPlay Bush playgroup held every term which incorporates all aspects of the local flora and fauna into their interactive and adventure filled sessions.
    • Wildlings Playgroup is held weekly, offering an early taster of forest schooling and a chance for parents and young children to meet with like minded families and spend time together in nature.
      • Baby Sensory- held in various locations around the coast. Your baby can attend until they are 13 months and experience a whole world of sensory delights.


    • Gymbaroo- also held at various locations around the coast, children will develop their sensory perceptions, gross and fine motor skills and social skills at these exciting, fun sessions.
finger painting

5 & Above


  • Learning Beyond Walls ‘3-5, 5-8 and 8-11 Workshops’ - join in one of our innovative, learning workshops. Teach your child to appreciate the natural world by learning within it without the confines of a classroom. See our ‘workshops page’ for further information.

  • Natureweavers Offers forest school sessions filled with exploration and wonderment for school aged children. As does Wildlings, each with their own unique style and skills. Children can learn Bush crafts and develop their sense of achievement, teamwork and confidence to name a few.

Final Word

 

Whether they are homeschooled or attend traditional school, exposing your child to managed social environments helps them understand social settings and what is acceptable with other children and adults. This early exploration of new environments and settings equips them with the emotional intelligence to form healthy relationships going forwards.

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Jun 03
1

How Nature Nurtures Your Child’s Growth

By | Nature to Nurture
toddler playing in nature

Why letting your child embrace the natural environment boosts freedom, self confidence and mental health

In a modern world where it seems electronic screens own our attention, it is not a surprise that this disconnection from nature can form developmental problems in children growing up in this digital age. According to research by Richard Louv (2005) in his book “The Last Child In The Woods” children spending less time outdoors has resulted in a range of behavioural issues, coined as being a “nature-deficit disorder”. This results in children having less respect for their natural surroundings, developing attention disorders, obesity, depression, loneliness, diminished creativity and even lower grades in school.  

5 Benefits Of Outdoor Activities On Your Child's Development & Happiness 

  1. Burn Energy & Stimulate An Inquisitive Mind: Safely exploring the bush and beaches around them exposes your child to a whole host of experiences that cannot be equalled with a digital experience. Collecting leaves, spotting wildlife and understanding how the food web works improves understanding and appreciation when learned in an environment they can experience. A safe exposure to sunlight, fresh air and physical exercise is also proven to improve mood.
Learning Beyond Walls Stay & Play Session
 
  1. Boost Freedom and Self Confidence: Playing in the confines of a home limits exposure to new experiences and people. Although safer, limiting your child's discovery prevents the development of an adventurous nature and one willing to learn in a new and challenging environment. As they get older, this will adversely impact their confidence levels through impacting their ability to recognise appropriate risks and to take them to facilitate personal growth.
toddler running on beach
  1. Learn About Conservation & Respect: The environment that surrounds your child and the ecosystem on a whole inadvertently determines the quality of their life and the wild animals that share this space. Developing this understanding of mutual respect and environmental care develops a deep empathy that helps to form healthy relationships throughout adult life.
toddler kissing tree
  1. Reduce Screen Time: TVs, iPads and the Internet on a whole have brought many benefits to a child’s education, specifically the cheap access to visually incredible resources. However, by making the world a smaller place, the internet has often made the surrounding environment an overlooked and subsequently under-explored treasure trove! Limiting screen time means your child can get “back to basics”, improving their motor skills and finding things in real life that they otherwise would do on a screen  - like the sound of birdsong, the noise of shells or the smell of leaves.
Australian ferns and cones

What Can I Be Doing To Increase Outdoor Playing?

 
Here are 3 simple ways to improve outdoor adventuring and nature time with your little one:
 
1. Re-visit a classic and draw hopscotch on the driveway or any hard surface. This incorporates counting games and improves balance / motor skills. For those a little unsteady on their feet, use string to pin-out the game on some grass (and save on plasters!)
 
2. Pack some healthy snacks and head to the park for a picnic! Get older children to make their own lunch and learn the benefits of a nutritional meal
 
3. Set the kids off on a scavenger hunt around the garden or local park. Hide clues and riddles to help practise what they have recently learnt (for example homophones).  
 
For further inspiration check out Outdoor Activities For Kids on Pinterest.

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Get in touch below or at hello@learningbeyondwalls.com with any questions & queries!
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