Threading

At 20 months old Tiny is ready to thread these wooden farm pieces onto the thread. She stayed focused and appeared to enjoy threading most of them. Later she got her legs entangled in the thread! 

Cats And Dogs

It is heart warming to see animals and little ones bonding. Tiny reached for my friend's toast, pushed the banana off then fed it to his dog. I had asked, when I watched her intention, if the dog was gentle and he reassured me he was. 

On meeting my cousin's cat she shared her sippy cup of water with him. Such a natural empathy. 

Halloween Trail

We came across this giant spider web unexpectedly in the woods. It was part of a Halloween Trail and lots of little ones were loving bouncing up and down on it. It was great for Tiny's coordination and balance; she enjoyed climbing around it then settling in to feel the bounciness!

She happened across this little door that was part of the trail. Ignoring the skull she took out a fallen leaf and then offered it to a passerby. Enjoying the interaction she repeated this many times. 

Along the trail she began to point at the spiders in the tree in response to me saying, "Can you see the spider?"

Bubble Art

One of Tiny's favourite bathtime activities is to splat a handful of bubbles onto the glass then rub it into a bubble painting. She often sings and babbles when she does this. She has begun to babble sing Incy Wincy Spider and Twinkle Twinkle. 

Nature Reserve

Getting lost on the way to a park meant that we came across this nature reserve. And what a super find! This was an ideal landscape for a toddler to explore as it was full of many wonders: a stone griffin; a pond full of quacking ducks; many beautiful flowers and lots of wooden walkways. 

Communing With Seagulls

It's great to get to observe seagulls especially see them lift into the air when you run towards them! 

Shopping

These little shopping trolleys are a super idea! Tiny loved walking around Morrisons today adding items to her trolley. She chose the following from the shelves:

Gillette Aftershave

A Tin Of Kidney Beans

Club Biscuits

A Tub Of Olives

Two Packets Of Pasta

Two Packets Of Noodles

She enjoyed her experience very much. 

Mark Making In My Diary

I use my diary every day and someone has noticed this! Tiny has observed me writing in it and now she loves flicking through pages and scribbling all over it. I don't mind as I'll enjoy one day looking back over my 2018 diary and seeing all her lovely marks. I think she's imitating what she observes me doing but again she engages most enthusiastically with 'real life' activities. For instance she loves pushing her own push chair rather than the dolls one we bought her; she adores ploughing through my wallet and now would prefer scribbling in my diary much more than using the paper I give her.

She then moved on to her knee which became a mark-making sensory experience! 

Walking On Ridges

Walking barefoot is known to improve and stimulate brain development and where better to do this, than on these ridges of compacted sand? Tiny also had the delight of being led along by her shadow! 

For more information regarding this click on this link.

Maze Of Rockpools

Wandering the maze of rockpools there was so much to behold! The wonder of stripey formations sprinkled with barnacles made it a sensory wonderland. Sometimes the sand underfoot gave way and Tiny's little feet would slowly submerge. We're already dreaming of returning tomorrow morning before the tide races in and swallows up the rocky playground. 

Feeling The Waves

Tiny loved feeling the waves break onto the shore today. It thrilled her and the joy kept rising with every wave. 

Water Park

What a find today - near the beach was this wonderful water park! Tiny stood enchanted waving her hands into the water jets like a little magician. 

Being bare footed meant she got to enjoy the many sensations of tiles, water and rock under her feet. 

Stacking Stones

This was a fun activity on the beach! Tiny enjoyed stacking and placing various stones on top of one another. 

Afterwards we paddled in the sea and I discovered that the 'splash, splash, splash' game that we'd played on our previous visit had paid off. This time she fearlessly ran into and from the crashing waves.

Newby Hall, Ripon

What a rich and exciting environment for a toddler or child! There was so much to see and do. Tiny loved the endless array of fun activities that were available for her to take part in - rocking boats; boats; a choo choo train; water fountains; beautiful rows of coloured flowers amongst swings, rickety bridges and slides. 

Water

Exploring water and the sensations that beings is one of Tiny's favourite past times. She has been enjoying turning the water container tap on and off to attempt filling the watering can up - this mostly results in her getting very wet! 

When visiting Newby Hall near Ripon she loved sticking her hand into the water fountains and seeing/feeling it course outwards in various directions.

Problem Solving And Climbing

It's great when you find park equipment that has been designed with a child's small body in mind. This little wooden truck is very popular with little ones in the park we visit. They climb up from the back; pull themselves onto the ledge; through the hole and wriggle onto the seat. It is wonderful as they are problem solving through movement which builds their confidence as finally sitting in the driver's seat you can see the sense of achievement on their faces!

Pen Y Ghent

Tiny loves being outside and having enjoyed going up a crag in the child carrier I thought I would take her up Pen Y Ghent in the Dales. She was happy all the way up and down even though the ascent and descent took about 3 hours. The ever changing scenery engaged her especially when at the top it was a scramble up & over rocks followed by a stunning view. 

At the top she enjoyed eating her lunch and scrambling in the heather. 

Even though she was carried up and down off the peak she slept that night, just like a baby.

Rock Pools

Playing in rock pools provides such new elements to exploration such as the sensations of squidgy sand squeezing through toes, water lapping against clothes and skin, light rippling on the surface and the feel of rough sandstone. Time flew here as Tiny got to practice her balance toddling and wobbling over rocks, through little ravines and in pools.

Museums

Going to a museum provides a wonderful space for a toddler to explore. They are rich with sound and colour; providing nooks and crannies for little ones to adventure in. Tiny enjoyed wandering about then stopping to look at pictures and eye-catching objects.

Adventuring

Tiny really enjoys adventuring. Adventuring is being able to roam freely where you will when conditions allow it. And so I take Tiny to quiet streets and allow her to wander, I keep her safe and she loves it! Today she wandered the cobbled streets of a little town which had a flowerpot festival on so she met with Bo Peep and her flower pot sheep. 

She climbed the steps of pathways leading to houses and sat a while outside doors before taking off. After all the world is an exciting place and for a Tiny there is SO much to explore! 

The Blackcurrant Forager

Tiny often munches her way around the garden with supervision of course. She is a natural forager and over time we have shown her what she can eat. She will pick mint, blackcurrants, fennel and spend time eating them fresh from the branches. 

Back Carrier

Tiny loves outdoor adventures! Even when she was in the womb I could sense her deep contentment when I walked through woods as she would be lulled to sleep . I climbed this hill with her in the back carrier and she kicked her wee body in delight the further we ascended. She felt utterly content and thrilled to see the scenery change as we topped the crag. In this especially sweltering summer we are keeping walking to the early hours of the evening. 

Marionette

For a 16 month old toddler staying with a puppeteer was a totally new experience. Tiny engaged with and marvelled at so many new objects none of which were conventional toys. She spotted the marionette up on one of the shelves and became intrigued even more so when it began to interact with her! 

Kicking A Ball Around

With the very hot days we're having this year it feels best playing out in the cooler evenings and things have kicked off! Up until the past couple of days Tiny would lift the ball; bring it to me and I'd throw it for her. Having watched bigger children kicking balls around in the park she now dribbles and kicks the ball. It's a great way to tire her out before bath and bed. 

Toddler Forest School

What a great way for a toddler to spend a morning! Tiny traversed uneven rocky ground; painted stones with water and played on a swing. In this very hot weather it was perfect as we were cool under the canopied shade of the forest. 

Later a fire was lit and the little ones toasted marshmallows counting up to 10 elephants before putting them in their mouths.

It felt like a lot of learning happened in a holistic way as the little ones used their bodies and explored a wonderful outdoor environment.