Now that summer is upon us, people want to be outdoors. You can share the outdoors with your children in many ways. Hiking is great because it gives you a chance to talk, explore the world of nature and get physical exercise. Planting a garden can be combined with learning math by estimating and measuring the garden area, how far apart to plant the seeds and measuring the amount of water needed. Visit the beach and gather shells and small rocks to make a collage. Use your imagination to find fun, no cost activities to share with your children in the great outdoors.
My grands love anything to do with water. I have a kiddy pool that I planned to allow three grandsons to play in on a recent visit. When I went to the garage for it’s first use of the season it could not be found. I must have decided to not store it another year and forgot!
So, instead I filled three big tubs with water on the back patio. I took out some boats, water canons, wind up fish, and a few other water toys. I sat as a life guard and I welcomed the occasional squirts from the water canons during our warm afternoon of water play.
It was all fun a giggles until one of the boys picked up a water canon that had a bee on it and he got stung on his finger. Although painful and scary for all of the boys I turned it into a learning experience.
I showed them all how to remove the stinger and the attached sack. First aid was taught by immediately icing the site of the sting. I immediately asked him if he had been stung before because I was worried he might be allergic. I was relieved to learn that he had been stung before without any allergic reaction. Once things calmed down I explained that the bee would now die. We went back outdoors and watched the bee that was now just walking in circles. I asked my grandson if he wanted me to kill it? His finger was still throbbing and he was not feeling much empathy for the bees suffering and he said “No, let it suffer!”
As you say, it doesn’t have to be a big production for kids to enjoy the outdoors. My grandchildren adore just going for a walk. One of my grandsons is crazy about all kinds of creatures. He’s happy just chasing lizards in my back yard.
Grandma Shelley and Susan,
Thanks for your comments. It’s always great to hear other grandma’s ideas and adventures. I’m not sure I would have handled the bee sting as well as you did, Shelley.