NANA SAYS CHILDREN LOVE PUDDLES

So buy some colourful rain boots and let them have fun! It is also a time to remember safety- stay away from rivers and lakes with the Spring runoff. Watch out for the mud! It is easy to get stuck while playing on soft dirt. With bikes coming out, safety rules on the road can be revisited. Helmets for the adults too! As nature continues to offer many exciting occurrences such as spring bulbs and returning song birds, there are opportunities for those little science lessons. Back to fun-jump in a couple of puddles with the kids!

NANA SAYS GOODBYE SCHOOL, HELLO SUMMER VACATION

"No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks!" This was a favourite rhyme when I was a girl and finishing a school year. The end of year party and little presents for the teachers then the fun begun. Today with working mothers, the arrangements for summer camps and potential summer vacations have been planned. The lazy, hazy days of summer give an opportunity for everyone to regroup some energy. I used to take my girls to the beach or a local pool to consolidate any swimming lessons rather than taking classes over the summer. Bike riding and walking and some adventures with lots of craft supplies to take advantage of a slower pace were some of the activities. The outdoors gives such an opportunity for informal science lessons. Today we stay so plugged in to our gadgets! Perhaps put them aside for times during the day to help the little ones experience the world around them. For example, a cottage with a pelican catching fish is a perfect time to discuss and observe the natural world with grandchildren! It is just one example of capturing those moments that present themselves to us. I remember learning the names of birds and flowers and fish from the adults in my life. Hearing a bird chirp and trying to identify it can be an easy way to teach the little ones to listen to the world around them. My backyard right now has lots of raspberries growing. So my grandchildren will be picking fresh berries and learning to watch for bees and wasps as well as having fresh produce. Slowing down is good for adults too. Summer reading whether purchased books or library trips offer variety of reading possibilities. There is nothing more pleasurable than finishing a novel and starting another! Summertime and the living is Easy!