For a while now I’ve been collecting links to posts on other people’s blogs that just really hit the spot with me. I have been wondering what exactly to do with these — to have a tab (when we get tabs) for links, or to post about them…
They’re piling up, though, so I thought I’d start sharing them with you before there are so many I can’t deal with them. I think I’ll post one or two once a week for a while until the list gets more reasonable.
Click on the caption to go to the post.
I love the idea of a nature table. Children just naturally want to collect little things as they meander on their walks. Instead of wracking your brains for crafts to make these things into, just have a designated place to display them.
An old table that doesn’t mind getting wet and sandy is perfect.
The fact is that children are delighted with natural objects. They see no need, usually, to use them to make other things. If they want to, fine! (And usually they don’t want to make a craft so much as a feather-fletched arrow…)
But arranging things, making little labels or drawings of them, and ordering them is quite enough activity on its own. When new things are brought in, some of the old can go out. In the end, you will have a fine collection of good specimens. A notebook to log things might appeal to an older child.
We keep some of our tiny nature treasures here along with other little memorabilia:
But a table is more practical for young children. Delicate things can be placed at the back of the table or on a shelf above it.
Here’s another source of inspiration:
Summer is a wonderful time to start a nature table or shelf. Make it humbly beautiful, teach them to keep it tidy. It will be a joy in your learning together.
I love this idea and have a perfect table (It's actually an old desk dating back to the REVOLUTIONARY WAR!) and we're moving so I can re-purpose it for my daughter. She loves to pick up rocks on her daily walks with our sitter. Each day I come home I find new rocks on the cabinet that holds the fish tank. Her collection growing and diminishing daily as she moves the rocks from one place to another. This is also a great solution for the beautiful fallen leaves we are sure to collect this fall that I never get around to helping her craft with.
Doggone it, what is the name of that kind of cabinet/case on the wall, that you have your seahorses in? Each of my grandmothers had one of those, and I had forgotten about them. They kept all kinds of tiny things stashed in there, from miniatures to old drivers licences to jewelry. I want one, and I can't seem to type the right phrase into Google to make any appear.
It's a printer's drawer!
Thank you! I was googling “printer case” and kept coming up with boxes to put your inkjet in. :-)
Wonderful, thanks Leila. I'm looking forward to more of your links!
But I think that although rocks (too big to swallow) are baby-proof, the rest of the room might not be toddler-with-rock proof!
Henry has a small box of 'treasures,' mostly picked up on walks with his grandad, and I love the idea of being able to display them.
Doesn't everyone else like the distressed look?? ;)