This has always been our motto with The Boy.
From a young age we've encouraged him to explore the natural world and allowed him to get as mucky as he wants to outside. Clothes after all are to keep us warm and protect our bodies, if they get dirty then they go in the washing machine. If The Boy gets dirty then he goes in the bath.
As far as I am concerned, there really is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. And there really is no excuse for preventing children to have fun in the natural environment. Least of all getting clothes dirty.
Which is why when the sun broke through the clouds last Sunday we met up with my brother and his family at the local nature reserve. Apart from a three minute downpour when we were feeding the swans, the sunlight was revitalising and much needed.
Especially for showing the way when climbing trees.
But then of course all that rain that we've had makes for some glorious squelchy fun. Mud, glorious mud.
So after some jumping up and down in muddy puddles, sliding down muddy banks and trying to catch squirrels, we had a small accident.
This is why we have a washing machine.
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Linking up to Country Kids, Outdoor Play Party and Flashback Friday
haha! Great post 🙂 I love his outfit! And your motto 🙂 I'm stealing it if you don't mind? We have some great outdoor clothes for the toddler but he insists on wearing his trainers instead of wellies… so they go in the washing machine too! 🙂
You are right. We should enjoy nature as much as we can. We've used the bad weather as an excuse to hide away from the outdoors, but I can see signs of Spring and my boys are really excited about being able to play outside very soon.
You are so right! Wish more took this view, every year I get more & more children who say they are not allowed to get dirty! But by the end of a year with us they have soon lost this fear.
Hooray for washing machines and allowing children to be children and have fun exploring the world around them. You have some lovely photos of great outdoor fun, thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
My little girls love being outside, we have puddle jumping outfits,wellies and washing machines to keep them warm, dry and clean up after 🙂
Fabulous! I couldn't agree more on the weather/clothing thing 🙂 Although, I have to credit my husband for teaching me that when he first suggested we go camping not long after we met – I've never looked back 🙂 I'm not a fan of torrential rain (who is?!) but apart from that, there's no reason to not get outside! I love these photos, they really show the fun that can be had with trees and mud 🙂 #CountryKids
that looks like such fanastic fun and i love the huuuge muddy splash! and the muddy bottom. i dont mind the mud or the rain it is this wind we are having at the moment – makes walking or riding around the park freezing and a bit dangerous as it is so blowy! I am hoping that tomorrow will be a better day because I am itching to take them out x x
thank you for linking up
Looks like they are having a great time. Mud always features heavily on a good day outdoors!
Looks like great fun – we have the same motto although even we have been put off by the horrendous weather. All out local haunts are flooded or have warnings to stay away from them and horrendous weather just isn't fair on the baby!
Great pictures as always!
Eek! He left his wellie behind! A motto I need to adhere to I do believe! Fab photo's!
Mus washed off – great muddy memories stay for ever 🙂
That is why washing machines were invented no? to wash the mud away? Looks like great fun! I want to get myself a pair of waterproofs so I can join in!
Lovely photos! And we share the same motto – There's no bad weather, only bad clothes:o) I let my girls get muddy all the time and, yes, periodically I do a lot of laundry but it's totally worth it!
What great photos, and a fantastic post too. I completely agree.
We have been trying to get out whenever it's dry enough – Georgie's padded waterproof suit and wellies are getting a lot of use at the moment! The girls have both had bad colds so I didn't want them getting too wet in the rain, but having fun in the mud when it is (mostly) dry is a must 🙂
That's soooo true. Love the photos, especially the one with him peeking through the branches of the tree.
These pics are awesome! …as usual 🙂
The ones of the kids playing in the tree are gorgeous!
…In Sweden they have all the kids in 'fisherman' like, plastic sleeveless overalls (I'm not sure whether that explanation will conjure up an accurate enough image, but anyway!), means they can do it day after day after day… no need to wait for anything to be washed 😉
Great outdoor fun!
Now this looks like fun. Do you know I don't think my kids would like this. They are not ones for getting dirty. I should do this though. Love the one of the kids playing in the tree x
That mud looks awesome! Right up our street 🙂 Fab pictures too! Thanks for sharing at the Outdoor Play Party 🙂
Beautiful photos and a brilliant post. It looks like such fun and at the end of the day everything can be cleaned.