Outdoor Play Party

Beach Play In The Golden Hour

December 5, 2014 by TheBoyAndMe 14 Comments

The weekends lately have been hectic, not enough time for us as a family to actually do something and be together enjoying each other's company. Saturdays are dominated by running from here to there via everywhere, and Sundays have seen me panicking about school work and ending up with no family time. It's not great, we need to re-address the balance.

Last weekend we nipped down to see my sister and her family in the next town, and knowing she wouldn't be home for another hour we wandered down to the beach. She lives one street away from the coast and their beach is dominated by rockpools galore, perfect for Winter exploration.

Beach play in the golden hour

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Autumn Treasure Bag

October 10, 2014 by TheBoyAndMe 12 Comments

Autumn is a wonderful time of year to get out and about, enjoying nature and all the treasures the season brings. During the month of September, we are forever scavenging for conkers and acorns, finding colourful leaves and spotting squirrels, with our pockets fit to bursting with the fruits of our labour.

When we were recently sent some crafting materials as part of the Bostik Bloggers' Challenge, we decided the most appropriate thing for us would be to make an Autumn Treasure Bag in order to make collecting conkers etc. easier.

Autumn Treasure Bag 1

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How To Make A Minibeast Hotel

August 26, 2014 by TheBoyAndMe 26 Comments

There's one activity that The Boy has been desperate to do all Summer; make a minibeast hotel!

Last week we were playing in the garden when he spotted his old and battered wheelbarrow, went in search of a trowel, and decided that he'd had enough of waiting for me, and started doing it himself.

How To Make a Minibeast Hotel 1

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#39: Catch A Crab

July 26, 2014 by TheBoyAndMe 15 Comments

We're doing really quite well with our '50 Things To Do Before You're 11&¾' project; The Boy is only just 5 years old and has already ticked off 37 of the 50 things! There are quite a few that he just can't manage yet, mainly due to physical capability or maturity. However, when we stayed in West Bay, Dorset earlier this week, there was one activity that was virtually screaming at us to do from the safety of the harbour walls:

Crabbing!

Catch a crab #39 [Read more…]

Splashing About In The Summer Sun

June 16, 2014 by TheBoyAndMe 7 Comments

It seems like the Summer is beginning to whizz by! One minute we're busy waiting for a bit of warmth and sunshine, and the next I'm beginning to worry about fitting in all the days out which I'd wanted to plan.

But in amongst all of this, when it comes down to it, is a little boy who just wants to play in the water.

Splashing About In The Sun [Read more…]

Nature's Playground

May 16, 2014 by TheBoyAndMe 13 Comments

When we first visited Cefn Onn Park last year, The Boy's first question was about the playground. At the time he still had in his head that every 'park' was of the suburban template consisting of various flora, a set of swings, see-saw, slide, climbing frame… you get the picture. It's taken him a while to realise the point I explained to him then; that there's play equipment wherever you go, you just have to work out how to use it.

Nature's Playground [Read more…]

#49: Find A Geocache

May 10, 2014 by TheBoyAndMe 12 Comments

At the grand old age of 4&¾, The Boy has accomplished 37 of the '50 Things To Do Before You're 11&¾' tasks created by the National Trust; a list designed to get children outdoors doing the fresh-air things which children should be doing in the most innocent years of their lives. The range of tasks very much encourages children to step away from technology and embrace their 'natural childhood', however there is one that does involve technology and that is geocaching.

On a wet and grey Sunday a fortnight ago, we decided to try it out for the first time with The Boy.

#49 - Find A Geocache [Read more…]

A Balmy Easter Monday

April 26, 2014 by TheBoyAndMe 20 Comments

We're so lucky where we live.

So lucky to have miles upon miles of glorious coastline; swathes of golden sand, mounds of perfectly elliptical pebbles, an abundance of rock pools populated with crazy creatures, and a vast tidal range allowing for hours spent on the beach.

Enjoying childhood.

Southerndown [Read more…]

#47: Cook On A Camp Fire (Country Kids)

March 1, 2014 by TheBoyAndMe 19 Comments

One of the must-does for our break this week to Coombe Mill in Cornwall was to visit the beach and cook on a fire. Luckily we had the wonderful Wild Family Fun with us, whose job as an outdoor activity facilitator means she's a bit of an expert at starting a fire with vaseline and cotton wool.

So while I explored the rock pools with The Boy and his cousin, Mr. TBaM and The Boy's aunty set to starting the fire up in order to boil up some hot water using the Kelly Kettle she'd brought with us. A Kelly Kettle is an ingenious system which requires a fire to be lit in the metallic base, and then the 'water-jacket' kettle is placed over the top. It ends up with a fire chamber which creates an upward chimney draft ensuring efficient and rapid boiling even in windy or wet weather. And it was very windy that day! [Read more…]