WEBVTT 00:00:03.549 --> 00:00:07.190 Hello and welcome to Blooming Curious, the podcast 00:00:07.190 --> 00:00:09.910 that's all about nurturing that natural curiosity 00:00:09.910 --> 00:00:13.089 in our earliest kids and students. I'm Edwina, 00:00:13.509 --> 00:00:16.190 your host from the Ed's Lessons blog, a passionate 00:00:16.190 --> 00:00:19.070 advocate for play and inquiry, and on a mission 00:00:19.070 --> 00:00:21.949 to keep children curious and questioning. The 00:00:21.949 --> 00:00:24.809 days of talk and chalk are over. We're diving 00:00:24.809 --> 00:00:28.449 into the world of integrated inquiry and nature 00:00:28.449 --> 00:00:30.989 -based learning and exploring those strategies 00:00:30.989 --> 00:00:34.450 that create lifelong learners. So if you're a 00:00:34.450 --> 00:00:37.170 classroom or a home school educator or even a 00:00:37.170 --> 00:00:40.810 curious parent then this is the place for you. 00:00:41.969 --> 00:00:43.929 Today's episode is especially for the parents 00:00:43.929 --> 00:00:48.189 out there. The holidays are here and you're probably 00:00:48.189 --> 00:00:50.270 wondering how are you going to keep those kids 00:00:50.270 --> 00:00:54.369 occupied for the next month or so and to try 00:00:54.369 --> 00:00:57.219 to keep them off technology as much as possible. 00:00:57.659 --> 00:01:01.020 I've got 24 fun activities for you to develop 00:01:01.020 --> 00:01:04.120 your kid's curiosity, even while they're on holiday. 00:01:04.900 --> 00:01:08.000 So my top tip number one is to switch off and 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:10.980 put away the devices. Oh my goodness, that could 00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:13.640 be a big one. Might be some screaming and shouting, 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:16.859 but hey, if you're prepared to just stick with 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:20.819 it and listen to my 24 activities, you might 00:01:20.819 --> 00:01:23.620 just be surprised. So stick them off, switch 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:25.540 them off, put them away, do whatever you need 00:01:25.540 --> 00:01:28.920 to do, lock them up in a cupboard. And today 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.859 or today's activity really is to get kids into 00:01:31.859 --> 00:01:34.579 the car and visit your local library or bookshop 00:01:34.579 --> 00:01:38.000 and encourage your children to buy or borrow 00:01:38.329 --> 00:01:40.590 a picture book or a non -fiction book and topic 00:01:40.590 --> 00:01:43.709 that interests them. You know, dinosaurs, insects, 00:01:44.030 --> 00:01:46.530 animals, these are usually big hits with kids. 00:01:47.170 --> 00:01:49.469 And books on National Geographic are usually 00:01:49.469 --> 00:01:51.549 a firm favorite, and they certainly have been 00:01:51.549 --> 00:01:53.549 with my own children when they were young and 00:01:53.549 --> 00:01:57.810 even with my students. The second tip I have 00:01:57.810 --> 00:02:01.310 is to go on a nature walk and pay attention to 00:02:01.310 --> 00:02:04.049 the wildlife you encounter. Now, this is not 00:02:04.049 --> 00:02:06.629 only just good for kids, but it's good for you 00:02:06.629 --> 00:02:08.960 too. So get out the house. no matter what the 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:11.740 weather, if it's really hot like here in Australia 00:02:11.740 --> 00:02:15.099 is right now, maybe go early in the morning or 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:18.599 later in the afternoon. And be alert and draw 00:02:18.599 --> 00:02:20.939 your children's attention to even the smallest 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:24.580 creatures. Follow an ant trail or stay to look 00:02:24.580 --> 00:02:28.180 at a bird and its features or whatever you find. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:32.219 Your observation skills will be key. If you start 00:02:32.219 --> 00:02:34.960 asking questions, you're starting to encourage 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:37.719 your kids to ask questions of their own. You 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:40.139 can download a list of my open -ended questions 00:02:40.139 --> 00:02:43.139 in my free e -guide, which I'll link in the show 00:02:43.139 --> 00:02:46.400 notes. Plant a garden together is number three. 00:02:46.539 --> 00:02:48.699 Investigate potential vegetables or plants you 00:02:48.699 --> 00:02:51.340 can grow in your garden and encourage your child 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:53.780 to observe the plant growth and record the changes 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:58.919 in a nature journal. In the PDF that I will include 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:02.240 in the show notes, I actually have put a link 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.949 there to a YouTube video of how to make your 00:03:06.949 --> 00:03:10.090 very own nature journal. So be sure to check 00:03:10.090 --> 00:03:14.530 that out and go to the website where you can 00:03:14.530 --> 00:03:18.629 download that free PDF. Number four would be 00:03:18.629 --> 00:03:21.349 to create a reading nook and somewhere that you 00:03:21.349 --> 00:03:24.949 can encourage a device -free reading by creating 00:03:24.949 --> 00:03:28.960 a cozy reading nook. Fill it with pillows and 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:31.620 blankets and even fairy lights to make it inviting 00:03:31.620 --> 00:03:34.159 and take turns reading your favorite stories 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:36.939 to each other. You know we always underestimate 00:03:36.939 --> 00:03:40.919 reading but if I've noticed that if you give 00:03:40.919 --> 00:03:45.500 kids a really interesting cozy place where they 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:50.889 can just be by themselves and often just have 00:03:50.889 --> 00:03:53.870 an opportunity to chill out they actually really 00:03:53.870 --> 00:03:56.349 appreciate that especially when things are really 00:03:56.349 --> 00:03:58.210 busy during the holidays and there might be some 00:03:58.210 --> 00:04:00.930 you know chaos and everybody's running around 00:04:00.930 --> 00:04:03.930 give kids a space where they can just go and 00:04:03.930 --> 00:04:06.889 chill out and be quiet and stick a little basket 00:04:06.889 --> 00:04:09.789 there full of their favorite books and you know 00:04:09.789 --> 00:04:12.930 maybe perhaps some soft toys and as i said fairy 00:04:12.930 --> 00:04:15.669 lights to make it a beautiful magical place for 00:04:15.669 --> 00:04:19.220 chilling out and reading Number five is to prepare 00:04:19.220 --> 00:04:21.620 some easy picnic food together and then just 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:24.439 have a picnic in your garden. Number six, go 00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:26.980 on a bug hunt. Look under the rocks and stones 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:29.540 and flower pots in your garden. And then you 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:32.000 can draw and write about the creatures in the 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:36.699 nature journal. Number seven, what about dress 00:04:36.699 --> 00:04:39.500 up? Encourage children to play dress up and act 00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:41.160 out different roles. And you know what? You don't 00:04:41.160 --> 00:04:43.459 have to go and buy expensive dress up clothes. 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:46.480 You just... give them old shirts and dresses 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:50.339 and hats and bags and visit op shops and secondhand 00:04:50.339 --> 00:04:54.139 shops. Kids love old hats especially. Number 00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:57.379 eight. When last have you played a board game? 00:04:58.019 --> 00:05:01.839 Children love board games. Anything that encourages 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:05.329 them to think critically. Monopoly, drafts, Chinese 00:05:05.329 --> 00:05:07.889 checkers, chess, if they're old enough, even 00:05:07.889 --> 00:05:12.370 dominoes. Kids love games. So that's a great 00:05:12.370 --> 00:05:16.050 opportunity to encourage, you know, being a good 00:05:16.050 --> 00:05:20.089 sport and not allowing them to win just because 00:05:20.089 --> 00:05:23.129 they're kids. So, you know, then you can also 00:05:23.129 --> 00:05:27.569 encourage them to be good losers as well. Number 00:05:27.569 --> 00:05:30.730 nine, go to a local park and let the children 00:05:30.730 --> 00:05:35.149 run and climb and play freely. You know, so often 00:05:35.149 --> 00:05:38.569 we as parents and even educators forget and we 00:05:38.569 --> 00:05:40.430 want to protect our children and so we always 00:05:40.430 --> 00:05:43.029 want to tell them to be careful and we want to 00:05:43.029 --> 00:05:45.850 tell them what to do. Do you know what? Kids 00:05:45.850 --> 00:05:49.160 need freedom. They need an opportunity to take 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:52.240 risks. They need an opportunity to just do their 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.939 own thing. And this type of free play, where 00:05:55.939 --> 00:05:59.839 you're not descriptive, is really helpful to 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:03.199 children, not only for their muscle tone and 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.480 their gross motor skills, but it's also important 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:08.839 for fine motor skills, not to mention the sheer 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:12.009 happiness that comes from free play. And free 00:06:12.009 --> 00:06:15.009 play also teaches independence and problem solving. 00:06:15.589 --> 00:06:18.430 So really resist the urge to solve the children's 00:06:18.430 --> 00:06:21.389 problems. Allow them to have a go on their own. 00:06:22.110 --> 00:06:25.149 Number 10, go for a long walk along a creek, 00:06:25.250 --> 00:06:29.209 river, or the beach if you live there. Investigate 00:06:29.209 --> 00:06:32.449 the wildlife that live on the edges. Take a camera 00:06:32.449 --> 00:06:34.730 and get children to take close -up shots of what 00:06:34.730 --> 00:06:37.470 they see. And then you can have a whole, you 00:06:37.470 --> 00:06:40.050 know, investigation into macro photography and 00:06:40.050 --> 00:06:42.269 show them how to take a really close -up picture. 00:06:42.589 --> 00:06:46.250 And that really can cause some, or trigger some 00:06:46.250 --> 00:06:51.329 interesting conversations. B11. Encourage children 00:06:51.329 --> 00:06:54.449 to build a fort indoors using blankets and pillows. 00:06:54.930 --> 00:06:57.470 And once it's built, let them play and imagine. 00:06:58.230 --> 00:07:00.610 You know, when we lived in the Middle East. It 00:07:00.610 --> 00:07:03.170 was so hot outside we're talking forty eight 00:07:03.170 --> 00:07:05.250 degrees celsius in summer kids couldn't play 00:07:05.250 --> 00:07:08.910 outside and at that point you just have to sometimes 00:07:08.910 --> 00:07:12.329 let it go forget about the house and being tidy 00:07:12.329 --> 00:07:15.170 all the time give them the blankets and the pillows 00:07:15.170 --> 00:07:17.509 you know leave it leave it up for a few days 00:07:17.509 --> 00:07:19.550 they will build their own thing you know give 00:07:19.550 --> 00:07:23.180 them some torches again books. pillows soft toys 00:07:23.180 --> 00:07:26.120 whatever they need to make it a magical experience 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:28.319 for them it's not going to stay there forever 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.600 maybe a few days a week at most and then you 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:32.540 can take it down and who cares if it's a little 00:07:32.540 --> 00:07:36.339 bit of a mess this is all about encouraging an 00:07:36.339 --> 00:07:39.639 amazing imaginative childhood not just about 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:45.389 always being super neat and tidy 12 gather some 00:07:45.389 --> 00:07:48.250 recycled materials like empty boxes and packaging 00:07:48.250 --> 00:07:51.730 and let kids create an animal sculpture or a 00:07:51.730 --> 00:07:54.189 monster and remember you'll need lots of tape 00:07:54.189 --> 00:07:59.110 and I mean lots of tape and again Encourage that 00:07:59.110 --> 00:08:01.829 independence. Don't solve the problems for them. 00:08:02.230 --> 00:08:04.769 You know, if you fix things for kids, the message 00:08:04.769 --> 00:08:07.509 you're giving them is you can't do it. I can 00:08:07.509 --> 00:08:10.329 do it better than you. So it is not always about 00:08:10.329 --> 00:08:13.189 what the thing looks like. It's the process. 00:08:13.550 --> 00:08:17.490 So allow them to make and glue and tape just 00:08:17.490 --> 00:08:20.529 however they want and give them that wonderful 00:08:20.529 --> 00:08:23.250 sense of satisfaction of creating something on 00:08:23.250 --> 00:08:26.709 their own. Number 13, get your favorite cake 00:08:26.709 --> 00:08:29.040 or cupcake. recipe and make a delicious treat 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:32.240 together and you know pay attention to the changes 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.720 in the ingredients when they're mixed and then 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:38.240 baked which is an amazing experience. Baking 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:40.720 and cooking with kids is really a hands -on science 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:43.000 experiment right there in your very own kitchen. 00:08:43.820 --> 00:08:46.740 Make them aware of changes with your questioning. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.980 Hey, what's happening to this now that we are 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:51.940 adding a liquid? Do you see how it changes? I 00:08:51.940 --> 00:08:53.519 wonder what's going to happen when we add the 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:56.059 eggs. Just think about some questions that you 00:08:56.059 --> 00:08:59.500 can ask just to get them thinking. They don't 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:01.570 have to feel like you... You're having a big 00:09:01.570 --> 00:09:04.789 lesson. It's just normal part of the everyday 00:09:04.789 --> 00:09:08.190 learning and everyday life. And before teen, 00:09:09.009 --> 00:09:12.169 how about taking a rug outside and just laying 00:09:12.169 --> 00:09:15.070 down and looking at the clouds? Children can 00:09:15.070 --> 00:09:17.190 imagine they want a cloud and they can make up 00:09:17.190 --> 00:09:20.110 a story about their adventures. Or how about 00:09:20.110 --> 00:09:23.029 reading Eric Carle's Little Cloud? It's really 00:09:23.029 --> 00:09:26.509 a great favorite with kids, especially for the 00:09:26.509 --> 00:09:28.970 younger children. And older kids can then go 00:09:28.970 --> 00:09:32.049 and have a look at books that are non -fiction 00:09:32.049 --> 00:09:36.230 and talk about different clouds. And if you can't 00:09:36.230 --> 00:09:38.289 lie outside during the day and look at clouds, 00:09:38.470 --> 00:09:40.889 well then do it at night and look at the stars 00:09:40.889 --> 00:09:44.990 instead. Number 15. Get a magnifying glass and 00:09:44.990 --> 00:09:46.850 encourage children to look closely at objects 00:09:46.850 --> 00:09:49.429 around your house or garden. This is going to 00:09:49.429 --> 00:09:52.649 keep them busy for quite a time. Encourage them 00:09:52.649 --> 00:09:55.509 then to draw and paint what they see. Number 00:09:55.509 --> 00:09:58.330 16 follows really on and that is to get out the 00:09:58.330 --> 00:10:00.669 paints and paint a picture. Perhaps a still life 00:10:00.669 --> 00:10:03.450 with plants or fruit or find some examples of 00:10:03.450 --> 00:10:06.429 still lives in a book or even better find inspiration 00:10:06.429 --> 00:10:11.590 by visiting an art gallery. Another option is 00:10:11.590 --> 00:10:14.470 simply just to allow your kids to paint and make 00:10:14.470 --> 00:10:16.769 whatever marks they like on a piece of paper 00:10:16.769 --> 00:10:19.350 using watercolors. You know, those paper rolls 00:10:19.350 --> 00:10:22.909 you get from Ikea are perfect for this. And also, 00:10:23.029 --> 00:10:25.929 I just want to say, you will be surprised at 00:10:25.929 --> 00:10:28.889 how many kids I have taught that tell me they 00:10:28.889 --> 00:10:30.789 don't paint at home because their mum doesn't 00:10:30.789 --> 00:10:34.009 want them to make a mess. Guys, just get a plastic 00:10:34.009 --> 00:10:38.730 sheet or plastic tarp or, I don't know, an old 00:10:38.730 --> 00:10:42.110 garbage bag. put it out there, allow the kids 00:10:42.110 --> 00:10:45.870 to paint and create and mess and afterwards just 00:10:45.870 --> 00:10:48.110 wash it down and wipe it down and there's really 00:10:48.110 --> 00:10:50.230 no harm done and you've encouraged kids to be 00:10:50.230 --> 00:10:53.250 creative. You know, you can't make an omelette 00:10:53.250 --> 00:10:56.009 without breaking some eggs and so you also can't 00:10:56.009 --> 00:10:59.909 be creative without getting messy. Number 17 00:10:59.909 --> 00:11:03.809 is get out those blocks or Lego and get your 00:11:03.809 --> 00:11:07.169 kids being creative, building a structure. And 00:11:07.169 --> 00:11:09.350 you know, it's also really important for kids 00:11:09.350 --> 00:11:12.149 to also not always just be doing busy, busy, 00:11:12.149 --> 00:11:15.190 busy things and running around. Sitting quietly, 00:11:15.769 --> 00:11:18.429 stacking, building and creating is a great way 00:11:18.429 --> 00:11:22.649 to encourage patience and perseverance and creativity 00:11:22.649 --> 00:11:25.870 and problem solving. So get out those blocks. 00:11:26.990 --> 00:11:30.450 Number 18. Have you got any old socks lying around 00:11:30.450 --> 00:11:34.450 at home? Well, they make great sock puppets. 00:11:34.549 --> 00:11:39.129 Just go onto YouTube and check out a tutorial 00:11:39.129 --> 00:11:42.169 on how to make a sock puppet. I remember doing 00:11:42.169 --> 00:11:44.190 this with my boys when they were little and they 00:11:44.190 --> 00:11:45.789 absolutely loved it. And actually, I've still 00:11:45.789 --> 00:11:48.230 got some of those sock puppets in a tub. You 00:11:48.230 --> 00:11:51.269 know, maybe I'll bring them out one day when 00:11:51.269 --> 00:11:53.409 there's other little children running around. 00:11:53.850 --> 00:11:56.309 But it's such a great activity for kids. Not 00:11:56.309 --> 00:11:59.590 only are they learning to be creative and not 00:11:59.590 --> 00:12:04.039 only are they learning how to perhaps glue or 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:08.480 sew very simply. But it's a really great way 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:11.139 to get that critical thinking going and problem 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:14.039 solving and just be creative and having fun. 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:17.659 And it's something different. Number 19 is go 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:20.279 on a discovery walk. You know when you go for 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:24.360 a walk, right? Kids always inevitably they'll 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:27.580 pick up something, a feather, a stick, a stone. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:31.039 It's just how we are. It's just human nature 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:35.240 well take a little bag with so that your child 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:37.419 can collect these interesting natural objects 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:41.559 and bring them home and then all those feathers 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:44.940 and leaves and rocks or seed pods or flowers 00:12:44.940 --> 00:12:49.440 or whatever they find you can then do number 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:52.879 20 which is use all this these natural objects 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:56.460 and classify them Group them according to their 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:59.440 shape, their color, their texture. This is great 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:04.519 for developing critical thinking. Number 21 is 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:06.500 encourage your children to come up with as many 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:10.139 questions about a found object as possible. Perhaps 00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:13.980 make a list. of questions that they can come 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:16.620 up with and this is great again to stimulate 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:18.419 that critical thinking that they're going to 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:20.379 need throughout their lives because you don't 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:23.480 want kids to just be sitting there like lumps 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:28.259 you want them to actually think and wonder and 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:30.399 so encouraging them to come up with questions 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:32.600 is amazing and you know what it's a difficult 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:34.639 thing to do especially if it's not something 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:38.139 they're used to so encourage questioning and 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:41.840 you can do this by modeling and you always asking 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:45.559 questions yourselves. And number 22 is to make 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:48.240 a nature journal to document your finds and discoveries. 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:53.059 And in the PDF that you will find in the show 00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:57.460 notes, there's a great little video clip of how 00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:59.320 to make your own paperback journal. So have a 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:02.809 look at that. Number 23, collect some sticks 00:14:02.809 --> 00:14:05.309 and come up with as many creative ways as you 00:14:05.309 --> 00:14:07.750 can with a stick. Allow your kids to decorate 00:14:07.750 --> 00:14:11.830 them by winding twine around them. Perhaps you 00:14:11.830 --> 00:14:14.970 can even attach some of those nature objects 00:14:14.970 --> 00:14:17.549 that you found like feathers or flowers or whatever 00:14:17.549 --> 00:14:21.029 and you can become a fairy wand or a talking 00:14:21.029 --> 00:14:24.110 stick or whatever you want. And the last one, 00:14:24.330 --> 00:14:27.049 lucky last, is to set up an obstacle course. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.659 and challenge your kids to see how quickly they 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:32.220 can complete it. Now here's a way that your kids 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:34.440 can actually get active. If you're indoors and 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:37.019 you can't get outside, use your furniture, use 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:40.200 lots of cushions and pillows. Again, I saw some 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:44.100 great examples of this on social media, especially 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:48.200 during COVID. If you just Google, I guess, homemade 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:51.039 obstacle courses for kids, I'm sure you'll find 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:54.769 something there. And so that's it, my list of 00:14:54.769 --> 00:14:57.789 24 fun things you can do with your kids these 00:14:57.789 --> 00:15:00.429 holidays. So thanks for listening, I hope you 00:15:00.429 --> 00:15:04.250 enjoyed this episode. And if you did, make sure 00:15:04.250 --> 00:15:06.110 to click that subscribe button wherever you're 00:15:06.110 --> 00:15:10.110 listening. And if anything I've said today resonates 00:15:10.110 --> 00:15:13.830 with you or you think that someone else might 00:15:13.830 --> 00:15:17.029 find it useful, then please share it and consider 00:15:17.029 --> 00:15:18.950 leaving a review which will really help me grow 00:15:18.950 --> 00:15:22.240 the show. So thanks so much and be sure to visit 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:25.179 me at bloomingcurious .com and listen out for 00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:28.080 our next episode next Tuesday. And remember, 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:30.980 curiosity isn't just a trait, it's a superpower. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:34.379 So until next time, stay blooming curious.