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A Summerland Oasis
Creating Outside Fun for Babies and Toddlers
By Amy Dingmann
Art projects that are too messy to do inside are easily taken care of when moved outdoors. Bringing art outdoors is also a good way to include fine motor activities in a toddler's outside fun.
"Toddlers love to use chalk to decorate the sidewalks or even paint on rocks," Harren says.
"Drag an easel outside," says Colleen Brown, mother of three from Canton, Mass. "They can paint away and hop in the kiddie pool afterwards. Talk about easy cleanup!"
Even indoor activities that aren't messy can take on new life when you bring them outdoors. Toys that have lost their zest and been tossed to the back of the closet can be revived when they are put in a sandbox or children's pool. With a change of scenery, old toys can become new again!
Another great idea, especially for toddlers, is a scavenger hunt. Whether items are placed by you, or nature, a scavenger hunt is a learning opportunity for parents and children alike.
"We like to find things in the yard and then use them to make crafts," says Palma Dean, a Canadian mother of two young girls. "Anything from flowers to rocks are treasures to a toddler's heart."
Many toddlers, depending on their stage of development, love to have their own space or hide from Mom or Dad. Provide your child with a small tent or create one together using a bed sheet. Pretend to have a campout, resting together on a blanket or sleeping bag. You can easily include a picnic meal to your campout – a highchair can be brought outside for babies, and a child-sized picnic table or blanket will accommodate toddlers. Choose foods that are developmentally appropriate and easy to serve and cleanup, such as crackers, sandwiches or fruit snacks. Remember paper towels or wipes for messy hands or spills.
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