Let's Go Outside!: Outdoor Activities and Projects to Get You and Your Kids Closer to Nature by Jennifer Ward

Imagine Childhood: Exploring the World Through Nature, Imagination, and Play by Sarah Olmsted

I received a ton of books for Christmas, most of which are waiting on my bedside table to be read. But I did find the time over the winter break to dip into two of them aimed at getting kids outside to play (a constant struggle in our house).


Let's Go Outside is the simplest of the two -- it's basically just a practical list of 52 projects and activities to do outdoors. From instructions on fort building to ideas for nature walks to rules for games you probably played as a kid but forgot all about (Sardines, anyone?), it covers all seasons and weather (we can't wait for some snow to try the DIY snowshoe project). Probably my favorite part of the book is that it grows with the child, adding ways to take each project further for different skill levels. (Example: While the little ones search for ladybugs in the grass, big kids are encouraged to keep a field guide comparing the different species of ladybugs they find and marking down special characteristics).

Imagine Childhood is more for the craftier set, as the focus is on making things using ingredients found in nature or celebrating nature -- earth houses, flower wands, or four seasons capes. There's a lot of text describing the importance of outdoor activity and memories of play pulled from the author's own childhood, which I admittedly leafed past, but the photos are gorgeous and inspiring. Some of the 25 projects are in-depth enough to make them more for the older set -- six to ten-year-olds, maybe? -- but I've earmarked a few for Anouk and me to try (we're definitely building tents in the backyard this summer -- they'll be perfect for Let's Go Outside's moonlight story time).

Did you get any new reads for the holidays? What are your favorite ways to get your kids outside?

(Speaking of getting out of doors, over at Fun and Free Hampton Roads, I blogged about FREE admission to the Norfolk Botanical Garden until January 19. Check it out!)

It makes me feel a little guilty to admit it, but I'm not much of a play pretend type of mom -- I really can't make myself sit down and play Barbies or dolls for too long without wanting to bang my head against the wall. Enter: board games, the perfect way to occupy a toddler for an hour or two without it being too painful. With the winter months coming up, and the prospect of many hours indoors looming on the horizon, I've been stocking up on board games lately and we've amassed a pretty impressive collection.

Anouk just turned 3 and a half, and knows her letters, colors, and shapes, but even so, some of the more complicated board games are still a little advanced for her. Through a little investigation, though, we've come up with a good stock of games that are advanced enough to hold her attention without being too much.

Here's our list so far. What have we missed?
Penguin Pile Up: Balancing the penguins on a slippery iceberg is the aim of this game (first one to get all of them up there wins). For the littlest players, the iceberg can be set flat on the table so it's not so much of a challenge. A little difficult but satisfying when you get it and tons of fun.

Green Eggs and Ham Game: This one involves matching images with squares on the board to win. A must for Dr. Seuss fans.

Eeboo Tea Party Game: The first person to collect all of the pieces (plates, cup, food) wins. But beware of hungry bees! This game is an award-winner and probably Anouk's favorite right now. It also comes with its own tablecloth, which is pretty nifty.

Hi Ho Cherry-o: A counting game that's quick and easy. Keeping track of all the little cherry pieces, on the other hand...

I Spy Bingo: Find each of the items on the cards on a square on your board and you might get bingo! Teaches letters and letter sounds, with a more difficult option for older kids.

Go Fish card game: The old classic and you can find it everywhere, even the dollar store. There are some adorable vintage versions available on Etsy.

Memory: We have several versions of this matching game, but our favorite is probably one we made ourselves out of card stock and stickers. Pinterest has some great ideas if you're looking to DIY.

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse: Created by Eric Carle, this coloring game combines creativity and fine motor skills. We previously reviewed it here.

ThinkFun Move and Groove: Not really a board game but we're including it anyway. Roll the soft plush cube and choose a card to act out the movement. We really appreciate that nobody "wins" with this game, it helps a lot with the meltdowns (we're still working on how to lose gracefully). ThinkFun sent us this one to review and it's still a favorite.

Just as a side note: A good number of these games A. and I picked up at the thrift store, on various shopping expeditions, for a dollar or less apiece. It never occurred to me before to look at the board games section but it's turned out to be a pretty stellar resource for games. Just be sure to check and make sure that all (or most?) of the pieces are there before you buy!

We've been enjoying all of our Christmas presents over the past few weeks but one of the big hits for us as a family has been a little unassuming board game -- a coloring game called The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, based on a book of the same name by Eric Carle. Anouk got it from her Aunt Bonne, who has a knack for picking out some of the best presents. Thank you, Auntie B.!

The concept is simple: each player gets a handful of small drawings and has to take turns coloring them in. The one who finishes the first is the winner. There are very clearly defined rules (you can only use the color you are given at any certain point) but there's also a lot of room for creativity, too (you can color your drawing in any way you want). Which makes it pretty much the perfect game for the wiggly, I-do-it-myself toddler stage (though I think older kids, and even adults, would enjoy this game just as much. James and I can get pretty cutthroat over it, it brings out our competitive streaks.)






This is the first board game we've ever played with A, and it's gotten me really excited about doing it again in the future. What board games do you play with your family? And am I the only one who thinks there's something incredibly soothing about coloring?

Happy Monday!