Kid’s Gems: I’ve Peeled the Carrot!
Posted on 27 September 2011 by Susan Syddall in Art, Cooking
Recently, David has learnt to use the vegetable peeler. He sees this as a big achievement – as well he should! Whether I need one or not, I now have an eager helper who is more than willing to help peel the carrots. His eagerness was very apparent the …
Teaching Respect for Other’s Time
Posted on 17 July 2011 by Susan Syddall in Home School Gems
It’s been a while since I’ve taken the time to read a book – or done something for enjoyment purposes for me – apart from the boys. Why? My instant answer has always been – ‘I don’t have time’. This is something I’ve heard a lot of parents say.
Child-Initiated Learning
Posted on 15 July 2011 by Susan Syddall in Home School Gems, Parenting
Last night, Daniel decided that stewed apples would be delicious with the creamed rice we were cooking together. This decision ultimately led to a spontaneous learning activity.
Men On A Mission
Posted on 14 July 2011 by Susan Syddall in Home School Gems, Parenting HSG
As parents, we need to find a balance between keeping children safe and allowing them to extend their skills in as safe an environment as possible. There’s always an element of risk in everything we do …
Chalk Stories
Posted on 13 July 2011 by Susan Syddall in Art, Home School Gems, Language
Story time went outside yesterday. Armed with chalk the boys drew pictures on the little piece of concrete known as our driveway. After they’d drawn the pictures, they told stories about their drawings.
Target Practise
Posted on 12 July 2011 by Susan Syddall in Home School Gems, Homemade Toys, Messy Play
A large tree was the focus of one of our recent outdoor activities. The boys, armed with balloons filled with water, made the tree their target as they exercised their throwing skills.
Story Corner
Posted on 11 July 2011 by Susan Syddall in Home School Gems, Parenting HSG
Every now and then, the boys’ room gets rearranged to create new areas of interest. This week, story corner was the focus of attention. The basis of the new story corner is an old climbing structure …
Squishy Circuit Trains
Posted on 10 July 2011 by Susan Syddall in Home School Gems, Homemade Toys, Science for Kids
It had to happen! The boys had playdough with red, green and yellow lights and therefore there just absolutely had be some trains added to the mix. After all, if you’ve just learnt how to turn the lights on and off, you’ve got ready made train signals that actually work!
Science: Squishy Circuits
Posted on 9 July 2011 by Susan Syddall in Home School Gems, Science for Kids
Our play dough has lights!!! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that play dough could have anything to do with electricity but today we discovered that it can!
Flying Bugs
Posted on 8 July 2011 by Susan Syddall in Art, Home School Gems, Homemade Toys, Science for Kids
We’ve been playing with compressed air as we made our ‘flying bug’ machines. They were easy to make and fun to use. The flying bug machines are actually simple versions of pneumatic machines …
