A trip away with some pre trip reading (Edinburgh)

We had a short break to Edinburgh, mostly as a friend had a big birthday to celebrate which meant an opportunity to catch up with people we don’t see often.  We weren’t going to have much time to be real tourists but I wanted to do some pre trip things with Luath.

We reread Katie in Scotland as it features Edinburgh and also read a story about Greyfriars Bobby.  While away we saw some things featured in the books, mostly from the car.  Having previously read about some of the places definately helped them mean more to Luath.


As we planned a trip to the zoo we watched the Penguin and Panda cams a few times in the weeks beforehand.  Luath loved the penguins, especially as you can see them swimming under water.  Her favourite penguins were the Rock Hoppers.

The Panda tour was very interesting.  The male was asleep, but we saw the female eating and wandering around outdoors.  At one point the female panda sat on the floor so was out of view until I took Luath closer to the front.  When Luath saw the panda she shouted "found you" - I love that she thought the panda was playing hide and seek, maybe she was!
 
We spent a lot of time enjoying family and friends.  Luath had fun playing with some new friends and trying out new places.
      
(Luath is 26 months)
Shared with Monday Kid Cprner Blog Hop

Outdoors everyday – week 15

Still winter clothes on this week.  Here are some of the things we did while outdoors:
Looked under a log for beasties (we found a worm, beetles and slugs).  Banged sticks together trying to imitate a woodpecker we were listening to.  Smell a freshly cut tree.  Went on an adventurous walk, over logs, around tree roots, under and over wires.  Watched a sail boat.

(Luath is 26 months)

Book of the week – A new home for a Pirate by Ronda Armitage

Luath loves pirate stories, singing pirate songs and being a pirate. A New Home for a Pirate has been an enjoyable new read for us all this week.  Jed has had enough of being a pirate and leaves his family boat to look for a new home.  His family help him pack all the essentials – a rope, clean underpants, great granddad’s old wooden peg leg. Along the way looking for a house on a hill he helps some animals using something from his essentials kit. Each animal then joins him in is search.
(Luath is 26 months)

Toddler Craft – Using Ring binder hole stickers

I thought Luath and I might make some ladybirds together.  Initially I thought we could punch out holes from sticky address labels but I changed this to use ring binder hole stickers when I spied them in the drawer.  I set Luath up with some milk bottle tops, stickers and colouring items.  I added some different objects later.
    
Luath was able to remove the stickers herself which she loved.  She was very engaged in this activity. We made a ladybird together.
 
She made what she called a butterfly.
 
And a few others.

After she had finished with the stickers she started the ladybird and butterfly talking to each other. A very simple activity but which was long lasting and enjoyable.
(Luath is 26 months)
Shared with Tuesday tots via Rainy Day mum

Indoor Play – Who is it?

We were reading Chocolate Mousse For Greedy Goose by Julia Donaldson and were on possibly the third read through.  It is a great book but to lengthen the story slightly I pointed to the illustrations in the book.  On the edge of each double page there is a glimpse of who is coming next in the story.
   
I would ask Luath, who is this?  We then progressed to placing one of Luath’s guys (soft toys) behind the book and having a little of them pop out.  Luath would then tell me who it was.  She immediately knew them all no matter how little I showed.
 
“It was me” as Luath says

A few weeks later on a very sunny morning we played a similar game.  This time I had Luath look at the wall and I would hold up a toy and she had to guess who it was from the shadow.  Luath found it a bit difficult not to peep while I was picking up a toy, but she had fun.

(Luath is 26 months)
Shared with Tuesday tots via Rainy Day mum
and with Read.Explore.Learn at JDaniel4’s Mom

Outdoors Everyday – week 14

Blue skies and sunshine but cold.  We spent a lot of time outdoors this week.  Some of the things we did were:
Collecting eggs.  Put sticks on a pile.  Walked along a wall.  Bounced a ball against a wall.  Made stone towers (and knocked down).  Saw a red sun and a wildfire.  Hide in the rushes feeling sad.  Tried different rocks as seats.  Throw stones in the loch, got wet gloves, so had to wear mummy’s gloves.  Watched a lamb.  Ran down a slope.  Got a small cut on head.

(Luath is 26 months)

Book of the week – Three Billy Goats Fluff by Rachel Mortimer

Luath loves the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.  Mainly due to the troll as she also enjoys The Troll by Julia Donaldson.  There is a bridge in our local woods that we call the troll’s bridge.  Luath also has some bridges with her train set and these always have to be included in any layout, often with a troll underneath.

Therefore when I saw Three Billy Goats Fluff in the library I was sure she would love it and she has.  It is the traditional tale with a slight twist.  A troll has moved to a new bridge but he didn’t realise it was so noisy.  It is the only bridge between the mountain and the pasture.  Everyday the goats trip trap over the bridge to eat some grass to make their coats fluffy so Mother goat can use the fine fleece for her knitting.  The troll has had enough, he is tried and grumpy from no sleep so tells the goats no more trip trapping or he will eat them.  Mother goat finally comes up with an idea to solve the problem.
(Luath is 26 months)

Craft – a quick bunny’s tail

Luath and I made a quick bunny’s tail together.
I squashed a toilet paper roll lengthwise.  Cut two notches to make into a H shape.

We wound some wool around the tube.   I had cut a length of wool to make it easier to handle.

I then threaded the wool under the winded wool and tied this.  I cut though the wool on the oppostie side to the knot.  I then did quite a bit of trimming to make it into a tail shape.

Luath decided she would prefer to wind the wool from the big ball around the doll’s house.

(Luath is 26 months)