I've always held that outdoor play is good for both kids and adults. It was quite shocking when the school boards began keeping kids indoors for recess on cold days below a certain temperature. It took the kids 10 minutes to get their winter clothes on, it was good exercise in and of itself. The kids who were not dressed for it were sent to the lost and found where they were suitably attired. Often kids weren't dressed for rain. That's another story.As a teacher, I ensured I was dressed for it, as I enjoyed being outdoors. Some teachers like to choose to have their outdoors duties all on one day. I remember acting as a supply teacher for a teacher who regularly booked off sick on the day she had 3 outdoor yard duties. That really ticked me off!
Well, that is behind me. I'm really happy to be retired, other than the nightmares about teaching. This morning, it was dreaming I was in university, and we couldn't find enough shower rooms to get up for the day. I've never been in residence. I lived at home while I was going to school, taking the subway to Ryerson. Then I was taking a course in personal defense for women.
Anyway, here is our three-day, two night adventure on this, our Ontario Family Day!
First, set-up. She is her mother's daughter! When Caitlin would come home between semesters, if she didn't have a co-op placement, she would re-organize the tupperware drawer, or redo the linen cupboard! She has her M. Sc., you see. I'm very proud of her. We call her 'Mom' and work hard to clean up before they arrive.
Grampa and Izzy went out for a walk, after he checked out his deer. Grampa had spotted 18 deer in the yard last night. He loves his deer friends.
Grampa bought us dessert!
Sadly, Isabelle forgot her backpack of clothes at home. She had diligently packed her things. Her great-grampa's sweatshirt worked as a housecoat!
It was a cold start to the day. Josee had indoor play, and we watched some DVDs after breakfast.
Mommy and Grampa went into the Giant Wild Cat store and bought some undies and a top and sweat pants.
Grampa always buys some 'Close Eyes' for the girls. This time: a dinosaur that roared and a lovely necklace.
How else did we spend out time? Isabelle asked me to set up the craft table, and we coloured in some mermaids, and a unicorn. The cats were content to sleep in the sun. Grapa liked out work.
"How about going outside, Gramma Jenn?" We found field mouse tracks in the snow. We played hide and seek.
The cut logs (too big for the fireplace) make great drums! Next, it was off to the wetland. She always picks up a stick. This time, she whacked away at the dried bulrushes, then flung herself onto the piles of snowy leaves. They make a lovely rustling sound. The fallen conifer was quite intriguing to her.
Along the way, we found a spot where the deer had bedded down overnight. Isabelle tried out the beds. They were pretty cold!
Back indoors, to play school. Izzy drew a Valentine tree. Dasiy approved. There were several pretend phone calls, including one from Mommy telling us we had to go to the doctor for a Flu Shot. Izzy had to do a sign for the doctor's office, in the other room. She realized that the arrow pointed the wrong way. She determined that we could put it upside down and still read the sign.
We watched some movies and had a TV dinner. Pizza!
Mommy and Papa came back for lunch the next day. Mommy made some soup, while they played outside. Of course, they did a science experiment before lunch.
Steamy water from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Off they went to a surprise birthday party, and all that was left was a slider!
14 comments:
I always enjoyed going outside when I had yard duty, and came dressed for it, while many of the kids never did.
Looks like you had lots of fun with the girls. Our grandkids are coming today ... baking, colouring, movies, and crafts are on the schedule already, plus whatever they decide they want to do as they usually come with a list of things.
What a great time you all seem to have!
Far too many schools have done away with recess time, in or out. I think it is criminal. My grandson's school does not have recess, they have brain breaks. They do have some outside time as part of lunch break.
This is the best fun, and you now have memories of super times with the grandies. Do you have enough slope to skid on the slider?
You are building some great memories for those sweet grandchildren of yours. Loved this post and I am leaving smiling. Thank you :)
Well, you're having great family day weekend. My teacher dream is that I retire and I haven't finished my degree so I'm taking classes to get my degree. Clothing today is not suitable to send kids outdoors. Schools are overheated. The clothing is awkward and not at all warm. But yes, I think kids should go outside.
Hari OM
Wow, the girls are growing! That was a great family time... the cake looks lush!!! YAM xx
Oh my, it looks like you all had a blast!
Looks like you had fun! The photos tell the tale of how cold it has been.
It looks like a good time was had by all.
I have to be outside for at least a little bit every day no matter the weather.
Awesome, fun family photos!! I love being outdoors, even in winter...but I also love to bunker down in when it's cold! Beautiful captures of the deer!!
How fun! And what great memories. When my stepdaughter was young, we all went sledding...VERY exhausting. I realized I have zero tolerance for being out in the freezing cold anymore! As for nightmares about work...I still have nightmares that I'm working for state government--a job I resigned from two and a half years ago. In the dream, I'm almost always aware that I need to resign to write full-time, and I'm stressing about how to break it to my boss. That was a stressful moment in my time there, but it wasn't stressful enough to still be haunting my dreams more than two years later!
What good times!
what a wonderful family day you had Jenn! The video is so neat, I should've tried that when it was so cold the other day.
You always have so much fun with the girls (and they with you). I heard a story a while ago on NPR about how healthy kids are in Finland (I think it was -- one of the Nordic countries anyway) and it is because they go out for recess every day no matter how cold it is.
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