Summer Fun

Waterfall we found while driving on the Blue Ridge Park Way.  It was just beautiful!

I know summer is over but I wanted to share a few of the things I did over the summer with my big man.  1st off if you have a local library you should really check into what kinds of activities they provide for the littlest reader.  We have just recently started attending and it is a great way for my kiddo to have some interaction with other kiddos and really begin to love books and the concept of reading for fun.

We do not pay for television so no cable, no satellite means no Disney or these other cartoon channels but it does leave us with some great educational shows on PBS.  I limit the amount of tv time Conner gets but I do try to let him see some of his faves.  And right now he loves Dinosaur Train and Sid the Science Kid.  Both of which are fantastic, by the way and focus on science.  Toddlers are naturally curious about the world around them and how it works so it is a great time to explore nature and why things work or do what they do.  Using these shows as a spring board we go on little nature walks and I ask him open ended questions.

One day while in his kiddie pool we found the neatest iridescent bug hiding in a cup.  We talked about how it looked, why it was there, how it got there, how it would get out, if we thought it could fly, etc.  We had the greatest little lesson and conversation all because we took the time to check out a bug that I would have normally shaken off so he could play.

This bug is several different colors.  We took turns making hypothesis as to whether the bug can fly, where it lived, if it had a family,etc.

We also took two trips to the children's museum this summer.  It is about 2 hours away from us but so worth it.  All the activities are aimed at children his age and all kid friendly.  I highly recommend finding the closest one to you and checking it out. 

And the zoo, who doesn't like animals.  We spent a day at the zoo, just checking out the animals and comparing then.

We visited our local aquarium twice over the course of the spring and summer.

Our last little hoora was at the end of the summer.  The first weekend of fall actually.  We stole away for our "summer vacation" free from the bustle of everyone else.  We took a trip to the mountains and an amusement park.  It was lovely just the sights but also teaching Conner to appreciate the little things around him and God's wonder in the creation of all these things.  Even at the amusement park talking about the train (which he is fascinated by he LOVES trains) and how much coal it used and how many people it takes to run a train and how that used to be one of the only forms of transportation.

 

So I guess the most important thing is just taking the time to talk with your little one and spend some quality time with them.  We did not do anything out of this world this summer or go any where fabulous but we still had a great time visiting local places around us and just being outside.

I still cannot believe summer has already come and gone so quickly.  What were some of your favorite summer time adventures?