Soaking...

We're soaking up the last few bits of sun, for while I am approaching each day as though this sun is always here and it is always warm (the way I wish it could be sometimes), I am very aware that I am in the Pacific Northwest and the rains will come soon. Of course, that will mean my own built in watering system, lots of puddles to jump in, a house filled with warmth and the scents of fall time cooking, and of course Zeal is looking forward to his ritual of collecting the rain water and all the experiments that will bring.

For now, on with our soaking.

And, oh yes, by the way, this is a piece about problem-solving I was asked to write for Savvy Source that is featured today. I do believe the topic deserves its very own book, but for now (at least while the sun is shining so and while so many other projects are in the works), this will have to do.

Top Ten Things Every Creative Family Needs

My Top Ten List -
Excerpted from an interview over at First impressions.

A home that encourages creative thinking and expression would include:

1. At least one adult (preferably more) who engages the child with thoughtful interaction and also models wondering about the world and a desire to learn.

2. An understanding of the child’s unique ways of learning.

3. Easy access to a variety of materials that allow exploration and creation – there are many lists in the book that are organized by category, but they might include: a wide variety of art supplies, containers for collections, cooking supplies, dress-up materials, music, natural objects, and things to count, classify and organize.

4. An activation of all the senses. I believe children (and adults) should always have opportunity to see, taste, touch, smell, and listen to the world around them so they can really begin to understand it.

5. Stories: An important aspect of nurturing to love learning is to provide them with a language rich environment, which includes such things as labels, notes, and a wide variety of books that include stories, poetry, and informational text. Children also very much need our own words and stories and they need to not always focus on the printed word. When we tell stories to kids, we connect with them and use imagination in a different way than when we read to them.

6. Quiet spaces that provide an opportunity for children to absorb all they take in each day and rejuvenate themselves.

7. A regular connection with nature: studies show that children who play outside in natural environments (not just on playground equipment) play more creatively than those who don’t. So I think the most important creativity tool is the great outdoors.

8. Great questions that really make the child think about the world around them, including questions that allow children to ponder without being told an answer.

9. Laughter. Failure (which leads to success). Acceptance.

10. Less stuff!

What floats his boat...

Zeal loves to both weave and experiment with what floats and sinks. So what better combination than playing with water plants? Here's his few cattail boats that are still enjoying themselves in our kitchen sink and bathtub. Such fun!

Can you tell which one was only able to float on its side?

The September issue of Wonderwise

Dear Friends,

I'll begin by offering an apology for this issue of Wonderwise being a tad bit late - I spent the Labor Day weekend in bed with a mysterious and out-of the-blue illness, but am rearing to go again now.

I have to admit: September is always the hardest month for me to get a newsletter out to you. And, as some of you long time readers know, I have been known to actually skip it altogether in years past. I contemplated that again this year, but instead decided to break that nasty habit and share a few thoughts with you, as I so enjoy doing. :)

As a former elementary school teacher, this month has always been special to me: it's a busy time filled with self-reflection, renewal, and always lots of goal setting. And for our family, it continues to be that. This summer, as we do many summers, we spent a lot of time traveling and outdoors. And it's the first days of September that find us coming back inside and making plans for the next seasons to come.

So in this issue of Wonderwise, you will find a little bit about Goal Setting that I hope will inspire you to reflect on your and your children's dreams, as well as a little bit of writing about Water Play and where on the web you can find it.

Wishing you a very happy beginning to your September!

---

If you would like a forwarded copy of this month's Wonderwise, just ask by clicking on the contact tab above. Or sign up to start receiving it regularly here.

How wonderful that reading can take place anywhere, anyhow!

Here's Zeal's new favorite reading spot: legs over the arm of the couch, surrounded by pillows, with Bionicles lurking nearby and the doggy's listening in. Jammies are a must!

















A love of reading never just happens, but when it can be done in the most comfortable of spaces it is certainly encouraged!

"A Great Day for Volcanoes!"

Kitchen and science "experiments" around here often lead us back to our favorite two ingredients to just play with: baking soda and vinegar! It seems these are the kinds of things that often show up in science fairs and a few classrooms. Around here, they might as well be considered everyday objects.

The ways in which Zeal likes to play with these two wonderful ingredients are more varied than I can probably recall and write down here, but here's the short list of some favorites:

-use an eye dropper to dribble vinegar on a pile or line of baking soda
-tape two plastic cups together, create a hole in the top and get baking soda and vinegar to react and ooze out the top
-add baking soda and vinegar to a bottle, cork it, and count to see how long it takes for the cork to pop! Repeat, and repeat again, trying each time to get the cork to shoot higher!

Zeal worked on this latest and more resembling of a volcano than any of his other baking soda-vinegar forays for a week: first building it from a container, tape and newspaper, then papier-macheing it thoroughly (a few days' project), then painting it,

















and finally letting it blow! (or ooze, if you prefer)



Today, he pulled it out again and said, "Today is a great day for Volcanoes! Let's go to the park!" So we grabbed the necessary supplies and walked the few steps from our front door to our neighborhood park where he made it a community event.

Here's our favorite easy recipe for papier-måché:

Mix 1 part glue and 1 part water. Dip dryer lint, newspaper, or colored tissue paper strips into the glue mixture and gently lay them onto the object of your choice. Let your sculpture dry in a warm area for 2-3 days.

and our favorite combination of lava: baking soda, vinegar, red food coloring, and a touch of dishwashing soap (we keep Dawn around just for projects like this - it also makes the best bubbles!)

















By the time they got past the initial eruptions, the kids got really into the "hands-on" experience and, eruption after eruption, the lava got redder and sudsier than ever. They had a wonder-full time!

Evaluating Marketing to Children (and encouraging creativity in the process)

We know that children are now marketed to like never before. As well, they are inundated with marketing and fast paced imagery and spend more time with media than ever before. It has also been proven that children before the age of 8 (and sometimes 10) cannot distinguish between media-related fantasy and reality. That said, popular culture can be creative, but we need quiet spaces for creativity to emerge. And in order to get to that creative space, we first need to simply look at what our children are exposed to. Here are a few quick questions to ask when evaluating media use and marketing to our children.

How often are children exposed to marketing in...
-The foods you eat?
-The places you shop?
-The music you listen to?
-Computer use?
-The games they play?
-Organizations your involved in?

Do kids have an opportunity to...
-Play outside?
-In natural environments?
-Choose quiet time?
-Activate all their senses?
-Have unstructured, imaginative play?
-Witness questioning?