Woman to Woman
Vol. 5, No. 4
“And ye are complete in him.” Colossians 2:10
July/Aug. 2002
Entertaining Children Outdoors
By Victoria Purdie
I don’t know
about you, but as a
child I couldn’t stand
being indoors on a
sunny day or even a
warm cloudy one.
Even if I just lay un-
der a tree and watch-
ed ants go past, I was
happy to be outside.
Here are some
ideas to help encourage your children to the outdoors if they
are usually preferring to be inside, and ideas to help entertain
the children who spend most of their time outside anyway.
Wash Everything in Sight
Give your children a bucket of soapy water and a sponge
or old rag, and encourage them to clean things like their bikes
or tricycles, muddy gumboots, plastic outdoor furniture,
flower pots, the letterbox, side of the garage, steps and any-
thing else that is suitable to be washed. Not only do things get
clean, but also children love to play with soppy water and feel
like they are achieving something at the same time.
Flower Arrangements
Teach your children how to pick flowers so that there is
enough stem to put into a vase. If they are old enough, they
can pick flowers for you to take indoors, or for young chil-
dren, provide a saucer of water or a plastic cup for them to ar-
range flowers in. You can make other types of arrangements
by putting some soil into a flat-bottomed plastic container
(like you get at Chinese takeaways). Provide some plastic
animals and watch your children create a miniature garden or
farm setting.
Green Fingers
Allocate a small area of your garden or provide plastic
plant pots, and fill with dirt. Give your children some seeds,
and let them do the whole bit of sowing, watering, then har-
vesting the goodies, whether they be vegetables or flowers.
Your children are more likely to respect your main gardens,
if they are allowed to have their own part of it, and can see
and taste the results of their efforts. If you don’t want to pur-
chase any packaged seeds, try planting seeds that come out
of pumpkins, tomatoes, capsicums and any other vegetables
that you buy commercially.
Toss the Pegs
Provide a plastic bucket (or a plastic ice cream container)
and your clothes peg [clothespin] collection or purchase some
plastic pegs just for your child. Show them how to toss the
pegs into the bucket, moving further away, the better they get.
Walking Amongst Nature
Take your children on a small walk with a bag each, to
collect such natural items as empty cicada shells, tree gum,
acorns, twigs, leaves, skeleton leaves, smooth stones, flow-
ers, etc. Once back at home, you could sort them into groups,
(Continued on page 10)
Inside This Issue:
Editorial
Progressions to Life ················Page 2
Happy Homemaking and Family Harmony
Our Castles ····················Page 4
Scripture Study
“A Tree to be Desired” ··············Page 6
Health is Wealth
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made ·········Page 8
Come Sit at the Feet of Jesus
The Fall and Restoration of Eve ·········Page 11
Spotlight on Orphans
Flooding at OBREC ···············Page 12
Bridge to Day Break ···············Page 13
Wee Wit & Wisdom
···············Page 14
A Page from My Experience
The Happiest Day of My Life ··········Page 15
When I Read the Bible Through ·········Page 15
The Holy Bible
···················Page 16
