The Garage – Day Trips  – sparks

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MUM-e-Mail

To equip and encourage

mothers of preschoolers and their supporters

July 2008

Mother Maxim -

A mother without a van is like a beautiful fountain without water. <grin>

 

Mother Moment - Day Trips With Kids

Need an adventure for you and your preschooler? Here’s some ideas to get you out of the house.

"A day trip is a vacation without the hassles of luggage and reservations," writes Cindy Sumner in her book, Planes, Trains and Automobiles - With Kids. "No matter where you live, there is most likely something interesting to see or do within two hours of home. Check your local newspaper for special events.

"Day trips offer preschoolers the opportunity to 'practice' travelling, as well as to see something new.

Here are some places for children to visit:

Construction sites: Enjoy the fresh air while you watch the cranes and dump trucks from a safe distance.

Pet Shops and farms. Some stores and working farms allow kids to actually feed and pet the animals.

Orchards and farmers' markets. Pick apples or buy the week's produce.

Sticks and stones. The closest pond or creek can give a child an hour of pleasure, just tossing in pebbles. If a footbridge is available, play a game of Pooh Sticks by dropping sticks into the river on one side of the bridge and seeing who's stick comes out first on the other side.

Bakery or pizza shop. Look around for a bakery or pizzeria where your child can watch the food being prepared. Ask the store manager for a short tour and demonstration.

Library. Your local library or one in a nearby town or suburb. Read stories. Show them the kids animal magazines, do some puzzles, have them handle and ‘read’ a board book.

Enjoy exploring the world around you by taking day trips with your children!

- Adapted from MOMSense Radio, c. 2001.

Mother’s Heart

I can get tired of driving around doing errands, taking children to classes and for outings, but may I see this time (with my ‘captive’ audience) as singing-, laughing-, question and answer-, and game- time that builds familial bonds. It can be quantity and quality time where my values are gently instilled in my child/ren.

 

Mentor Mum Moment

My “Not-To-Do’ List - it can be the things we choose not to do that makes the load lighter.

 

MOPS Mums blogs

http://boomerbabesrock.com/blog/mops-convention/

http://onetoughmothertalk.blogspot.com/ - Julie Barnhill, author, has made MOPS appearances http://onetoughmothertalk.blogspot.com/2008/05/338-am-thoughts.html

http://alphamops.wordpress.com/

http://highlandmops.blogspot.com/

 

Mum’s e-Mail

We’re nearing the end of the tour around the HOME. Today, was the garage. Most garages have a vehicle in them, but I’m guessing there are at least some of you who have a whole lot more than a van or car in your garage. Ours seems to be the repository for boxes, garden rubbish (waiting to go to the organic recycling), broken chairs (waiting to be fixed), the now-unused baby furniture (waiting for ?), and a whole lot more that hasn’t been sorted, cleaned, or reorganised lately! Maybe it’s time to consider decluttering. Next time – on MUM-e-Mail.

MOPS Link

www.mops.org.nz

NZ MOPS Leaders Conference, 1-3 August 2008.

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