|
| |
Eva
Job 42.15 "And in all the land were no women found as fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren."Eva Marie Rozier was born August 9, 1979, at Fort McClellan (Anniston) Alabama. Unlike her sister, Joy, Eva ...
Top Ten Best Excuses To Not Use The Time Of Your Life
“Time is on my side, yes, it is!” Each time I think of time, Mike Jagger’s melody enters my mind… For me it is a song, for another a tragedy. What is time, that it consumes so many of us; how much of it we have, how little, what to do with it, how to ...
What To Do If Your Child Is Accused Of Being A Bully
Tips on what to do if your child is, or is accused of, being a bully. Has your child been labeled a bully? What do you do when they’ve been accused? Parents, just like children, fall into the 'transference of blame' syndrome. I've heard various ...
|
|
|
|
| |
A garden - the perfect, outdoor summer classroom. In a medium that is hands-on and does not have to be censored, a garden can keep your child learning and curious during the summer and possibly sow the seeds of a lifelong hobby, interest, or even vocation. Of course, science is the obvious "course" in the garden with botany, biology, horticulture, and ecology lessons already prepared. Math, art, literature, and even social studies activities can also be integrated into your gardening "curriculum."
It's all there in your own backyard if you have a garden. If not, you can create container gardens using interesting finds and recycles for containers. Even old shoes and boots make interesting containers.
Less expensive than video games, with a garden, you actually get a return on your investment (a lesson in economics!) with the beauty and fragrance of flowers, the harvest of fresh vegetables and the pride of creating and growing a garden. Family togetherness and serenity are additional, intangible benefits from garden activities.
A child's garden is just that - a place for a child to observe, explore, and interact with nature in its purest form. It doesn't have to be large; in fact, small is good, so that it is not overwhelming or intimidating. As the child and his or her interests grow, then the size of the garden can grow also. Child-sized garden tools help master the chores in the garden, making them more like fun than work. Even old spoons can be "'borrowed" for small hands to use for digging.
Getting started is simple - a small plot of dirt or potting soil, plastic pots or clean yogurt containers, and a variety of seeds are the basics - nothing elaborate or expensive. A garden is not for instant gratification. Instead, it encourages and teaches patience as we check, double check, and even triple check to see whether the seed treasures we buried in the soil have peeked out from their hiding places. However, fast-sprouting, quick-growing plants are best for younger children to maintain their interest. Sunflowers, radishes, marigolds, lettuce, gourds, beans, and nasturtiums are good for first-time, eager gardeners and are almost fail-proof.
A seed is a promise for the future. From all sizes like specks of dust, barely visible to the unaided eye, to baseball-size coconuts, they hold all the genetic information and nutrients to help fulfill the promise. Just add soil, water, light and TLC. Tiny seeds can become jumbo, heavy weight tomatoes or huge pumpkins that can grow into the pump"kings" of the garden.
Garden "families" that have giant as well as miniature
members are fun for children and can teach them the variety and diversity of similar plants. Tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, pumpkins, and zinnias all have both jumbo and pixie sizes, plus they are easy to grow. Children can practice measuring and weighing pumpkins, watermelons and tomatoes during their growth cycles, while the prolific zucchini is especially noted for its length. There are many contests for the biggest specimen of these plants where young gardeners can show off the fruits of their labor. At the other extreme are the miniatures - patio or bite size tomatoes, "baby" basketball-sized watermelons, and mini pumpkins that just fit a small hand.
These plants also provide other fun diversions for children in the garden. Some boast nontraditional colors like orange tomatoes and ghostly white or gray pumpkins. Melons, pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers are excellent for "tattoos" or autographs. Just gently scratch your name or a design in the fruit when it is small. As it grows, the "tattoo" or signature will grow and expand with the plant.
The fast-growing sunflower can become a yardstick to compare a child's height with the sunflower's growth. When the sunflower head is just taller than the child, mark his or her height on the stem with a bright ribbon. Watch as the ribbon grows higher and higher as the sunflower eventually towers above the child. Sunflower heads also make interesting autumn decorations and good bird feeders to invite birds to your yard in the autumn and winter.
Every child needs a magical, enchanted place to daydream, imagine, and make-believe. A towering teepee of beans, nasturtiums or any fast-growing, climbing plants provides a perfect child's retreat. A simple frame can be made with six bamboo poles or even broom sticks approximately six feet long. Plant the base firmly in the soil in the shape of a "C." The opening will be the door. Tie together at the top with rope or old nylon hose. Plant beans, nasturtiums, morning glories, or other vining plants at the base of each pole. For an "indoor - outdoor" carpet, plant shade-loving grass seed inside the teepee and you have a shady retreat perfect for picnics, games, tea parties, reading, or even a camouflage fort.
The garden is a dynamic microworld that changes seasonally, daily, and even hourly. Simple activities from the "good old days" like a garden scavenger hunt, fashioning flower dolls from hollyhock blossoms, crafting miniature boats from pea pods, or making seed collages and pressing flowers can encourage creativity and pass the summer hours while making pleasant memories for the future.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Most Popular Baby Names in MassachusettsPatch.comBy Richard Hosford Top baby names in Massachusetts for 2011: William and Sophia. Patch File Photo Maybe it the Royal Wedding had something to do with the top boys name in Massachusetts – William – but his bride's name, Kate (or Catherine), ... |
|
Sophia, William Top Baby Names in Virginia in 2011Patch.comBy Will Sommer William Finley Bartels, the son of Patch Northern Virginia Regional Editor Beth Lawton. Beth Lawton Sophia and William were the most popular names for girls and boys last year in Virginia, according to new data from the Social Security ... |
|
Top Baby Names In NevadaKLAS-TVMore>> LAS VEGAS -- Officials say Sophia and Anthony were the top baby name picks among Nevada parents in 2011. The Social Security Administration says the 221 babies named Sophia puts Nevada in line withMore>> LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas Fire ...and more » |
|
