Nature

     In honor of Earth day, April 22nd, we decided to make "Nature" our theme of the month. From gathering for playdates at John Janzen Nature Centre, going for walks and a  fun filled Earth Day Picnic, I'd say April was a busy month.  For those unfamiliar to the John Janzen Nature Centre, it houses an indoor playground,while encompassing a forest like feel. In it, there are beehive tunnels, caves, giant treehouse, a beaver damn, and my favorite, the giant mushroom. I am a mother of a toddler, and I have to say, this playground by far is the best I've seen my little potato enjoy. I think us mothers who got the chance to take our kids here, welcomed the fun atmosphere and opportunity to chit chat about life. The centre also houses a classroom where our kids got to don insect back packs, pretend to be squirrels burrowing, and even color against a faux tree bark footprint of various animals.
    Our Earth Day Picnic was our first big event since the birth of " Mamas and Tots", and I'd say it was a success, despite the cold rain of the venue. Mamas and their tots, along with a very helpful daddy, gathered at a favorite park, for a potluck picnic, with Earth Day considerations in mind. I for one, brought chocolate cupcakes (to look like mud) with gummy worms on top for this occasion. I organized and led an arts and crafts project consisting of the reuse of coffee filters, to depict earth from the view of our toddlers. My cohost, Chani, organized and led the making of binoculars out of toilet paper for our last activity of the day, which was a nature walk/scavenger hunt. And while we ate, Chani read " The Lorax" to the kids.  The coffee filter craft involved coloring a filter with green and blue markers (grass and sea) and then spraying with water, once allowed to dry, beautiful earth projects turned out great. It was amazing to see all the different pictures created by our little ones who range so much in age (under 1 yrs old to 3 yrs old). The binoculars were made by reusing empty toilet paper rolls, taping two together, coloring with bingo markers, ingenious idea. Them hole punching a couple of places and running a long piece of yarn through it,so each child could carrying it around them. This was especially cute to see used during our walk. Chani made a picture list of things we were suppose to find on our nature walk, very child friendly, from a pinecone to a tree.  May's theme is "Growing, Gardens, and the Great Outdoors", so stay tuned to see the events and activities taking place right now. In the meantime, here are some pics of April's happenings, arts, and crafts.

                   

                 Happy Earth Day!