Tuesday was a glorious day, The sun was shining so we spent as much of it as we could outside.
My eldest sticks to me like glue, she likes to dig where I dig and pull up the same weeds as me. My youngest on the other hand, likes to wander off.
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| My little one likes the freedom of a large garden, but doesn't like to be confined to it! |
One minute she's by my side and the next she's at the far end of the garden heading for the drive, and when I shout her she laughs and speeds up - everything is a game! Being only one year old I like to keep her where I can see her without being a "helicopter" parent - I hate hovering over them, I much prefer to let them explore and do things in their own way and time.
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| Gate and pallet to the side |
So I decided to put a few barriers in place so they can have the full run of the back garden. There always used to be a gate between the front and back but I removed it when we first got here, putting that back on (a little higher to miss the slabs) was easy. I then found an old pallet and fixed that to the side to block off where the water butt stand is.
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| Chicken wire panel "gate" should do for now |
A few years ago I got given (for the time of taking it all down) an old chicken pen made up of wire panels, I've been using these for everything over the last couple of years and they've come in again to herd the children. I hinged one at the top by the other gate and another was tied by the clump of hazel at the bottom.
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| Bottom of the garden sealed off |
One child proof garden. Well not child proof, but they can't get out!
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| I managed to dry a whole load of clothes! |
On a separate note I was also very excited to dry my first load of washing outside! As I get older I get excited by the weirdest things!
Anyone else got their smalls out on the line yet (in the northern hemisphere)?
Yes, it was a fab day Tuesday, in the evening here in North Norfolk the wind dropped, the sea was flat calm and the scrapes on the bird reserve were like millponds, beautiful. So glad to see your girls are allowed freedom to explore, there's far too much organisation and supervision of kids these days.And nice to find a good old fashioned washing line user as well, wish I could get my daughter to use one but where she lives it's always raining or seems like it. Yes, I've had my smalls out all winter virtually, you can do that in a windy climate provided they're pegged on firmly!
ReplyDeleteMine thrive on neglect! I prefer to let them play with each other than to try and be involved with their play all the time. If they want me to go to the wendy house for a pretend cup of tea then that's okay but otherwise I'd rather it was the two of them in there creating their own worlds!
DeleteAs for the washing line I wouldn't be without it, the first thing I did when I moved here! And the airer above the stairs is also essential for how we live.
The reason why I originally moved to France was for my children to have total freedom. Like Chicken they would be let out in the morning, return for mid-day sustenance, then go off again. We never had any worries about them, other than the occasional knee scratch. It was wonderful for them.
ReplyDeleteOh, and we've been drying outdoors all through winter!
It is a great way for them to grow up. I was determined mine where going to have a similar upbringing to mine. Many hours spent climbing trees and fighting with sticks, and creating worlds where we could make dens and just be children.
DeleteThe reason why I originally moved to France was for my children to have total freedom. Like Chicken they would be let out in the morning, return for mid-day sustenance, then go off again. We never had any worries about them, other than the occasional knee scratch. It was wonderful for them.
ReplyDeleteOh, and we've been drying outdoors all through winter!
Its great that they have the freedom to roam the garden and discover the world out there, just a little something you mentioned water butts, please please make sure they have securely fastened down covers on them or scrunch up a load of wire mesh and ram it in the top, I knew a toddler who climbed up and fell in the water butt fortunately it was summer and very little water in it it could have been a very sad outcome at another time of the year. I am sure you have considered it already. Lets hope there are many more sunshine days they can play outside are you giving them a little growing area :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a good point with the water butt and I hadn't really given it much thought as my eldest is not much of an adventurer, whereas my youngest will climb on a ten pence piece just for the sake of it. I might have to have a look at making them all a little safer. Thanks for that Dawn!
DeleteAnd no growing area yet although they help plant everything that I plant. Some crops will be theirs but they're still a bit young to have one all to themselves. When it gets a bit warmer we'll write their names with mustard and wait for it to grow! that's always fun for children. I might also put a planter on the wendy house and they can grow some radishes and things in it.
I would never have a pond in a garden where children play.
ReplyDeleteNo I wouldn't either, although that said they're meant to be safer around them if they have one in their own garden as they know what they are and the risks with it. Still no pond here yet and no plans for one either.
DeleteNo still have smalls on rack in lounge. Love that you have recycled fences. Nice for little ones to have some freedom but safe.
ReplyDeleteRosezeeta.
I recycle all I can. The hinges have cost more than the gates I've made!
DeleteThis is what I miss about our allotments, we were in all the dumpers at the side of the road and collected anything that looked good for fences etc. old window frames for cold frames, gates, fences even bricks.
ReplyDeleteI just wistfully have to look now. lol
Briony
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Dad has lots of pallets and the wood comes in handy for things like this if I've got the time to take them apart. I do need to make some cold frames up at some point though.
DeleteI was an adventurous child..loved being outside all day. When I was two,my Dad took me to the local shops. As he stood in line I decided to walk home,I crossed a major road and was almost home before I was apprehended. Asked why I'd left my Dad ,"Got fed up"...I still hate shopping. Yup, first line out in the sun on Monday,as the temp got above 0C!
ReplyDeleteJane x
I have many memoires of being outside as a child. In fact mum would lock us out so we'd go and play! We only ever got as far as the woods though when we went off!
DeleteI found duct tape worked well for keeping my son where I wanted him to be throughout his childhood. You can even put nylon stocking between the tape and skin to make sure no marks are left. They can chew through it but if you use enough it takes em a long time so you can get a couple of hours of freedom before having to watch the little buggers again or clean up one of their messes.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd come back to a bigger mess that way! Also I'm fairly sure my youngest could chew through that in about a minute, she'd see it as a game!
DeleteYour girls will be very happy running around in the garden like that. Thats great you put up gates and can let them explore.
ReplyDeleteI love my clothesline! But I must admit i have used it little this winter. I am sooooooo ready for spring. and sunshine. Don't remember a more gloomy sunless winter than this one. whew... but we did get much needed rain over the winter so I can't complain really.
I do use the clothes line alot but I love my airer over the stairs and I've been using it all winter, not sure how I'd manage without it now.
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