From climbing on top of tables and jumping off

to climbing a mango tree and hanging upside down because well why not.

And they are all like that

Fearless!

The little ones even more so now than the older ones.

Especially when it comes to the creepy crawlies the smallest of them has no qualms, no fears.

She is curious. There is not an ant, lizard, bird or millipede that doesn’t catch her attention.

BUT Her favourite activity is millipede hunting… ok exploration!

There is always a part of me that cringes because they are splayed on the ground to engage in their sport.

But lucky for them I am seasoned and not nearly as anal.

And I know that soap and water is my friend and theirs.

In the back of my mind I remember that constantly telling a child to be careful and don’t do that stifles them and chokes their creativity. ( I read this in a parenting book one time)

So I sit back and watch as they explore, touch and learn about the beings that make up their environs.

Hoping that they can hold on to their curiosity and fearlessness for long long time.

KidnPlayJa is also exploring parenting in a post entitled Raising fearless children you should give it a look. She has a link to here that is also very good.

I am kind of in shock at how fast this week has zoomed past and here we are looking at another weekend.

So what is happening this weekend.

•  Story Time at Bookophilia at 11am this Saturday, January 28.  They are also having a special for Students from the 27- 31.
• Oh and there is  The Little Theatre Movement Annual Pantomime “Anansi and Goat Head Soup“.
  
• El Centro Open End Play Sessions from 10- 12 ($500 per child) it promises to be good messy fun for the kiddies.
  

Most importantly though we are celebrating birthdays here at Kid Friendly.

Monday was the big son’s own and on Sunday is going to be the most photographed daughter.

We are expecting it to be a day filled with lots of icecream and cake.

Remember to tell them Happy Birthday they will love it

Have a great KidFriendly weekend!

brings the stark wide eyed look of terror to their eyes

causing them both to literally curl up into a ball

and hurl protests of ailments such as stomache hurts and headaches at me.

Many a writing assignment have been met with hours of them staring at the glaringly empty white page of their exercise book.

Sigh, and I did a small survey and it seems that most children at this age really don’t like to write.

They maybe as chatty and descriptive as can be but put a pencil and paper and nothing.

This happened to my daughter with the very first writing assignment of the year which was to be about her Christmas holidays. She couldn’t do it she cried even. The same holidays that she had been prattling about all weekend. Oh well!

I am very happy to have found this little ‘writing tool’ while cruising through the internet looking at illustrations. (You have to click on the image and it will take you to the actual website to see it clearly.)

http://juliehammondart.blogspot.com/2010/04/free-activity-page-just-for-my-readers.html

The questions are ideal for you to help your child get over the writer’s block.  Drawing a picture, as well as some how usually works for my two in loosing up the writing juices.

I have adapted this little activity so many times over.

Hoping it does the same for you.

 2012 is here on us… it is the 10th day of the year already wow!

This is the first official Kid Friendly post of the year. My Girlpower post was really just commentary.

Christmas went by in a flash and the holidays finished even faster.

And yesterday the older two went off to the first day of school not very happy but at least not kicking and screaming.

As  I have said before I am one of those parents that really enjoy having the children home for the holidays so it was indeed bittersweet seeing them off to school.

Looking around everything is all fresh and newly sprouting.

Mango Season will soon be upon us.

And yes that is a very young mango in the background.

I was surprised to see that the Poui trees are also in bloom. It just seemed so early to have poui blossoms gracing my grass.

We are entering our two favourite seasons poui and mango. One is just plain beautiful who doesn’t like walking on flowers and well mangoes sigh.

We are looking forward.

One of the things we did over the holidays that we have to share with you is our visit to Hope Zoo.

If you haven’t been then you must. They are really working at renovating the place and the face lift is wonderous.

As you may remember we tend to make the trek to the zoo every holiday because we have to check on the ‘pigs’- pecaries and the flamingoes. So this holiday was no differentexcept we had cousins to take along with us.

Oh to our delight, along with those animals mentioned before now we have an ostrich, an emu, a deer- they kept calling it a reindeer, and lots and lots of brightly coloured parrots to visit. It was so exciting.

I know this is late but wishing you all the best for this new year 2012

For the 2nd time.

This time she was voted in.

Some people may like it and some people may not.

This is by no means a political piece and I have no party affiliation.

I am however excited by what she represents.

Just like our female athletes who strive for those gold medals that make us all proud.

The Hononourable Portia Simpson Miller is an example of woman being strong and leading.

In a country that is very male dominated in nature it is good that the girls have an example in Mrs. Simpson-Miller of
what they can accomplish. Girls need to see that they too can strive for whatever they dream of just like boys. (Yes even in this day and age there are things that are expected of boys and things that are expected of girls.)

Congratulations to our new again Prime  Minister show us your girl power.

So that means that the house is overfloweth with children.

Six of them to be exact.

Phew that is a lot of children.

lots of noise

lots of giggles

lots of feet running through the house.

They are all having a blast just being together and getting into plenty mischief

With plenty, plenty time spent in the yard I am happy to say.

The last few days have made me realise that children really only need each other to have a great time.

And also reminded me of the post I did in the summer, which outlined a few things that were keeping me sane then and still this week.

Most and foremost being these:

A couple of bikes make for some really happy and also really tired children.

Nice.