Outside inside
On our trip to Auklet a few weeks ago, Jenny got inspired by some of the decorative elements in place there, namely a couple of branches hanging from the ceiling. At Auklet, they had wrapped the branches in a string of LED lights, and hung small art projects from the twigs. It was charming and, I didn’t realize it, but Jenny’s been thinking about it ever since.
This week, she had a couple of branches brought in. Some of the kids painted them and we picked a spot to hang it.
Buddings is full of plants, and we’ve tried to use natural materials whenever possible, because we like having them around. Having a bit of a nature “theme” while we did our purchasing was a useful guide to make sure different products and furniture match, but it turns out our choices might also be improving the kids’ attention spans and helping them to focus as they get older. There have even been studies correlating natural environments and reductions in ADHD symptoms in children!
Making sure children have lots of experiences with nature, and IN nature, takes effort. When was the last time you and your family spent a day outside? Longer ago than you would have thought, I bet. Living in the city, with busy social lives, travel time, and working parents, can take so much energy that a trip to Pacific Spirit Park can get put off for a long time. Many of the parks in my neighbourhood have trees and natural hiding places, but some of them are more like flattened concrete spaces with brightly coloured climbing apparatuses parked in the centre.
Since we’re in the middle of the city, our outdoor experience is going to be limited. We knew that when we opened at Oak and Broadway, but we’re doing all we can to make sure the kids are connected with nature anyway. In fact, Jenny’s got a planting project on the go, with sprouted spinach and basil plants under the lights right now, and a Projects entry about it coming soon!
How do you make sure your kids get enough of the great outdoors?
