This week in pictures

This week my children have been thoroughly enjoying the glorious weather; our adventures have taken place almost entirely outside.

There's been some serious chilling out under our home-made sun canopy.

It was a great place for relaxed sandwich eating too.

We printed our hands and feet with watercolours...

...and used the colourful pictures as wrapping paper.

We made pin-wheels and fans from old magazines and scrap paper.

But when we really needed to cool down we just added water; washing our scooters and trikes...

...having under-the-sea mini-adventures...

...and making the ultimate chute-and-splash for our toy cars. Ker-sploosh!

And that was our week of fun in the sun.

Ploutering Away

When one of my children asks to wash up I jump at the chance; not because they are particularly good at it - far from it. No, I try to facilitate this activity whenever possible because of something my nana once told me. She said, 'It's only for a short time that just ploutering* about in the sink is exciting.' How true, how true. And what a lovely way of describing the ineffectual washing up technique of a three year old.

*a Scottish word for splooshing things about in the water.

Washing up - often such a chore to us grown ups - can be a delightful, wet, bubbly and absorbing adventure at home for young children. So up on the kitchen stool they climb. Apron on, sleeves up, a sink full of soapy warm water, a selection of plastic plates and non-sharps later, and they're ready to plouter away!