How To Get Your Kids Into Nature

In these days of computer games and hand held gadgets it may seem alien for some children to think of exploring outdoors as a fun thing to do however, once you get them started you'll often find it difficult to get them to stop.

The good news is that you don't need a large garden or even a balcony as nature is all around us and once you start to pay attention to the rich variety of habitats in our urban areas then you'll soon discover a world of adventure, literally, right on your doorstep.

So, if you're hoping to inspire a mini David Attenborough or Kate Humble then check out the advice guide below and make sure you get them to take off their boots before they come back inside the house.

Park life

All kids love to go to the park and if you can dress your young adventurers so that come rain or shine they're still going to be dry and warm then you should give yourself a fighting chance. A great idea is to steer them away from the swings for a couple of moments to go and search the areas surrounding the park. Hedgerows, bushes and in the grass are all ideal spots for wildlife and if you can create a checklist of common park dwellers, such as birds, worms and squirrels, then you'll give your kids something to work with that comes with the promise of swings once the list is complete.

Allotment adventures

If you know of a granddad, friend or neighbour who has a nearby allotment then asking them if your children can come for and visit for an hour is a great idea for getting them out doors and into nature. All manner of slugs, snails and frogs inhabit plots of land for growing veggies and if you can find out what needs to be collected in a bucket to protect the plants then you'll certainly be welcome back again. Allotments are often sublime pockets of peace and quiet within an urban environment and showing your kids that they exist is a brilliant means of providing an alternative adventure playground.

Woodland walks

If you want to get out of the city and take your kids on the hunt for wood pigeons, squirrels and woodpeckers then the nearest woodland or forest is definitely the best area to do just that. Woodland walks don't have to be all about the animals as from building dens and playing Pooh sticks to collecting leaves and foraging for chestnuts, this is an ideal stomping ground for healthy outdoor activities. Once you've collected a few treasures of the woods i.e. autumnal leaves, acorns and sticks then bring them home to make a picture to go on your wall or try rubbing with bark, paper and crayons.

Camping outdoors

If you're hoping to make the next step up and spend one or two nights outdoors then camping is going to truly make or break your young naturalists. Best advice is to start off close to home and pick a time of year when they're not going to freeze and beg you to go home within the first hour. Make everything fun and involve them in all aspects of preparation and putting up the tent to ensure they feel as much a part of the adventure as you do. When the night falls, get out the torches and go on a nocturnal nature hunt in search of owls, rabbits and mice.

Note: choose a campsite that's all about the natural surroundings rather than a noisy and bustling version that's more akin to Butlins.

Trips away

If you're still planning your next trip away from home then why not consider really taking your kids into nature by embarking on wildlife holidays which are designed to bring you closer to the animals and landscapes that inhabit the area. These sorts of breaks are ideal for getting your kids out of there comfort zone and away from their TVs and Gameboys so if you're looking for marmots on a mountain or rodents along a river bank, then take the kids on a trip away that will truly inspire them to fall head over heels in love with the natural world.

Parks and gardens

If you live close to a stately home or manor house then you'll probably already be well aware of all the fun that can be had on the lawn or hidden amongst the flower beds. These sorts of residences are ideal for kids to get outside and start to interact with nature and nowhere is this sort of activity more encouraged than through becoming a member of the National Trust. With properties all over the country and acres of space for kids to climb trees, search for clues and play hide and seek this is certainly one of the best ways to start your child on their own personal journey into the wonderment of the natural world.

Chris has been a National Trust member for the past 6 months and can safely say that he never knew that so much natural beauty was hidden away within the county of Sussex.

Image source: here

All Women and Wives Must Read This - Why Women Are Not Always Right?

This morning, while I am browsing on Facebook I saw abs-cbn post and I want to share this post on my blog. This is a must read to all women and wives like me. :-) 

MANILA - Some women tend to expect a lot from their husbands and blame them once the marriage fails.

However, there are also some things that women should stop doing to maintain a happy marriage.
In an interview on DZMM's "Sakto," marriage counselor Gilda "Mommy G" Altez explained some of the things wives should stop doing.

One is to stop thinking that they are always right.

"Kung minsan kasi kung napakasal na, ang babae minsan akala niya hawak na niya sa leeg ang lalaki, at palaging siya ang tama," said Altez.

She added that women should also acknowledge that they don't know everything, and that they need their husbands to help them.

"Hindi porke't empowered tayo at nasanay tayo na independent, ay tayo na lang lahat ang gagawa."
She said that it also gives the husband a sense of pride in doing something that his wife cannot or does not know how to do.

Knowing priorities

Altez also advised women to always prioritize their husband. However, they shouldn't treat their husbands as their girlfriends, and expect them to enjoy "girly" activities like shopping, going to salons, and others.
She said that wives should also stop shaming their husbands, especially in public.

"Mas maganda kung may usapan ang mag-asawa, halimbawa may nasabing mali, dapat makuha ka sa tingin para hindi mapahiya."

Women should also stop always correcting their husbands, and if they do, they should make sure that they themselves are free from flaws.

"Dapat maging modelo siya bago siya mag-correct," said Altez.

Wives should also let their husbands do things their own way.

For products of broken homes, Altez advised women not to compare their husbands to their fathers who left them.
"Hindi maganda ang mag-compare. Ine-expect na nila na gagawin ng mga asawa nila yung ginawa nila, kaya lalong na-cocompel ang husband na gumawa ng hindi maganda."

She also advised women to use intimacy in exchange for things that they want to get.
"It is a sacred act, at hindi naman yun laruan lang."

Respect and communication

Respect is a very important component of a relationship, and wives should not make their husbands earn their respect.
"Yung respeto dapat ibinibigay yun kasi na-earn na yun habang nagliligawan pa lang," said Altez.

In terms of trust and forgiveness, Altez said that Filipino women are relatively more enduring than women from other countries.

"Maraming mga babae ang enduring at basta humingi lang ng tunay na kapatawaran (ang asawa), kayang magpatawad," she added.

"Siguro kasi walang divorce kaya mas nagpapatawad, pero meron namang annulment."
However, Altez warned couples not to always resort to annulment to solve a problem.

Married people should also stop acting as if their spouse is a mind reader.

Women, as well as men, should always say what they want instead of expecting their spouse to know everything without talking about it.

Altez stressed the importance of communication in a relationship.

"Dapat ang mag-asawa, once a week, for at least one hour, magkaroon ng one-on-one na pakikipagusap sa asawa, na silang dalawa lang."

Source: Abs-Cbn