Exploration Boxes

As I try my hardest to bring about a greater sense of rythmn to our days, I have been looking back to my roots of teaching. There are so many things that I love/loved about my chosen profession, and the biggest thing was the kids and how they responded so well to the planned and unplanned learning opportunities that we had together. Now as Ben and I enter harder parenting terrain with an incredibly smart little boy, we are in need of more ideas to occupy our days. Being winter and not able to get outside as much (we still try every day!), I was happy to know that the Urbana Free Library once again saves me.

I recently discovered the exploration boxes at the library. I checked out the gardening/growing one to help us anticipate a little bit of what will happen in the spring.

The box is filled with toys and books. I made a huge deal about bringing it home, set it within eyes view, but out of hands reach and ceremoniously took it out with River was napping, so that Asher could have some good exploration time with it on his own. He loved it. He loves that it is like going to school- learning with new materials. He loves that it is something special. River eventually joined in on the fun and got to eat the garden tools. We have read all the books and now the box is part of Asher's day. He wants to do the same thing, make a farm.
With a wooden block fence to keep out the rabbits and raccoons. He calls himself the farmer and whoever (boy or girl) playing with him, wife. Today he was growing flowers for our wedding. The farm is carefully planted each day.
and then harvested into buckets.Cauliflower Harvest
and then of course the harvests are put into the delivery truck.
Which Asher drives to the kitchen and delivers to papa who is normally cooking at this hour of play.

Of course this play has me thinking of how I can needle felt something similar and make a garden play mat for his birthday. I love these kinds of plans.