Naturally Curious Children

We are often asked about our favorite products, toys, supplies, brands and more.  I’ve been thinking for awhile about putting together another list of favorite things and figured with the holidays approaching, it’s the perfect time to share links and discount codes. Many of these links (in the blue font) are affiliate or associate links, and purchases made through them help to support our family and allow us to continue to inspire and connect with all of you. So, I want to say ‘thank you’ for the support, love and kindness you all show us.

ART SUPPLIES

STICKERS – Have you heard of Pipsticks? It’s a super fun monthly sticker subscription. It brightens my day when I find the envelope in my mailbox and we all love the fun, silly, shiny, sparkly and unique stickers. My boys use them to decorate their notebooks, make cards and collages.  I’ve decorated my computer, my phone, my planner and more for some daily cheer. This would make a great gift for a teen or a crafty friend or even yourself 🙂

METALLIC PAINT – I got so many questions on this Instagram post about what kind of paint we used. Well, this beautiful piece was created with the classic brand – CRAYOLA! I love the little paint tubs and we have most of the colors but the metallic set is really something special. The tubs are the perfect size for little hands to open and close, move around, and to get to the bottom with a paint brush.

WATERCOLOR TRAVEL SET – This past summer we travelled to California and I put together a travel journal kit for my boys and myself.  I was really impressed with the watercolor set that I purchased to go along with our kit. It’s super compact but the quality of the paint is high and the colors are so vibrant. We loved having a paint set with us to document our travels.

OOLY – We recently received a big box of amazing art supplies from OOLY and while we loved everything that we’ve tried so far, my 4.5 year has fallen in love with  the Mumbo Jumbo Markers paired with the Oh My Ombre Mini Journals.  He loves that the markers come in a box with a little handle and he carries it around from our art shelf to his desk to the floor to the table. And maybe it’s because he’s somewhat ‘mini’ himself, but he just loves these little journals and fills up the pages one by one with his drawings and observations of the day. We bring both of these items to his big brother’s soccer games and out to restaurants.

 

Even Mama got something in the box of goodies from OOLY – a Filpside Notebook!  And I usually carry around the Color Luxe Gel Pens in the Pencil Pouch for both myself and my kids to use.

***OOLY has a great incentive going on where you get Free Shipping on any order over $30 AND you get 20% off your first order when you sign up for their email list. They also have lots of holiday sales coming up!***

 

CLAY – You all know we love our Clay Play. I’ve been asked so many times about the brand that we use that we share so often. Well, we love the Sargent Art Plastilina Modeling Clay for many reasons. First of all, it’s non-hardening. So much so that you can forget that you have it in an open bowl in the trunk of your car for a week and it still won’t harden. Just a for instance…

 

So, that means children can continue to add to their creations for days and it saves money because you don’t have to continue to replace hardened clay or play doh if (when…) it gets left out accidentally. I also love that it is hard and encourages both fine AND gross motor development (that’s how hard it is!). You might, in fact, think I’m completely crazy when you first open the package because of how hard it is but, trust me, once your kid gets going, it loosens up a bit. It is also a great material for those that need some sensory input.

 

 

SPIN ART – For some reason, we just discovered salad spinner spin art this year.  I purchased a salad spinner, squeeze paint bottles and placemats from IKEA and we all fell in love with this super fun art project. I love the products from IKEA but if you can’t get there or don’t like shopping there, I found some similar products on Amazon for you.  This salad spinner looks comparable in size and these squeeze bottles can be filled with paints you already have. There are loads of tutorials, hacks and endless ideas on how to take your salad spinner spin art to the next level, just search on Pinterest!

 

TRAVEL EASEL – During one of my many thrifting sprees, I found this amazing portable wooden easel. I found the same one on Amazon to share with you all after getting so many inquiries about where to purchase. I got mine for $5 at the thrift store, but I’d absolutely pay the $15 they’re asking on Amazon.  It’s a great piece to have to bring to the park or the beach and it makes my kids feel quite official. Pair this with the travel water color set for a great gift!

 

SEWING – Another new favorite activity is sewing. We’ve started off slow and easy by using burlap, yarn, plastic needles and embroidery hoops.

 

TOYS

FAT BRAIN TOYS – We recently partnered with Fat Brain Toys to share some of their amazing products but we have loved a number of them for years. In particular, we have had and used their Twig Block Set for about six years now. My kids use them to stack and build but also label and sort colors, practice balance, use fine motor skills, work on hand eye coordination, play with geometry, symmetry and other general math concepts. Their unique design allows for added levels of imaginative play, including storytelling.

***Get $5 off any $25 purchase at Fat Brain Toys with CODE: OE-2929 now through December 15th!***

 

BELLALUNA TOYS – We recently received an amazing set of Grimm’s wooden blocks from Bella Luna Toys. The blocks are superb quality, gorgeous, bright colors and my boys just love them. Bella Luna carries so many wooden and Waldorf inspired toys.

***Bella Luna is offering Naturally Curious Children followers 10% off your purchase now through November 15th with CODE: CURIOUS10. Enjoy!***

 

LITTLE MISS WORKBENCH – My friend Michele, the owner/designer/builder and all around toy making genius, is offering Naturally Curious Children followers an amazing holiday discount. But, first, I need to share some of our favorites. Our first LMW toy were the Mali cameras and they have become a staple. They come with us on adventures at the beach, occupy bored passengers on long car rides and are just beautiful to look at when just lying around on a table or hanging up ready for the next journey. The fishing pole set has also been consistently played with since it landed on our doorstep. I keep a chalkboard phone in my purse at all times. And know that when you purchase something from Michele you are buying a lovingly, hand crafted toy and helping to support a lovely family.

***Use CODE: Naturaljoy for 40% off your purchase from Little Miss Workbench!! Do not pass up this incredible deal. Just make sure to follow LMW on Instagram and get shopping!***

MIRUS TOYS – Another super sweet, small business owner recently sent us some of her amazing toys and I am blown away by their beauty and craftsmanship. It’s clear that Suba makes each piece with love. Her shop has educational materials and fun toys for all age levels.

SUMMER FUN

KAYAK – One of the best gifts we’ve ever received was this kayak. My oldest got it for his 6th birthday and took to it immediately. Every kid who’s tried it has been able to learn quickly how to manage it and has a blast. If you spend any time by the water, I recommend getting one.

BEACH WAGON – And one of the best items I’ve purchased for myself is my beach wagon. I have used this guy SOOO much. It maneuvers well in the sand and holds so much.  It’s also easy to pull, my 7 year old pulls it the long walk from the car to where we park ourselves for the day. The best part though is that it folds up easily and slips right in the trunk. We’ve even mastered carrying the kayak on top of the wagon for the walk to the water by using a bungee cord over the top.

 

WATER BOTTLES – Not necessarily a summer only item, but we particularly love these Contigo water bottles because they keep our drinks ice cold all day at the beach, even when sitting in the hot sun. I feel like I’ve been searching for the perfect water bottle forever and I *think* we finally found the one that works best for our family. For me, they are easy to clean, you can randomly grab them for cheap on Amazon (always check all the colors, some get marked way down), and they keep drinks super cold all day. For my 7 year old, there is no plastic or silicone straw or spout to chew on. I’ve had to throw away so many water bottles that have been ruined by his sensory seeking chewing habit but this one eliminates any of that from happening. For my 4 year old, the 16oz size bottle works great for his littler hands AND he’s able to use it easily (some similar bottles have been difficult for him to maneuver). So, this one is a win for us all, hopefully it will be for you, too!

MISC.

BOLGA BASKETS – These beautiful, hand crafted baskets are just my favorite thing for storage and carrying things from here to there. We’ve used them for blocks, books, art supplies, picnics, beach collecting (you can bring in the water!), traveling and more.

LUNCH BAG – I found these amazing lunch bags this summer and immediately fell in love with how gorgeous they are. Finding out that the images are created by artists from all over the world was a huge bonus. When we received the bags there was a card with a description of the artist and their work. We also got the elephant bag for my sister and learned that proceeds go to The Davide Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, another bonus! The bags are machine washable, lightweight and fit a ton. Pick one up for your kids and yourself!

 

That’s it for now, friends! Check back again soon, we may be adding more coupon codes 🙂

 

If you’re wondering what we’re wishing for this year, here are our lists!

Naturally Curious Book Wishlist 2017

Naturally Curious Wishlist 2017

I’d started meditating as a way to focus and calm my own anxieties and noticed a real difference in the way I was responding to stress and chaos. I decided to figure out a way to implement some form of mindfulness with my kids in the hopes that they would also benefit from the practice.

I started by collecting a few items that are used for mindfulness and meditation and while none of these are necessary to own, I felt that having tangible items would be helpful to get my kids involved. We explored these items as we got them so all were familiar by the time we started our daily ritual.

SINGING BOWL

I got a singing bowl for my last birthday and my 4 year old fell in love with it.  He and I watched some YouTube videos and practiced making the bowl sing. When we use it together for mindfulness, we sit cross legged with our hands in a mudras on our knees, eyes closed and take deep breaths in and out. I will take a turn of making the bowl sing for about 60 seconds and we open our eyes when we can no longer hear the sound. If time permits, the boys each take a turn, too.

CRYSTALS

We purchased a few crystals while on our most recent trip to California. I spoke with the woman who was selling them about how to know which crystal to choose, I was overwhelmed with the choices.  She said that while each crystal is believed to have certain meanings and powers, it’s really just about what you feel drawn too. My 7 year old chose a sparkly, jagged crystal because he loves sparkly, shiny things and the texture was appealing to him as sensory seeker. My 4 year old chose a smooth, blue cube crystal because he liked the color and the way it fit perfectly into his little hand. We now have a small collection and the boys choose the ones that they feel drawn too that day. They do argue over some and usually have to promise to take turns.

ESSENTIAL OILS

I’ve been using aromatherapy for a while now. For our daily routine, we use an oil of choice (sometimes made by me, sometimes by the boys) diluted in lotion and we rub our hands together, inhale and then massage into our necks and over our hearts. I use Plant Therapy oils and only those from their KidSafe line with my boys.

I AM PEACE

I recently purchased the book I Am Peace by Susan Verde and Illustrated by Peter Reynolds. Sometimes I read the book out loud and sometimes they read or look at the pictures on their own. It’s a beautiful book with a powerful, peaceful message. Even if you don’t have a daily mindfulness routine, I suggest adding this book to your library.

FIGURE 8

I stumbled upon the Figure 8 tracing board made at the Etsy shop, From Jennifer. I knew that my oldest son would LOVE this item but it has become a favorite for all of us.  It has a calming effect for both the user and anyone who is watching.

ROUTINE

For us, practicing mindfulness is best done in the morning but this may not be a great time for every family or classroom. I like to dedicate 5-10 minutes each morning, but there are times when we are in a rush and either cut it down to 2 minutes or have to skip it all together. If we only have 5 minutes or less, we do a few deep breaths followed by an oil + lotion and I do the singing bowl for about 30-60 seconds. If we have longer, we’ll read or look at I Am Peace, do the Figure 8 board, and then everyone will have a turn with the singing bowl. We always end with our hands together and say ‘namaste’.

HICCUPS

The first week that we began with mindfulness as part of our morning schedule, they groaned every time. But, I pushed through and two months in, they are now disappointed to skip it when we are running late.

When we do the singing bowl, they are supposed to sit quietly, breathing deep and as still as they can. At first, they had a hard time staying calm and focused with their eyes closed, especially my 4 year old, he was often overcome by silliness. But, as we kept on, with gentle reminders about the purpose of mindfulness, they both grew to maintain focus and calm.

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Now, when asked about our mindfulness routine, my 7 year old has this to say: “Mindfulness is a good way to help your body. I feel good because it’s helping us have a good day. After mindfulness I feel like I could have a good day.”

 

 

A while ago I was inspired by a post on Instagram from Jess at Tinker Tots where she shared her little box of loose parts that she takes along in her purse for her son.  It took a while but I finally put together our own little container of take along loose parts and it’s debut with my boys was a huge success.

I discovered a small cardboard shipping tube that I’d been saving for a long time and knew it was the perfect size and it could also be used as a loose part, itself.  I walked around the house grabbing random items to fill it; a ribbon from an unwrapped birthday gift, the ladder from a broken fire truck, coffee stirrers and more.  The only things I sought out were the two vehicles, a motorcycle and a helicopter.

After we ordered our food, I told the boys I’d brought something for them to play with and they were instantly curious.  I put the tube on the table and they did not stop twisting, tying, stacking, creating or imagining until the pancakes arrived at the table and we had to quickly stuff everything back in it’s holder.

I’m excited to keep this tool in my bag going forward.  This isn’t simply about something to keep them occupied or out of trouble but rather the ability to provide them with open ended materials that encourage creativity, conversation, storytelling, and more while we are on the go and in any situation.

I plan on adding and taking away materials as needed based on how they engage each time we take them out.

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This year was our first 100 days of school project for my son who is in first grade.  The assignment was pretty open ended, which I was SO excited about.  All we had to do was gather 100 pieces of a particular item and arrange them in a way that could be hung on the wall.

My son did not really have any ideas right off the top of his head so I suggested using some of our enormous bottle cap collection. (A while ago, a local girl scout troop collected bottle caps for me for a presentation I was doing. They collected hundreds, probably thousands, so we have what feels like an endless supply).

We pulled out the big box of bottle caps and started sorting through them to see what colors we could use. I suggested we use 10 different colors and have 10 of each color and he agreed. 

So, we did the best we could to find the colors of the rainbow but there were just not enough pink and purple. We ended up finishing the collection with black, white, silver and gold.

My son arranged all the caps on the board, which was actually the back of a picture frame that I had saved from another project. (I had used the frame to make a twine and clothespin photo display). 

After he was done organizing, I hot glued them. Typically he would have helped me with the glue gun but we’d been working on this for a long time and he was bottle capped out. I couldn’t risk the board being bumped into and his design being tossed about, so I did the glueing myself. (I always swore I’d never do my kids school projects for them but I rationalized my doing the glueing with the fact that he had really done most of the work and it was his own design, I just made it permanent.)

He was so proud of the final result and could not wait to bring it into school. I am hoping that they get returned later in the year because it’s so beautiful and I would definitely hang in their bedroom or in our office.

 

Using some mildly wilted flowers from arrangements we had in the house, I set up an invitation to explore for my boys, ages 6 and 3 1/2.

Some of the tools I included for the exploration included a bamboo cutting board, magnifying glass, child friendly knives, forks, chopsticks and a pizza cutter.  Other items that I’ve used in the past are lobster pickers, meat tenderizer, potato masher and scissors.

I particularly like the Vivitar magnifying glasses with the lights because we can see more detail even with dim lighting or on a dreary day.  They also have a thick handle that is great for small hands.  For knives, I always go back to our Zyliss lettuce knife as it’s been used over and over again by both boys.  I also included butter knives and cheese spreaders that again, are great for little hands.

 

I set everything up on my favorite plastic trays from IKEA.  I have also used cutting boards and cookie sheets.

The boys were free to pull, peel, chop, cut, slice, smash, poke, pinch, explore and examine as they please.  I mainly stepped back, took photos and listened to their observations.

“This one has these deep holes.  I think they go all the way down to the bottom.  I need to scrape all this stuff off.”

“This stem is all squishy.  Yuck.”

“It’s like juice that comes out.”

“There, I sliced it up.  I can see inside the whole thing now.”

“I can’t cut this one.  It’s too wiggly.”

“This one smells delicious.”

“It looks all flowery in there.”

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