How to get a girly girl in the garden...

Love the idea of "toilet roll ladders" to help spiders climb out of the bath.

I though all kids loved the outdoors and nature. Surely you don't have to do anything special. Just let them loose.

j05 I would agree with that. Just cut them loose, you'd think - I don't understand the getting disconnected from nature bit - how did that happen? It should be the most "natur(e)al" thing in the world...

Talk about teaching your Granny to suck eggs I have just wasted a couple of minutes reading this tosh (and now wasting more responding).

In brief -

If you have a garden you will already do these things.

If you do not have a garden you cannot do any of these things.

Can I have my blog writers fee now?

PS - I hope any garden ponds are suitably protected to stop small children drowning therein.

Granny23

Ours haven't actually drownded (sp?!). Falling in is a different matter.

We put a fence around ours because, before she could even walk, if you put DD down anywhere in the garden, she'd home in on the pond and crawl straight for it. She was a water compass. Death wish or what?

I think water draws them like a magnet. I have not been and read the thread yet, I suppose I better had

Perhaps if she really does dream of being a princess, then going on a frog kissing spree might be the answer? Or, grow her own peas to put under the mattress?

Actually there is a very serious point being made here; many children have become disconnected from nature. This is one of the Wonderful Man's areas of specialism (he was once described by a newspaper as a 'National Play Guru' ) and he's very concerned that children's 'natural' play experiences are becoming more and more curtailed. It's a bit sad that there have sprung up a number of networks and organisations that feel the need to protect and promote 'nature' play simply because it just isn't happening for a large number of children. www.playday.org.uk/playday_campaigns/playday_2013.aspx
www.freeplaynetwork.org.uk/index.html

The blog sounds like a fuss about nothing. (not your post, whenim) Why doesn't she just get on with her bird feeding, veg growing, wildlife watching etc., and just let the little girl play with her Barbie dolls or whatever. I used to spread a large rug on the lawn, lug the toybox outside and leave 'em to it. Bit by bit kids take an interest in what you are doing and you can then include them in some activities. It's no good trying to shove it down their throats. All seven of our grandchildren love being outdoors, gardening, dog walking, tree climbing etc., and they all say I inspired and encouraged them. Did I??? I don't remember doing anything.

My GC love being outdoors, they have walking boots and weatherproof clothing and there is very little that keeps them tied to the house. They have walked the Highlands and Islands and in August they walked to glaciers in Iceland. Most children like to be out, they get cabin fever if they can't run around.

Why has she put a pink tutu and a sparkly whatsit in the dressing up box? The power of suggestion is very strong. Put them on the bonfire in the garden and replace with green wellies.

Oooh MiceElf!

That's going a bit too far!

Green wellies and a pink tutu would be good.

Sorry, I meant not your post, ga. I'm having a duvet day with a heavy cold so I'm not thinking straight.

I took my greyhounds for a walk yesterday accompanied by DG who was wearing jeans and Aran jumper underneath a very sparkly pink tutu type dress accessorised with purple wellingtons, a silver plastic tiara, drop earrings and a matching wand. I have to say that she hadn't made a special effort either this her ordinary walking in the country outfit

I'd like to think the greyhounds didn't let the side down sartorially speaking either !

A few years ago, when GD2 was going through her princess phase, she would happily climb a tree in her pink princess outfit. This Christmas, I took a picture of her mother (DiL) in a sparkly sequinned dress and designer green wellies - like daughter like mother.

I think there is a lot of anti-pink nonsense about at the moment. Girls and boys should not have their expectations limited but if a child enjoys 'girly' frills and fripperies that's OK as long as it is not the sole diet! I often see kids in dressing up clothes shopping/ playing in the park/ out on the common or in the woods..& that's boys and girls!
My DGD2 is less fond of the great outdoors than her sister and cousin but once she gets going she is OK and loves bugs. She also enjoys making dens and having picnics (using leaves/twigs etc) but she needs adults to start playing with her to get her going! many children need this 'modeling' of some play activities, other games come more natuarally to them.

I dunno nanaej even Gap Kids seems to have succumbed to the pink plague.

Why do we worry about the pink plague but not bloomin' blue for the boys!
I have so many friends who have no worries about their boys playing football, doing StarWars & Batman Lego but sigh when daughters want to do ballet and have 'Friends' Lego. It is just as limiting for boys to be channeled down particular play routes as it is for girls! I just object that it feels like a one way street! Variety and broad experience for boys and girls!

Never mind the pink phase. They soon outgrow it and, or better or for worse, they develop their own styles. GD1, now grown up, went through a stage when she would wear nothing but fleeces - even in midsummer - but is now a stylish young woman. Her young half-sister, now 10 is at the t-shirt, leggings and hi-tops stage - not a thread of pink in sight.

I love seeing whatever creations my three granddaughters come up with to wear. They have been allowed to wear pretty much what they want as DD thinks they have to conform early enough in life. They are 6,4 and 2 and mad as hatters.

Given that we are not a very conformist family to start with and all have at least dabbled in self employed creativity at some time I can only see these three girls being potters, sculptors, artists, knitters and smallholders living in yurts and log cabins but perhaps they may end up running big green businesses!