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

I thought it sounded strange gracesmum.

If the writer can't get that much right.............

Just one thing niggles me - does the blogger mean "How to get a girly girl into the garden"?? Who or what or why would you get her in the garden?

When children see the process of food grown in the garden they are usually fascinated so I would probably start in the kitchen and progress from there..

In broad terms children will reflect what is normal to their parents reflected through their own personalities. In our family children, boys and girls, take to reading like ducks to waters because every member of the family has a house full of books and is always reading something.

Similarly with wildlife. DGD is essentally a dressing-up role-player and probably wouldnt be interested in wild-life, except that DiL is really interested in wildlife and DS likes growing vegetables, so DGD from infancy has been walking in the countryside with someone interested in flowers and birds and has her own little garden where she plants, mainly windmills. DGS on the other hand inherits the wild-life interest from his mum. Last year he discovered insects and then, oh then, he discovered SLUGS - and last year was a good year for slugs. Every but everybody was greeted by very small beaming boy, hand outstretched on which was a very large slug saying 'I minding a slug'. They were kept in jam jars and fed lettuce. As they say nature and nurture.......

gracesmum the gang of three at GDs insistence wear their striped scarves complete with bobbles

Addendum. They are also now trying to grow tomatoes, lettuces etc in their Doha yard but considering there is a real live cactus growing there too in the very sandy soil they might have to do an awful lot of watering!

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!

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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

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

Green wellies and a pink tutu would be good.

Oooh MiceElf!

That's going a bit too far!

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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?

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