Farm & Family
Winter Nature Walk on the W&OD Trail (& excellent nature biography for kids)
Background Info: Older Brother and I just finished reading this awesome book, The Flower Hunter, about William Bartram, America’s first naturalist. His father, John Bartram, was America’s first botanist. So, so fun to read about their explorations as they studied and gathered plants. As a botanist, John Bartram taught his son William to observe nature…
Favorite Valentine’s Day Books for Children
Happy February! It’s the month of love. Want to know which books we enjoy reading during the first half of February, in honor of Valentine’s Day? You’re in luck! Our top picks are listed below.
Happy Winter: this year’s favorite winter book
Happy Winter by Karen Gundersheimer is our new favorite children’s book for winter. (Last year, it was Red Fox Running by Eve Bunting, of which I can still recite the first four lines: Red fox running, / Running through the snow, / White sky above / And white earth below. / ). We discovered Happy…
Exploring Nature with Kids: Winter Nature Walk
The boys and I enjoyed (for the most part) a Winter Nature Walk with some friends yesterday. Read more about our nature buddies here: 5 Tips for a Successful Nature Walk with Kids: {#1 Find a Buddy}. We hit a trail near our friends’ home–not really a destination per se, but a convenient location for us.…
Dear Jesus
One of my favorite Christmas decorations is a small Norman Rockwell Christmas book, opened to this page and displayed on a black, wooden easel. Every time I see it (which is multiple times each day from Thanksgiving to Christmas) it helps me regain a proper perspective. In the words of the familiar carol O Come, All…
Thankful Mary
Older Brother drew this picture several weeks ago, near the beginning of the advent season. (A week or so later, he drew a second, identical picture. To me, it was like a gentle reminder from God Himself. Have I mentioned that Older Brother’s name means “God’s messenger”?) I found the picture so striking that I’ve…
Our Favorite Winter Poem
In certain circles, I am known for having a song or poem for any and every occasion. It’s a handy trait, I must say, especially when there are young children living in your home. The snowflake picture frame (shown above) was a random gift to us, just perfect for displaying our favorite winter poem. We…
32 Favorite Christmas Books for Children
I may have a slight addiction to wonderful Christmas books for children.
Free nature journal resources for kids
We do lots of nature study here at the Yankee Homestead. Older Brother (6 yrs. old) works daily on his Nature Folder, which includes a Nature Observation Calendar and a Clouds & Weather Tracker. We also have blank Nature Journal pages that we use from time to time, especially after a more formalized nature excursion…
Christmas Carols for a Kid’s Heart (for a parent’s heart, too)
Christmas Carols for a Kid’s Heart is the third volume of a series called Hymns for a Kid’s Heart. The Christmas volume is the only one we own, although I’d love to add more to our collection.