The alternating rainy and sunny weather here in Central Ohio has been such a delight to me. Because I grew up in Phoenix where it rains very little, I love the rain and relish the rainbows. I love taking a walk in the rain and I love sitting outside on the porch as the sun emerges. Rainbows are just a reminder that we need to take time out the day to enjoy a little magic and that we need to seek out the rainbows and magic everyday. Kids intrinsically know to do this. Adults forget it seems. We certainly don't pick up a box of crayons in the middle of the day and draw a rainbow and I think we need more rainbows in our lives. If we look, we can find them… or make them.

Lovely rainbow chard… we are growing this in our garden this year. Imagine how many rainbow smoothies we can make.

Second picture: NorPro Rainbow-Colored Wooden Bowls

Last: Playsilks

I saw an ad for Sprout Watches in a magazine recently and I was really impressed with them. Of course I do not wear watches or any jewelry… they annoy me, but just in case I am actually freakish and most people do still wear watches, I thought I would mention them.

If you asked me a week ago what would be not so green about watches I would have only thought of the leather wrist straps but all of the sustainable features of these watches really shows how green conventional watches are NOT.

Sprout Watches are lead and phthalate free, have 100% organic straps, biodegradable case and buckle, the face plate is bamboo, the glass is mineral crystal made from sand not plastic plexi-glass, the battery is mercury free, and 80% of the packaging is recycled post consumer. I hear they also come with seeds that you can plant inside the watch box. Very cool. They are also VERY reasonable in price and nice looking too.

If your in the market for a watch or you want to gift one these would be good to consider.

I chose a winner via random.org for the Spring Giveaway basket with lots of fabulous natural toys. All of those goodies can be found at Natural Kids for any interested parties.

The winner was commenter #51 Little Lamb. I will email you to let you know of your prize, I hope your little boy enjoys all the toys!!

And I leave you with photos of my weekend.. lots of fun and lots of outdoor time for all. We went to two metro parks in our area… a public garden and a hiking trail where we hoped to spot some bald eagles that have recently returned to the area, but alas no such luck spotting them. We will not give up though! We also played a little softball as a family. My oldest boy is getting really good and will frequently spend hours at the park near our house playing. Wishing everyone lots of Green Hours this spring!

Oh no you didn't just pick a daffodil at a public garden did you??? LOL. The look on his face tells me he thought I wasn't looking… the stinker.

Walking in the woods playing Paddle Ball. What could be better?

In mid March I posted pictures of my daughter playing in her favorite tree. Back then it was just starting to get buds and I eagerly awaited seeing what would bloom. I "think" it is a Star Magnolia tree. Unlike the Magnolia tree we had at our old house (sob) this one has white flowers instead of pink. It is quite lovely, even if I do miss my old tree.

Wishing everyone a beautiful spring weekend!! My camera bag is packed and I am ready for adventure!

Depending on your experience, you may dread the subject of science or look at it as just one of those things you HAVE to learn. I for one always loved science and it was one of my best subjects. In college I relished my anatomy, biology, organic chemistry, and astronomy classes and I was really sad when I finished all of my required classes. It is really important to me now that I instill in my children a love of science. There are so many fun ways you can teach children about science and much of it comes from everyday play! Here are some ideas.

Science Is Everywhere

As mentioned above, science encompasses much. Take moments throughout the day – playing, cooking, gardening, etc. – to point out scientific realities, which will awaken your child’s sense of the science around him. Also, by pointing out science as it happens, you will be teaching your child to develop keen observation for her environment, and observation is a hugely important aspect of science.

Nature Hikes for Budding Scientists

This is an excellent exercise any time of year, but is especially valuable and fun when the seasons are turning as they are now. If possible, hike the same general area over the course of the year, noting changes in the landscape. Take along field guides in the form of notebooks with your kid’s names on them, for identification of local plants, wildlife, rocks and minerals. You can also take binoculars and a magnifying glass to get a closer look at birds, bugs, and trees. Take pictures to document your studies.

Research & Play

Take the notes and pictures from your adventures and do some Internet research about the various things you found so that next time they can better observe what they see. Ask them if they have any questions and explore the answers together. Use the internet, books, or media to find out more about subjects that interest your child. Read books about natural science and nature under a tree in your yard or at a local park. Plant a garden or even a single potted plant and encourage your child to keep notes about the plant’s growth habits, etc. Keep your findings in a special notebook that can be a source of pride for your child. I REALLY, REALLY want this discovery museum so the kids can store their treasures. It also comes with 30 items of fossils, minerals, marine life and insects.

Science Toys and Kits

There are so many wonderful kits and toys available these days with a science theme. There are baking soda and vinegar rockets, crystal growing kits, junior chemistry sets, butterfly habitats, bug collection and observation devices, and others. A simple set of magnets can teach children a lot about the science of magnetic poles and the earth’s magnetic forces and a planet mobile can get your child interested in space exploration. We have been eyeballing the Thames and Kosmos Classic Science Classic Chemistry set because I love the tie in to the Dangerous Book for Boys. But I wonder were the chemistry set for girls is??

Exciting Experiments

There are also many science experiments you can do at home with your kids. Study weather by making a rain gauge or simulating cloud formation in a glass. Melt an ice cube and boil the water to show the three properties of matter (solid, liquid, gas). Mix baking soda and vinegar to study the reaction between an acid and a base. Check the children’s area of your library for books on science experiments you can do at home, or look online.

Local Attractions

Explore your local area for science… state parks, nature workshops, wildlife preserves, science museums, planetariums, aquariums, summer camps, etc. Last year one of the metro parks in my area had a CSI summer day camp where kids learned aspects of forensic science. Our science museum has daily workshops you can join in. We don’t have to look far for play opportunities that teach.

Another wonderful benefit is that these activities encourage parental involvement and participation. As you exhibit a love of learning and a love for science, your children will follow suit. And best of all nature is the best place for fieldwork!! What do you find inspires children to learn about science?