What does strewing look like at your house?

[Beatrice]

I thought this might be an interesting thread :)

Strewing here might be:


buying a book on drawing manga for my anime fan, to help her learn more techniques
collecting bottletops, boxes, containers in one place etc for crafting
pulling interesting books out of the bookshelf and leaving them somewhere more visible
leaving planks, bricks and sticks in the garden where they can be turned into structures instead of hauling them away to the tip
pointing out an interesting website or news story
checking listings for upcoming events/performances/workshops etc, and offering to take them if they are interested
reading "1001 Ways To Amuse Kids" or similar when I'm feeling stuck for ideas, and setting up an activity for them to do with as they wish
having toys accessible and visible, and swapping them around regularly

What about you?

[Blossomtime]

Yep, all of the above as well as...

- visits to the botanical gardens, museum, bush, beach or similar to see whats changing or going on.
- The Library to rummage and find any books that inspire us towards something new.
- DVDs brought home to watch.
- A list of activities based on the seasons for when we get stuck.
- A seasonal/nature table to introduce change and inspire observation and play.
- starting a craft activity or cooking something and waiting for them to join in.
- wandering out to the garden with some tools and notebooks and pencils and food and seeing what they get up to while I garden/work.
- supporting their interests and bringing home toys/kits/books etc. to support that. eg. a dinosaur excavation kit or a magic kit.

[Beatrice]

I just taped up the tops of all the non-standard sized moving boxes we have emptied of books recently, and took them outside to use as huge building blocks. It looks like K likes building things and H likes knocking them down :lol

[Harmony]

Oddly enough, tidying up the toys works here! When it's a mess, they don't see anything to play with. When it's all sorted and neatly boxed, they peruse the boxes and pick stuff to do :)

Lying down usually prompts a cuddle/BFing/reading/giggle fest, so you might say I strew myself around at times :lol

[Aurora]

Yes, tidying toys works here too! As does rearranging furniture. When things are presented differently, it seems to make a difference, they spot things they haven't noticed in a while. Because of storage/space restrictions, some boxes of stuff isn't within child reach, so I occasionally shuffle, so the stuff that IS within his reach differs.

Also, I like to leave little surprises for them to wake up to occasionally. Eg I'll make playdough when the kids are sleeping, and in the morning put it on the breakfast table.
I'll mix it up a bit by putting glitter in it, or rice or something. I do the same with the occasional little gifts, like new crayons.

When we're home, sometimes I'll offer a CD-Rom game, I'll put the UNO cards or the dominoes at his eyelevel (generally I keep them up higher, away from little toddler fingers.) I might dig around in the recycling bin and see what looks interesting for crafty stuff, or suggest some gardening.

When we're itching to get out of the house, I usually go and get my grocery shopping etc done first and if we're all still keen and have energy, I usually offer the library, the beach, or the park as outings.

[Beatrice]

Also, I like to leave little surprises for them to wake up to occasionally. Eg I'll make playdough when the kids are sleeping, and in the morning put it on the breakfast table.
I'll mix it up a bit by putting glitter in it, or rice or something. I do the same with the occasional little gifts, like new crayons.

That's a lovely idea :)

[asimplelife]

all of the above.

Tidying up toys is GREAT for reinspiring them!

Library books would probably be our biggest inspriration (often my choice along with things that DS is currently interested in). DD just pulls all sorts off the shelves and we have some fabulous wee gems that I would never have chosen lol.

Showing them blogs of other unschooling families and the interesting things they get up to.

[Beatrice]

My kids have started inadvertently strewing by leaving the craft cupboard unlocked so H can get into it :runcry TG I found him before he'd gotten the top off more than one or two of the huge paint bottles :hide K is really into crafty stuff right now, so I'm going to overhaul the craft cupboard and see what I can do about making it more K-friendly but less of a hazard with H around :lol

Books are really popular round here at the moment! B has gotten to the age where she is voraciously reading and not averse to suggestions for what she might enjoy from our huge collection of kids and YA fic so she doesn't have to sort through it herself :lol Currently she's alternating between her Christmas present, which was the steampunk detective Sally Lockhart series by Phillip Pullman, and Picnic at Hanging Rock, also suggested by me. And K was very receptive to the idea of starting a bedtime read-aloud chapter book, so we've started Green Smoke by Rosemary Manning, which is one I loved from my childhood. And now I've expanded our nature shelf to the top of the wall unit, we have seasonal books out there for easy grabbing when somebody is bored.

Hmm, what else are we doing...? I gave K a sewing basket for Christmas so now she's keen on learning handsewing. B found a "build-your-own-TARDIS" kit I found at the oppy and now has it strewn in pieces all over her bedroom floor :lol H is really into heavy machinery and construction work, so we "strew" a trip to the post office with a side trip to the bus station redevelopment down the road a couple of times a week. And I've found that my photo a day challenge for the year means I now have more motivation to find my children interesting things to do so I can photograph them ;) I was losing my unschooling mojo for a while there, so if that's what it takes to get me back into it then hey ;)

How's your new strewing year looking? :)

[birthdance]

Beatrice, have you got any links which explain the concept of 'strewing'?

[Beatrice]

Try this page of links from Sandra Dodd (http://sandradodd.com/strewing).

[birthdance]

Thank you!

[mummabare]

Also, I like to leave little surprises for them to wake up to occasionally. Eg I'll make playdough when the kids are sleeping, and in the morning put it on the breakfast table.
I'll mix it up a bit by putting glitter in it, or rice or something. I do the same with the occasional little gifts, like new crayons.I just love that :)

We tend to wander alot around our area, our favourite is the wetlands near home. Theres always interesting things, like a feather on the path, or finding a ducks nest, finding pebbles in the river.

Also the eco education centre have a little display, you can just wander in and have a look at nests, beetles, wasp nests and turtle shells. Last week they had a dvd set up with sights and sounds of the wetlands. They change the display around fortnightly, I feel really spoilt we have such a cool place near home ;)

[Beatrice]

I needs inspiration! I have been looking through some of our activity books, and I think we're going to try making a mobile from some of the old and mysterious key collection. I got down my beading supplies yesterday and sorted out the ones which K and H can use into two containers instead of all over the place, and now K is very keen on making necklaces and things. Love to hear of everybody's favourite winter indoors activities.

[Ceres]

I reckon old keys could possibly make a wind chime.. sounds like an interesting project!

[Mud]

I'm hopeless with craft, so glad my kids come up with great ideas inspired by our exciting collection of toilet rolls and other would-be rubbish.

We actually don't do any deliberate strewing at our house, but recently when my 3yo uncovered a hand-me-down Barbie princess chariot from its garbage bag, resting en route to the bin, I realised dammit, I'm strewing in the worst possible way. Miscon-strewing, maybe? She declared the easter bunny must have brought it for her birthday (mental note: maybe should de-strew those easter books from nanna), but didn't mind it getting binned a couple of days later.

[Beatrice]

I would never be able to bin a Barbie princess chariot once K discovered its existence :lol

We didn't end up doing the project today; might keep it in reserve for next week instead.

I have a HYOOGE collection of books with suggested projects and activities, but I've been through half the collection and remain uninspired *sigh* Perhaps I'm just having an off-week? K loves our busy box and comes up with lots of ideas by herself, but I want to find a few things to do with them so we're not always doing parallel activities.

[Ceres]

Miscon-strewing, maybe?
:lol

[Kris]

DH and I found a giant pile of maze books at a local oppy and I left them in the craft book cupboard. It's been maze-o-mania here ever since they discovered them.

I've also had a great time suggesting possible maths ideas and finding that DD1 and DS especially run with - DS is positive that he has created a board game and is doing victory dances when he realises that he just knows what 7 x 7 is etc.

[Janet]

Miconstrew. :rofl

Today strewing at our house looked like the cuisenaire rods that arrived in the mail!

[Beatrice]

K is reading phonics books we picked up at the library as part of her stated determination to learn to read this week :lol

[GardenPheenix]

I love this thread. In our house cleaning triggers playing as well. It's almost like a lightbulb going off - she can't see the mess for the toys lol. Fabulous ideas. Thanks!

[Ceres]

We've found that re-organising your space works even better than strewing. We re-organised Gully Jr's book and craft area the other day, and he's found so many things he forgot he had and has gone on a craftathon and workbook blitz.

[Kris]

I left the makedo kit in the middle of the table :uhh and funnily enough they have had it out and are playing with it. I suspect this would be the case no matter what I put on the table. Shall keep doing it and see if they notice that I'm strewing by stealth (I'm sorry but I need to get my fun somehow).

[LouGrace]

Does having the recycling tub accessible to my 4 year old count as strewing? Because just about all of its contents ends up on, under or besides his craft table. I regularly have to cull his stash of what is essentially rubbish - it gets out of hand. Check out this robot he made, completely on his own with no help from me what so ever.
http://youngwebe.blogspot.com/2010/05/we-welcomed-new-member-to-family-today.html

Seriously though, I do a lot of strewing, just never really knew the word for it. For the little one I often put a container of water on the deck and a few cups, spoons etc around for him to discover. (Keeps him out of the dogs water bowl which he'll play in if there is no other option). I sometimes leave a couple of window washer/squeegy things next to a bucket of bubbly water, also on the deck where spilt water doesn't matter and voila, next thing I know the glass in the back doors is being cleaned. Often, if the boys are playing outside I put something on the coffee table as a surprise for when they come inside - play dough or something they've forgotten about from the bottom of a toy basket. They burst inside saying they are tired of playing outside and 'don't know what to do-ooh', and then forget what they're saying as soon as they spot the play dough.

It's probably not the same thing as strewing, but one way I find I can get the kids engaged and lost in an activity is to just start doing it myself, act like it is really important work and they'll want to join in/help. Simple embroidery is good for this. Or just drawing. What are you making/drawing mum? Can we do it too? Etc etc. Before they know it they are immersed in doing their own embroidery/drawing and I can often discreetly move away to get on with cooking or checking my email or whatever.

[GreenGully]

I'm finding more and more that DS really responds to reorganisation of his space. Since we removed most of his toys from his room, either to the loungeroom or the opshop, he's started playing with his dress ups all the time (which were left in the bedroom). Strewing doesn't really do much for him because I think he feels that because it was clearly me who left the object strewed there then it must be a bad idea.

[Jasmine]

Try this page of links from Sandra Dodd (http://sandradodd.com/strewing).

Oh thanks! So many ideas there :-). I have been buying books and things from op-shops and find I *really* struggle against my inner frugal good girl (thanks mum).

Loved this quote from your link, Beatrice-
"Unschooling should and can be bigger and better than school.
If it's smaller and quieter than school, the mom should do more to make life sparkly. "

I initially read this and felt sad that I don't add any sparkle to my childrens lives. But now I feel challenged to get out and start strewing!

[Beatrice]

I've been looking at this list of Things To Do In The Winter (http://sandradodd.com/strew/deblist) and getting all inspired. I discovered that yes, there is a raptor rescue centre (http://www.raptorrefuge.com.au/index.html) nearby me! :lol Hence the discovery of the wedge-tailed eagle kit I just posted a link to. I love the internet - best unschooling tool out there ;)

[zenifa]

Loved this quote from your link, Beatrice-
"Unschooling should and can be bigger and better than school.
If it's smaller and quieter than school, the mom should do more to make life sparkly. "

I initially read this and felt sad that I don't add any sparkle to my childrens lives. But now I feel challenged to get out and start strewing!

That is a good reminder for me today, to make life more sparkly today, feeling a bit stuck in a rut - mainly due to the relentless household chores, that seem to get in the way of being with my girls.

I feel a bit better, on Friday I did 'strew', quote from the link "Sometimes it's just as simple as driving another route to the same old place, or going to a different grocery store than usual." We did that and the girls really did enjoy it!!

[Lina]

Last night, while my boys were asleep, I made a little book with pictures and left it conveniently for DS1 to find. This morning DS1 jumped on it and then spent the next hour making his own version and getting very excited about it.

[Beatrice]

Kewl :)

Yesterday I realised that the kids were interacting badly at home because they're bored (d'oh) so I went through a box in the shed and brought in some things they haven't seen for a while. They've been playing with the marble run ever since, although K and H have also done some puzzles.

[Kris]

I pulled out from the corner the gorgeous doll's tree house that DH and DS made for the little girls - everyone had a go with it, including DH and DD1.

I can see that the baskets - which are often and eagerly played with may get a little stale soon so I'm going to mix up their contents. I'm also going to bring in to the living room, where the little girls have their "kindy" space, some of the other baskets from their bedroom. We've got a long pine coffee table that seems to have become the toy table by default. I also NEED to figure out how to put a cover on the base of the fabric farmyard I made as it's pulling apart.

[JKay]

Strewing doesn't really do much for him because I think he feels that because it was clearly me who left the object strewed there then it must be a bad idea.

Bit like this in our house too! K's not much into craft/drawing etc, so strewing or re-organizing the desk just fails miserably..

But i've found strewing things outside works better - i put out a prism on our shell and bone table and that went down well, and i put out a set of magnets, and K makes them into shapes and stuff...

Dinosaur digs always go down well here too...

I did have a stress about strewing a while ago, since it didn't seem to work for us in any obvious way, but i've broadened my idea of strewing now...to include DVD's, comics and other stuff that K likes...rather than things i secretly think he should like...(workbooks :lol)....which he ignores!

[Kris]

The farmyard got pulled out today :shock, I must psychically connect with my children. DD2 is being oh so careful with it.

[SamanthaW]

When I'm more organised, strewing at our house often involves setting up something cool while the kids are asleep at night. I might build the train tracks in a different way, or set up the farm on the dining table, or organise a craft activity set out in individual bundles.

Since we've moved somewhere with stuff to do (yay!) we've been collecting brochures of interesting places to go and putting them in a display folder. On the weekend, Atti leafs through it and we go do whatever it is he picks. Last weekend he picked going on the tram, so we took it down to the big shopping centre in Croydon and went to a sushi train place for the first time ever - that was awesome fun! The weekend before was the natural history museum where we saw the dinosaur bones and where Atti's alterego Volcano Boy had a fabulous time watching volcanoes erupt and touching volcano rocks.

Books, new toys, interesting foods, cool rocks or shells or plants are all great things to leave around. I keep an eye out for TV shows or movies they might enjoy.

Like others have said, I'll often start doing something that I think might be fun or interesting and nine times out of ten one or both of the children will join in. Yesterday I was tracing my foot on a piece of paper in an attempt to measure it and work out what my UK shoe size is - that led to both kids having multiple foot and hand tracings done, then some cool pictures made out of them.

[zenifa]

I found that reorganising in a big way (ie moving all the toys etc from every room in the house and moving into the girls bedroom in a huge big bookshelf and their wardrobe) has really helped. Everything is organised, easy to find and they can see what is around eg barbies, dolls/home corner, animals, dinosaurs, duplo, mobilo, felt, colouring books, bookshelf, musical instruments, puppets, puzzles, board games, card games etc.

I am also trying Kris' trick of just leaving stuff randomly on the table - puzzles that have been neglected for months are being done with much joy and excitement :)

Reading Samantha W's post above was a great reminder as I do most of what she said.
The kids love to strew as well, leaving me little shells and even a snail shell sans inhabitant, flowers, a leaf etc for me to find.
They love to surprise me by moving art work they've made from our 'living room art gallery' and putting it in their room or the bathroom :)

[Kris]

Children strewing :) that's beautiful.

We let the beach and foreshore strew for us for the last few days - that was mightily fantastic. I loved seeing how DD3 especially reacted to the new environment - she had an absolute blast and was quite clear on what she did and did not want herself or us to do. DD2 reacted by getting her colouring in books and retreating to one of the tents periodically, almost like chill out time.

[Beatrice]

:bump :)

[Lurah]

Thank you :)

[Beatrice]

I've been doing some massive reorganisation lately, since having all four kids stuck inside looking for something to do is a recipe for major disaster. I've basically pulled all the various puzzles, manipulatives etc out of the chaotic mess in the craft cupboard and all over the place, and put them out on the big bookshelf we recently moved into the learning room. I've also restocked the craft supplies and organised it all in one place. So now the kids can reach them when they're looking for something to do, and when they lose interest in table work and go outside, I've started clearing all their previous projects away and laying out new ones. It's working really well.

Current faves are:


magnetic letters, arranged on baking trays (I have no idea why I've accumulated four baking trays, but it's coming in handy :lol)
jigsaw puzzles
sorting a bowl of mixed beans and dry pasta into a segmented tray
a big tub of assorted bolts and nuts
the counting bears and another segmented tray
colouring in and activity books
threading
maths manipulatives like Cuisenaire rods
collage stuff

And I've also started collecting containers to make fairy gardens in. We've made one, and had so much fun I reckon we'll make as many as I can find planters for :)

[zenifa]

Sounds wonderful B!!

We've been doing something similar, although reorganising seems to be a constant here (limited space, limited storage and increasing stuff).

I've strewed

* wooden and plastic beads and some hat elastic (ie the thin stuff) for beading, so far the girls have made 3 necklaces and 2 bracelets
* colouring and activity books (mazes, dot to dot, hidden pictures)
* disposable white lab coats and pippettes (girls got some containers put in water and food colouring and spend ages pippetting pretending to be scientists breeding bacteria)
* magnetic words and letters, with the words they do silly sentence games that have them in stitches :lol
* bowl of assorted nuts - not just for eating, but its been used for counting, sorting (cashew, almond, pistachio), adding/subtracting, and the shells have been used as hats for fairies in the fairy garden etc.
* I also strewed some plastic sheets (like overhead projector sheets) and some glass/mirror paint and the girls made some stained glass pictures (that peel off and can stick on windows). It is a little easier when I left pictures as well for them to trace, otherwise they couldnt' tell which coloured blob belonged to who ;)
* dried seeds, lentils, beans etc used for collages on paperplates with glue etc, didn't realise we had amassed such a coloured array of legumes and pulses.

[GreenGully]

I've set up a strewing table for DS and he loves it. Before I go to bed I'm putting out some things for him for the morning. Last night it was some big gum nuts, his special bowl of stones and treasures and some glow in the dark magnetic marbles. He got up and made a letter J for his name out of the treasures, broke open a stone to see if it was hollow, then played with the marbles. Later we looked up glow in the dark on bobo explores light and we both learned heaps and had lots of fun. I've suggested that later DS paints one of his larger rocks to make a pet rock, a bit of a follow on from his visit to the plaster fun house yesterday. I'm going to have a lot of fun digging out old toys etc to surprise him. He gets so easily bored and struggles to self select from what is available.

Some of my ideas are:

Some fabric and a darning needle with wool threaded through it.
The makedo set with a pile of toilet roll inners
His wooden play food all lined up.
Plasticine
Duos naked rods and graph paper
Dinosaur excavation kit
Musical instruments
Glitter, glue and small items from the recycling bin like matchboxes etc

[Belinda]

Sounds great, GG.

We've been more intensive over the strewing lately as we aren't leaving the house a lot. I'm trying to go through one of my shelves each week and put new things up on them.

We are moving furniture around the house at the moment. Does the stuff you find behind things count? :lol

[Beatrice]

Possibly my favourite NL thread ever :D I was feeling slightly uninspired for ideas to keep the kids engaged during an extended period of being broke and having to curtail a lot of our usual activities, and this thread has already given me heaps of inspiration.

One thing that I am finding a new experience is the fact that if I print out worksheets etc for K on her area of interest (currently the solar system) she loves them. Soooooo very far removed from my experience with B :lol I'm trying to be as selective as I can instead of just printing out rubbishy boring make-work - my god there's a lot of it out there though :runcry