It’s all about nature
Don’t let cooler weather keep you indoors, especially not on all the public holidays in March and April
Take a picnic to your local nature reserve and find some interesting bugs to look at. Put old clothes on and give your dog a good wash. When you’re done with the dog, you could also give a teddy or two a scrubbing. Lie outside on the lawn on a moonless night and see if you can spot a shooting star to make a wish upon. Keep your eyes peeled for satellites too. How many animals can you name starting with the letter M? Pick up a stone from every place you visit and display it on a windowsill or mantelpiece. Test your child’s memory by asking if they recall where each stone came from. Swim as often as you can – soon it will be too cold. Save veggie leftovers or take some dog pellets to feed the ducks in the park. Rather avoid bread. Human Rights day is celebrated on 21 March. Talk to your child about rights and freedoms in an ageappropriate way. It is never too early to start raising a good citizen. March is the third month of the year, and April the fourth. Teach your little one what those numbers look like and how to count to four. Go for a late afternoon walk in your neighbourhood to find your suburb’s ugliest dog. Speculate about what his name could be. Munch on raw carrots, just like the Easter Bunny. Collect autumn leaves, glue them on a poster and decorate it to make a seasonal artwork. The SA Cheese Festival is on from 27-29 April at Sandringham outside Stellenbosch. There is loads for little ones to do. Get all the info at www.cheesefestival.co.za. Keep things natural. Make a face mask out of: 3 tablespoons oats, 1 tablespoon water, 1 tablespoon honey. Mix, apply to your face and lie with your feet up for ten minutes. Take your family to the world-renowned Sterkfontein Caves in Gauteng. Visit www. maropeng.co.za for details to turn this into a fantastic day trip. Tickle your child’s feet with a feather. Take a kite to the park. YB