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The power of colour…. a la Orange

Here are some images taken over a week in my home. For the past week my world seems to be full of one colour ~ orange. Named after the fruit, not the other way around, I see it wherever I turn.... more

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Are you an elastic parent?

A couple of weeks ago, my son Angus set off on a 35-day trip* around the world with his Grandmother. They will visit 5 countries; catch 9 airplanes, 2 helicopters, 1 train, numerous buses and walk... more

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The wonder of self or, why falling out of trees is good

I was saddened to read about the death of author and illustrator Maurice Sendak yesterday. His iconic children's book "Where the Wild Things Are" has always struck a chord with me and despite now... more

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Departing childhood – will your child pack the important stuff?

I recently had the misfortune of watching an advertorial about a product that promised to have your child reading fluently by the age of 1. Whilst I adore reading and would always encourage children... more

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Mother’s Day. 10 gifts isn’t too much to ask for is it?

“ Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart walk around outside of your body." ~Elizabeth Stone~ ” I became a mother almost 10 ago. I could... more

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Plants you can play with #4 – the magic of grasses

I love grasses. There are over 600 genera and some 10,000 species of grass around the world. It's my view that they are amongst the most important family of plants on the planet. They have a... more

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Nature as Teacher – building resilience and memories

During the summer holidays my son (9) spent a week with his Grandmama at a Victorian beach where I spent much of my childhood. He had, in his words, "the most sick and excellent time." He had... more

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How to do nothing and enjoy it…

In Australia, for many, December means celebrating Christmas, hot days, gifts, reconnection and relaxation, family, more hot days and approximately 9 weeks of school holidays. We're a month... more

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Dragon poo, nasturtiums and why we need both…

Yesterday my daughter and I spent most of the day in our small suburban garden, planting, pruning, weeding and watering. For young children, everyday tasks such as these can be 'teeeedious'... more

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The power of “people variety” in a child’s life …

My girlfriend recently rang to ask if my husband would be prepared to take on an informal mentoring role for her teenage son. She is a single working mother and her son has limited access to... more

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Who’s afraid of the great outdoors…?

Crikey time gets away from you. I originally posted this three years ago, but I still think it's relevant. What say you? I think it's worth revisiting. The great outdoors …. sometimes the... more

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a veggie-led backyard revolution…

There’s a quiet revolution going on in the suburban backyards of Australia. Rather than sitting back and admiring our perfectly manicured “outside rooms”, gazing lovingly at our mondo... more

Buy

Small Fry Outdoors

Inspiration for being outdoors with kids

Written by Caroline Webster

RRP: $24.95; paperback; 144pp; ISBN: 0 7333 2362 2

Buy Now via Facebook or from the ABC Shop

The outdoors is where imagination and discovery collide in the most spectacular fashion. Mother Nature’s secrets are just begging to be discovered and what’s more, she is a brilliant, patient teacher and your child a willing student. Everything outdoors is pure magic.

Small Fry Outdoors is a fascinating and inspirational book for any parent or carer eager to provide fun outdoor activities for their children.

Based on a desire to show her children what playtime was like when she was growing up, the authors have compiled a simple and inexpensive list of activities based on natural resources to ignite any child’s imagination.

From seasonal planting with no fuss recipes that will inspire a love of fresh food, through to creating their very own magical hidey holes & fairy dells to encourage independence and creativity, Small Fry Outdoors is a fun guide to help develop a lasting love of outdoors and the environment.

“Small Fry Outdoors couldn’t come at a more important time .… it is a practical, accessible, must-read book. It is beautifully written and Katrina’s photos are simply stunning.”

Jamie Durie