Recovering from seasonal flu (a gift from the educational system), we spent the first half of the Easter holidays in bed. I usually manage to get the kids through it without antibiotics, but this time I had to give in and take them for a check-up. A few days of proper rest, and thankfully everyone was back on their feet.
Easter was a gentle reset. We shared a simple family meal and enjoyed a quick but joyful egg hunt in the garden. On Easter Monday, we joined a “scavenger egg hunt” at a nearby farm—an adventure that fully lived up to its name. I noticed some seasoned moms tackling the trail by bike, which felt like a glimpse into our future. We walked the full 5.5 km instead—laughing, sweating, navigating a few tears, and soaking in the early spring warmth. Note to self: next year—bikes only.
Golf season is back, and our eldest has joined the junior group at the local club. He proudly carries his clubs to each lesson, eager to learn. Most sessions take place on the range or in the academy, and his excitement is contagious.
I’ve stayed consistent with my morning walks since mid-February. With longer days and warmer weather, we’re naturally shifting into more bike adventures too. This month: 11 morning walks and 10 days on the bike.
One highlight was a trip to Locarno with friends and their two kids. We made a very worthwhile stop at what might be the best ice cream spot in the region—huge scoops, no regrets. Most of our rides took us along the sandy river beaches, which are quickly becoming a favourite.
One day, I took all three kids out on the bike—one riding independently and two with me. It wasn’t exactly smooth (a few technical hiccups along the way), but we made it home safely, and I felt ridiculously accomplished. Note to self: with a bit more practice, I’ll manage one child on the back and one asleep in the double Thule. Goal for this summer. Worst case—I build some much-needed muscle.
Our favourite adventure spot, Wonderwood, is officially open for the season. It runs on weekends and bank holidays, and we usually go for the “plus” ticket (return within 14 days for a small extra fee). As I’ve mentioned before, it truly offers something for everyone. (Linking our previous visit and latest High5 sensory check-in here.)
With warmer weather, birthday parties in Ticino have moved outdoors again. This month included a beautiful double birthday celebration in nature, up on Monte Verità. It felt just as much like a parents’ gathering as a kids’ party—children roaming freely through the woods, while we chatted nearby. As usual, I found myself stationed at the playground with my two youngest, catching toddlers mid-tumble alongside a few wonderful moms.
May in Planning
Bank holidays
Two family birthdays
Mother’s Day
Trip to Hungary
School trips and open days
1000 Hours Outside Challenge
We passed the 300-hour mark in April, spending over 110 hours outdoors together. As the days stretch longer, it becomes easier to say yes to going outside—even when it feels inconvenient.
In just over a month, school will be out. And with it, a little more freedom to shape our days around fresh air, movement, and time together.
Even in the messy weeks—the sick days, the logistical chaos, the moments of doubt—getting outside continues to be the one thing that grounds us. Not perfectly, but consistently.
Finally, it’s time to pack up the crew and set sail—well, more like buckle up the kids, load the snacks, and hit the road! 🚗✨ For the past two years we’ve been dreaming about returning to South Tyrol, and this summer the Dolomites are calling us back.
Last time, we only had a taste of what the region has to offer: emerald-green meadows, turquoise mountain lakes, and adventure parks where kids can play for hours. We left with happy memories but also the feeling that we’d only just scratched the surface.
This time, we’re not going alone. Between us and our friends, we’ve got 5 kids, 6 grown-ups, and an entire car full of snacks and strollers—ready to trade daily routines for mountain trails, playground forests, and alpine adventures. It’s going to be messy, loud, and unforgettable… in the very best way.
🛣️ Road Trip Planning with Kids (6, 3, and 1-Year-Olds)
Normally, the drive from Ticino to Sillian takes about 5.5–6 hours. With kids, though, we plan at least one stop along the way. This time, we’ll pause at Riva del Garda for a picnic and a play break—giving our youngest travelers some much-needed time outside the car.
On road trips, we always pack our picnic basket with whatever the fridge and pantry can spare. Eating on the go helps us keep nap schedules intact and saves time compared to wrangling everyone out at a restaurant.
For entertainment, we rotate between CoffeeBreak Italian podcasts, car games like “I Spy” or “Word Chain,” and plenty of storybooks for the little ones between naps and snack times.
🧳 Packing with Kids: Our Family Checklist
When traveling with a 6-, 3-, and 1-year-old, packing can feel like moving house. Over the years we’ve learned that a little planning goes a long way—especially when you’re heading into the mountains where weather and needs can change quickly.
✨ Two Days Before Departure
Clothes: lots of layers (valley vs. mountain temperatures can differ hugely).
Shoes: slippers, trekking sandals, sturdy hiking shoes, and wellies for rainy days.
Comfort items: soft toys, blankets, or bedtime must-haves.
Kid input: we let the kids choose a few toys, books, or games for the trip—it gets them excited and involved.
✨ One Day Before Departure
Electronics & gear: phones, cameras, drone, action cam, night lights, and all chargers.
Bug protection: plug-in mosquito diffuser or spray.
First aid: a full medical kit for the car + a small trail kit.
Sun protection: hats, sunglasses.
Documents: wallets, passports, and any medical papers.
✨ Day of Departure
Snacks & drinks: a packed picnic basket for easy, on-the-go meals.
Entertainment: podcasts, simple car games, books.
Quick-access bag: wipes, spare clothes, small toys, and comfort items within reach.
🗺️ The Route: From Ticino to Sillian
Leaving Ticino means waving goodbye to lakes and palm trees and slowly climbing into alpine scenery. The kids love spotting changes along the way – high mountain peaks, cows grazing in meadows, and tunnels that seem to go on forever.
Family Tip: Plan longer stretches of driving during nap times and keep shorter ones for awake periods. This helps everyone’s mood (parents included!).
🏡 Destination: Arriving in Sillian
Sillian is a small, cozy village that feels made for families. It’s quieter than the big Dolomite resorts but still close to everything. Accommodation options range from family-run hotels to farm stays and holiday apartments with kitchens—perfect for cooking quick meals when kids get hungry outside restaurant hours.
The best part? Sillian is a central base for hikes, cable cars, and family adventures while offering plenty of playgrounds for downtime.
🏔️ Family-Friendly Activities in & Around Sillian
Croda Rossa (Rotwand)
Giant cable car rides that kids love.
Wide-open meadows.
Brand-new Family trail chasing the lost spirits of the mountains.
Buggy-friendly trails, easy for the whole family.
Monte Elmo (Helm)
Barefoot adventure trails with child-friendly themes.
Panoramic views without long hikes.
Petting zoo playground near the mountain station.
Panoramic bar terrace for a well-deserved Aperol Spritz or Mountain Ginger.
Baranci (Haunold)
A summer toboggan run and an adventure park.
Toddler-friendly trails and safe play areas.
Wooden ball track and tubbing.
Parents can relax while kids cool down in the Giant’s footsteps pools.
Assling Wildlife Park
The ultimate forest wildlife park on the mountain.
Grandpa’s model train collection.
Playground with water play, slides, swings, and climbing.
On the mountain with pram-accessible walking paths.
Funbob side by side with the park.
Galitzenklamm
A dramatic gorge with waterfalls and wooden walkways.
Kid-friendly paths (but better with carriers than strollers).
Adventure climbing park nearby for older children.
👨👩👧👦 Tips for Families Traveling this Route
Dress for all seasons: mountain weather changes fast—layers are your friend.
Balance big days and rest days: mix cable car + hike days with simple playground afternoons.
Bring the right gear: a sturdy stroller or carrier makes life easier.
Keep small distractions handy: sticker books, cards, or a tiny toy can save a wait at a mountain hut.
Embrace the unexpected: some of the best memories come from unplanned moments, like watching cows or splashing in streams.
✨ Closing Thoughts & Inspiration
As parents, we sometimes wonder if big trips like this are “worth it” with little ones. The packing lists are endless, naps don’t always line up, and someone always needs a snack just as the trail gets steep. But the Dolomites reminded us that adventure doesn’t have to wait until the kids are older.
Here, mountains meet playgrounds, hikes, and family memories are made in the small, unexpected moments—giggles in a gorge, a picnic by the roadside, or ice cream after a cable car ride.
We came for the scenery, but we’ll leave with something even better: a reminder that family travel is less about ticking off sights and more about collecting little moments of joy. And those tired, happy smiles at the end of each day? That’s the real treasure of traveling with kids. 💛
‘Vacanza di Carnevale’ brought on March in Ticino. I suppose this school holiday is better known as ski break or winter break in other parts of Europe. Something new to get used to. Moms on the last school day (before the week long break) would wish ‘Buon Carnevale’ to each other. Which simply implies to have a great week holiday with your family.
International Women Day
From one generation to another we always celebrated on March 8. Women in my family would get a little plant or flower and we would definitely have some sort of cake at the dining table. I suppose it is another excuse to indulge in some naughty extra calories.
Father’s Day: Brunch at Monte Generoso
Highlight of the month of March has to be the trip to Monte Generoso on Father’s Day. Last year on Mother’s Day we visited Säntis. It set a theme in my mind for any future Mother’s and Father’s Day. Interestingly, in Switzerland, many attractions like this, come up with an offer for the fathers and mothers visiting on the respective dates.
Father’s Day in Ticino is different to the rest of the cantons of the country. It is aligned with Italy. On this day, they celebrate Saint Joseph, or in Italian San Giuseppe, and is an official public holiday.
With an extra bank holiday in the pocket, we could freely set off to visit Monte Generoso. Read here about our trip to this beautiful mountain at the border of Italy / Switzerland.
Garden works: Sowing & Planting
As the days got longer and warmer, we spent more and more time in the garden. First we dusted off all the items left outside during the winter. Once it looked a bit more orderly, we measured out a small strip to convert it to a small kitchen garden. This part is the sunniest although most of the time our garden is in a shade from the tall trees on the side of the plot.
This small strip was fenced off then filled with over half a ton soil. The weather did its part in integrating the soil to its new home, by raining heavily for about a week. Once the clouds cleared we carried on with sowing seeds. Here you can see the before, during and after images of the reno.
It is a great little project for the kids. They all seem to enjoy looking after this small plot. Easy excuse to spend more time outdoors, since the seeds / plants need water. Water is the middle name of my family. I think we were all some sort of fishes in our previous lives.
Swimming Sessions
This month the first period of swimming lessons came to an end. The second had started straight away though. Our eldest levelled up from crab (Granchio) to little seahourse (Cavalluccio). Our youngest also completed their lessons and received a duck badge that we need to saw on their bathrobe (accappatoglio).
As I mentioned before we all love the water and being in the water. We visit the pool 2-3 times even on days when there is no lesson. It is a safe place where all the kids are happy.
1000 Hours Outside Challenge
Over 72 hours spent in the nature. This is almost two full working weeks. This brings our yearly count to over 150 hours. I am so happy with our progress and I am proud to see our little ones enjoying themselves in the nature.
We are lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful mountains and many lakes. Our local bucket list of places we would like to explore. We hope to bring you along our tiny trips by colourful travel journal entries, many picture and videos.
Hello April
Swimming, gardening, Easter holiday, cousins visit – these are just a few of the things we look forward to doing in the coming month.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of early spring sunshine warming both your soul and your body. I absolutely love this sensation! I often wish there were a word or expression that could capture the intensity of this experience. It’s so full of hope for the warmer and longer days that lie ahead in the coming weeks and months..
Here in Ticino, the sunshine plays on our senses every day… almost every day! This mood-lifting phenomenon is exactly what I needed after 3 months of no-sunshine in the valley of Centovalli.
Carnevale in Ticino
Last month, we “scared” the winter away at Bandi Gianee by dragging tins along the ground and making loud noises throughout the town. February and March in Ticino are dedicated to Carnevale. Even the typical “ski holiday” is referred to as Vacanza di Carnevale, which translates to “holiday of carnival.” People greet each other with “Buon Carnevale” when they depart. Are you going away for Carnevale? This question is mainly to find out if you have any plans, particularly for skiing, during this specific week.
Tiny Trips
Ascona
Ascona is my current favourite place to visit. I am very lucky to live 10 minutes drive away. I end up visiting this place at least twice a month and each time I discover something new.
Ponte dei Salti – Lavertezzo
This double arch stone bridge is a renowned destination for adrenaline enthusiasts. Built over 400 years ago, it serves as a popular jumping spot for anyone looking to plunge into the turquoise river below. The river is slow-moving yet cold. From the bridge, you can see the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Lavertezzo. If you’re adventurous enough to climb the large, river-worn stones, you can capture a beautiful reflection of the church in the water.
Verzasca Dam
This was my second visit to the majestic dam in Valle Verzasca, and it did not disappoint. This time, the kids were awake, and we took the opportunity to explore the area thoroughly. We walked along the entire path on top of the dam, which leads to the opposite mountain where a hiking trail begins. The rocks had a way of playing tricks on our eyes. As we explored, the kids effortlessly climbed on the rocks, making it look like they had completed a challenging hike. The vastness of the space and the distance we covered suddenly felt much greater compared to our usual daily surroundings.
1000 Hours Outside Challenge
Longer days provide us with more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. We spent just over 43 hours outside this month, which is 8 hours more than last month. Unfortunately, the flu continues to be prevalent in our neighborhood. From what I’ve read on social media, it seems to be lasting longer than usual this year, often extending beyond a month. This aligns with our experience; between the five of us, we end up passing the illness around. Despite being ill or not, we strive to get outside whenever we can.
We have completed 88 out of 1,000 hours by the end of February, which makes me doubt that we’ll reach our goal. Fortunately, the summer break lasts over two months in Ticino, and I expect to fit in the majority of the hours needed for the year 2025 during that time.
Hello March
“Vacanza di Carnevale” means a week off from kindergarten. We are in the midst of potty training, which begins with three days at home. After that, we can start taking short walks before we attempt a longer trip. Fingers crossed that we figure it out quickly! 🙂
San Giuseppe day is an official public holiday in the Italian part of Switzerland. On this day, all fathers are celebrated, just like in Italy.
January is a month filled with short days. Our January – if I would need to chose a theme – would be noise. Yes, NOISE. Now, put your hands up if you are not great with noise. That’s me. My soul rests when there is no noise around. Does it happen often? Nope. My poor chimming heart gets heavy and sweaty trying to race with the loudness. My breaths get shorter and rapider. When I bare no more, I remove myself from this atmosphere and spend some time cooling down.
Bandi Gianee
New experience alert. This month we got to know the story behind Bandi Gianee. A custom typical to the Italian part of Switzerland. In particular to Locarno and its close vicinity.
What do you need? Some empty cans on a long string that can be tragged around town, making as much noise as possible.
Winter is still in full swing in the mountains, however in the warmest part of Switzerland, the locals are already calling for the spring and summer. Here, in Centovalli, the sun arrives to the valley towards the end of January. So it makes sense to make as much noise as possible to scare the winter away for another year.
First Day of JanuaryLast Day of January
It is yet another great opportunity to spend time outdoors with the community. The celebration often ends with a ‘merenda’. All participants contribute with some drinks and snacks. We got to spend it with a group of amazing, dedicated parents and caretakers. With the tummies filled, the guitarist took his instruments and the sound of the music gathered all the singers around. Time flies when you are having fun.
1000 Hours Outside Challenge
With a fresh start, I am logging the time spent outdoors (roughly). In January, with the winter flu blooming, we spent 35 hours and 15 minutes outdoors. This is a tiny bit more than one hour per day on average. I expect, it is the toughest to show results in the first month of the year. My tiny peeps are not a big fan of cold and dark. So the window of opportunity is pretty narrow. Based on that I am happy with the results and I am looking forward to seeing some longer days to come.
Yesterday’s weather has reminded me of a walk at West Whittering beach in the UK. Picture a sandy beach. It is low tide, the sea is barely visible somewhere far. Warm dominant wind blows the soft powdery sand at you fiercely. Now, back to reality, we are in Switzerland and the wind doesn’t blow sand at us instead it showers with rain.
Meanwhile Indoors
My son decided he would like to draw something. He was determined to use many colours but he didn’t know what to draw exactly.
He wanted to work on it collectively with his sister and me. As I was taking the crayons out and the notepad, an idea sparked in his head. He opened the notepad and took the brown crayon. He divided the paper into smaller parts. Then he dedicated a colour to each part and instructed us to colour as he told. He felt in control and it was great to see how he gently giggled when we improvised and things didn’t go the way he imagined. He was easy and we were too. We named him Colour Chief and proudly played his part.
Colouring
And we just coloured. It was a bliss. We all chipped in and got the work done. There was no competition, it wasn’t a race, it was a bliss. The kids enjoyed it so much that we made four different pictures.
1000 Hours Outside Challenge
This week has passed by ever so quickly. We spent time outdoors five out of seven days due to some above described weather. In Hungarian customs April is labelled as a foolish month due to its ever changing weather. Well, here is Switzerland, March feels like April in Hungary. The weather is playing tricks on us, as my son would say. Its hard to tell how to dress. It could be winter when the bus picks up the kids in the morning and early summer warm when the bus brings them back from kindergarten. Overall we braved the elements for over 12 hours outdoors this week. Since we starter the challenge we logged over 120 hours outdoors in total. This number is not as high as I expected it to be three and half months into the challenge, but it comes with no surprise due to the time spent in hospital earlier this year. I am not worried about the early set backs as I know that we will recuperate the hours in the warmer summer months ahead of us.
In Summary
We made the most of the good weather outdoors and made good use of our time indoors. The kids enjoyed this simple drawing activity so much that we coloured a dozen more in the following day. It gave us a break from the daily routine. It is easy to set up and put away. My daughter learns bit by bit that drawing happens on the paper and not on the wall or furniture. It teaches them to put away things after use, so it is ready next time we need them. And my favourite part is that while drawing the conversation flows like water from a mountain stream. During this time, I can indulge in the stories my son invents.
The newborn-moon period is over. It’s time to work on a new system that caters for all. Unfortunately, my husband’s paternity leave has ended, and he is back to work. Our eldest child, B, was back in kindergarten. At least he was at the start of the week. However, on Wednesday afternoon he started to feel under the weather. It became clear that he was ill when his temperature 🤒 went up. We gave him Calpol twice that day and he slept through the night. The next two days, he spent at home resting. And of course by the time weekend came around, he was getting better 🌟
Then Saturday afternoon, our daughter woke up crying with high fever just before midnight. Quick Calpol, many hugs and we tucked her back into her cot. Here comes Sunday and all three kids are poorly. The smallest one is only 17 days old, but he also got the cough and runny nose. Days like these are truly appreciate the fact that we live in a multi-generational household. I always think about all the single parents out there with the deepest respect. If it’s you, I salute you!
System Building
This week I wanted to concentrate on building a flexible system to guide me throughout the day. I am trying to balance many things around the kids schedule without going crazy. I would like to keep some space in our days for my wellbeing, so I can recharge my batteries and be a better person. There are only x amount of hours within the day, so I have thought hard how to balance everything. Can certain tasks be combined and carried out simultaneously? In theory, the answer is yes! As long as it involves everyone, why not, right? Well… we shall see in the coming weeks.
Schedule
6:00
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
11:00
Old Morning Routine
Coding
Wake up kids
Breakfast
Morning walk
Cleaning
Cooking
New MorningRoutine
Morning Walk
Wake up kids
Breakfast
Morning walk
Decluttering / Cleaning
Coding
I would like to start the day with a morning walk, just like I did while I was pregnant with my daughter. Now that the days are getting longer, I can soon start going out before the kids wake up. This walk is all about me and some music or podcast I choose to start the day with.
After breakfast ideally I would head outside with our daughter for a little bike ride, or just messing around at the local playground. She is happy to stay in the cold outdoors, for about 30-40 minutes. Then we go inside, where I go through a zone per day to eliminate things I no longer use or need. Meanwhile, I wait for our daughter to give me some signs when she is ready for her nap. Mostly, she is down by 11 am but it all depends on what time she wakes up in the morning. Once she is asleep I can focus on my coding journey. I am currently learning some JavaScript for the millionth time 🙁 .
This is my second golden hour: My daughter is usually asleep and my son is not yet back from kindergarten. By eliminating the lunch prep task, I can free up this sacred time for my benefit.
Schedule
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
Old Afternoon Routine
Lunch
Quiet time
Gardening
Outdoors
Outdoors
New Afternoon Routine
Lunch
Coding
Outdoors / Gardening
Outdoors / Gardening
Outdoors / Gardening
After lunch time while my son has quiet time, I can carry on coding. Once my daughter is up from her nap time, and she filled up her tummy, we can head outside. Currently it is hard to handle the two eldest outside alone. One would like to play football, frisbee, or tennis. While our daughter just want to go, go, and go. If she decides to do something, nobody and nothing can stop her. I hope it will change soon, as it would be fun to show her things, and do some activities together with his brother.
In general, it would be great to spend most of the afternoon outside, however this time is purely led by our children. I listen to their needs, while I try to extend the time we are outside. I plan to do some gardening while they are playing, but not sure how it will work out. Previously I separated gardening from outdoor time, but I hope this is something we manage to do side by side and the kids will eventually get inspired by nature and growing things.
Schedule
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
Old Evening Routine
Prep dinner
Dinner
Bath
Bed time (kids)
Coding
New Evening Routine
Dinner & Lunch prep
Dinner
Bath-Story-Bed
Blogging
Unwind
In the evening, I plan to prep dinner as well as lunch for the next day. With a little forward thinking, one hour should be enough to prep for both mealtimes. After dinner bath and bedtime. Once the kiddies are in bed, I spend some time on the blog, while hubby plays a bit on our son’s Nintendo Switch 🙂 We both like to watch some limited series on Netflix to unwind at the end of the day.
1000 hours outside
My personal goal is to increase my daily step count to 20K. I hope to shed some weight without any special workouts. Walking perfectly fits with my commitment to the 1000 hours outside challenge this year and sneakily I hope to inspire my kids to be outdoorsy ‘like their Mom’ or even more.
Two weeks after the operation my step count was finally over 15K for the first time since our baby boy was born. What an achievement. I was so nervous about third time recovery. I have never in my wildest dreams imagined that I will be so active a couple of weeks after re-re-section.
Overall, we logged 9 hours for the second time this year. As you can see on the photos, snow covered the fields at the beginning of the week. Then by Saturday we were enjoying the warmth of the sunshine on our skin. I am looking forward to next week. It is sports holiday, which means there is no kindergarten and more time to spend in the nature.
Language skills
Nearly a year ago, we moved from the UK to the German-speaking part of Switzerland 🇨🇭. It is beautiful here and we love the area. However, we don’t speak German 🇩🇪 YET.
Our eldest just started kindergarten in August last year. He has two mini German lessons a week with the school’s English teacher. It is more like a friendly chat/game than a formal lesson.
I want to help him as much as possible, but unfortunately, I don’t know how to speak German. To ensure that I don’t teach him anything incorrectly, I am thinking to focus on passive learning. Just playing with words should be fun. He is asking more and more questions about how to write specific words and how to read certain signs / phrases.
This month’s payday gift was a letter game. Letters are displayed on tiny wooden dice and there are multiple dice of the same letter. In German language every noun has a gender, similar to Italian. So I am thinking of coming up with a vocabulary game that compares nouns, so he can connect the words he already knows in one language or another. I am thinking to use day to day topics of activities he does during the day.
In our family we speak many different languages. Sometimes one of us will struggle to remember a word in that particular language we use at that moment. Then we would ask the other person to help by saying it in another language (whatever form it is remembered). And this whole dilemma ends up with a discussion of this of word in all the languages we speak and any other way we know but not necessarily speak.
I will let you know how it goes after a couple of times weeks.
This week brought us another wave of snow outdoors. Before moving to Switzerland, I always imagined that the winters are generally white across the country.
But now I know that this isn’t necessarily the case. We dedicated most of our time to bonding, and getting to know each other, and ourselves as a family of five / seven.
We live under the same roof with my parents, so I cannot leave them out of the equation, of course. Living in a multi-generational setting means we are never outnumbered with the kids. It also means more type of relationships, and more possibilities.
Hubby was still home with us (on paternity), which was very special. The kids love being woken up, and put to bed by him. He is going back to work next Tuesday, after being off for almost a month. It will be strange not have him around during the day (especially in the morning times).
Outdoors in sub zero with little kids
It was M’s first time being outside for some free roaming in proper snow and ice conditions. She’s been walking, running, falling for 2 months now. She is generally quiet happy to spend 90 minutes outdoors exploring and playing. However, in this week’s sub-zero temperature her limit to play outside has shrank to about 30 minutes.
There are many contributing factors to the shorter threshold:
Too many layers – reduces mobility
NO! – she says to gloves:
gloves on – she cannot hold or touch anything
gloves off – well, cold hands
Slippery ice – many falls
Deep snow – of course with such tiny legs, the snow gets to her knees
Failed attempt to pull her on the sleigh – it tipped over and she fell head first in the fresh powder snow
Despite all the odds, she is keen to head out every day – preferably twice a day. Often she picks up her little shoes at home and brings it to me. “Hey, Mommy! It’s time to get going!” – I imagine she would say if she would be verbal.
Longer walks
This week I managed to sneak out for a longer walk with Dad. Courtesy of Mom, who volunteered to stay with my eldest in front of the house playing with the ball. He is not keen on walking, I guess it is boring for a five year old to walk and talk, and not to play with something on the journey. Luckily, he is content to stay close to the house and play in the garden or on the porch. Mom is similar, she prefers to do something rather than getting lost in the forest or in the countryside. On the contrary, Dad and I could walk and walk and walk, day and night.
We took the youngest member of the family in a carrier with us. O was nice and cosy on my chest. As soon as I put him in the winter overall, he is fast asleep.
1000 Hours Outside challenge
Weekly total 4:36 min in the fresh air. One day indoors, but all other days we managed to get out a little. Time spent outside varies from 24 minutes to over an hour.
Overall, we spent about 38 hours in the nature since we started the challenge back on the 8th December. I am happy with the result so far. I know it is not too much but under the current circumstances it is better than I thought it would be. I know that once winter is over, we will be able to spend much more time outdoors.
Working a bit backwards, I am finally setting us up for a great year ahead. Due date is in 5 days, I cannot think of a better way to set some goals and directions for the new year.
W H Y ?
Unintentionally, I started to focus on the importance of being outdoors with the kids at the beginning of December.
This was due to several factors. The nights got longer, and with the limited daylight hours, I felt the urge to schedule some free outdoor time for when both kids can roam around.
Moving into the winter months the temperature dropped, so we had less fresh air indoors which was another motivational factor.
But most importantly, ever since my daughter turned 17 months old, she started to have intense meltdowns. I am talking about going from zero to hero ugly, banging herself to the ground, in 2.5 seconds. It was scary for me to experience this, especially since my son, who is now 5 years old, never had such challenges.
A month later she started to walk pretty much from one day to another as she turned 18 months old. She clearly needed more space to master these new skills she gained.
H O W
What can be more secure than a huge grass field. So I invested some warm wool overalls and a pair of sturdy shoes. We took a short walk to accompany her older brother to the bus stop each morning. Then we went outside to wait for Daddy to come home in the afternoon – just before dinner time.
These two little commitments become part of our daily routine. And with that the kids temper became more regulated. Tantrums haven’t gone away, but they became more manageable. I became more level headed and patient as well.
W H A T
What do we do? What ever the kids feel like. We are lucky to have a small climbing frame with couple of slides right at our doorsteps. We keep a football outside as an invitation for play – it works like magic with the kids in the neighbourhood. While we are waiting for the school bus to turn up the kids kick the ball around and burn some energy right before they head into Kindergarten / School.
W H E N
Started to record our time spent outdoors on 8th December 2023. The challenge stretches over a year, hence total hours will be announced on 7th December 2024.
R E S O U R C E S
I got inspired by the many many instagram posts that you can check out by searching the #1000hoursoutside. Of course I headed over to their website https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/ where I found numerous resources and links. I then hooked up to their podcast channel, which I regularly listen while the kids are playing.
