We started our day by taking care of our feathered friends! Everyone chipped in to help fill the bird feeders before settling in for a reading of The Little Red Hen. We had a little discussion about the story, which felt especially fitting for what we had planned next: making homemade applesauce!
The children helped peel and chop the apples while I got a fire started. There was plenty of opportunity for everyone to contribute, and it was lovely to see them involved in the process of making something we would all get to enjoy together.
While our applesauce was cooking, I brought out something special to share. My husband had brought home a moose antler from his recent hunting trip, and the children were eager to investigate it. We passed it around, feeling just how heavy it was and noticing the surprising shades of green and pink on its surface. We wondered about the moose it had belonged to and shared our theories about how it might have lost its antler.
After enjoying our homemade applesauce, we headed over to the side yard, where the fallen leaves were calling our names!
We worked together to rake an enormous leaf pile, and of course, we had to measure our creation before putting it to good use. The children spent a long time running down the hill and launching themselves into the leaves, rolling around, and inventing all sorts of imaginative games.
"Pretend we're leaf people!"
"Pretend it's my birthday and I have carrot cake!"
I love watching how something as simple as a pile of leaves can become so many different things in the children's imaginations. There was no need for me to organize a game or suggest what came next. They had plenty of ideas of their own!
It was one of those beautiful, sunny autumn days when we had the chance to slow down and really enjoy the season. Between caring for the birds, preparing food together, investigating a fascinating piece of nature, and spending an afternoon playing in the leaves, there was a lovely balance of shared experiences and child-led exploration.
Thanks for a great day, Seedlings!
