Sunshine, Mud Pies, and Magic: Our Summer Begins

We’ve officially stepped into summer mode a little early here at Little Squirrels, and that means one big, beautiful shift: we’re moving outside! Our more structured, indoor learning is taking a summer break so we can fully embrace the season. In our corner of the world, warm weather is fleeting and these kids deserve to soak up every single second before winter rolls back around.

From now through the end of summer, we’re spending almost all our time outdoors, wild and free the way childhood should be. We still come in for meals and naps, but the rest of the day is dedicated to fresh air, sunshine, mud pies, and messy play.

One of the biggest hits so far? Our brand new mud kitchen! This is where I have to give a big, heartfelt thank you to Chris, who worked so hard to build this beautiful space for the kids. He still has a few finishing touches to add (and probably wishes I’d hold off on showing it off until then), but how could I possibly wait? Its so beautiful, and the kids absolutely love it. I feel so lucky to have someone like him who puts in the time, effort, and care to help make these special things happen for the little ones.

The mud kitchen has become a creative haven. I added a chalk mortar and pestle, and the kids have been making their own “paint” grinding, mixing, and getting gloriously messy. It’s a perfect blend of creativity and fine motor skill development, and they are fully immersed.

To keep the creativity flowing, I also stocked the area with colored sand, squeeze bottles filled with colored water, wood chips, regular sand, and rocks in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The kids have spent hours pouring, mixing, exploring, and just being wonderfully present in their play.

Thanks to our grant that I mentioned in an earlier post, we also received a giant outdoor yoga mat, and it’s quickly become a favorite spot. Sometimes the kids just love having a soft landing to giggle, or relax, but occasionally I can get them to focus long enough to do a little bit of yoga, and I love seeing how calm and focused they become.

We’ve been putting a lot of effort into learning how to put on and take off our own shoes. A small but mighty skill that builds independence and confidence. The pride on their faces when they do it all by themselves is the sweetest thing.

Another challenge we’ve taken on is our new dome climber. It’s been amazing to watch the kids try, problem-solve, support each other, and get stronger with each attempt.

Of course, no summer here is complete without a few (okay, more than a few) rainy days. While we didn’t have rain suits for everyone this year, they are definitely going on my must-have list for next year! For now, we’ve made the most of it. I rolled out some paper, handed out our new paint sticks (which are truly incredible!), and let the kids turn our table into one giant, colorful masterpiece.

A big highlight of the past couple weeks was watching our butterflies emerge from their cocoons. We released some before the weekend and some after. A few butterflies were eager to fly, while others lingered. Some kids were fascinated, others were a bit hesitant, but every reaction was beautiful in its own way. Afterwards I left the empty cocoons out on the mud kitchen for the kids to investigate.

As we settle into this slower, sun-soaked season, blog updates will likely start to slow down too. Once fall rolls around and we return to our play-school rhythm, I’ll have more to share. But for now, we’re soaking up mud, sunshine, creativity, and every magical moment of being little and free.

Here’s to a beautiful summer, and a big thank you again to Chris for helping make it so special. ❤️

Warmly,

Ms Sarah

May the world be filled with beautiful, peaceful little children.

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