Last week, when I began writing about block play, I readily admitted that, as of yet, playing with blocks is not something my daughter has a penchant for.
With that said, I continue to try to lure her to the block basket. I am hoping it is like vegetables, and perhaps if she just tries it enough times, she will find that she likes it!
The trick I had up my sleeve involved a dear old friend... the nature basket! I came upon it amidst a pile of other forgotten fall things. The pinecones, sticks, and rocks inside made me smile. Outside right now, everything is buried in snow. The objects inside the basket are little relics of the nature that remains hidden underneath the wintery white blanket outdoors. Holding them in my hands, I am reminded that the snow will eventually melt, the warmth will eventually return, and we will be able to see the fresh earth once again.
I hoped my daughter would be equally as thrilled to see these objects; so when it was time to play, I nonchalantly got out the blocks and the nature basket objects and mixed them in together on the floor.
In the realm of nature play, it has been found that contact and experiences with nature can have many benefits for children. When you can't play with nature outside, one of the easiest ways to provide for interaction with nature is to bring it inside to you. Natural materials, like sticks, rocks, and pinecones, provide a different element to incorporate into play- and lend themselves especially well to block play.
I loved the way these materials looked together. The geometric shapes and smooth texture of the blocks contrasted with the organic forms and textures of the natural materials. There seemed to be a aesthetic balance that had previously been missing.
My daughter was intensely interested in revisiting the rocks, sticks, and pinecones. She almost completely ignored the blocks, though in one shining moment, she did inform me she had made a bed for the stick.
As mentioned last week, these arch shapes have become many different objects. Such a lovely bed for a tired little stick!
I actually found myself playing with the blocks, rocks, and sticks long after my daughter found new amusement elsewhere in the playroom. The nature basket now has a place next to the blocks basket. It just seems right now.