The Summer holidays are here and they are a perfect time to foster a deeper connection with your child(ren) which in turn builds resilience, higher self esteem and fills up that memory box with joy. But we know sometimes, it isn’t that simple.

For many parents work doesn’t stop and the ever growing mental load continues to wear out our last bit of patience. So, we’re here to help, because family well-being starts with you.

 

Living in Cornwall we are surrounded by natural beauty and it doesn’t cost anything to enjoy it (minus sometimes those extortionate summer parking fees). Getting out in nature is one of the best things we can do to reset and ground ourselves during stressful times but when you’re juggling so much, it’s hard to find the time. So here are some simple, easy ways you can connect with nature this summer and start creating those core memories with your children even if you don’t have the luxury of time:

 

  • Beach Picnic Dinners

Late sunshine is here, grab yourself a cheap BBQ, or just wrap up some leftovers and chuck them in a cool bag and head down to one of the many beautiful beaches along the Cornish coastline. The kids will love having a paddle in the warmer(ish) evening sea and pottering in the sand, whilst you relax and enjoy the surroundings. Just ensure you check the tide times first!

 

  • Blackberry picking

If there’s one way to get a child out walking it’s got to be the allure of blackberries. In my family, the blackberries never make it home, but if you have children with willpower get them filling up a bowl to bring back and make their own blackberry pie or - if you need something easier - why not make some delicious homemade berry ice lollies. Plus, here’s a hot tip for those in charge of the washing - lemon juice and a cold soak will get those blackberry stains out fast!

 

  • Garden Camp Out

If you aren’t able to get away this summer and have young children, why not try camping out in the back garden for a night? For young children just the novelty of sleeping outdoors is enough to get them excited and it means you don’t have to go far to start them learning those camping skills. You can make a fire using a firepit / old bbq, have fun eating smores, tell campfire stories and bring all their teddies along for the fun!

 

  • Rock pooling

This one may seem obvious, of course children love grabbing a net and bucket and hunting around the rockpools for crabs and shrimp. But, there’s more to it than just an activity for the children. Looking into the rockpools, noticing what’s happening in them, noticing the variety of shells, rocks and living creatures, is actually a fantastic form of mindfulness. If you can, join in the fun with your children but use it as an opportunity to sit and be present with nature, quiet your mind and de-stress. We even recommend taking this one step further and trying a spot of watercolour. Watercolours are a fantastic, mess free way to paint the beauty of our coastal rockpools and anyone can have a go at getting a bit artistic.

 

  • Cloud watching

I know what some will be thinking - I’ve got more chance of my child eating brussel sprouts than sitting and watching the clouds with me. But, this easy and gentle activity is a great way to find some calm mindfulness in your day and start building up communication and conversation with your child. With young ones, you can find a silly or funny character in the clouds and build a story with them. It might go something like this…

‘I can see a dog, and he has a huge tongue! Woah I wonder how wet his licks would be! Do you think his owner is a giant in the clouds? Do you know any stories about giants in the clouds?’

You can also use it to pass time on journeys by getting your little ones to say what they can see as you’re driving along. This simple act of stopping and noticing is a great technique to calm the mind and well worth trying out.

 

  • Nature Art

There are so many ways to get creative out in nature and if you’re stuck for ideas then just a quick google search will bring you a wealth of them from the super simple to the more complex and elaborate. But one idea we love is a collage made from shells. First get your children to find as many shells as they can on a beach walk together. Then wash the shells using a simple solution of baking soda and water (along with a toothbrush for good measure). Young ones love the fizz they make as they’re dropped into the solution and being part of the scrubbing too! Once you have your clean and beautiful shells, grab a big sheet of card, some PVA glue and some pens. You can draw any simple shape - perhaps a starfish or a shark, and then fill your picture with the shells you’ve found. Alternatively, get an old box and make your own treasure chest by covering it in shells. There’s so many ways to use your collection to make something. And remember it isn’t about the end result (as you’ll see from the picture below of the collage I did with my 3 year old), it’s about the creative journey and making something together.

 

Make enjoyment your word of the summer…

Whatever you do this summer, try and find those moments for joy and connection with your family. We can’t all get away, we can’t all spend hours playing at the beach, and some of us are going through incredible stressors, but we can all find those moments each day to be together and present, to allow ourselves some fun, to enjoy the beauty of this incredible county and to remember what it is that really matters the most.

HAVE A FANTASTIC SUMMER, CONNECTING AND ENJOYING EACH MOMENT FROM ALL AT OOW TOWERS