An Autumn Afternoon Story Stretcher

With the busy holiday season just behind us, we were all in need of some fresh air and afternoon fun here. Our southern heat has given way to some cooler and crisper days and some gorgeous Autumn foliage! The last of the big Jewish holidays is Simchat Torah, the day on which we celebrate every preschool parent's and teacher's worst nightmare dream come true: a child's request to "read it again!" We complete our yearly cycle of reading the Torah, roll it on up, and begin again, with one of the most important parshiot, Bereishit, the story of Creation.  Because of the timing of this Torah portion falls directly on the heels of a huge holiday season, it is often a struggle to "fit in" learning about it in Jewish homes and classrooms. I tinker each year with whether to rush through it, knowing full well that we will read it again (and again and again, G-d willing), or to extend it beyond its space in the yearly rotation just as more very important parshiot are rolling on by (like the story of Noach). This year S is learning a great deal about the parsha in school. At home I have decided to slow the pace down and introduce some play themed afternoons for each of the days of Creation even beyond this week--there is great benefit in repetition!


And speaking of repetition, this week's story stretcher was a rerun from last Autumn. Lois Ehlert is a favorite author and illustrator of mine and we all loved her book Leaf Man so much last year that I decided to pack it up along with some Autumn themed fun for a story stretcher on the go! We picked a favorite local park and packed up our target story along with some other easily transportable materials and activities:

• a basket for collecting colorful leaves, acorns and nuts, pine cones and whatever else your little ones may wish to collect--do make sure that removing natural materials is permissible at your park location. If not, it can be a great opportunity to practice leaving items from nature in nature when you are done!
• masking tape for making Fall leaf bracelets
• a clipboard for transporting a work surface
• white paper & broken, peeled crayons in Autumn colors for leaf or tree bark rubbings
• a sheet of clear contact paper for collecting colorful leaves
• a large recycled brown bag for easy transport and collection of items that may be too large for your basket!

S is just about always game for a story being read, but if and when he's not, a change in location or routine is the perfect way to sneak in reading together. He loved reading at the park while enjoying a snack! 

One of the easiest and most transportable take-along materials for outdoor exploration and nature walks in all seasons is a roll of masking tape! Simply wrap a strip around your children's wrist (and your own!) with the sticky side out. In the Fall, small, colorful leaves make a lovely bracelet. Spring and Summer wildflowers look beautiful as well!

Last year we made and laminated our own Leaf Man. He came along with us for an afternoon of play and story stretcher fun and to be re-united with some of his closest friends and cousins.

Y had a good time with Leaf Man, too!

You can use clear contact paper to collect beautiful leaves and flat objects from nature. They will look quite lovely hung in a window, but also make a wonderful surface for doing leaf rubbing.

The leaf rubbings came out beautifully--especially the oak leaves! A park and playground truly provide all the entertainment that S requires without any additional activities being included. If this is true for your little ones as well, I don't suggest "forcing" participation in take-along activities. Many times, if I stop to try an activity out, S will join in as he wishes. Other times, he chooses not to, and that is OK, too!

No kid collects leaves like a kid who isn't ready to leave the park! We enjoyed a slow-paced walk back to the car as S filled our basket with leaves of all colors, shapes and sizes!

He decided to send this collection in to his teachers to use in their classroom activities this week. We will likely go on a second nature walk next week to fill our own sensory table with some Fall themed finds!

 Wishing you all the fun and wonder that this season brings, and, as always, Happy Playing!