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Nature Study: Why Skunks Are Good For Gardens!

As parents, we often teach our children to avoid certain creatures in the garden, like skunks, due to their pungent odor and reputation for mischief. However, what if I told you that these striped critters are actually unsung heroes in the garden ecosystem?  In this blog, we'll explore why skunks are beneficial for your garden and why they deserve our appreciation. Skunks as Gardeners 1. Natural Pest Control Skunks have a voracious appetite for many garden pests that can wreak havoc on your plants. They are especially fond of insects like beetles, grubs, caterpillars, and even small rodents like mice and voles. By preying on these pests, skunks help keep their populations in check, reducing the need for harmful chemical pesticides. 2. Soil Aeration Believe it or not, skunks are great gardeners! Their habit of digging for food helps aerate the soil, allowing oxygen and nutrients to penetrate deeper, which promotes healthier plant growth. Additionally, their digging can help expose a
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Best Independent Play Toddler Activities: Puzzles

Whoever came up with the idea of puzzles for little children is a genius. Thank you whoever, wherever you are! Who would have thought that cutting up a big picture into 24, 36, 48 pieces or more could capture the attention of even the most unfocused child? 

Trust me, if you don't have puzzles in your bag of independent play (caregiver break) tricks, take this as your invitation to get or make some! 

As mentioned before, you can find or make puzzles of various shapes, pieces etc to suit the temperament and taste of any child. So if a child is constantly struggling with a puzzle you can pick one with fewer pieces until they're ready to advance to a puzzle with more pieces. 

On the other hand, if a child is bored with a puzzle, you can select one with more pieces or a puzzle that is of interest to the child.

There are just so many things I really like and appreciate about puzzles for small kids and of course I'm going to share that with you!

Benefits of Puzzles for Little Kids

1. Opportunity for Independent play

2. Can provide an opportunity for collaboration and team work if 2 or more children or family members tackle a puzzle togther.   

3. Teaches logic & strategy 

4. Teaches spatial awareness. It takes alot of brain power and practice at an early age to figure out our relationship to our surrounding. Putting various puzzle shapes together helps to develop spatial awareness which is a keystone skill that is transferable to many aspects of their growing lives. Mathematics, Reading, Writing, Navigating, Strategic Planning etc.

5. Helps to develop problem solving skills.

6. Gives an opportunity to practice self-regulation because let's face it lots of emotions can come up when you're solving something that seems unsolvable. It's definitely grounds to practice working through frustration. 

7. Teaches focus and concentration

8.  Can be used as a fun tool to introduce or reinforce various subject matter. Any topic of interest can be made into a puzzle; whether numbers, alphabet, dinosaurs, the solar system etc. 

9. Helps build perseverance

10. Helps build self-confidence in a child especially once they see the big picture aka the visual representation of all they have worked through and completed.

Here are some puzzles my toddlers and I have enjoyed playing:





3. Melissa & Doug 4 in 1 Wooden Jigsaw - Pets & Farm Animals


4. Melissa & Doug Natural Play Giant Floor puzzle: ABC Animals (35 Pieces)



Takeaway

Puzzles are a great way for kids to play independently and have some learning fun. What puzzles, if any, do your little ones enjoy?
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