Does your weekend include some fall yard work with the kids? There’s a special math formula that only occurs in the fall season: a pile of leaves = a pile of learning. Although they may not be that much help, including the kids adds the aspect of fun.
Even if kids have noticed before, it’s still exciting to see all the different shapes, sizes, and colors of leaves. Does your child know that all the leaves on one tree will be the same kind? In order to learn this, kids need to check over and over. The leaves can vary in size and color on one tree, but otherwise they will be the same.
Here’s a song to the tune of Mulberry Bush to sing while raking leaves:
This is the way we rake the leaves, rake the leaves, rake the leaves.
This is the way we rake the leaves… in the yard.
This is the way we make a pile, make a pile, make a pile.
This is the way we make a pile… in the yard.
This is the way we jump in the leaves, jump in the leaves, jump in the leaves.
This is the way we jump in the leaves… in the yard.
This is the way we fill up the bag, fill up the bag, fill up the bag.
This is the way we fill up the bag… in the yard.
Of course, jumping in the pile and throwing leaves at brothers and sisters is the most fun. This involves some social learning. Some behaviors, such as throwing leaves, are okay, but there are boundaries to actions. Kids need to make sure others are participating and who is part of the game. Kids get to experience working together and, once the yard work is done, share in the feeling of accomplishment. And maybe a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows as a reward?
