Do you ever find yourself searching for activities you can carry out outdoors with the kids? Exciting activities that will be enjoyed by the younger ones as well as older ones? I definitely found a brilliant subscription box that both the 3 and 7 year old have enjoyed, and that box is, Tot bag/Tot Box.
What is the box all about?
It is a simple concept, the idea of the activities is to get the children out and about, exploring and learning from the outdoors. The activities provided are easy enough for younger children (approx 3 year olds) but also exciting enough for older children to enjoy them. Both the 3 and 7 year old have enjoyed the activities.
Contents
In this lovely winter theme box, we received our tot bag, activity booklet and all the items required to carry out the tasks.
The best thing about this box, is that I didn't even have to try and find a pencil!
Each activity comes with all the necessary items, therefore making it much easier to just get out there! This is great for people like me, it means that for the activities that required crayons, I already have them, pencil...got it, plain paper, aha even thats included! The box is so well organised and with everything included it really does mean all you need to do is grab the boots and coats!
Activity booklet
The main part of the box is the booklet, it contains all the information regarding the activities and more. We currently have the winter issue. The booklet starts with some fact filled pages. Its great to see so much information about trees. There is a lot of important information about trees included, but at the same time it is far from overwhelming, and achieves the perfect balance for little ones.
There are three activities in this issue, so 'clay tree faces' (yep clay provided!), 'measuring tree trunks' (measuring tape-check) and 'tree bark art' (crayons, paper and pencil all there!). As previously mentioned, both 3 and 7 year old took part in all the activities, creating wonderful tree clay face, fab art work and the measuring was thoroughly enjoyed by both (I don't think I've ever seen a little child not enjoy trying to hug a tree!)
Links to curriculum
Its always great when anything we do can easily be linked to the curriculum. After all learning is an ongoing process, and the best type of learning occurs through play. I talked about the fact filled page, but I want to elaborate, to show how much they've helped 7 year old with his science. I love the way the fact that trees use carbon dioxide and release oxygen has been introduced here. We've been looking into photosynthesis so this has been a great revision session for him, and even though 3 year old won't understand the ins and outs, she will happily remember trees too breath! Another example from the information page is the clarification with regards to tress, so some are deciduous and others evergreen. That is important information, and allowed us to talk more about classification too.
Now its not only the information pages that include teaching tools, but the activities do too. For example, the clay face activity is great for creativity and imagination, and (if you're child is willing to do so) one step further with a brilliant story! Measuring tree trunks has really helped us, as 7 year old enjoyed using the measuring tape 'for real'. Maths lessons on measurement can become a little tedious if all you're doing is looking at pictures and writing the answers, but this gave him the opportunity to get out there and measure. It also helped him to actually see size differences. a 3 year old is happy simply trying to get her arms around a tree trunk(!)
The last activity, shading whilst leaning on a tree, to create wonderful bark rubbings are fun art activities. Again, with this, there is so much to explore with each child, from textures, colours and so on.
Quality
As a parent, when buying anything, I have to be sure the quality is good enough to withstand a little 'tough love'. I can happily say, the items included in the tot box are of excellent quality. The crayons haven't snapped, the bag is beautiful and very sturdy, and other items included such as pencil and paper were definitely of excellent quality. It may be a small matter, but it really does make the item 'worth it'.
Our verdict
In all honesty, I could have written so much more. I have thoroughly enjoyed this box, the winter issue is brilliant! There are so many teaching tools included, you could plan a whole term of lessons using what is provided. Its also great as each activity can be explored further, introduce writing, bring in in detail science lessons and so on.
As you can (hopefully!) tell, we have loved this box, and will be looking out for the next one!
For further info, click below
www.totbag.co.uk
What is the box all about?
It is a simple concept, the idea of the activities is to get the children out and about, exploring and learning from the outdoors. The activities provided are easy enough for younger children (approx 3 year olds) but also exciting enough for older children to enjoy them. Both the 3 and 7 year old have enjoyed the activities.
Contents
In this lovely winter theme box, we received our tot bag, activity booklet and all the items required to carry out the tasks.
The best thing about this box, is that I didn't even have to try and find a pencil!
Each activity comes with all the necessary items, therefore making it much easier to just get out there! This is great for people like me, it means that for the activities that required crayons, I already have them, pencil...got it, plain paper, aha even thats included! The box is so well organised and with everything included it really does mean all you need to do is grab the boots and coats!
Activity booklet
The main part of the box is the booklet, it contains all the information regarding the activities and more. We currently have the winter issue. The booklet starts with some fact filled pages. Its great to see so much information about trees. There is a lot of important information about trees included, but at the same time it is far from overwhelming, and achieves the perfect balance for little ones.
There are three activities in this issue, so 'clay tree faces' (yep clay provided!), 'measuring tree trunks' (measuring tape-check) and 'tree bark art' (crayons, paper and pencil all there!). As previously mentioned, both 3 and 7 year old took part in all the activities, creating wonderful tree clay face, fab art work and the measuring was thoroughly enjoyed by both (I don't think I've ever seen a little child not enjoy trying to hug a tree!)
Links to curriculum
Its always great when anything we do can easily be linked to the curriculum. After all learning is an ongoing process, and the best type of learning occurs through play. I talked about the fact filled page, but I want to elaborate, to show how much they've helped 7 year old with his science. I love the way the fact that trees use carbon dioxide and release oxygen has been introduced here. We've been looking into photosynthesis so this has been a great revision session for him, and even though 3 year old won't understand the ins and outs, she will happily remember trees too breath! Another example from the information page is the clarification with regards to tress, so some are deciduous and others evergreen. That is important information, and allowed us to talk more about classification too.
Now its not only the information pages that include teaching tools, but the activities do too. For example, the clay face activity is great for creativity and imagination, and (if you're child is willing to do so) one step further with a brilliant story! Measuring tree trunks has really helped us, as 7 year old enjoyed using the measuring tape 'for real'. Maths lessons on measurement can become a little tedious if all you're doing is looking at pictures and writing the answers, but this gave him the opportunity to get out there and measure. It also helped him to actually see size differences. a 3 year old is happy simply trying to get her arms around a tree trunk(!)
The last activity, shading whilst leaning on a tree, to create wonderful bark rubbings are fun art activities. Again, with this, there is so much to explore with each child, from textures, colours and so on.
Quality
As a parent, when buying anything, I have to be sure the quality is good enough to withstand a little 'tough love'. I can happily say, the items included in the tot box are of excellent quality. The crayons haven't snapped, the bag is beautiful and very sturdy, and other items included such as pencil and paper were definitely of excellent quality. It may be a small matter, but it really does make the item 'worth it'.
Our verdict
In all honesty, I could have written so much more. I have thoroughly enjoyed this box, the winter issue is brilliant! There are so many teaching tools included, you could plan a whole term of lessons using what is provided. Its also great as each activity can be explored further, introduce writing, bring in in detail science lessons and so on.
As you can (hopefully!) tell, we have loved this box, and will be looking out for the next one!
For further info, click below
www.totbag.co.uk
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