Setting up the nativity

 Mein Spatz covered the table with a green cloth.

 First the stable.
Then, Jesus and his parents.

 And finally, the plants and animals.

 He then played with the scene for a while.

Making sure that all of the animals got a drink from the trough.

 And then he placed Jesus on Mary's knee for a cuddle.

 Henry then gave it his "snout of approval".

Glowing in the room at night.

It adds a sense of calm and reflection to the night.

More sharing here

We play

 This is Mein Spatz's playroom.

He sleeps in the family bed.

 Uncle Ben, I still love playing with this.

 Cooking.

And small world play.

Small world play

See more here

A house for our friend Tomten - More felting........I cannot stop......I might end up felting the world!

Tomten has a new home. I felted this yesterday.

First I wet felted the dome and when it was dry applied the toad-stool spots,vines, flowers chimney and smoke.

I then felted it onto a base and felted a pond .

Tomten lives at number 7.

All in a day's work

Painting

 Playing Airports

 Reading

Resting

See more at Owlet

http://owlet-designs.blogspot.com/

A new addition to small world play(found at the charity shop).

I found this wonderful wooden dolls house today at a local charity shop for $15.

It has added another level of interest in the ongoing story of the Fox. Mein Spatz has a "Tomten" who helps to protect the animals and now the Fox is friendly,  and even comes inside.

                

 See more at we play

Small World Play

 Having a 10 year old dog (who thinks he is a lively puppy) can sometimes cause havoc for Mein Spatz.
He loves to set up small world scenes and then imagination kicks in.

The voice overs full of detail.
Dialogues, drama and concentration.

Then, suddenly an excited dog runs through and messes it all up.

"MAMA! MAMA!
Henry has ruined it".

So I found an old, large coffee table and placed it in his playroom. We put all of his small world baskets and boxes underneath and then everything is to hand.
It was the best idea.
Boy and Dog friends again.
Peace in the house.

Small World Play -developing imagination and helping to process feelings

This play started from a Christmas present Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox. Spatz turned the fox into a friend as he does not like the idea of the fox "eating other amimals(sp)- what do you think they are saying Mama? They don't want to be eaten by him not the little mammals. He should be friend with them." 

I think it helps him to organise his thought and give words to his fear in a situation where he has control and a sense of power.

He is really scared by foxes but at the same time thrilled and excited. He woke the other night crying out about the fox chasing the smaller mammals and needed reassurance that Henry keeps us safe and would protect all the mammals on our block. The question is asked "Could a fox eat me?"

"No....! Mien Spatz you are too big and a fox would eat animals that are smaller than it."

It them turned into a farm with a farmer harvesting wheat and taking it to his water mill (made by Vati and Spatz last year out of left over hard wood decking boards).