Conker Hunting

It’s such a good time of year to be going for walks with your child, there is so much to see and explore. ⠀⠀ Conkers are STILL a firm favourite in our house, my daughter in particular has always loved them. Not only are they incredibly tactile but they are also very versatile and can teach us so much. ⠀⠀ Conkers give us opportunity to talk about growth, decay, seeds, trees, leaf shape and seasons, size and textures. ⠀⠀ They are great to experiment with. We’ve baked them with vinegar, without vinegar and frozen them to see which method makes them harder. So much lovely vocabulary and learning. ⠀⠀ The drill has come out and my husband talked about how it works, the diameter needed and she can even have a supervised go at drilling the holes herself. ⠀⠀ Then there’s the game, playing with us (mostly her Dad) and having fun together. Laughing, chatting and connecting. ⠀⠀ You could paint them, print with them, make models with them (pipe cleaners fit through the holes brilliantly) - embrace the googly eyes! Let your children create independently; with you there to support but not to hijack their thought process and creativity. ⠀⠀ Get the nature books out to find out more about them or visit the library to borrow some. Compare the differences between different types of trees and how they play such a vital part in our eco-system. ⠀⠀ Just think about all the learning and experience that has gone into just a few conkers. ⠀⠀ Time to grab those wellies! Happy conker hunting 🌳💚🌈 ⠀