This weekend we refreshed our seasons table. So much fun getting our Autumn box out and seeing the children pull out all the homemade crafty creations. There is always a great discussion about why some pieces are included and others not (“no, I know they are sweet, but bees and bluebells are for the Spring table”).
Hopefully helping them to understand the passing of the seasons.
Some pieces are made by the children, others by me and some treasured items have been swapped over the years with other talented people. I’ll give you a tour. First up are the toadstool and gnomes swapped with Maureen over at Twig and Toadstool.
Next we have the hedgehogs hiding in pumpkins, made by the children last year. The beautiful fire peg dolls are swapped with Kaya who is always inspirational. I love the colour of these on our Autumn table.
The seasons picture stays on the table all year. Each season the children change the tree to show the passing of the seasons. The weather is changed whenever someone feels inclined. I made the picture as well as the mini, smiling toadstools. We found real spotty toadstools (fly agarics) in the woods this weekend.
The bats were added last year and made by the children. Bats are included for Halloween, but it always seems strange to include them as they are more likely to be winding down to hibernate than flying around. Although I did see one yesterday, as I was driving home.
Finally, one side of the table is always set aside for nature finds. Jars hold acorns, acorn caps, stones, sea glass and fossils. There are viewing tubs for the more delicate finds. The children wanted to keep the dunnock nest and snake eggs, but these will eventually be replaced with more autumn nature finds.
I love this area. In the evening we light a candle and it looks so beautiful. I’m always thrilled that visiting children love to look and pick things up. Drawn like a magnet to it. We’ll be adding more seasonal bits and pieces as the weeks go by.
So, do you have a seasons table? If you do, what do you keep on it?
I love the toadstools, was thinking of putting one on my Autumn block.
The Nature table is brilliant, I remember when I was at school we always had a nature table and that’s where I learned the names of wild flowers and trees. I don’t expect they would do this now at schools, this is where you children are very fortunate in having a wonderful Mum like you.
Briony
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No nature tables at my children’s school, although they did have one at Kindergarten. I used to love the one at my school when I was little. So many interesting things to see. All this talk of children not connecting with nature. Surely having a nature table in a classroom would be an easy win.
This is such a lovely idea. No, we don’t have one, and at the moment we’ve toys covering every surface of the playroom, but I can see this as being something we could do once they’re a little older and my 13 month old is less likely to crash through and destroy the table!
We have ours on a deep windowsill for that very reason. Children are old enough now, but when they were toddlers, it upset the older children to see it being trashed. When they were young, there were more wooden animals included. Often acting out the farming year.
Just love it!!! Love all the interesting bits and pieces!!!
Certainly lots of bits to see and it will grow too. Always warms my heart when they find something outside that they want to put on the table and share.
fun fun fun!!
i wish i was teeny tiny so i could come and hang out on your table too! 🙂
It is amazing how it acts as a magnet.