If you've been looking for an activity to share with your child, and something more meaningful to give them this holiday season than just another present, Tinkergarten can fill that gap. Tinkergarten provides "high quality early childhood learning in the healthiest classroom of all—the outdoors." In Tinkergarten sessions, families connect with trained leaders like local SoDu Mom Kate Macartney for play-based kids classes that help develop core life skills, all while having fun outdoors!
Kate really believes in Tinkergarten's mission, having spent hours outside as a kid, like many of us, "exploring, getting dirty, looking for bugs and fairies, and playing make-believe. Outside anything seemed possible! When I became a parent, I couldn't wait to pass on this love of the outdoors and sense of wonder to my child. And now, through Tinkergarten, I couldn't be more excited to help bring it to other families in the Durham area as well. "
Tinkergarten creators consider their program to be a bridge between a playgroup and modern day scouting, where each kid can grow at their own pace while bonding with their parents and making new friends. Can't ask for more than that!
Tinkergarten creators consider their program to be a bridge between a playgroup and modern day scouting, where each kid can grow at their own pace while bonding with their parents and making new friends. Can't ask for more than that!
So what might you do in an average Tinkergarten class? You might learn about baby birds and build a child size nest or make your own paper. Each week is new, child-led, and organic, so nothing feels forced. You can also check out sample activities on their website, sorted by age, time, and skill here.
My favorite Tinkergarten lesson has to be "Catching Colors" (shown in the cute pic on the left) which is not only crazy fun because it's messy but is important sensory stimulating play, which is great for developing brains. It's based on a book called "Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color" by Julia Denos, and involves kiddos painting wild, colorful shapes on a see through shower curtain, watching how the light shines through their art. It couldn't be a better way to spend an afternoon. Another great thing about Tinkergarten is that the messy play that kids love so much and is so good for them stays outside, one less mess for you to clean but you still get all the good stuff out of it.
My favorite Tinkergarten lesson has to be "Catching Colors" (shown in the cute pic on the left) which is not only crazy fun because it's messy but is important sensory stimulating play, which is great for developing brains. It's based on a book called "Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color" by Julia Denos, and involves kiddos painting wild, colorful shapes on a see through shower curtain, watching how the light shines through their art. It couldn't be a better way to spend an afternoon. Another great thing about Tinkergarten is that the messy play that kids love so much and is so good for them stays outside, one less mess for you to clean but you still get all the good stuff out of it.
Check out the free trial classes in December and January! What do parents have to say?
“I love the activities because they engage my son and me in a wonderfully simple, fun, and creative way. And I get to play with him in a delightful and unforced way. It's that unforced quality which seems so rare to me—so often the 'good parenting' or 'good child' activities end up feeling like I'm imposing a good for you regimen on [my son]. Tinkergarten activities feel fun and child-driven, and even though they're 'good for us', they just feel like the best kind of play. I feel grateful for Tinkergarten!”
- Christa, mom of a 3 year old
Fellow SoDu mom Trish Christie did a Tinkergarten class this spring and wrote about it for Stir Crazy Moms' Guide to Durham - read about what she had to say here. (Hint - she loved it!)
And if you live outside of Durham, or have friends elsewhere in NC that would love to hear about Tinkergarten, there are leaders in Apex, Cary, Raleigh, Garner and Charlotte too. Check out all the options here!
“I love the activities because they engage my son and me in a wonderfully simple, fun, and creative way. And I get to play with him in a delightful and unforced way. It's that unforced quality which seems so rare to me—so often the 'good parenting' or 'good child' activities end up feeling like I'm imposing a good for you regimen on [my son]. Tinkergarten activities feel fun and child-driven, and even though they're 'good for us', they just feel like the best kind of play. I feel grateful for Tinkergarten!”
- Christa, mom of a 3 year old
Fellow SoDu mom Trish Christie did a Tinkergarten class this spring and wrote about it for Stir Crazy Moms' Guide to Durham - read about what she had to say here. (Hint - she loved it!)
And if you live outside of Durham, or have friends elsewhere in NC that would love to hear about Tinkergarten, there are leaders in Apex, Cary, Raleigh, Garner and Charlotte too. Check out all the options here!
So if Tinkergarten sounds awesome to you,
then come on out and try one of the sample classes above in December or January with Kate.
Even better, Kate is happy to offer 15% off Tinkergarten classes with her through January 30, 2017, for SoDu parents only so sign up now!
It would make a great present for your whole family to share in the new year!
then come on out and try one of the sample classes above in December or January with Kate.
Even better, Kate is happy to offer 15% off Tinkergarten classes with her through January 30, 2017, for SoDu parents only so sign up now!
It would make a great present for your whole family to share in the new year!
FCC Disclosure for bloggers: I received payment in exchange for this blog post. The post is written by me, and contains my own opinions.
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