Butterfly Conservation's Head of Volunteering & Education, Kate Merry, invites us into her home as she adjusts to life in lockdown.
I write this at the start of the new Summer school term. And yet there has been no frantic washing of PE kit or locating of book bags this time. Back to school preparations are so very different in this strangest and saddest of times. Like so many parents and carers across the country, I’m readying myself for more weeks of juggling working from home and the care of my young children.
The emails from the school hit my inbox, with weekly work plans attached and accompanying reassurances that we’re not to worry, we should just do ‘as much as we can’. It has been tough at times, and it has taken me a little while to find the right rhythm for me and my family.
I have found that two-hour blocks work best. Two solid hours of my undivided attention buy me a good couple of hours at my desk. I’ve had my fair share of interruptions of course – my favourite being the Microsoft Teams conference call with an extremely loud and urgent contribution of “PLEEEASE! Please will you come and get this spider out of the bathroom it’s giving me the HEEBEEGEEBEES!” (this item was not on the agenda but at least he said ‘please’).
Anyway, there is more purpose to this blog than having a bit of a moan. There is a huge and overwhelming array of online resources and suggested activities out there, all designed to help us keep the kids entertained and educated. As the days go by, I’m finding that the best ideas are the simple ones, and especially so those that centre on that wonderful, captivating, memorable and completely free resource; nature. So, I have put together a little list of simple things that I hope you and your young co-workers will enjoy together. You might notice a running theme and some shameless promotion, but hey, who can blame me for a bit of multi-tasking under the circumstances?!
1. So, have you tried the Joe Wicks thing yet? It’s not really my bag, although it probably should be given the insane amount of baking going on around here. If you and your kids prefer your morning workout a bit more mellow, you’d be hard pushed to find a better routine than BC volunteer Emma Taylor’s gorgeous yoga moves. She has renamed some simple classic moves to represent the different stages of the butterfly life cycle (I know!).
Take a look at her blog for all the details. And while you’re there, have a peek at all her posts because it’s full of lovely nature-inspired ideas for little ones.
2. Go caterpillar hunting. Now is the time when hungry caterpillars are feeding. I’m acutely aware of how lucky I am to have a garden, but this is also something you can do on a daily walk and caterpillars can be found in all kinds of green spaces, from hedges to verges and allotments. The trick is to look for suspect nibble marks. Encourage the kids to walk slowly, taking the time to look closely at vegetation and pause to turn over stems and leaves. It might give you a new way to explore a well-trodden route. If you do have a garden, you might come across caterpillars when digging in the beds. Even if you don’t find any caterpillars, you’re bound to come across other wildlife.
3. Get masked-up for a Moth Ball! This went down a treat with my kids the other day and I think I enjoyed it as much as they did. A good forty-five minutes of focussed crafting and not one argument. We have a really simple template for a butterfly or moth mask to download.
There are loads of other craft activities on there too. I guarantee you will have everything you need in your recycling box or that drawer in the kitchen with all the random stuff in it. Even if you are not the kind of parent with the special box of crafting materials – items foraged from the garden or the food cupboards will still make a fetching mask. You can follow this activity up with a special butterfly or moth ‘ball’ with party food, squash and possibly something stronger for you.
4. Spot a butterfly – and tell us about it! Well at the time of writing the weather has been superb and there are plenty of butterflies out and about. Butterflies can be found in all types of environments, from the city centre to the suburbs and beyond. Pick a sunny moment and see if the kids can spot one through your window, in the garden or on a walk. We have some lovely charts for kids showing the most common species here. Pretty please tell us about your sighting here.
For young children or those who aren’t fussed about putting a name to things; ask them to describe the colours or movement of the butterfly.
5. Create a Wild Art masterpiece! Use leaves, stones, bark, sticks – anything you can find in the garden to create an Andy Goldsworthy style artwork or sculpture. If you don’t have a garden - coins, buttons, pasta shapes etc. work too.
I sent my kids outside, instructing them to ‘make me a lovely Wild Art butterfly so I can take a photo for my blog!’ Half an hour later they called me outside and triumphantly presented me with… a giant slug. Kids eh. Still, it was pretty impressive so I took a photo anyway.
Follow Kate on Twitter: @merry_by_nature