Now that June's here (halfway through June already?! Where did the time go?), the weather's warmer and Little One just wants to play outdoors.  On our farm, a mountain of gravel can provide hours of fun for a three year old!
Here are a few other reasons Little One loves being outdoors in the Summer...
I love that Little One enjoys playing outside so much. She explores the farm, goes on "little adventures" armed with her rubber bug boots and gardening gloves (yes, she's quite classy), and just as fun! She's also an only child, so she enjoys going on adventures with our dog and our cats. Lots of activity, lots of fresh air, I guess one cannot really ask for more.

Despite the fact that my child will play outside ALL day if I let her, there are times when I enjoy taking her out with me and going shopping for fun activities to do.  I always take Little One with me.  Whether we're buying things like bubbles or Tempera paints, or craft items like googly eyes and feathers, I always let Little One accompany me and choose what she would like to get.

So far, I've been lucky that she hasn't asked me to buy her the entire store!  First off, she's still little enough that I can put her in the shopping cart. Secondly, I tell her in advance that she can only choose two little things. She loves the fact that she gets to choose and is helping Mommy.

I do admit that there was a brief time when Little One was in between the ages of 2.5 to 3 years old when she used to want to buy so many things in the store. She wouldn't cry or whine, but she'd say "I want that!" or "Mommy, can you get this for me?" and she'd pick things up as we went down the aisles.

My secret?

Distraction.

I'd ask her if she liked a certain something (that I was willing to buy) and when she got all excited about it, I'd ask her if she'd like to carry it for me. While she would happily look at her new item, I'd put back all the other items she picked up along the way. It's a little sneaky, but it worked.

Little One is now 3.5 years old and is actually really good about going shopping with me.

Though I generally like having her involved in the decision process when it comes to our activities, I think our next Summer fun item will be a BIG surprise for Little One. We want to surprise her with either a bigger swimming pool than she has now (she has one of those little inflatable pools) or a TRAMPOLINE! She's been asking for BOTH, but we've said not right now and that we needed to think about it. I think Hubby has caved and is going to get her one of those two things she really wants.

If it's going to keep her busy, active, happy, having fun, and outside, then I'm all for it! I think Mom and  Dad will have a blast too!

Disclosure:  I am a Fisher-Price Mom and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.