For parents
The parents’ corner
Simple, practical ideas for raising kind, curious children who love nature, shared by the grown-ups of Dewberry Hollow.
Reading together, ten minutes a day
- Pick a regular time, like after bath or before bed.
- Let your child turn the pages and make the choices, even the silly ones.
- Ask "why did you choose that?" There's no wrong answer.
- Read the same book again and choose a different path. Repetition is how young children learn.
- Point at the pictures: "What is Gilli feeling here?"
From the grown-ups of the Hollow
Four little corners
Turn a jar into a plant pot, an old sock into a puppet, or a cardboard box into a reading den. Ask your child: "What else could this become?"
Answer simply, then ask "What do you think?" Look things up together. Ask a grandparent to tell what they made or mended when they were little.
Kaleo the chameleon changes colour to show how he feels. Draw a chameleon together and ask your child to colour it the way they feel today, then talk about it.
Watering plants, sorting recycling, folding socks, setting the table. Small jobs build big confidence. Praise the effort, not the result.
Ten-minute nature activities
Easy ways to notice nature
Like Dazzle the peacock, look at the sky each morning. Clouds, sun or rain? Keep a weather chart for a week.
On a warm evening, listen for crickets with Moonbeat. Do they chirp faster on hot nights and slower on cool ones?
Put a leaf under paper and rub over it with a crayon. Compare the patterns of different leaves.
In hot weather, put a shallow bowl of water in a safe spot and watch who visits.
Cut a paper leaf, punch holes along the edge and sew it with yarn. Instructions are in Book 1.
Step outside on a clear night, switch off the lights and count the stars together, like Lumi and the Glimmers.
From the blog
Reading for grown-ups
Can a bird really sew? The true story of the tailorbird
The little bird behind Tara Stitches a Home, and how it stitches leaves into a home.
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Nature never wastes: how a fallen leaf becomes food again
Earthworms, fungi and a lot of patience: the cycle that keeps the forest growing.
Read the postHand-me-downs are treasures: 6 ways to make reusing feel special
Simple family rituals that turn "old" clothes into stories children are proud of.
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Why we let children choose: reading choose-your-path stories together
How to read a choice book so your child thinks, laughs and tries again.
Read the postNew ideas every month
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These are everyday ideas from our books and our years in education, not professional or medical advice. If you're worried about your child's development, talk to your doctor or teacher.