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Author: pmorris1620@gmail.com

  • Best Watercolor Sets for Kids Nature Journaling: Our Real-Life Favorites

    Best Watercolor Sets for Kids Nature Journaling: Our Real-Life Favorites

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If you’ve ever handed your kid a cheap dollar-store watercolor set and watched them try to paint a mockingbird, you know the struggle. Muddy colors. Flimsy brushes. Paint that barely shows up on paper. It’s frustrating for them, and honestly? It makes nature journaling feel like a chore instead of a joy.

    I get it. When we first started our Charlotte Mason homeschool journey, I thought watercolors were watercolors. How different could they really be? Turns out — pretty different. And finding the right set has made all the difference in how our kids approach their nature journals.

    Why Quality Watercolors Matter for Nature Study

    Charlotte Mason talked a lot about developing the habit of attention — really seeing the world around us. For kids, nature journaling is one of the best ways to practice this. When they sit down to paint a Gulf fritillary butterfly or sketch the oak tree in our backyard, they’re not just making art. They’re observing. Noticing. Learning.

    But here’s the thing: if the tools are frustrating, the whole experience falls flat. Cheap watercolors that don’t blend well or produce true-to-life colors can make a child feel like they “can’t do it” — when really, it’s the supplies letting them down.

    Good watercolors don’t have to be expensive, but they do need to be functional. Pigments that are vibrant enough to capture the brilliant green of a Florida anole. Brushes that hold their shape. Colors that actually look like colors.

    What to Look for in Kids’ Watercolor Sets

    Before I share our favorites, here’s what I’ve learned to look for when choosing watercolors for nature journaling:

    True, Vibrant Pigments

    You want colors that are rich enough to represent what your child is actually seeing outside. This is especially important here in Florida, where we’re surrounded by vivid greens, bright wildflowers, and those stunning Gulf Coast sunsets. Washed-out pigments just don’t cut it.

    Decent Brushes (Or Plan to Replace Them)

    Many sets come with brushes that fray after a few uses. Some sets are worth buying just for the paints, with the understanding that you’ll upgrade the brushes separately. Others come with surprisingly good brushes that hold up well.

    A Good Range of Colors

    You don’t need 48 colors — in fact, learning to mix colors is a valuable skill. But you do want a solid range of primaries and secondaries, plus a few earth tones for all those tree bark and soil observations.

    Portability

    We do a lot of our nature study outside — on our back porch watching the chickens, at the state parks near Pensacola, or just in the front yard examining whatever bug my youngest has discovered. A set that travels well is worth its weight in gold.

    Our Favorite Watercolor Sets for Kids Nature Journaling

    Best Overall: Faber-Castell Watercolor Set

    This is the set we reach for most often, and it’s the one I recommend to every homeschool mama who asks. The Faber-Castell watercolor set has beautiful, blendable pigments that are vibrant without being overwhelming. The colors are true-to-life, which is exactly what you want for nature journaling.

    The pans are a good size for little hands, and the included brush is actually usable (not always a given with kids’ sets). We’ve used ours for over a year now, and the colors are still going strong. It’s also compact enough to toss in our nature study bag when we head to Big Lagoon State Park or the botanical gardens.

    This set hits the sweet spot between quality and price — it’s not so expensive that you’ll panic when your kindergartner drops it in a puddle, but it’s good enough that your kids will actually enjoy using it.

    For the Youngest Artists

    If you have a preschooler or young kindergartner who’s just getting started, you might want to begin with larger pan watercolors or even liquid watercolors. But honestly? My youngest started with the Faber-Castell set around age 5, and it’s been just fine. I think we underestimate what kids can handle when we give them real tools.

    Pairing Watercolors with the Right Nature Journal

    The best watercolors in the world won’t help much if the paper can’t handle them. Regular copy paper buckles and pills when it gets wet. For watercolor work, you need paper with some weight to it.

    We love using a dedicated nature journal with heavier pages that can handle wet media. It makes such a difference in how the final paintings turn out — and it means your child’s observations are preserved in a way that doesn’t fall apart over time.

    Tips for Nature Journaling with Watercolors

    Start with What’s Right in Front of You

    You don’t need to take a field trip to do nature study. Some of our best journaling sessions happen right in our backyard — painting chicken feathers, sketching the dog napping in the shade, or capturing the colors of the lantana blooming by the fence.

    Use a Field Guide for Reference

    We keep our Sibley bird guide handy during nature journaling time. It helps the kids identify what they’re seeing and gives them a reference for colors and details they might have missed in their initial observation.

    Don’t Aim for Perfection

    This is the hardest lesson for me, honestly. Nature journaling isn’t about creating museum-worthy art. It’s about the practice of looking closely and recording what you see. Some pages in our journals are beautiful. Others are… let’s call them “impressionistic.” And that’s okay. That’s the point.

    Make It a Regular Habit

    We try to do nature journaling at least once a week, though some weeks it happens more organically. The key is making it feel like a normal part of life, not a big production. Watercolors out on the porch, a glass of sweet tea for mama, kids sprawled on the deck — that’s our version of school most days.

    Expanding Your Nature Study Toolkit

    Watercolors are just one piece of the puzzle. If your kids are really getting into nature observation, you might also consider adding a pocket microscope to your supplies. Being able to look closely at a feather, a leaf, or a piece of moss takes observation to a whole new level — and gives them even more to paint.

    Bringing It All Together

    Nature journaling with watercolors has become one of my favorite parts of our homeschool rhythm. There’s something about watching my kids slow down, really look at a flower or a bird or even just the pattern of bark on a tree, that feels like we’re doing something right.

    It’s not fancy. It’s not complicated. It’s just real — dirt under fingernails, paint on the table, and a whole lot of noticing the beauty that’s right here in our own backyard.

    If you’re just getting started, grab a good set of watercolors, find a shady spot outside, and see what happens. You might be surprised at what your kids discover when you give them the tools and the time to really look.

    Happy journaling, friends. 🌿

  • Non-Toxic Candles Safe for Pets and Kids: What I Actually Burn in Our Home

    Non-Toxic Candles Safe for Pets and Kids: What I Actually Burn in Our Home

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    There’s something about lighting a candle in the evening that just signals “we’re home, we’re safe, and the day is winding down.” Maybe it’s because I grew up in a house where my mama always had something burning on the kitchen counter — usually something vanilla or cinnamon, depending on the season. I wanted to recreate that same cozy feeling for my own kids.

    But here’s the thing: once I started digging into what’s actually in most candles, I got a little horrified. And with elementary-age kids running through the house, a curious mini labradoodle who puts her nose into everything, and a flock of chickens I’m constantly going in and out to check on, I needed to know what we were all breathing.

    So let me share what I’ve learned about finding non-toxic candles safe for pets and kids — and what actually gets lit in our Florida home these days.

    Why Traditional Candles Can Be Problematic

    I’m not here to fear-monger, but I do think it’s worth understanding what you’re bringing into your space. Most conventional candles — the pretty ones at big box stores, the heavily scented ones at the mall kiosks — are made with paraffin wax. Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct, and when it burns, it can release chemicals like toluene and benzene into the air. These are the same compounds found in diesel fuel exhaust.

    Now, is one candle going to cause immediate harm? Probably not. But we’re talking about cumulative exposure in a home where little lungs are developing and where our pets are breathing at floor level where particles settle.

    Then there’s the fragrance issue. “Fragrance” on a label can hide dozens of synthetic chemicals, some of which are known irritants or endocrine disruptors. For kids with allergies, asthma, or sensitivities — and for pets whose systems are smaller and more sensitive than ours — this matters.

    What About the Wicks?

    Older candles (and some cheaper imports) used to contain lead-core wicks, which released lead into the air when burned. While lead wicks have been banned in the U.S. since 2003, you’ll still want to be careful with candles from unknown sources or vintage finds. Look for cotton or wood wicks instead.

    What to Look For in Non-Toxic Candles

    When I’m shopping for candles now — or more often, ordering them online while the kids are doing their afternoon nature journals — here’s my checklist:

    Wax type: Look for 100% soy wax, coconut wax, or beeswax. These burn cleaner than paraffin and don’t release the same harmful compounds. Beeswax actually has the bonus of producing negative ions when burned, which can help purify the air.

    Fragrance: Choose candles scented with essential oils only, or go completely unscented. If a candle just says “fragrance” without specifying, I put it back.

    Wick: Cotton or wood wicks are the safest bet. Some brands specifically note “lead-free wicks,” which is helpful.

    Transparency: The best candle companies will tell you exactly what’s in their products. If they’re vague or evasive, that’s a red flag.

    Brands I Trust for Our Home

    I’ve tried a lot of candles over the years — some wins, some duds that smelled like nothing or tunneled horribly. Here are the types and brands that have made it into our regular rotation:

    Beeswax Candles

    Honestly, plain beeswax candles have become my favorite. They have a subtle, natural honey scent that’s not overpowering, and they burn forever. I love that they’re supporting beekeepers too. You can find them at local farmers markets here in the Pensacola area, or order them online from small makers.

    Soy Candles with Essential Oils

    For something with more scent throw, I look for small-batch soy candles that use real essential oils. There are several Florida-based makers doing this beautifully. I especially love citrus and herb combinations during our long, humid summers — something about lemon and rosemary makes the house feel fresh even when it’s 95 degrees outside.

    Coconut Wax Blends

    Coconut wax is a newer option that burns really cleanly and holds scent well. It’s often blended with soy. Just double-check the other ingredients to make sure there’s no paraffin snuck in.

    Tips for Burning Candles Safely Around Kids and Pets

    Even with the cleanest candle, there are some common-sense practices that keep everyone safe:

    Ventilation matters. I always crack a window or make sure we have some airflow when burning candles. Our Florida evenings are perfect for this — just open the back door and let that breeze come through (after making sure the chickens are secured for the night, of course).

    Keep them out of reach. This goes without saying, but little hands and wagging tails don’t mix with open flames. I keep candles on high shelves or in our main living area where I can supervise.

    Never leave them burning unattended. I blow ours out before we head outside for evening chicken check or bedtime routines upstairs.

    Trim the wick. A trimmed wick (about 1/4 inch) produces less soot and a cleaner burn. This makes a real difference in air quality.

    Watch for pet sensitivities. Dogs and cats can be sensitive to certain essential oils. Our labradoodle has never had issues with the candles we use, but I avoid anything with tea tree, eucalyptus, or peppermint oils in heavy concentrations — those can be irritating to pets. When in doubt, I burn unscented beeswax.

    Alternatives to Candles

    Some days, especially when the kids have friends over or things are just chaotic, I skip the open flame entirely. Here are some other ways I get that cozy ambiance:

    Diffusers with essential oils: A simple diffuser with a few drops of lavender or orange is lovely for quiet reading time.

    Beeswax melts with a candle warmer: You get the scent without the flame.

    Just… opening windows: Honestly, some of the best-smelling evenings in our house are when I’ve got the windows open and can smell the jasmine blooming outside or the rain coming in off the Gulf.

    And of course, keeping a non-toxic home goes beyond just candles. We’ve switched over most of our cleaning products too — Grove Collaborative has been great for finding safer options without having to research every single product. And during the summer months when we’re in and out constantly, I rely on Wondercide for pest control that’s safe around the kids, the dog, and even when I’m headed out to the coop.

    The Bigger Picture

    Finding non-toxic candles safe for pets and kids is really just one piece of creating an intentional home. It’s the same reason we homeschool with a nature-based approach, let the kids get dirty in the backyard, and try to say yes to one more hour outside instead of one more hour of screens. It’s about being thoughtful with the choices we make — not perfect, just thoughtful.

    I still have a few old candles in the back of a closet that I haven’t gotten around to tossing. Progress over perfection, right?

    But when I light a beeswax candle during our evening read-aloud, and the dog is curled up at our feet, and the kids are actually listening for once — that’s the kind of moment I’m trying to create more of. And knowing that what we’re breathing is as clean as I can make it? That’s just peace of mind.

    Here’s to cozy evenings, curious kids, and homes that feel as good as they look.

    — From our wild-rooted family to yours 🌿

  • How to Keep Chickens Safe from Hawks in Florida: What Actually Works in Our Backyard

    How to Keep Chickens Safe from Hawks in Florida: What Actually Works in Our Backyard

    If you’ve ever looked up from weeding your garden to see a red-shouldered hawk circling low over your chicken run, your heart knows that particular kind of drop. I’ve been there—coffee in hand, kids playing nearby, and suddenly I’m sprinting across the yard like my life depends on it.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Keeping chickens in Florida means dealing with hawks pretty much year-round. We don’t get a real winter break from predators the way folks up north do. Our red-shouldered hawks, red-tailed hawks, and Cooper’s hawks are here all twelve months, and they’re smart. Really smart. After three years of keeping a small backyard flock in Northwest Florida, I’ve learned what actually works—and what’s just wishful thinking.

    Understanding Florida’s Hawk Population

    Before we talk solutions, it helps to understand what we’re dealing with. Here in the Pensacola area, the most common chicken predators from the sky are red-shouldered hawks and Cooper’s hawks. Red-tailed hawks are around too, though they tend to prefer open fields.

    The thing about Florida hawks is they’re protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which means we can’t harm them—nor would I want to. They’re magnificent birds, and honestly, watching them hunt (when it’s not my chickens) has become part of our nature study. We’ve spent many afternoons with our Sibley Guide to Birds identifying the different species that visit our property.

    But magnificent or not, they need to find their meals somewhere other than our backyard.

    Physical Barriers: Your First Line of Defense

    Covered Runs Are Non-Negotiable

    I’ll be honest—when we first got chickens, I had romantic visions of them free-ranging all day across our yard while the kids collected eggs and everyone lived happily ever after. Reality hit about three weeks in when a hawk nearly took our favorite Buff Orpington right in front of my youngest.

    Now our girls have a covered run attached to their coop. We used hardware cloth over the top, secured tightly. It’s not the prettiest setup, but it works. The chickens get supervised free-range time when we’re actively outside with them—which, homeschooling the way we do, is most of the day anyway.

    Strategic Landscaping

    Hawks need a clear flight path to dive and grab prey. By adding natural cover throughout our yard, we’ve made it much harder for them to hunt successfully. We planted several native shrubs near the chicken area and positioned their run under the edge of our big oak tree.

    The chickens have learned to run for cover when something spooks them. Even during free-range time, they stick close to bushes, the porch overhang, or the kids’ play structure. Smart birds.

    Visual Deterrents That Actually Help

    The Rooster Question

    We don’t have a rooster (our neighbors appreciate this choice), but if your situation allows it, a good rooster is genuinely one of the best hawk deterrents. They watch the sky constantly and alert the hens to danger. I’ve seen it work beautifully at friends’ homesteads out in the more rural parts of the county.

    Reflective Objects and Decoys

    Old CDs hanging from fishing line around the run catch the light and create movement that hawks don’t like. We also have a plastic owl that we move every few days. The key word there is move—hawks are smart enough to figure out a stationary owl isn’t real.

    Some folks swear by those reflective tape ribbons or pinwheels. We’ve had moderate success with them, especially during the seasons when hawk activity seems highest.

    Daily Management Practices

    Supervised Free-Range Time

    Our chickens get out of their run when we’re doing school outside, when the kids are playing in the yard, or when I’m gardening nearby. The dog helps too—our mini labradoodle isn’t much of a guard dog, but her presence (and her tendency to chase anything with feathers, including our chickens initially) does seem to make hawks think twice.

    We’ve noticed hawks are most active in the early morning and late afternoon here in Florida. Those are the times we’re most vigilant.

    Consistent Coop Security

    Every evening, our chickens go into their coop. We upgraded to an automatic chicken coop door last year and it’s been one of the best investments we’ve made. It closes at dusk regardless of whether we’re caught up in bedtime chaos inside.

    I also keep their waterer inside the covered run rather than out in the open. No reason to give hawks a nice ambush spot while our girls are getting a drink.

    Learning Alongside Our Kids

    Honestly, dealing with predators has become an unexpected part of our homeschool. We’ve learned so much about hawk behavior, raptor identification, and the food chain. It’s real science, unfolding in our own backyard.

    The kids know to yell and clap if they see a hawk circling low. They’ve learned to identify different species by their calls—the red-shouldered hawk’s distinctive kee-aah is one everyone in our family recognizes now. We keep a nature journal where we sketch and record our wildlife sightings, hawks included.

    For anyone wanting to go deeper into chicken keeping with their kids, A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens has a great section on predator awareness that’s written at an elementary level. My oldest read through it and felt very official about being part of the “chicken safety team.”

    What About Mites and Other Coop Health Issues?

    While we’re talking chicken care—keeping your coop clean helps keep your flock healthy and less vulnerable overall. We use food-grade diatomaceous earth in our dust bath area and sprinkle it in the coop bedding to help with mites and other pests. Healthy chickens are alert chickens, and alert chickens are better at noticing predators.

    The Honest Truth About Hawk Protection

    Here’s what I’ve learned after a few years of this: you can reduce the risk significantly, but you can’t eliminate it entirely if you want your chickens to have any quality of life. A fully enclosed run with a covered top is the closest thing to a guarantee, but even then, determined predators find ways.

    We’ve accepted a certain level of risk in exchange for letting our chickens be chickens—scratching in the dirt, chasing bugs, sunbathing in the grass while the kids play nearby. It’s a balance every chicken keeper has to find for themselves.

    Some seasons the hawks are relentless; other times we’ll go months without seeing one circling our yard. We stay watchful, we maintain our barriers, and we’ve learned to live alongside these predators rather than in constant fear of them.

    —

    If you’re just starting out with chickens or dealing with a new hawk problem, know that it does get easier. You’ll learn your particular hawks’ patterns, your chickens will learn where to run for cover, and your family will develop routines that keep everyone safer. It’s part of the adventure of raising animals—the real, unglamorous, sometimes heart-pounding part that makes it all feel so alive.

    And if you ever want to talk chicken-keeping in Florida, I’m always happy to share what we’ve learned. We’re all figuring this out together.

  • Homeschool Reading Curriculum the Charlotte Mason Way: How We Teach Reading Without Workbooks

    Homeschool Reading Curriculum the Charlotte Mason Way: How We Teach Reading Without Workbooks

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If you’ve ever stood in front of a curriculum display—or scrolled through one online—and felt your eyes glaze over at all the boxed reading programs with their scripted lessons and endless worksheets, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, friend. When we first started homeschooling, I thought reading instruction meant flashcards, phonics drills, and checking boxes. But then I discovered the Charlotte Mason approach, and everything shifted.

    Now our reading time looks less like school-at-home and more like… well, actual reading. Curled up on the couch. On a blanket in the backyard while the chickens scratch around nearby. In the hammock during those perfect spring mornings we get here in Northwest Florida before the humidity kicks in.

    Let me share what a homeschool reading curriculum looks like when you take the Charlotte Mason approach—and why it might be exactly what your family needs.

    What Makes Charlotte Mason’s Approach to Reading Different?

    Charlotte Mason was a British educator in the late 1800s who believed children deserved real books, not dumbed-down readers. Her philosophy centers on treating children as whole persons capable of engaging with beautiful language and meaningful ideas from the very beginning.

    For reading instruction, this means:

    • Living books over textbooks — Stories written by passionate authors, not committees
    • Short, focused lessons — Quality over quantity
    • Narration — Children retell what they’ve read in their own words
    • Copywork — Handwriting practice using excellent literature
    • No busywork — If it doesn’t serve a purpose, we skip it

    The goal isn’t just decoding words on a page. It’s raising children who love to read—who see books as friends, not assignments.

    Starting with Phonics: Yes, You Still Need It

    I want to be clear about something: Charlotte Mason absolutely taught phonics. Some people hear “no workbooks” and think we’re doing whole language instruction or just hoping kids absorb reading through osmosis. Not quite.

    Mason used systematic phonics instruction, just without the endless drill-and-kill approach. In our home, we spent about 10-15 minutes a day on phonics during the early years—short, focused, and done. We used simple letter tiles and a whiteboard. Nothing fancy.

    The key is keeping lessons brief and then immediately putting those skills to use with real books. Once my kids could sound out basic words, we moved to easy readers—but not the “See Spot run” variety. We looked for readers with actual literary quality.

    Living Books: The Heart of Charlotte Mason Reading

    Here’s where the magic happens. Instead of reading passages written specifically for “reading instruction,” Charlotte Mason families use living books—real literature that feeds the imagination and introduces children to rich vocabulary naturally.

    For early readers, this might mean:

    • Picture books with beautiful, complex language (think Robert McCloskey or Virginia Lee Burton)
    • Classic fairy tales and folk tales
    • High-quality easy readers that don’t talk down to kids
    • Poetry—lots of poetry

    As reading skills grow, we move into chapter books read aloud together, and eventually, independent reading of increasingly challenging material.

    I keep a simple nature journal for each of my kids where they can sketch what we observe and write simple sentences about it. It’s reading and writing practice wrapped into our nature study—very Charlotte Mason.

    How We Structure Our Reading Time

    Our typical day includes several types of reading, but none of them feel like “reading class”:

    Morning Read-Aloud

    I read aloud to all my kids together for about 20-30 minutes. Right now we’re working through some classic children’s literature, and I stop periodically to ask them to narrate—tell back what happened in their own words. This builds comprehension without worksheets.

    Independent Reading

    My older elementary kiddo reads independently for 20-30 minutes. She chooses her own books from our home library or our weekly library haul. No book reports. No comprehension questions. Just reading.

    Phonics/Decoding Practice (for emerging readers)

    Short and sweet. We use letter tiles, a small whiteboard, and whatever easy reader she’s currently working through.

    Nature Study Reading

    We do a lot of learning through observation here—Florida gives us so much to explore year-round. When we spot a bird we don’t recognize, we pull out The Sibley Guide to Birds and look it up together. When questions come up about our chickens, we reference Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens or the Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens that lives on our nature shelf.

    This is real reading with real purpose—not reading to complete an assignment.

    What About Curriculum? Do You Need One?

    Honestly? For reading specifically, I think you need far less curriculum than the homeschool industry wants you to believe.

    What you actually need:

    • A systematic phonics approach for early readers (there are many good ones)
    • A library card
    • A good book list organized by reading level
    • Time and patience

    That said, if you want some structure, Rainbow Resource has a wonderful selection of Charlotte Mason-friendly materials, and you can find curated book lists organized by grade level. Timberdoodle also offers some thoughtful reading resources that align well with a living books approach.

    We use the Florida PEP scholarship, which gives us flexibility to purchase real books instead of being locked into one boxed curriculum. Most of our “reading curriculum” budget goes straight to our local bookstore or online book orders.

    Narration: The Secret Weapon

    If there’s one Charlotte Mason practice that has transformed our homeschool, it’s narration. After reading a passage—whether I’ve read it aloud or my child has read it independently—I simply ask, “Tell me what happened” or “What do you remember?”

    That’s it. No multiple choice. No fill-in-the-blank. Just retelling.

    This simple practice builds comprehension, memory, vocabulary, and oral language skills all at once. My kids remember what they read because they’ve processed it actively, not passively.

    For older elementary students, we add written narration—a paragraph or two summarizing or responding to their reading. Combined with copywork from quality literature, this covers most of our language arts without a single workbook.

    Reading and the Outdoor Life

    One thing I love about the Charlotte Mason approach is how naturally it fits with our outdoor lifestyle. We’re not stuck inside doing reading worksheets when we could be exploring.

    My kids read field guides while we’re actually in the field. They look up insects after catching them in a bug catcher kit. They read poetry on a blanket while the dog naps beside them and the chickens wander the yard.

    Reading isn’t separate from life—it’s woven through it.

    Trust the Process

    Here’s what I want you to know, mama: teaching reading doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t require expensive programs or hours of instruction. Children have been learning to read for centuries with far less than we have available today.

    Give them phonics instruction. Give them real books. Read aloud to them constantly. Let them narrate. And then—this is the hard part—trust the process.

    Some kids read early. Some read later. Charlotte Mason herself said we shouldn’t push formal reading instruction before age six, and many families wait even longer. The research backs this up: early reading instruction doesn’t predict long-term success.

    What does predict a lifelong love of reading? Growing up in a home full of books, with parents who read aloud, where stories are treasured and language is celebrated.

    That’s something we can all do—no curriculum required.

    So grab a stack of library books, find a cozy spot (inside or out—your call), and read together. That’s the Charlotte Mason reading curriculum in its purest form. And friend, it works.

  • Best Chapter Books for Outdoor-Loving Kids in Elementary School

    Best Chapter Books for Outdoor-Loving Kids in Elementary School

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If your kids would rather catch frogs than watch TV, if they come inside with pockets full of acorns and interesting rocks, if they ask you questions about bird nests and want to know why lightning bugs glow — you’re in the right place. Finding chapter books that match our outdoor-loving kids’ spirits can be tricky. So much of children’s literature these days is set in schools or cities, and while those stories have their place, I wanted to share the books that have truly captured my kids’ hearts — the ones that make them want to run outside afterward, explore, observe, and wonder.

    These are the books we read aloud on our screened porch here in Northwest Florida, the ones that spark conversations about wildlife and woods and what it means to pay attention to the world around us. They’re perfect for elementary-age readers, whether you’re reading together or they’re curling up solo.

    Why Nature-Rich Books Matter

    In a Charlotte Mason education, we talk a lot about “living books” — books that are written by people who love their subject and tell it in a way that’s alive, not dry or dumbed down. When it comes to nature, this matters so much. A living book about the outdoors doesn’t just teach facts; it invites wonder. It makes kids feel something.

    I’ve watched my own kids become more observant outside because of the books we’ve read together. After finishing My Side of the Mountain, my oldest started looking at hollow trees differently. After The Burgess Bird Book, my youngest could identify a mockingbird’s song before I could. These books do something screens simply can’t — they slow everything down and make space for imagination.

    And honestly? This is the kind of childhood I want for my kids. The 1990s kind, where we spent hours outside making up games, building forts, catching bugs. Books like these feed that spirit.

    Our Favorite Chapter Books for Outdoor Kids

    My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

    This is the gold standard, in my opinion. Sam Gribley runs away to live in the Catskill Mountains with nothing but a penknife, a ball of cord, and his wits. He learns to forage, makes friends with a falcon, and survives a winter in a hollowed-out tree. The writing is beautiful, the survival skills are real, and it sparks the best conversations about self-reliance and nature.

    We paired this one with time outside practicing observation skills with our nature journals, and it was magic. Even my kindergartener wanted to draw “what Sam would see.”

    Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

    Another survival classic. Thirteen-year-old Brian is stranded in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash with only a hatchet. It’s gripping, intense, and deeply respectful of nature’s power. This one is better for upper elementary — maybe third grade and up, depending on your child’s sensitivity — but it’s unforgettable.

    The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess

    Okay, this one is technically written in short chapters meant to be read daily, but it’s absolutely perfect for nature study. Each chapter introduces a different bird through a sweet, engaging story. We keep our Sibley Birds field guide nearby and look up each bird as we go. My kids now get genuinely excited when they spot a bird from the book in real life.

    It’s old-fashioned in the best way — gentle, curious, and full of real information wrapped in story.

    Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat

    This memoir about a boy in Saskatchewan who adopts two pet owls is hilarious and heartwarming. It’s a quick read, perfect for younger elementary or as a family read-aloud. The owls get into all kinds of mischief, and it beautifully captures what it’s like to be a kid who just loves animals.

    Reading this one definitely made my kids even more interested in our backyard chickens — they started wondering what it would be like if the hens had the run of the house. (No thank you.)

    Rascal by Sterling North

    A boy adopts a baby raccoon in early 1900s Wisconsin, and what follows is a year of adventures, mishaps, and eventually, a bittersweet goodbye. This book is so rich — it’s about nature, yes, but also about growing up and learning to let go. It’s one of those stories that stays with you.

    The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

    The language is more challenging, so this is a great read-aloud for families. Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger live along the riverbank, and their adventures are cozy, funny, and deeply connected to the English countryside. It’s slower-paced, but that’s part of its charm. Perfect for long summer afternoons or quiet evenings.

    Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

    A field mouse must move her family before the farmer plows the field, and she discovers an extraordinary community of rats with a secret. This one blends nature, adventure, and thoughtful questions about intelligence and ethics. It’s engaging for the whole elementary range and sparks great discussions.

    How We Use These Books in Our Homeschool

    We follow a Charlotte Mason approach, which means lots of read-alouds and narration. After we finish a chapter, I’ll often ask, “What stood out to you?” or “What would you have done?” There’s no workbook, no quiz — just conversation and connection.

    Many of these books also tie naturally into our nature study time. After reading about birds, we head outside with our field guides. After survival stories, we might practice identifying edible plants in our yard (with supervision, of course — Florida has plenty of things you do not want to eat). Sometimes the kids bring out their watercolor pencils and sketch what they imagine from the story.

    We’ve also used our pocket microscope after reading about insects or forest floors — it makes the books come alive in a different way.

    A Few More Honorable Mentions

    • Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C. Holling — technically a picture book, but the depth makes it perfect for elementary read-alouds
    • The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings — set right here in Florida, though better for older elementary due to some heavy themes
    • Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell — survival, solitude, and incredible resilience
    • Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George — another George classic, for upper elementary

    Let the Books Lead Them Outside

    The best books don’t just entertain — they open doors. They make kids want to look more closely at the world, to wonder about the creek behind the house or the hawk circling overhead. They give language to experiences and permission to be curious.

    If you’ve got an outdoor-loving kid, these chapter books will meet them right where they are. Read them on the porch, in a hammock, or under a tree. Let the stories breathe. And then watch what happens when you send them back outside with fresh eyes.

    What are your family’s favorite nature-rich chapter books? I’d love to hear — we’re always looking for the next great read.

  • How to Do Nature Study in Florida Summer Heat (Without Melting)

    How to Do Nature Study in Florida Summer Heat (Without Melting)

    If you’ve ever stepped outside in July in Northwest Florida and immediately felt like you walked into a wet blanket made of fire, you know exactly why this topic matters. The humidity alone can make you question every life choice that led you to this moment — including that beautiful Charlotte Mason nature study routine you built all spring.

    But here’s the thing: summer doesn’t have to mean abandoning nature study. It just means getting a little creative about when and how we do it.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Our family has figured out a rhythm that keeps us connected to the outdoors even when the heat index is flirting with triple digits. And honestly? Some of our best nature discoveries have happened during these hot months — we just had to shift our approach.

    Why We Don’t Take Summer Off From Nature Study

    I know some homeschool families take a complete break in summer, and I respect that. But for us, nature study isn’t really “school” — it’s just how we live. It’s noticing the anole lizards doing their little throat-puff displays on the fence. It’s watching the chickens dust bathe in the afternoon shade. It’s my youngest asking why the cicadas are so incredibly LOUD.

    Charlotte Mason believed that children should spend hours outdoors, forming a relationship with the natural world. She also lived in England, where “hot” means something entirely different than it does here in the Florida Panhandle. So we adapt.

    The goal isn’t to tough it out in miserable conditions. The goal is to keep that thread of curiosity and connection alive, even when summer tries to chase us inside.

    Shift Your Schedule: Early Morning and Evening Windows

    This is the biggest game-changer, and it’s honestly not complicated. We’ve become early risers in summer — not because I love waking up at 6:30 AM (I don’t), but because those first couple hours after sunrise are genuinely pleasant outside.

    The birds are active. The dew is still on the grass. The dog actually wants to walk instead of flopping dramatically in the shade after ten steps.

    We’ll head out with our nature journals and just… be outside. Sometimes we sketch. Sometimes we just observe. My kids have gotten really good at identifying birds by sound during these quiet mornings, and our Sibley bird guide stays on the porch table all summer.

    Evening is another sweet spot. After dinner, when the sun starts dropping and the worst of the heat breaks, we’ll often wander out again. Lightning bugs, sunset colors, the shift in animal activity — there’s so much to notice.

    Embrace Water-Based Nature Study

    Listen, if you’re not incorporating water into summer nature study in Florida, you’re working way too hard.

    We keep a big bin of water outside where the kids can explore — adding pond water, watching mosquito larvae (nature study AND a science lesson about why we dump standing water), or just cooling off while they observe insects around it.

    Beach trips become nature study when you bring a bucket for collecting shells and a curious mindset. We’ve spent hours watching ghost crabs, identifying shore birds, and talking about tides. The Gulf is practically our classroom from June through August.

    Even the backyard hose counts. Wet down an area of the yard and watch what emerges — earthworms, beetles, all sorts of creatures that were hiding from the heat.

    Create Shady Observation Spots

    We’ve been intentional about making our backyard work for us in summer. There’s a big oak tree with a bench underneath where the kids can sit and watch the chickens without baking in full sun. We hung a simple hammock in a shaded corner that’s become a favorite reading and observing spot.

    You don’t need a fancy outdoor classroom setup. You need shade and a reason to be still.

    One of our best summer nature study tools is a simple pocket microscope. The kids collect things — leaves, feathers, interesting bark, chicken feathers (we have plenty of those) — and examine them in the shade or even inside during the hottest part of the day. It bridges outdoor discovery with indoor comfort.

    Let the Chickens Be Your Teachers

    I’ll be honest — our backyard chickens have become central to summer nature study simply because they’re RIGHT THERE and endlessly interesting.

    Watching how they handle heat has taught my kids so much about animal adaptations. They hold their wings out from their bodies. They pant. They dig holes in the dirt and lie in them. They drink constantly. It’s all observable, all teachable, all happening ten feet from our back door.

    We keep our chicken waterer full of cool water, add ice on the worst days, and the kids have taken ownership of making sure the girls are comfortable. If you’re newer to chickens, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens has great information about keeping your flock healthy in hot climates.

    The coop area has become an observation station. Who’s molting? Are they laying less because of the heat? Why is that one hen always bossing the others? It’s real, living nature study without leaving the yard.

    Bring Nature Inside During Peak Heat

    From about 11 AM to 4 PM in Florida summer, we’re mostly inside. And that’s okay.

    This is when we work on nature journal entries from our morning observations. The kids might paint what they saw using their watercolor pencils, adding details and notes. We read living books about the animals and plants we’ve been encountering.

    We also do a lot of “indoor nature study” that connects to what’s happening outside:

    • Watching documentaries about Florida ecosystems
    • Researching the bugs we found that morning (what IS that weird beetle?)
    • Pressing flowers and leaves from earlier walks
    • Planning what we want to observe next

    Rainbow Resource has been a great source for nature-focused books and guides that we use during these hot afternoon hours.

    Don’t Forget Sun Protection and Bug Defense

    Practical stuff matters. We can’t enjoy nature study if everyone is sunburned, dehydrated, or covered in mosquito bites.

    We apply non-toxic sunscreen before morning outings, keep water bottles everywhere, and use Wondercide for bug protection that I actually feel good about spraying on my kids.

    Wide-brimmed hats, lightweight long sleeves, and staying hydrated aren’t optional here — they’re what make summer nature study sustainable instead of miserable.

    The Goal Is Connection, Not Perfection

    Some summer days, nature study is a two-hour morning adventure at a local spring. Other days, it’s five minutes watching a spider build a web on the porch before we retreat to the air conditioning.

    Both count.

    What I want my kids to carry into adulthood isn’t a perfect nature journal or an encyclopedic knowledge of Florida wildlife. I want them to feel at home outside. To notice things. To be curious. To understand that they’re part of the natural world, not separate from it.

    That can happen in the summer heat. It just looks a little different than it does in October.

    So if you’re sitting inside right now, wondering if nature study is even possible until fall — it is. Wake up early tomorrow, grab your coffee, send the kids out in their pajamas, and just see what you notice together. That’s enough. That’s everything, really.

    We’ll be out there too, probably watching the chickens and waiting for the mockingbird who’s been visiting our fence. Even in the heat, there’s always something worth seeing.

  • Non-Toxic Baby Products We Switched to After Research: Our Family’s Journey

    When I was pregnant with my first, I did what most new mamas do — I registered for all the things. The cute bottles, the popular lotions, the highly-rated everything. It wasn’t until I started actually reading ingredient labels (thanks, pregnancy insomnia) that I realized how many products marketed to babies contained things I couldn’t even pronounce.

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    I’m not here to fear-monger or make anyone feel guilty about what’s in their diaper bag right now. Goodness knows we all do the best we can with the information we have. But I wanted to share what our family learned and the switches we made — because sometimes it helps just to hear what another mama figured out through trial, error, and way too many late-night research sessions.

    Why We Started Looking at Baby Product Ingredients

    Honestly? It started with a rash. My oldest had the most sensitive skin, and every “gentle” baby product we tried seemed to make things worse. I finally sat down one evening and started Googling the ingredients in our baby wash, and y’all — I went down a rabbit hole.

    I have a science background, so I know how to read studies and evaluate sources. What I found wasn’t necessarily that everything on the market is poison (it’s not), but that a lot of products contain ingredients that just… don’t need to be there. Fragrances that can irritate. Preservatives with questionable safety profiles. Dyes that serve no purpose except to make things look pretty on a shelf.

    Once I started paying attention, I couldn’t stop. And gradually, we made switches — not all at once, but product by product as things ran out.

    The Products We Changed First

    Baby Wash and Lotion

    This was the big one for us. We ditched anything with fragrance, parabens, and sulfates. I know those words get thrown around a lot, so here’s the simple version: fragrance can mean dozens of undisclosed chemicals, parabens are preservatives that mimic estrogen, and sulfates are what makes things foam but can be really drying.

    We switched to brands that use simple ingredient lists. Castile soap diluted with water became our go-to for a long time. For lotion, plain coconut oil or shea butter worked better than anything in a fancy bottle.

    Sunscreen

    Living in Florida, sunscreen isn’t optional — it’s survival. But traditional sunscreens contain chemical filters that absorb into the skin. We made the switch to mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide as the active ingredient. Yes, they can leave a white cast. Yes, my kids sometimes look like little ghosts at the beach. But it sits on top of the skin instead of absorbing into it, and that matters to me.

    We’ve tried a bunch of brands over the years, and I keep a running list of non-toxic sunscreen options for kids that actually work in Florida humidity without sliding off in five minutes.

    Diapers and Wipes

    This one surprised me. Traditional diapers can contain chlorine, fragrances, lotions, and dyes. We tried cloth for a while (Florida heat made that… interesting), and eventually landed on a fragrance-free, chlorine-free disposable option that worked for our family.

    For wipes, we switched to water wipes or just plain wet washcloths. Simple, effective, and so much gentler on sensitive skin.

    Cleaning Products That Touch Baby Stuff

    Laundry Detergent

    I never thought much about laundry detergent until I realized how much residue stays on fabric — fabric that my baby was sleeping on, wearing, and putting in their mouth. We switched to a fragrance-free, plant-based option and haven’t looked back.

    Grove Collaborative has been a great resource for finding cleaner cleaning products. I love that I can set up a shipment and not have to think about it — one less thing on the mental load.

    Household Cleaners

    Once the babies started crawling, I became hyper-aware of what was on our floors. We moved to simple ingredients: vinegar, castile soap, baking soda. For anything that needed more muscle, I found concentrated plant-based options that I dilute myself.

    This mindset eventually extended beyond just baby products. When we got our chickens a few years later, I applied the same thinking to their care. We use food-grade diatomaceous earth in the coop for pest control instead of chemical treatments, and it works beautifully.

    Bug Spray and Outdoor Protection

    Okay, if you live in Florida, you know that mosquitoes are basically the unofficial state bird. But DEET always concerned me for little ones. We switched to plant-based repellents, and Wondercide has been a game-changer for our family. We use it on ourselves, the kids, and even on our mini labradoodle when she’s being especially delicious to the bugs.

    It smells like lemongrass and cedar instead of chemicals, and it actually works. Which, in Northwest Florida during summer, is saying something.

    What We Learned Along the Way

    Not Everything Matters Equally

    Here’s the thing I wish someone had told me earlier: you don’t have to switch everything overnight. Focus on products that stay on the skin (lotions, sunscreen) before worrying about things that rinse off quickly. Prioritize what baby spends the most time with — bedding, clothing, things that go in their mouth.

    “Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Safe

    Marketing is sneaky. “Natural” and “gentle” aren’t regulated terms. I learned to flip the bottle and read the actual ingredients instead of trusting the front label. It takes more time at first, but eventually you learn which brands you can trust and shopping gets easier.

    Simple Usually Wins

    The best baby products often have the shortest ingredient lists. This applies to so much of life, honestly — our homeschool philosophy, our approach to toys, the way we spend our days. Less really can be more.

    Raising Kids the Old-Fashioned Way

    This whole journey fits into how we’re trying to raise our kids overall. We want them outside more than inside. Playing in the dirt, collecting bugs with their bug catcher kits, feeding the chickens, exploring the backyard. A childhood that looks more like the 1990s than 2025.

    Part of that, for us, means being thoughtful about what goes on their bodies and in their environment. Not paranoid — thoughtful. There’s a difference.

    We still use sunscreen and bug spray. We still buy things in stores. We’re not living off the grid. We’ve just tried to make more intentional choices where we can, and let go of perfection where we can’t.

    What I’d Tell a New Mama Just Starting This Journey

    Don’t let it overwhelm you. Don’t throw out everything in your house tomorrow. Just start noticing. Start reading labels. Make one switch at a time as products run out.

    And give yourself grace. We’re all just doing our best with what we know. The fact that you’re even thinking about this stuff? That means you’re a good mama.

    If you want to dive deeper into research, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a database where you can look up product safety ratings. It’s not perfect, but it’s a good starting point.

    And if you’re standing in a store aisle right now, exhausted and overwhelmed, trying to figure out which baby lotion to buy — just look for the shortest ingredient list with words you recognize. That’s usually a pretty safe bet.

    We’re in this together, friend. One small switch at a time.

  • Best Chicken Coop Bedding Options: Pros and Cons from a Florida Coop

    Best Chicken Coop Bedding Options: Pros and Cons from a Florida Coop

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If you’ve ever opened your coop on a humid July morning in Northwest Florida and been hit with that wall of ammonia smell, you know — bedding matters. A lot. Choosing the right coop bedding isn’t just about aesthetics or what’s on sale at Tractor Supply. It affects your flock’s respiratory health, your workload, and honestly, whether you dread or enjoy your morning chicken chores.

    We’ve had backyard chickens for several years now, and I’ve tried just about everything in our coop. Pine shavings, straw, sand, even the deep litter method (which sounds fancy but is really just strategic laziness — my kind of system). So let me share what I’ve learned, because nobody tells you this stuff when you bring home those fluffy chicks from the feed store.

    Why Coop Bedding Actually Matters

    Before we get into the options, let’s talk about what good bedding actually does. It’s not just a soft floor for your hens.

    Good coop bedding:

    • Absorbs moisture from droppings (and here in Florida, from the air itself)
    • Controls ammonia odors that can damage chicken respiratory systems
    • Provides insulation in cooler months
    • Makes cleaning manageable for the human doing the work
    • Helps with pest control when managed well

    If you’re newer to chickens, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens is worth having on your shelf. It covers bedding and so much more — I still reference mine regularly.

    Pine Shavings: The Classic Choice

    Pros

    Pine shavings are probably what you picture when you think of coop bedding. They’re widely available, smell pleasant, and absorb moisture reasonably well. They’re lightweight, easy to spread, and compost nicely when you’re done with them.

    For Florida coops, the natural pine scent does help mask odors, and the shavings dry out fairly quickly after our afternoon thunderstorms if any moisture gets tracked in.

    Cons

    The downside? They need to be replaced or refreshed frequently — especially in our humidity. What starts as fluffy shavings can become a compacted, damp mess within a couple of weeks if you’re not staying on top of it. Fine shavings can also get dusty, which isn’t great for chicken (or human) lungs.

    One thing to watch: never use cedar shavings. The oils are too strong and can cause respiratory issues in chickens.

    Sand: The Florida-Friendly Option

    Pros

    Honestly? Sand has become my personal favorite for our main coop floor. It drains well (crucial here), stays cool in summer, and you can scoop droppings like a litter box. The kids actually think it’s fun to help with morning “poop patrol” — I’ll take it.

    Sand doesn’t hold moisture the way organic materials do, which means less ammonia buildup. In our Pensacola humidity, this is huge.

    Cons

    Sand is heavy. Like, really heavy. You’re not casually tossing bags of it into your car. It also doesn’t compost, so you can’t add spent bedding to your garden pile. And it needs to be coarse construction sand or river sand — play sand is too fine and can actually hold moisture and bacteria.

    The initial setup is more expensive and labor-intensive, but for us, the reduced daily maintenance has been worth it.

    Straw: Old-Fashioned but Finicky

    Pros

    Straw is inexpensive and readily available. It provides good insulation for cooler weather (not that we get much of that here, but those random January cold snaps do happen). It composts beautifully and feels very “farmstead.”

    Cons

    Here’s my honest take: straw and Florida humidity don’t mix well. Straw doesn’t absorb moisture — it just sits there getting damp underneath. This creates a perfect environment for mold and mites. We tried straw our first year and dealt with a mite problem that took weeks to resolve.

    If you do use straw, you’ll want to stay vigilant with pest prevention. We dust our coop corners with food-grade diatomaceous earth regularly now, regardless of bedding type.

    The Deep Litter Method: Composting in Place

    Pros

    This is essentially building a composting system right in your coop. You start with several inches of carbon material (pine shavings, dried leaves, etc.) and just keep adding layers as droppings accumulate. The chickens turn it themselves, and over months, it breaks down into compost.

    When it works, it’s genuinely magical. Less frequent cleanouts, built-in nitrogen for your garden, and the decomposition actually generates a bit of warmth.

    Cons

    The deep litter method requires commitment and attention. You need to add carbon material regularly, ensure proper moisture balance, and turn it if your chickens aren’t doing it themselves. Get it wrong, and you’ve got a smelly, ammonia-filled mess.

    In Florida’s humidity, I’ve found this method works better in our cooler months (October through March) than in full summer. You really need the bedding to stay dry enough to decompose properly rather than just rot.

    Hemp Bedding: The Newer Option

    Pros

    Hemp bedding is more absorbent than pine shavings and naturally resistant to pests. It’s low-dust, which is better for respiratory health, and it composts quickly. If you can find it locally, it’s worth trying.

    Cons

    Availability can be spotty, and it’s typically more expensive than pine shavings. It works well, but for most backyard flocks, the cost difference is hard to justify unless you’re dealing with specific respiratory concerns.

    What Actually Works for Our Florida Flock

    After trying different approaches, here’s what we’ve landed on: sand on the coop floor with pine shavings in the nesting boxes. This gives us the easy cleanup of sand where droppings land most, with soft, absorbent material where the hens lay.

    We clean the sand every couple of days with a kitty litter scoop (the kids have turned this into a competition), and refresh the nesting box shavings weekly. We sprinkle diatomaceous earth in corners and along roosts monthly, and do a full deep clean every few months.

    Having a good chicken waterer setup with nipples instead of open water has also helped tremendously with keeping bedding dry. Less splashing means less moisture overall.

    A Few More Tips for Humid Climates

    Ventilation is everything. Our coop has hardware cloth upper walls that let air flow freely. Even the best bedding can’t overcome a poorly ventilated coop in Florida.

    Keep extra bedding on hand. When tropical storms roll through or we get those weeks of daily rain, you’ll want to refresh bedding more often.

    And if you’re just starting out with chickens, A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens is genuinely helpful for the whole family — not just kids. It covers basics in a really accessible way.

    Finding What Works for Your Flock

    There’s no single “best” bedding — it really depends on your climate, your coop setup, and how much maintenance you want to do. What works perfectly for someone in Oregon might be a disaster here in the Panhandle.

    My advice? Start with pine shavings since they’re forgiving and affordable. Pay attention to what’s happening in your coop — how it smells, how quickly things get damp, how your chickens seem to be doing. Then adjust from there.

    Those mornings when you open the coop to happy hens, fresh air, and manageable chores? That’s the goal. It took us some trial and error to get there, but our current system feels sustainable. And honestly, our chicken chores have become one of my favorite parts of the morning — right after coffee, obviously.

  • How to Teach Kids to Garden the Charlotte Mason Way: Hands in the Dirt, Hearts in the Learning

    If you’ve ever watched your child squat down to examine a roly-poly for fifteen minutes straight, you already know something Charlotte Mason understood over a century ago: children are born naturalists. They don’t need flashy curriculum or structured lesson plans to fall in love with the living world—they need time, tools, and a trusted adult who says, “Let’s go see what’s growing.”

    Gardening with kids the Charlotte Mason way isn’t about perfect rows or Pinterest-worthy raised beds. It’s about wonder. It’s about muddy knees and the thrill of pulling up a carrot you planted yourself. And honestly? It’s one of the simplest, most joy-filled parts of our homeschool here in Northwest Florida.

    This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Why Gardening Fits Perfectly Into a Charlotte Mason Education

    Charlotte Mason believed that nature was a child’s first and best teacher. She called it “outdoor hours” and considered time spent outside as essential as reading or arithmetic. Gardening takes this philosophy and gives it roots—literally.

    When your child plants a seed, waters it faithfully, and watches it push through the soil, they’re learning patience, responsibility, and the rhythms of creation. They’re doing science without a worksheet. They’re practicing math when they space seeds six inches apart. They’re building character when the squirrels eat half the strawberries and they have to decide how to respond.

    This isn’t busy work. This is living education.

    Start Small: A Charlotte Mason Garden Doesn’t Have to Be Big

    I know it’s tempting to envision a sprawling vegetable garden with hand-painted markers and a charming little fence. But can I be honest? Start with one pot. One raised bed. One corner of the yard where you’re willing to let the kids dig.

    Here in Florida, we have the gift of a nearly year-round growing season. We can plant cool-season greens in fall and tomatoes by late February. But we also have sandy soil, relentless humidity, and summer heat that can wilt a pepper plant by noon. So we’ve learned to work with what we have—and that’s a lesson in itself.

    Let Them Choose What to Grow

    Charlotte Mason emphasized respecting children as persons with their own ideas and interests. Apply that here. Let your child pick at least one thing to grow, even if it’s not what you would choose.

    My youngest wanted to grow sunflowers because “the chickens will like the seeds.” Was that the most practical choice? Maybe not. But the ownership she felt over those flowers—watering them every morning, measuring their height in her nature journal—made it worth every inch of garden space.

    Incorporate Living Books and Nature Journaling

    A Charlotte Mason approach weaves books into everything, and gardening is no exception. But we’re not talking about textbooks. We’re talking about living books—ones written by people who love their subject and make you love it too.

    For younger kids, picture books about seeds, worms, and growing things are perfect for reading aloud before or after garden time. For older elementary kids, consider books that go deeper into botany or the lives of gardeners and naturalists.

    And then there’s nature journaling. This is where the Charlotte Mason magic really happens.

    After time in the garden, we come inside (or sit right there in the grass) and draw what we observed. A bean sprout. A ladybug on a leaf. The way the tomato plant’s stem feels fuzzy. We use Faber-Castell watercolor pencils because they’re forgiving and beautiful, and the kids feel like real artists.

    This isn’t about creating museum-worthy art. It’s about paying attention. Charlotte Mason called it “the seeing eye”—training children to truly notice the world around them.

    Make It Hands-On and Unhurried

    No Rushing, No Quizzing

    One of the biggest shifts in Charlotte Mason education is moving away from constant testing and toward trust. Trust that your child is absorbing what they experience. Trust that the garden is teaching them, even when you’re not narrating every moment.

    So resist the urge to turn garden time into a pop quiz. Instead of “What’s the life cycle of a plant?” try “I wonder what this seed needs to wake up.” Let them discover. Let them ask the questions.

    Use Real Tools

    Charlotte Mason believed in giving children real, quality tools—not dumbed-down versions. A child-sized trowel? Great. A flimsy plastic thing that breaks on the first dig? Skip it.

    We also keep a pocket microscope in our garden basket. The kids use it to examine seeds, soil, bugs, and leaf veins. It’s one of those tools that turns an ordinary garden moment into a “Whoa, come look at this!” moment.

    Connect the Garden to the Rest of Your Homeschool

    Gardening doesn’t have to be a separate subject. It can weave through your whole day.

    • Science: Observe insects, study plant anatomy, learn about composting. If you’re raising backyard chickens like we are, you’ve already got a built-in lesson on the nitrogen cycle. (Chicken manure + compost pile = garden gold.)
    • Math: Measure garden beds, calculate how many seeds fit in a row, track rainfall in a chart. We love how Math-U-See builds hands-on understanding—and the garden extends that beautifully.
    • Language Arts: Narrate what you observed. Write a poem about spring. Label a diagram.
    • Art: Paint the flowers. Press leaves. Sketch the garden through the seasons.

    This is the integrated, whole-life learning Charlotte Mason envisioned. No compartments. Just life, fully lived.

    Embrace the Imperfection (And the Bugs)

    Let me be real: our garden is not Instagram-perfect. There are weeds. There are mystery plants we can’t identify. There are days when the kids would rather chase the dog than water the tomatoes.

    And that’s okay.

    Charlotte Mason wasn’t aiming for performance. She was aiming for formation—shaping hearts and minds through real experiences. Sometimes that means a failed crop. Sometimes it means discovering a toad living under the basil. Sometimes it means sitting in the dirt together, not talking about anything educational at all, just being.

    Here in Florida, we also deal with pests—fire ants, aphids, the occasional armadillo who thinks our garden is a buffet. We use Wondercide around the yard for pest control because I’m not willing to spray chemicals where my kids play and my chickens roam. It’s one of those choices that feels small but adds up to an intentional home.

    A Note on Connecting Garden and Coop

    If you have backyard chickens, the garden becomes even richer. Our kids toss weeds and bolted lettuce to the hens. They collect eggshells, crush them, and add them back to the compost. They’ve learned that nothing is wasted—that a garden and a flock are part of the same cycle.

    If you’re just starting out with chickens, A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens is a wonderful resource that empowers kids to take ownership. Pair that with garden responsibilities, and you’ve got a child who understands where food comes from—not from a store, but from care, patience, and a whole lot of sunshine.

    Let the Garden Be the Teacher

    At the end of the day, teaching kids to garden the Charlotte Mason way isn’t really about teaching at all. It’s about creating space—physical space in your yard and margin in your schedule—for children to encounter the natural world.

    It’s about less screen time and more soil time. Fewer worksheets and more worms. It’s about raising kids the way many of us were raised in the ’90s: outside until dinner, curious about everything, a little bit wild.

    So grab a trowel. Plant something. Let your kids get dirty. And trust that the garden is doing exactly what it was made to do—growing little people who notice, wonder, and love the world around them.

    We’ll be out back if you need us. Probably picking cherry tomatoes and arguing about whose turn it is to fill the chicken waterer.

  • Florida Backyard Birds Identification Guide for Kids: A Simple Start to Nature Study

    Florida Backyard Birds Identification Guide for Kids: A Simple Start to Nature Study

    If you’ve ever had a kid tug your sleeve and ask, “Mama, what kind of bird is THAT?” while pointing at something fluttering past the window — you know the feeling. That little spark of curiosity is everything. And honestly? Florida backyards are absolutely bursting with birds worth noticing.

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    We started really paying attention to our backyard birds a couple years ago, mostly because our chickens drew so much other wildlife to our little corner of Northwest Florida. Turns out, once you put out feed and water and create a space where creatures feel welcome, the wild ones show up too. Cardinals perching on the coop. Blue jays stealing scratch grains. Mockingbirds absolutely losing their minds at our dog for existing.

    It became this beautiful, unexpected doorway into nature study — no curriculum required. Just eyes, ears, and a willingness to slow down.

    Why Bird Watching Is Perfect for Florida Kids

    Here’s what I love about birding with elementary-age kids: it meets them right where they are. You don’t need to drive anywhere special. You don’t need fancy equipment. You just need to step outside — and in Florida, there’s almost always something flying, hopping, or singing.

    We’re blessed (or spoiled, depending on how you look at it) with year-round bird activity here. While friends up north are bundled inside for months, our kids can be outside in January watching painted buntings and in July spotting summer tanagers. The mild winters mean many species stick around, and our location on migratory flyways means seasonal visitors too.

    For Charlotte Mason families like ours, bird identification fits perfectly into nature study. It’s observation-based. It builds attention to detail. And it gives kids something real and living to sketch, describe, and wonder about.

    Common Florida Backyard Birds Your Kids Will Actually See

    Let me save you some time and frustration. Instead of overwhelming your kids with a massive field guide, start with the birds they’re genuinely likely to see right in your own yard. Here are our Florida favorites:

    Northern Cardinal

    The bright red male is usually the first bird kids learn to identify — and for good reason. They’re bold, beautiful, and almost always around. The females are more subtle with warm brown feathers and that same distinctive crest. Cardinals love sunflower seeds and often visit feeders in pairs.

    Blue Jay

    Loud, bossy, and brilliant blue. Blue jays are hard to miss. They’re also incredibly smart and will absolutely raid your chicken feed if given the opportunity (ask me how I know). Kids love their bold personalities.

    Northern Mockingbird

    Florida’s state bird! These gray-and-white singers are famous for mimicking other birds — and sometimes car alarms, cell phones, and squeaky gates. Ours has a particular vendetta against our mini labradoodle and dive-bombs her regularly during nesting season.

    Mourning Dove

    That soft, cooing sound in the morning? Probably mourning doves. They’re gentle, ground-feeding birds with a distinctive mournful call that’s actually quite peaceful once you recognize it.

    Carolina Wren

    Tiny but LOUD. These rusty-brown birds with the white eyebrow stripe have an enormous voice for their size. They love nesting in weird places — we’ve found nests in flowerpots, our garage, and once inside a boot left on the porch.

    Red-bellied Woodpecker

    Despite the name, look for the bright red stripe on their head first. The belly is just barely blushed with pink. You’ll often hear them before you see them — that distinctive pecking on trees or wooden fence posts.

    Painted Bunting

    If you see one, you’ll never forget it. Males look like someone took a box of crayons to a bird — blue head, red chest, green back. They’re more common in North Florida than people realize, especially near brushy areas. We usually spot ours in early spring.

    Simple Tools to Get Started

    You don’t need much, but a few intentional tools can transform casual glances into real learning:

    A good field guide makes all the difference. We keep The Sibley Guide to Birds on our kitchen windowsill, and it’s become dog-eared from use. The illustrations are gorgeous and the regional information actually applies to us here in Florida.

    A nature journal turns observations into something lasting. My kids each have a simple sketch journal where they draw what they see and jot down notes. It doesn’t have to be fancy — stick figures with wings absolutely count.

    For adding color to journal entries, we love Faber-Castell watercolor pencils. They’re forgiving for little hands and perfect for capturing that cardinal red or blue jay blue.

    And honestly? A pair of basic binoculars helps, but at the elementary age, I find my kids do better just using their eyes and getting close. Birds at the feeder don’t require magnification — just patience and quiet feet.

    Making It Part of Your Homeschool Rhythm

    We don’t do formal bird study. It’s just… woven in. Part of our morning basket time might include reading from a nature guide. Part of outdoor time might be sitting quietly and watching the feeders. Part of afternoon free play might turn into an impromptu bird count.

    Some practical ways we incorporate it:

    • Morning bird check: First thing after breakfast, someone reports what’s at the feeder. It takes 30 seconds and builds observation habits.
    • Weekly nature journal time: One page, one bird, whatever they want to include. No pressure for perfection.
    • Seasonal bird lists: We keep a running list on the fridge of species we’ve spotted that month. The kids love adding new ones.
    • Chicken-time bonus birds: While we’re out doing coop chores, we watch for wild visitors. Our chickens seem unbothered by most songbirds, so it’s a great time to observe both domestic and wild birds together.

    Tips for Keeping It Fun (Not Forced)

    The quickest way to kill a kid’s interest in birds? Make it feel like school. Keep it light. Keep it optional. Let them lead.

    If your child wants to learn every species in the field guide, beautiful. If they just want to yell “BLUE BIRD!” every time they see a jay and move on with their lives, also beautiful. The goal isn’t to raise ornithologists — it’s to raise humans who notice the world around them.

    Some days my kids are deeply invested in identifying a new visitor. Other days they couldn’t care less because they found a really good stick. Both are valid forms of childhood.

    The Bigger Picture

    I think about the way I grew up — outside until the streetlights came on, noticing things without anyone telling me to, developing my own sense of wonder about the natural world. That’s what I want for my kids.

    Bird watching is just one small piece of that. It’s free, it’s accessible, and it happens right in our own Florida backyard between the chicken coop and the back porch. It requires nothing but presence and attention — two things our overscheduled, overstimulated world tries hard to steal from childhood.

    So grab a field guide, pour yourself some coffee, and sit outside with your people. Watch what shows up. You might be surprised how much there is to see when you actually look.

    Happy birding, friends. 🐦