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

If you have a dog in Florida, you already know — fleas are not a seasonal problem here. They’re a year-round reality. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve stood in the pet store aisle staring at all those chemical flea treatments, reading ingredient lists that sound more like a chemistry experiment than something you want to put on your family pet.

Our mini labradoodle is basically our fifth family member. She’s in the backyard with us during nature study, she’s curled up on the couch during read-aloud time, and she’s the first one the kids greet every morning. The thought of coating her in pesticides that then transfer to little hands, the furniture, and everywhere else? It just didn’t sit right with me.

So I went down the rabbit hole of non-toxic flea prevention, and I want to share what’s actually worked for our family.

Why We Ditched Conventional Flea Treatments

Most conventional flea preventatives contain ingredients like fipronil, imidacloprid, or permethrin. These are neurotoxins — they work by attacking the nervous system of fleas. And while they’re designed to be safer for mammals than insects, I’m not personally comfortable with regular exposure in our home.

We’ve chosen to be intentional about what cleaning products we use, what we put on our skin, and what our kids are exposed to daily. It didn’t make sense to draw the line everywhere except our dog.

Plus, here in Northwest Florida, we’re outside constantly. The kids are barefoot in the grass, we’re doing nature journals in the backyard, the dog is running between the chicken coop and the back porch — everything touches everything. If it’s on the dog, it’s eventually on all of us.

Building a Non-Toxic Flea Prevention Routine

Here’s the thing about natural flea prevention: it’s not usually a single magic solution. It’s more of a layered approach. But once you get into a rhythm, it becomes second nature.

Start With a Healthy Dog

Fleas are opportunists. They tend to be more attracted to animals that are already stressed or have compromised immune systems. A healthy dog with a strong system is naturally more resistant to parasites.

For us, that means quality food (we feed a minimally processed diet), fresh water, regular exercise, and plenty of time outside in the sunshine. Nothing fancy, just consistent care.

Use a Natural Flea Spray — Consistently

This has been our biggest game-changer. We use Wondercide, which is a plant-based flea and tick spray. It uses essential oils like cedarwood and lemongrass to repel and kill fleas on contact.

I spray our pup down before she goes outside, especially if we’re heading somewhere with tall grass or wooded areas. I also keep a bottle by the back door and give her a quick spritz after she’s been playing near the coop area. Fleas love those shady, sandy spots, so I don’t take chances.

The nice thing about Wondercide is that it’s safe to use around kids and other pets — I’ve even used their home spray on our furniture and rugs without worrying about residue.

Treat the Yard, Not Just the Dog

In Florida, your yard is flea headquarters. All that humidity and warmth? It’s basically flea paradise. You can treat your dog all day long, but if your yard is infested, you’re fighting a losing battle.

We spray our yard with a natural outdoor flea treatment every few weeks during the worst months (so, basically March through November here). Wondercide makes a yard spray too, and there are other cedar-oil-based options available.

I also sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth in areas where the dog likes to lie down outside and around the perimeter of the coop. Diatomaceous earth works mechanically — it damages the exoskeletons of fleas and other pests — so there’s no chemical resistance issue. Just make sure you’re using food-grade and applying it when it’s dry.

Keep Up With Grooming

Regular baths and brushing go a long way. We use a natural pet shampoo (nothing with synthetic fragrances or harsh detergents), and I brush our labradoodle a few times a week with a flea comb to check for any hitchhikers.

Honestly, the flea comb has become part of our rhythm. After we’ve been on a nature walk or the kids have had her romping through the back field, a quick comb-through takes two minutes and gives me peace of mind.

Don’t Forget Indoor Prevention

Fleas don’t just live on your pet — they live in your home. Eggs and larvae hang out in carpet fibers, furniture cushions, and bedding. Regular vacuuming (especially in areas where your dog sleeps) makes a huge difference.

We wash the dog’s bedding weekly in hot water, and I’ll occasionally sprinkle diatomaceous earth on our rugs, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up. I also use natural cleaning products from Grove Collaborative throughout the house, so I’m not layering chemicals on top of chemicals.

What About the Chickens?

Since we have backyard chickens, I have to think about the whole ecosystem. Fleas aren’t typically a chicken problem (mites and lice are more common), but we use similar prevention strategies. Diatomaceous earth in their dust bathing areas and coop bedding helps keep parasites at bay naturally.

And since the dog loves to hang out near the run — and the kids are constantly going between playing with the chickens and snuggling the dog — keeping everything non-toxic just makes life simpler.

Does Natural Flea Prevention Actually Work?

I won’t pretend this approach is as “set it and forget it” as a monthly chemical treatment. It requires a little more consistency. But in three years of doing this, we’ve had maybe two instances of finding a flea on our dog — and both times it was after a particularly swampy nature adventure. A bath and a spray took care of it immediately.

The key is layering your approach and being consistent. Spray the dog, treat the yard, keep the house clean, and stay vigilant. It becomes routine, just like anything else.

A Note on Essential Oils and Pets

I want to mention this because I see a lot of DIY essential oil flea spray recipes online. While I’m a fan of essential oils in general, they need to be used carefully around pets — especially cats, but dogs too. Not all oils are safe, and concentration matters.

I personally prefer to use products that have been specifically formulated for pets (like Wondercide) rather than mixing my own. It takes the guesswork out of it, and I know the dilution is appropriate.

Living Intentionally Includes Our Pets

For our family, choosing non-toxic flea prevention is just an extension of how we try to live overall. We want our kids playing freely with the dog without worrying about chemical residue. We want our pup to be healthy without unnecessary toxin exposure. And we want a home where everything — from the cleaning supplies under the sink to the flea spray by the back door — aligns with our values.

It takes a little extra thought upfront, but once you find what works, it’s really not complicated. And there’s something satisfying about knowing our whole little homestead — kids, chickens, dog, and all — is being cared for thoughtfully.

If you’re just starting to explore natural flea prevention, give yourself grace. Try one thing at a time, see how it works for your dog and your environment, and adjust as needed. Every small step toward a less toxic home is a step in the right direction.

Best Lap Desks for Homeschooling Kids: Flexible Learning Spaces That Actually Work

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

If you’ve ever found your kids doing math on the back porch, copywork sprawled across the living room floor, or nature journaling from a blanket under the oak tree, you already know — homeschooling doesn’t happen at a desk. At least, not always. And honestly? That’s one of the things I love most about this life.

But here’s the thing: trying to write neatly on a wobbly couch cushion or balance a workbook on your knees while watching the chickens scratch around the yard? Not exactly ideal. That’s where a good lap desk comes in — and I mean a good one, not the flimsy kind that slides off every two seconds.

Let me share what we’ve learned about finding the best lap desks for homeschooling kids, because flexible learning spaces deserve tools that actually support them.

Why Lap Desks Work So Well for Homeschool Families

I’ll be honest — when we first started homeschooling, I had this vision of a beautiful dedicated school room with a big wooden table and labeled bins for every subject. And then reality hit. We have a normal-sized Florida home, elementary-age kids who get antsy sitting in one place, and a mini labradoodle who thinks any unattended paper is a chew toy.

So we adapted. And lap desks became one of our best investments.

Here’s why they work so well for us:

Learning Can Happen Anywhere

One of the core ideas in a Charlotte Mason approach is that education isn’t confined to four walls. Short lessons, living books, time outdoors — it’s all woven together. A lap desk lets my kids do their handwriting practice on the screened porch while we get a breeze, or finish up some Math-U-See problems in the hammock (yes, really).

Especially here in Northwest Florida, where we can be outside for a good chunk of the year, having portable work surfaces just makes sense.

They Encourage Focus Without Rigidity

There’s something about having a defined workspace — even a small, portable one — that signals “okay, it’s time to work” without making kids feel trapped at a big formal desk. My kindergartener especially does better when she can curl up somewhere cozy with her lap desk and a good picture book.

They’re Perfect for Nature Study

This is the big one for us. We spend a lot of time outdoors observing birds, insects, plants — whatever catches our attention that day. Having a sturdy surface makes sketching and journaling so much easier.

We keep a simple nature journal and some Faber-Castell watercolor pencils in our outdoor basket, and a lap desk ties the whole thing together. No more trying to draw a detailed sketch of a Gulf fritillary butterfly while the paper slides around on the grass.

What to Look For in a Homeschool Lap Desk

Not all lap desks are created equal, and what works for an adult working from the couch isn’t necessarily what works for a seven-year-old doing cursive practice. Here’s what I’ve found matters most:

Size Matters (But Bigger Isn’t Always Better)

For elementary-age kids, you want something large enough to hold a standard workbook or composition book, but not so big that it’s awkward to carry or balance. Around 12×17 inches seems to be the sweet spot for us.

A Cushioned Bottom is Essential

This is what keeps it stable on little laps and soft surfaces. Look for a lap desk with a padded or bean bag-style cushion underneath. The hard plastic kind? They slide everywhere.

Lightweight but Sturdy

Your kids will be carrying these around — to the backyard, to the car, to grandma’s house. It needs to be light enough for small arms but sturdy enough to write on without flexing.

Easy to Clean

Because homeschool life involves spilled watercolors, muddy hands fresh from the chicken coop, and the occasional snack crumb situation. A wipeable surface saves headaches.

Our Favorite Ways to Use Lap Desks

I thought it might help to share some specific ways we actually use these in our homeschool day:

Morning basket time on the couch. We start most days together with poetry, a read-aloud, and some memory work. The kids each have their lap desks with their copywork or coloring pages.

Outdoor nature journaling. When we spot something interesting — a new bird at the feeder (we love our Sibley field guide for identification), a cool beetle, or the way the afternoon light hits the Spanish moss — we grab the lap desks and sketch.

Car schooling on longer trips. Whether we’re heading to the beach or driving to visit family, lap desks make it possible to knock out some math or reading practice on the road.

Quiet time rest hour. After lunch, we all take a break. Sometimes the kids use their lap desks for drawing, puzzles, or looking at books independently. It gives everyone a reset.

Backyard “chicken school.” Okay, this is really just an excuse to sit outside and watch the hens while doing schoolwork. But honestly, observing animal behavior IS educational, and a sturdy lap desk means we can do both at once.

Quick Tips for Making Lap Desks Work

A few things we’ve learned along the way:

Designate a home base. We keep our lap desks in a basket by the back door so they’re easy to grab for outdoor learning but not scattered all over the house.

Pair them with a simple supply kit. Each kid has a small pencil pouch that lives with their lap desk — a few sharpened pencils, an eraser, and their current workbook. Keeps us from hunting for supplies every time we want to work somewhere new.

Let kids personalize them. My oldest decorated hers with stickers (nature-themed, of course). It made her more invested in using it and taking care of it.

Have a backup. If you have multiple kids, having an extra lap desk around prevents the inevitable “she took mine” arguments. Ask me how I know.

The Bigger Picture: Creating Space for Curiosity

Here’s what I’ve realized about homeschooling — it’s less about having the perfect curriculum or the fanciest supplies, and more about removing barriers to learning. When something is hard to access or uncomfortable, kids resist it. When it’s easy and enjoyable, they lean in.

A simple lap desk removes the barrier of “we can only do school at the table.” It opens up the porch, the backyard, the blanket under the tree. It says yes to curiosity wherever it strikes.

And isn’t that what we’re going for? Raising kids who are curious, who notice the world around them, who aren’t confined to a screen or a single chair? That’s the 1990s childhood I remember — doing homework on the floor, reading books in weird corners of the house, always moving and exploring.

Lap desks are such a small thing, but they support something bigger: the freedom to learn anywhere, the flexibility our kids need, and the kind of childhood I want them to remember.

—

If you’re looking for other tools that support a nature-rich, flexible homeschool, you might enjoy checking out resources from Rainbow Resource or Timberdoodle — both have been great for finding Charlotte Mason-friendly materials that fit our style.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a kindergartener who wants to take her lap desk outside to draw the chickens. Again. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Backyard Chicken Egg Production: What to Expect in Your First Year and Beyond

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

So you’ve got your coop set up, your fluffy chicks are growing like weeds, and now you’re wondering — when do I actually get eggs? And how many? And why does my neighbor claim she gets a dozen a day while you’re lucky to find three?

I get it. When we started our backyard flock a few years ago, I had all these questions too. I’d done the research, read the blogs, but real life with chickens? It’s its own kind of education. And honestly, that’s part of why we love having them — they’ve become one of the best hands-on learning experiences for our kids (way better than any worksheet).

Let me walk you through what backyard chicken egg production actually looks like, season by season, and what factors will affect your personal egg count.

When Will Your Chickens Start Laying?

Most backyard chicken breeds begin laying somewhere between 18-24 weeks of age. But here’s the thing nobody tells you upfront: it varies wildly depending on the breed, the time of year, and honestly, just the individual bird.

Our first pullet to lay was a Red Star at about 17 weeks — she was an overachiever. Meanwhile, one of our Buff Orpingtons took her sweet time until nearly 26 weeks. Both totally normal.

If you’re raising chicks in spring here in Florida, you’ll likely see eggs by late summer or early fall. Chicks hatched in fall might not start laying until the following spring since decreasing daylight can delay maturity.

Signs Your Hen Is About to Lay

• Her comb and wattles turn bright red
• She starts “squatting” when you approach
• She becomes very interested in the nesting boxes
• You might hear the “egg song” — that loud, proud announcement

This is such a fun time if you have kids. Mine loved checking on the hens daily, looking for these signs. It became part of our nature study without me even planning it.

How Many Eggs Should You Actually Expect?

Here’s where expectations meet reality. The general rule is that a good laying hen will produce about 250-300 eggs per year during her peak production (ages 1-2). That works out to roughly 5-6 eggs per week.

But — and this is a big but — that’s under ideal conditions. Real backyard chicken egg production looks more like this:

Year 1: Hens ramp up to peak production. Expect smaller “pullet eggs” at first.

Year 2: This is usually your best year. Consistent laying, full-sized eggs.

Year 3 and beyond: Production drops about 10-15% each year. Your five-year-old hen might only lay 2-3 eggs per week, and that’s okay.

With our small flock of six hens, we average about two dozen eggs per week during peak season — plenty for our family with extra to share with neighbors.

What Affects Egg Production?

This is where having a little science background comes in handy (and where your kids can learn some real biology).

Daylight Hours

Chickens need about 14-16 hours of light to maintain consistent laying. Here in Northwest Florida, our summer days are long and production is great. Come November through February? Things slow down significantly.

Some folks add supplemental lighting, but we don’t. Our hens get a natural rest period, which I think is healthier for them long-term. If you do want consistent winter eggs, a simple timer on a coop light can help.

Molting Season

Once a year, usually in fall, your hens will lose their feathers and grow new ones. During this time — which can last 8-12 weeks — egg production drops dramatically or stops entirely. All that protein goes to feather production instead.

The first time this happened, I thought something was terribly wrong. Nope, just nature doing its thing.

Heat and Cold

Florida summers are brutal, y’all. When temperatures climb into the 90s (which is basically June through September here in Pensacola), our hens slow down. We make sure they have plenty of shade, fresh cool water, and frozen treats.

If you’re dealing with Florida heat, a good automatic chicken coop door can help by letting them out at first light when it’s coolest, and a reliable nipple waterer system keeps their water clean and fresh even in the heat.

Diet and Health

A laying hen needs quality feed with 16-18% protein, plus calcium for strong shells (we offer oyster shell free-choice). Stress, parasites, or illness will tank production fast.

We dust the coop with food-grade diatomaceous earth regularly to help with mites and keep things dry — especially important in humid Florida.

Making Chickens Part of Your Homeschool

One unexpected benefit of backyard chickens? They’ve become central to our Charlotte Mason nature study. The kids keep egg logs in their nature journals, tracking how many eggs we collect, which hens laid them (we have different colored eggs), and how production changes with seasons.

It’s real-world math, biology, and animal husbandry all wrapped into daily chores. If your kids are interested in learning more, A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens is a wonderful resource written specifically for young chicken keepers.

For us parents who want to go deeper, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens has been my go-to reference for everything from troubleshooting health issues to understanding the biology behind egg production.

What About Egg Quality?

Backyard eggs are genuinely different from store-bought. You’ll notice:

• Darker, richer yolks (especially if your hens free-range)
• Stronger shells (from all that outdoor calcium intake)
• Better flavor (I’m not imagining it, I promise)
• Varied colors and sizes (which kids find delightful)

Fresh eggs also have a “bloom” — a natural coating that protects them. We don’t wash ours until right before use, and they’ll keep on the counter for a couple weeks or in the fridge for months.

The Honest Reality Check

Will backyard chickens save you money on eggs? Probably not, if we’re being honest. Between feed, coop costs, and the occasional vet visit, our eggs technically cost more than grocery store ones.

But that’s not really the point, is it?

For our family, the value is in knowing exactly where our food comes from. It’s in the kids learning responsibility by helping with morning chores. It’s in the way my daughter will sit quietly with a hen in her lap, just watching the chickens scratch around while our labradoodle supervises from a safe distance.

It’s that slower, more connected way of living we’re trying to cultivate — the same reason we homeschool, the same reason we prioritize outdoor play over screens, the same reason we’re raising these kids the way we remember childhood being.

Final Thoughts

Backyard chicken egg production isn’t always predictable, and that’s part of the beauty. Some weeks you’ll be drowning in eggs and begging neighbors to take a dozen. Other times, you’ll wonder if your hens have collectively decided to retire.

Trust the process. Keep your flock healthy, give them space to be chickens, and enjoy the eggs when they come. And when they don’t? Well, that’s a lesson in patience and nature’s rhythms too.

If you’re just starting out or thinking about adding chickens to your backyard, go for it. They’re endlessly entertaining, surprisingly educational, and yes — those fresh eggs really are worth it.

How to Set Up a Backyard Nature Station for Kids (Simple, Intentional, and Budget-Friendly)

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

If you’ve ever watched your kids crouch over a roly-poly for twenty minutes straight, completely absorbed in its tiny world, you already know the truth: children don’t need elaborate setups to connect with nature. They just need space, time, and a few good tools.

But here’s what I’ve learned after years of homeschooling in our Northwest Florida backyard — having a dedicated nature station takes that natural curiosity and gives it a home. It’s a place where discoveries get examined, questions get explored, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary. And the best part? You don’t need a fancy outdoor classroom or a Pinterest-perfect setup. You just need intention.

What Exactly Is a Backyard Nature Station?

A nature station is simply a designated area in your yard where kids can observe, collect, examine, and document the natural world. Think of it as a home base for outdoor exploration — somewhere they can bring interesting finds, look things up, sketch what they see, and really look at the world around them.

In our Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschool, nature study isn’t an add-on. It’s woven into almost everything we do. But before we had our nature station set up, discoveries would get lost. A cool feather would end up on the kitchen counter. An interesting seed pod would disappear into a pocket and go through the wash. Sound familiar?

Now, there’s a place for it all. And my kids return to it daily — sometimes for structured nature study, and sometimes just because they want to.

Choosing the Right Spot

You don’t need acres of land or a woodland backdrop. We’re working with a regular Florida backyard — St. Augustine grass, a few live oaks, our chicken run, and a whole lot of humidity.

Here’s what to look for when picking your spot:

Partial Shade Is Your Friend

In Florida, full sun from April through October is brutal. Our nature station sits under a big oak tree, which keeps it comfortable even on hot afternoons. If you don’t have natural shade, consider a pop-up canopy or placing your station near a covered patio.

Close Enough for Easy Access

The station needs to be somewhere your kids will actually use it. For us, that means visible from the back door and close to where they already play. If it’s tucked in a far corner, it’ll be forgotten.

Near Points of Interest

We positioned ours where the kids can see the chicken coop, a bird feeder, and a patch of wildflowers we let grow on purpose. Having things to observe right there makes spontaneous nature study so much easier.

Essential Tools for Your Nature Station

You don’t need to buy everything at once. Start simple and add as you go. Here’s what’s worked for us:

A Sturdy Surface

We use an old potting bench that was destined for the curb. It’s weathered, a little wobbly, and absolutely perfect. A small outdoor table or even a repurposed desk works great too. Just make sure it can handle some dirt and moisture.

Field Guides

These are non-negotiable. We keep a few in a waterproof bin at the station. The Sibley Birds field guide lives there permanently because between the cardinals, mockingbirds, and the occasional painted bunting, we’re always looking something up. Having guides on hand means questions get answered in the moment, not forgotten by dinnertime.

Nature Journals and Drawing Supplies

Charlotte Mason was onto something with nature journaling. There’s magic in asking a child to really see something — to notice the vein pattern on a leaf or the exact shade of a dragonfly’s wing. We use simple nature journals and a set of Faber-Castell watercolor pencils that hold up surprisingly well outdoors. My kids aren’t creating museum-quality art, and that’s not the point. The point is attention.

Magnification Tools

This is where the real excitement happens. A simple magnifying glass is fine, but we’ve gotten tremendous mileage out of a pocket microscope. Butterfly wing scales, sand grains, chicken feathers — everything becomes fascinating under magnification. My kids have spent entire afternoons examining things I would’ve walked right past.

Collection Containers

We keep a bug catcher kit at the station along with some mason jars, small containers with lids, and a few egg cartons for organizing smaller finds. The rule in our house is that living creatures get observed and released the same day. Leaves, feathers, shells, and seeds can stay longer.

Making It Work Year-Round in Florida

One of the beautiful things about living here is that nature study doesn’t have to stop for winter. We’re outside almost every day of the year, which means our nature station gets used constantly.

That said, Florida presents some unique challenges:

Dealing with Bugs and Humidity

We spray the area regularly with Wondercide to keep mosquitoes and fire ants at bay without harsh chemicals. I also keep our supplies in sealed containers to prevent moisture damage and unwanted critters from moving in.

Embracing the Seasons We Have

Our seasonal shifts are subtle, but they’re there if you pay attention. Spring brings monarch butterfly migration and baby anoles everywhere. Summer means lightning bugs and afternoon thunderstorms that leave the best puddles. Fall brings migrating birds and cooler mornings. Winter? That’s when we finally get comfortable outdoor weather and can spend whole days outside without melting.

Each season offers something new to observe, and the nature station gives us a framework for noticing it all.

Connecting Nature Study to Real Learning

Here’s where I get a little passionate. This isn’t just play — though it absolutely is play, and that matters. It’s also science, art, language arts, and even math if you’re counting insect legs or measuring plant growth.

When my daughter wanted to understand why our chickens’ eggs are different colors, we looked it up together. That led to a conversation about genetics, which led to library books, which led to her explaining it all to her younger brother like she was a tiny professor. That’s the beauty of this approach — one observation spirals into real, meaningful learning.

And when it comes to curriculum, nature study integrates beautifully. Many of the resources from places like Rainbow Resource complement what we’re already doing outside. It all connects.

You Don’t Have to Overcomplicate This

I know it’s tempting to go big — to buy all the things, build the perfect setup, create an Instagram-worthy nature nook. But truly, the magic isn’t in the stuff. It’s in the slowness. It’s in having a place that says, “What you found matters. Let’s look closer.”

Some of our best nature study moments have happened with nothing but a magnifying glass and two kids lying on their bellies in the grass. The station just makes it easier to keep that momentum going.

—

If you’re thinking about setting one up, start small. A table, a journal, one good field guide. Let your kids help you decide what else belongs there. Watch what they gravitate toward. Add tools as the interest grows.

This is the kind of childhood I want for my kids — the kind I remember from my own 1990s summers. Dirty fingernails, endless questions, and the freedom to wonder. A backyard nature station is just one small way we make space for that in our everyday homeschool life.

I’d love to hear what you include in yours. Come find us and share your setup — I’m always looking for new ideas from families who love this kind of learning as much as we do.

Best Living Books for Science in Elementary Charlotte Mason Homeschool

If you’ve ever picked up a traditional science textbook and watched your child’s eyes glaze over before you finished the first paragraph, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, friend. There’s something about those dry, fact-heavy pages that just doesn’t capture the wonder of the natural world — the same wonder our kids feel when they discover a caterpillar on the milkweed or watch our chickens dust-bathe for the first time.

That’s exactly why Charlotte Mason’s approach to science through living books has been such a game-changer for our family. And today, I’m sharing the best living books for science in elementary Charlotte Mason homeschool that have actually worked for us here in our little Florida homestead.

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

What Makes a Book “Living” for Science?

Before I share our favorites, let’s talk about what we’re actually looking for. Charlotte Mason believed that children deserve real, whole ideas — not pre-digested facts stripped of their context and beauty. A living science book:

• Is written by someone passionate about the subject
• Tells a story or presents ideas in an engaging, literary way
• Sparks curiosity and invites further exploration
• Treats children as capable thinkers, not empty vessels to fill

Think less “The butterfly has four stages of life” and more “Come, let me show you the quiet miracle happening inside that chrysalis.”

Our Favorite Living Books for Nature Study

Birds and Wildlife

Nature study is the heartbeat of our Charlotte Mason science, especially living in Florida where we have such incredible biodiversity right in our backyard. We keep the Sibley Guide to Birds within arm’s reach at all times — it lives on our back porch next to the binoculars. When someone spots a new bird at our feeder (usually while we’re checking on the chickens), we can identify it immediately.

For younger elementary, the Burgess Bird Book for Children and Burgess Animal Book for Children are absolutely wonderful. They’re over a hundred years old, but the storytelling holds up beautifully. My kids have learned more about animal habitats and behaviors from Old Mother West Wind’s friends than from any modern textbook.

Insects and Small Creatures

Here in Northwest Florida, we’re basically swimming in insects year-round, so we lean into it! Fabre’s Book of Insects is a classic living book that reads like a collection of tiny adventure stories. Pair it with a bug catcher kit and you’ve got a full science unit happening organically.

We also love the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock — it’s really a teacher’s resource, but I reference it constantly when my kids bring me something they’ve found and want to know more.

Living Books for Life Science

The Human Body

For anatomy and the human body, we’ve loved working through the “Blood and Guts” book from the Brown Paper School series. It’s irreverent and funny in a way that appeals to elementary kids without being crass. My kids still talk about the experiments we did from that book.

The Usborne Complete Book of the Human Body is another solid choice — it’s beautifully illustrated and presents information in digestible chunks while still respecting children’s intelligence.

Plants and Botany

Anna Botsford Comstock covers botany beautifully, but for a gentler introduction with younger elementary children, we’ve enjoyed The Carrot Seed (yes, even for K-2 — picture books count!) and later, the Holling C. Holling books like Tree in the Trail.

Keeping a nature journal has been transformative for our plant study. The kids sketch what they observe, and those drawings become so much more meaningful than any worksheet could be. We use Faber-Castell watercolors for adding color — they’re high quality enough to make the paintings feel special, which encourages the kids to really observe carefully.

Living Books for Earth and Physical Science

Weather and Seasons

Eric Sloane’s Weather Book is gorgeous and perfect for upper elementary. For younger kids, we read Gail Gibbons’ weather books, though I’ll admit they’re borderline “twaddle” — we use them as springboards for our own observations rather than primary texts.

Living in Florida gives us front-row seats to some dramatic weather, so we do a lot of real-world weather study. Hurricane season is basically its own science unit around here.

Astronomy

H.A. Rey (yes, the Curious George author!) wrote Find the Constellations and The Stars: A New Way to See Them, and they’re wonderful. We do stargazing in our backyard during cooler months when the mosquitoes give us a break.

Making Living Books Work Day-to-Day

Here’s what our Charlotte Mason science actually looks like in practice: short readings from living books (usually 10-20 minutes), followed by narration, and often paired with nature study outside. We keep a pocket microscope and magnifying glasses in our nature study basket for impromptu investigations.

We don’t follow a rigid scope and sequence. Some weeks we’re deep into birds because that’s what we’re noticing. Other times the chickens inspire questions about eggs and reproduction and we follow that rabbit trail. The living books support wherever our curiosity leads.

Where to Find These Books

Many Charlotte Mason living books are older and in the public domain, so you can find free versions on sites like Yesterday’s Classics or Archive.org. For newer books or if you prefer physical copies, I love browsing Rainbow Resource — they have an excellent Charlotte Mason section and really understand this approach.

Timberdoodle is another favorite, especially for finding quality science tools and supplementary materials that pair well with living books.

The Real Magic Happens Outside

Honestly? The living books are beautiful and important, but they’re really just the invitation. The real science education happens when my kids are outside getting muddy, watching the chickens establish their pecking order, or discovering what lives under the log by our back fence.

Charlotte Mason knew that children learn best when they’re in direct contact with the natural world, and living books serve as mentors and guides — not replacements for firsthand experience. A chapter about pond life hits differently when you’ve just spent an hour catching tadpoles.

Start Where You Are

If you’re new to Charlotte Mason science, don’t feel like you need to buy a huge library of living books tomorrow. Start with one — maybe a good field guide for your region, or one of the Burgess books. Read a short passage, go outside together, and see what you notice.

That’s really all there is to it. Living books plus time outdoors plus a child’s natural curiosity equals real science education. No expensive curriculum required, no complicated lesson plans.

Our family has been homeschooling this way for several years now, and I can honestly say my kids know more about the natural world than I did at their age — and they actually care about it. That’s the power of living books. They don’t just teach facts; they cultivate wonder.

And in a world full of screens and schedules, wonder feels like the most important thing we can give our kids.

—

What living books has your family loved for science? I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments — we’re always looking for new favorites to add to our shelves.

Non-Toxic Air Fresheners Safe for Pets and Kids: What We Actually Use in Our Florida Home

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

Let me paint you a picture: It’s a humid Florida afternoon. The dog just came in from rolling in something questionable in the backyard. The kids have been outside catching bugs and are now tracking in that particular smell of sweat and adventure. And somewhere in the house, there’s a lingering chicken-coop-adjacent aroma because someone forgot to change their shoes at the door.

I get it. I really do. The temptation to grab one of those plug-in air fresheners at the grocery store is real. But here’s the thing — once I started looking into what’s actually in those conventional air fresheners, I couldn’t unsee it. And with a mini labradoodle, backyard chickens, and elementary-age kids running through this house all day long, I had to find a better way.

Why Conventional Air Fresheners Are a Problem

Most store-bought air fresheners — the sprays, the plug-ins, the little gel beads — contain a cocktail of chemicals that we really don’t want our families breathing in. We’re talking phthalates (hormone disruptors), formaldehyde (yes, really), and synthetic fragrances that can trigger everything from headaches to respiratory issues.

And here’s what really got me: our pets are even more vulnerable than we are. Dogs and cats have smaller bodies and faster respiratory rates. Birds are notoriously sensitive to airborne toxins. Even my chickens, when they occasionally wander onto the back porch, don’t need to be breathing in synthetic fragrance chemicals.

When I started our non-toxic home journey a few years back, air fresheners were actually one of the easier swaps. Once you know what works, you’ll wonder why you ever bought those headache-inducing plug-ins in the first place.

What Makes an Air Freshener Actually Safe?

When I’m evaluating whether something is truly non-toxic and safe for our whole household — kids, dog, and the occasional chicken who thinks she belongs inside — I look for a few things:

• No synthetic fragrances. “Fragrance” on a label can hide dozens of undisclosed chemicals.
• No phthalates or parabens.
• No aerosol propellants.
• Plant-based or mineral-based ingredients that I can actually pronounce.
• Safe around pets, especially since our labradoodle has her nose in everything.

The good news? There are plenty of options that actually work without compromising our indoor air quality.

Our Favorite Non-Toxic Air Freshener Solutions

1. Open the Windows (Seriously)

I know this sounds too simple, but living in Northwest Florida, we get some genuinely beautiful weather — especially in spring and fall. Nothing freshens a house like actual fresh air. We throw open the windows during our morning nature study time and let the breeze do its thing.

This costs nothing and works better than any spray I’ve ever tried.

2. Baking Soda + Essential Oils

This is my go-to for areas that tend to hold odors — like the mudroom where all the outdoor shoes and gear live. I keep a small jar of baking soda with a few drops of pure essential oil (lavender or lemon are our favorites) and just set it out. It absorbs odors rather than masking them.

A word of caution: some essential oils aren’t safe for pets, especially cats. I stick to lavender, frankincense, and cedarwood, and I never diffuse heavily in rooms where the animals hang out.

3. Simmer Pots

This is very much giving 1990s-grandma-energy, and I’m here for it. A pot of water on the stove with some citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, and maybe a sprig of rosemary from the garden makes the whole house smell amazing. The kids love helping add ingredients, and it doubles as a little sensory activity.

4. Houseplants

We’ve added several air-purifying plants throughout the house over the years — pothos, spider plants, and snake plants do well in our Florida humidity and actually help clean the air. They’re not a quick fix for odors, but they contribute to overall better indoor air quality.

5. Wondercide for Pet-Related Odors

Okay, this one is specifically for pet families. Wondercide makes plant-based products that are safe around kids and pets, and they have room sprays that actually work on those “wet dog” moments. I keep a bottle near the back door for emergencies. It’s the only spray product I trust enough to use around the dog and in rooms where the kids play.

6. Clean with Non-Toxic Products

Honestly, half the battle with home odors is just keeping things clean without adding more chemicals to the mix. We switched to Grove Collaborative a while back for most of our household cleaning supplies. Their products actually clean — no artificial fragrance needed to cover up the fact that something didn’t work.

What About the Chicken Coop Smell?

Let’s talk about it, because if you’re a backyard chicken family in Florida, you know that summer humidity plus chicken coop equals a situation.

Inside the house, we manage any tracked-in coop smell with the methods above. But for the coop itself, I use food-grade diatomaceous earth in the bedding. It helps with moisture and odor control naturally, plus it’s beneficial for pest management. Just make sure you’re using food-grade DE, not the pool-filter kind.

Keeping the coop clean with good ventilation is really the best “air freshener” for that space. Deep litter method in winter, more frequent changes in summer. Not glamorous, but it works.

A Note on Diffusers and Pets

I know essential oil diffusers are popular in the non-toxic community, and we do use one occasionally. But I want to be honest: I’m cautious with it around pets. Some essential oils can be toxic to dogs and especially cats. I never run a diffuser in an enclosed room with animals, and I stick to pet-safe oils in low concentrations.

If diffusing is your thing, do your research on which oils are safe for your specific pets. When in doubt, skip it and stick with simmer pots or open windows.

Creating an Intentional Home, One Swap at a Time

Switching to non-toxic air fresheners safe for pets and kids was one of the simpler changes we made when we started being more intentional about our home environment. It didn’t require a huge overhaul — just a shift in thinking.

Now, our house smells like… well, like a house where people actually live. Sometimes it smells like the pancakes we made for breakfast. Sometimes it’s the citrus simmer pot on the stove. Sometimes, honestly, it smells like dog and outside and that particular little-kid smell of dirt and sunshine.

And you know what? I’m okay with that. We’re raising kids who spend their days outside catching bugs with their bug catcher kits, doing nature study, and getting genuinely dirty. A house that smells like real life is part of the deal.

The goal was never perfection — it was just to stop pumping synthetic chemicals into the air our family breathes. That felt doable. And it was.

If you’re just starting your non-toxic home journey, this is a great first swap. Your lungs (and your pets) will thank you.

—

What about you — have you made the switch to non-toxic air fresheners? I’d love to hear what works in your home. Drop a comment or send me a message!

Florida Homeschool Field Trip Ideas in the Pensacola Area: 15+ Local Spots We Love

If you’re a homeschool family in Northwest Florida, you already know we’re sitting on a goldmine of learning opportunities. Seriously — between the Gulf Coast beaches, the historic forts, and the wild spaces tucked into every corner of our region, we could field trip our way through an entire education without ever cracking open a textbook.

Okay, we still crack open textbooks. But you know what I mean.

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

One of the things I love most about our Charlotte Mason approach is how much weight it gives to real learning — the kind that happens when your kid touches a sea star at the aquarium or walks the same grounds soldiers walked 200 years ago. Field trips aren’t extras in our homeschool. They’re the main event.

Here are our favorite Florida homeschool field trip ideas in the Pensacola area — places we return to again and again, plus a few we’re still working through our list to visit.

Nature Study Spots That Never Get Old

Gulf Islands National Seashore

This is our backyard classroom, and I don’t say that lightly. The Fort Pickens area alone could fuel an entire semester of nature study. We’ve sketched ghost crabs, identified shorebirds with our Sibley field guide, and had long conversations about erosion while watching the dunes shift.

Bring your nature journal and some watercolor pencils — the colors out there are impossible to capture with regular crayons. Pro tip: go early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds and the worst of the Florida sun. And yes, we always pack non-toxic sunscreen because that Gulf sun is no joke.

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park

If your kids have never seen a pitcher plant in the wild, this is your spot. The boardwalk trail takes you through one of the most unique ecosystems in Florida — a wet prairie filled with carnivorous plants. My kids were absolutely fascinated the first time we went, and now it’s a spring tradition.

This is also a fantastic place to bring a pocket microscope for looking at moss, lichen, and the tiny creatures living in the bog edges.

Edward Ball Nature Trail at UWF

The University of West Florida campus has beautiful trails that wind through ravines and hardwood forests. It feels like you’ve left Florida entirely and wandered into Appalachia. We love visiting in the fall when the leaves actually change (yes, we get a little bit of that here!) and in spring when the wildflowers bloom.

The kids have spotted deer, armadillos, and more bird species than I can count. It’s also blissfully shady, which matters when you’re homeschooling through a Florida summer.

History Comes Alive

Fort Pickens

Part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, Fort Pickens deserves its own mention because the history here is incredible. This Civil War-era fort held Geronimo as a prisoner, survived multiple hurricanes, and offers a window into coastal defense that spans centuries.

We pack a picnic, explore the dark corridors with flashlights, and then head to the beach. It’s the perfect full-day field trip.

Historic Pensacola Village

Downtown Pensacola has a collection of preserved historic homes and museums that tell the story of our city’s wild past. We’re talking Spanish, French, British, and American influences all layered on top of each other. The guided tours are excellent, and they often have hands-on activities for kids — candle dipping, old-fashioned games, that sort of thing.

This is where my kids learned that Pensacola is one of the oldest European settlements in the United States. They bring it up constantly now. “Mom, did you know we live in one of the oldest cities?” Yes, baby. You’ve told me forty-seven times. And I love it every time.

National Naval Aviation Museum

Even if military history isn’t your main focus, this museum is worth the trip. It’s free (yes, really), it’s enormous, and the exhibits are genuinely fascinating. My kids loved climbing into cockpits, watching the IMAX films, and learning about the science of flight.

We tie this into our physics discussions and art study — there’s something beautiful about the design of vintage aircraft.

Animal Encounters

Gulf Breeze Zoo

This small zoo has a great collection of animals and offers up-close encounters that bigger zoos can’t match. The train ride through the free-roaming animal area is always a hit, and they have a nice giraffe feeding station.

We usually pair this with a nature journal session — pick one animal to observe and sketch in detail.

Pensacola Beach Sea Turtle Conservation

During nesting season (May through October), you can sometimes join guided walks to see turtle nests and learn about conservation efforts. Check with the local Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center for programming — they do wonderful educational events.

Hands-On Learning Experiences

Pensacola MESS Hall

MESS stands for Math, Engineering, Science, and Stuff — and that’s exactly what you get. This hands-on science center lets kids explore at their own pace with stations covering everything from magnets to music to motion. It’s not huge, but it’s mighty. We usually spend 2-3 hours there easily.

Local Farms and U-Pick Operations

We have some wonderful farms in the Pensacola area that welcome visitors. Holland Farms in Milton is a fall favorite for their corn maze and pumpkin patch, but there are also berry farms, peach orchards, and more scattered throughout the region.

If your kids are curious about chickens (like mine are obsessed), visiting a working farm is a great way to expand their understanding. We’ve learned so much from other chicken keepers! For home study, I always recommend Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens for the grown-ups and A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens for the little ones who want to help with the flock.

Water-Based Learning

Big Lagoon State Park

Kayaking, fishing, birding, and beach exploration all in one spot. We bring our bug catcher kits and spend hours turning over shells and catching crabs (gently, and always released).

Blackwater River State Park

The Blackwater River is one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the world, and it’s right in our backyard. Tubing, swimming, and canoeing are all excellent here. We love exploring the sandbars and looking for animal tracks along the shore.

Making Field Trips Count

Here’s what I’ve learned after years of homeschool field trips: the magic isn’t in checking boxes. It’s in slowing down enough to actually see things.

We don’t rush through locations trying to hit every exhibit. We pick one or two things to focus on, bring our nature journals, and leave plenty of time for the rabbit trails. Sometimes the best learning happens when your kid gets distracted by an anthill or spends twenty minutes watching a hermit crab.

That’s the whole point, right? We’re not recreating school at home. We’re giving our kids the kind of childhood where wonder has room to grow.

If you’re using the Florida PEP scholarship, many of these locations qualify for educational expenses — museum memberships, state park passes, and more. It’s worth keeping track of your receipts and checking the approved expense list.

Your Turn

What are your favorite field trip spots in the Pensacola area? I’m always looking for new places to explore with our crew. Drop a comment or send me a message — I’d love to hear what’s working for your family.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check on the chickens and convince a certain labradoodle that she does not, in fact, need to come on our next beach trip. (She does. She always comes. She’s very persuasive.)

Happy exploring, friends.

Best Chicken Waterers for Hot Florida Climate: What Actually Works in Our Backyard

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

If you’ve ever walked out to your chicken coop in July and found your waterer hotter than a fresh cup of coffee, you know exactly why I’m writing this. Florida heat is no joke, and keeping our backyard flock hydrated is genuinely one of the most important things we do all summer. When it’s 95 degrees with 80% humidity before 9 AM, your chickens need reliable access to cool, clean water — not the swampy mess that seems to develop in about three hours flat.

We’ve been keeping chickens here in Northwest Florida for several years now, and I’ve learned a lot through trial and error (emphasis on the error, y’all). Let me share what’s actually working in our backyard so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did.

Why Water Matters So Much in Florida Heat

Chickens don’t sweat. Instead, they pant and hold their wings away from their bodies to cool down. But their primary cooling mechanism? Drinking water. Lots of it. A single hen can drink up to a pint of water on a hot day — sometimes more.

When water gets warm or runs out, chickens stop laying, become stressed, and can actually die from heat stroke faster than you’d think. I lost a beloved hen to heat stress our first summer because I didn’t realize how quickly her water had become undrinkable. It was a hard lesson I don’t want any of you to learn firsthand.

What to Look for in a Florida Chicken Waterer

Before I get into specific recommendations, let’s talk about what actually matters when you’re choosing a waterer for our brutal climate.

Capacity Matters More Than You Think

In cooler climates, people can get away with smaller waterers and refilling every couple of days. Not here. I recommend at least one gallon per four chickens per day, and honestly, I’d rather have too much than too little. Running out of water at 2 PM when you’re not home is a recipe for disaster.

Material Makes a Difference

Plastic heats up fast in direct sun. Metal heats up even faster. Neither is ideal, but plastic is generally better for our purposes because it’s easier to add insulation and doesn’t conduct heat quite as aggressively. White or light-colored waterers reflect more heat than red or dark colors.

Enclosed Systems Stay Cleaner

Open waterers are an invitation for algae, mosquitoes (hello, Florida!), and debris. Our girls love to kick pine shavings into absolutely everything. Enclosed systems with nipples or cups keep water cleaner longer, which means less bacteria growth in warm water.

Our Favorite Waterer Setup

After trying traditional gravity waterers, DIY bucket systems, and everything in between, we’ve landed on nipple-style chicken waterers as our gold standard.

Here’s why they work so well in Florida:

• Water stays completely enclosed until the chicken pecks the nipple, so no algae, no mosquito larvae, no debris
• Easy to scale up — we use a 5-gallon bucket with multiple nipples
• Simple to insulate — more on this below
• Chickens learn quickly — it took ours about 10 minutes to figure it out

We mounted ours in the shade, wrapped the bucket in an old towel (glamorous, I know), and added a few frozen water bottles each morning during the worst of summer. The water stays noticeably cooler than our old gravity waterer ever did.

A Note on Training

If you’re switching from a different system, keep both available for a few days. Tap the nipples to show the chickens water comes out. They’re curious creatures — especially if you’ve raised them with that same spirit of discovery we try to nurture in our homeschool. They’ll figure it out.

Backup Options Worth Having

Even with a great primary system, I always keep backups ready. Florida storms knock out power, we go on homeschool field trips, life happens.

Rubber bowls are surprisingly useful. They’re cheap, easy to dump and refill, and you can throw ice directly in them. They’re not a permanent solution, but on the hottest days, I’ll put out an extra rubber bowl with ice in the morning as supplemental hydration.

Multiple water stations placed in different shaded areas mean there’s always water nearby no matter where the flock is ranging. Chickens won’t always walk across a hot yard to drink — they’ll just… not drink. Make it easy for them.

Keeping Water Cool: Practical Tips

The waterer itself is only part of the equation. Location and management matter just as much.

Shade Is Non-Negotiable

Never place waterers in direct sun. Ever. If you don’t have natural shade, create it. A piece of plywood propped up, a patio umbrella, whatever works. Our coop is positioned under a big oak tree, and even then, I’m strategic about exactly where the water sits.

Frozen Additions

Every morning in summer, I toss a few frozen water bottles into our bucket waterer. They slowly melt throughout the day, keeping the water temperature down. You can also freeze water with a bit of apple cider vinegar or electrolytes — our girls love pecking at the ice.

Refresh Midday When Possible

If you’re home (which, homeschooling means we usually are), dump and refill waterers in the early afternoon. Yes, it’s an extra step. But on 100-degree days, it’s worth it.

What About Algae?

Algae is the bane of every Florida chicken keeper’s existence. That green slime that appears overnight? It’s thriving in our warm, humid climate.

Food-grade diatomaceous earth added to the coop (not the water!) helps with pest control, but for the waterer itself, I swear by a good scrub with white vinegar once a week. No harsh chemicals needed.

Nipple waterers dramatically reduce algae because the water isn’t exposed to light. This alone made the switch worth it for us.

A Quick Word on Chicks

If you’re raising chicks in Florida, they need even more attention to hydration. We keep our brooder waterers scrupulously clean and filled, adding a splash of raw apple cider vinegar for gut health. Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens has excellent guidance on this if you want to dive deeper — it’s one of my most-referenced books on the shelf.

For the kids, we also keep a child-friendly chicken guide in our homeschool basket. Learning to care for animals is such a beautiful part of childhood, and understanding why water matters connects to larger lessons about stewardship and biology.

Simple Systems, Consistent Care

Honestly, keeping chickens hydrated in Florida doesn’t require fancy equipment or a huge investment. What it requires is intention and consistency — showing up every day, observing your flock, adjusting when something isn’t working.

It’s a lot like the rest of this slow, rooted life we’re building out here. Whether it’s our homeschool routine, the way we’re raising our kids to play outside and get dirty, or the chickens scratching around in the backyard while the dog watches from the porch — it all comes down to paying attention and caring well for what’s in front of us.

If you’re just getting started with backyard chickens or struggling to keep up with Florida summers, I hope this helps. You’ve got this, friend. Your flock is lucky to have someone who cares enough to figure out what they need.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go refill some water and probably convince a certain labradoodle to stop trying to drink from the chicken waterer. Again.

How to Get Kids Off Screens and Outside: Practical Tips That Actually Work

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

I get it. You’re exhausted from the daily negotiation about screen time. The whining when you say “time’s up.” The glazed-over eyes and the way your kids seem to have forgotten how to just… play. You’re not alone, and honestly? This isn’t a parenting failure. It’s a design problem — those apps and games are literally engineered to keep our kids hooked.

But here’s the good news: kids are still kids. That spark of curiosity, that drive to explore and get dirty and discover things — it’s still in there. We just have to clear the path and let it breathe.

Our family has been on this journey for a few years now, and I won’t pretend we’ve got it all figured out. But we’ve found some rhythms that work, and I want to share what’s actually helped us raise kids who genuinely prefer being outside to being on a tablet.

Start With the Why (And Let Them In On It)

Before you go cold turkey or institute a bunch of new rules, talk to your kids. Not a lecture — a real conversation. We told ours something like, “Our brains need real things. Sunshine, bugs, dirt, climbing. Screens are fun sometimes, but they trick our brains into wanting more and more. We’re going to practice giving our brains what they really need.”

Kids are smart. When they understand the why behind something, they’re way more likely to buy in. And honestly? They often feel the difference themselves once they’ve had a few good weeks of outdoor time.

Make Outside the Easy Choice

Create an Irresistible Outdoor Space

You don’t need a fancy backyard setup. But you do need to make going outside feel like the path of least resistance. For us, that meant a few things:

• A basket by the back door with kids’ rain boots, bug catchers, and sunhats
• Simple outdoor toys that don’t require adult involvement — a rope swing, a mud kitchen, sidewalk chalk
• A little exploration kit with a pocket microscope and a bug collection kit

Here in Northwest Florida, we’re blessed with mild weather most of the year, so our backyard is basically an extension of our living space. Even on hot summer days, the kids are out early with the chickens before the heat sets in.

Remove the Friction From Nature Time

Screens are easy. That’s part of their power. So we have to make outside easy too.

We keep non-toxic sunscreen right by the door so there’s no hunting for it. We spray everyone down with Wondercide before heading out (Florida mosquitoes are no joke). And I’ve learned to just accept that shoes will get muddy and clothes will get stained. That’s the cost of a good childhood.

Give Them Something to Do (At First)

Structured Invitations to Play

Here’s the thing about kids who’ve gotten used to screens: they’ve forgotten how to be bored productively. Their imagination muscles are a little weak. So at first, you might need to give them a jumping-off point.

Some things that have worked for us:

• “Go find five different kinds of leaves and we’ll look them up together”
• “Take this nature journal and sketch what you see”
• “See if you can identify three birds using the Sibley guide“
• “The chickens need fresh water — can you check on them?”

This is very Charlotte Mason, by the way — the idea that children need real work and real observation, not just entertainment. Nature study isn’t a subject in our homeschool; it’s a way of life.

Let the Chickens Help

I can’t overstate how much our backyard flock has changed our kids’ relationship with the outdoors. There’s always a reason to go outside when you have animals depending on you. Collecting eggs, refreshing water, checking for anything weird in the coop — it all adds up to hours of outdoor time without anyone realizing they’re not on a screen.

If you’re thinking about starting a flock, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens is my go-to resource. And for getting the kids involved, A Kid’s Guide to Keeping Chickens is perfect for elementary-age helpers.

Build Screen-Free Rhythms Into Your Day

The Morning Outside Rule

One of our most effective strategies has been simple: no screens until after we’ve been outside. Usually, that means morning chores, chicken time, and at least 30 minutes of free play before anyone even thinks about asking for a show.

Most days, they get so absorbed in whatever they’re doing — building a fort, digging for worms, chasing the dog — that they forget about screens entirely. That’s the goal, right?

Replace, Don’t Just Remove

Taking away screens without offering something in return just creates resentment. So we’ve been intentional about filling that space with things that are genuinely fun:

• Outdoor lawn games for the whole family
• A set of walkie talkies for backyard adventures
• Art supplies that can come outside — our Faber-Castell watercolors have survived many porch painting sessions

Be Patient With the Detox

I’m going to be honest: the first week or two of cutting back on screens can be rough. There might be tears. There might be “I’m bored” on repeat. There will definitely be moments when you want to give in just to get some peace.

Don’t.

That boredom is actually your kid’s brain rewiring itself. It’s learning to be creative again. Push through it, and something beautiful happens on the other side — they start playing. Really playing. The way we did as kids in the 90s, when summer meant being outside until the streetlights came on.

Remember: This Is About Connection, Not Perfection

We’re not anti-technology. We use the PEP scholarship for our homeschool, which means some screen-based learning is part of our life. The kids watch movies on family night. It’s about balance and intention, not rigid rules.

What I want for my kids — what I think most of us want — is for them to know how to be present in the real world. To notice the way light filters through the oaks. To get excited about a cool bug. To have memories of digging in the dirt, not just scrolling through a feed.

So start small. Put on the rain boots. Go find something interesting with your kids. Let them get bored and figure it out. Give them chickens to care for, trees to climb, and the gift of your unhurried presence.

The screens will still be there. But childhood won’t wait.

—

What’s helped your family cut back on screen time? I’d love to hear what’s working in your home — drop a comment below or come find me on Instagram!

Charlotte Mason Nature Table: What We Keep on Ours (And Why It Matters)

If you’ve been tiptoeing around the idea of starting a nature table but aren’t sure what actually goes on one—or if yours has turned into a dusty catch-all for random pinecones—I get it. I really do.

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

When we first started our Charlotte Mason homeschool journey, I thought a nature table had to look like something from a museum. Perfectly curated. Labeled. Maybe even laminated. But here’s what I’ve learned after a few years of nature study in the Florida humidity with elementary-age kids, a mini labradoodle who thinks everything is a toy, and backyard chickens who occasionally contribute their own “specimens”: a nature table is meant to be alive. It’s meant to change. And honestly? It’s meant to be a little messy.

Let me walk you through what we actually keep on ours—and why these simple items have become such a meaningful part of our homeschool rhythm.

What Is a Charlotte Mason Nature Table, Really?

Before we get into the specifics, let’s back up. Charlotte Mason believed that children should spend hours outdoors, observing the natural world firsthand. The nature table is simply an extension of that—a dedicated space in your home where your family can display, examine, and appreciate the things you find outside.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about wonder.

For us, it’s a small corner of our living room with a wooden tray, a few tools, and whatever the kids have dragged in that week. Sometimes it’s organized. Sometimes it looks like a woodland creature exploded. Both versions are fine.

The Foundation: Tools That Stay Year-Round

There are a few items that live permanently on our nature table because they’re essential for actually studying what we find. These aren’t decorations—they’re tools we use constantly.

A Good Nature Journal

Every one of my kids has their own nature journal, and we keep extras on the table for spontaneous sketching. Charlotte Mason emphasized the practice of drawing from nature because it forces you to really see something—the curve of a feather, the vein pattern on a leaf. We’re not going for museum-quality art here. We’re going for attention.

A Pocket Microscope

This little pocket microscope has been one of the best investments we’ve made. The kids use it to examine everything from chicken feathers to the wing scales on moths we find on the back porch. It’s small enough that it doesn’t take up much space, but it opens up an entire world of discovery.

Quality Watercolor Pencils

We use Faber-Castell watercolor pencils for nature journaling. They’re forgiving for little hands, the colors blend beautifully, and they hold up well. There’s something special about sitting down with a real art supply instead of a dried-out marker from the junk drawer.

A Field Guide (or Two)

We keep our Sibley Guide to Birds right on the table because half of what we observe here in Northwest Florida has wings. Between the cardinals at the feeder and the herons we spot near the bay, we’re constantly flipping through it. Having it accessible means we actually use it.

What Rotates: Seasonal Treasures and Finds

The heart of our nature table is what changes with the seasons—and with whatever has captured our attention that week.

Feathers, Shells, and Bones

Living in Florida means we have access to incredible coastal finds. Sand dollars, shark teeth, whelk shells, and sea glass all make appearances. We also keep feathers from our backyard chickens (honestly, they shed constantly) and the occasional bird feather the kids find on walks. If we find something that might decompose, we let it dry out completely before it earns a spot on the table.

Pressed Flowers and Leaves

We press wildflowers between the pages of old books and add them to the table once they’re dried. Florida doesn’t have dramatic fall foliage, but we do have gorgeous blooms year-round—lantana, blanket flowers, and the wild daisies that pop up along roadsides.

Nests, Pods, and Seeds

Every spring, we seem to find an abandoned bird’s nest or two. We’ve also collected magnolia seed pods, acorns, and pinecones from our neighborhood. These items naturally spark conversations about life cycles, seasons, and how creatures prepare for survival.

Insects (Safely Contained)

We use a bug collection kit to examine insects up close before releasing them. The kids have learned to be gentle, and they’ve developed a real appreciation for the tiny creatures in our yard—even the ones that used to make them squeal.

Living Specimens: When Nature Moves In Temporarily

Sometimes our nature table becomes a temporary habitat. We’ve raised monarch caterpillars, observed tadpoles from a local pond, and once kept a chrysalis in a jar until a butterfly emerged. These experiences are unforgettable, and they align perfectly with what Charlotte Mason called “living science.”

A word of caution, though: Florida’s humidity can make things go south quickly. We’ve learned to keep anything alive in a well-ventilated container and release critters within a day or two if they’re not part of a longer observation project.

How Our Nature Table Supports Charlotte Mason Learning

The nature table isn’t just a pretty display. It’s deeply tied to how we homeschool.

Charlotte Mason’s method emphasizes firsthand observation over secondhand information. Our table gives the kids a place to return to their discoveries. They sketch what they’ve found. They compare a new feather to one from last month. They flip through field guides without being told to.

This kind of learning sticks. It’s the difference between reading about bird anatomy and actually holding a feather and noticing how the barbs zip together like velcro.

We’ve also noticed that having a dedicated space makes the kids more intentional about what they bring home. Instead of hoarding every rock in a five-mile radius, they’ve learned to curate. “Is this special enough for the nature table?” has become a real question in our house.

Tips for Creating Your Own Nature Table

If you’re just getting started, here’s what I’d suggest:

Start small. A tray or basket works perfectly. You don’t need a whole piece of furniture.

Keep it accessible. If your kids can’t reach it, they won’t use it. Ours is at kid-height on purpose.

Rotate regularly. Things get stale if they sit forever. We do a refresh every few weeks—returning items to nature or moving them to a memory box.

Involve your kids. Let them decide what goes on the table. This is their space to explore, not a display for company.

Add tools, not just objects. A magnifying glass, a journal, or colored pencils make the table interactive instead of static.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

Some weeks, our nature table looks like a curated exhibit. Other weeks, it’s a jumble of half-examined treasures and a stray dog toy. (The labradoodle has opinions about what counts as a fetch item.)

But every time I watch one of my kids pick up a feather and flip through the Sibley guide, or sit down to sketch the moth they caught last night, I remember why we do this. It’s not about the table itself. It’s about creating a home where curiosity has a place to land.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a nature table—or reviving the one that’s gathered dust—I hope this gives you permission to just begin. Toss a tray on a shelf. Add a pinecone and a pencil. See what your kids bring home tomorrow.

That’s the whole magic of it, really. You’re just making space for wonder.

—

What’s on your nature table right now? I’d love to hear—drop a comment or send me a message. And if you’re new here, welcome to our little corner of the internet where we believe in slow mornings, dirty feet, and raising kids who actually look up from screens.