Book “Outside In” by Deborah Underwood

The book “Outside In” by Deborah Underwood is a quite new book. When I first saw this book, I was happy to find another beautifully illustrated book that invites readers to nature and mindfulness. I hope you don’t get tired of this kind of book because I’ll bring more.😝 This kind of book introduces mindfulness to children in a very easy, natural and playful way and I love that part so much. 

Look at the cover.

Isn’t it beautiful?

The book shows where and how the nature comes to our daily life. 

With flashes at the window

…

It sends the sunset and shadows inside to play.

From the book “Outside In” by Deborah Underwood

The illustrations are so magical that I think it’s worth it to just look through the pictures. – Amazing thing for young readers who can’t really read the words by themselves yet, right?

Things to Learn from Book

✦ How to look around yourself

✦ How to sense the nature

✦ How to be mindful

✦ Learning about inside/outside

✦ How much we are connected to the nature

It’s made with simple sentences so I recommend this book for toddlers as well as preschoolers.

It will also help your child to expand her/his vocabulary.

The book ends with a cute invitation.

“I’m here!”

🥹💕

Don’t you wanna read this book with your child? Hehe

I’m gonna show you a way to extend this learning.

Make a Windsock

Materials

• Paper roll 
• Pompoms
• Liquid glue
• Crepe papers

How To

Decorate a paper roll.

I glued pompoms on my paper roll. 

(There is a glue stick in the photo but I had to switch to liquid glue. The glue stick was too weak to hold pompoms.)

If you are comfortable with having a painting day at home (😅), you can give paints and a paint brush to your child to colour the paper roll.

Another idea is using stickers. The simplest! If you have pretty stickers, try them!

If your paper roll is done, make strips out of crepe paper.

Try it with scissors and just with hands, tearing it.

This is an example of problem-solving situation. Let your child test things by herself/himself and figure out the best way.

If you got 6~7 strips, start gluing them on one end of the paper roll.

You made a windsock!

Now, put a string on it and hang it on the window or door.

Ask these questions to your child.

☁︎ ☁︎ ☁︎

What can we find with the windsock?

Is “Outside in”?

Know that the wind is part of outside that sometimes visits us when we leave the window or door open for it. 

Try finding other areas that outside is coming inside with your child together. 

What a peaceful connecting opportunity! 😄 

Happy learning and quality time!