Poohsticks is one of those wonderful simple childhood games that stays fun no matter what age you are. Even as an adult, I can never quite resist the temptation when crossing a bridge over a stream to throw a stick in and watch it float downstream.
For a three-year old though, Poohsticks is one of the best games ever! Sophie will happily spend ages on a bridge finding as many sticks as she can to throw in. It doesn’t matter whether her stick or Mummy’s is the first to appear. Just seeing the sticks reappear on the other side of the bridge is enough of a thrill.
The promise of finding more sticks for our game of Poohsticks was just the incentive I needed to encourage her to take a little walk in the woods with me. Sophie is starting to need more purpose for our outdoor adventures together. Just “going for a walk” is not enough anymore. Geocaching – or “finding treasure” as we call it – is a good incentive. Scavenger hunts also work well. This morning, I also suggested we try look for signs of fairies in the woods too.
We spotted a little “tunnel” at the base of a tree which we thought might just lead to a little fairy door out of sight. We also picked up some pieces of bark which looked like they might make good bark boats.
There were logs to sit on and the birds were singing away in the trees. It was so peaceful and quiet (well, other than Sophie shouting “Birds! Birds! Where are you?!”) and lovely and cool in the woods after the heatwave of the last two days.
We found a big hollow log which looked like it might be a good home for mini beasts. Sophie had a good look inside but other than lots of spider webs, any bugs that had made their home there stayed out of sight. We did manage to spot a damselfly in the blackberry bushes though.
Back on the bridge, there was time for a few more games of Poohsticks. We also wandered over to the edge of the stream to take a closer look and try out one of our bark boats. It floated well but Sophie decided that the sticks were more fun!
I had promised Sophie that we would finish up with a trip to the playground. A park ranger was mowing the grass there when we arrived so we had to wait a little while before we could go in. Sophie enjoyed sitting in a nearby tree while she waited.
There were sycamore “wings” on the ground near the tree which looked like they would be perfect for fairy wings. Add a stick and a leaf for a dress and voila! we had one pretty woodland fairy to take home.
Once the playground was open, Sophie made a beeline for the musical instruments followed by the sand pit. We had the whole area to ourselves which was blissful.
The park ranger who had been mowing the grass had spotted a toad and brought it over for Sophie to see. I think it might have been the first time Sophie had seen a toad. She was happy to give it a very gentle stroke. I think the toad was happier though when the ranger popped him back in the shade again!
We only spent about an hour at Denham Country Park as we had other plans for the day but it was lovely just to get out and enjoy some simple fun outdoors for a while. Next time, I shall have to remember to bring our pond dipping kit so we can take a closer look at some of the creatures that live in the stream.
This year we’re taking part in #30DaysWild – a challenge from the Wildlife Trusts to get outside each day in June, do something wild and connect with nature.
What a wonderful way to start your day and how grown up Sophie is looking now. Pooh sticks never looses it’s fun. I think your girls would love our raft races, they are like pooh sticks on a giant scale. Those woods do look like a lovely place to keep cool and your activities to keep the walk interesting are wonderful. I’m rather taken with your nature fairy.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Thank you Fiona. I am sure the girls would love your raft races – I certainly love reading your posts about them each year 🙂
What a lovely walk with nature, it looks like Sophie had so much fun. I was obsessed with frogs and toads from a young age and we had a pond in our back garden. My kids still love playing Pooh Sticks, I don’t think they will ever grow out of it.
#CountryKids
I’m a bit nervous with frogs and toads but it was lovely for Sophie to be able to see one up close 🙂
I love all your wonderful ideas for getting Sophie walking. Particularly looking for fairies – and how great to use the sycamore leaf to make firy wings! #countrykids
Thank you – having things to look out for always works well! 🙂
Ahh, how nice that the ranger bough the toad over. It looks like a fun trip out, my kids always love poohsticks. Mich x
It was lovely for her to be able to see the toad up close 🙂
You managed to cram a lot of fun activities into only 1 hour! I love the little fairy you made out of natural objects. I used to love playing pooh sticks when I was younger and now my kids love it too. #CountryKids
I was quite impressed we managed to do so much in such a short space of time! Poohsticks is always fun 🙂
I recall playing Pooh Sticks at Wittenham Clumps when I was little. Lots of fun. #CountryKids
Can’t beat a game of Poohsticks 🙂
I love toads but I’m not brave enough to hold or stroke them! You’re right – pooh sticks is fun no matter what age, J loves playing it – I’ll have to try the bark boat though as we’ve never done that! x #CountryKids
I’m not brave enough to hold them either but it was lovely to see Sophie doing so! 🙂
Pooh sticks is great fun and such a simple activity. The country park looks like a lovely place to visit.
It is a lovely place to visit. We’re so lucky to have places like this nearby 🙂
What a nice park keeper to come over and show Sophie the Toad. We often visit pooh bridge to play pooh sticks. Such a simple activity yet Monkey loves it so much. Such a great challenge #CountryKids
Pooh Bridge is on my list of places to visit with the girls at some stage. They would love to play Poohsticks there 🙂
Bless her, the smiles tell the story all on their own. Our kind of perfect day out #CountryKids
Mine too – I love getting outdoors and doing things like this with the girls 🙂
Pooh sticks is one of our favourite pastimes, it looks like you all had a great day #countrykids
Thanks Emma, we had a lovely time 🙂