"Rainy day dens, sunny day dens, inside, outside. Whatever the mood or weather the boys love to make a den, and let their imaginations run wild. Even baby brother is allowed in them (sometimes!)

Their own space that comes alive. "

Our 'Learning Together at Home' invitations are still connecting, and of course children, supported by their parents are still finding the times and places for imagination - here are some windows into summer worlds of a family of boys in Cumbria:

 Do carry on - playing, learning, connecting -  and posting us your stories.

This invitation - to look at things in new and unusual ways, or from someone else's perspective  - is a strong component of our  growing knapsack of suggestions at Learning Together at Home .

The same is true of Reggio Children's suggestions to children, which may also inspire you and  your children. Here are links two two such, and there are other light inspirations  to be found at At Home with The Reggio Approach.

Trees have wrinkles that make them more interesting. , Virginia, 5 years

Trees are family

Trees have developed an intelligent way of living that means even though they always stand still they can feed, reproduce, communicate with each other, defend themselves, and even play together. ...

We're proposing some suggestions for work, inviting adults to provide the practical support with materials, but not to intervene in the children's drawings.

We'd like to give them the freedom to investigate how trees are structured and organised, not only the formal structure, but trees as an incredibly interesting life form that we would like to understand more deeply

Click the link below to read more ...

Do share your children's creative investigations on our Learning Together at Home section..

The first thing to do is attach three sheets of paper together with sticky tape. The paper can be medium size, like A4 printer paper (21x30cm).

What if you were a…? 

When we all look at something, we think everyone is seeing what we see, but that isn't exactly what happens. This is a game for reflecting and thinking about how the same object can be seen and interpreted in different ways.

There are many eyes, many minds, many ways of perceiving.

Everyone has a table and a chair at home.

Let's try and draw them on the first sheet of paper the way we usually see them.

 ...  now let's try and make ourselves as small as small can be… as small as an ant.

    ... Now we're going to grow as big as big as big can be… as big as an elephant

Click the link below to read more ...

Do share your children's creative investigations on our Learning Together at Home section..

 Here is another in our suggestions series: Learning Together at Home (If you haven't already, click on the link to sign up for news and to participate.)

We would like to invite the children to design and make and robot and tell us what it is for? It will give them the opportunity to use their imagination, design ideas, making skills, to problem solve and share their thoughts and creative ideas. They could re-purpose household objects, use recycling material and other materials from around the home (with your agreement). Please send us photos of what the children have made or a photo of their drawing of what it could be; and the children's thoughts on it for us share.

" We would like to invite you to make a robot and to tell us what it is for? You could use recycling materials or re-purpose household objects or materials, but please do ask your parents first before using anything. We would love to see your imaginative ideas, your designs and what you've made. If you prefer to draw rather than make, you could draw you're design. Tell us about your thinking in designing and making and your ideas about what the robot would do?"

Here's a first example, from Edward and Thomas, in Penrith: