Picnic perfection

Picnic Perfectionwww.fridayschildmontessori.com

It won’t be long until summer is here, and with the warmer weather come

more chances to get outdoors and relax.

Anywhere outside on a sunny day is good for a

picnic, whether it’s a park, the beach or even your

back garden.

If you have a cricket player in your family, a picnic is the perfect activity so you can support your cricketer while keeping the rest of

the family entertained and happy.

Picnicking can be as elaborate and sophisticated or as relaxed and casual as

you want it to be.

But no matter what style of picnic suits you and your

family, you’re going to need some basic equipment.

First of all comes what you’re going to take the

food in.

A wickerwork picnic basket is traditional for picnicking English style, but given the climate here on the Gold

Coast, an esky is usually a whole lot better.

Lukewarm cucumbers aren’t particularly

appetising.

The next piece of equipment is something to sit on, which reduces your

chance of putting your bottom down on an ants’

nest.

These things to sit on could be cushions and a blanket

or folding chairs – whatever is easiest to carry.

A lot of picnic food can be eaten without plates, if you plan properly, but it’s wise to slip in a couple of plates

to prepare food on, especially if your picnic involves anything that

needs to be sliced or cut.

As children learn by watching (one of the key principles of Montessori learning), it’s best if you

don’t slice the tomatoes in your hand,

even if you can – this is something that you don’t really want them trying to do. Picnic plates come in

three types – plastic, paper and china.

If you prefer not to risk your chinaware, then plastic and paper are the other options.

Of the two, paper is better, as it is biodegradable,

meaning that you can stick it in a compost heap or rip it

up to use as tinder with a charcoal barbecue, if you

have one.

Paper plates are also good additions to a make-and-do craft box for small children: punch a couple of holes in

the side, add string, cut eyeholes and decorate the front and you have a mask.

If you have to get plastic, look for sturdier plastic

plates rather than the flimsy sort that cracks easily and can only get used once or

twice.

Plastic plates also have their uses for encouraging children’s artwork, as they

make great palettes for mixing colours.

However, if you want to stick to Montessori principles and not

mix equipment, it’s best to designate a special plastic plate for use with the paint rather than getting out one of the plates set

aside for picnics.

You will also need somewhere to put the food

as you dish it out.

In a lot of parks, you can find handy picnic tables, but if you’re finding your

own spot or going in your garden, then you’ll need a blanket to spread out for

the food to go on.

Alternatively, just keep the food in the esky and use

the closed lid as a table to prepare food on, if you

need to.

Picnic is always fun at Fridays Child Montessori