Today we had one of those Charlotte Mason moments where our learning and our play all went together. We read the story Bruce and the Spider and The Black Douglas from Baldwin's 50 Famous Tales Retold. These are stories about Robert the Bruce and Black Douglas during the War of Independence between Scotland and England. The boys loved the stories.
They then headed to the box full of Playmobile characters and waged a huge battle like the one we had read about. We started collecting characters at their fifth birthday. We got the castle and Viking boats. We have added various pieces some strange like Santa and reindeer and some fun like a nativity. We have unicorns, princesses, princes, knights, lions, swords, standards, trees and camels. Tuesday morning is the best as they carry Playmobile on sale!!!
This is the castle set up for battle. Sundance and Butch worked for 30 minutes to get everyone set up.
This is Butch's Robert the Bruce. Later in the day, he became King Peter from Narnia.
This is Sundance's Robert the Bruce and Black Douglas. They too became King Peter and King Edmond. The Virgin Mary got a crown and sword and became Queen Susan.
No one can attack this castle. Butch worked so hard to get everyone in the right place and about 2 minutes after this picture was made, a giant Toddler came along and well...lets just say...the castle was toast.
That's great! They turned a story into an all-out game!
Posted by: Katie | January 15, 2007 at 09:45 PM
That's wonderful! I love it when it all comes together.
Just as your page was opening DS was standing here and saw the first picture and said, "Hey look, they have our entertainment center!" You do. You've got great taste!! :o)
Posted by: Mommy22ss | January 16, 2007 at 01:53 PM
OOOooo! This looks like a blast! Toddlers and total annihilation go hand in hand, but I hope that won't discourage them from staging more great battles!
Delight in learning is so important.
Posted by: deeapaulitan | January 17, 2007 at 08:18 PM
Our Playmobil guys have been lots of different characters, too - but mostly the Pevensie children.
Posted by: Leslie | January 18, 2007 at 05:26 PM
Wow I love moments like that. I just wish they happened more often at my house.
Hope you had a peaceful day at home.
Posted by: Deb | January 21, 2007 at 05:02 PM
I love it when you write about these things! They bring back such warm memories for me and I can feel what you feel ~ (your sons are great!)
Learning and fun - wow, just how cool is that?
Best to you all,
Miss Roxie
Posted by: Miss Roxie | January 24, 2007 at 09:32 PM
You could have been writing about a typical day at *my* house! :-)
My 9yos began listening in on his big sisters' Year 1 readings when he was 5, and would set up his 'guys' after every single reading. My favourite by far was Vortigern burning in his castle- complete with paper flames taped everywhere. lol
Posted by: coffeemamma | January 29, 2007 at 07:53 AM