Today we went to Cantigny Park. With its formal gardens, ponds and fountains, it has something to offer every nature lover. We enjoy taking a stroll to see all the flowers. I can imagine when she is older, running through the sprinklers and wanting to smell every flower. Now she is content to smell the fresh air and take a nap in the stroller.
My favorite place there is the idea garden. For the experienced and wanna-be gardeners alike, it has a wide variety of plants that change with the seasons. It is also very child friendly. It has a koi-pond, a checker board, animal topiaries and the like. There is also a sensory garden, plots to see, touch, taste, and smell particular plants.
Another feature is a game of alphabet eye-spy. Signs encourage children to find things that begin with each letter of the alphabet (even the elusive "X"). This is a fun game to help children to both explore nature and to play a literacy game. They learn to find things they might not otherwise notice without realizing they are learning letters, too.
We are lucky to have such a beautiful park to visit. When she is older, we can play the alphabet eye-spy game there, or in our own garden at home. Try it the next time you go some place new. You might be amazed at what your child notices.
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