Yesterday I introduced you to Emma and her family and today we take another look around. To refresh your memory Emma has three sons aged 7.5, 4.5 and 17 months. I love old Queenslanders (the buildings) and this one is no exception. Just have a look at the hammock on the deck pictured below. How fantastic. But on a practical note this is a wonderful home for children.

In the photograph of the playroom above you can see a hermit crab aquarium and a fish tank on low shelves. I asked Emma about the gorgeous alphabet wall hanging. It's handwoven and was given to her from her sister who brought it back from her travels through India. 

On top shelf above are toddler materials which Emma rotates weekly. I think I can even name all the materials; shape sorter (Tupperware), shape puzzle, pegging activity, horizonal stacker (threading on a horizontal dowel) and a geometric sorting board. I think I can see some tree blocks peeking out of the first storage tub.

The older boys have materials (sandpaper letters, number beads, etc) on shelves in the study nook which you can see at the back of the photograph below. The study nook also contains other materials like the cylinder blocks and the three dimensional solids. The boys also have bookshelves for their own toys and materials in their bedroom. 

Emma mentions that they love books and keep them all over the house including in the bookshelf pictured in the living area below, in the playroom and in a basket on the verandah next to the rocking chair. 

I'm completely envious of this backyard. Emma's husband built the chicken shed which was designed to be accessible by the children. The boys let the chickens out, feed them, collect their eggs and help to clean their house. It's perfect!

This family is also creative. The house is high-set and is cemented underneath. This area has become a dedicated art area with a large art table where there is always clay, lots of paints the kids can access, an art easel, feelie goop, a large sandpit, a sorghum tub and so much more. 

The family has a small kiln inherited from Emma's mother - which Emma used as a child. While it's not currently connected Emma takes the dried clay pieces to Pottery Supplies, a small and beautiful little shop near her home which is also where they purchase clay. Emma tells us:

The boys usually paint them with normal acrylic paint and we then spray them with a clear enamel to preserve them, although I am interested in trying some glazing. Sometimes they use shoe brushes and toothbrushes to rub shoe polish into them, which is a lovely finish.  We also have an old pottery wheel that they love, for clay but also for doing drawings with crayons, etc, on. My mum did a pottery course and then taught us some basic skills growing up, so I guess I pass those on, but I don’t think you can go wrong with kids and clay and it is a lovely medium to work with, so different from playdough or FIMO and quite different again from the air-dried clay. 

Below this is Will with his papier mache penguin and further below making pasta (the ear muffs are for fun!).

What a treat! Thank you again Emma. Your boys are delightful and I can see that your home is full of fun and learning. You inspire me!