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Rachel McFedries

Occupational Therapist | play educator

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Category: Family

Posted on September 27, 2019

A Way to Ask For Help

You're in the throes of motherhood, overwhelmed by the job of raising little humans. You might be heavily pregnant, or just had another baby. "The…

Continue reading → A Way to Ask For Help

Posted on July 11, 2019July 11, 2019

How Alexa Helps Us Stay Off Screens

Yes I know. It seems a little counter-intuitive, doesn't it? Bring a "smart device" into your home, and it will reduce the time your kids…

Continue reading → How Alexa Helps Us Stay Off Screens

Posted on January 8, 2019

From Hindrance to Helpful: Jobs for Kids at the Campsite

We've just returned from five days camping, and now that I've recovered, I can sit down and write this story that's been on my mind.…

Continue reading → From Hindrance to Helpful: Jobs for Kids at the Campsite

Posted on December 16, 2018December 17, 2018

Open Ended Toys and Shopping Small: What Our Kids are Getting for Christmas.

I thought I'd share what my kids will be getting for Christmas this year. Not because anyone's asked. But because I'm a blogger, so that's…

Continue reading → Open Ended Toys and Shopping Small: What Our Kids are Getting for Christmas.

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Even though this pregnancy has been my most challenging, there are still many moments of JOY. Taking a moment to slow down and enjoy these moments has been priceless. . #findjoy #findjoyinthejourney #mytinymoments #momentsofmine #mumofthree #mumoffour #36weeks #36weekspregnant #handsfullheartfull #mumlife #parenting #motherhood #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mothering #mindfulmotherhood #mindfulmoment #mindfulness
Do not recommend spraining your ankle at 35 weeks. Other things I do not recommend: going out in public, leaving the house, trying to be a parent, trying to do too much, eating a whole packet of ready salted chips, wearing pants (maxi dresses is where it’s at). . What I DO recommend: asking for help, lying on the couch, going bra-less, resting, eating healing foods, acupuncture, and recovering! . I’m now almost 37 weeks, and given I had my first at 37+5, this really is the business end of things! Yeow! Ankle is feeling a little better every day. As long as I follow my own advice and don’t do too much 😆 . #pregnancy #35weeks #everydayimshufflin #hibernation #motherhood #babyonboard #sprainedankle
⚡️Last sale until next year. Get help to reduce screens and unlock PLAY in your house. . Yes I’m going on maternity leave. Almost 40 weeks pregnant = 40% discount on my online course for YOU 🌟 . Maybe you’re a Mama with a wee babe & toddler in the house. The screen time has crept up. . Maybe your Winter was hard and screen time crept up. . Maybe you’ve just got one kiddo and you want to get your family set up for less-screen success. . Whatever your scenario, you can take advantage of this discount until midnight Sunday ⏰ . This course has 2.5hrs of online coaching to take you through a science based process designed to set you and your family up for successful change 🙌 . It’s a series of videos with the latest research about screentime, support to set goals, set up your home for play, and unlock play that YOUR kids will THRIVE in. . Check out more info in my bio link, or highlights reel x . And please feel free to ask any questions! . {Enter code 40off at checkout to get the discounted price of $89.40, expires midnight Sunday 20 Oct}
{Free download} 🌟 I've compiled my top five tips to unlock play into a handy flyer. You can stick on your fridge, show your partner, or just use it to remind yourself when the kids are asking for the TV or iPad *again*. . What you get: A two page printable with easy tips to implement {Print it double sided A4 for best results.} . Enough info to be able to put into place some new strategies to help cut back your kids' screen time. . Link in bio! ⤴️ . If you are looking for help to start cutting back your kids screen time then this could be it ✔️ . More help and support available through my online course; flash sale launching TOMORROW ⚡️
Confession: my kids have never watched the Baby Shark video. But do they know the song?! YES! And do they drive me crazy singing it over and over?! YES! 🦈 . Same goes for Paw Patrol: they know the characters’ names, but I can count on one hand the amount of times they’ve watched the episodes 🐶... and also Minecraft - they know what that is, too! Only ever seen it around in other places; never had it in our house 🤷🏻‍♀️ . So if you’ve ever wondered or had a slight worry that your kids might “miss out” if they don’t watch popular TV/Netflix/use games at a young age, then DON’T. They won’t be the “odd ones out”. They will still be able to join in on playground games with their peers 💜. They *pick it up* from their peers, it’s just like they magically absorb it. . Don’t let this false fear stop you from reducing their screen time, if it’s something that’s holding you back. Popular culture surrounds us EVERY day. It is a part of their lives on the school/kindy playground. It surrounds them the shopping aisle of the supermarket even 🤷🏻‍♀️ . There is no way that they will “miss out” if you choose to have less of it in your home 🌟 . If you’re looking for support to reduce their screen time, check the link in my bio @rachel_mcfedries Watch this space 👀 I have a flash sale ⚡️ launching in the next few days.
“I could fit inside your tummy I think, if I curled up really small” ~ Mr 6 😳 Errrr I don’t think so dude! . Seriously these guys are so intrigued by the whole pregnancy and birth process. It’s been really neat to involve them in the journey. It’s a very different experience having older kids this time - our age gaps are small so the boys were only 2.5 and almost 4 when their little sister was born! Seriously, the things they come up with are rather amusing 😆 . One of the reasons I’m looking forward to another home birth is so that these guys can experience it alongside us. I know it’s an entirely personal thing, but for our family (and me) as long as they have a support person alongside, I welcome them to be part of their siblings’ birth. It’s a pretty magical thing to witness and helps to normalise birth for them! Our eldest still remembers snippets from his sister’s birth and talks about it with us occasionally ❤️ . Did you have your older children at a sibling’s birth? . #homebirth #family #mumofthree #threekids #soontobefour #siblings #birth #birthwithoutfear #empoweredbirth #pregnancy #35weeks #midwivesareawesome #kidquotes #funnythingskidssay #sixyearolds
I don’t really care about certificates or reading levels. I don’t really care about where my kids are “up to” on the curriculum. I don’t really care about those things at all. . THIS is what I care about. THIS is what makes me proud. . That they made their own mud pit. That they made up imaginary games in it for hours. That they crafted a bridge out of a perfectly formed muddy sandy clay mix. That they helped each other and worked as a team. That they invited their little sister into play. That they helped wash her down after she got all muddy. That they had a water fight, laughed with each other, and gave little sister a lick of an ice block after she fell and grazed her knee. . That they can play for hours on end. That they care about one another and show empathy. That they are creative, happy, and settled. . THIS is what I am proud of. . #freeplay #letthembelittle #playallday #playoutside #natureplay #backyardplay #mudplay #mymagicalmoments #mytinymoments #childhoodunplugged #parenting #schoolholidays #brothers
Wet chalk painting 🎨 a relaxing Friday afternoon creative session for the three kids at my house this afternoon 💖 They loved colour mixing and creating masterpieces. The wet chalk is a beautiful smooth texture, lovely to draw with and mix! . The best thing about this is you can start off with dry chalk, extend that to making the chalk wet💧then extend it some *more* by introducing different textures/things to draw on 🙌. I added some large flat stones when they were almost finished colouring the wood and it kept them engaged for a wee while longer 🌟 . They were so proud of their masterpieces. Ages 5, 3, and 2 years. . Have been dying to try this since seeing it on @naturallycuriouschildren’s account in the middle of our NZ Winter 😆 finally getting outside more now that it’s Spring ☀️
Have you ever wondered why an Occupational Therapist is so passionate about play? I mean, don’t OT’s just go into people’s workplaces and assess their workspaces? 🤔😆 . Occupational therapy as a whole can be a very misunderstood profession. People assume the term “occupation” is related to people getting jobs, keeping jobs, etc. And whilst that’s true in some roles, it’s just a tiny slice of OT world. . It can be helpful to think of the term “occupation” as “activity”. And for kids, their main activity/job is PLAY. . Play is how children learn, grow, develop and thrive. Occupational Therapists are experts in analysing the occupation of play! . And if something is a barrier to play, then we can help problem solve and recommend solutions. . Which is why I talk so much about screen time, which can be a major barrier to play. If parents are having to manage the resulting screen time tantrums, withdrawal, and settling their kids back into play, it can result in *less time* overall in play. Settled, child-led free play helps kids thrive. . It goes to say I’m pretty obsessed with play and helping families on their journeys to ‘less screens, more play’. I love chatting play, barriers to play, managing screens in a healthy realistic way, and thriving kids. . Play is the way. Play is a child’s work. Play is magic!

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blogging Christmas community Early childhood development Eco-living Gross motor development hand strength Indoor activities maternal health Mental health mindful parenting mothering Nature New Zealand occupational therapy OT Outdoor play Parenting parenting tools Play playcentre Preschoolers reflections RIE school readiness Screen free toddlers Toys visual perceptual skills Winter
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