I Spy
I’m tired! I’m hot! I’m bored! I want an ice cream!
Sightseeing for children especially on hot summer days can be hard. If it’s hard on the kids then it’s also hard on the parents and it’s tempting just to spend the time on the beach or pleasure park.
But what if you want to sightsee? We tried lots of ways to keep our girls motivated even hiding coins in trees to encourage them to take a few more steps! But the most successful and the easiest solution was the old favourite ‘I Spy’ game.
Like most people we researched places before visiting so had a pretty good idea of what to see. Then a few pics from tourist magazines and we had a pocket of photos to use for ‘I Spy’.
Then, add a bit of competition, ‘I wonder who will spot this first,’ and suddenly a couple of tired, hot kids spring into action!
I put together objects and places around Lake Trasimeno that have interested our own children and made them into this little book which is available around Trasimeno and from Jumble House in Castel Rigone.
If you can’t find one then email me at: judibrereton@gmail.com
Its also available on my channel together with travel videos of the area for adults and children to watch.
LINK TO ‘I SPY TRASIMENO ‘ PLAYLIST
The booklet takes children on a Treasure Trail around San Feliciano,Castel Rigone, Castiglione, Passignano, Isola Maggiore and Isola Polvese.
It contains photographs of places and objects for them to ‘spot’ and focuses on improving their observational skills and making visits really fun.
I’ve used my toys, the ‘JUMBLES’ in the various locations and it is quite possible you will spot some of them on your way round!
What’s Georgie doing?
What’s Georgie doing?
She is updating her Travel Journal !
Georgie likes to keep a journal of the places she has visited. Its fun to do and great to share with friends.
Every time Georgie goes away on holiday she starts a new journal. Her journal is like a diary. It is a record of where she has been, what she has seen, meals, weather, friends ……. just about anything and everything !
Sometimes Georgie writes in the journal but many of the pages are filled with pictures and things stuck in.
During the day Georgie will collect ‘memories’ and then later stick them into her journal. A memory might be an empty sugar packet from a bar they stopped at for a drink. Or a receipt from a train ride or restaurant or entrance to a zoo or pleasure park. Maybe an advertisement from a festival or the business card from a hotel. A sweet wrapper, a postcard, a shell from the beach.
Georgie is never bored! On a journey or sightseeing trip she is always looking for something to write about or a ‘memory’ to stick into in her journal. She takes photographs too so she can add these when she gets back home.
Her journal is very useful if they go to the same place another time because it contains useful information like how long it took to get there and the restaurants they liked or didn’t like and the festivals and weather and the contact details of friends they made.
At the moment Georgie is at home but it’s the summer holidays and so she is keeping a journal of what she has done each day. Yesterday was the last day of her village festa so this morning she is sticking in the little poster to remind her and jotting down what she ate and the people she saw and the funny things that happened.
Festa dei Barbari
Today was the last day of our annual festa in Castel Rigone. Festa dei Barbari.
We enjoy all the festivals but this is our favourite. It’s not just because Jumble House is in Castel Rigone. It’s because it is so much FUN especially on the Sunday when the events start at 5’o clock.
For four days there is a market which winds its way through the quaint little streets and every evening feasting in the piazza with music, jousting and entertainment. There’s lots of great things to buy but also you can have a go at archery and see how weapons were made.
On the last day (always the first Sunday in August) there is this great costume parade through the village, right past Jumble House! This is followed by the ‘palio’ or challenge which does change. Then followers the feasting, really weird music, fun jousting and fire-eaters and lots of other things. We really enjoy the food and it’s always fun watching the wine being pumped out of these things that look like giant weed killers!
Why do we have this festival? Well, a very long time ago the village was attacked by the barbarians (the Ostogoths). The lieutenant was called Riggo. That is where the name of the village come from. The festa is a re-enactment of the barbarian invasion and it’s great fun!
We hope you will enjoy this video of the procession: Festa dei Barbari. Castel Rigone.
Creative Learning for Young Children 