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Today’s creative homeschool class is growing Microgreens and Microshoots. Bursting with an abundance of vitamins and minerals when these start to sprout, they will burst with high quantities of the goodness you need! Creative lesson for our kids today is to create the perfect recipe for these micro plants. Science lesson is growth, nutrition and PH found in water. For peas we need a PH of 6. Woohoo homemade salads! #wemakecreativity #creativeclassesforkids #guernsey #homeschoolguernsey #channelislandalchemist https://www.instagram.com/p/CCsggm6F5ov/?igshid=4us4uc18kf6s

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at Winter Garden, Florida https://www.instagram.com/p/CCQgbvllDSR/?igshid=rrh28t0u8qg3

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Our companion, mother’s help, guardian and rescuer. Image here has been created with over 18 layers of artwork. Started off with the largest area and finished off with tiny water droplets around her nose. (at Winter Garden, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7jYEQJKuu/?igshid=1cp78ycu34bgf

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😬 Had some therapy today! Accidentally managed to get some of my pour paint onto the garage wall! I’m not telling Hubby! First coat looking good! (at Winter Garden, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAlReGcH3eD/?igshid=1ixf7h4tcb5id

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It’s a dogs life! I’m taking things real easy during the Covid 19 Rest At Home! (at Winter Garden, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Piks7lOrE/?igshid=gm4v3b53upcd

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We are now on our return journey back to Florida after a beautiful stay in France, Guernsey and the UK. This is one amazing reason why we homeschool, we have a great planet, that can teach our children so much more than a classroom. I feel so proud and privileged to travel this journey through their childhood with them, picking them up when they fall down and turning each failure into a success.

From Southampton on the Celebrity Silhouette to New York, Boston, Bermuda and Bahamas, what an adventure we have had! Autism affects everyone in the family, not just the kids...we are blessed to have Mai Li help make these journeys more easier for us all.

I wish though that instead of talking about supporting families like ours, who silently have to deal with the nasty effects of Autism and ADHD, PTSD behind closed doors, without help, without that night off for a breather or respite, tohave to cope silently with meltdowns, disputes and disapproval from onlookers when they ignore them or simply these kids need space to be silent, not touched, restrained, locked up for being a human being with needs.

Governments around the world need to care for these kids and their families, wrap love around them and help support them to become wonderful adults. How dare anyone lock a child up?!? I go through hell some days, but believe me, stand in their shoes for a day and you may understand that what they need, is for you to love them, unconditionally, understand that when you stare at them and they cannot look at you, it’s because they feel awkward and scared, they don’t understand..if they want to not wear the right clothes because it hurts their skin, yep..it hurts them, just because things feel normal to you, doesn’t make YOU NORMAL! OMG despite being on vacation in the mid Atlantic Ocean, we got to hear about these poor children locked up because they had Autism! If their families aren’t coping, then surround that family with love, care and true support, an afternoon off , a day out for the kids, a phonecall and access to outreach help at all hours would keep a lot of these families together. Don’t spend thousands locking kids up because they have a disability, spend those thousands on the families!

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Pumpkin watercolour art sessions with the girls during our homeschool lessons. I love the art doodles are so good for focusing on our own self esteem and love. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3eDZ_9ICQe/?igshid=1u7p9wdb4ucal

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The ability to homeschool my daughters gives us the ability to travel and spend quality time together. We have had so many wonderful and stressful times! But I believe that when a child is adopted, being part of a tight family unit, can help those bonds that have not been able to form in their previous lives. Neglect, fear and abuse takes years to overcome, but by giving up our lifestyles to homeschool our daughters, has given them both the chances to succeed and feel loved without the pressure of a school setting. We know their history and can help guide them down a beautiful and better life. I love my kids and so glad to have been given the chance to adopt. (at Caurel, Bretagne, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2yhD4YlsnY/?igshid=18w3gmxxda4dd

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Paper pumpkins from old books. It’s a great project for the girls and I to make. I love it! #wemakecreativity #tildenvillemarketplace #sarabourgaize (at Le Quillio) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2qxTnFlEiE/?igshid=14rvg9backwdg

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Sunshine and happy kids make life beautiful xx https://www.instagram.com/p/B2hMY62FC1A/?igshid=370f74qph5a8

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I have recently taken a course in Art therapy and have started using this to help my two adopted children manage their feelings through art mediums.

We have two journals, one is an art journal and the other is a nature journal. Both are dotted on the inside to help the girls plan their layout and keep their sentences as straight as possible. I also have a huge box full of bits and pieces, such as paper that would normally go into the recycling bin, plastic, card stock, washi tape, numerous pens and pencils, paints and even wool, fabric and an old book.

Our art journal is really a secret therapy journal, I encourage them to try different pieces of art medium, such as water color, acrylics, mixed media, mosaics, Mandalas and so on. We have studied artists such as Van Gogh and his Starry Night painting, learning all about where he was when he drew and painted these paintings. We have looked at drawing flowers, insects, trees, including paper folding too! But interspersed within these journals are deeper works where we focus on our feelings, wishes, worries and how we can resolve them.

Just yesterday we made a jar full of emotions drawing, drawing the outside of the bottle and then little pencil circles inside. I then asked them to describe an emotion by colors, Happy was yellow, angry was red and so forth. I also chose the word Dark, and explained that this was a feeling that made us feel so low, we wanted to cry or feel so sad that nothing seemed to make us smile. Well, I was blown away as it triggered a shut down on my eldest daughter who immediately put her head on the table and wouldn’t talk or do anything for over half an hour.

I continued with the lesson and finished off the days journal and then quietly went over to chat with my daughter who was obviously in distress. By now, she had started drawing her jar with lots of dark circles and words that showed me she needed to talk...so we did talk...she let out all of her sadness and worries. After that she was back to her happy self again and she told me that she felt so much better after talking to me. We all have to remember that art is a medium to be able to express our innermost feelings and thoughts, this was an amazing opportunity for her to let go of some really sad memories and recover in a positive way.

I’ll talk about the Nature Journal in our next post, remember that this is a perfect way for kids to explore art, life and learn so many mini lessons in a fun and exciting journey. Perfect for every family regardless of whether you homeschool or not.

But I would never have known that I could do this, if I had not have met a good friend called Tina La Vallee from Tildenville Marketplace. Our adventure started early on this year when a group of amazing like minded women decided to launch We Make Creativity in Winter Garden, Florida. Together we want to share our love for arts, communities, children, older adults and those who may be disabled in some way or just want to learn a new skill, to join us all in bringing spirit, live and self love and belief that we can be creative.

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I was a little stuck for ideas today and so while clearing out a few old books, I made this up with an old novel. @nutsandcoguernsey @wemakecreativitypopup #bookart #paperart #paperfolding https://www.instagram.com/p/B0JU89Mlark/?igshid=1994ldfpruhq2

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Happiness is a journey not a destination it’s so true! (at France) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz0k52UFSP6/?igshid=1sxxdz71cb2vw

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What fun we have had recently making crafts in homeschool with my two special kids! Kick out Autism with these smellishlush bags. Sensory, perfumed bags full of healing botanicals. Love our lush bags 😘 #tildenvillemarketplace @nutsandcoguernsey (at Guernsey, Channel Islands) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByrbAV5lKy2/?igshid=9wjd4u1py51h