Hi Everyone!

As the days get shorter, the mornings get chillier, and the leaves start twirling to the ground, I feel a pang of sadness that the warmth will soon be out of our grasp and we’ll be grabbing our coats and hats instead. But there is so much beauty in this change of seasons, too. And a welcome reminder that it’s OK to start slowing down.

Yet I think sometimes I can feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things to “do” in the area this time of year, as many of us may try to cram in every ounce of “fall fun” on the same short timeframe these final weeks in October.

There is the fear of missing out if you didn’t make it to an apple orchard or pumpkin patch or hay ride (or, see the northern lights), and at the same time if those plans didn’t pan out because of weather or illness or conflicting naptimes, there can be a sigh of relief (maybe moreso for the caregivers than the kids if they knew about it) because now you can just “be.”

Whatever brings you a sense of peace and the prompt to take a deep breath (or two, or three) and let it out … whatever supports your mental health … prioritize that, even with the pull of the hustle and bustle of everything around us.

When I send these emails with ideas for ways to meet up with other caregivers and young kids, it’s with the intention of showcasing opportunities that I think might align with the types of people who value nature play, creativity in all of its forms, and connection. They are simply invitations and by no means are meant to make you feel like you have to do any or all of them. They are certainly not exhaustive, and I’m always open to feedback if you think other types of content should be included.

For example, there have even been programs that Z and I were looking forward to attending, but at the last minute plans changed on either the organizer’s end or our own and we couldn’t make it … and that ended up being more than OK. I often feel like a simple walk down the sidewalk to our neighborhood park offers the same moments of connection I was hoping for with my daughter. It’s lovely to share those experiences and have more friends around or meet new people, and sometimes it’s nice to do things on your own, too.

As Mental Illness Awareness Week wraps up today, I’m recognizing how far I’ve come in my postpartum journey dealing with anxiety, depression, and OCD. Going to therapy, spending time in nature, and sharing openly with other parents — especially those that I’ve met after starting Playful Acorns last year — have all been tremendously helpful navigating these emotions. Oh, and getting more sleep never hurts, either (thanks, Z).

I really appreciated seeing these encouraging messages, many of which were created by Natural Wisdom Counseling, during the Mount Horeb Mental Health and Wellness Fall Festival in September that supported the nonprofit CEDAR Center. I’ve also appreciated the guided pauses to breathe and reset and calm my nervous system in many of the classes that Z and I attend together, like nature exploration with Hike & Heal Wellness, music and yoga classes with Lagom, and Kindermusik classes with The Wonder Studio.

This breathwork is sometimes paired with a gentle song and invitation to give your kiddo or yourself a squeeze (“Give Yourself A Bear Hug” that Kirsten often plays during the class is so sweet). The last thing I saw while scrolling my phone last night was this 4-7-8 breathing exercise, a somatic practice to calm the mind, led by Emily December — I was so glad to meet her during our Earth Mama gathering in spring.

I hope you find these upcoming events and resources helpful. Maybe I’ll see you soon!

Are you new to Playful Acorns? Welcome! You can read our story here and most recent posts here.

Halloween Yoga and Music in Fitchburg

Oct. 13: Sunday from 10:30-11:15 a.m. Join Kirsten with Lagom for a Halloween-themed yoga and music class at Lioness Fitness in Fitchburg. The class is geared toward ages 3-7 and caregivers but all area welcome. Save the dates and pre-register for the upcoming classes in this series (11/10: Harvest and 12/8: Penguins). Learn more online! ($20/family)

Watch a reel of a recent yoga class!

Halloween Sing-Along & Playdate

Our friend Angie with The Wonder Studio has been dreaming up some fun collaborations with members of her Kindermusik families, including Family Sing-Alongs and Musical Playtimes.

• Oct. 29: Tuesday from 6:15-7 p.m. Join Patrick Kenney-Brown on the keys for Family Sing-Along at The Wonder Studio in Verona. Everyone is invited to wear a Halloween costume and bring a non-perishable food item to donate to WayForward Resources. ($10/family)
• Oct. 31: Thursday from 9:30-10:45 a.m. Join The Wonder Studio and Playful Acorns at Seven Acre Dairy in Paoli for a Halloween Musical Playdate. Angie will lead a 45-minute Kindermusik class followed by 30 minutes of free play (toys provided) and storytime with Sam. Costumes highly encouraged! ($20/family)

Watch a reel of a recent sing-along and a reel of why we love Kindermusik.

Tinkering Tots Drop-In Art Class

Yesterday, Z and I attended the first session of the Tinkering Tots art class for toddlers/preschoolers (roughly ages 2-4) and their caregivers with Carrie from Kindling Community Arts at the Eastmorland Community Center. The room is a beautiful, light-filled space with endless opportunities for process art and open-ended creativity. We enjoyed hearing a story, playing with sand, amethyst crystals, and fairy homes, and painting using bright colors and marigolds, as well as contributing to a collaborative art project with egg cartons, bubblewrap, and other household materials. To accommodate naptimes, Carrie will now be offering the class as a drop-in anytime between 1:30-4 p.m. Fridays through Nov. 15th. ($10/class)

Looking for Eco-Friendly Landscaping?

Sophia, my dear friend from Harmonious Journey, and her partner have recently started their own company called Friendly Landscaping (Instagram / Facebook). I grew up watching my parents start their own landscaping company, so I know how much work is involved in not only the physical labor but also building trust with customers. I love seeing their educational posts on social media and wanted to share Sophia’s message with you all: “We are a family owned and operated landscaping company, serving Madison and surrounding areas. From native garden installations to sun powered tools. Our team is committed to sustainability, Earthcare, and customer satisfaction. We proudly offer free estimates. Let us help you bring your garden dreams to life!” Learn more at www.friendlylandscapingmadison.com.

Upcoming Community Events

Playful Acorns programs/those that Sam are involved in are bolded. There are several other local organizations holding awesome family-friendly events that might be of interest to you, too! Many of these events focus on nature exploration, true play, and process art. Remember to check out more events listed at Macaroni KID, NatureNet, Friends of Urban Nature, Madison Parks, MMSD Play & Learn, Monroe Street Arts Center, Madison School & Community Recreation, local libraries, gyms, and more. Here are a few recurring events to check out!

• Monona Public Library (Nature Playgroup: select Tuesdays)
• Henry Vilas Zoo (Stroller Safari: select Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
• Olbrich Gardens (Story and Stroll: select Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays)
• Neighborhood House (Busy Town: Tuesdays and True Play: Thursdays)
• Aldo Leopold Nature Center (Baby Bugs: Wednesdays)
• Schumacher Farm Park (Kids on the Farm: Wednesdays)
• Belleville WI Moms (Our Backyard Playgroup in Verona: Fridays)
• October Mammoth Hike Challenge (LC Babywearing Hikes: Tuesdays)

Please confirm registration details, costs, and age ranges at the links below. Stay tuned for more events in the next email!

* Events with one asterisk are evening events
** Events with two asterisks are for adults only

• Saturday, Oct. 12: Free Playgroup, University Houses Parent Co-op Preschool
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Monona Fall Festival, Winnequah Park, Monona
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Madison Gospel 5K Fall Festival, Galaxy Park, Madison
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Fall Wonder and Exploration Outing, Indian Lake County Park, Cross Plains
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Cambridge Harvest Festival, Ripley Park, Cambridge
• Sunday, Oct. 13: Family Fall Hike, Indian Lake County Park, Cross Plains
• Sunday, Oct. 13: Kids on the Prairie, Holy Wisdom Monastery, Middleton
• Sunday, Oct. 13: Lagom Yoga and Music Class, Lioness Fitness, Fitchburg
• Sunday, Oct. 13: Yard Games and Outdoor Movie, The Glen Golf Park, Madison
• Monday, Oct. 14: Wiggles and Words (weekly storytime), Goodman South Library, Madison
• Tuesday, Oct. 15: Open Play, 4-C, 5 Odana Ct, Madison
• Tuesday, Oct. 15: True Play Makers (weekly series), Alicia Ashman Library, Madison
• Wednesday, Oct. 16: Sensory Stations for Ages 1-5, Middleton Public Library
• Wednesday, Oct. 16: Fall Walk Fundraiser for Babies & Beyond, Near Monona
• Thursday, Oct. 17: Mini Explorer Hike, Donald County Park, Mount Horeb
• Thursday, Oct. 17: Creative Movement from Global Perspectives with Isthmus Dance Collective (weekly part of series), MYArts, Madison
• Friday, Oct. 18: Madison Area Nature Playgroup, Governor’s Island, Madison
• Friday, Oct. 18: Tinkering Tots, Eastmorland Community Center, Madison
• *Friday, Oct. 18: Fall Fest, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona
• Saturday, Oct. 19: Hayrides & Hikes, Cherokee Marsh-North Unit, Madison
• Sunday, Oct. 20: Halloween Yoga and Mini Kit, Present Not Perfect, Lake Mills
• Sunday, Oct. 20: Family Nature Program: Falling Into Fall, UW Arboretum
• Monday, Oct. 21: Autumn Toddler Yoga, Middleton Public Library
• Tuesday, Oct. 22: A to Z Art & Animals (weekly series starts), MSCR West, Madison
• Wednesday, Oct. 23: Young Explorers Club, Sun Prairie Public Library
• Friday, Oct. 25: Tinkering Tots, Eastmorland Community Center, Madison
• Friday, Oct. 25: Spooky Stroll, Downtown Middleton
• Friday, Oct. 25: Halloween Family Fun Night, Warner Park Rec Center, Madison
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Bird & Nature Adventures, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Ice Age Trail Tyke Hike, Lodi High School Trailhead, Lodi
• Sunday, Oct. 27: Boo at the Zoo, Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison
• Monday, Oct. 28: Not-So-Spooky Bat Storytime, Grace Coffee, Cottage Grove
• *Tuesday, Oct. 29: Family Sing-Along, The Wonder Studio, Verona
• Wednesday, Oct. 30: Downtown Madison Family Halloween, Capitol Square
• *Wednesday, Oct. 30: Not So Scary Halloween Luminary Hike, Lussier Family Heritage Center, Madison
• Thursday, Oct. 31: Halloween Musical Playdate, Seven Acre Dairy, Paoli
• Thursday, Oct. 31: Happy Halloween Celebration, 4-C, Madison
• Friday, Nov. 1: Tinkering Tots, Eastmorland Community Center, Madison
• Friday, Nov. 1: Flicker Wild Church: Samhain, Farley Center, Verona