One of the great things about living so close to Berry Head is that we can explore different parts of it every time we wander up. Yesterday, instead of heading straight for the path that offers the most spectacular views over the bay, we followed Arthur’s lead as he meandered deeper into the woods.
He loved feeling the different textures of mud, sticks and stones under his feet, and managed the more challenging terrain surprisingly well. It did take us a little longer than usual as he had to stop every time he came across something which might do as a little seat and test it out. It’s become a familiar routine whenever we pass a step or a ledge or a rock he might be able to sit on – the pointing, the calling out ‘chair’, and then carefully manoeuvring himself backwards until he’s sat down with a look of satisfaction on his face.
When we finally made it up to the headland, Arthur led us into the visitor’s centre where they have a box of artefacts from the surrounding countryside conveniently placed at toddler height for little hands to investigate.
I’ve shown him this box several times over the past year. At first he wasn’t interested, then he only really wanted to find out what everything tasted like, but now he’s beginning to be more curious about all the different shapes and textures of the objects he finds. He giggled as I tickled him with a pheasant’s feather, and turned shells and stones over in his hands.
He began to try to label what he found, calling the starfish a ‘star’ quite aptly, and then deciding the scallop shell was a ‘moon’. It’s fascinating the connections he’s starting to make between colours and shapes – I really need to start to note them down to help me come up with more interesting metaphors in my writing!
When he decided he’d done enough investigating for one day he was off again, toddling across the open space outside the visitor centre, waving at strangers and barking at dogs. He made a beeline for a bench, clearly deciding that another little sit down was just what he needed. Not surprising really after all his hard work!
Sophie is... 
I love how interested they are in everything at this age, everything is exciting and fascinating! Gorgeous photos, I love the ones of him investigating the starfish and the shells x #LetKidsBeKids
He was rapt! For a few minutes anyway… It reminded me again how many new things there are in the world for him to discover x
What an interesting visitor center to walk to and I love the association from the star to the moon, well done him. A lovely post for Country Kids, thank you for joining me
We’re lucky to have it so nearby! I have a feeling we’re going to be regular visitors 🙂
Looks like a lovely place to explore with a good visitor centre to investigate at the end too.
Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids
It is a very special place – we’re lucky to have it so nearby!
How lovely to get a glimpse into the world as a toddler discovers it! I love how each of mine see different things on our walks,
It’s wonderful isn’t it? Definitely makes it much harder to take things for granted 🙂
He is so cute! That long hair is so awesome on him. The place that you visited looks nice and the weather cooperative. Looks like a fab day =) #LetKidsBeKids
Ah thank you. I love his hair – people are starting to get a bit funny about it being so long but I’m just not ready to cut it all off quite yet!