• Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Our Little House in the Country

  • Home
    • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Podcast: Seasonal Notes
  • Candle Shop
  • About
    • Get in Touch
    • Work With Me
    • Policies
  • 0 items€0.00
  • Home
    • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Podcast: Seasonal Notes
  • Candle Shop
  • About
    • Get in Touch
    • Work With Me
    • Policies
  • 0 items€0.00
  • Autumn
  • Christmas 2025
  • Equestrian Life
  • Halloween 2025
  • Home, Food, and Everyday Life
  • Intentional living
  • Kids' Crafts and Activities
  • Newsletter
  • Parenting and Family Life
  • Seasonal Inspiration
  • Self-care Calendars
  • Slow and Intentional Living
  • Winter
  • Parenting and Family Life

    Encouraging older children to read

    September 27, 2023 /

    Encouraging older children to read more can be a wonderful way to expand their knowledge, improve their language skills, and foster a love for learning. Here are some simple ways to encourage them to read more: Remember to be patient and understanding, as not every child will immediately take to reading. The goal is to make reading an appealing and enjoyable activity that they come to appreciate over time.

    read more
    Our Little House in the Country 1 Comment

    You May Also Like

    Irish Ferries ship docked at Dublin Port before a slow and intentional family journey to France with autistic teen

    How Slower Travel Helps Our Autistic Teen – Intentional Family Travel That Starts with Calm

    May 16, 2025

    15 Back to School Tips from a Mom and Teacher!

    August 19, 2017
    Pin titled ‘20 Stocking Fillers for Gaming-Mad Teens’ with a blurred festive light background.

    20 Thoughtful Stocking Fillers for Gaming‑Mad Teens (Under €20)

    November 12, 2024
  • Fantastic Reading Corner Ideas to Inspire and Encourage a Love of Reading in Children - Our Little House in the Country
    Kids' Crafts and Activities

    Fantastic Reading Corner Ideas to Inspire and Encourage a Love of Reading in Children

    April 9, 2015 /

    Fantastic Reading Corner Ideas to Inspire and Encourage a Love of Reading in Children Our home is full to the brim with books and I have created little reading corners and book displays throughout the house for the kids which you may have seen on Instagram and in an older post about displaying childrens books.  There is no need to go to any expense to create an inspiring reading nook – just take a look at these super ideas from around the web (I have included a direct link to a pin for these ideas should you wish to pin them for future reference!) Book Nooks! – Modern Parents Messy…

    read more
    Our Little House in the Country 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Fun Pre Writing Activities – Early Literacy & Fine Motor Skills Development

    May 5, 2014
    Marble Painting - Messy Art Fun, perfect for a rainyday - Our Little House in the Country #kidsactivities #marblepainting #rainyday #messyplay #kids

    Marble Painting – More Rainy Day Messy Art Fun!

    July 8, 2014
    10 Fun Christmas Wreaths for Kids to Make - Our Little House in the Country

    10 Christmas Wreaths for Kids to Make!

    November 19, 2014
  • Kids' Crafts and Activities

    Doodles’ Book of the Week – Aliens Love Underpants

    April 26, 2014 /

    I haven’t had a chance to do a book post for a week or two!  We have been outdoors so much, making the most of the good weather and I was so busy documenting the fun we were having that I forgot to keep up to date  with our books of the week. Back to normal routine Monday as the Easter Holidays finish this weekend 🙁  I’ve loved all our little adventures over the past 2 weeks while Doodles was off school.  Not to worry, in a few short weeks he’ll be finished preschool forever (aghhhhhh, off to big school in September) and we’ll be off to the South of…

    read more
    Our Little House in the Country 5 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Doodles’s Book of the Week – We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

    March 27, 2014
    Pandoras Box Lottie Doll - Review and Amazing Giveaway! Our Little House in the Country

    Lottie Doll Review (and Giveaway!)

    September 14, 2014

    (Books for Children) Oodles’ Book of the Week – My Mummy by Paula Metcalf & Lucy Barnard

    March 21, 2014
  • Kids' Crafts and Activities

    Displaying Children’s Books -Encouraging Young Readers

    March 31, 2014 /

    We are book lovers here at Our Little House in the Country.  Our home is full to the brim with books.  I recently donated about 10 large boxes of books, mostly novels, in order to make room for the rest.  I have been collecting children’s books for over 15 years and we have hundreds.  We have picture books, board books, children’s novels, non-fiction books, story anthologies, pop-up books, lift and flap books, you name it we probably have it! Both of my children love to read and look through their books.  I have tried to encourage this by displaying the books in a way that is child friendly and accessible…

    read more
    Our Little House in the Country 14 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Simple Outdoor Fun and Games - My Country Kids at Play - www.ourlittlehouseinthecountry.co #outdoorplay #kidsactivities

    Simple Outdoor Fun and Games – My Country Kids at Play!

    May 9, 2014
    14 Valentines' Day Sensory Play Ideas - Our Little House in the Country

    14 Valentine’s Day Sensory Play Ideas

    February 1, 2015
    Potato Print Reindeer and Santa Christmas Wrapping Paper - Our Little House in the Country

    Potato Print Reindeer Christmas Wrapping Paper

    November 3, 2014
  • Kids' Crafts and Activities

    Doodles’s Book of the Week – We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

    March 27, 2014 /

    Doodles’ is my 4 ½ year old boy and a serious book lover.  His book of choice this week surprised me a little.  Not that it’s not a great book as it truly is but because he loved this book when he was younger but seemed to have grown out of it.  However, over the last week or so his preschool class have been working on this book, going on their own bear hunts, creating small worlds, painting and drawing their favourite parts of the story etc.  So this probably explains his renewed interest in this book. I’m sure that you are familiar with this book but in case you…

    read more
    Our Little House in the Country 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Paint Filled Water Balloons - Messy Outdoor Summer Fun! - Our Little House in the Country #messyplay #outdoorplay #summer #waterballoons

    Paint Filled Water Balloons – Messy Outdoor Summer Fun!

    July 22, 2014
    Snowman Stained Glass Windows - Christmas Crafts For Kids - Our Little House in the Country

    Snowman Stained Glass Windows

    November 5, 2014
    Keeping Toddlers Busy in the Garden - A Guest Post by Building Blocks and Acorns

    Keeping Toddlers Busy in the Garden – A Guest Post by Building Blocks and Acorns

    January 15, 2015
  • Kids' Crafts and Activities

    (Books for Children) Oodles’ Book of the Week – My Mummy by Paula Metcalf & Lucy Barnard

    March 21, 2014 /

    This week’s book is My Mummy, written by Paula Metcalf and illustrated by Lucy Barnard.  I know this book inside out and off by heart.  This is by far Oodles’ favourite book!  I if you look closely at the photos you will see the tell-tale signs of a well-loved, well read, well-worn book – crinkly pages, dog eared cover, little milk stains, etc.  Every night for almost 3 months solid I read this book to her.  My hubby Mr G, used to laugh at me, “reading” this book in the pitch dark at 3am if she woke and needed help getting back to sleep– I know every last word of…

    read more
    Our Little House in the Country 1 Comment

    You May Also Like

    15 Back to School Tips from a Mum and Teacher - for successful and stressfree school year - http://ourlittlehouseinthecountry.com

    15 Back to School Tips from a Mom and Teacher!

    July 30, 2014

    (Kids) Rainy Day Survival Plan (and a little moan!)

    March 20, 2014
    Snowman Stained Glass Windows - Christmas Crafts For Kids - Our Little House in the Country

    Snowman Stained Glass Windows

    November 5, 2014
  • Kids' Crafts and Activities

    (Books for Children) Our Top 5 “Story” Board Books for Toddlers

    March 18, 2014 /

    Board books are such an amazing way to introduce little ones to books.  We have lots of them, I keep them in little baskets in each room for easy access as well as displaying some on our kitchen book rack and the book rack made from an old cot side in O’s room. Board books are so much easier for little hands to manipulate, allowing toddlers to turn pages with ease.  Of course they are also so much more durable!!!! There is such a huge variety of board books available that I wasn’t sure which type to begin with.  I decided to take a look at story books this week. …

    read more
    Our Little House in the Country 5 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Pinterest-style Halloween image of a galvanized steel basin filled with apples for traditional apple bobbing game, featured in blog post 10 forgotten Halloween games to bring back this year."

    10 Forgotten Halloween Games to Bring Back This Year

    September 3, 2025

    Construction Play Outdoors – Using Garden Cuttings!

    May 1, 2014
    10 Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids to Make - Our Little House in the Country

    10 Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids to Make!

    November 25, 2014
  • Kids' Crafts and Activities

    (Books for Children) Doodles’ Book of the Week – “The Great Recycling Adventure” by Jan McHarry, Illustrated by Edmond Davis & Piers Sandford

    March 14, 2014 /

    I mentioned yesterday that Doodles (4 ½) loves fact based books.  I f it a detailed filled book about how something works or experiments to try or picture books of the solar system then that’s what you’ll find him reading.  So, his book of choice this week is a lift and flap book called “The Great Recycling Adventure”, written by Jan McHarry and illustrated by Edmond Davis and Piers Sanford. Last Tuesday we visited our local public library.  We have hundreds of books but I think that it’s a really good habit to get children interested in books and libraries.  They both love our visits to the library.  They browse…

    read more
    Our Little House in the Country 2 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Christmas Card and Decoration Making Kits by EggNogg (Review)

    December 14, 2014
    Pinterest-style Halloween image of a galvanized steel basin filled with apples for traditional apple bobbing game, featured in blog post 10 forgotten Halloween games to bring back this year."

    10 Forgotten Halloween Games to Bring Back This Year

    September 3, 2025

    (Kids) Gloriously green play dough fun- St Patrick’s Day Festivities

    March 10, 2014
  • Kids' Crafts and Activities

    (Books for Children) Oodles’ Book of the Week -“I Want My Mum!” by Tony Ross

    March 13, 2014 /

    Both of my children are mad about books.  We have literally hundreds of books in our home.  I have been collecting children’s books for years and years, long before we ever considered starting a family. My little boy Doodles will read absolutely anything but in particular loves fact based books.  We’ll be taking a look at his book of the week tomorrow. Oodles, my little 2 year old girl, piles books up beside her bed each night.  We only read 2 per night or we would be there til dawn!  Often she takes a major liking to a particular book and when that happens, yes you’ve guessed it, that is…

    read more
    Our Little House in the Country 1 Comment

    You May Also Like

    Messy Summer Outdoor Creative Fun - Feet Painting or Printing - Our Little House in the Country #summer #kids #kidsactivities

    Feet Painting or Printing- Outdoor Messy Summer Fun for Kids!

    June 23, 2014

    Bubbles Play – Our Top 5 Tried and Tested Recipes

    May 7, 2014
    Travelling With Kids Part 1- Carry-on Luggage for Air Travel - Our Little House in the Country

    Tips for Travelling with Kids Part 1 – Carry-on Luggage for Air Travel

    May 21, 2014

Hi and welcome...

Hi, I'm Ciara, welcome to Our Little House in the Country — a space for slow and intentional living, seasonal rhythms, and stories from our everyday family life.. Get to know a little bit more about me and Our Little House in the Country here.

Search the blog

Welcome to Our Little House in the Country

Join our little Friday letter — a calm, seasonal note from our home in the Irish countryside, filled with slow-living inspiration, gentle reflections, and cosy ideas for the week ahead.

You can unsubscribe anytime. We respect your inbox — no spam, ever.! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Follow on Pinterest

Instagram

Good morning & happy Friday 🤍 Good morning & happy Wednesday 🤍 As the new year begins, winter whispers the same reminder over and over: slow down, rest, restore. ❄️ Happy Monday, everyone 🤍 Good morning & happy Sunday 🤍 Good morning & happy Saturday 🤍 Good morning & happy Friday 🤍 Good morning & welcome to 2026 🤍 As one year fades and another begins, I’ve been thinking about the quiet lessons the seasons leave behind. 🌿

Get in touch

Go back

Your message has been sent

Warning
Warning
Warning
Warning.

    Share the joy

    Kindly supported by

    Top Deals of the Week

    Disclosure:
    The above brands are part of affiliate programs I’m enrolled in. This means that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting the blog and helping me continue to share free, thoughtful content from Our Little House in the Country.

    Browse by Category

    • Autumn
    • Christmas 2025
    • Equestrian Life
    • Halloween 2025
    • Home, Food, and Everyday Life
    • Intentional living
    • Kids' Crafts and Activities
    • Newsletter
    • Parenting and Family Life
    • Seasonal Inspiration
    • Self-care Calendars
    • Slow and Intentional Living
    • Winter

    Archives

    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.

    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
    • Winter Mornings, Winter Evenings
    • Why Winter Teaches Us to Rest
    • A January of Intentions, Not Resolutions
    • A Year of Seasons
    • 10 Gentle New Year’s Eve Rituals: Simple Ways to Ring in the Year at Home
    • PR, Disclosure, Privacy & Copyright
    • About Our Little House in the Country
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Refund Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    Follow Our Little House in the Country

    Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    This means that if you click on a link to a product I’ve recommended and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission — at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Our Little House in the Country. Every purchase helps keep this blog running and allows me to continue sharing thoughtful, intentional content.

    Safety Disclaimer:
    The arts, crafts, and activities shared on Our Little House in the Country are intended to be enjoyed with adult supervision. Please ensure that any activity involving young children is carried out safely and under appropriate guidance.

    Every effort is made to share safe and age-appropriate ideas; however, the author accepts no liability for any injury, loss, or damage incurred as a result of participating in activities featured on this site. Use your best judgement, adapt activities to suit your child’s age and abilities, and always supervise closely.

    Sitemap

    Our Little House in the Country is a registered business name of Ciara Winters, registered in Ireland. Business Registration No. 770115.

    2026 Our Little House in the Country © All rights reserved.
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    Ashe Theme by WP Royal.
     

    Loading Comments...