SAILING INTO FALL
Even though we have had some rain lately, this summer and fall have been as close to perfect as I can imagine. I know that those who are ecologically minded will grouse about the lack of rain, but for a mom who needs to get her child out of the house as much as possible in order to run off some of that excess energy that otherwise will turn into temper tantrums and whining, it has been a season of sanity saving good times. As the weather begins to get that cool edge, I start to panic, knowing that the days of indoor activities are fast approaching.

Never one to give up without a fight, I try to squeeze in as much outdoor time as possible. I have learned that when planning activities with toddlers, your best bet is to plan one activity a day. Some of you are probably laughing at my use of the word "plan." Even though toddlers take to planning about as well as cats to water, you can outsmart them if you don't set your expectations too high. Figure out the time it would normally take you to do the activity, multiple it by three, divide it by the cosine of the number of diapers or bathroom stops typically experienced during an average day, and then add to it the number of snacks needed during that time, and you will have an approximation of the possible time your activity will take, dependent upon the time of day and weather. Or you could just wing it and play it by ear, like I do.

Since my expectations are already radically low, I take one activity a day and try to make everything possible tie into that, from snacks to stories. While autumn may be waning, water activities are still a possibility. I'm not advocating getting the swimsuits out and romping in the waves. Remember - I'm a Southern girl, so the water here never really warms up to a suitable temperature in my book. Boating, however, is a great activity that captivates children of all ages.

To begin the day, take breakfast on the road. Pack up a cereal bar, some fruit, and a container of milk, and head on down to the wharf. During the summer South Wharf is bustling with boat activity. While there are still some boats in the dock during the autumn, the flurry is at a minimum. That's okay for some kids. However, if you have a kid that needs constant liveliness, take your picnic to the Steamship Wharf. You can sit on one of the benches around the building, or go to the rear and hang out near the water. While the number of passenger ferries has been cut, there are still freight boats and the fast boat coming in.

Once your toddler grows weary of watching the boats, take a stroll through town. Head to the Atheneum, or one of the bookstores on island, and peruse the boat books in the children's section. Take home a few that you can read to send your child off to Nap Land.

A wonderful book that ties in perfectly is "Toy Boat" by Randall de Séve and Loren Long. "Toy Boat" tells the story of a little boy and the boat he made from common household recyclables. The two get separated, and the toy boat must find his way back to the boy who loves him. The story and illustrations are simple in a classic way, reminiscent of the books we all remember from our own childhood.

About this time my toddler would be ready for a nap. Translation: I would be ready for him to be ready for a nap.

After your toddler wakes up, you can help him make his own special sailboat. While the boy in the story uses an aluminum can for his boat's hull, I would suggest using a plastic water bottle. Aluminum cans equal sharp edges, which can only end up meaning cuts, and since we're focusing on boats and not doctors or emergency vehicles, bodily injury is something you want to avoid.

The supplies you will need are: a plastic water bottle, a cork, a glue gun, a pencil, an old shirt or thin cloth, and an appropriate stick for a mast and boom (the piece that the sail fits on to make a right angle).

To create the hull, set the plastic water bottle on its side and draw a line to indicate where you will cut. Leave the top and bottom of the bottle intact, and don't cut too deep into the sides. This, of course, is an activity for mommies and daddies, and can be achieved while your little captain sleeps.

Once you have the hull, let your child decide where he would like the mast to go. Try to steer him to the middle of the boat. If he insists on somewhere else, let him have his way, and plan on turning it into a lesson about balance. You can also use this opportunity to assert your authority as the allknowing parent. Just don't say "I told you so."

Glue the cork into the middle of the hull and insert the mast and boom into the cork. You may have to use a knife to help make the hole, but don't dig it out too much as you want it to be a snug fit. If you can't find an appropriate stick, two chopsticks also work well. You will have to join them together with rope to form the right angle.

The shirt or thin cloth will become your sail. Have your child draw two triangles, one large for the mainsail, the other smaller for the jib. If you want to forego the jib you can just put the mainsail up for now. If you have a chance, once you cut out the sails, iron them with starch to give them some body.

Now all you have to do is attach the sail to the mast and boom. You can use a darning needle, which is not as sharp as a regular needle, and yarn. You toddler should be able to help with this and will enjoy learning to sew. Attach the sail in a few places on each of the boom and the mast, making sure to attach the ends.

If this hasn't taken up the better part of a day, this can only mean that your child is a prodigy, and you should immediately sign him up for classes at MIT. For the rest of us, however, our toddler will have a boat that can be sailed in the harbor for the next few weeks, and then in the bathtub while we wait for Spring to blow in

from the South. I