PLAY is the WAY children learn during the early childhood years. How fortunate that is for parents, caregivers and/or their teachers! Because when PLAY is the basis for learning activities it makes learning not only fun, but something that happens naturally. Plus, as an added bonus, it also creates a desire to continue to want to learn! Focus on the Senses: Provide as many opportunities for your kiddos to engage their senses—and if they use more than one for the same activity all the better! … [Read more...]
Play-Based Activities for Play-Based Learning!
If you’ve been following PLAY & GROW for very long, you know one thing for sure about me. I’m more than passionate, closer to obsessed about, providing play-based activities so children PLAY! And why? The reason is twofold. First, PLAY is instrumental for children to gain the knowledge, skills, concepts and capabilities that they need now. Second PLAY lays this important knowledge/skills foundation from which children build upon for use in the future. The basic developmental domains in … [Read more...]
Why Pretend Play is Important
What's one of the best ways to guarantee your child will thrive? By carefully tending to their creative spirit and infusing a sense of PLAYfulness to their learning. And guess what? Creativity and PLAYfulness come together naturally in pretend PLAY! What is Pretend PLAY? • Starts around 2 to 3 years of age • Scenes and people from family life, school and/or daycare all act as inspiration • It revolves around the acting out of stories. Stories' themes let kids: · explore multiple … [Read more...]
Indians & Thanksgiving
Autumn has several holidays; one is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, in the US, is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November; in Canada, they come to the table on the 2nd Monday of October. I first learned of Thanksgiving in elementary school—a long, long time ago. Back then, the stereotypical Pilgrims and Indians presentation was given. There is no way to go back in time and undo the terrible injustices suffered by the native peoples. With the exception of those various tribes of original … [Read more...]
Creating Schedules–Managing Stress for Your Child
Pandemics certainly qualify as stressful times for children. Other Life events like divorce, illness (or death), or moving are full of stress too. It’s during times of stress or uncertainty children find comfort in routines. Schedules are routines put to paper, whiteboard chart, or electronically on your phone. It’s the predictability of schedules that lets children know what to expect. CHANGE is the Only Constant in Life... Right now families are in the midst of dealing with the coronavirus. … [Read more...]
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