It wasn't on Old McDonald's Farm, but my preschool was housed on a farm. That meant learning and interacting with animals was, by default and design, mandatory. I enjoyed introducing children to and sharing with the joys of being up-close and personal with the farm animals. Just like I enjoy it with my grandchildren! Farm Animals Teach Children So Much! ● The basics like: · their looks; · the sounds they make; · what foods … [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...]
Risky Play–4 Reasons Parents Need to Relax
In my day, there was no risky play. Play was PLAY! Well, okay, maybe there was inside vs outside play or quiet vs noisy play, but none of this safe vs risky play. Scrapes, bruises, the occasional broken bone were taken in-stride and accepted as just part of Life for a growing child. Oh did Dylan have it right! Sometime after the 60s, when it came to children’s PLAY, the times were a-changing! Children naturally want to test their limits. Unfortunately that natural inclination has too … [Read more...]
PLAY for ALL at the Child Safety Fair
Sticks and Stones: Play for Resilience
Remember the nursery rhyme: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me” WHAT has happened to that sentiment? Before going on, I want to emphatically state that YES, words can hurt, and hurt deeply, especially when it’s within the context of demeaning, belittling, or hateful words spewing from a loved one. So let me emphasize, I expect parents to talk to their children with kindness, compassion and/or respect. They should speak that way even if they are disappointed, … [Read more...]