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...]
Dear Dinosaur: T Rex on Tour, A Book Review
Dinosaur Week at preschool was always an anticipated time. Everyone's imaginations was captivated by dinosaurs! So I was very excited to read the copy of Dear Dinosaur: T. Rex on Tour by Chae Strathie I received from B-E-S Publishing. OVERVIEW The general story line: A young boy named Max visits his local museum of history with the intent of viewing the dinosaurs. Once there, though, he discovers the exhibit is closed as the dinosaurs are on tour. Following a suggestion that Max write T. Rex … [Read more...]
Parent Preparedness & LOOSE PARTS
You may feel at loose ends but I want you to have LOOSE PARTS as part of your Parent Preparedness Arsenal. It's all about being prepared—and that’s not just a motto for the Scouts it’s a GOOD day-to-day LIFE motto for parents…especially when you’re trying to get any work done! ---------------------------------------------------------So what can you do? Create PLAY packs or PLAY scenarios that’ll keep your kidlets engaged. After all, PLAY is the WORK of young children. This comes with a … [Read more...]
Alligator Pie remix
Alligator Pie can be extended by asking your child to offer different items they want to have 'right now' OR by teaching them these additional verses! Also check my review/recommendation of Melissa & Doug's Chomp & Clack Alligator Push Toy. You can see me demonstrating the first verse of Alligator Pie on my Facebook page Alligator Pie Alligator pie, alligator pie If I don't get some.... I think I'm gonna die!! You can take away the green grass Take away the sky! But … [Read more...]
Why Puppet Play is Important
A world of imaginative, open-ended PLAY opens up when your kiddo plays with puppets. Puppet play, a sub-set of pretend play, is a type of PLAY young children are naturally drawn. Like dolls, children have been playing with puppets for a long, long time. For a toy to have that kind of staying power they must be very special. And such is the case with puppets! Puppets engage and entertain children. They have FUN all the while growing and learning in several key areas of development! Puppet … [Read more...]