With a preschool based on a farm, 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! Animals can teach children so much! Beyond the basics like: ● what they look like ● the sounds they make ● what they eat ● the names for male, female and baby … [Read more...]
Taking-Off! It’s Time for Holiday Travel
Holiday times are here! They are busy times. Memory-making times. Full-of-family-and-FUN times! Travel. AND stress! Do have travel coming up? If so, with some PLANNING, and even travelling with your kiddos, you’ll think “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” PLAN & Be PREPARED You’ve been a parent for a while now, you know to expect the unexpected so PLAN for it and be PREPARED! Better Safe Than Sorry... ● Safety comes 1st especially during the holidays when there are more people … [Read more...]
Children & Mother Nature Are Meant to Be Together
Children and Mother Nature…I’ve said it before and I’ll said it again: Children are supposed to BE in and amongst Her! Here’s just a brief summary of some of benefits: ● Just as PLAY addresses all developmental areas in children, so too, does being in Nature by... ◦Supporting Problem-Solving and Creativity ◦Increasing Children's Ability to Focus ◦Improving Social Relations ◦Supporting Physical Development ◦Improving Impulse Control and Decreasing STRESS ●Increasing Academic … [Read more...]
Why Nursery Rhymes are Important
If you’ve been following Play & Grow for any time you know I’m fond of rhymes for children. It doesn’t matter if they’re traditional nursery rhymes, action songs or fingerplays. Have you wondered why I’m so insistent children learn these? See below for just some of the benefits! Language & Reading: ● Nursery rhymes and/or fingerplays help children develop an ear for language! The rhymes and rhythms highlight the sounds and syllables in words. Repeated exposure to nursery rhymes or … [Read more...]
Dear Dinosaur, A Book Review
All children are obsessed with dinosaurs some time during their early childhood years. Whether it’s during their older toddler or preschool years or more into their 1st or 2nd years of elementary school, dinosaurs take up a lot of their time, energy and focus. I'm long past my early childhood years, but it didn't matter. I was thrilled to received a copy of Dear Dinosaur by Chae Strathie from B-E-S Publishing. This book introduced me to the characters. B-E-S Publishing had recently sent me … [Read more...]