I was one of many Americans glued to the TV on July 20th 1969 watching and listening as Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon’s surface. His “One small step” sentence summed up the feeling of monumental accomplishment not only for the USA but for the world. Fifty years on (I know how can it already be 50years?!) and space travel is still something humans are drawn to. Since that 1st landing and walking on the moon, astronauts have lived, for extended periods, in Space Stations. NASA seems to … [Read more...]
Trekking through England-When Disabilities Are An Extra Challenge
Supporting Independence... The American with Disabilities Act, or ADA, was signed into law in 1990. One provision of the law guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities: 1. In public accommodations 2. Transportation 3. State and local government services IMHO, these guarantees insures some measure of independence. The ADA stood out in stark contrast to what I experienced on a recent trip overseas. Learn more about the American with Disabilities Act here. A title I gladly … [Read more...]
There’s No App Better than Your Lap
Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. This quote by Emilie Buchwald says it all. Children learn language from direct interaction with meaningful people in their lives. Learning is facilitated when children have trusting relationships. So just imagine the amount of learning potential when parents read to their children! During February, the month of LOVE, help your child develop a LOVE for reading! Commit to reading at least 1 story/day for the rest of the month. That’s … [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 the benefits of children and Mother Nature: ● 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 … [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...]