Puzzles give a child the opportunity to experience and manipulate the world around him/her. This contributes positively towards their brain development. WHY? Because putting puzzles together has a child actively engaged, manipulating his/her world. And the very important next step of that: Seeing what results from their actions. Additionally, when children PLAY they typically develop skills and gain knowledge across more than one domain. As you'll … [Read more...]
The ‘Perfect Toy’: PLAY Comes in Unexpected Ways
You’ve heard about it before—parents going through considerable time, effort and expense to select just that perfect toy. Usually it's the latest and greatest, but , more often than not, their little one seems much more interested in playing with the packaging it came in. How about you? Did your kiddo have more interest and fun ripping wrapping paper off and away than playing with the gift inside? Children don’t need a lot of bells and whistles to PLAY. In fact, I’d go so far as to say all … [Read more...]
Space Travel 50 Years On
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...]
What’s cooking? PLAY & Learning in the Kitchen
For young children, PLAY & learning occur simultaneously—one cannot be separated from the other. What a brilliant construct! PLAYING makes learning self-initiated and self-directed! PLAY & learning can occur in a variety of settings; one of them being your kitchen! Kitchen as the Classroom: Baking is a fantastic activity to do with children because it is an activity that engages and uses their senses. Additionally, baking is an activity that can touch on all developmental domains! … [Read more...]
PopUP PLAY Date for Preschoolers
“Will you be here tomorrow?” Words from the mamas that had brought their kiddos out to my PopUP PLAY Date at the Kingsgate Library. Well, I wouldn’t be doing another one the very next day, but it DID make me feel good to know they’d have wanted that! A couple of the Moms went to the info desk to share how much they loved the event (sadly the librarians did not show any enthusiasm: “It’s not a library program.” Hmm, maybe it SHOULD be!!) Mr Teacher Karen is pathologically objective—trying to … [Read more...]