Determination, persistence, drive, perseverance –the attitude that the tough get going when the going gets tough—that’s one of the hallmark characteristics of….every BABY! They’re inherently instilled with a can-do spirit and a never-say-die attitude! Think about it--you witness it all the time! As they work to roll over for the first time; start crawling; pull to a stand…hold onto furniture and cruise around; and then take that first, tentative step away without support! The items I listed … [Read more...]
Beyond BabyFest–Helping Future Sibs
Working my 1st BabyFest NW this past Saturday was quite a treat for a baby-loving, grandma-type like me! Everywhere you looked there were pregnant bellies! First-time parents, parents-to-be with grandmothers in tow, seasoned parents and hoping-to-BE-expecting parents all converged at Seattle Center's Exhibition Hall for a baby extravaganza! Granted, it's been awhile since I was a mom-to-be, but I couldn't get over all the fantastic gadgets and gizmos available nowadays to make caring for an … [Read more...]
School, Stress, Children & Play
The fun—maybe sometimes lazy—days of summer are over and the hard, cold reality of sitting in a school classroom has set in. It wasn’t all that long ago the concept of early childhood education was singing songs, building blocks, dress-up corners, easels, and plenty of time playing with new friends outdoors. Fast forward to the present, with the influence of No Child Left Behind and Common Core, young children are taught with standardized testing in mind. They’re bombarded with letters, … [Read more...]
Video Games Day–Making the Case for PLAY
I was kind of left with my mouth on the floor yesterday when I found out what day it was...Video Games Day?!! Really? We need a day to encourage and celebrate playing video games? (sigh) How about trying for a NO-Video Games Day? Now that would be something out of the ordinary!! I'm not going to say video games don't have a place or don't have any beneficial aspects (read 6 Scientific Benefits) but they are inappropriate for young children. Young children need PLAY! PLAY … [Read more...]
Play’s Impact on Literacy
I make no apologies for my pro-play stance...I will always be a promoter and supporter of play; I believe in the power of PLAY! Play addresses all areas of development. One area of importance is play's impact on literacy. My reasons are experiential and anecdotal, however I believe studies will back up what this preschool teacher, parent, now grandparent has witnessed. Literacy--the definition can be nebulous. Is it just being able to read and write or does it include listening, speaking and … [Read more...]
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