Archive for March, 2010
What’s Happening Wednesday
March 10th, 2010 | Author: Shannon
Rhode Island
There is a Maple Syrup Festival at the Tomaquag Indian Museum, Exeter RI this Saturday at 1 pm.
I joined the wonderful PlayWatch listserve this week. It’s facilitated by the Children’s Museum of Providence. Contact playwatch-request@LISTSERV.URI.EDU to subscribe.
Other then that, do check out the KidoInfo for ideas for great things to do with the children!
Best of all… spend sometime outside, playing, getting dirty, going to the beach in any weather… be creative imaginative and free!
Around the Web
Need some gardening tips? The Veggie Gardener has it all! Links to 15 great gardening blogs!
PBS discusses the importance of the creative process for children and goes on AT LENGTH about the importance of play! Play is learning!!
Even with our busy lifestyles, it’s still possible to turn to Mother Nature for a healthy, wholesome… dare I say “green” meal. Here is some food for thought!
Another obstacle to nature-play, skyrocketing park-entrance fees in CT- can we really afford to make nature unaffordable?
Ever have kids that just don’t want to go outside? Yeah, we all do. Here are some tips to get reluctant kids outdoors!
We’ve been talking about building our little tree climber a tree-house, and then I came across this post from Slow Family Online and yes, I am so inspired!
Spring is really a time of new beginnings… I have been noticing the bulbs and buds peaking out from their winter hiding places. Part of this newness means new goals. Here’s some outdoor goals from Go Explore Nature!
We’ve been making mud pies this week, have you? It’s so fun and educational also!
Back Home in My Backyard
I have been feeling a little under the weather this week… but fortunately, that’s not all that bad because the weather has been spectacular.
On Monday my son wanted to take out our little pool to splash in the water… it was only 50 degrees my friends, but he’s ready! Yesterday I let him have an early tubby time, so he got in some water play.
I worked with my under 4 year old crew of gardeners spreading composted manure and seaweed on our garden area. It was so fun to be outside in a t-shirt working in the dirt!
I DID IT! I really put in my seed order and my moose tuber (seed potato and onion sets) In a few weeks the good will arrive and then….
we’ll have to wait to May to put most stuff in the ground.
So, all you folks out there planting seeds, playing in the dirt, waiting for veggies to grow. Oh how I wish I live in a different climate zone!
I have spent a minimum of 3 hours a day this week in my backyard… so I am a very happy Backyard Mama!
See you next week and have fun outside!
What’s Happening Wednesday
March 3rd, 2010 | Author: Shannon
Rhode Island
It’s maple syrup season!! Head over to Tomaquag Indian Museum March 13th, at 1 pm for Harvest of Maple Syrup. (30 Summit St. Exeter)
Maybe your three year old would enjoy a trip to RISD. Here’s one success story!
Don’t forget about the upcoming RI Families in Nature Hike on March 20th at Trustom Pond in S. Kingstown. (One of my favorite places!)
The Audobon Society of Rhode Island is working to connect folks with nature. There are tons of wonderful naturey things to do through them, and they have scholarships for schools who want to take kids on trips!
Around the Web
Every heard yourself say ” it’s too or I don’t ….. to go outside?” Here are answers to all the excuses so tomorrow is full of nature play!
Take Action! New Jersey congressman has introduced a Farm to School bill.. wow kids eating healthy food at school!… the bill needs sponsors. Call your congress folks today!
Good stuff folks all parents of young children read this! Needs of a three year old… sweet peace!
Wouldn’t these container gardens be great in an early childhood classroom? Can you imagine the glee of little ones eating fresh peas right out of containers they helped make? Try it and let me know!
I’ve been doing some homework on the Let’s Move campaign of First Lady Michele Obama two complains: where’s the recess? and where’s the nature?
Under ever good parent (or adult) is a WILD CHILD… take a walk on the wild side for National Wildlife Week! Yeah!
Try to squeeze a few of these great winter activities into your upcoming Green Hours… cause spring is just around the corner!
Back Home in My Backyard
I love my backyard… the play area is fenced in as a container for children, but it’s expansive and free, not a typical boundary.
We spend a good three hours outside today… even spread some manure on the garden! I got my hands dirty!!!
We also: played in the sandbox, used “tonka” diggers to move the compost, ate a picnic lunch on the back porch, okay foxtail and kick ball, got muddy and tired and trekked dirt through the house.
I must confess folks, I have not yet put in my full seed order… this week I promise! It’s started, the forms filled out… it need to get from the desk to the mailbox, or I really want to just fill it in online.
It’s a good day folks. See you next week!
Play Fosters Learning
March 2nd, 2010 | Author: Shannon
Indoor play areas can be imbued with natural colors and objects that come from nature or reflect the natural world.
This picture is of our play area and this gateway serves as a doorway into the incredible world of the beaming imaginations of young children.
This area has been:
~ A doctors office.
~ A library.
~ A restaurant/ coffee shop/ bakery.
~ A fire station with rescue workers poised and ready.
~ A construction site.
It changes daily and these young ones are learning so many vital skills as they create and re-create stories. They see themselves as heroes and heroin.
I’ve been reading through early childhood materials that act as a guideline for what teachers are “supposed to do” in their classrooms. This kind of play fosters:
Language development- as the children communicate with one another they are listening, comprehending and speaking.
Literacy- as they learn to tell stories they become interested in writing stories and see their story as book worthy.
Mathematics- the spatial relationships between items and object and the materials teach geometry and patters.
Creative Arts- this is dramatic play where the children see themselves as others and take on roles.
Social and Emotional Development- as the children play together in their world, “un- adulterated” they are learning to cooperate, self- regulate, and have social relationships with peers.
Approaches to Learning- they are interested and curious, engaged and persistent and are finding their own solutions as they use these other skill domains.
Physical Health- these play stands are moved and removed and covered and uncovered a bazillion times, using fine and gross motor skills. As they engage in the play (especially doctors office play) they are also demonstrating understanding of good healthy practices.
(In bold are 7 of the 8 domains of early child development per Head Start).
Play is REALLY fundamental to learning.
How have you fostered a child’s imagination today?
This is part of the 30 minute blog challenge of Steady Mom. Post time start to finish 30 minutes.
