A Little bit of Light heartedness

Mullin Avenue Workshop: A Little bit of Light heartedness

I thought this would be just the right note of fun I am needing at present in my work.

I have just learned that Lisa Murphy, aka as the Ooey Gooey Lady will be returning to our city this winter for a workshop, and that she has a new series of fabulous workshops.I am certainly planning to attend for some great inspiration and fun!

I checked her on the internet this evening and found a series of delightful new videos on fingerplays. I think this video on the Banana phone is delightful. I am going to try it!

I hope you will enjoy this video. Just click on the highlighted words above to view.

Cheers! 

It's the Start of a New Month

Well, it's now October, and it seems I'm finally catching my breath, and have a sense of who the children in my small group of 2 1/2 years olds are; what they like to do; and what kind of group I'll have.

The last month has seemed more busy than usual for September. I feel I've been working to deal with more separation anxiety than usual, as several of my children started at the daycare, without a chance to transition gradually. As well I have two toddler aged children, and the remainder of my children are all at the very youngest of the age group.

Some mornings it seemed that when one child started crying, everyone needed to cry. But slowly, very gradually the children are developing more sense of trust in the environment, and in me.

I'm really starting to like my group's developing personality, as the children have begun to comfort one another. I remind my children to give their peers "gentle touches", as now and then I find this age group will hit, or push.  I am always intrigued to see children take my recommendations to heart, and remind themselves and one another to give a gentle touch.

This group also likes to hug! It is really heartwarming to see a child leave for the day, and receive a hug from his or her friends, and everyone waving goodbye.

We've been spending our days very simply, following the basic routines of breakfast; washup; story; and then mainly heading outdoors. After about one hour of play in the glorious, sunny autumn weather, we head back in for lunch; washup; and nap.Wake up routine follows with snack, and more simple, comforting play, then heading outdoors usually for the rest of the day.

I've needed to keep it simple this past month to allow for my children to establish some security, and comfort, and now I think we're ready for some actual art and movement and more focused play. I have had sensory play available, as I know that is a comfort for most children - but it has been of the most simple kind - the sand table, play dough, and as well a "flour" table with baking tools, which has been popular

I enjoy singing, and movement games, and I've been happy to find that this group also like these. So we've started singing and moving to several songs about autumn leaves, squirrels and rabbits.

A favourite is one I call "Sleeping Bunnies". The children curl up on the floor, "sleeping", and I sing "See the little bunnies sleeping til it's nearly noon; Come and let us wake them gently with our merry tune; Oh how still, are they ill -" and here I can pause and allow silence for quite some time, as the children wait for a clap of hands, and "Wake up do. Hop little bunny, hop, hop hop.....and stop, on your spot." This group of children are very good at sleeping quietly, waiting for the clap, and like to have the game repeated several times.

Soon, the children will likely be interested in more free forms of movement, but this particular group appears to be enjoying the comfort of these simple preschool games, at this early time.

Just a little update

Well, I find it absolutely hard to believe that our summer is drawing to it's conclusion!
It seems not too long ago, we were lamenting a very long and cold winter, and having difficulty seeing any redemption in sight - spring was cool, and wet, but I must say that here in Saskatchewan, we've had a lovely summer.

I've been having a very nice vacation; staying at home - but recharging, reading, walking, and enjoying the wonderful gardens in my neighbourhood, playing with my two felines Herbert and Arthur, and taking an afternoon nap every day. :)

Unfortunately, for me, my computer is still not functional (it is in repair - and I am hoping to have it soon).

 Now that my son has returned from his travels - he is graciously letting me use his computer, so I can spend some time reading up on the wonderful blogs I follow.

Hoping you have had a happy season where you are!

I'll be off line for awhile

My computer is dysfunctional at the moment, with a "bug", and so I'll not be writing posts for abit, so I'm taking lots of photos, reading lots, and enjoying our great spring weather.

I hope to be back soon.
Until then,
Cheers!
Brenda

A Fine Mess, and also Geo Boards

Today was just one of my favourite kinds of days in our room - busy, funny and filled with happy moments.

We've been spending up to one hour outside mornings, and even though the temperature is abit cooler, and the sky has been overcast, we're loving the opportunity to run, climb, dig, and explore nature.

But this afternoon we decided to stay inside. The children had loads of fun just hanging out together, and as usually older children join us in the afternoon, we had a nice mix of ages.There was nothing particularly creative out, we just used whatever was on hand.

I thought it would be fun to take some pictures of our "fine mess".

A little bit of everything - a climbing block, a dress, building manipulatives, a shoe, a pig, some foam blocks.

More foam climbing blocks (we rotate these from room to room, it's our turn this week, and the children have been using them in many ways)

I had brought some larger plastic animals from home this week, and the children are enjoying these. (A horse, a sheep, shoes.)

Two children had enjoyed building towers here.

Someone was busy here.

The Beauty Shop

I have posted other pictures of our room, but they showed a relatively tidy floorspace. This is more what our room really looks like when we're busy playing.

The first daycare center I worked at as a permanent employee, was a wonderful, safe, creative place. However, we were finicky about "mess" - at center time each child would take a  "mat" (a rug sample of about 2x3ft.), and would be required to stay on this mat with their box of say Lego, or train, or puzzle or whatever. The children were encouraged to always stay on the mat, and not to play with others. I would find myself allowing the car children to start interacting with the block children for instance, but it was frowned upon. I'm so glad those days are over, and I can allow my children  to construct a "fine mess".




Melissa, at The Chocolate Muffin Tree had a great post, today on a box guitar she and her daughter created, and as well "snap" painting. It put me in mind of geo boards, so thought I'd post a picture of these here. I'll have to purchase new elastics soon, and put these out.

I Have a Box

For some time now I've struggled with a small segment of my morning routine - how to clean up from lunch; rearrange the room quickly to make space for cots; change diapers; help children with their toileting; put out sleep cots and as well have something for the children to do while all this is going on, so that the floor space stays clear, ie. no toys out if at all possible because I need floor space for the cots. :) I have really adequate time for this, but sometimes end up abit flustered. I have from the end of eating (approx. 12:00 to about 12:20.)

In the past other teachers have used movie time to keep the children entertained - but I don't plan to do this, I don't believe daycare is a place for t.v.

Other years, my children have just been possibly abit older or a different kind of group, and were content to take out a book, while I ran about in a blur of activity.

This year my children aren't content to sit with a book, they want to play, and move.And truly I don't want to make "book time", as a punishment. (Although I have twice heard myself say "That's ENOUGH, now STOP running. SIT down now, and LOOK at your book!) This comes when I'm feeling stressed, or feeling behind.

(For a good discussion of why not to use books as "punishment" of sorts, and also why  "silent
 reading" with young children isn't really developmentally attainable check out Lisa Murphy's book, Play.)

After talking this through with a woman who is acting as a consultant to our center, I came up with a special box, for just this period of day filled with some relaxing, sensory and other kind of activities.

I've been experimenting with what objecs will both invite the children to use the box, and as well provide a quick cleanup.

Here's the box

 I covered the box with shiny gold sticker paper we had donated from a parent, added a picture of children involved in meditating, and on the other side a cute dog picture.

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Inside we have small baskets with manipulative objects such as rocks, plastic bugs, finger puppets; some photo albums' a "finger piano"; and a few other things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So far, I'm not happy with my box, the little baskets are a bit difficult for my children to open, and there is also some competitiveness to have one or two favourite items.And at the end we tend to quickly throw everything in, requiring me to reorganzie for the next day.I also have 4 "squishy" balls which are meant as stress balls so to speak, but really the children want to throw them.

It seems I still haven't found the right mix of things for inside the box, or the box is not the answer to my problem..

I'm wondering if anyone out  there may have some suggestions for me?

We've been busy...

Two weeks ago my children had started a Mother's Day project. We'd painted clay flower pots, and planted marigold seeds. Because we're a little behind they might not go home right for Mother's Day.

This week we planned to make "lady bug" shakers using paper plates. So we had fun painting the plates Monday, and today glued our spots on. However I decided the plates had become a bit floppy and maybe might not stand up to being turned into shakers.

I suggested to the children giving them to Mom for Mother's Day, and this seems like a good idea to every one. I thought it might be nice to glue a  "poem" to the back - "I love you more than the spots on all the ladybugs in the world" or something like this. I'll get the children to help me with the wording for this. I'm sure their version will be better and more meaningful.

 

After our glueing project, we headed outside for some great play. And really there are tons of ladybugs out at this time of year - a true childhood favourite I think. 

In the afternoon, it was time to move in some mats, which our center rotates weekly. Sometimes it is a challenge to make room for the mats, but I decided to try moving shelves diagonally for a more fun feel.

I also decided to store 3 of the mats, and use just one - I usually feel "less is more", when it comes to stress free and relaxing early childhood environments.

This block shelf is close to the mats, as I found the children wanting to use the foam ones on the mat.

Today, I also added a "beauty shop" and the diagonal set up created a nice little spot for this play.

I haven't put the room in this way before, I tend to like more "blocky", straight arrangements, but I like this - it creates an inviting feel I think. The children seemed to respond well to this - and really enjoyed having a few new play ideas.It's amazing what some tweaking can do to the whole atmosphere of a room, and I think how the children play

We've had this wonderful refrigerator box for about a month now, and just moving it to a new spot, allowed the children to use it in a new way.One of our parents donated to us some great sticker paper in rolls. And we have been decorating the box, now and then. A co-worker added the letters one day. :)

Some of our ladybugs.

I thought this would be fun to post. I enjoyed rearranging abit, and the inviting effect, and the immediate change in the play and mood of my children.