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Tag Archives: brain development
Daily Story…day 4
The Vermont Book Shop is a great place to find more stories by Ashley Wolff!
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I’ve put on yet another hat…
As if providing high quality child care wasn’t enough, I am now a published children’s book author! There is a lot to the way it came to be, and I’m saving it for my personal blog. Find it here
Anyway, the process of writing a story required some research, some editing, and some creativity. I was able to recruit the help of an artist friend who created the illustrations, as well as the digital file to send for publishing, since me and technology don’t always get along.
So without further adieu, Here is the link if you’re interested!
Children and families have been accepting my story with open arms, singing it’s praises and reminding me that we all have something to offer…
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Kids and their Questions!
So I’m attending the VAEYC conference once again, and our keynote was about the power of questions. Dr. Lindsey Godwin from the Appreciative Inquiry Center, an internationally renowned speaker and author, shared her work and perspective on questions.
Did you ever notice that we, as adults, often get annoyed by kids asking us questions? We are busy, and it takes time and energy to stop and explain things, and quite honestly, why is it important to answer a “silly” question that isn’t important to us?
Well, it’s valuable to respond so to encourage more questions. Why on earth would we want to do that? To cultivate creative thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, and open minds! Dr. Godwin states, “As children, we get messages from adults that they want answers, not questions.” And she’s right, we are always asking kids to tell us things, when we should really invite them to find their own answers by asking more questions.
Dr. Godwin has two lessons for us to take back to our classrooms:
1. Inquiry is intervention. Inquiry leads to change. Our questions set the stage for what we find, they determine what we pay attention to, and ultimately the direction of what comes next, whether it is curriculum plans and activities, or your next fundraiser or parent meeting. Inquiry has the power to inform and shape opportunities for all of us.
2. What we ask about “grows”. If you ask a question based on a deficit, that will be the focus. Instead, shift focus from your biggest challenge to your most unique assets to “magnify and learn from moments of highest engagement and enthusiasm.”
This is how we accelerate the positive changes that we need to grow and learn, and ultimately how we grow the curious minds of the youngest members of our communities.
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Messy Play: not just for fun!
I used to detest messes…still do in my mommy brain. My teacher brain loves it though! The value in it is limitless and cannot be missed. Clothes and hands can be washed. The house will get messy too, but with a little planning, you can minimize any lasting effects.
Fun is always important, after all, it makes learning meaningful to children and facilitates deeper connections. But why is messy play so important? It is essential to brain development! Every time a child touches wet paint or squishy goo, new connections are forming in the brain. The stimulation provided by a mud pie or runny oobleck can’t be replicated by a computer game, flash cards, or stories. The act of skin coming in contact with tactile discovery stimulates new connections and learning.
Children learn through their senses, and all areas of learning are impacted. In my experience, the more messy play children get to do, the more relaxed they are. They are also more flexible in routines and quite creative in their thinking.
Here are some tips that may help you in your messy play adventures:
- Take it outdoors
- Get a vinyl tablecloth and tape it to the floor to contain the mess
- Provide clear expectations for the children’s messy play
- Use simple materials like snow, water, ice
- Plan ahead to make sure you have enough materials for the number of children you have
- Get in there and get messy! It’s more fun than trying to stay tidy and clean
Try this Simple Slime Recipe for lots of fun that’s edible and not sticky!
Enjoy!
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JenniferCyrFamilyChildCare 