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Whole Child Development

Build-a-Fairy Box

by Filed Under: Create 6 Comments

If you haven’t guessed from the series I’ve been writing the past few Mondays, I’m a big fan of creativity.  Any time I can jump on an opportunity to encourage kids to create and have ownership in a project, I am all for it.  And so it was quite serendipitous when I stumbled upon this post on fairy wings for clothespin dolls from Made By Joel and also received an invitation for my son to attend the birthday party of one of his “friends-who’s-a-girl”.  This little girl had been to our home just a few months earlier when we were making these gnome leprechaun dolls from Wee Folk Art .  She just took off with the idea, creating her own designs and really enjoying herself.  I instantly knew I had to make a doll kit full of “loose parts” for this artist to create with! (Knowing her home and family, I’m sure she’ll find a few more loose parts to add as well!)

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Weekend Reads 5.7.11

by Filed Under: Uncategorized, Weekend Reads 1 Comment

Experimenting with Texture: Homemade Paintbrushes and Texture Tools {Pink and Green Mama}

Mini Snap Painting {Irresistable Ideas for Play Based Learning}

Marble Race Track from a Pool Noodle!  {Serving Pink Lemonade}

Addictive Summer Reading Lists for Kids of All Ages {Make and Takes}

It’s Not Developmentally Appropriate, So What? {BAM! Radio}

Here’s my Mother’s Day Confession from last year.

Enjoy your weekend!

Top photo by John Nyberg. [Read more…]

Mother’s Day Ideas and a Treat for You!

by Filed Under: Uncategorized 2 Comments

I first met Mandi Ehman a little less than a year ago, and had no idea what I was in for.  That short meeting was a somewhat serendipitous moment that has had a huge impact on me.  It was meeting just the right person at just the right time.  Mandi is a successful work-at-home mom, running a thriving blog network and is just really rocking it on so many levels!  She’s taken on a bit of a mentor role for me, and has graciously answered so many questions for me.  But I’ll be honest, I’ve been holding back.  What I’ve really wanted to ask her is, “How do you make it all work?  I mean really, there are only 24 hours in a day out there in West Virginia too, right?” 

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Amazing Art Adventures

by Filed Under: Create, Get Outside, Learning through Play and Experience 3 Comments

Image by Holton Rower.

I love that place where Science and Art collide.  When truly creative projects focus on the process over the product, they lend themselves to more inquiry, experimentation, and seeing things in a new way.  Children are free to wonder, “What would happen if…” and then experiment.  It’s the scientific process in action!

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Six Ideas for Exploring Nature with Kids

by Filed Under: Get Outside, Learning through Play and Experience 13 Comments

From the looks of next week’s forecast, spring may finally come to the Rockies!  And I for one can’t wait.  I’m anxious to get my boys out on some of the wonderful trails we’re lucky enough to find just minutes from our home.  As I’ve been daydreaming about our warmer-weather excursions, I’ve thought a bit about some of the supplies that might enhance our romps out in nature.  I’d love to hear what’s on your list! [Read more…]

Who Needs Creativity?

by Filed Under: Create, Learning through Play and Experience 7 Comments

For the next few Mondays, I’ll be writing a series of posts focusing on creativity – why it’s important for our children and how we can foster it –  for the folks over at Willow Creek Pediatrics.  It’s a topic I’m very passionate about, so hop on over and check out this week’s installment.  Here’s a little taste:

With our country’s current emphasis on standardized test-based education, anyone anywhere can find loads of statistics on how states, districts, schools, even individual children are scoring on math and reading (both important, to be sure).  But can anyone know how much creativity is being nurtured and encouraged in any one school or classroom?  No one’s following the creativity quotient of every schoolchild in America.  But should they? [Read more…]

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