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Whole Child Development

Tents, Forts, and Hideouts: Special Spaces for Kids

by Filed Under: Create, Learning through Play and Experience 8 Comments

As I mentioned in the Playful Learning Spaces Giveaway (and yes, there’s still a little time left to enter) there is a strong impact in a thoughtfully prepared space.  If you want your children to be playful, it helps to create an environment that invites children to play.  I can think of few invitations to play that are more compelling than a special space like a tent or a hideout.  You can set one up, say nothing, and almost instantly you’ll have children dragging blankets and animals in for a jungle tea party, darting in and out as they dream up dramatic adventures, or cozied up inside with a good book.

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DIY Gifts for Mom

by Filed Under: Celebrate!, Create, Uncategorized 2 Comments

Mother’s Day is around the corner here in the United States, and whether you’re looking for a project to do on a grand scale with an entire class, or something simple you can create with your own little ones around the kitchen table, there are plenty of ideas to find around the blogosphere. [Read more…]

Hip Hip Hooray for Valentine’s Day!

by Filed Under: Celebrate!, Create, Positive Guidance and Social Skills Leave a Comment

I find it interesting, given the interesting discussion on praise that we just had, that Valentine’s Day is creeping around the corner.  It may seem unrelated to some, but in my mind if there is one thing that is an even more powerful reinforcer for children than praise it is love.  Pure, unconditional love.  That can be shown through the words you say, the actions you take, and the time you spend together.

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Felt Food Fun

by Filed Under: Create 4 Comments

I’m over at Childhood 101 today with some fun ideas for making felt food.  Maybe it will give you a few ideas for some Christmas surprises!  Here’s a taste:

Image: Shelley Inspired

My children love to play with their food.  That is, they love to play with toy food.  We have a small set of inexpensive plastic food, but lately I’ve felt like it’s time to expand the menu.  In my search for new cuisine, I’ve decided that making some felt pieces might be a great route to take.  Felt food pieces offer a different sensory experience than the typical plastic pieces.  They can be both realistic and charming.  Avoiding paints and other aspects of manufacturing can also contribute to the piece’s safety.

I began scanning the internet for a few ideas and was bowled over by inspiration!  I thought I’d share a bit with you as well. [Read more…]

Multi-Sensory Paint!

by Filed Under: Create, Learning through Play and Experience 5 Comments

 One of the things that makes young artists so great, is that they are concerned more with the whole experience than with the product alone.  Expand your next painting experience by trying out these tips that encourage children to use more than just their eyes to experience art.  (Originally posted January 2010.)

If you’d like to incorporate a few more senses into your painting projects, add some regular salt generously to your tempera paint and use as fingerpaint or with a brush. The resulting project will have a bit more texture and grit that becomes even more visible as it dries. [Read more…]

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