buttons and banks

 

they all saw a cat: cats in rice

 

they all saw a cat: color sorting

 

perler beads and tweezers

 

pouring and learning about volume

 

milk crate structures

Sometimes a visiting parent will rush in when a child exhibits risky play. We do our best to comfort the parent and teach them how to watch and wait. In this picture, on this day, the child never made it to a standing position, but that's okay. They will, when they are ready for it. We try to teach the children to listen to their bodies. We do not rush in to help or assist as that is when accidents most often happen. Allowing a child to engage in risky play, helps them build confidence in their own actions andbuilds strength of body, and strength of mind. 
 

making letters with rubber bands

 

a busy day of building

a house

a stage

a bridge

 

fine motor table: the three billy goats gruff

sink or float

pennies and banks

measuring weight

 

kiddo mixed pinks

 

the firefighters' restaurant

 

Some see a massive tangle of stuff, I see a hours, days, and weeks of play. 

the area of an elephant plate

When I set up the fine motor table, parents often ask "How does this?" or "what are they supposed to do?" I always answer, "I don't know yet, they'll show me." There is no right or wrong way to explore an invitation. By the end of the day, almost all of the pompoms were gone. I bet they are hidden in pockets, purses, or cubbies. 
 

fine motor invitation: cutting and piggy banks

Or elephant banks in this case. Long strips of paper will often get crammed into the banks, and they usually do not fit. How can we get it to fit? Tearing? Cutting? Folding? All of the above! 

earrings for the bunny

 This basket of rubber bands is set out for our vertical geoboard. Sometimes the rubber bands become bracelets, handcuffs, or money, and sometimes they become earrings for a bunny. 

cubes on a square

 

an invitation to paint with warm colors

 

the firefighters have come for tea

 

from color sorting to feeding the birds

 

happy birthday to you and you and you and you

 

dinosaur city