I consider art mediums, materials, and toys to be resources for play. They are the props and tools that children can use to transform their ideas into something they can hold onto. In this tangible state, children can suppose, test, and re-evaluate their ideas.   Children do not need loads of toys for play, but [...]

  Starting a collection of natural materials sounds easy enough. Take a walk, pick up a few things . . .  I figured I’d have a buckets of things in no time. I didn’t realize that 95% of the time the treasures the girls gathered were rocks. Rocks are great, they just did not make [...]

We’ve had some warm days here in California. All other plans have been put on hold so that we can spend some time by the river.  Our only agenda was to have an adventure. Okay, and maybe enjoy some sensory play.   Natural things like water, mud, sand, and flowers in limitless amounts. Only hands, [...]

I can’t think of a parent that doesn’t want their child to play. We know that play is, quite simply, good for kids.   Infants play spontaneously without encouragement, and sometimes despite of many distractions. As they age, our expectations of them tend to change. We encourage them, with the best of intentions, to be [...]

In education, assessment is the follow-up to any learning activity. Quizzes, tests, and final products are all intended to be evidence of what children are learning. At home, we too have a less intrusive way to get a glimpse into our children’s understanding, by just listening and watching their play.   In play, children can [...]

  When the Christmas tree came out, I realized that we had a nice little corner full of potential. Instead of returning our dining table to this corner, I changed this to a play space.   I experimented a bit and moved the girls’ kitchen area here, as well as a small table and chairs [...]

Most every gesture of children’s first friendships are, as my sister says, “adorable.”  Such moments often elicit oohs and awws from nearby adults.  We fawn over children who hold hands, however, it’s easy to overlook the importance of such candid expressions of early friendships.   It is harder to pin down what constitutes friendship between [...]

A teacher friend that I just told about the blog shared with me that she knew what to do with preschool aged children, but was wondering if she was doing enough with her infant son.   It was such a touching moment in an otherwise rushed conversation. Z’s mama was essentially telling me that she [...]

It’s finally starting to feel like autumn around here.  The triple-digit heat has gone, and in its place rain has showered our desperately dry yard.  Recently on an afternoon walk, we gathered up leaves along the way.  We passed over apples left to rot on the sidewalk, dry browned leaves, and stopped to inspect bark [...]

  I recently attended an educators workshop. The first lecture, titled “Creating Mathematics and Scientific Environments,” was outstanding and inspiring. After a brief lecture the teachers/presenters, Michele and Christina, invited us adults to play with a trove of materials that they had lugged up from their school in southern California.   They invited us to [...]