Keeping fitness fun and active with a mixed age group can be a challenge in the winter months.  Climbing sofa's, chairs, and tables are a natural choice for toddlers, but not a safe one.  So, in fun fitness style we MAKE time for fitness play in pre-k!

We use these several times each day!  When the children begin to run in circles, or just dump toys (and not proceed to play with them), it is a physical signal to me that they are done with their current activity and are getting bored.  Taking a "brain break" is a perfect way to refocus that energy into a constructive and positive skill building activity that allows them to move, groove, and get their self-regulation back!  Any activity that engages multiple senses is good for this.  Brain breaks include listening and full body movement making it a perfect way to learn new songs!

These are the ones we use most often in our class!

Our Food and Fitness theme from Mother Goose Time curriculum has brought us lots of opportunities for new songs, dances, and fitness fun!  

Our children LOVE to dance.  They LOVE to be able to dance to these sweet videos and it gives the plenty of opportunity to develop body awareness, coordination, and balance.

Ms. Melissa brings new yoga games, poses, and music each month right to our class.  Our children then spend time several times each week recalling and practicing the lesson she has taught us.  We practice our listening and observation skills, our coordination and balance, our breathing and focus.  She uses shapes, songs, ribbons, game cards and makes each lesson achievable for our mixed age group.

Most of our children participate in the group lessons.  We do have a few that just rather observe from the side than participate..  (And that's just fine too!)

Mr. Ninja makes his lessons incredible for our little one's aged 18 months-5 years.  Ever tried holding the attention of 10 children of that age span?  Mr. Ninja does a super job.....  The children just light up when they are allowed to punch, kick, chop, break boards, and yell (and it is encouraged!!!)  What a great confidence builder for our sweet babes!

Keeping little bodies busy when the weather is less than cooperative can be an opportunity for music, movement, and lessons that result in increased skills, balance, confidence, and fitness for preschool children.  We love the indoor winter months when we get creative and get moving!

As always, I wish you well and I hope you get to play today! - L

In the summer I set out to find just the right curriculum for my little mixed age group.  It always seemed like I was burning the midnight oil prepping for the upcoming days.  That journey led me to researching the top rated children's curriculum that were hands-on with activities that would prepare my soon to be Kindergartners to be ready for school as well as meet the needs of my little toddling ones.  
I finally settled on four top companies, wrote to them and asked if they would be interested in an honest review of their products.  They all were delighted and quickly shipped out the curriculum.  This review is the final one of the four part series and will go into detail about what you can expect from Carol's Affordable Curriculum.

First, let me say, "WOW!"

I could tell that Carol, the CEO of CAC (Carol's Affordable Curriculum) had to have been a licensed in-home childcare provider in her previous life.  

That's not to say that it wouldn't be suited for a center.  It absolutely would.  But Carol takes painstaking efforts to come up with daily lessons that appeal to a wide age range and ability.  Not only that, she provides a monthly menu (that looks to me like it would be approved by the food program saving the provider HOURS of food planning), tips and tricks for growing your business, and a self-assessment checklist that really makes you stop and think about how you are presenting yourself to your children and clients.  

This page right here.  This one made me squeal out loud!  This was also the ONE SINGLE PAGE that told me Ms. Carol had walked in our shoes.  That she understood exactly what the day of the in-home childcare provider was like.  

Why?

Not one other curriculum included this page.  This is a major time saver for me.  A menu.....FOR A MONTH!  

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!

Maybe I am easy to please.  Maybe I should get out more often....maybe....just maybe....Carol get's it!

Yep...that's the one.  She has walked a mile in our shoes.  So she includes this major time saver.  I can take this bad boy to the store with me and use it as a meal planner AND my shopping list.  You know what?  She even includes recipes!  

Carol's Affordable Curriculum is amazingly affordable.  There are monthly child and self assessments, training, printables, books, projects, songs, fingerplays, puppets, crafts, language arts, math, science, and social/emotional skill builders in a well organized, easy to follow, and age appropriate curriculum.  For just a bit more than a buck a week, your program can have a professional grade, prepared curriculum!

http://www.carolscurriculum.com/_

We value the process of art here at Woolsey Academy.  Messy hands, messy faces, mixed colors of paint, play dough and glitters.  We seldom have any project that doesn't involve some sort of clean up.  This "process" of creating is where many respected associations in ECE will say we need to remain.  They will say that , "It is the process of creating that is of value, not the end result."  The will further ascertain that "No two projects should look alike, as no two students have the same abilities."  

The NAEYC - National Association for the Education of Young Children says:

"Characteristics of process-focused art experiences• There are no step-by-step instructions
• There is no sample for children to follow
• There is no right or wrong way to explore and create
• The art is focused on the experience and on exploration of techniques, tools, and materials
• The art is unique and original
• The experience is relaxing or calming
• The art is entirely the children’s own
• The art experience is a child’s choice
• Ideas are not readily available online" - http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/article/process-art-experiences
They state the following about "product-focused" art:

"Characteristics of product-focused art experiences• Children have instructions to follow
• The teacher created a sample for children to copy
• There’s a right and a wrong way to proceed
• There’s a finished product in mind
• The children’s finished art all looks the same
• The children experience frustration
• The teacher might “fix mistakes”
• The whole class took part in an art project at the same time
• Patterns and examples are readily available online" -http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/article/process-art-experiences

Do I believe that the NAEYC is wrong?  Nooooo.....maybe just over simplifying "product-focused" what children can gain from "product-focused" art.  Maybe we should rename it "step-by-step process art" that is appropriate for preschool aged children, remove the assumption that teachers "fix mistakes" and insert the understanding that many older preschool children really do want to make a "project." 

First, let me explain that I don't believe that it's all "project" or "product."  I don't know of any teachers (personally) that create a picture, tell a child there is a "right or wrong" way to do it, fix "mistakes" or are only interested in the finished product.  That sounds a bit too "black and white" to me.  I do believe, however, that there is a happy child somewhere in between.  I further do not know of even one preschool that doesn't have cute "similar" pictures from it's students lining the halls.  Why is that???  If children are only "frustrated" by "product-focused, done-at-the-same-time-group-art?"  Are hundreds of thousands of children being forced to "art?"  

As children get older (in my experience), they want to know, "What are we making today?"  They WANT to create something with a discernible beginning, middle, and end.  I believe that product art gives children that are seeking this predictability  an outlet.  Just try telling some of my 5 year old's, "Make anything you want!"  They will get together, discuss what to make, then all try to make something that looks similar!!  Sometimes they want "process art" but often, they want a step-by-step process.  They are "rule" seeking as is appropriate for their age.  They exhibit this in their pretend and play through games, assigning roles, and making up rules.  This is beneficial and typical of a 4-6 year old.  

In each of the above photos the children have received similar art materials to create with.  These projects are primarily provided by Mother Goose Time and go along with their MANY opportunities for process-focused art.  There is a picture available of what the "product" looks like.  They are then allowed to glue, cut, stick, color, paint, tape, and place parts where ever they see fit.  

Yes, sometimes a child becomes frustrated.  However, in my experience, children with a "process only" free art center also deal with frustration when their picture, painting, dough mold, or taping process isn't turning out the way they wanted it to.  I have come to believe, in my 20+ years as a child care provider and preschool teacher that it is the focus of the teacher and how that individual teaches the child to handle frustration that is one of the most important factors in the process of art, math, science, social/emotional skill building, literature.....DAY of a preschooler or toddler.  

You see, each and every moment in the life of a toddler or preschooler is a process of learning and a product of experiences.  

In the article, "Why We Should Stop Segregating Children By Age" in Psychology Today, author Peter Gray, PhD explains, " Children are especially interested in, and ready to learn from, those others who are a little older than themselves, a little farther along in their development, but not too far along."  Product art is just one of the ways younger children enjoy learning from older children.  I find that when I allow older children to assist younger children, frustration is GREATLY reduced regardless of whether we are engaging in art, science, counting, circle time, etc.  

I believe that both product art and process art have a place in the ECE setting.  

One allows a child to put together a project like reading a recipe.  When we bake, cook, make pizza's, cookies, etc., we read the recipe.  My little bakers are all there to lend a hand, pour, measure, and stir ingredients, hypothesize about what will happen as we mix, measure, stir and pour.  Likewise, I believe there is value (age appropriate) in learning to follow directions by cutting out the circle first, placing it on top of the rectangle, and then placing the ovals we cut out yesterday around the perimeter of the circle to make a flower.    

Will my one year old's be able to do this?  No.  I wouldn't expect them too.  Will they have a 5 year old sitting with them, helping them excitedly?  YOU BET!  This benefits both children.  The younger child gets to participate as he or she wants as they come and go from the table at will.

 The older child that has grown up with me and now understands words like "first", "second", and "perimeter" gets to make their flower and then enthusiastically hand their little partner his/her flower while exclaiming, "Here's yours!!"  "Look what I made for you!!"  Both children are excited.  Both children get to participate.  Both children benefit.  This is one of my favorite things about a mixed age group.  As the younger children gain more understanding, they begin to say, "Me do!"  and the "process" of independent art creation grows.

All art whether it has an end product or not can be beneficial when freedom of time and expression are provided by a loving and educated teacher that is focused on a child's engagement and sensory experience.  

As always, I wish you well, and I hope you get to play today!

​-L

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We're not afraid of messes around here.  Dough, paints, glue, cooking.....they are all a part of our daily play.  Age doesn't matter, ability doesn't mean a thing....everyone gets to play.  Everyone gets to explore.  Everyone has opportunities to experience making a mess.  

It is healthy.  Kids will wash.  This pic was taken during our paint your own beetle project during our study of the Savannah by Mother Goose Time.  These experiences actually do grow their abilities, build pathways in their bitty brains, and expand their motor skills, and engage their senses.  What could possibly be wrong with that?  

Adults...

All too often the response to messy play is, "Not on my watch!"  We want clean classrooms, quiet children, glowing hands and faces.  I have been guilty of this myself.  There are times when you look at the paint bottles and think, "10 children x 10 fingers + 4 bellies + 30 paint brushes (add walls, tables, chairs, squealing toddlers running in glee while outwitting 2 experienced teachers) = 2 weeks of cleaning.....ummmm...let's read a book!  Yeah...books are good for them...let's read!!"  

But, just add coffee (to the teachers) and get out the paints.  It's time for some LEARNING!

Fortunately, the parents of Woolsey Academy kiddos know that their children WILL get messy.  They will have play dough fingers, painted ears, markered little lips, and a glue smudge here and there.  Best of all, they encourage it!  

This is a "hands-on" place of learning.  A place that loves to take lots of pictures of messy kids, crazy clean-ups, and giggling teachers with a little bit of fear in their eyes (the rebels are staging a coup!).  

It's all good "clean" fun!!  

Best of all,,,,it's the OPTIMAL way that children learn.​

See that....there isn't a sad face in the bunch.  When the learning is hands-on, the emotions follow.  We don't have to make the children "sit at the table and learn" when the play dough, paints, or glitter glue is in the mix.  

Why is that??  What draws them in??

This article from Dyslexia Support Services at the following link does a great job of explaining the various learning aspects of the simple art of finger painting.  Why it is vital and what it teaches.  At the bottom is the paint recipe I am making right now!

http://dyslexiasupportservices.com.au/pdf_files/FingerPainting.pdf_

"Personal, Social, Emotional and Language Development

When children paint with their fingers they can create whatever they want. It’s easy to succeed and children gain great satisfaction, self-esteem and confidence through participating in this activity, especially as there is no pressure to produce a recognisable end product. As well as being enjoyable it is also a very calming, relaxing activity. If more than one child is painting they learn to share materials, observe and learn from each other and give feedback to each other.

They will be developing their language by discussing what they are doing, asking questions, talking about colours and textures.

Physical Development

Finger painting encourages the development of hand–eye co-ordination and spatial awareness. It will develop fine motor skills when the children are working on small areas and develops gross motor skills when working on large areas.

Science and Art

Through finger painting children are learning how to express themselves, their ideas and emotions visually. They are learning about texture, colour and shape. They will learn, by discovery, how colours combine to produce a new colour, for example mixing red and yellow will produce orange. If they help you to make the paint they will be learning about how materials can change and react together.

Finger Paint can be quite expensive therefore I have provided a recipe that is really cheap and easy to make and just as effective and enjoyable:

Finger Paint

1/2 cup water
2 tbsp. corn flour
cold water to dissolve the cornflour
Food colouring

Method  Dissolve the cornflour with a little cold water in cold water in a cup.  Boil ½ cup of water in a small pan, then turn down the heat  Add the cornflour mixture to boiling water, stirring constantly  Heat the mixture until it thickens and becomes glossy  Add food colouring and cool completely before using. "  ​http://dyslexiasupportservices.com.au/pdf_files/FingerPainting.pdf_

Painting, play dough, mud, water, sand play all have the same effect on the learning process in the brain.  They are valuable and vital to early childhood.  

This is why we do what we do and have a TON of fun in the process.

As always, I wish you well and I hope you get to play today!

-L

Even when the winter winds blow, we find a way to fit moving and grooving into each day.  Ice, snow, no matter.....from Karate to Yoga, we've got it covered!

The winter months can present such a challenge for large muscle play in Pre-K.  On days when the temperatures dip too low for outside play, we make a way for little bodies to stay healthy, fit, and active.  

There is no sadder child than the one stuck at a table doing worksheets all day; nothing that will induce, "I'm boooooored!" faster than a five year old tracing letters and numbers on end.  Heaven knows we can't have that!!  

This awesome child's yoga poster came from Mother Goose Time as a part of their Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day "Peace Party" pack.  It is now a permenant part of our classroom and posted on the wall above our "Safe Place" or cool down area.  This is the little bench were children relax and regroup if they are out of sorts.  We have our calm down jars, our Peaceful Poses poster and game spinner, some books and soft dolls and the children seem to respond to this very well.  

The children in my mixed age setting are 16 months - 5 years.  The littlest ones simply move in and out of the group, sticking little bums up in the air during Downward Dog and joyously hopping around during Warrior Poses.  It is an incredible experience for them to have such a child focused teacher.  She makes it even more fun with "Snowman Pose," "Sled Pose," and making "Snowflake Soup."  I can't think of a better was to incorporate music and movement into some indoor large motor play.  Kuddos to our AMAZING yoga instructor Ms. Melissa!!

Mr. Denton Henrichs, aka Mr. Ninja, gives these kiddos a great outlet for punching, kicking, chopping, and using those big powerful muscles, especially when we can't make it to the slides and swings.  Look at that focus!  These children are aged 3-5!  Mr. Ninja also teaches at The Squatting Monkey.

We freeze dance, bunny hop, work out the wiggles with silly songs and chants, take "bear hunts" and don coats, hats, and gloves for even a few minutes of outdoor play as much as possible.  There are so many fun ways to engage little bodies and get them away from table time.  It is essential for growing brains and actually aids attention for children to PLAY!  

We are so fortunate to have a community that loves it's children and are willing to provide lessons that are preschool appropriate with love. 

As always, I wish you well and I hope you get to play today!

​-L