![]() I can't imagine a better time of year to talk about the letter "T" and trees, tape, and twigs. What a perfect example of springtime than to be able to see a birds nest built with twigs up close! Let me back up a bit so that no one thinks we robbed a momma bird of her little babes!! Over the past winter and early spring a friendly wood pecker decide that the side of our house was the perfect place to display his expertise. Night and day we could hear him drilling holes in the siding of our house. It sounded like a jack hammer in the walls, especially at 5am! But, not quite knowing what to do, we waited him out, figuring he would tire and move on...that he did. However, other critters opportunistically commandeered the space and took up residence. Specifically, robins... Once the little eggs hatched the chirping in the walls became quite LOUD...at...all...hours...of ...the...night... At this point a very nice man came out of professionally removed the nests, fixed the holes in the siding and in the process allowed our little preschoolers to have a peak at the downy covered babies. We looked at the nest and observed all the twigs intertwined together. We talked about how mother birds build their nests with spit, dirt, twigs, and weeds. We talked about the importance of trees keeping the babies safe from animals that might hurt them. We listened to them chirp and watched them wiggle around the nest. We talked about how the momma feeds her babies and then the hunt for worms was ON! This was a great introduction to our letter "T", tape, twigs, and trees study and the children were EXCITED! We were so thankful for the time we were allowed to see these babies up close (careful not to touch) until they were place in a location safe and close to their original "hole in my wall" habitat. We will also report that the mother found the babies and immediately began her care for them again... Natural play...and why it's important"Children learn by constructing their own knowledge about the world, not by memorizing facts." (Piaget 1962). Getting children out to play is not an effort to take a break from them, but rather a very important part of their education. Digging for worms, finding the bugs, roots, and different types of rocks in the ground and the discovery of birds, bushes, growing plants, nests and grasses are all a necessary element of child development. I have attached a link to a long, but good article in the importance of nature for children. Click on the title below to direct you to this informative article by fellow Kansas Citian, Randy White
Young Children's Relationship with Nature: Its Importance to Children's Development & the Earth's Future by Randy White
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Life is made of moments..."There isn't anything more full of hope, joy and peace than a child's smile... It captures the mundane and makes it extraordinary." - LaDonna Woolsey I am a Mother Goose Time Blogger. I decided to become one after trying their products because I they are comprehensive and serve my mixed age group well. I do receive products to review from Mother Goose Time and do so with my own honest and thorough opinions. For more information, please contact me at Ladonna@woolseyacademy.com
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