🌱Watch This Space!🌱
We have been busy creating a new space for our babies and toddlers. On Friday we had our sandpits sifted and moved all the sand from our small sandpit to the large sandpit. Today we began to fill this area with soil to prepare the space for a new cubby, grass and plants. We would like to thank our community for assisting with fundraising for the new cubby, which should arrive in a few weeks. We cannot wait to see how the children will use this new space and watch our gardens evolve once again.
Ah! I wondered what Chris was up to this morning.
On a recent trip to one of the local Op Shops, Amy discovered an assortment of treasures that would be perfect for creating engaging sensory activities in the rooms. Items that would lend themselves to help in stimulating a child’s 5 senses; touch, taste, sight, sound and smell. Items that would also facilitate exploration of the senses as a child plays.
The Adventurers we very curious about the items Amy set up on the table and couldn't wait to get stuck into some messy play! Amy found jugs and trays and spoons and bowls, a whole mix of items to provoke thinking and creativity and to help the children practice those important fine motor skills. We introduced coloured water and corn flour to encourage further exploration of sensory attributes, for instance wet/dry, dark/light, rough/smooth. Though it was a busy, messy experience, there was a calm feeling in the air, as the children focused on scooping and mixing and pouring their concoctions from one item to another.
If you are interested on further reading about the benefits of sensory play, here is a link to a good article!
www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=227
Shmuli Cohen and this is why Jay’s shirt was covered in whatever it was it was covered in 😂🥰🤗
Oooohhhhhhhhhhhh Stephanie I would love to give this a try 😉
Gwyn Nichols
Miss Amy writes "being inspired by all those who are already helping the our native animals affected by the fires over east, Miss Leonie and I discussed possible experiences that would actively engage and involve the children in the process, teaching the children the importance of looking after our native animals and sneaking in some fine motor skill development too! We decided on making small animal pouches. After finding templates for sewing, it was decided by the children that we were going to make a smaller size that was best suited for bush tailed possums and koalas. We bought the natural materials to create them with (snuggly flannelette to line them and tougher cotton drill for the outside pouch).
We had a discussion with the children about the animals and where they might have lived before, and what they might be doing for homes now that the fire may have burnt their trees. We also spoke about the important rules to remember when sitting and working near a sewing machine (we found the needle location and spoke about how sharp it was and where to place our hands). We do however have a needle guard attached to the machine, to prevent those wandering fingers from getting to close, though I must say the children were great and everyone kept their hands in the safe spots that were located earlier. Then the fun began! Everyone took turns at first practicing moving the fabric along while I controlled the needle, and then once they were comfortable with the action they had a go at using the needle peddle too - apparently it was like driving a race car!
I have picked plain materials for the outside pouches so that we can share this activity with the other children, having them decorate the pouches using natural dyes.
We can't wait to share with you the final products and to send them over for our fury friends to help them!
Fantastic wow
I love this experience!
Maxine Saka beautiful inspired interactions and learning between educators and children 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
How lucky we are, to be a part of such a thoughtful and giving community.
This week our kindy children enjoyed spending time in the garden in search of a home for a number of fruit trees that have recently been donated by one of our families. A very big thank you from all of us here, we are excited to watch the fig and pomegranate trees grow and one day taste the delicious fruit they will produce.
The types of trees donated are also two of the seven species of trees of Israel that we are currently learning about for Tu B'Shvat.
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/gardening-for-children
With availability for enrolments from August 2020, now is the time to visit our website and book a tour. ruthlandauharp.com/
