"I think we need another cylinder on this side," says Rowan. "Can you put that on for me? I will keep it balanced." Rowan and Parker are deeply engrossed in block play. Their investigations into balance, gravity, force, and cause and effect have led these four-year-old friends deep into the STEM zone. “Do you […]
The winter months offer a veritable blizzard of learning opportunities, so don't give up on your outdoor adventures at the first sign of falling temperatures and falling snow. Let's take a quick look at a few of the learning adventures that you can enjoy with your child as we explore the winter landscape. SNOW MOLDS […]
"Look!" squeals three-year-old Eleanor. "I can pick up these two balls. It's magic!" Have you ever seen young children playing with magnets? The "magical" properties of magnets never fail to captivate early learners and spark a play buzz. Children learn by investigating, observing and figuring out how things work. Magnets fuel that curiosity in a […]
"It looks like we're holding hands, but we aren't!" says Maya to Noah as she studies their shadows. When we're outside, we often engage in body shadow play with the sun as our light source. Exploring the ways that our shadows change as we move our bodies is a great way to get children engaged […]
“Look! A log with a hole in it! Can we crawl into it?” Our hike comes to a complete halt as the children regard the hollowed-out log with a sense of wonder. This gift from nature is an irresistible invitation to investigate and play! Physical play like this expands a child's vocabulary and fosters a natural […]
Kindergarten readiness isn’t just about knowing how to count to 20 or recognize the letters of the alphabet. It's about getting your child ready to learn, not ready to memorize letters and numbers. Your child will have a new schedule, new rules to follow, lines to stand in and lots of sitting and waiting, along […]
The dogs are barking so much . . . I think they are scared,” says Vera as she looks up at the sky with her certified safe eclipse glasses pressed against her eyes. She is absolutely right! The dogs in the neighborhood, the singing birds in the trees and the chirping crickets are louder and more intense […]
Some children are great at building with blocks. Others are "word people" who master new vocabulary words daily. Some are expert tree climbers. These clues may give you insights into each child's learning style. When children excel at an activity, they repeat it often—and this makes them more likely to continue to build their skills […]
“Can you read it again? PLEASE?” Have you been hearing this plea over and over again lately? Maybe it's time for some new reading material! As September unfolds, the following STEM books are guaranteed to educate, enrich and entertain young children. The concept of a STEM-focused education (which incorporates science, technology, engineering and math into the academic curriculum) […]
"Go around the tree, through the tunnel, over the rocks, under the parachute and onto the swing. Then throw a beanbag through the hula hoop and run and touch the fence. The first person to do that WINS!" I listen as five-year-old Juan walks his eager friend through the steps of the obstacle course he […]