When children are given the responsibility to wash dishes, they are able to develop essential life skills such as responsibility, independence, and self-care. Allowing children to participate and contribute to the family household tasks instilling a sense of accomplishment and  belonging.

To get started, set up a simple pretend sink or washing station with two basins – one with dish soap and warm water, and another with clean rinse water. Have a water source nearby so that children can add more water as needed. It’s important to establish a process for emptying and refilling the basins. As children explore and wash the dishes, they will learn how warm water creates suds while cool water cuts suds, how much water is needed to clean, and how to use a sponge to scrub and ensure cleanliness.

Through dish washing, children develop an internal sense of order as they follow a long sequence of steps. It takes a high degree of self-control to only collect one pitcher of cool water and one pitcher of warm water to pour in the two basins. They also coordinate their whole body in walking back and forth to the outdoor play sink, sometimes carrying a full pitcher, and in balancing as they shift their weight  moving the dishes from one basin to the other.

 

As with many Practical Life materials, the opportunity for repetition helps to develop strong concentration. Children not only learn how to care for their own belongings, but they also learn how to help others.

 

 

Bring the mirrors outdoors and enjoy this simple and rewarding activity! During the early years, children are enamored with their own reflections. Providing this opportunity to study themselves, and create art, encompasses many different skill sets for young children.

 

Infants: Infants will enjoy simply looking at themselves in a mirror. Offer a hand mirror on a blanket where they can gaze and practice tummy time!

 

Toddlers: Help toddlers label their own features in the mirror. Encourage them to explore different art materials without concern about the final product. Focus on correctly holding utensils (pencil between fore finger and thumb).

 

Older Toddlers: Encourage older toddlers to recognize simple shapes in their features and transcribe those shapes on their drawing. Encourage correct handling of utensils, and help children write their names.

 

Pre-K: Encourage children to write their names and label their features when finished with their portraits.

 

Have you tried self portraits in your program?  Have a fun activity?  Share it with us info@townsquare.org

Check out the Learn, Share, and Grow series on Excursions.  In this three-part series providers will hear about benefits of outings and ideas for before, during, and after an outing to expand children’s learning and to make the excursion go smoothly. Explore this and many other series on our Professional Development page, under Learn, Share, and Grow section.

Excursions

Theo the Bear began as a way to welcome new children into the program. I introduced him as a friendly companion they could cuddle and rely on throughout the day. If they wished to take Theo home, they were welcome to do so, but they had to bring him back the next day for more fun. Theo helped children feel more comfortable and secure in the classroom, making the transition smoother.

After a while, we stopped using Theo because there were no new children enrolling. However, he remained a beloved member of the classroom and became the sharing bear. As a sharing bear, he is available for everyone to take home. I explain to the children how much Theo loves going on adventures and visiting their homes. To enhance his travels, I added some accessories to Theo’s small bag, such as clothes, a brush, and a book. During their birthday week, each child takes Theo home for a week-long trip. Families are then asked to help children record their adventures in the Theo book by adding pictures or drawings. At the end of the week, they share their adventures with the class.

 

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA), the state affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), serves and engages the early childhood workforce and supports early care and education in Wisconsin. WECA provides professional development guidance and case management in the form of academic, non-academic, and career counseling to requested YoungStar participating programs.

 

Do the children in your program bring a water bottle to use throughout the day? Do they have trouble keeping track of it or do you find they take up table space? BJ Richards has an excellent idea for storing water bottles that she uses in her program that allows the children to easily access and put away their water bottle throughout the day. This fabric shoe organizer is inexpensive and takes up very little space as it can hang right on the back of a door or on the wall.

This fall, one of the more impactful tasks for everyone — is to vote.

 

As Family child care providers, we must vote for our interest and the interest of the children in our care. Voting is the primary means of communication with the government. Votes not only determine policy but people’s lives and livelihoods. This year it is especially important to set up a plan to vote and to communicate with staff and families on the importance of their vote. All Our Kin has developed this resource center to help you prioritize candidates who support child care.

 

Family Child Care Voter Resource Center

 

Looking at the sky is a simple and relaxing activity that fosters observation and creativity skills. It can change your perspective of the world as you have to explore a broader view. Children can see different animals or flying objects, some we may have missed if we don’t look up. They can also observe cloud formation and shape. Develop their creativity in describing what clouds look like and the stories the clouds are telling us. Next time you are outside, encourage children to look up and explore the sky. You can invite them to this activity by simply laying down a blanket or, if available, providing binoculars!

 

One of our favorite and must exciting activities is exploring worms. To start, we first figure out where worms live; often, children have seen worms out on the sidewalk or crawling on dirt and have a good idea of where to search for more. Exploring all the places in our outdoor space where they can live—asking children where they saw them and where they could have crawled under. By taking on this approach to finding the worms, we set the groundwork to learn more about worms’ habitat. Plus, it is fun to look for clues.

Once we decide where to look, the fun and messy part starts, children can use their hands, or I provide shovels so they can dig in the dirt. Figuring out what children are comfortable with is key; some will love to touch the dirt, while others may not want to. The same can be said for when we find a worm. Some children are curious and want to pick them up immediately. Others may want to see them from afar. We give children space and allow them to go at their own pace in the exploration.

If they are touching the worm, we talk about kindness, responsibility, respect, and compassion for the worm. Years ago, when we saw a worm or bug, I would immediately say, “look with your eyes, we might scare it or hurt it”. Over time I have learned the importance of having children experience holding insects, animals, and materials. I had to shift my thinking, and instead of avoiding the touching. I began to trust the children. Talking with them about how we treat animals and how we want to make sure we are caring for nature. Allowing them to take responsibility and feel proud of how they care for others helps them develop a great sense of self.

 

Maple samaras or helicopters are winged seeds of maple trees; because of their shape, it is fun to see them fall and twirl in the air. Stephanie Mckinstry of My Caterpillar Clubhouse shares fun ways to utilize these seeds in your program.

Start by collecting the leaves, having children gather as many leaves as possible, and then setting them out so they can explore.

Get creative and encourage the kids to use their imagination!