Lets take a Poll!

Be Free and Find Your Family!

Thanks to Miss Taylor for being brave enough to catch this huge cricket and put it in this container for the children to investigate.

Immediately some of the children were concerned that our cricket friend was lonely and needed to be with the family.  We took this opportunity to to learn about how to get everybody's opinion before making a decision and we took a poll!

A few of the older children went around asking every single child and adult if we "should let the cricket go free to find his family or keep it in the box"

 The decision was unanimous and we decided to let the cricket "be free and find his family" 

This wasn't a planned activity but when centers are flexible and children are given freedom to move around the environment and choose their own learning with adults ready to engage and facilitate this type fun, enriching opportunity happens!

Moments Under the Tree

I love trees and the gifts they provide... 
At You're Invited we are so fortunate to have several trees and I believe ours are being used to  to fullest of God's intentions for providing them to us.  Some of these trees are huge and provide the best natural shade and we are blessed to have a few that offer even more gifts.  Our trees that have low, strong branches provide endless opportunities for our children.  Low branches provide a feeling of being enclosed and give children a place that feels like their own little shelter.  Swings are possible when branches are low and of course the amazing, powerful feat of being able to climb something "hugemungus" like a tree.  As much as these trees offer, they can not be fully utilized without offering children the time to use them to their fullest potential.
     It is so important that children are given long amounts of time with the freedom to make their own choices in their play.    It easy to be convinced of the fallacy that children need to constantly be presented with curriculum and provided with information constantly.  The intention behind these overly structured environments is to "get them ready"  but what happens are children that can be stressed, overwhelmed and unable to think on their own.  They become dependent on outside resources to be stimulated and they don't develop the inner resources that can equip them for their future.
     Children need to be given time and spaces that are rich for building language and friendships, working out drama and creating pretend dramas, they need the time and space to be free, to think without interruption, to dream and to relax. 

Going Up The Slide The Wrong Way!!

Many preschools (and public) schools have instilled these hard set rules about appropriate outdoor play. Kids cant swing on their bellies (great for proprioception), can only ride trikes on a path and the path is usually a circle (not very risky), cant move items outside their designated play space (not encouraging teamwork and creativity), and can't go up the slide the wrong way!

Have there been serious maming and disfiguring accidents that I dont know about or have we made decisions putting our possible legal liabilities and paranoia over the developmental needs of our children? I read an article recently that spoke of playground accident related lawsuits have actually increasing since this recent push of boring, static playgrounds with restrictive rules.

This picture taken at my school shows the beauty that can happen when children are allowed to "go up the wrong way on the slide." I think the joy on the face of the girl with the extended arm can be enough to encourage us to rethink our outdoor play rules. I wish I could have recorded her giggle! She is a 3 year old helping her older 4 year old friend up, modeling teamwork for the 2 year old friend next to her. Bliss!!

When children are supervised well and given opportunities to use outdoor equipment in ways that allow risk, creativity and challenge it will translate into positive self worth, confidence, and cooperation skills.

Babies playing and learning - Outdoors!!!

At Infant Care by You're Invited our babies enjoy
our beautiful Southern California weather!

Babies painting on nature found around the school - rosemary, mint, lavendar and wood discs!

Our littlest ones participating in International

Mud Day too!!

Splatter Painting at You're Invited Children's Center

Child-led, fun creative experiences with no predetermined outcomes for young children!
We used plastic drink bottles with a small hole in the lid (I used a nail and hammer to put the hole in the lid), spray bottles, rubber band brushes (instructions to follow soon), toothbrushes and other fun splatter tools.

Definitely an outside activity, unless your like Teacher Tom and have space inside thats suitable for paint to splatter on the walls :)

Spread the kids out on the grass and let them express themselves!

I had paint all over my legs, shoes and the friends had paint all over them! So much fun! To make the paint go farther I mixed it with some water and liquid starch.

SUMMER BUBBLE FUN!!!!

SUMMER BUBBLE FUN!

Our little friends worked hard on this activity for the longest time (some stayed at this table for over an hour!)

Punch a hole in the top side of the cup to fit the "bendy" straw in, stretch cheesecloth over a plastic cup filled with Dawn (its the best soap to use) dish soap and water) then wrap a rubber band around it! Let the friends know not to suck in (although some will at first but it doesnt hurt them and they learn quick)! We talked about the size, texture, what happens if we blow softly, hard, slowly, quickly, we even tried to cover the whole tray, then the whole table!

I love how this friend is moving her body so the bubbles dont go in her face, thats problem solving!! This is also great for teachers because our floor and table get super clean :)

Spring Activities!!

I love Spring!! It's my favorite season because its not too hot yet here in SoCal but its definitely warm enough to spend all day outside if we want! Here are some of the fun we've been having the last few weeks!!

Using styrofoam shapes and baskets of pipe cleaners, feathers, straws and plastic flowers the friends made some beautiful creations!

We also used the plastic flowers for some counting fun!

We CAN'T do activities with plastic flowers unless we also provide real flowers too! Every year we do spring gardening!! This year we did lots of herbs, strawberries, a butterfly garden and some mystery seeds :)