Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Let's Play!

    Posted 06-27-2019 12:48 PM
    Let's trade ideas! We all know how important play is for ECE, but sometimes we become overwhelmed with trying to refresh our environments. So, let's trade play ideas and activities that have worked in your programs. Activities that have engaged the children, increased their knowledge or helped with skill building. 

    I look forward to seeing all the new ideas we pass on!

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    Temesha (Ms. Tessie) Ragan
    Family Child Care IF Facilitator
    Perfect Start Learning
    Family Child Care Provider
    Edwards, CA
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  • 2.  RE: Let's Play!

    Posted 06-30-2019 06:52 PM
    I have seen that children love to play with toys or objects that interest them. Like boys like to play with toy cars and blocks. the children that I worked with when I was a student teacher, loved hands on activities where they could use their hands and get messy if there is paint involved. I have also noticed from being a student teacher that children like to play games with each other and their teacher like duck, duck, goose.

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    Cheryl Morris
    Saint Louis MO
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  • 3.  RE: Let's Play!

    Posted 07-11-2019 06:49 AM
    Temesha,

    Thank you for getting this conversation started! I have found the easiest way of overcoming the overwhelming sense of refresh is adopting the "less is more mindset". Often as educators we feel the need to add this, and this, and ooh this will be good for XX.... and so forth. We begin a snowball effect and all of a sudden our classrooms are jam packed and the children are still "bored" with these toys that we thought they'd enjoy. 
    By increasing the number of loose parts in the classroom, children are able to use them in a variety of ways to refresh the room themselves. Simply moving a loose parts basket from lets say block corner to housekeeping can be new and inviting and takes very little time. Loose parts and old picture frames work great at allowing children to create over and over again in different ways and perspectives. Additionally, by using loose parts, we are able to keep costs low (as we can often find these thrifting, recycling or contacting communities), as well as increasing creative thinking and executive functioning by allowing the child to think through what that part is in that moment.

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    Heather Ha
    PPPIF Facilitator
    Program Manager
    CHI St. Joseph Children's Health
    Lancaster, PA
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  • 4.  RE: Let's Play!

    Posted 07-15-2019 09:39 AM
    Tape measures. Kids love them and find their own things to measure!

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    Jordan Taylor
    Co-Founder
    On This Day in Play
    Apple Valley MN
    Parent Educator ISD 191
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