Cindabug’s Early Learning

Today was Early Childhood Educator Day. All about us who care for the children before they start school. First five years are the most important years of life.

I don’t normally share links on this page but I can not write this in any better way. Risky play as so many benefits.

21 Benefits Of Risky Play (With Examples) | Early Impact Learning It seems kind of intuitive to us all that risky play comes with lots of benefits. When we see children climbing trees, rolling down hills,…

I seen this on a group I am in. And wanted to share it. I hope this will be helpful as I see a lot of posts in here about children (young children!) not being able to do certain tasks.
Im a therapist and when I work with parents, we talk about development and what’s age appropriate, as well as what to expect. Many schools wait until age 6 and even 7 to start teaching reading and writing. There is very good reason for this. The left brain is more for analytical, abstract ideas. The right brain is responsible for more of the creative, artistic, imaginative things we see children do. From 0-2, the right brain is more active/“online.” From 2-4, more of the left brain is working/engaged. This is when we see kids wanting “order;” lining up cars, the need for structure to feel safe, etc. Then from 4-6, the right brain is more engaged again. So this is when the imagination typically explodes! You will see imaginative friends come to life. This tree not only looks like a monster, it IS a monster. This box not only looks like a tiger, “no mom, it IS a tiger!” Then from 6 on, typically the two sides really start to work together and bigger concepts can start to be mastered like reading, writing and arithmetic. So, I think this is HUGE relief. If a child doesn’t know their abc’s by 3, it’s okay!! If a child isn’t tracing by 3 1/2, it’s okay! Social/emotional engagement is really more important in these young years, as well as tactile exposure. And play, play, play. They are really still learning!
I added a picture of A child planting his feet.

100%. young children do not need to know all these things before they go into kindergarten. Do research and look at the new information and it isn’t something children need. If it was something they still thought was important for young children I would of learnt all about it when I took my early childhood education. EARLY CHILDHOOD. no I didn’t go into being a teacher I went into specializing in YOUNG children. let them play and explore. There is so much out there for young children let them be.

When I first started my dayhome I had all kids with the same ages. As my first group grew they learnt together and had the same type of play. Now I don’t have all same ages. Ages ranging from 12 months to 8 years. You can see the difference in the way they play. But not in a bad way it’s great and perfect. The little ones watch and learn from the orders and the orders learn to play in a different way when the littles are with them.
By having different ages they are at different states ages if development and using a different part of their mind that they wouldn’t use if all in the same age group.
This type of dayhome with mixed age groups is great for all children but even better for children with no siblings. Gives they the space to learn skills they can’t at home. I still have 1 full time spot for ages 30 months to kindergarten.

We all learn through our senses first, it's how we make sense with the world around us, including ourselves. Children will touch, taste, feel, smell, listen, look, and move around as they're developing. Punishment is not going to solve these problems. We should be meeting children where they're at and providing them the necessary activities and materials to help suit their developmental needs.
Source of image unknown. Words from calming me. Calming you. The owl’s nest

Did you know it can take child up to age 7 to get there pencil holding in the proper way. Don’t worry if they are not holding pencil properly it’s all part of there development. Let them have paper and crayons and go crazy.
TIP For little ones just learning tape there paper to the table then they can just learn to draw without the paper moving on them.

Eyes to observe the world around me

Ears to hear the sounds that everything makes

Mouth to talk, laugh, sing, and joyfully interact with my peers and adults

Hands to squeeze, grip, pinch, pull, push, dig, scoop, and play with dozens of different activities and materials

Feet to climb, step, jump, walk, run, skip, balance, and so much more

I sit on my bottom when I want to get a closer or more thoughtful look at something I'm interested in!
Shared from The occupational therapist 

Think about it next time your child comes to you to play with you. Even if you can’t play long they still will enjoy that 10 - 15 minutes they get.

TAKE A STEP BACK

It is important to healthy child development, that we provide children with "free time" so they can access "free play". The benefits in learning and development are HUGE.

Children need lots of time to learn, without being taught. That time is found in play.

Make time to for play!

Nature Play - take a step back and observe your child at play

From nature play Facebook