play_potential

16th
Today is for

In the early years context there are a number of practices that are old fashioned or a better term may be outdated. One of which is offering children colouring in pages/books as well as using template based crafts. A blank canvas and suitable materials like chunky crayons, paint brushes and more simple materials offered for children’s own creativity to emerge are more suitable.

“It must not be forgotten that the basic law of children’s creativity is that its value lies not in its results, not in the product of creation, but in the process itself. It is not important what children create, but that they do create, that they exercise and implement their creative imagination.” - Lev Vygotsky

If you’re an early childhood educator offering colouring in pages and template based crafts ask yourself ‘Who is it for?’

Anyone in the field of early years do share other outdated / old fashioned practices in the comments.

15th
Today is for

I am fortunate to have worked very closely with Robin Christie, co-founder of and keen early childhood environment designer. He has fueled my ever growing knowledge and passion for exploring the potential of outdoor spaces and connecting children with nature.

This space was designed by Robin and the team at Childspace Karori for babies under 18 months. While he is wonderful at creating protected spaces, large sandpits, meandering paths and much more he also has the ability to empower others and draw out their ideas to create successful spaces for young children. A truly marvellous designer.

14th
Today is for

What do you imagine an early childhood environment to be like? Sleek? Probably not but maybe bright and super clean with firm surfaces and furnishings? Something like we remember from school days perhaps.

Research indicates aesthetics, lighting, materials and colour greatly impact on children’s focus and enjoyment in learning. Warm colours, carefully chosen textured fabric, artwork, baskets and wooden bowls, and plants create an atmosphere where people feel emotionally and physically at ease. This baby space doesn’t make me think, sleek, but with its warm colours, beautiful natural light, soft furnishings and curved edges it does make me feel like it’s a nice place to be.

What parts of an environment help you feel welcomed, calm and focused?

3 top tips for an early years environment:
✨Think beyond a Traditional Classroom

✨Create Connections, a Sense of Place and Belonging

✨ Enhance Children’s Use of the Environment

13th
Today is for

One big reason we chose our child’s early childhood centre is for their outdoor area. It’s expansive! Here you only see a fraction of it. The other great part is the children and educators are outside every single day. Only on particularly windy days will they be inside to stay safe.

Being dripping wet is a-ok with them. They advise on appropriate clothing and encourage us to have two sets of outdoor gear for morning and afternoon outdoor explores. I’ve picked up our child dripping wet on a number of occasions now and yet bone dry as he is prepared for the rain.

12th
Today is for

In the context of early years FRESH makes me consider a fresh perspective, seeing things with new eyes, something I think comes very naturally to young children. Babies and toddlers are full of wonder and awe and no where is this more true than outdoors.

Outdoors children are more alert, more awake, more attentive, they play and experiment, they learn about the world as they see, observe, notice and inspect everything. They dawdle because they are looking at the world with fresh eyes, with their whole body. As I slow down alongside babóg I am rediscovering wonder through the eyes of our child.

“If we could see the world through the eyes of a child we would see the magic in everything” Chee Vai Tang

11th
Today is for

I often get looks of surprise when our babòg is seen drinking out of an open cup, and even more so when it’s from a glass.

We did opt to go straight to open cup when he first started having water around 6 months. We had learnt that using an open cup will help him learn to sip rather than suck and this is better for his teeth and all round oral motor skills which later impacts speech and language development. We’ve noticed there is also cause and effect learning happening as learns to gauge how much liquid to drink without spilling it and much more.

We started with silicone cup as we found it to be the best size for baby to hold, lift and manoeuvre to his mouth. It’s also soft, flexible and durable for those early weeks of exploring drinking and for when we are on the go out and about.

We started by offering a small amount of water so there was less to spill. We helped guide the cup to his mouth at first and tilted it slightly so the water would touch his lips. In the beginning we also only offered water in a cup after meal food so he could focus on one thing at a time and there was less opportunity for soggy toast all over the table and floor! Now it comes with a meal and I’ve just begun to wonder if we should go back to afterwards as everything goes in the cup/glass.

Im finding it difficult to find glass the exact right size for babóg to drink from. Recently I think it was Courtney who shared the little jars curry paste comes in are a perfect starter glass. I’ll be stocking up for next baby as I think it’s really important to trust babies with real plates, cups and utensils. In this they grow to understand the care that needs to be taken with things of value. Children too are very capable when given the opportunity.

If anyone has any recommendations on small tumbler style tempered glassware let me know.

10th
Today is for

While not slim in the usual sense of the word, this photo reminds me of the many playful moments have had together, often singing. One of my favourite songs to sing with our babóg was Skinny Marinki D**ky D**k. Have you heard of it before? The lyrics are below:

Skinny Marinky D**ky D**k
Skinny Marinky Do
I love you
Skinny Marinky D**ky D**k
Skinny Marinky Do
I love you
I love you in the morning, and I love you late at night
I love you in the evening when the moon is shining bright
Oh, Skinny Marinky D**ky D**k
Skinny Marinky Do
I love you
Skinny Marinky D**ky D**k
Skinny Marinky Do
I love you
Skinny Marinky D**ky D**k
Skinny Marinky Do
I love you
I love you in the morning, and I love you late at night
I love you in the evening when the moon is shining bright
Oh, Skinny Marinky D**ky D**k
Skinny Marinky Do
I love you

Singing lullabies, songs and saying rhymes with babies is such a wonderful experience. Whether out and about, loud and proud or at home gentle and slow we sing often. Very helpful in transitional moments, moving from one experience to the next.

Great delight is often expressed with some of the funny repetitive ones while others are more soothing when baby is in need of a calming connection.

All support babies developing communication skills: language, listening, sounds, expressions, the serve and return of conversation and much much more. All that little bit more deeply explored when it is from the adults voice who is with them and not coming from a device. No matter your singing skills don’t worry baby won’t judge, it’s a powerful connector.

What are some of your favourite songs/rhymes to sing with a baby? Comment below.

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9th
Today is for

When setting boundaries with young children being gentle but also firm, honest, clear and direct is the way to go. There are many occasions where our babóg will challenge me in this; pulling the cat’s tail, spilling water all over the bathroom floor, trying to get into the fireplace or as you see here the drinks cabinet! Yes, he did push the chair the whole way over from the dining table and pull the cupboard door all by himself - very independent and strong.

Sometimes children need to hear ‘No’ or ‘Stop’ especially when something is dangerous, or potentially harmful. Over the years I’ve also practiced avoiding using the royal ‘we’ and have attempted to use more I statements in moments of challenging behaviour; “I won’t let you…” rather than “we don’t…”. I’ve found talking in the third person seems to remove the clarity and immediacy of a message. Whereas referring to myself, as “I”, and the child as “you” is direct and respectful. Janet Lansbury has many example of putting these ‘I’ statements into action in her blog posts. Highly recommend.

Today is for (I struggled with this one)

The first phrase I thought of when thinking of the word dark was ‘through darkness comes light’’. So light or more precisely lighting is a key consideration when creating spaces for young children. The right lighting, that being the use of indirect, ambient lighting, the use of daylight, and warm and neutral colours is important as it helps create a calm and comfortable environment.

It has been suggested that too much light can stimulate energy, whereas too little light may frustrate a child. When light is intentionally prepared for in the environment, it is believed to help children’s focus and enjoyment in learning as they feel emotionally and physically at ease.

Throughout an early years setting educators have an opportunity to create a sense of softness in the selection of colour, furnishings, lighting and materials. At home parents too may have this opportunity or may not. We are limited with our space in our current home, also in being a rental we can’t change a whole@lot. I do love how our babógs bedroom is warm and calming in all its neutrality though. The window is south facing so sun really warms it up throughout the day, this doesn’t help midday naps much but night time is delightful.

Today is for

Babies won’t particularly mind about any wrinkles on these cotton scarves. A wonderful first play object we can give a baby after discovering their hands is a soft cotton cloth in a design that will attract their attention.

A cotton scarf peaked to stand, provides a soft and gentle exploration of movement. While lying on their back they peer at it at length, touch it and one day reach for it.

Cotton is a lightweight, breathable fabric. A baby can easily grasp, pull, shake and slide it across their body without causing themselves any harm.

Magda Ge**er believed in “busy babies rather than busy toys”. She suggested we keep toys simple so that our babies could investigate them thoroughly, use them imaginatively in multiple ways, and be encouraged to be active explorers.

Today is for

Babies having freedom of movement from the earliest months is something I am really passionate about. Dr.Emmi Pikler being my BIGGEST inspiration in this area of development as is Gill Connell from New Zealand See more below.

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Doctor Emmi Pikler (1902-1984) was a paediatrician in Budapest, Hungary from the 1930’s. Through her work with families and raising her own she believed that even a very young infant/baby was an active, competent person able to take their own initiative.

While I haven’t yet studied in Lóczy (her now quite famous research centre and housing for disadvantaged children) I understand she was very attentive to the quality of the relationship between adult and child, especially in moments of care, which according to her should be experienced in an intimate, loving and nurturing way. Trusting relationships with a consistent caregiver who demonstrates respect for the child and understands their needs is paramount.

In terms of physical development she believed that all children have an innate body wisdom that naturally directs the unfolding of motor skills. She practiced and later thought caregivers to respect and not interfere with children’s natural motor development. Teaching children motor skills, like rolling, sitting up and walking was not allowed by Dr. Pikler. Instead she stressed the importance of infants being afforded the opportunity for self-mastery.

Her work has influenced many on how to do things with and not to an infant, an ultimate mark of respect, and how to create optimal environments for movement and play. Building these two principles into my work with children in early childhood services has had a big influence on my teaching and now as a parent I continue to learn and grow in my understanding of the Pikler approach.