ABCkidshomedaycare

Happy New Year!!! Thank you to all my parents for everything you do for us!!

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Happy New Year 🎆

Circle time, playing time is fun

Abc Kids is Hiring for assistance !!!

Abc Kids Family Daycare is a fun environment 😍

Today we learn about North American

• Why Is Self-Directed Play So Important •

When children are engaged in self-directed play, they develop their AUTONOMY and their sense of AGENCY.

This means that they begin to see that they have CONTROL over their environment and that they can MAKE DECISIONS on things that directly and indirectly affect them.

In other words, they have CHOICES.

This leads to them developing their IDENTITY, their sense of SELF and who they are as unique individuals.

They begin to see that they are COMPETENT and CAPABLE.

They are CONFIDENT in their own abilities.

When faced with setbacks and challenges, they see themselves as ABLE to find solutions if they PERSIST.

As a result, they become OPEN to new challenges and making new DISCOVERIES.

They have more opportunities to experience and CELEBRATE successes and achievements that are a direct result of their own actions.

This leads to them choosing to engage in MORE SELF-DIRECTED PLAY because it further validates their growing sense of self and confidence.

There is often not much being said about the importance of soft skills like perseverance, resilience, confidence and problem-solving in favour of focusing on hard skills like reading, writing and numeracy.

Yet the truth of the matter is...

It is in the development of these crucical soft skills that the hard skills are eventually and inevitably acquired.

is not sneaking in or hiding the teaching of literacy and numeracy concepts through activities and “play”

Rather it’s recognising that when children engage in self-directed play, the learning “just happens” because play IS learning.

p.s. By the way, just out of curiosity, is this topic of self-directed, unstructured open-ended play of interest to you? Let me know because I’m thinking about hosting an upcoming event to share all about the magic of self-directed, unstructured open-ended play 🎉

We celebrated are one year anniversary yesterday. Thank you for Trusting me with your little ones. It’s been an awesome journey... many more years to come.

Enjoying the beautiful day😍😍