Almost HOME early learning - Naturally

08/03/2022

"Nothing Special!"
In caring for children, I/we really didn't do anything "special".

Reflecting on my decades long career in early childhood "education" I can say somewhere around 80+ per cent of the time we just had fun together. We played! And of course, we also had "the other times" too. You know, fits & tears. That's life.

By first "trusting children to succeed" then providing activities of their interests (made easier by intentionally observing their play) our time together was "fun" because I didn't try and decide or design "what they need". I trusted what they were showing me in their play is what they need. And I accommodated. As much as I could. That too is life in community!

I came to a very clear understanding in caring for children "if they were home" what would they (should they!) be doing? PLAYING! PLAY they choose that is "safe" (a very relative term) in a community of people; even a "little's" community. PLAY that is complex, engaged, cooperative, conflictual, and moving forward. My role really wasn't all that important. Theirs was!

We must quit "over adulting" early childhood and begin to RESTORE CHILDHOOD TO OUR CHILDREN - THROUGH PLAY!

Maybe that is something special.
I know I am blessed to have been part of it.

06/13/2022

SAVE THE DATE -
Family Child Care
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE
SATURDAY JULY 9, 9:30 - 1 PM
No Early Shoppers!
Everything is priced to move - but not given away. Well, except for the still useable "really loved" stuff - some of that will be "Free to a good Home". 😁

06/11/2022

Just sayin'

06/07/2022

Family Child Care -
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE!
SAVE the DATE: Saturday July 9
9:30 A.M. - 1 PM
Much more than is pictured.

MORE INFORMATION CLOSER TO THE DATE - SATURDAY JULY 9
SAVE THE DATE (and time!)

06/05/2022

What to do with a large slide....
make a pool. Of course!

RESTORE CHILDHOOD TO OUR CHILDREN -
TRUST CHILDREN TO SUCCEED -
LET 'EM PLAY!

06/02/2022

GOING OUT OF THE CHILDCARE/EARLY LEARNING BUSINESS
SALE!
Save the Date - SATURDAY JULY 9
9:30 a.m. (so providers can sleep in, or at least not rush) - noon.

LOTS of good (and many "loved" but still good) childcare materials:
books, puzzles, games, music, manipulatives (blocks, farm set, train set, Little People items, etc.) play kitchen, some child sized furniture, outdoor equipment, art/science/discovery materials. MOST PRICES ARE FIRM but priced to move. Negotiable items (like the well-used but still sturdy & road worthy 4 passenger stroller) will be marked accordingly.

I WILL NOT "OPEN" THE SALE BEFORE 9:30 ON THE 9TH

I will post some pictures of some of the materials soon and the Decorah address. SAVE THE DATE! July 9, 9:30 - noon.

06/01/2022

I have often wondered, over my long career in the work of early care and "education" how many hours and dollars were spent/wasted by people sitting in offices and meetings thinking about how we should better do our work while we are actually busy doing our work! I am a supporter of Regulated childcare because there needs to be oversight and accountability, however, those who are "meeting" to decide what we need to do better need to know what it is we do so well: RESTORE CHILDHOOD TO CHILDREN. When we do that - "school ready" takes care of itself. Brain science proves it.

HERE - 3 of the six in "care" (and education!) help with our pancake picnic breakfast. RESTORING CHILDHOOD!

05/24/2022

Now that's a reading corner!

05/06/2022

It was a beautiful day for.....
wearing great hats ("the chicken hat"),
painting rocks and other creations,
snacking outside,
CHILDCARE PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY!

05/05/2022

05/02/2022

living IS learning!

RESTORE CHILDHOOD TO OUR CHILDREN - THROUGH PLAY!

In quality Family Child Care, we not only work to "Restore Childhood to Our Children" through everyday PLAY, LIVING, and LEARNING, but our "most natural to the child environment" (Home) provides limitless opportunities for natural to the child "learning".

Measuring, pouring, adding (chocolate), stirring, then heating all are part of the math & science processes for making hot chocolate.

The "baby" placed blocks into the chair, figured out how to retrieve them (climb up & over the arm of the chair), then repeat it - again & again.

QUALITY "FAMILY" CHILD CARE -
RESTORING CHILDHOOD TO OUR CHILDREN - THROUGH PLAY!
living IS learning ❤️