The Dandy Lions Outdoor Preschool

We currently have two spots open for the rest of the 2024/25 school year, starting in January! Send me a message for details!

The cognitive scientist helping kids persist through challenges Julia Leonard is uncovering what motivates children to put in the effort to learn

https://boldscience.org/the-cognitive-scientist-helping-kids-persist-through-challenges/?utm_source=Facebook+PPC&utm_medium=Persist+through+challenges+Traffic&utm_campaign=FB+Persist+through+challenges+Traffic&utm_content=FB+Persist+through+challenges+Traffic&fbclid=IwY2xjawGsxLtleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQBqxOJH3zPUQEdNR2SxVcNB067zhJ_LJWlKAgMSDVpD_NhSMg_oBVm4CVQIfScLsErLPBj_aem_QlC2Yhmd_aACZrRCibZUYA

The cognitive scientist helping kids persist through challenges Julia Leonard is uncovering what motivates children to put in the effort to learn

https://www.facebook.com/100064396251167/posts/900866288736571/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

To the parent who watches their child dig through the dirt with unbridled curiosity…

To the parent whose kid’s hands are constantly exploring the world, picking up everything from sticks to bugs…

To the parent who embraces the mess that comes with play, knowing it’s more than just a chaotic moment…

Here’s a thought: the tiny organisms your child encounters during their outdoor adventures could be vital.

The microbial ecosystems revealed on this petri dish, captured after a child’s day of outdoor play, are nature’s way of training the immune system, teaching our bodies to navigate a world full of challenges.

This image, taken by scientist and mother Tasha Sturm, shows what’s on the hands of an 8-year-old after playing outside and petting the family dog. After two days in a petri dish, these invisible companions emerged, showcasing the diverse microbial life we encounter daily.

As Sturm noted, “To have a healthy immune system, you’ve got to be exposed to stuff.” Research backs this up: children who interact with diverse microbial ecosystems—through soil, animals, and plants—often develop stronger immune systems and are less prone to allergies and autoimmune conditions.

So, the next time your kiddo comes home with a little dirt under their nails, remember: You’re just doing your part in raising a healthy, resilient child.

And for the parents who want to nurture that connection even further…

We’ve curated some amazing resources just for you! Explore 10 regenerative activities for kids, learn about soil health with workshops from , or dive into gardening ideas, podcasts, and more through our website.

Check out the link in bio for these and other great tools to keep your little ones connected to the earth 🌱🦠

https://www.facebook.com/100069923149852/posts/802961665377931/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Children’s anxiety and the decline of play Research shows that kids have been feeling more anxious in recent years—even before the pandemic. Learn why and what we, as parents, can do.

https://activeforlife.com/17-second-rule-risky-play/?utm_source=Patio&utm_medium=Facebook_Mobile_Feed&utm_campaign=AFL+Boosts%3A+The+17-second+rule+%26+the+importance+of+risky+play+-+Link+Clicks+-+June+2024&utm_content=LinkClicks&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMAABHUDgI099dVOuLaYiKXujEVZJbrIiasjSW0EwCMCek_20LiaFuXNwtEnjKQ_aem_7jpNIm-NEZbDo0PYlTZEug&utm_id=6509441617079&utm_term=6509441616679

The 17-second rule & the importance of risky play Learn why risky play is so important for kids and try this useful tip to keep yourself from jumping in to intervene (we know it's hard!).

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1384635152194901?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Social emotional learning 🩵 In the early years, fostering social emotional learning and play is essential. Through play, kids discover, regulate emotions, and build empathy. Social interactions teach cooperation and communication, vital for relationships. Integrating these into nature-based activities connects children with the environment, nurturing emotional intelligence and well-being 🌳 #natureschool #preschool #forestschool #outdooreducation #lexingtonky #homeschoolmom #kentuckymom #freeplay #alternativeeducation #homeschool #unstructuredplay #unschoolers #montessori #waldorfeducation #evergreennatureschool #lexingtonkynews #summercamp2024 #summercamp

https://activeforlife.com/hiking-with-a-toddler/

How to make hiking with your toddler easy and fun for everyone Hiking is a great activity to do with your toddler. Here are some tips for how to do it in an easy, manageable way.

The Dandy Lions still has two spots available for the fall. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. Message me for more details!

People ask me all the time, “But what am I supposed to do instead? What am I pragmatically supposed to do?” (And that’s fair. I write in the realm of “theory” a lot.)

So here’s an action step.

Pick one of these this week. Memorize just one of them. Keep it in your pocket for the next time that a small person you love is crying.

Bite your tongue. Take all the time you need to pause mindfully and remember that you want to say something different, instead of just telling them to stop.

Then try it out. Try out the one you’ve memorized and practiced.

See how it goes. See how you feel. See how they feel.

[Image description: a stylistic illustration of a ship on the waves, and above it is a raincloud, raining tears into the ocean. The title of it is, “10 Things to Say instead of Stop Crying.” These are the 10 things, written on the waves:
1. It’s ok to be sad

2. This is really hard for you

3. I’m here with you
4. Tell me about it

5. I hear you

6. That was really scary, sad, etc.

7. I will help you work it out

8. I’m listening

9. I hear that you need space. I want to be here for you. I’ll stay close so you can find me when you’re ready.

10. It doesn’t feel fair.

The image was made by happinessishereblog.com and The Gottman Institute. End description.]

📚 Story Time: A musical called Gillian

Gillian is a seven-year-old girl who cannot sit in school. She continually gets up, gets distracted, flies with thoughts, and doesn't follow lessons. Her teachers worry about her, punish her, scold her, reward the few times that she is attentive, but nothing. Gillian does not know how to sit and cannot be attentive.

When she comes home, her mother punishes her too. So not only does Gillian have bad grades and punishment at school, but she also suffers from them at home.

One day, Gillian's mother is called to school. The lady, sad as someone waiting for bad news, takes her hand and goes to the interview room. The teachers speak of illness, of an obvious disorder. Maybe it's hyperactivity or maybe she needs a medication.

During the interview an old teacher arrives who knows the little girl. He asks all the adults, mother and colleagues, to follow him into an adjoining room from where she can still be seen. As he leaves, he tells Gillian that they will be back soon and turns on an old radio with music.

As the girl is alone in the room, she immediately gets up and begins to move up and down chasing the music in the air with her feet and her heart. The teacher smiles as the colleagues and the mother look at him between confusion and compassion, as is often done with the old. So he says:

"See? Gillian is not sick, Gillian is a dancer!"

He recommends that her mother take her to a dance class and that her colleagues make her dance from time to time. She attends her first lesson and when she gets home she tells her mother:

"Everyone is like me, no one can sit there."

In 1981, after a career as a dancer, opening her own dance academy and receiving international recognition for her art, Gillian Lynne became the choreographer of the musical "Cats," both in London and Broadway. She also directed and choreographed the Vienna production.

Hopefully all “different” children find adults capable of welcoming them for who they are and not for what they lack.

Long live the differences, the little black sheep and the misunderstood. They are the ones who create beauty in this
world. ♥️ The End

"And those who were seen dancing, were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

⭐ Friedrich Nietzsche