Pipes...An example of "loose parts"

As I was busy sawing branches off our old Christmas trees, the children were also busy...

I turned around to find that they were working with the pipes.

They told me they were making a big pipe for water to go through.

Isn't this a wonderful example of how much they learn by working together with "loose parts"?!

No "playground" in the yard

A key discerning factor for many parents when they first tour our program is our play yard.  If you've seen our yard, you know it is not filled with a commercial play structure. Its surface is not covered with grass.  

We have chosen not to deprive our children of the privilege of creativity in play by filling our outdoor space with those things.  On any given day, you are likely to find children outdoors here enhancing their play with use of boxes, pvc pipes, shovels, rakes, a random assortment of lumber, plastic jugs, hoses, water, old Christmas trees, rope, old tires, tubs (metal and plastic), rocks, sticks, and whatever else they feel necessary.

All of those items the children use in our yard are known in the field as "loose parts". In other words, play parts in the yard that are loose for the children to utilize in their play at their will.

While we have plans to improve our outdoor space, we vow not to take away the above things from the children.  Anything we add will not get in the way of their creativity.

I've often told those parents on tour that while our play yard may not look like much, it is often the heart and soul of our school to the children.

Here is a link to a little piece from Slate Magazine that was emailed to me yesterday.  It expands a bit on the play-yard concept we have consciously chosen.  

So parents, be sure to provide your children with enough loose parts to play and risk creatively.  If you have extra loose parts of any sort that you'd like to donate to our yard, we would be more than happy to receive them!

Children MUST use too much!

We have said for years that children MUST use too much.

Sometimes adults can be concerned with waste.

Well, Teacher Tom has done it again...put into words our take on glue...It's All Being Used.

Just Let Them Play

I am getting to know a few like-minded educators who also attended the "Good Stuff For Kids Conference" back in July.

This morning, one of the gals from the conference who also owns/operates a preschool posted a link to a piece entitled Overly Academic Preschool Experiences May Actually Slow Learning.  

Read it here!

Note: Just another day of water play in the school yard (with color of course)!

Slowing Down

Last week we held our annual end of year celebration and graduation.  We had no children graduating this year due to long distance moves and job losses, but we celebrated with a pot-luck and campfire with s'mores anyway! 

The "theme" (if you will) of the evening was slowing down for our children. I see so many busy busy parents come in our doors...busy with work...busy with activities...busy with social agenda...busy fulfilling the expectations they have set on themselves due to the pressures of society, neighbors, friends, and family.  

We need to consciously slow down in order to protect our children's childhood.

We began the evening with a poem...

Come Out With Me- by A. A. Milne

There's sun on the river and sun on the hill...

You can hear the sea if you stand quite still!

There's eight new puppies at Roundabout Farm-

And I saw an old sailor with only one arm!

But every one says, 'Run along!'

(Run along, run along!)

All of them say, 'Run along!'

If I'm a little darling, why don't they run with me?

There's wind on the river and wind on the hill...

There's a dark dead water-wheel under the mill!

I saw a fly which had just been drowned-

And I know where a rabbit goes into the ground!

But every one says, 'Run along!'

(Run along, run along!)

All of them say, 'Yes, dear,' and never notice me.

Every one says, 'Run along,

There's a  little darling!'

If I'm a little darling, why won't they come and see?

And we followed the above poem with a song...

Memories- by Tom Hunter

What do you remember from the time you were a child?

Do you think of moments memory knows well?

Are there little things like trinkets you carry with you now,

That trigger stories memory wants to tell?

Like the people, or the places, the fun or food or games,

Like family trips or chores or how you played,

Is it painful? Is it pleasant? Is it somewhere in between?

Are there things you always wished that you could say?

May the memories wrap their arms around you,

May your childhood take you by the hand,

And may what you remember find healing when it hurts,

So the memories will protect you when they can.

What songs and smells and gatherings come easily to mind?

What have you learned of love from who loved you?

Do the memories need forgiveness to free them from the past,

And find a future you can still make new?

May the memories wrap their arms around you,

May your childhood take you by the hand,

And may what you remember find healing when it hurts,

So the memories will protect you when they can.

And what about the children you find around you now?

Are you making time to sing and talk and play?

So someday they'll have memories of love and being loved,

Protection that'll never go away.

May the memories wrap their arms around you,

May your childhood take you by the hand,

And may what you remember find healing when it hurts,

So the memories will protect you when they can.

Please, please slow down...listen to your children...provide those memories for them! 

Note: plunger painting photos are from a school day...not from our celebration!