Month: April 2020

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Patterns and Sorting

Suggested Activities:

Pattern and sorting activities aid in the development of decoding, ‘what happens next’, early literacy, problem solving, and feeds a child’s mathematical mind. Activities can be done through paintings, drawings, gluing, bead stringing, laundry, emptying the dishwasher, setting the table, and of course nature. Below are some simple ideas to get started:

  • Blocks
  • Stickers
  • Fruit
  • Beans
  • Lentils
  • Pasta
  • Clothing
  • Color bean bag toss
  • Things from nature
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Development of a Child’s Will

Will is related to our capacity to make choices. Will is crucial in the child’s process of self-construction.  The child develops their observation skills, an awareness of life, and the desire to interact with their environment. During infancy (birth-3 years old) synaptic neural connections rapidly develop in the brain and the psychic organs are integrated: movement, intelligence, and will.

How can we protect the child’s capacity to make decisions, observe, and explore? 

  • Remove Obstacles
  • Do not interrupt
  • Use simple and concise words/phrasing
  • Nature Walks

Also, offer logical consequences.  For example, your toddler wants to bring their toy to school: “If you bring your toy to school, all your friends will want to hold it. Are you okay with that? Can you share? If you can share, great. However, if you can not share, are you leaving the toy at home or in the car?” Allow your child to experience the consequence of their choice. This enables the child to develop trust of the adults in their life and transfer this trust to the world.

The child’s will evolves into a self-disciplined adolescencent who makes confident decisions.  The teenager will be able to move into the next step of life.  Emotionally independent and willing to forgive and forget.  The young adult will live fully in the present.   

  • Make choices based on an understanding they have developed over time
  • Responsibility of their choices
  • Freedom
  • Independence
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Music

Suggested Activities:

Music supports both gross motor and language development. Here are some instrument sounds and language cards. We mirror how to hold various instruments, match the picture of the instrument to the sound, we talk about the sound, and of course we dance!

Instrument Sound Mix
Brass Instrument Sounds
Woodwind Instrument Sounds
String Instrument Sounds
Percussion Sounds
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Seed Germination

Suggested Activities

Seed Germination

Materials: Apron, 2 trays, small trowel/scooper, container of soil, small clay/paper pots, collection of small containers and seeds, small pitcher, sunny window or grow light

Work Cycle Extension: Cleaning the table, sweeping the floor, cleaning the apron at the cloth washing stand, washing hands

  • This work is done inside or outside. Inside, the work is done on a tray at a table
  • Adult, model how to plant a seed and ask the child if they want a turn
  • Child scoops soil into a small pot
  • Child chooses a seed, places in the pot, and covers with soil
  • Child fills a small/tiny pitcher with water, slowly carries the pitcher of water back to work, and waters seed and soil.
  • Child places seed germination work by a sunny window and tray. At TMSE we place the small pot inside a small bucket and carry the work to the sunny window (less spillage on the floor and children feel successful)
  • Child repeats
  • Child is done repeating, adult & child clean-up, extension listed above
seed-germination.cards_Download