PreschoolFirst Reader Shares Infant & Toddler Project Joy

We recently received the following email from a PreschoolFirst reader after she tried the Mother's day project included in the May edition of the PreschoolFirst monthly Newsletter.

"Currently I'm caring for 7 children; they range in age from 5 months to 2 years 5 months. Only 2 of them are 2+ and one of these 2 is with me just 2 days a week (all others are full time). Most of the preschool material I've seen and the web based sites containing themed materials are almost always geared for children age 3 years and up.

I'm not sure what your background is, but you probably know the age group I have is somewhat challenging, regarding their attention spans and their ability to communicate. While all of my little guys definitely tell me, in one way or another, many things during the day, it's been hard to find projects to do with them, given their disparate abilities.

That's why I was THRILLED to get the Mother's Day project - I had to make some modifications (as I would expect all providers who used it had to do), but I made sure I made a bottle of fragrant and colored bath salts with EACH child, including the babies; probably the most meaningful for each mom was the pictures I included of us doing the project! - Lucy in CA

At PreschoolFirst we believe that in the early years...ART is all about the process! Our team of early childhood development specialists brainstorm to develop curriculum and project ideas that focus NOT just on whether the project looks "pretty" when finished. We try to create projects that the child can complete mostly on his own, in which learning can take place while he explores the materials and the "process" a child uses to actually "do" the project is meaningful for him.

As every adult knows -- it is not easy to find appropriate art or science projects for infants & toddlers! We recommend that care-teachers of infants and toddlers seek out projects that focus on the way the materials feel, smell, and change during the Process NOT on how the project looks on Mom's refrigerator! One way to help parents understand this is to share what the child actually learned and experienced during the activity. When you subscribe to PreschoolFirst, you can do this easily because our learning behaviors are right at the top of every activity page -- and you always attach the child's photo to the project too!

We'll keep developing special newsletter ideas just for the youngest learners!

Observing Play?

The Why, What and How of PLAY

Young children explore the world through play. Early childhood educators know that play is actually a young child's job. Play is the natural place to observe a child's abilities because it allows you to see what the child already knows and how he/she uses that knowledge. Most importantly, however, a child is internally wired and motivated to play. As all parents know, young children are naturally active and have short attention spans. Most young children are unable to sit still for even fifteen minutes at a time. This inability to sit still makes direct instruction, such as that typically used to teach 1st grade and above, an ineffective way to observe the growth of young children and teach new skills.

Young children learn best by imitating a new task and practicing it in a fun, non-judgmental setting. Teachers and parents can see a child's typical abilities or “behaviors” when they observe play. PreschoolFirst provides home activities with stories, games, materials and suggestions for you to enjoy with your child. These play activities help you create different play experiences that focus on one particular age-appropriate behavior. During play, children use previous knowledge in new ways, discover new information about the world, and practice new skills. All you need to do is set out the right materials, ask a few key questions, share some fun, and watch.

Why is showing GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT important?

PreschoolFirst was designed to help young children develop learning in real everyday situations – not in a skills test environment. Our program does not focus exclusively on your child’s performance in one instance, but rather, on your child’s growing abilities. Young children learn new knowledge and skills in a progressive cycle: first a child becomes aware of new information, then he/she explores it by watching and trying to use it, next a child will examine and compare the new information to what he/she already knows about the world, and finally a child will show he/she completely understands the new information and can apply it to new situations. Obviously this learning takes time. In order for any assessment system to fairly represent your child’s progress, it must demonstrate what he/she can do and is in the process of learning. PreschoolFirst helps create a portrait of your child’s growth rather than pressure him/her to do something he/she may or may not be ready to do independently. PreschoolFirst presents many non-threatening play opportunities in which your child can watch, explore, examine, and use new information. This learning environment supports your child’s developing self-esteem and does not undermine his/her confidence to learn new skills or try challenging activities.

Resources for further reading:

Snow, C. E. and S.B. Van Hemel, eds. 2008. Early Childhood Assessment: Why, What, and How? National Research Council. Committee on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children. Board on Children, Youth and Families, Board on Testing and Assessment, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Online at: http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12446