Listening

How often do we really stop to watch our child play and interact with their environment, and take mental note as to how they like to learn? What techniques are they using? Are they needing further stimulation? Are we extending them and giving them opportunities to grow and develop their interests?

I had a bit of an "aha" moment the other day, when Ashton walked past the rock he had painted at his birthday party, that was sitting in the garden. He picked it up and started carrying it inside. I asked him what he wanted to do with it and he started stroking it backwards and forwards with his finger. It looked like he was doing a painting motion, so I asked him, "Would you like to paint your rock again?" With a big smile he looked up and said, "Yup!" 

We took his rock inside and set him up with his paints and brushes and he got to work. Now for those of you who have read any of my previous blog entries, you will know that Ashton is not very keen on art! I would be lucky to get him to sit for 1 minute to do anything artistic. But I know this is not his attention span, because he will sit for great lengths on time playing with his cars! So when Ashton asked to paint this rock, and proceeded to stay painting for the next 15 minutes, I was AMAZED!

 When I saw Ashton's attention starting to waver, I thought I would see if I could revive his interest and challenge him to stay with the painting a little longer by adding some new materials to the table. I quickly went outside and collected a range of other natural objects from around the garden. As soon as  I placed them on the table his focus came back and he was right back into it. He stayed for another 15 minutes. This may not seem like a long time for some, but for a 2 year old who doesn't usually like to paint, it was a break through and a great starting point!

So, what actually was the epiphany behind my "aha" moment? It was realizing that maybe Ashton doesn't dislike art, its just that he likes to express his creative outlet with different mediums to what I have been making available to him. If you have read today's Polkadots Blog, you will read about Dez's little girl and how much she enjoys to draw with simple black pen and do line drawings more than anything. If you read my recent blog about the inspiring little artist Aelita, you will see that she loves to express herself through acrylic paints onto canvas. Whats not to say that Ashton is more drawn to working with 3D objects or natural objects? I don't know, but its an avenue I'm going to explore further and really watch him and listen to him to see what he responds to most.

This little YouTube clip I have posted below is all about gifted children and how they have felt misheard, or not extended enough. I'm not saying Ashton is gifted, (he may be, who knows) but what I got from this little clip is that we need to take the time to get to know our children and really listen to what they need from us to help them learn the way they want to learn! There is no cookie cutter approach to teaching and learning! We just need to work with our children as individuals.

Prodigy of Colour - Inspriring

I stumbled across this very inspiring YouTube clip of a young girl named Aelita Andre the other day. Aelita has become known as a Artistic Prodigy. She is only 4 years old at the time of this video being made and the way she explores colour, texture and space is just amazing.

What I loved most about this clip and about Aelita's story is the freedom and space she is allowed by her parents to just explore and experiment with various mediums. I wish I had a space like this for Ashton... (and me) to be able to just paint or get arty and not care about getting paint on the carpet, or the furniture. I don't care about clothes (I just dress him in old ones).

How many limitations to do we put on our children that stop them from truly being able to express themselves or begin to explore the possibilities of mediums that may lead to an outlet or form of expression that they love.

Note: The clip is a little long, but you will get the jist within the first couple of minutes... I couldn't turn it off!

Roadworks Heaven!!!

Roadworks heaven was right outside Polkadots Headquarters door the other day! We were all busy working away on all things Polkadotty when the house started to rumble! The whole road was being resealed and I just couldn't resist but have "Girl Jordan" (our Polkadots Nanny) bring the children over to see all the action! I don't know if the workers were use to such an interested crowd, but it put a smile on their faces and I'm sure it made them feel very important!

Ashton was sooo taken with all of the different pieces of machinery that he barely said a word the whole time we were out watching! Then as soon as we got back inside he just couldn't stop talking about everything he saw. It was such a great opportunity for the children to see the whole process in action, especially after reading our recent library book, "Roadworks."

We got to see the roller!

The big Asphalt Machine. 

Ashton loved watching the truck tip out its load with Papa!

Who would of thought I would ever pose for a photo in front of roadworks! ha ha.

Ashton's favourite thing to do at lights at the moment is
shout out STOP and GO each time he see the lights change
colour, so he loved seeing the sign doing the same thing.

Roadworks

"Tip the stones. Tip the stones.

Lift and slide and dump.

Lay the groundwork for the road.

Crash! Roar! THUMP!"

I am very lucky that Ashton loves books! So it is the one thing he will sit and do for ages that doesn't actually have to revolve around vehicles. But on our library adventure yesterday I found this fabulous book "Roadworks." Needless to say, Ashton loves it too, as it means he combine his two loves of reading and vehicles together!

Story Summary:

The roadworks team is out to make a new road. From the very beginning of drawing up the plans, to the end when the cars drive on the road for the first time. . .  the reader is able to follow the vehicles that are needed and the process that takes place to complete a road.

Loves and Likes:

I love that this is a story book about vehicles rather than always having to get the non-fiction books out to fuel the interest.

I love the rhyme and use of language used in the book. Also a lovely consistent and predictable writing pattern that the children find easy to follow.

Teaching Points:

This book would be a great point of reference to have alongside you and your child as you made your own "play road" whether it be down on the beach, on a cardboard box or out in your back yard. Turn the page as your ready for the next stage of building the road and see what you need to do next.

Back To Nature

Children just don't seem to play like they use to! We feel like we have to plan every minute of their day with activities that are going to make them smarter. In the process we are totally over working ourselves and overstimulating our children!

A couple of weeks ago I did an article review in the Polkadots Blog about children returning to nature. After reading this article I got this obsession with wanting to take Ashton out for a bush walk. . . Since then we have been on three!!! And they have been the best play dates ever!

Here are some pointers for having a successful NATURE ADVENTURE!

* Dress appropriately! Wear clothes that can get muddy, or grass stains!

* Take a change of clothes. . . just in case! You're more likely to explore more deeply and be more lenient to your child going exploring into that puddle if you don't care about the clothes.

* Don't be in a rush. . . The more time you have to just relax and go with the flow, the more likely you and your child are to make new discoveries.

* Don't take toys! . . . Your child will be heaps more creative with their play and their surroundings then they don't have toys to distract them.

* Explore and enjoy alongside your child. . . follow your "inner child" instincts! If you want to roll down that big hill . . . ROLL DOWN THE HILL THEN!

If you see or hear something that fascinates you, share it with your child. The more you share with them, the more the will share with you!

* Celebrate even the most simple discoveries. . . Ashton loved the feeling of the gravel as he swished his hands over it, and also discovered that it made a pretty cool sounds when he slid his feet over it too! So we all took a minute to make music with the gravel!

* Don't be scared of yucky stuff. . . it all washes off! Just keep some wet wipes handy!

* Take time to just sit and watch, listen, smell, touch. . . You will be surprised at what you'll discover when you activate all your senses.

* Have FUN! . . . Make up stories about the animals, insects or trees. Ask the children what they think they will see before you go in to the bush walk. Sing songs while you're walking. Take photos while you go!

Some people may think its a lot of work to try and organise a bush walk. But ITS NOT! Just find a walk and go! Your child will guide you and dictate the rest of the walk. Its just up to you to facilitate and extend their discoveries as they happen. Ask them questions, share your knowledge with them, celebrate discoveries and get excited with them about all the wonderful things nature has to offer!

Tata Town

Because our life revolves around cars... here is another activity using CARS! I actually really enjoyed creating this Car mat with Ashton! It was like being able to create your own little township.

Using the back of our washing machine box Ashton and I drew out some roads with come crayons. Once we had our road structure in place we filled in the gaps with our local shops etc. We got to put in all of the places we would love to visit, and places we felt were a necessity to every town! We ended up with a Fire Station, Police Station, Supermarket, hospital, Subway! a pet shop, a zoo, and the beach! While a was drawing Ashton was either colouring in the rest of the town, or he was busy cruising the streets of Tata Town!... or visiting the animals in the zoo! Its been lots of fun creating our town together, and we still have room for development!!!

Car Crazy!!!

The fact that Ashton is crazy over cars right now is providing me many learning and teaching moments!!! Because of cars Ashton is learning colours, and numbers, how to categorize, spacial awareness of size length, he is painting (which he intends to avoid like the plague), he is getting really good at doing sound effects and making the cars have conversations (all part of language development) and learning how to play by himself (independence and use of imagination). An interest can be a powerful tool for learning if channeled properly!

Just today, these were some of the things we did while playing with his cars... most of them he did on his own, I was just the big person who put words and concepts to his learning so he could in time learn and articulate what it actually is he has naturally discovered.

Exploring space... what cars can fit underneath this other car!

The beginning of the sorting... he always lines his cars up, but he's just started to do it in colours.

I showed him some different ways he could sort the cars out into colours. He also has his own ideas for sorting. . . he always has to have the three cars that look the same together, and the two animal cars together as well.

Once all of the cars are out of the basket and sorted, he likes to sit in the basket to play with the cars. Funny boy!

This is later on in the evening during dinner prep time... gives a whole new meaning to drive in movies!!! ha ha.

Each time Ashton comes back to playing with his cars he starts talking about the concepts he has learned more and more. This will in turn make his play more meaningful and will naturally progress it and encourage him to learn new things. I know this seems like I'm going on and on about something so insignificant, but I'm just so blown away by how much Ashton is learning through simply playing with his cars!