It is always fun to see the reaction of children when I pull out a plunger to play with. Even at a very young age, children acquire a sense of place – and plungers belong in the toilet, certainly not in the gross motor room. After I assure them that the plunger I use has […]
Play dough is a favorite of many children. This time tested activity strengthen the hands and is a great entrée into touch exploration. Benefits: Hand strengthening occurs when the fingers are fully extended (straight) and used to press down and roll the dough back and forth to make coils. Children, typically call these “snakes” or “hot dogs.” Isolating […]
When I walk into a classroom, many of the students lift their heads expectantly and frequently plead, “Take me!” I carry a bag of toys. Each toy, ofcourse has a purpose, and some are actually quite difficult. But the kids always step up to the challenge. A favorite of theirs (which always brings a crowd) […]
Long ago I was an “Itinerant Therapist.” This meant that I traveled to children’s homes to work with them, lugging all my equipment and bag of trick with me. I will always be exceedingly grateful to the many families who opened their homes week after week for me to”play” with their children. The forbearance and […]
I am a big fan of finding the least expensive way to approach a task. I always love a bargain. Purchasing stamps, I make an exception and don’t compromise. Wooden stamps have an incredible number of fine and visual motor benefits, but if using the less expensive, small plastic stamps, the hand strengthening benefits are […]
This is an inexpensive toy that children love. I love this toy too! Each Christmas our family was invited to a wonderful party. As the years passed, our friends’ children grew up and started having children of their own. Lots of them. I wanted to bring gifts for all the grandchildren. I purchased red and […]
I recently moved and this necessitated a major purging of 30 years. As I tunneled into my children’s closets, it broke my heart to toss the piles of Montessori “Push Pin” maps of the world, the continents and all the states in the US of A. I still marvel at the brilliance of Maria Montessori, […]
I definitely sound like a broken record when it comes to strengthening the hands. If you only had one tool to use, a plant sprayer is it. Every parent and teacher I have worked with knows that 5 minutes a day using a sprayer will get all the muscles necessary for writing and all […]
Call me old fashioned but I love board games. A while ago, the Sunday NY Times* ran a front page article about classic board games and the value of reproducing them digitally. While certain strategies and dynamics of a game stay intact, I want to list the many aspects of a PHYSICAL Board game that build […]
I am very lucky to be able to visit many extraordinary early childhood programs. I am always collecting new ideas from the talented educators I meet along the way. On one of my visits to The Children’s School in Stamford, CT, the art teacher dazzled me with this amazing project! This beautiful creation builds muscle […]