I am always looking for new ways to incorporate interesting drawing with the arduous task of learning how to draw diagonal lines, which are very difficult to learn! After children begin to draw rudimentary oblique lines, the next step is to draw diagonals in several directions and spatially accurate. Drills are boring. Scary spiders are […]
Benefits: When the push pin is held correctly, the muscles required for grasping a pencil are strengthened. Both hands are used, thereby building the habit to use two hands while working. Visual attention is required to make sure the pin is exactly on the line. Dots should be close together, so simple spatial planning/reasoning is […]
The Core gets a great workout when you crab walk. Activating all those muscles and joints also stimulates filters and organizing parts of the brain. So, when the kids start to get really excited about Halloween, grab a few pumpkins and challenge them to a crab walk race. Along with the positive brain organizing effects, […]
I try to maximize on the exuberance children exude as Halloween approaches. The late Stanley Greenspan said, “Kids need to become emotionally involved to learn.” No better way to teach challenging skills and concepts than wrapping them in a cloak (no dagger) of intrigue, a touch of “scary” and fun! So I teach kids to […]
I love October. Yes, the trees look fabulous wearing their brilliant regalia, but as a facilitator in early childhood education, the season offers a panoply of themes to build: Fine motor Skills Visual Motor Skills Spatial Reasoning Skills Tactile Discrimination Today I begin with a favorite: Drawing Pumpkins A pumpkin is essentially a circle (or […]