We have a new helper at kinder sometimes. Her name is Mie and she is from Japan. Today she told us a little bit about Japan.
She also showed us how to make some animals by folding paper. We used big paper, not true origami paper.
And we practised using chopsticks! We are looking forward to learning lots more from Mie, and teaching her about Australia as well. Thanks for coming to our kinder!
We have a new helper in the room, Tucker Turtle.When he is challenged he tucks himself inside his shell for a few moments, to think about what would be best to do.
We read the story, met our own Tucker puppet, and practised tucking ourselves under a clothes basket to think about a problem.
One child has really embraced this idea, and tucks himself inside his shirt to have a think about what he should do when things get challenging. He isn’t actually a child who I thought would need this idea, but he uses it, and his mum tells me he also uses it at home. This is really exciting, to see a child integrating a strategy into their emotional life, and using it in a personally meaningful way.
You can google Tucker Turtle to find out more.
I have been doing some study about developmental trauma. Amongst many other provocations, it has made me think about strategies for supporting children who have challenging behaviours or apparently deeply engrained and difficult habits, while not being negative. Then I stumbled across a book called “Kids’ Skills” by Ben Furman. It is positive, respectful of children, creative and practical. I love it, and the fact that the author was willing to reply to my email query and comments and have a quick chat about his ideas.
I borrowed it from my local library. I recommend it, I think the ideas are really valuable, and I’ll be using them.
Jolie used some cardboard rolls and other bits and pieces to create “3 in the bed” – and when she shared her creation with the rest of the group, there was a rush on cardboard rolls.
So much thought and enjoyment and personal involvement happens around self-chosen art and craft activities. I love the contagious creativity when children share ideas, the language that arises from sharing their stories, the problem-solving (eg in how to represent the knob on top of the radio antennae), the developing fine – motor skills involved in cutting, wrapping, drawing, decorating , and the happy hum of a busy craft table.
I have wanted a rain gauge for a long time, rain being such a precious commodity and exciting event in our part of the world. This very special rain gauge stand has been made for us by one of our very talented dads, a farmer, one of the multi-talented people who keep our farms going and the food coming to our plates. I love this rain man, the same height as a kinder child, who is holding out his cup in hopes of getting some rain in it – maybe even praying for rain, which we are also very familiar with in the Mallee. Thanks so much to Jolie’s dad!
A new set of outside furniture, designed to withstand the rigours of the Australian sun, and to extend the sensory, fine motor and socio-dramatic play around the sandpit. Expensive, but finally achievable (thanks to some help from our local council), and worth waiting for.
We don’t bring any tools or toys to bush kinder but Rory brought his own binoculars and kindly shared them with other people so we could all have a look at the itchy caterpillar nest up in the tree. We didn’t know that any caterpillars build a nest !
In our first bush kinder day at Nunga Bushland Reserve, we spent lots of time making cubbies and collecting wood for a fire. Maybe on our last day we could have a campfire? We are going out on a Thursday each week for 3 weeks – it’s not a lot of time but then we do have to hire the bus, and the toilet, so it’s not cheap.
We celebrated International Mud Day a little early in Ouyen, because of the holidays.
Water and dirt – a fundamental and winning combination, something that children should experience on a regular basis. The freedom and the joy of squelching in mud.
We had a wonderful variety of gumboots – which were nice and clean at the start of the day ……
– and satisfyingly muddy by the end.
We have been digging up some ground to shift our succulents. The ground has been pretty hard so sometimes we need a rest, but the satisfaction of doing things for themselves has kept the children going. (No tap nearby means they had to cart the water.)
This work will mean we can plant our vegies next term. From garden to plate.