Monday, April 28, 2014
It's SPRING! Time to Get Outdoors!
True Coloradans have all witnessed a wide range of weather conditions within the changes of seasons. Springtime, however, is officially here and it is time to get those kiddos playing outdoors. According to research studies today’s kids are indoors far more than their parents ever were and you probably didn’t need a report to tell you that. Most kids spend breakfast in front of the TV as well as a large portion of their downtime. Even preschoolers have record breaking times in front of the TV; with a whopping 32 hours a week and kindergartners have watched more hours of television than the hours it takes to earn a college degree.
There are educational and health benefits linked to children playing outside. Playing outside supports healthy brain development, cognitive skills (thinking), motor skills (running), and social development (decreasing anxiety).The health benefits are immeasurable, extending from a good source of Vitamin D from the sun to reducing ADHD symptoms.
So now that the weather is better let’s get up, let’s get out and let’s get moving.
Let’s go on a Bug Hunt
Materials: Clipboard, marker, and paper (add a magnifying glass and jar if you want to collect what you find)
1. Make a checklist of the type of bugs you want to find. Depending on your child’s development level he or she can simply draw a picture of the bug. If the child is too young to write, a grown-up can write the names of the bugs for print recognition. Older children can draw and write it themselves.
2. Start searching and make little check marks for the bugs you find. Together you both can count the discoveries you found. You can extend your child’s learning by incorporating books about bugs; try An Ant’s Day Off by Bonny Becker, The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle or The Gentleman Bug
by Julian Hector.
by Julian Hector. As caregivers and parents we can give children structured and unstructured playtime for outdoor fun. You might ask which one is better for your child. It’s like selecting fruits or vegetables; your child needs both.
Structured play has a set of rules and directions. It is also more organized. Going on a “Bug Hunt” is an example of structured activity for outdoor play because it requires using materials, making a list, drawing, counting and a little bit of science. There are benefits to structured play which include introducing a child to new ideas and teach how to follow directions. There can be some disadvantages when it takes over opportunities for unstructured play. Over scheduling structured play in a child’s life can lead to anxiety, stress and in some cases depression according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Therefore it is important to allow a child equal opportunity for unstructured play.
Unstructured play, also known as “free” play, is open ended with unlimited possibilities. An example of free play is a trip to the front yard or Neighborhood Park allowing a kid to run free. Children are able to be creative, use their imagination, select what and how they want to play, and explore. The benefits of free play are numerous from building self-resilience, conflict resolution, problem solving techniques, persistence, and social emotional growth. With free play children feel more in control and their levels of motivation are higher because they have chosen something that appeals to them. There are minimal disadvantages associated with free play, with the main one relating to a child’s safety. Adults will always need to observe and be around to ensure the child remains safe.
More Outdoor Activities...
0-3 year olds - SENSORY WALK - take children outdoors and search for different smells, textures, shapes. Exploring one tree up close, feeling the bark, tracing the shapes of the leaves, listening to the leaves rustle, or to the sound of twigs rubbed together, smelling the leaves or the bark, even just looking closely at the way the tree grows up from the ground can give a young child hours of engagement and meaningful learning that will build school readiness.
3-6 year olds - TRACKING - have young children look for signs of animals. Tiny bugs and worms are fascinating to young children, and so are tracks in mud or moist soil, but what about animal signs up high? Look up in the trees and find nests, or chewed leaves. Look closely at the underside of leaves and find eggs, or even cocoons. Bird calls, squirrel chirps, or prairie dog calls are signs of animals in our neighborhoods too! Can your children find traces of 3 or 4 different animals? Can they tell what the animals were doing? The questions they ask that might spark further study!
6-12 year olds - BIRDING - Have kids count how many different kinds of birds they see while on a walk outdoors. Or choose a particular bird and try to count how many they find in one small area during a 5 minute observation. There are great resources online for identifying neighborhood birds, and there are ongoing studies where students can report their findings if they decide to do a bird count.
13-21 year olds - SKETCHING - Send teens outdoors with a sketchbook and some fresh colored pencils! Drawing and capturing plant life outdoors is a great way to develop observational skills, as well as to study the way nature constructs itself and to look for patterns around us.
21+ year olds - INVESTIGATING - Take a new and more investigative approach to your environment. Ask critical questions to connect purpose and responsibility to the setting. For example, when visiting a park or outdoor venue, ask question like “Why is the space laid out like this?”, “Who is participating in the environment?”, “Are there aspects that naturally draw you into them?”, “Is there a way that I can connect to the surroundings?” and even, “What are the take away memories from this space?” Asking questions like these can help anyone think outside the box about places they might frequent regularly or take advantage of.
Over all, outdoor play is amazing for everyone. It provides opportunities to engage in learning and stimulation that can take on a life of its own. Whether its free play, or a structured adventure… be sure to go outside today!
The Nest Matters is LOOKING for parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, early childhood specialist individuals and groups that would be interested in joining our Interest Group to acquire Denver Affiliate Status of the National Black Child Development Institute. Please forward your interest to our email address: thenestmatters@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
The 3 T's: Every Word You Say Builds Your Child's Brain
Language is exciting! It is the link that connects our thoughts with our actions and our people. Giving our children the love of language is the best gift we can give to them when trying to prepare them for the future. So exactly how do we give the gift of language?
On March 14th and 15th, educators, child advocates, parents, and early childhood specialists from different countries across the state of Colorado gathered at the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference. Saturday's keynote speaker was Dr. Dana Suskind, the Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program and found of the "Thirty Million Words Initiative" an evidence-based intervention to help all children reach their full listening and spoken language potentials.
The initiative was founded on a world-famous study. Researchers Betty Hart and Todd Risley (1995) found that some children heard thirty million fewer words by their 4th birthdays than others. The children who heard more words were better prepared when they entered school. These same kids, when followed into third grade, had bigger vocabularies, were stronger readers, and got higher test scores. The bottom line: the kids who started out ahead, stayed ahead; the kids who started out behind, stayed behind. This disparity in learning is referred to as the achievement gap. (excerpt from TMW).
The Nest Matters exists to share the latest research that impacts your early learners and wants your child to be better prepared when they enter school. We are sharing only a piece of TMW's curriculum known as "The 3 T's" to motivate you to engage and talk more with your child before their 4th birthday rolls around. Let's start talking!
- Tune In by paying attention to what your child is focused on or communicating with you. The signals your child gives will change rapidly since her attention span is short while she's young - staying tuned in is a dynamic activity.
- Talk More with your child using lots of descriptive words to build his vocabulary. Think of your child's brain like a piggy bank - every word you say is another penny you invest. There is no limit to how many words you can invest to fill your child's band and build his brain! Be as descriptive as possible to build your child's vocabulary.
- Take Turns with your child by engaging in her conversation. Your child is never too young to have a conversation with you! Respond to your child's signals to keep the turns going.
Children in the zero-to-three age group are super absorbent sponges and their development is heavily impacted by their surrounding environments. Here are some things you can do with your child to get the ball rolling.
- Use new and interesting words in natural conversations. Try this at mealtimes or when presenting a new toy. For example, it's easier for your child to learn what a ukulele is when they can see and hear it as well as listening to you say the word.
- Use gestures and facial expressions to help your child make sense of new words. For example, when introducing the word joyful, you might smile and wave your arms about to convey what it means. This can be an opportunity to explain emotions and give words to feelings.
- Sing with your child and recite poetry and rhymes to playfully introduce vocabulary.
- Talk with your child. Keep the conversation going by asking questions, making comments, and inviting your child to think and share their ideas.
- Read to your child daily, taking time to go over new words. Look for books with illustrations that provide clues to word meanings. Let your child read the book to you through their own eyes. Even fi they are not reading every word, let them describe the pictures or create a storyline that can work with the book or moment.
- Think about new vocabulary words that might come up when you are out. A trip to an art exhibit could introduce the word landscape, while a trip to a pizza restaurant might introduce kneeding dough.
- Give your child ample time to learn the meaning and uses of new words before moving onto other words.
NAEYC's Teaching Young Children Magazine has more to say on this very important topic!
Parent talk is the most powerful tool for building your child's brain and sending them to school ready to learn. Language is a game changer for everyone. Learning the 'in's' and 'outs' of one language can inspire and prepare children to learn multiple languages. Take the time to expose your child to language and enjoy the sharing. The effort will pay off!
Learn more about the Thirty Million Words (R) Iniative
The Nest Matters is LOOKING for parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, early childhood specialist individuals and groups that would be interested in joining our Interest Group to acquire a Denver Affiliate Status of the National Black Child Development Institute. Please forward your interest to our email address: thenestmatters@gmail.com.
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