Good morning! It looks like it’s going to be another slightly cooler Tuesday.
Fine Motor Invitation: Mirrors and natural objects
One thing many people associate with Reggio-inspired schools is the use of mirrors in the classrooms. Mirrors present opportunities to see things from different angles, to see the world reflected in new ways. Today we are wondering how your toddler will interact with a mirror and lightweight natural materials (leaves, flowers, etc.). How might they use the mirror as a design surface? Will they spend their time looking at their own reflection?
This invitation calls for a reflective surface, such as a mirror, that can be placed flat on a piece of carpet or low table. You will also need some natural materials or, if your child is no longer putting things in their mouth, colorful buttons or pom poms.
Large Motor Invitation: Climbing
Many toddlers seem driven to climb anything and everything. At Lakewood, the space is designed to promote exploration of this skill in low-risk ways. How can you make space for climbing today in your home or yard? Piles of pillows? A ramp made from a piece of wood? Could they climb in and out of a laundry basket or onto a series of boxes?
Climbing engages balance and coordination as well as helping toddlers learn planning and risk assessment.
Outdoor/Art Invitation: Sidewalk chalk
We love sidewalk chalk for the way it combines creative expression with large and small motor skills. It can also be the catalyst for new discoveries. Sidewalk chalk can lead to a group musical art piece when children discover it makes a ringing sound when dragged along a metal gate, it can lead to an exploration of size and shape when it is poked partway into a knothole in a deck. What might your toddler discover today with this open-ended material?
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