lovely lentils...

Equals a lovely little learning experience.

toddler art: collage

a simple little way to celebrate the changing colours of the season.

an invitation

whilst she sleeps, i set up little activities, inviting her to do whatever she wishes with them upon waking...

...

First time goop-ing it. I don't know who loved it more. Me. Or her. Goop is such a wonderful texture, a great sensory activity for children of all ages. 

Recipe for Goop
Cornflour
Water
Food colouring or paint (optional)

Mix all ingredients together, I never measure things out, so just throw them all in and stir - with fingers of course, until you get the desired consistency. If you've never made goop before, the desired consistency is when you can pick up the goop, roll it in your hand in a ball, and then let it 'melt' through your fingers!

Have fun and enjoy the mess!

...

Apart from family and friends who read this blog, I'm not really sure if I have ever talked about the fact that I am a teacher. An Early Childhood teacher to be specific, and it is my love and passion. I was previously an 'Early Childhood Educator' in my previous life, and whilst I did love having my own classroom, building wonderful relationships with the children and their families, I often felt constricted, or restrained. Frustrated at times. By many things, really. Programmes, school policy, time restrictions, the list could go on. I did love being a teacher. I loved learning alongside the children, putting fresh flowers at nose height, setting up 'spaces' , groups story time... Yes, I was a teacher. I put that in past tense, because I really do feel that was before. It is now, with the birth of my first daughter, that I truly feel like a teacher. A teacher in every sense of the word. Her teacher. A teacher in so many ways, that I feel like I have found my calling. It amazes me everyday what she learns. What she teaches me. I sit back and watch her, as she discovers the world around her. The tiniest things she learns, or does for the first time delights me. I think many of us parents forget that we are, actually our children's first teachers. I no longer feel restrained, or constricted. We can Play. All. Day. If we want to. Which to me, is how childhood should be. Learning through play. I love being my daughters first teacher... (And I love being her Mama.)

Sometimes pots and pans, and a good old wooden spoon can entertain, surprise and delight.

Mums group on Thursday. One of the girls told a story that went something like this... "So I was reading a book to A last night before bed and all she wanted to do was eat the damn book so I said "Right that's it! No book! Bed!". And it has been eating away at me since. I should have said something at the time, but instead, I'm saying it here. If I could turn back time, this is what I would have said... "Yeah, but at this age - eating the book IS like reading the book to her. At this stage in her development, it's about SO many other things than 'just reading the book'. It's about A listening to the sound of your voice, the different tone and pitch, the rhyme and rhythm, it's about touching the book, feeling (with hands and mouth) the texture - I'm sure it feels different to many of her other toys. It's about her watching you enjoy reading to her, it's about holding her close and having a cuddle at the same time. It's about shapes and colours and visual stimulation. And it's about repetition. I have been reading the same books to Ruby over and over again since she was born. One in particular, Owl Babies, is her favourite, possibly because I have been reading it to her since birth. Children love repetition, it makes them feel secure and able to predict what comes next. So tomorrow night. Let her chew the book. Not till the pages are soggy, but just enough to let her engage all of her senses in the book".

oh how she loves her silky. wisteria. bubblegum. peach. today was wisteria.

in the making.

baby blocks: in the making.