We can’t believe it’s already June! This month in Toddler 1, we have been working on our gross motor skills both in and out of the classroom. We intergrated Pride month into our play as well.
We have noticed our children are improving their risky play skills and confidence, so we wanted to add more risky play into our classroom. On our recent walks to the forest we have been playing on the big logs and stumps. Children are able to climb, walk across and jump off or climb back down. Some children needed support on the logs but after going a few times they were confident enough to get themselves up and walk a cross all by themselves. Some children even jumped off of the logs with an educator's support.
The educators wanted to expand on the confidence that had been developed and add more materials in the classroom that allow for expanding on those skills. We decided to add sheets into our nook area that represent the colours for Pride. The children used them for different activities like hiding, climbing and wrapping their babies in. Some children even took their toys in there and used it as a quiet spot to sit and play. We noticed a lot of children trying to climb the sheets so we tied knots in some of them and made it easier to climb. We also added a swing so they could lean on their stomach or sit on it and swing. We heard a lot of laughs and giggles coming from there as everyone waited for their turns and watched as their friends were swinging and climbing. “My turn next” said Rian as he waited patiently.
We have very brave kiddos that have really enjoyed testing and exploring their limits for risky play.
