One of my biggest struggles with starting my in home was trying to do centers with a variety of ages. I don't like having to keep them seperated because I think the different ages can learn a lot from each other. I have "areas" set up around my playroom such as the kitchen/drama area, block area, reading, dollhouse, cars etc. but I spend the majority of my morning trying to teach the kids to STAY and keep the toys in there designated areas. This was a big rule in the center I used to work at...you were NEVER allowed to mix toys up! Today I had the large cardboard blocks in the block area and could not get the kids to stay there and build with them. So I sat down and just watched...this is what I saw...
My 1 year old picked them up one by one and stacked them in the barbie house till the whole house was full, my 18 month old carried them to the top of the climber and slid them down the slide and just laugh as he watched them do this, my 2 year old put one in the stroller and pushed it around like a baby. I was quite entertained by watching them do this and honestly it was very relaxing because I wasn't chasing them around barking the rules at them. When it got to the point that they were all laying around and no one was playing with them then I asked them to help me pick up, which they did, and then the creative block play started all over again. This kind of play would NOT have been allowed in the very structured center that I worked at but I saw more learning involved by letting the kids be creative and come up with their own way of playing with the blocks. I will still continue to have toys organized in their areas but as long as the kids help to pick them all up at the end (which they are great !) then they get to do what they want. The day was so much more enjoyable and I didn't have any fights today either! Well, that was me on my soap box as to why I love doing in home now instead of working in a center
My 1 year old picked them up one by one and stacked them in the barbie house till the whole house was full, my 18 month old carried them to the top of the climber and slid them down the slide and just laugh as he watched them do this, my 2 year old put one in the stroller and pushed it around like a baby. I was quite entertained by watching them do this and honestly it was very relaxing because I wasn't chasing them around barking the rules at them. When it got to the point that they were all laying around and no one was playing with them then I asked them to help me pick up, which they did, and then the creative block play started all over again. This kind of play would NOT have been allowed in the very structured center that I worked at but I saw more learning involved by letting the kids be creative and come up with their own way of playing with the blocks. I will still continue to have toys organized in their areas but as long as the kids help to pick them all up at the end (which they are great !) then they get to do what they want. The day was so much more enjoyable and I didn't have any fights today either! Well, that was me on my soap box as to why I love doing in home now instead of working in a center
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