Becoming a reader
While the reading of a book holds great value, holding the story close in order to more fully explore the imaginings of the author's tale is an even greater value.This is how a child becomes a reader.
Play is Passed From One to Another
Play arcs and play destination messages are passed from older children to younger. Recently, we held a parent training our parent educator called, When Nothing is Everything - the Value of Free Time, and during the discussion period I asked the parents how many of them played in free-ranging groups of mixed ages where the oldest child was 8, 10, or older? Almost all of them raised their hands. When I talk about how play is passed from one child to another, I am talking about older children, 7 through 10 teaching younger children what to play.
What is Dramatic Play?
We take a sharp departure from community helper, teacher-shaped delivery and packaged dramatic play -- that is not the scaffolding we are looking for -- and this departure takes us down a path that is not always a sunny, little place of a brick-solid house with garden. Mostly, our dramatic play is built of sticks and how fabulous is it when it holds? And falls?!?
Keys in the Forest
The children have the right keys. The right keys are passwords and the knowledge that there are even doors where adults cannot see them. Those invisible baddies can see the doors. We can’t. And that is fine and good.