Saturday, 18 August 2007
Finn Family Moomintroll
The story we are telling at the moment is Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson. If I was better at arts and crafts I'd make felt versions of the illustrations because they are so cute but for now they will stay 2-d in the book and 3-d in our minds. Springy listens to the story but only for a short while so I'm guaging whether to stop reading them to her and just read them again to myself for now (I'm wondering whether they are more of a 6/7-year old thing?).
Tap-A-Shape
I'm still not able to afford a wooden toolkit at the moment but we got a tap-a-shape set today. It's bits of wood, tacks, a hammer and a corkboard and it has really met Springy's needs - she was totally absorbed for an hour creating pictures this afternoon (despite the rest of the day not being totally balanced). We did (as in she did it but I suggested) a boat scene, a hot air balloon scene and she created a dog with his bowl of food herself.
It's similar to this one:
http://www.elc.co.uk/toy-34426
but ours was priced at under £5.
It's similar to this one:
http://www.elc.co.uk/toy-34426
but ours was priced at under £5.
Transitions
Well the three days (well half hours on each day) are over and it will now be in September until swimming starts again. It's gone colder and the leaves are starting to tint. I need to remember that when clouds "look like rocks and towers, then you can be sure of heavy showers" because I left some washing out and when we got back it was wetter than when I hung it up to dry.
Springy didn't have enough of a physical day to day and near bedtime was getting very bouncy. We had a slow morning without doing much and an afternoon spent in the car getting bits and pieces and none of that suited Springy at all. She really needed a good climb in the playground. I think so many children are labelled "naughty" when in fact they are just sending messages that their needs have not been met. Yesterday we had a child who did beanbag games, had stories, went to the playground and was eating some fresh picked cherry tomatoes - bedtime was easy. Today we didn't do those things and bedtime was not so easy (it would have been worse if I hadn't recognised that it was not "naughtiness").
I'm in a state of transition at the moment and so is Springy. My daughter has stopped breastfeeding in the last few weeks (we got to 5 years and 7 months) and I can see lots of changes from the infant/toddler and 4-year old kindergarten aged child to the now almost 6 years, just at the end of kindergarten. The breastmilk has pretty much dried up - I'm not sad or happy about that, it just is, but I'm glad that it was something that worked for both of us and that it stopped without any trauma. We've now got 1 wobbly tooth and I am aware that arm length is reaching over the head to the ear. When we were swimming the other day I could see the difference between her and the 3-year old that was there, in terms of physical features of the face, limb length etc. I'm still unable to ascertain how she is walking on the feet (I get it in theory but the visual isn't being processed properly). We've got a reader and writer on our hands and it's so tempting to go academic on it but I see other signs of her not being there (as opposed to ready - it's more of a there and then, a place and time).
I've learned so much from holistic understandings of childhood such as Waldorf, Enki and all the parents who are ahead of me on the learning curve. I feel such a deep sense of awareness (although there is still a lot to learn and sometimes I am baffled or end up reading something over and again without it being absorbed) for my child.
Anyway, going back to autumn, there seem to be apple trees everywhere. I keep noticing roadside apple trees, branches overhanging paths etc and they're not ripe yet. I can't wait to go apple picking ... and that goes back to education. You can see the apples, you know where the trees are, but if you pick those apples early they just won't be ready, even though part of you is raring to go. You might be able to stew them but they just won't work as well as how they would be if you just wait that little bit longer. This last bit of kindergarten requires a lot of patience - you've not got one thing or another but you can't go back (well you can if they decide to have a tantrum and then you get your toddler back) and you can't go forward because you're not the apple on the tree.
Springy didn't have enough of a physical day to day and near bedtime was getting very bouncy. We had a slow morning without doing much and an afternoon spent in the car getting bits and pieces and none of that suited Springy at all. She really needed a good climb in the playground. I think so many children are labelled "naughty" when in fact they are just sending messages that their needs have not been met. Yesterday we had a child who did beanbag games, had stories, went to the playground and was eating some fresh picked cherry tomatoes - bedtime was easy. Today we didn't do those things and bedtime was not so easy (it would have been worse if I hadn't recognised that it was not "naughtiness").
I'm in a state of transition at the moment and so is Springy. My daughter has stopped breastfeeding in the last few weeks (we got to 5 years and 7 months) and I can see lots of changes from the infant/toddler and 4-year old kindergarten aged child to the now almost 6 years, just at the end of kindergarten. The breastmilk has pretty much dried up - I'm not sad or happy about that, it just is, but I'm glad that it was something that worked for both of us and that it stopped without any trauma. We've now got 1 wobbly tooth and I am aware that arm length is reaching over the head to the ear. When we were swimming the other day I could see the difference between her and the 3-year old that was there, in terms of physical features of the face, limb length etc. I'm still unable to ascertain how she is walking on the feet (I get it in theory but the visual isn't being processed properly). We've got a reader and writer on our hands and it's so tempting to go academic on it but I see other signs of her not being there (as opposed to ready - it's more of a there and then, a place and time).
I've learned so much from holistic understandings of childhood such as Waldorf, Enki and all the parents who are ahead of me on the learning curve. I feel such a deep sense of awareness (although there is still a lot to learn and sometimes I am baffled or end up reading something over and again without it being absorbed) for my child.
Anyway, going back to autumn, there seem to be apple trees everywhere. I keep noticing roadside apple trees, branches overhanging paths etc and they're not ripe yet. I can't wait to go apple picking ... and that goes back to education. You can see the apples, you know where the trees are, but if you pick those apples early they just won't be ready, even though part of you is raring to go. You might be able to stew them but they just won't work as well as how they would be if you just wait that little bit longer. This last bit of kindergarten requires a lot of patience - you've not got one thing or another but you can't go back (well you can if they decide to have a tantrum and then you get your toddler back) and you can't go forward because you're not the apple on the tree.
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Alpacas and dancing
Just had a brilliant weekend with my parents arriving as a surprise.
On Sunday am we went to see some alpacas. Baby ones were due but had not arrived so instead we met with the three boys. They are such gorgeous and curious creatures. We got sniffed at and they come up so close that you end up nose to nose with them. Springy was so happy to see them.
Later we went to a dancing workshop thing complete with live band playing behind.
Three days this week are summer swimming days (well half hours). Springy is doing so well with her swimming lessons and really enjoys and has confidence in the water, although she's not quite swimming just yet.
On Sunday am we went to see some alpacas. Baby ones were due but had not arrived so instead we met with the three boys. They are such gorgeous and curious creatures. We got sniffed at and they come up so close that you end up nose to nose with them. Springy was so happy to see them.
Later we went to a dancing workshop thing complete with live band playing behind.
Three days this week are summer swimming days (well half hours). Springy is doing so well with her swimming lessons and really enjoys and has confidence in the water, although she's not quite swimming just yet.
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Seasonal Finger Plays/Rhymes - Autumn
The summer seems to have barely been and although it's hot today, with blue skies, I can feel that harvest time has started and autumn is just around the corner.
The Apple Tree
Here is the apple tree with its leaves so green.(stand tall with arms outstretched like branches)
Here are the apples that hang in between. (curl up hands into fists and rotate to make little circles to show apples hanging)
When the wind blows, the apples will fall. (wave arms like branches blowing in the wind and drop hands down)
Here is a basket to gather them all. (hold arms in front like a basket to hold apples)
Autumn
The leaves are floating gently down,(wave arms up and then down)
They make a soft bed on the ground. (crouch down or if sitting hands on lap)
Then 'whoo whoo' (wave arms about and flap to show the wind)
The wind comes whistling by,
And sends them dancing back to the sky.(hands flutter and dance upwards)
The Whirling Leaves
(Flutter fingers above head and down to the ground repeatedly)
The little leaves are whirling round, round, round,
The little leaves are whirling round,
Falling to the ground.
Round, round, round, round,(flutter fingers round and down)
Falling to the ground.
(with older children get them to be each leaf)
The Apple Tree
Here is the apple tree with its leaves so green.(stand tall with arms outstretched like branches)
Here are the apples that hang in between. (curl up hands into fists and rotate to make little circles to show apples hanging)
When the wind blows, the apples will fall. (wave arms like branches blowing in the wind and drop hands down)
Here is a basket to gather them all. (hold arms in front like a basket to hold apples)
Autumn
The leaves are floating gently down,(wave arms up and then down)
They make a soft bed on the ground. (crouch down or if sitting hands on lap)
Then 'whoo whoo' (wave arms about and flap to show the wind)
The wind comes whistling by,
And sends them dancing back to the sky.(hands flutter and dance upwards)
The Whirling Leaves
(Flutter fingers above head and down to the ground repeatedly)
The little leaves are whirling round, round, round,
The little leaves are whirling round,
Falling to the ground.
Round, round, round, round,(flutter fingers round and down)
Falling to the ground.
(with older children get them to be each leaf)
Finger rhymes - animals/birds
Five Little Kittens
Five little kittens standing in a row,(With one palm out, stretch digits up and out)
They nod their heads to the children, so.(Make fingers nod)
They run to the left, they run to the right.(Wiggle fingers left and right)
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight.(Stretch fingers up high, slowly — reaching to the sun)
Along comes a dog who’s in for some fun,(Creep other hand toward stretched fingers)
Meow, meow, meow!See those kittens run!(Run fingers and hide by folding down)
Five little mice sitting in a row,(With one palm out, extend five fingers up and out)
They nod their heads to the children, so.(Make fingers nod)
They scamper to the left, they scamper to the right,(Wiggle fingers left and right)
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight.(Stretch fingers up high, slowly - reach to the sun)
Along comes a cat, who’s in for some fun.(Creep other hand toward the stretching fingers)Squeak, squeak, squeak!See those little mice run!(Run fingers away to hide again)
Three Little Kittens
Three little kittens, they lost their mittens,
And they began to cry, (Pretend to cry and wipe tears)
“Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear
Our mittens we have lost!”“What? Lost your mittens?
You naughty kittens!(Shake finger as if chastising)Then you shall have no pie.”
“Meow, meow, meow, meow!”
“You shall have no pie!”
The three little kittens, they found their mittens,
And they began to cry,(Mimic crying and wiping eyes)
“Oh, mother dear, see here, see here,
Our mittens we have found.”
“What? Found your mittens?You good little kittens!(Cuddle and hug the 'kittens')
Then you shall have some pie.”
“Purr, purr, purr, purr.”
“You shall have some pie!”
Owl
The barn owl hooted and told of the morning star,
He hooted again and told of the dawn.
The Cobbler and the Mouse
There once lived a cobbler and he was so wee
He lived in a hole in a very big tree
He had a good neighbor and she was a mouse
She did all his washing and tidied his house
Each morning at seven he heard a small tap
And in walked the mouse in her apron and cap
She lit a small fire and fetched a wee broom
And she swept and she polished his little tree room
To take any wages, she always refused
So the cobbler said 'Thank You' by mending her shoes.
Little Mousie
See the little mousie (curve middle finger and index finger on thumb for the mouse)
Creeping up the stair, (Creep the mouse slowly up the arm)
Looking for a warm nest (mouse is looking and sniffing)
There - Oh! There!(Mouse wiggles in armpit)
Snail Song (recite it slow-ly)
The snail is s-o s-l-o-w, the snail is s-o s-l-o-w, (move curled up hand up other arm slowly)
He creeps and creeps along.
And as he does he sings his song:
The s-n-a-i-l i-s s-o s-l-o-w.
Five little kittens standing in a row,(With one palm out, stretch digits up and out)
They nod their heads to the children, so.(Make fingers nod)
They run to the left, they run to the right.(Wiggle fingers left and right)
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight.(Stretch fingers up high, slowly — reaching to the sun)
Along comes a dog who’s in for some fun,(Creep other hand toward stretched fingers)
Meow, meow, meow!See those kittens run!(Run fingers and hide by folding down)
Five little mice sitting in a row,(With one palm out, extend five fingers up and out)
They nod their heads to the children, so.(Make fingers nod)
They scamper to the left, they scamper to the right,(Wiggle fingers left and right)
They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight.(Stretch fingers up high, slowly - reach to the sun)
Along comes a cat, who’s in for some fun.(Creep other hand toward the stretching fingers)Squeak, squeak, squeak!See those little mice run!(Run fingers away to hide again)
Three Little Kittens
Three little kittens, they lost their mittens,
And they began to cry, (Pretend to cry and wipe tears)
“Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear
Our mittens we have lost!”“What? Lost your mittens?
You naughty kittens!(Shake finger as if chastising)Then you shall have no pie.”
“Meow, meow, meow, meow!”
“You shall have no pie!”
The three little kittens, they found their mittens,
And they began to cry,(Mimic crying and wiping eyes)
“Oh, mother dear, see here, see here,
Our mittens we have found.”
“What? Found your mittens?You good little kittens!(Cuddle and hug the 'kittens')
Then you shall have some pie.”
“Purr, purr, purr, purr.”
“You shall have some pie!”
Owl
The barn owl hooted and told of the morning star,
He hooted again and told of the dawn.
The Cobbler and the Mouse
There once lived a cobbler and he was so wee
He lived in a hole in a very big tree
He had a good neighbor and she was a mouse
She did all his washing and tidied his house
Each morning at seven he heard a small tap
And in walked the mouse in her apron and cap
She lit a small fire and fetched a wee broom
And she swept and she polished his little tree room
To take any wages, she always refused
So the cobbler said 'Thank You' by mending her shoes.
Little Mousie
See the little mousie (curve middle finger and index finger on thumb for the mouse)
Creeping up the stair, (Creep the mouse slowly up the arm)
Looking for a warm nest (mouse is looking and sniffing)
There - Oh! There!(Mouse wiggles in armpit)
Snail Song (recite it slow-ly)
The snail is s-o s-l-o-w, the snail is s-o s-l-o-w, (move curled up hand up other arm slowly)
He creeps and creeps along.
And as he does he sings his song:
The s-n-a-i-l i-s s-o s-l-o-w.
Death
I think pets can be a very helpful way of learning about death. Due to their shorter lifespans a death of a pet is inevitable. We had a pet triops who died (they only live a maximum of 3 months) and we had a funeral for him (it) in our garden (yard). He was well loved (they are interesting creatures to observe) and they are easy to care for. I think for a child facing a death of something that is a very simple life form in such a matter-of-fact way means that when death happens to someone much closer, a family member, they are able to have more coping mechanisms in place.
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