Small World Dayhome

Ice cream everyone? It’s one of our friends’ birthday today. He likes ice cream and has been setting up ice cream shop in our dramatic play area. So, I decided to set up an ice cream shop outside. #icecreamshopdramaticplay #sensoryplay #messyplay #messyplayideas #learningthroughplay #earlyyearsideas #earlyyearseducation #earlychildhoodeducation #yegdayhome

Puffy paint and mirrors exploration. #processart #processartforkids #messyplay #reggioinspired #earlyyears #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearsideas #learningthroughplay #yegdayhome

We had lots of fun at the #yegfringe2018. We danced, watched a Pow Wow dance, got face painting, watched a show, participated in a show, and tried tricks with handkerchiefs. #yegkidsfringe #fieldtrip #yegdayhome

The children wanted to make corn bread today. However, I didn’t have the ingredients. So, I quickly set up an invitation to make a dough. The children loved the idea that they got to add the water and oil by themselves until they found the right consistency for their dough. Once they had their dough, they made corn bread, pizza, chocolate chip cookies, muffins, and many more. #sensoryplay #learningthroughplay #loosepartsplay #looseparts #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearslearning #earlyyears #yegdayhome

We had fun tracing our body with chalks. Some children decided to coloured their body using the technique we saw a chalk artist did during our field trip- using a sponge to create a smooth finish. We also traced our shadows and other objects. Lots of exploring and creating new colours. #chalkart #shadowart #learningthroughplay #earlyyears #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearslearning #earlyyearsideas #yegdayhome

Transient art #transientart #processart #loosepartsplay #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearslearning #earlyyears #yegdayhome

It was a foggy morning yesterday and one of the children asked why we had fog. So, we did the fog in a jar experiment yesterday to learn about fog, but we couldn’t see the fog. One child suggested that we put a drop of blue food colouring to help us see the fog. But, we still couldn’t see the fog. Today we tried the experiment again using a different method and it worked. Since I still have the jar with blue water from yesterday, another child was wondering if we would have blue fog with this jar. So, we did another experiment and found out that the fog didn’t turn blue

One of the children brought us carrots that were no longer tasty. We used these carrots to make carrot salad, carrot soup, and much more in our mud kitchen. When trying to cut the carrots with butter knife, the carrots were to hard. They used different ways to cut the carrots. They were stepping on it. They were smashing it with a pestle. They were pressing it with a hand juicer. At the end, we decided to cook the carrots so they were easier to work with. Lots of critical thinking and problem solving in this simple set up. I also love that even the children started to bring loose parts. #mudkitchenplay #mudkitchen #learningthroughplay #childledplay #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearslearning #earlyyears #reggioinspired #naturallooseparts #loosepartsplay #yegdayhome

Creating their own small world play with loose parts. They built the playground with all the details and making sure it was safe. For example, the twigs were the wood chips covering the ground. The tree cookies were the stairs to climb the equipments. The buckets beside the stairs were to catch the children in case they fell while climbing. #smallworldplay #loosepartsplay #playmatters #earlyyears #earlyyearslearning #childledplay #yegdayhome

Process art-painting with water balloons.

Squirt bottle/gun painting followed with a water fight were perfect activities for a hot summer day. #processart #outdooractivities #waterplay #letthemplay #earlychildhoodeducation #earlyyears #earlyyearslearningframework #yegdayhome

Who needs water wall when we can make our own water tower with different types of containers. The children poured water from the top and watched it flowing down. Even when the container on the bottom was full already, they kept pouring water and watched it dripping from the mud kitchen table. They added a bucket to catch the dripping water. #learningthroughplay #waterplay #earlychildhoodeducation #earlyyears #earlyyearslearning #childledlearning #childledlearningthroughplay #yegdayhome

Fabulous time at John Janzen Nature Center. Lots of artifacts that the children can touch and feel. They explored ground squirrels nursery and saw pond animals up close. Catching snails by the pond was one of their favorite activities. #fieldtrip #yegnature #yegdayhome

Outdoor reading is fun! #outdoorreading #encourageliteracy #earlyliteracy #yegdayhome

Shaving cream and foam blocks play. #messyplay #sensoryplay #earlyyears #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearslearning

After adding some layers to the paper mache and waiting for it to dry, we finally painted it and decorate it with recycled materials. #processart #processartforkids #childledart #openendedart #earlyyears #earlyyearseducation #yegdayhome

What a great parade we had today for our field trip. From Canadian troops, Olympic medalist, the mayor, princesses and super heroes to all the impressive vehicles were there at the parade. We also got to watch some attractions from other cultures. #fieldtrip #kdayparade #yegdayhome

Bubbles and drawing with chalks on the sidewalk always work to keep the children busy while we were waiting for the parade to start. There was music playing close to where we sat and the kids were busy dancing to the beats.