We are excited to introduce a new way for the Toddlers at Rising Oaks | John Sweeney to explore their creativity by bringing the outdoors inside. As we embrace the beautiful fall season, the children's curiosity about leaves and their vibrant colors have inspired us to provide them with diverse opportunities for creative expression and new perspectives.
Toddlers have been absolutely fascinated and excited to take part in a wide variety of activities! Each day, we've come up with all sorts of fun things for them to do, like playing with paint, leaves, pinecones, and even hairdryers. Instead of giving them strict rules, we've encouraged them to explore and find new ways to play and be creative. The kids have really loved this and have been trying out all kinds of techniques, like pressing, rolling, and scraping pinecones onto canvases to see what unique textures and colors they can create.
This art activity is all about the process, not the product. It's a super fun way to bring nature and art together. It's provided the children with an opportunity to use all 5 senses to channel their creativity, while also helping them feel more connected to nature. These activities are all about having fun and letting the children express themselves in their own unique way!
The other day, during our classroom activity, we set up a sensory bin filled with leaves and scarecrows to engage the toddlers in a hands-on learning experience. Debbie, one of the Toddler Educators had a brilliant idea to incorporate a fun science experiment by creating wind with a hairdryer. The toddlers were thrilled and excitedly threw the leaves all over the floor. Debbie then demonstrated how to use the hairdryer, causing the leaves to soar and swirl in the air, much to the toddlers' delight.
Amidst the excitement, Theo, known for his helpful nature, spontaneously grabbed a broom and began gathering the leaves back together. It was heartwarming to see him taking initiative and being responsible.
After the activity, we had a chance to chat with Theo's mom. She mentioned that they had been collecting leaves in their backyard over the weekend, and how Theo had eagerly shared his experience from the classroom with her. It was truly heartwarming to witness how Theo had not only enjoyed the activity but also brought the joy and learning back home.
Educators are excited about embracing new strategies for continuous learning and providing materials and support for Toddlers.
