Ambleside Child Care

4 mile beach always has loads of driftwood. I've been swimming there since I was a little girl - and collecting driftwood. Today, we used some of that driftwood to make some suncatchers & windchimes.

A few snaps of our July fun ....blocks, weaving, body painting, cement painting, sprinkler,chaulk drawings, finger paints, water play & nature journals....

Painting with cars

sponge painting

A beautiufl Monday morning brought out some paint and paper for a sensory activity -Feet Painting! What began as feet painting turned into water play - foot prints, pouring, car washing, puddles, waterfalls, filling and all happily cooperating, turn taking,observing, science (color mixing, liquid movement and on and on) sharing, encouraging and laughter !

Berry delicious! Sarah Bissonette & Melissa Tilley

Excellent Sensory Development workshop today. Among other things, we learned that Barefoot is best!! Found a few articles about it online.... http://www.naturalchildmagazine.com/1210/barefoot-babies.htm

PD day: Outdoor painting experience

Earth Day: Collecting worms from the road to put in the flower gardens. (the very quiet, no traffic road)

I encourage as much free play as possible in our schedule. This is a great quick read. Here's what she has to say about play: "What is play? Play is self-chosen. Children were born to play. They love to play. They will play all day if they’re allowed. If you have to coax them into doing something, then it’s not play. Play never feels like work or an obligation.... Play is enjoyable. Play is fun! Play has no agenda. Play is not for the purpose of meeting adult goals. Play is inherently valuable. All play is learning. No matter what it is. Whether you can clearly see the skills being mastered or not. There is no hierarchy of play. Play is unstructured. In play, children make the rules. They decide how long they play for and what direction their play takes."

...the fog was thick that morning, drifting like smoke across the fields. One of the children asked, "Jenny, what is on fire?"

We weren't able to make real snowmen, so we made some white sparkly playdough and a few accessories and created indoor snowmen. The playdough adventures continue - a great indoor activity for 2 & 3 year olds who are stuck inside on a cold winter day.

Smiles. getting to know new playmates by offering tea cups and kitchen utensils ....and later offering hugs and smiles.

When the weather is horrid, Paw Patrol to the rescue.

Great creative art ideas from Artbar. Drawing with permanent marker and then using water colors to paint.

It is either raining, or snowing or freezing cold ...but we have braved the elements ( and braved dressing 2 babies, a toddler and 2 preschoolers for the great winter outdoors ) a few times and headed out for a fresh air walk and some outdoor play.