How young is too young for a child to be using a pair of scissors?

I happily give two years olds a pair. I would have given several of the eighteen month olds scissors too if we had them in our room all the time and wouldn’t been seen as a novelty.

Some of those two year olds are unsure how to hold and use them and will watch carefully of how the others are using them.

Some become frustrated quickly and put the scissors down.

Others pick it up and can use them with ease.

What Should You Do?

Provide numerous opportunities to use scissors. If you have the pencils and textas out, why not put the scissors and glue out too?

Support them as they are using the scissors. It is not that easy to use scissors for the first time, try and think from how it feels for them to be using and learning about new technology.

Supervise. They are scissors and while they are probably “child” scissors you still need to watch them.

Demonstrate how to use them. Sit alongside the children as they are cutting and you cut too.

Use smaller groups. I would suggest having four-five at the table with you while cutting. It is easier to assist and model with a smaller group.

Provide scissors all the time. This makes them less of a novelty and shows the children you know that they are capable.

Do you incorporate cutting with scissors into your programs with the younger children?

[Image Credit: Pinterest]

Over the past few weeks the five year olds in the three to five room have been exploring the Space City Lego*.

As soon as I walked into the centre carrying the four boxes I had children questioning me, “Is that for us?” I smiled and explained that it was. They have since been putting them together in small groups with their Early Childhood Teacher.

While at first only five stayed for the entire hour long process (of putting together the smallest box) the grins on their faces when they proudly showed off their work was priceless.

Through this joint venture they were learning and problem-solving through the Lego (Outcome 4.1 & 4.2, DEEWR, 2009). The children were working together to solve their problems, and therefore playing and socially extending their skills (Outcome 3.1, DEEWR, 2009). As the Lego pieces are small, it works on furthering the children’s fine motor development, in particular their hand/eye coordination (Outcome 3.2, DEEWR, 2009). Using the visual representations from the instructions to read and guide their building (Outcome 5.2, DEEWR, 2009). All the while talking through the processes (Outcome 5.1, DEEWR, 2009).

Over the next few days they continued to put together the pieces of the Lego. Each time working on a bigger box. Before long they began to discuss the instructions, and even made their own. Through this interaction with the instructions the children are being exposed to print and text in a context which they are able to find helpful and realistic (Outcome 5.2, DEEWR, 2009).

They have enjoyed exploring the Space City Lego and now around 7-10 students will sit and help their Early Childhood Teacher during the building process.

While the box states that it is aimed at the older children, those between 5-12 years, the almost four – five year olds would sit and put together the Lego. Most without needing the instructions.

After watching the children, mainly boys put together this Lego, I wonder if there is any Lego specifically aimed at girls or that is gender neutral?

*Note: These are no longer available for giveaway as it has closed.

[Images taken from lego.com]

I love Lego and so when I was contacted about hosting a giveaway I jumped at the chance.

So this afternoon, because I am currently off work due to hurting my tailbone, I spent making the entire Lego Space City!

After three hours it was all finished, I think I had a few breaks in there.

I must take my hat off to Lego because they have really great and simple instructions and even the bags are numbered in the bigger boxes. While I made the two smaller boxes in an hour the other two took an hour each.

The only thing I didn’t like, because well I think you all should know, is that there is no door in the space shuttle. Okay, so maybe there isn’t meant to be one, but I was just a little concerned for Mr Lego Man. Oh and you simply must look at all the Lego men/woman’s faces. Some made me have serious giggles.

I know, enough about me blabbing on about how much fun I had this afternoon, you want to know about the giveaway!

I have two Space City Lego packs to giveaway valued at $279.96 each. What do you get in your pack?

A Satellite Launch Pad; Space Shuttle; Space Moon Buggy; and a Space Centre!

Yes, four things all to yourself [or your children!]

Everything has an age range 5-12 years and there is super tiny things that babies can swallow so I would definitely stick with 5 years and up.

How To Enter:

Leave a comment below [you must fill in your name and email address] and tell me, if you were going to the moon what would you take?

The Boring Bits:

1. One entry per person.
2. Entry is open to Australian residents only.
3. The giveaway opens upon the publishing of this post and closes Friday 20th May at 9pm.
4. Winners will be drawn using the Random Number Generator.
5. Winners will need to reply to the email stating that they have won by Monday 23rd May at 9am or another winner will be drawn.
5. Have fun and be creative!

** Winners are #21 Sass and #3 Donna Webb! Congratulations! I am about to email you!

Today during afternoon tea, one of the children was not drinking. Confused, because most days he will simply push the sipper cup away, without even taking a sip, the other carer and I wondered if he wasn’t used to drinking from that type of sipper sup.

Which then lead to me, grabbing my own sipper cup and modeling the behaviour.

For under threes, I find modeling a great teaching technique for showing children the type of behaviours that you would like to see.

Modeling can be used throughout everyday and often we do it without realising.

What was the most recent behaviour that you modelled to a child?

[If you are wanting to learn more about teaching techniques, I highly recommend MacNaughton & Williams as a great professional development tool.]

Within any setting, creating an observation system and record is always a great idea. If you are working within a prior to school setting, the regulations dictate how many observations need to be compiled each month, according to how many days they attend.

Focusing specifically within prior to school settings these are the steps that I took to develop my observation record:

Create a table format in Word or similar, using six columns and then as many rows as needed [depends on how many children you have to observe].

Once you have that then you can put the children’s names in the first column, and observations 1-4 across the next four columns. In the final column this can be a space for extra comments or observations. As not every child will need four observations, shade the extra columns for those that attend three days or less in a light grey [this will enable you to write over if you do happen to see and write an observation, but allows you to see how you are going with your tracking].

Then as you complete each observation, write the date in the box and then you have a record for each month.

If you have computer-based portfolio’s be sure to update them as soon as you write an observation, it is a lot easier then having to go back and check to see if you put that observation in yet.

But who should you observe on what day?

Well this is where you set up a monthly, fortnightly or weekly observation system. I set mine up as a monthly chart and have around two children per day to observe, which means that they are my focus children for that day however, it does not mean that if I don’t notice something else I wouldn’t note it down.

So for this I just created a five column table with either five rows [monthly], three rows [fortnightly] or two rows [weekly].

Along the top you write the headings as the days of the week. Then in the rows place the children’s names in. Be sure to make sure that the child attends on that day too!

It is a good idea to spread your observations for each child across the month, so if a child comes only one day per week, observe them two out of four weeks that they attend [e.g. week 2 and 4] which will space out the observation dates and give a holistic view of that child.

Grab a premade template: Observation System-Record Template

Any questions? Leave a comment or shoot through an email.

I am a fan of Australian author and illustrators, and Bruce Whatley is a big favourite of mine.

Clinton Gregory’s Secret is a book about a little boy who has a secret. Actually, he has several secrets. The picture book then goes and shares his secrets. At the end of the book, we see Clinton Gregory asleep and it links to the new secrets, of next week.

The picture book has amazing visual aesthetics with each page drawing the reader and audience further into Clinton Gregory’s world. The language is sophisticated, yet, simple. Once the humour is added, then the children are left in awe of the text.

When reading a picture book, there are always ways in which the text can be then used again to further develop a skill or area of learning. It is never just about English, rather it can often extend into Mathematics, Science, Physical Development and Education, Creative Arts, Language, and Technology.

Using Clinton Gregory’s Secret, the following areas can be explored:

English
Furthering the text, asking the children to continue the story, what happened next?
Having the students share a secret or a made up secret, and detailing the secret.
Looking at the text for sight words.
Exploring words that haven’t been introduced into the vocabulary.
Exploring other texts written by Bruce Whatley.

Mathematics
Sequencing the days of the week.
Specifically looking at what happened on each day of the week.
Estimating what could happen in the next week.
Counting how many people/animals Clinton Gregory meets.

Personal Development/Health/Physical Education + HSIE
Discussing secrets.
Discussing friendships, and what makes a friend.

Creative Arts
Developing music to be played with each secret.
Recreating their own secrets using a variety of materials.
Acting out the picture book.

Languages
Looking up certain words in a different language.

Science and Technology
Exploring dinosaurs.

These are just some of the ways that Clinton Gregory’s Secret can be used and explored.

[Purchase from QBD]

Games are a fun way to play with the children on a level where you too can be an active participant. These games don’t require any props so can be played on short notice.

Hide and seek

Depending on the age group will depend on what you are counting too. Generally it is between ten and twenty. During this time, the other children hide. When the child has finished counting they call out, “Ready or not! Here I come!” and goes off in search of the other children. The first person found is the next person to count in the next round.

This is a fun game that can be played with three year olds and up, generally when playing with three year olds, I have hidden with them {in a nannying context rather than long day care setting}. To make it more interesting for the older children, by playing in the dark and using torches is a great modification! I have played this with children from around five, however again this was in a nannying context and was with the youngest child throughout.

On the River, On the Bank

Using chalk/rope/string/tape/etc to mark a line down the carpet and have the children stand on one side of the line. If they are standing closest to you {in front of the line} that is the bank, if they are standing over the line {further away from you} that is the river. You then call out, ‘On the river’ or ‘On the bank’ and the children jump back and forth. This can be played with children four years and up.

Port and Starboard

One player is the captain, the other children follow the captain’s orders {the children can get “out” if they miss an order but this is optional}.
The Orders are -

:  To the ship: run to the captain’s right
:  To the island: run to the captain’s left
:  Hit the deck: lay down on your stomach (or if players don’t want to get dirty, they can crouch down)
:  Attention on deck: salute and yell, “Aye, aye captain!” – must stay in that position until captain yells, “At ease!” (ie even if the captain gives a different order such as “to the ship” the crew must continue to remain at attention until told “at ease”)
:  Scrub the deck: everyone on their knees scrubbing
:  Captain’s Quarters: everyone ran towards the captain.
:  Sick turtle: Everyone falls onto their backs and waves hands and feet in the air.
:  Bow: Run to the front of the boat
:  Stern: Run to the back
:  Port: Run to the left side of the boat
:  Starboard: Run to the right side of the boat.

When playing this game, depending on the ages of your children will significantly depend on the number of orders you have. Also, keep in mind if this game is played over a period of time, the orders will become easier to remember. {There are a lot more orders but are mainly for large groups}. The game can be played inside the house or out in the backyard.

If playing with children of four years, keep instructions simple using four key orders and slowly building up depending on age group and setting.

Statues/Freeze

The children dance to the music whilst it is playing and when the music stops, they freeze. Children from four years or even younger can enjoy this game, but the concept of stopping and “freezing” may still need a little more practice.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Re-enacting this favourite will be a great way to spend the afternoon. Use the story and walk around with your children through the grass and the mud {pretend} and make it a fun experience. You could also make props using large cardboard and keep so that it can be used repeatedly. Once finished the children could then draw what they saw on their walk.

Something fun for children of all ages, but around three would be a good age to introduce and could easily be down with a mixed age group.

When with a group of new students, one quick and easy way to learn children’s names is to sing this song:

{Teacher} “Bee, bee bumble bee. Can you sing your name for me?”
{Child} “My name is ______.”

If you have a prop of a bee the children pass this around the group once they have sung their name.

I was taught this song during a music based unit, something which I don’t find myself too talented in, and we learnt and discussed the need to give the children the pitch and tone that they should too be singing in.

“Bee, Bee Bumble Bee” is quite a high pitched song with a slow tempo.

Do you have any songs that you use to learn children’s names?

Water play is one of the best activities that can be set up in the summer time. Whether you are filling a tub with water or playing with the hose, it is not only a lot of fun but it creates some comfort to our hot summers.

There are a lot of different ways to add extra items to water play, to change the dynamic of the play, such as:

: Adding a range of different sized containers that can be filled and refilled
: Adding objects that will sink or float
: Adding food colouring to make the water a different colour
: Using water coloured pencils for drawing and then splashing water onto that drawing and watching what happens
: Making boats from different materials to see which will float the best

What is something that you have used to extend water play?

The most important thing to remember about water play is to stay safe and always supervise the children. Any amount of water can be deadly to a child. Also, please remember to Slip, Slop, Slap {even if it looks overcast}!

{Image is of Lucy’s children and was given permissions to be used on Early Childhood Resources}

{image credit}

February 3rd is the start of the new Chinese New Year.

In China this is a huge celebration and lasts for fifteen days until the moon gets its brightest.

Red is the colour to be wearing, painting doors or windows in and carrying around. Red symbolises gladness and is used to ward of wicked spirits and omens from homes, and is usually accompanied by the colour gold which symbolises prosperity and good faith.

During the colorful celebrations, people wear masks made up of varied materials including cloth, paper, grass, leather, metal, shell, and carved of stone or wood painted with Chinese symbolic designs and vivid colours. Some have realistic human or animal appearance.

There is a feast on Chinese New Year eve with family members. Firecrackers are let off to remove darkness from their lives during the Chinese New Year party.

{image credit}

The famous Chinese crafts on the day of New Year are paper cutting, embroidery, new year paintings, and making lanterns. The crafts plays an important role during festival period as it is based on the theme of the celebration. New year paintings with the theme of nature and traditional culture pursuits love of Chinese towards its customs. Also animal representation of the year provides an important space to Chinese New Year crafts for kids. Children make replica of animal to welcome the New Year. Click here for a Rabbit printable.

How will you celebrate the new year with your class?

{Information compiled from here and here}