I am trying to write down some of the games that the boys have played in these past years with other friends and teachers because this time is so fleeting and I don't want to forget the wonderful learnings both the boys and I have experienced. Also, as an educator I want to be able to remember them and adapt them. I have been very inspired by the teachers at the Arboretum. They do a wonderful job of creating simple games that connect to the themes the children are studying. The teachers are great mentors in less is more during early childhood. Many of there games are based on the "run and find" theme. For example, last week we were studying colors in nature. The teacher had the children each take a paint chip (color) square and find that color. Then, they came back to her and got a new color. All the children had a wonderful time playing this game & parents were involved by their child showing their glee. This game can have many versions: it can simply be run and find something with a specific attribute such as wet with dew, soft and fuzzy, rough.
Another delightfully simple game that the boys have played include make a bird nest out of grass and twigs, hide it, then come and get food from the teacher. If the kids want they can choose to be a specific type of bird. One of my boys was a chickadee and the other a crow when we last played this. They ran back and forth, back and forth to and from the teacher many times trying to get "food" for their baby birds. I am thinking we may play this game today at big kid Monday!
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