Protecting Play in the Covid Era

 

Love the wise wisdom of Sally over at Fairy Dust Teaching as always ... the Covid era requirement to physically distance goes against everything in our nature as advocates of the early years, of how children learn and the vital role of PLAY for all learners but specially for young learners!

Physically distancing flies in the nature of all of that but if we are forced to be doing it in order to be open and offering program we definitely need to get creative in ensuring that our programs are still based in true play invitations and in a manner that is still welcoming and able to move and flow with children's interests and needs - our children do not belong in a 'taped box' on the floor!

Sally has a great blog post to go with this here:

 

Some of the other 'space definers' I have used in my own program to create individual play invitations are mirrors (if you apply duct tape to the back of a mirror it helps to create an inexpensive break resistant option as if it does get dropped the pieces all stay stuck to the tape) .... not only do they define a play space but they also provide explorations in reflection, depth, patterning and more learning through explorations!

 

Another option for defining play spaces are the slip mats for in a sink that have 'squares' in them .... they create natural 'grid and patterning' invitation for children when loose parts are added to them! Can also be added to the top of a light table as well!

 

Another add on idea is the good ole ice cube tray with loose parts added .... here the children are exploring with water and pipettes to create lots of color recipes! 

Final offering today for individual invitations to play is the under the bed rubbermaid container ... they are perfect for water, sensory and small world play invitations and they stack and store out of the way when not in use!

 

Have an amazing day!

 

Margaret

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

The Art of a Heartfelt Apology

I love the Devereux Centre for Resilient Children they have amazing resources for both educators and parents! 

 I subscribe to their email blasts to get the latest webinars options and resources right in my inbox.

Today's offering had a link to the 'art of the heartfelt apology' - watch for some quick tips and reminders for making an apology meaningful because lets face it we ALL make mistakes in life and a heartfelt apology is the first step in making amends and the 'sorry' is sometimes just not enough.

Handy little 'apology planner' for using with children as they learn the steps for making an apology!

Have an amazing day

Margaret

Live, Laugh, Love 

Be Totallyawake4-life

Friday night snacking low carb style

One of the biggest challenges or hurtles to creating a 'new lifestyle' is getting over the connection we have between memories/traditions and unhealthy food choices .... normally Friday night has always had the tradition of 'winding down' after a long week of work life balance so we curl up on the couch with a drink in one had and a carbalicous snack in the other! So it is hard when those memories clues of it being Friday night and choosing our movie or in this case Netflix binge option of the series You sets off a 'craving' for popcorn on me!

But not this time cravings .... tonights Friday night movie time is about to begin and I am ready with the  “popcorn habit” replacement ... bacon chips with some of my carefully rationing Epicure cheesy jalapeño dip 💕💕

What is your ultimate low carb snack option? Drop me a line in the comments!

Bon Appetite 

Margaret

Live, Laugh, Love 

Be Totallyawake4-life

#lowcarb #keto #grainfree #celiac #autoimmunedisease #snacks #epicure #epiclifechallenge #nomnom 

Scrapbook Nerd 'Stash busting' Online Crop Recipe Challenge

 Margaret here guest designing for the Scrapbook Nerds! 

This week we are having an online scrapbook stash busting crop - come join us over on Facebook for a chance to play along and use up some of your crafty stash and enter challenges for a chance to win FREE STUFF!

 This is my recipe challenge ....hope you are inspired to play along!

 

I had fun playing with the Ernest and Zelie Gnomes from Carabelle and coloring them with my Blends markers from Stampin' Up! They make coloring a breeze!

 

You can create such a fun background layer using the new oxide sprays from Tim Holtz ... mixed media so much fun! I than embossed it with a retired brick embossing folder. Added some bling with a Wink of Stella  and added some cute little star embellishments from my sequins stash. 

Finally I created a custom 'Gnome School's Cool' sentiment from my retired stash stamp set Skinny Miny Letters from Stampin' Up! I love alphabet stamp sets they are perfect for making custom sentiments! I have the Pink Fresh Adore alpha on my wishlist!

Happy Stampin'

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

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