3-11-2010

3-11-2010

Observation Hours:
Aldo Leopold School - Friday from 9:45 until 10:45
SNC Children's Center - Friday from 2-3, Monday from 2-3, Tuesday 1-3, Wednesday 2-3, Thursday 10-11

This week I tried to pay attention to how kids played with the toys they had available to them. I was watching the children at the preschool play outside with hula hoops. The hoops were all different sizes. There were times when the kids would use the hula hoops as they were made to be played with, but more often than not the kids would come up with new ways to play with them. They would put the hoop around a friend and pull them along behind them, hang them on things or jump through them. I have many times seen the kids come up with new and interesting ways to play with toys. I think that this shows how kids can really develop creativity through play because they really learn to think outside of the box.

Another thing that I have observed this week is how having free play really helps kids to develop time management skills as well as to become more decisive. In the preschool it is up to the child to decide where they are going to play. They also do not have an organized snack time, the kids can just choose if and when they want to eat. I think that this is good for them because they need to choose to go there if they want a snack. There have been many times when kids have cried after center time because they missed snack and the teachers always just tell them that it is their responsibility to go to the snack table if they want one. I also think kids learn to think for themselves and to become decisive through free center time because they have to make a conscious decision where to go. I do not reallys see many kids who just follow a friend along to centers. Too often kids lives are completely planned out for them and they do not get to make any decisions of thier own. This time is good for them because they can take control of their time and really learn some important skills.