A Very Sad Day

This post will be out of order, but I wanted to write this while it's current. Today was AV's last day - her family is moving out of state. A has been with us since she was four months old and its been a pleasure to watch her as she's blossomed and grown over the past few years. AV will be missed a great deal, but we wish her and her family all the best in this new chapter of their lives

Our Kids

The Store

Creating a store (the chair is the counter) is another popular play sequence. JL and AN are deepening their play with more complex interactions. They regularly set the chair on it's side, pile up toys behind it, and wait for customers. If none are forthcoming they will yell out "store!" Wesupport the play by giving baskets to other children for shopping, making signs, and supplying items to sell such as empty food boxes. Eventually the store is abandoned, but will be re-created at a later time. With mixed ages imaginary play is often transferred from the older to younger children and everyone benefits. Again, we use this play as a time to deepen thinking with questions like, "how many can I buy?" or "how much is this item?" or by asking them to offer solutions to problems: "I don't have any money, how can I get some?" We also encourage items in the store so we can shop more easily. The options are endless!

Hello? Hello?

Mimicking adults is a common occurrence and one of the ways in which children learn how to behave and negotiate the world - its one of the highest forms of learning! Here AV grabs the play phone and reenacts a conversation. Because she sustained this for such a long period of time we chose to document. AV obviously realizes the phone has great potential for communication and emotional responses. Her animated facial expressions tell us that she enjoys this form of play, which like most children's play is rooted in real-life interactions. We take advantage of these opportunities to enhance language and increase vocabulary.