Create Your Own “My Family Traditions” Book
Explore family and culture by making a book about your family's activities and traditions. Read the book together to remember special family memories, and add to the book when you start a new tradition. Details here!
How to Finger Knit: Give those small muscles the workout they need!
If you’re wondering why your 4-year-old can’t sit still, just remember that they have over 600 muscles that need daily exercise! While active, full body play is essential for big muscles, don’t forget fine motor activities to give their small muscles a workout too.
Finger knitting is a fantastic, and addictive, activity for preschoolers. It builds dexterity and strength in those small muscles which control the hand, fingers, and thumb—all critical for later writing skills. Finger knitting also encourages eye-hand coordination, concentration, and perseverance—all equally important for children’s development. (Interestingly enough, when a child is fully engaging their small muscles, their large muscles relax and they actually can sit still!) Click here for more!
The Wonder of Nature's Colors
What Happens When Art and Nature Meet?
Color is a magical thing. It is ever elusive and always changing depending on what it is placed next to or lighting. It affects our mood, signals help or harm, and color patterns even indicate what something is made of on an elemental level. Mother Nature’s palette is one of the most magical because it is perfectly suited to every circumstance. It is beautifully ever-changing, with the seasons, time of day, and geographic region. A bright yellow flower signals insects to come pollinate, while a bright red flower attracts hummingbirds. A blue sky tells us no need for an umbrella, while green grass tempts us to remove our shoes and enjoy the cool softness. The mysterious power of color affects every aspect of this bio-diverse world. Click here for more information and the Color Scavenger Hunt!
Creative Clay, Dough, and Modeling Experiences
Mudworks is a book of open-ended clay, dough, and other modeling art experiences. There is no right or wrong way for projects to turn out. Exploration and experimentation in sculpture, design, and play is encouraged. Adult models to copy are not necessary. Free-form designs, as opposed to perfect “cookie cutter” products, are the goal of the projects in Mudworks.
Explore. Experiment. Create. Enjoy watching the creative sparkle of each child. Remember, it's the process and not the product that kids value most. Click here for more!
8 Tools Kids Need to Manage Stress
The key to teaching kids how to manage stress is to give them tools to problem solve and navigate through life more effectively.
Stress is a part of life. Good stress can add to our lives by keeping us on our toes and warning us when we encounter potential danger. Bad stress, on the other hand, can seem overwhelming. Managing stress effectively is an art form. Like adults, kids often feel stressed out. Life gets too busy, conflicts with family or friends arise, homework obligations increase, etc. The key to teaching kids how to manage stress is to give them tools to problem solve and navigate through life more effectively. Here are a few tips that might help.
