The Thinking Child

Asking Questions Which Encourage Creative Thinking

August 11, 2010

Consider the learning potential of changing the way you ask your child questions… “Can you see the rainbow in the sky?” versus “I wonder how does the rainbow get into the sky?” “What is this part of the elephant called? (pointing to trunk)” versus “What would you do if you had a trunk?” “Can you [...]

Read the full article →

Strewing

June 18, 2010

I have written recently about the importance of creating rich, inspiring play spaces for children and also about creating invitations to play. I have long believed the way we present toys and resources to children can capture their interest and set the stage for longer periods of more meaningful play, and therefore learning. I am [...]

Read the full article →

DIY Kids: Making Beanbags Tutorial

May 31, 2010

Some time ago I was so inspired by this post about beanbags over at SquiggleMum that I rushed out and bought fabric to make some beanbags for Immy and then promptly put it away and forgot about it.When I saw Code Name: Mama’s Beanbag Toss post on We Play, it inspired me again to get [...]

Read the full article →

Types of Play: Playing Creatively

May 29, 2010

Too often during childhood the potential for creativity is pushed aside by parents who’s focus remains firmly on their child’s developing intellect and learning pursuits of a more ‘academic’ nature. What if, instead of viewing creativity as merely ‘art’ or even music, dance and drama (not that I am personally undervaluing any of these pursuits), [...]

Read the full article →

Nature Kids: Treasure Hunt Soup

May 21, 2010

This morning whilst we were playing outside, we decided to make ‘soup.’ To add an element of fun and learning, I turned our soup making into a treasure hunt game. I would give Immy clues about something I could see which we might add to the soup or challenge her to find a particular item [...]

Read the full article →

Developing Brains: Laying the Pathways to Learning

May 17, 2010

From the moment a baby is born (and even before birth), they are absorbing their world through the five senses – what they see, hear, touch, smell and taste. What adults often don’t realise is how important this sensory learning continues to be – through toddlerhood and the preschool years. Babies are born with a [...]

Read the full article →

Types of Play: Constructing

May 17, 2010

One of the things I am loving about the new We Play meme is the range of fantastic play experiences being shared for children of all ages. When we think of ‘play’ often the first thing we think of is imaginative play but this is only one type of play experience. In this post, I [...]

Read the full article →

Five Moments

April 23, 2010

A ride on a carousel Learning to play hide-and-seek, though Immy hasn’t quite got the idea that you are not meant to call out, “Here, here!” Serving up seedpods for ‘lunch’ Fun with Dad Surprising Mum by drawing a fantastic face 5 recent moments in our family, inspired by this blog which I discovered this [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →