At-Home Learning Archives - Page 3 of 3

February 28, 2018March 1, 2021

4 Dr. Seuss Life Lessons We’re Glad We Have

March 2 is Theodor Seuss Geisel’s (Dr. Seuss) birthday. When we sat down to list all the many important lessons Dr. Seuss taught us through his books, we couldn’t stop! Through a creative writing style that nobody seems able to duplicate, Dr. Seuss’s books teach sophisticated life lessons in a way that just sticks — without us always even realizing it!

If you sat down with even just a handful of Dr. Seuss’s 60 books and looked for lessons, you’d end up with a list a mile long. (You could even read that mile-long list in a box with a fox if you like.)

We’re not sure a complete list could ever be compiled, but here are four of our favorite Dr. Seuss life lessons at UDA Creative Arts Preschool.

Dr. Seuss Life Lessons — Reading Is Important

Over and over, readers get the message from Dr. Seuss that reading is important. Often, he stated that message outright:

The more that you read, the more things that you’ll know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

I can read in red. I can read in blue.
I can read in pickle color too.”

-from I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

But even when reading wasn’t the dedicated subject of Dr. Seuss’s books, nobody can deny how enjoyable it is to read the fun cadence of Dr. Seuss’s imaginative rhymes. His rhymes are so fun, in fact, that we use them to teach rhyme to our 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds at preschool. Children easily pick up on predicting the next rhyming sound when they are read to from Dr. Seuss books.

And did you know?: In 1954, a Life magazine article criticized children’s reading levels, so Houghton Mifflin and Random House asked Dr. Seuss to write a children’s primer using 220 vocabulary words. The Cat in the Hat was the result, proving that children’s literature can be fun while introducing new words.

Dr. Seuss Life Lessons: Compassion

Dr. Seuss teaches his readers that we have a responsibility to care for other people (and creatures and plants). He teaches us to look outside our own problems; to look beyond our own noses and actually see other people. This is something we care deeply about at UDA Creative Arts Preschool. We believe children can understand the concept that their actions affect others, and we emphasize important character traits like honesty, compassion, respect, and more every day.

In fact, our character trait we focus on during the month of March (the month of Dr. Seuss’s birthday) is compassion.

The children already have so much compassion for each other, and Dr. Seuss helps us to reinforce those important concepts. Hear his pleading to please, please consider the plights of others.

When you think things are bad,
when you feel sour and blue,
when you start to get mad… you should do what I do!
Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky!
Some people are much more… oh, ever so much more…
oh, muchly much-much more unlucky than you!”

– Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

Even plants deserve to be thought of:

I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.
I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues.”

– The Lorax

It’s such a simple concept — trees cannot speak. So we must speak for them.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

– The Lorax

Not only can we care about other people, we can also do something to help them. That’s a powerful message for every child (and adult) to internalize.

Dr. Seuss Life Lessons — You’re Good Enough, and It’s Okay to Be Different

Dr. Seuss gave us the message that we have the power to transform our lives. We have responsibility over our own decisions, and we can change the outcome at any time.

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

– Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact.
And remember that life’s a great balancing act.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)
Kid, you’ll move mountains.”

– Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

It doesn’t matter what limitations you have. You are important and can do what you were made to do.

Don’t give up. I believe in you all.
A person’s a person no matter how small.”

Horton Hears a Who!

Today you are You, that is truer than true.
There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

Happy Birthday to You!

Dr. Seuss Life Lessons – Live Life with Imagination

Dr. Seuss created illustrations, stories, and characters that were so different from anything that had ever been done before. He showed us that we aren’t limited by what is real. We can create our own worlds. He used words in new ways, and didn’t limit himself to established rules.

He showed us that creativity and imagination are valuable traits to develop.

Think left and think right and think low and think high.
Oh the thinks you can think up if only you try!”

Oh, the Things You Can Think

We subscribe heavily to this belief that creativity drives our learning. That’s why we incorporate art, music, creative movement, dance, science, math, and so much more into every single day of learning at UDA Creative Arts Preschool in Draper. Each day we are amazed by how the children cement important life and academic concepts through the creative arts. Give us a call at (801) 523-5930, or send us a message to arrange a tour to see how we enrich the lives of preschoolers every day!

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.”

Theodor Seuss Geisel, Dr. Seuss

October 9, 2017

What’s Happening at UDA Creative Arts Preschool — D Is for Dinosaur

We have so much fun at UDA Creative Arts Preschool, and our themed weeks create a framework for important concepts to be taught while enjoying subjects that interest the children (and adult teachers!).

Recently, we had a blast during our “D Is for Dinosaur” week. We packed in plenty of roaring fun, hands-on learning, fine-motor skill development, history lessons, science lessons, movement and music activities, a field trip, and so much more. We’re busy from the moment the children to arrive to the time they’re picked up!

Paleontologists in Training

The children were thrilled to pretend to be paleontologists with their own tools (a mallet, a plastic knife that acted as a chisel, and a brush) and unearth dinosaur skeletons from blocks. While they had an absolute blast, this activity also helped to develop hand/eye coordination.

Digging through the sensory bin of sand, the children found plastic dinosaur pieces and put them together to make a dinosaur skeleton. Not only did the field of paleontology become more familiar to them, but they developed visual discrimination skills with this activity.

Dinosaur Habitat in a Box

Everyone added a new word to their vocabulary: Habitat.

Together, we looked at books and photos of dinosaurs and talked about what it would have looked like where they lived and what they would have needed to survive. Then, with sand, play dough, plastic trees, plastic dinosaurs, and more, each child made their own dinosaur habitat. They included volcanoes, hot lava, a river or lake, and more. Some children even added nests and eggs because they remembered we had learned that dinosaurs hatch from eggs. We love when concepts come together like this!

Dinosaur Stomp

During creative movement class, we moved like dinosaurs in a dinosaur stomp. We also sang songs that helped the children learn to distinguish between different dinosaurs.

Playing Is Learning

Children learn through play, so dinosaurs are heavily featured in our play and art time as well. We even incorporated dinosaurs into our letter and number recognition activities.

Finally, we took advantage of being so close to the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point. Everyone enjoyed this fun field trip where the children could get even more hands-on dinosaur experience with their parents.

UDA Creative Arts Preschool believes in developing the whole child through a variety of multisensory activities. Give us a call at (801) 523-5930 to arrange a visit and see what we’re up to.

September 30, 2017January 22, 2021

Let’s Play — Why Your Child Needs Play-Based Learning

Keeping up with the Joneses has always been a hazard of modern life. We want what our neighbors have. And try as we might, we just can’t shake this competition when it comes to parenting. Even the least-affected among us want our children to excel academically, socially, physically, and more.

And we naturally worry when it seems like our child is falling behind. But in the rush to make sure our kids keep up, we sometimes focus too heavily on academics, sports, and more. While these components of childhood are all important, we may forget one very important thing:

Play.

It may look like our kids are just wasting time when they’re playing, but it’s actually a critical component of their development. In fact, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights even recognizes play as a right of every child!

Read on to learn why play is so important at home and at school — and how you can make sure your child gets enough of it!

The Many Benefits of Play-Based Learning

Children need to learn their ABCs and 123s, and play is one way to effectively make that happen. When you incorporate fun into regular lessons, children just get it.

But the benefits of play-based learning extend far beyond academics. Play develops imagination, cognitive strength, and dexterity. It allows children to have control over their environment, giving them confidence and the ability to master what they’re doing. It helps children face fears in a safe space, and it lets them practice adult roles. They learn how to work in groups, to negotiate, and to advocate for themselves. They learn to try on different interests, and find what they’re really passionate about.

And that’s all just from unstructured play!

When a teacher uses guided play as a teaching tool, she can ensure her students build vocabulary skills, gain background knowledge on subjects being taught, and even push through academic challenges.

Indeed, researchers have determined that successful learning contains four key ingredients. The best learning happens when children are:

Mentally active
Engaged
Socially interactive
Building meaningful connections to their lives

Think of the last time you watched your child play. Whether you noticed it at the time, chances are good that you saw all of those ingredients mixing together for a deliciously fun time of learning.

How Parents Can Incorporate Play-Based Learning at Home

Make time for it! In your own life, you probably won’t relax unless it’s part of a daily ritual or if it’s put on the calendar. But much as you suffer when you don’t leave time for relaxation, children suffer when they don’t have time to play. Include it in your daily routines.
Step back. You don’t have to direct your child’s play. If your child calls a dinosaur a parrot, don’t correct her. Let her direct her own play. She’s building worlds of imagination.
But play with them too! There’s a time to step back, and there’s a time to engage. Playing with your child gives you a front-row seat to the stage of your child’s mind. It’s beneficial for both of you when you get down on your child’s level and play. But the key? Follow your child’s lead. Don’t take over. Don’t make judgment calls on his decisions. Just do what he does, and follow his lead.
Provide materials. Give your child new materials to play with — fabric pieces, play-doh, ribbon, dry pasta, empty tissue boxes… you get the idea. Don’t give any direction; just let them play.
Go outside. A change of scenery opens the mind. Head out to your backyard, to the park, or to a nature spot and see what your child comes up with.
Allow for mistakes. Learning happens when children are allowed to make mistakes.
Appreciate your children’s efforts. Display their artwork, tell them you’re impressed that they continued to build a block tower even when it kept toppling over, and praise them for being kind to playmates.
Get messy. (Well, as much as your comfort level will allow!)

Need some ideas for what you can do together? Try these on for size:

Draw with chalk outside
Read books
Put puzzles together
Dress up
Play together at the playground
Go for a walk
Dance to music
Play board games or card games
Play with puppets
Arrange or sort tiny toys or trinkets
Do housework together
Kick, throw, or bounce a ball
Jump in leaf piles
Play hopscotch
Draw, paint, or color

Remember — while there is much you can do with your child, she also benefits from playing on her own. Don’t stress about how you play, how often you play, or if you’re playing the right things. Just allow for play — structured and unstructured — in your home.

At UDA Creative Arts Preschool, we take a play-based learning approach in our classrooms. We guide children to use their imagination to help concepts stick, learn new ways of doing things, and more.

August 16, 2017October 25, 2017

Beating Boredom with Backyard Science

Summer is here and how often do we hear the dreaded, “I’m bored” statement? School may not be in session, but learning adventures are right outside your backdoor. Just think of the safari awaiting a young inquisitive mind!

Roly-polies tucked away under the nearest stone. Beatles making their way through the jungle of grass. Mighty ant wars, a moving mosaic on the sidewalk. And don’t forget that tell tale sign of the sparkling trail left by that sneaky snail. All the backyard enthusiast needs is a plastic magnifying glass and a paper cup and she’s set!

The Dirt on Getting Dirty

But backyard science goes well beyond the ugly bug ball. Even smaller than those creeping crawlers are microorganisms that are also at work. Often as parents we are hesitant to let those little fingers and toes get all dirty.

“We want children to explore and to construct knowledge about their world, but sometimes we stifle this curiosity by trying to keep them safe–and clean.” (Paul Chesler, Instructor, Child Development and Education Division DeAnza Community College, Cupertino, California, Young Children. May 1996. p. 28)

Scientist Jack Gilbert, author of Dirt is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System, studies microbial ecosystems at the University of Chicago. In an interview with NPR, he shared that most parents are over washing and over sterilizing.

“It’s fine to wash their hands if there’s a cold or a flu virus around, but if they’re interacting with a dog, and the dog licks their face, that’s not a bad thing. In fact that could be extremely beneficial for the child’s health,” Gilbert shared. According to his studies, an increased exposure to germs can actually boost immunities and decrease allergies. So let him play in some of that “good clean dirt.”

The Nature of Nature

The natural world used to be all around humanity, but because of urbanization, few children have access to nature. When we think of sending children out to play, we think of slides and swings. However, according to studies, “Children prefer outdoor places that allow personal investigation.” (Ruth Wilson, Fostering A sense of Wonder During the Early Childhood Years. 1993. p.131)

By nature, children are drawn to nature. They need to connect with the world around them because they are a part of it. Giving them the opportunity to explore the backyard and beyond builds interest and curiosity, as well as allowing the whole child to grow in his natural surroundings.

Wonder as You Wander

Wonder is part of the joy of childhood and asking questions is paramount to wondering. “As teachers [and caregivers] we may often feel the impulse to simply respond with answers, but if we let go of our image as suppliers of answers, we too can become immersed in the act of wonderment” writes Michael Elsohn Ross, author of Sandbox Scientist–Real Science Activities for Little Kids. (Young Children. March 2000. p. 12)

Asking questions is instinctive for children, but we can take learning to a higher level as we ask questions with them. How are our senses affected by what we are experiencing? What is happening? Why and how is it happening?

Discovery through our questions not only develops a scientific observer, it develops the skills of a lifelong learner who loves to explore and discover.

8 Backyard Science Adventures

Here are a few ideas for some exciting exploration:

Field Journal- Have your child document the question of the day. Here are a few to get you started. Drawing pictures of her experiences not only helps with observation, but increases language, small motor, and art skills as well.

What do they see, smell, hear, touch? Can you describe it?
What is the weather like? How was it the same/different from yesterday?
How many animals or insects can they find? What were they doing?
How did the ant measure compared to the butterfly?
What plants can they find? What are the parts of the plants?

Theme Walk- With or without a backyard, we can all go for a short walk. Add purpose to your walk with a theme. Look for colors, shadows, footprints, signs of the season, living and nonliving, puddles, etc.

Bubbles and Wind- We all know how much excitement bubbles bring to a summer day. Make it scientific with a straw! Which way is the wind blowing? Can you make the bubbles move with your own wind as you blow them with a straw? What about a paper fan?

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt- Give him a paper sack and have him gather a list of nature items: pine needle, flower, small pebble, leaf, piece of bark, stick, etc. Give him the opportunity to share his findings with the family.

Make a Birdfeeder- At UDA Creative Arts Preschool we make a simple birdfeeder with a string, a pinecone, some peanut butter and birdseed. Tie the string around the pinecone so it can hang on a branch. Your preschooler can cover the pinecone in peanut butter and then roll it in birdseed, and voila! Hang it in the tree and watch over the next few days as the seed disappears.

Plant a Garden- This activity takes more planning, but learning the science of seed to fruit is a labor of love. Your child will learn responsibility as she waters the plant and watches it grow. And what better way to develop a love for vegetables than growing your own? Pots can be used if a garden is not available.

Create a Habitat- Or just study one. Where does the spider live, and what does it need to survive? How about the worm? Ant farms can be fun to see how the ants live under the soil, then study what they are doing above the ground. A beetle or caterpillar can survive inside a plastic cup with some leaves for a day in the shade.

Explorer Tool Box- By giving your child tools and questions, they can use their own imaginations to explore; but just in case they are too bored, here are a few ideas to get started.
Plastic Magnifying Glass- What can she find on the bark, leaves, in the grass and dirt?
Trowel and Bucket- What is below the surface?
Plastic Tweezers- Great for small motor skills! What does the other side of the leaf look like? Can they pick up that little rock?
Ruler- Which leaf is longer? How long is the worm? How far did the snail go?
Paper Cups- Playing in water can be hours of entertainment, or create a habitat for an insect for studying.
Notebook and Pencil- This is a great way for them to express their data and findings through art.
Chalk- Trace, measure, and describe on the sidewalk!
Plastic Tube or PVC Pipe- How does the rock go through the tube compared to the leaf or a blade of grass? What about water? How about wind?
Straw- Can they move the bubbles in the air by blowing them? What about a leaf? A rock? (Make sure your child is old enough to know the difference between blow and suck.And if you think these backyard ideas are fun, you should see how learning is fun in our classrooms! Come visit us for a free tour at UDA Creative Arts Preschool, the premier preschool in Salt Lake. For more information, call us at (801) 523-5930.

Written by: Elsje Denison

August 12, 2017October 25, 2017

5 Art Activities for Your Preschooler’s Developing Mind

When was the last time you felt the cool ooze of paint between your fingers as it spread across the page? Or had the exhilaration of watching bright yellow and spring green twirl and twist at the gliding of your fingertips? But who has time to play in colorful finger-paints?

As fun as playing in finger-paints can be, its value extends beyond “fun,” especially in the preschooler’s developing mind. The benefits of art activities for preschoolers extend into all aspects of a child’s learning, and your participation as their parent or caregiver plays a role.

“It’s very encouraging for children to know that their parents are willing to participate in activities with them,” says Adrianne Russell, a Kansas City, Missouri-based arts consultant, “especially if it’s something the adults have never done before or have little experience with.”

“Painting, drawing or sculpting forces us to stop multitasking and focus on the project at hand, as well as the person we’re doing it with,” writes Grace Hwang Lynch, for PBS Parents.

One added benefit to art activities for preschoolers is that they keep those little munchkins busy! “Children engaged in creating art express their feelings constructively, not destructively,” says Sydney Gurewitz Clemens, consultant for childhood education, teacher and organizer of San Francisco Classroom Teachers’ Association.

With those long summer days, we can all use a few “constructive” ideas. Here are five fun art activities for preschoolers you can do at home for your munchkin’s developing mind.

1- Zebra Resist Finger-paint

A little messy, but definitely delicious. Let your child tear painter’s tape into strips and then press them down onto a paper plate. Make a small box of chocolate pudding and let it set. Scoop a spoonful of pudding onto the plate and let the cool yummy goodness glide beneath your fingers. Licking encouraged. When pudding has dried, peel the painter’s tape off.

Developmental Benefits: Small-motor skills are developed as tape is torn and placed on the plate. Language develops as your child discusses how the pudding feels, tastes, and looks as you discuss the outcome of the tape resist. Decision making is required as your child chooses how to tear the tape, where to place it, and how to move their hands to create thickness/thinness in the pudding.

2- Summer Collage

Have your child choose pictures that remind him of things he loves to do in the summer. Tear or cut them out of newspapers, magazines, pictures he draws, or even pictures you print for him. Allow him to organize them on a large paper (8×10 is fine) and then give him a quarter-size puddle of glue on a paper or in a milk lid. Let him paint the glue to his picture with a finger, paint brush or Q-tip, and then paste them to his large paper. Remember there is no right or wrong way for him to place his collage. Upside down and sideways pictures are part of the process.

Note on Scissors: Learning to cut is a challenging small-motor skill for young children. If he is tired of using scissors, encourage your child to tear his pictures out, but keep practicing with those scissors.

Developmental Benefits: Cutting, tearing, gluing and pasting are all small-motor skills that need coordination and muscle strength. Planning where to place pictures and then implementing the plan develops creative thinking, reasoning, and spatial awareness. Displaying the pictures they have chosen fosters self-worth and individuality.

3- Oobligook

Cornstarch and water make a wonderful medium for the small artistic hands. This art activity is all about the process. Gather 3 cups cornstarch and 2 cups water.

First let your child handle the dry cornstarch. What does it feel like?
Add a little water and let those little fingers mix. What is happening? What will happen if we add more water?
After the lumpy stage, add the rest of the water.
Mix it all up and enjoy the silly, flowing substance. Add food coloring if desired.
What can you create?

Developmental Benefits: Your little scientist is beginning the scientific method! Observing the qualities of her ingredients and making predictions, your preschooler is critically thinking. She is also tapping into that right brain as she handles and creates with the oobligook. The more we can cross the two brain hemispheres, the better! Language development is also occurring as she describes what she is feeling.

4- Beautiful Junk

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” This old English proverb holds true for preschool creativity! Give your child a pile of safe “junk” objects. (Cereal boxes, beads, foil, cartons, buttons, cloth, toilet paper/paper towel rolls, ribbon, spools, yarn, shoelaces, cotton balls, rubber bands, paper. etc.)

Then issue the challenge. “What can you make?” Or if they need a little guidance, “What is the tallest thing you can make?” “What is the shiniest thing you can make?” Be available with tape, or even better, colored duct tape, but let them do all the creating.

Developmental Benefits: This is a wonderful activity for problem solving. For more problem solving experience, have your child work with a friend to make their creation. This activity also encourages inventiveness.

“The kind of people society needs to make it move forward are thinking, inventive people who seek new ways and improvements, not people who can only follow directions,” says MaryAnn Kohl, an arts educator and author of numerous books about children’s art education. “Art is a way to encourage the process and the experience of thinking and making things better!”

5- Story Inspired Art

Book illustrations can be a wonderful way to inspire your home art. Here are a few examples:

Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson. Use sidewalk chalk to draw your own adventure!

Press Here, by Hervé Tullet. So many dotty options! Dot pens, fingerprints, stamping. Try cutting grapes in half and stamping them in paint to tell your own dot story.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. Always a favorite! But have you ever examined the cover pages? With scraps of colored paper, make your own caterpillar holes using a hole punch. Then, use all the punch circles to decorate your little artist’s created butterfly.

Developmental Benefits: Language is developing any time we tell a story. Mathematical skills are developed as your child sequences her story. Your creativity is developed as you are inspired by the illustrations of others to come up with your own art adventure.

Remember: Process over Product!

As you do art activities with your preschooler, remember it’s about the process more than the product. The development happens as your child creates. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers some helpful suggestions for process-focused learning.

If you’d like to see more fun ways art can be used to develop your whole child, come visit us for a free tour at UDA Creative Arts Preschool, the premier preschool in Salt Lake. For more information, call us at (801)-523-5930.

Written by: Elsje Denison