Splash, Swim & Soak up the Water!
Splish, splash, splosh - there are so many places we can find water! At kindergym this week we went for a surf on the waves, explored the depths of the sea, stomped in puddled and went swimming with the fish.
We loved Water Week at Kindergym!
Discover the Set Up
This theme we spent our time on the Beams, Parallel bars & Floor.
We explored the beach in the beam area. Shine bright! Using our hands with fingers outstretched we reached out our arms to imagine what it’s like to be the light in a lighthouse. After stepping inside the circular building, we turned around to shine our light, helping to keep a lookout over the ocean. The high beam station had a friendly shark to look out for - as we walked along the pier, we practised freezing when the shark popped out. On the low beam, we moved to each pond for a little bit of fishing - it was tricky to bob down without falling into the pond, but fun to catch some sea creatures 🐙🐡🐳
On the parallel bars we took a look at where water can be found around our home. We climbed up the ladder to help the raindrops fall from the sky and shoot down the drain 💦 Then we talked about how water freezes when it’s really cold and we spent time hanging next to icicles and snowflakes. A wobbly bridge was built at the P-bars, where we imagined seeing water flowing below in the river. Finally, we went for a slide down the waterfall at the end of the bridge!
We took a dive into the sea to explore the underwater activities on the floor 🌊 A favourite activity was sliding down the pole into the submarine, then exploring the seafloor where we weaved our way around the turtles 🐢 Our sea star station inspired some pre-cartwheel work. We rocked side to side, lifting our hands and feet to get used to transferring our weight as we will when we cartwheel in the future. Then we crawled like a crab across the rails, taking care to keep away from the crab’s pincers!
Play, Learn, Grow
Children are unique. They have different preferences, wants and needs. They develop at different rates and learn in different ways. All of those differences can change from day to day, week to week or month to month in each individual child!
Children are complex little creatures… or are they?
Children are masters of their own learning and we can learn a lot by pausing to take cues from them. From the time they are born, children are geared to learn. With no preconceived ideas or notions, and no limitations in their thinking, children have the exciting potential to believe they are capable of anything and we can pave the way by understanding how they best engage in learning.
We are often asked about the difference between our step 1, 2, and 3 kindergym classes. Well, the style of each class provides a different learning experience for the child. The classes are not necessarily progressive, but they can be. It is not important to progress through each class, what is important is that the class suits the needs of the individual child and allows them to feel safe and supported as they learn. Children will learn best in the style of class that offers the experience that they need most. Perhaps children are not overly complex, perhaps they simply need an environment that suits their learning needs in order to regulate their behaviour and succeed in their learning endeavours!
Freedom seekers: Children who enjoy discovery, engage deeply with specific activities and seek the freedom of play will love step 1 classes.
A special bond: Step 2 classes give children a chance to spend quality time with a special adult, using a strong bond to learn through communication and cooperation.
On my own: Unlike freedom seekers, children who enjoy step 3 classes are ready for instructions and prefer to have a little space from their primary caregiver during their class.
The classes provide a framework for learning in which each child experiences success through being given the opportunity to engage in the way that suits them, without being defined by their age. The right environment will help them to learn more and learn faster because they feel safe and confident.
A Closer Look at Step 1 Classes
Although play is a feature of all of our classes, our step 1 classes really puts play first.
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” Fred Rogers
But how does play really convert to learning?
Play can also mean: explore, imagine, talk, think, challenge, choose, invent, share, jump, measure, build, run, skip, laugh, work. With this in mind, play based learning is one of our FAVOURITE ways to learn!
Play based learning in a step 1 class involves:
The child choosing their play: adults are there to enjoy watching and supervise, but the child chooses what to play, how to play and how long it lasts. We can scaffold the learning experience by presenting themes and activities that prompt inquiry and we can make suggestions related to activity choice, but the rest is left up to the child.
Having lots of fun: we avoid attempting to "force" a certain activity, the key to learning through play is that children are enjoying what they're doing.
Being unstructured: we allow children to explore for themselves and select activities based on their own interests. There are lots of options to choose from in the gym, but it is ultimately up to the child to choose.
Why we let children take the lead in step 1 classes:
They grasp concepts more easily: It's no secret that we learn better when we are INTERESTED. Kids work the same way. By letting them choose what and how they play, they will learn at a faster rate!
Encourages independence: By children leading the way instead of following your lead, they are learning to be independent. They aren't relying on someone else to tell them what to do - they are diving head first to decide for themselves!
They learn at their own pace: Since there is no pressure on the end-result, they get to explore the environment around them at a pace that feels good to them. There is no "pressure" to meet standards and they can relax since you're relaxed too!
Emotion regulation: The more a child plays, the more chances they have to regulate emotions. They find the activities that not only make them happy, but keep them the most centred.
How play based learning actually works in step 1 classes:
Are we sure kids actually learn this way? Yes! It’s a valid question, but children demonstrate their learning through their behaviour. Remember, children are natural born learners so, if they are exploring, observing and/or having fun - they are learning! In the gym, there are endless opportunities to learn - you might be surprised just how much kids learn by choosing to play! Here are some examples of learning in action when in the gym:
Jumping on trampolines, on the ground and from heights provides a real life example of the effect of force, impact and gravity.
Running creates a sensation of speed and momentum.
Climbing and sliding provide challenge and encourages safe risk taking.
Playing with instruments helps children to understand volume, rhythm and sounds.
Rolling gives a sense of position in space and reinforces right side up and upside down awareness.
Moving on beams gives sensory feedback that helps children understand balance and weight transfer.
Hands on discovery stations provide lots of activities to encourage counting, matching, pattern recognition and puzzle skills.
Themes prompt great real life questions that build general knowledge about the world around us.
As a huge additional bonus, this physical form of learning through play is also developing strong muscles and bones, increasing flexibility and range of movement and improving coordination and balance.
So, each week you come along to Kindergym class, take the time to pause and enjoy this time with your child - we love sharing their journey with you!