Jun 29, 2021
Joey wants to talk about racing and competition as she's been spending time with children who shout, "I'm first and you're not!" Is competitiveness and hierarchical ranking just part of typical development or does it reflect a system of values that we are modeling for children? Mike and Tom share ideas...
Jun 22, 2021
The carefree days of summer may be upon us, but Tom is thinking deep thoughts. He asks the question, "What is play?" It's an important question because how we define play determines how we see play. Sometimes, the more we scrutinize play, the more likely we are to insert ourselves and hinder it. We should stay curious...
Jun 15, 2021
Storytelling is a flexible practice. Teachers can tell stories to children in any kind of movement situation--during meal times, like Ross does, or perhaps when confined to a broken down school bus, like Mike did once. Teachers can tell stories for all kinds of purposes--true stories, stories with a moral, or pure...
Jun 8, 2021
A continuation of the conversation about children's use of undefined spaces with a focus on outdoor settings. What is the effect of liminal/transitional spaces on children's play and exploration? Do children gravitate to spaces between different "worlds?" Are there differences in experiences offered in fabricated spaces...
Jun 1, 2021
In a continuation of the conversation about using classroom spaces and furnishings in unconventional ways, Tom raises the topic of how children use undefined spaces. He has noticed that some of the most creative play happens in liminal/boundary areas, such as thresholds, shelf tops, and even under tables. He finds that...