The Day I was Led to Crow Bars

Something I didn't grasp when I was a prescribed-lesson-plan-following-teacher is this whole idea of following the lead of children.

Wasn't it my job to be the leader?

Wasn't it the children who should be following ME, so I can teach them, and they can learn?

How will they ever learn anything if they are leading and I am following?

Those of you who are familiar with me, or have heard me speak, know my story.... and you know my journey from leading children to following them did not happen overnight.  It was a long journey full of AHA MOMENTS; moments where it was loud and clear that my lesson plans were NOT filled with as much meaningful learning as where my children were leading me IN THE MOMENT.

Enough aha moments have occurred that I have completely changed my philosophy.   My program is now TRULY child-led.  My plan, is no longer "mine", rather it is "ours".  Our plan for tomorrow is unknown until today happens.  "Our plan" simply means how I will set the environment, not what the children will do in the environment.... that is completely open to their unfenced imaginations.

Because of the drastic change in my philosophy, moments like this are a regular occurrence in my program:

Last week, the "Home Alone"-loving-six-year-old-student in my play school said the following:

"Denita?  Will you get me a piece of pvc pipe?"

My "go-to" reply for such a request is always:

"What is your plan?"

"I want to make a crow bar."

"I can't wait to see how you will create that!  Let me go see what I can find."

I returned to the classroom carrying the first pvc pipe piece I ran into, a roughly 3 ft. long piece of 1/2" pvc pipe.

Oliver looked at it and said, with a smidgen of disappointment, "Oh.  I didn't know crowbars were ever this big."

"You know what, Oliver?  I don't know if they are ever that big either.  Let's do some research."

So he and I grabbed my phone and I Googled "crowbars" and selected "images".  Up popped all sorts of images of crowbars (including a cartoon of crows sitting at a bar).  It was at that moment that it dawned on me that we had a crowbar out in the garage!

"Oliver!  How would you like to use a real crowbar?"

"Can I REALLY!?!?!"

I quickly returned with a REAL CROWBAR in my hands.

I then grabbed the 4x4 that we use to hammer nails into.  It was full of nails that could be pried off with a crowbar.

Oliver's interest in crowbars quickly spread to a few other children as well.

Following their lead, I quickly added hammers and goggles and more nails, as some children hammered, and Oliver used the crowbar.

I then stepped back and quietly observed.  I remained present, right there, in the moment, anxious to follow the next lead, but I was in the background of the action, rather then the center.

It didn't take long for the children to determine their own method for taking turns.

Patience was challenged as children eagerly awaited their turn with the coveted new tool.

Various techniques were tried.  Some failed, some succeeded.

Children were sharing with each other what they had learned while using the crowbar.

Children were assessing and managing risk.  They were actively being careful, rather than just being told to be careful as a dangerous object was removed from their hands.

Vocabularies were enriched as words like leverage and pry were used readily and correctly.

And to think, I used to limit the learning in December strictly to things that related to Christmas .....because that is what I wrote in my lesson plan book.

This beautiful child-led moment will go down in my memory as the day I was led to crowbars... and the learning that followed was more rich than ANYTHING I could have ever pre-written in a lesson plan book.

Following the lead of children creates joy-filled opportunities that are loaded with meaningful learning.


Denita Dinger is an internationally-known speaker and author who loves to share humorous, intentional and inspiring keynotes and workshops to anyone who has young people in their lives.
For more information, contact her at:  playcounts.denitadinger@gmail.com
Follow her on Facebook at Play Counts as well as her two programs:  Kaleidoscope Play School (her child-led play school) and Camp Empower (a school-aged summer play camp)

Words Hold the Power to Discourage....or EMPOWER: Use them Wisely

Words.

They are powerful.

If used incorrectly, they can make a child feel inferior and not good enough.  They can turn a child away from reading completely.  Forced memorization of insignificant sight words is a prime example of this, as well as forced memorization of letters before a child realizes their purpose.

Words.

They are powerful.

If used correctly, they can empower children, and build the best foundation for all future literacy skills to build upon.  They can foster an insaturable urge to know more.  The "mystery word" is a prime example of this.

____________________________________________________

WHAT IS A MYSTERY WORD?

The mystery word is a technique I use in my play school to build the foundation for future literacy skills.  It's all about teaching letters in their natural habitat, where their purpose is clear, NOT isolated on a worksheet or flashcard, as a meaningless letter.

At the basis of the mystery word is simply attaching a word to a meaningful experience.  It is among the simplest and most basic components of any child's literacy foundation.  Next to reading, reading, reading to a child sits the very basic "attaching words to meaningful experiences".

We can attach words to experiences through conversation.  Simply being in the moment and providing commentary of child-led play is one way of accomplishing this.  Another is writing down a word that is connected to what children are currently doing and physically building that word.   THAT is what the mystery word is all about.

The Mystery Word's beginnings are quite teacher-led.  This technique was originally imagined by my good friend Jennifer Henson.  She was a family childcare provider who was also on a journey, like mine, away from a thematically-led, teacher-controlled program to one where the current interests of children are respected and the children lead, while I follow and scaffold.  (to see where the Mystery Word began in my program, read THIS POST)

Over time, however, it has evolved into something that is completely led, and owned by the littles in my play school.  They, on their own, figured out that the mystery word was connected to what they were currently doing.  And one day, out of the blue, a child suggested a word to me..... and the rest is history.  It is now totally led by children.  There is not a mystery word unless a child suggests one to me.  Some days there are three mystery words, while other days, or even weeks, there are none.

______________________________________________

Today, my littles discovered a small photo album that contains upwards 80 index cards with one word on each card.  Those are our mystery words from last year.  That's right almost EIGHTY MEANINGFUL WORDS.  ALL suggested to me, by my littles.  ALL are attached to meaningful memories.

The excitement on the children's faces when they realized what was in this book matched that of a child who just discovered a jar of candy.  

"DENITA!  It's our mystery words!!!  You saved them!!  JUST FOR US!?!  Read them to us!!"

And so I began:  "Costume"

"I remember that day!  It's the first day we had the cow costume and the cat costume and the dinosaur costume!!!  Read some more!!"

"Snap, crack, pumpkin, crash, monster, slimey, wipe...."

"STOP!  I remember that day!  It's the day we learned that we could wipe off the walls in the doodle room, and the color moved to the rags!!  Read some more!!"

"Build, swing, color, push..."

"STOP!!!  I remember those words!  It's the day we had the green swing and we colored on the floor while we were swinging.  We have to do that again this year!  The new kids don't know about the green swing yet!  Read some more!!"

"Dump, suck, ramp, goopy, puppet, magnets, balloon, lights, donuts..."

"STOP!!!  That was Oliver's birthday!  He brought us donuts to eat!!  Read some more!!!"

"Blow, flubber, family, party, snip, drip, stretch, projector..."

"STOP!  Today is the perfect day for the projector!  Will you get it out?"

"That's a grand idea!  I will be right back."

And so.....out came the projector.  And with it, the start of new memories as "fragile" and "light" were suggested for mystery words.

SIDE NOTE:  "Fragile" was suggested because after setting up the projector, I reminded the children that it was fragile.  After saying that, Oliver said "Hey!  Fragile would be a good mystery word because our box is fragile too!" (we have a house/train/rocket ship in our environment that we constructed out of several boxes and duct tape, and let me tell you...it is FRAGILE!! :D ).  "Light"...for obvious reasons.

When a mystery word is suggested, I write it on an index card, show it to the child that suggested it (they usually watch me write it) and then I hang it on the wall.  When the attention is off of the word, and whomever was interested is back to their play, I hide the black letters you see in this picture.  Using poster putty on the back, I hide them anywhere and everywhere.  I then wait.  Quietly.  As the children play, they discover the letters... and let me tell you, it is EXTREMELY exciting to find the letters.  When found, they figure out where the letter goes.  

The most AMAZING thing that has evolved out of the mystery word is extreme letter knowledge.  My littles understand the POWER of a letter.  They know that every letter they add CHANGES the word.  How do I know they know this?  Because they ask "what does it say now, Denita?"  after they add a letter.

This child discovered a problem, and decided to take it upon himself to fix it!  Do you see how the letter "g" is in front of the letter "i"?  Noticing that error takes some fantastic visual tracking abilities and differentiation skills.

PRIDE.  Intrinsically motivated PRIDE.  No one told this child to fix the word.  No one praised this child after he fixed the word.

This Noelle.  She just turned five and is VERY much in love with our mystery words.  She just found the "f" that completed "fragile".  She was just a tad bit excited!!  Insert a sing-songy voice as she is yelling "FRAGILE!!!".  

_______________________________

Words.

They are powerful.

We can use that power to discourage children..... or EMPOWER children.

I choose empower, every.single.time.

About the Author:

Denita Dinger is the owner of Play Counts Consulting and is an international keynote speaker on the topic of embracing play.  She is passionate about helping early childhood professionals see the learning power of child-led play.  Her most popular training is the Defender of Play Boot Camp.  

Contact her at playcounts.denitadinger@gmail.com for more information about her speaking rates.  You can also learn more about Denita's passion for embracing play on her Facebook pages:  Play Counts, Kaleidoscope Play School and Camp Empower.

Words Hold the Power to Discourage....or EMPOWER: Use them Wisely

Words.

They are powerful.

If used incorrectly, they can make a child feel inferior and not good enough.  They can turn a child away from reading completely.  Forced memorization of insignificant sight words is a prime example of this, as well as forced memorization of letters before a child understands that letters are used to make words.

Words.

They are powerful.

If used correctly, they can empower children, and build the best foundation for all future literacy skills to build upon.  They can foster an insaturable urge to know more.  The "mystery word" is a prime example of this.

____________________________________________________

WHAT IS A MYSTERY WORD?

The mystery word is a technique I use in my play school to build the foundation for future literacy skills.  It's all about teaching letters in their natural habitat, where their purpose is clear.  NOT isolated on a worksheet or flashcard as a meaningless letter.

At the basis of the mystery word is simply attaching words to meaningful experience.  It is among the simplest and most basic components of any child's literacy foundation.  Next to reading, reading, reading to a child sits the very basic "attaching words to meaningful experience".

We can attach words to experience through conversation.  Simply being in the moment and providing commentary of child-led play is one way of accomplishing this.  Another is writing down a word that is connected to what children are currently doing.   THAT is what the mystery word is all about.

The Mystery Word's beginnings are quite teacher-led.  This technique was originally imagined by my good friend Jennifer Henson.  She was a family childcare provider who was also on a journey, like mine, away from a thematically-led, teacher-controlled program to one where the current interests of children are respected and children led, while I follow and scaffold.  (to see where the Mystery Word began in my program, read THIS POST)

Over time, however, it has evolved into something that is completely led, and owned by the littles in my play school.  They, on their own, figured out that the mystery word was connected to what they were currently doing.  And one day, out of the blue, a child suggested a word to me..... and the rest is history.  It is now totally led by children.  There is not a mystery word unless a child suggests one to me.  Some days there are three mystery words, while other days, or even weeks, there are none.

______________________________________________

Today, my littles discovered a small photo album that contains upwards 80 index cards with one word on each card.  Those are our mystery words from last year.  That's right almost EIGHTY MEANINGFUL WORDS.  ALL suggested to me, by my littles.  ALL are attached to meaningful memories.

The excitement on the children's faces when they realized what was in this book matched that of a child who just discovered a jar of candy.  

"DENITA!  It's our mystery words!!!  You saved them!!  JUST FOR US!?!  Read them to us!!"

And so I began:  "Costume"

"I remember that day!  It's the first day we had the cow costume and the cat costume and the dinosaur costume!!!  Read some more!!"

"Snap, crack, pumpkin, crash, monster, slimey, wipe...."

"STOP!  I remember that day!  It's the day we learned that we could wipe off the walls in the doodle room, and the color moved to the rags!!  Read some more!!"

"Build, swing, color, push..."

"STOP!!!  I remember those words!  It's the day we had the green swing and we colored on the floor while we were swinging.  We have to do that again this year!  The new kids don't know about the green swing yet!  Read some more!!"

"Dump, suck, ramp, goopy, puppet, magnets, balloon, lights, donuts..."

"STOP!!!  That was Oliver's birthday!  He brought us donuts to eat!!  Read some more!!!"

"Blow, flubber, family, party, snip, drip, stretch, projector..."

"STOP!  Today is the perfect day for the projector!  Will you get it out?"

"That's a grand idea!  I will be right back."

And so.....out came the projector.  And with it, the start of new memories as "fragile" and "light" were suggested for mystery words.

When a mystery word is suggested, I write it on an index card, show it to the child that suggested it (they usually watch me write it) and then I hang it on the wall.  When the attention is off of the word, and whomever was interested is back to their play, I hide the black letters you see in this picture.  Using poster putty on the back, I hide them anywhere and everywhere.  I then wait.  Quietly.  As the children play, they discover the letters... and let me tell you, it is EXTREMELY exciting to find the letters.  When found, they figure out where the letter goes.  

The most AMAZING thing that has evolved out of the mystery word is extreme letter knowledge.  My littles understand the POWER of a letter.  They know that every letter they add CHANGES the word.  How do I know they know this?  Because they ask "what does it say now, Denita?"  after they add a letter.

This child discovered a problem, and decided to take it upon himself to fix it!  Do you see how the letter "g" is in front of the letter "i"?  Noticing that error takes some fantastic visual tracking abilities and differentiation skills.

PRIDE.  Intrinsically motivated PRIDE.  No one told this child to fix the word.  No one praised this child after he fixed the word.

Words.

They are powerful.

We can use that power to discourage children..... or EMPOWER children.

I choose empower, every.single.time.

About the Author:

Denita Dinger is the owner of Play Counts Consulting and is an international keynote speaker on the topic of embracing play.  She is passionate about helping early childhood professionals see the learning power of child-led play.  Her most popular training is the Defender of Play Boot Camp.  

Contact her at playcounts.denitadinger@gmail.com for more information about her speaking rates.  You can also learn more about Denita's passion for embracing play on her Facebook pages:  Play Counts, Kaleidoscope Play School and Camp Empower.

Confessions of a Play-based Teacher

I haven't always had the correct understanding of what "play-based" meant.  And I didn't always support children more than I supported the system.

I believed..... that "play-based learning" simply meant children learned through playful activities, not sit-down worksheets.

I believed..... that I was a "play-based" program because:

1. I didn't do any worksheets in my program.  
2. All of the ways children learned were, arguably, PLAY.
3. I thoughtfully considered what my littles were interested in when I sat down in August and wrote out nine months worth of lesson plans.

I believed .....the following were MY JOBS in order to run a "play-based" program:

• I set up the hands-on, play-based stations.
• I demonstrated each station so the children would know the correct thing to do at each one.
• I decided how many children could be at each station.
• I decided how long children would be allowed to explore each station.
• I decided what letter we would be learning about each week, and would plan activities around the letter.
• I chose the themes that either lasted one or two weeks (depending on how much I thought the children would enjoy each theme).
• I decided how many materials to set out.
• I worked hard to avoid conflict.
• I solved problems for children (again, to avoid conflict).
• I made sure all children were busy doing something, out of fear they would be bored.
• I made sure the blocks stayed in the block zone, and the books in the book nook.
• I stopped children from doing anything that was even slightly risky.
• I pulled each child aside periodically to "test them" to make sure that, even with all of this "play" they were still learning what they "needed" to know.

I believed the following was the children's job:

• Listen to me and follow my lead.

That was then.... and this is now:

Thanks to a very lengthy journey, and some hard work, busting through my stubbornness (you can read about it here), my belief system changed, and with that, the depth of learning that happened in my program changed drastically.

I finally GOT IT.  It was like I got brand new eyes.

What I was doing before was TEACHER-CONTROLLED,  PLAYFUL LEARNING...... NOT to be confused with PLAY-BASED LEARNING.

I Now Believe.... "play-based learning" means children learn through THEIR play; child-led, adult-ideas-out, PLAY.  NOT to be confused with teacher-led playful learning (which is what I was doing before)

I Now Believe.... I am a "play-based program" because:

1)  There still are no worksheets in my program
2)  Children lead their learning through their play.
3)  The "plan" for the next day doesn't get written until TODAY is over.  The plan for tomorrow is directly related to where my littles led me TODAY.  The plan only includes the setting up of the environment, and the gathering of materials.  There is no "here is what we are going to do" in OUR plan at.all.

I Now Believe... the following are my jobs:

• Be in the moment with children. Thoughtfully listening and observing, jumping in only when invited.
• Following the lead of children and adjusting the environment accordingly.
• View play through a lens that respects the learning that is buried deep within.
• Keep the environment free from hazards (NOTE:  Hazards are dangers children CANNOT see.  RISKS are dangers children CAN see and CAN assess and manage)

I Now Believe.... the following are the jobs of the children:

• Freely explore the materials in the environment and use them as they choose to do tasks of their choosing as well.
• Own discoveries.
• Ask for what materials they need.
• Decide how many children they would like to play with at any given time.
• Work hard to manage conflicts.
• Solve problems.
• Learn through failing.
• Pick themselves up.
• Work together.
• Lead with their own interests.
• Demonstrate what they know, (unbeknownst to them), through their play.
• Cross pollinate all of the toys.
• Sit and stare into space, full of wonders.
• Embrace boredom and figure out what to do next.
• Enjoy their freedom of time, technique and task.
• Assess and manage risk.
• Play freely. (not to be confused with "free play")

Do I feel like I have "arrived" and have nothing more to learn?  Oh goodness no!  I don't feel there is ever a true destination in the world of early childhood education.  There is always something to be learned, something to change, something to improve upon.

But what I do feel like is I am NOW running a program that supports CHILDREN, not the system and the grossly inappropriate expectations being placed on them.

___________________________________

If you would like Denita to speak at your next early childhood professional event, contact her at playcounts.denitadinger@gmail.com

Read more of her thoughts and journey on her Facebook page, Play Counts.

Risk. Finding the Balance.

Risk.

Life is full of risk.

Early childhood programs have a responsibility to help prepare children for life.  Part of that responsibility is to provide opportunities for children to see risk, determine just how risky said risk is, and solve the problem of dealing with the risk (aka:  recognizing risk, assessing risk and managing risk)

Too many programs are shying away from this responsibility.

Too many parents are shying away from this responsibility as well.

The result:  

• Children who don't have the "gut feeling".  
• Children who get blind sided by risk, and don't win.
• Children who get used to hearing an adult yell "STOP!! THAT'S DANGEROUS!  YOU CAN'T DO IT!"  When that adult isn't there, the child has no idea how to recognize risk as they have always depended on the yelling adult.

I'd like to share this moment-o-risk that just happened last week in my play school.  As  you look at the photos and read the captions, I encourage you to dissect all the IMPORTANT STUFF that the children in this situation are learning.  At the end, we will review.

Meet Bennett.  Bennett has had opportunities to practice using caution.  He knows how to slow his body when the gut feeling tells him too.  He is using our brand new water-weaving wall.  In order to pour water in that red funnel, Bennett had to solve a problem.  He had to get himself up higher.  This tire, was conveniently right there, and so, it is the obvious solution to his problem.

While standing on this tire, Bennett's body is learning a lot about balance and support.  Notice how he is bracing himself on the lattice?

Bennett is PROUD to have accomplished his self-chosen task with a technique he chose as well.

Meet Oliver.  Oliver is the middle child.  He and Bennett are solving a problem.  Oliver would like to pour water in another tube on the water-weaving wall.  That tube, however, does not have a tire to stand on near by.  SO, these boys are using some teamwork to accomplish this task.

The boys invited me in to their play by asking me to help them stack the tires (ASKING FOR WHAT WE NEED).  The stacked tires provides some risk.  See how Oliver is standing?  His gut feeling is telling him to MOVE SLOWLY in order to maintain his balance.  See Zoey?  She is helping to support the tire tower for her friend.

As Oliver is standing on the tire, I simply said "Oliver?  Do you feel safe?"  His reply?  "No".  See Bennett?  He added to our conversation with this awesome, nugget of knowledge:  "Don't worry, Oliver.  I'm coming to help.  I'll stand over here and balance the tire for you."

After Bennett got into position, I simply said "Oliver?  Do you feel safe now?"  His response:  "YES!  Yes I do!"

After Oliver emptied his bucket of water he said "Denita?  Do you remember the ladder we used last year when we had the other water wall?  Can we use that again?"  My response "Absolutely!"

Let's review all the opportunities that occurred during this beautiful, child-led moment at my play school:

Recognize Risk:

Standing on one tire provided an opportunity for Bennett's gut feeling to kick in.  It told him it was time to kick into "cautious mode"

Risk Assessment:

Bennett's gut feeling told him it was time to kick into "cautious mode" but this was a risk he was able to manage.

Risk Management:

Bennett listened to his gut feeling, recalled all the other times he has had to manage risk and knew that he needed to SLOW HIS BODY down in order to take the time to be cautious.

Problem Solving:

Oliver needed to get his body up higher.  After looking around at the supplies near by, he proceeded to move a tire to where he needed it.

Teamwork:

Seeing that tires were a very good solution to the problem of getting up higher, Bennett ran over and moved another tire with Oliver.

Recognize Risk:

The moment Oliver got up on the tire tower, he knew this was risky.  His gut feeling kicked in, just as it was developed to do.  Oliver has had previous opportunities to have that feeling, enough to recognize that that feeling means USE CAUTION.

Risk Assessment:

This is where my job as teacher came in to play, by simply offering one question to help Oliver assess this moment of risk:  "Do you feel safe?"

Risk Management/Applying Previously Learned Knowledge to a New Situation:

Enter in Bennett to offer the help that Oliver needed in order to manage this moment of risk.  Bennett took information he has learned through previous experiences with balance, and balanced the tires so Oliver could finish his self-chosen task more safely.

Asking for What We Need:

After working very hard in order to dump some water down a tube, Oliver recalled that there was an easier solution, and one that held a lot less risk.  He asked for the ladder that he remembered using last fall.

I encourage you all to do what Bennett did for his pal, Oliver; he helped him find balance.  You need to find a way to balance risky opportunities while also meeting each child where they are at.   The amount of risk needs to match the amount of trust... with a slight push of those boundaries.

I leave you with this bit of wisdom and a whole lot to ponder:
"At my school, we no longer call it risky play.  We call it safety play, because when provided with risky opportunities, children are learning how to be safe." -Teacher Tom

Innovative Materials Foster Innovative Thinkers

If we want children to grow up being innovative, then we better be innovative with the materials they have access too!  Ditch the commercialized junk that limits imaginations and boxes children in.  Replace that with INNOVATIVE materials.  (aka:  empty boxes, plastic jars, plastic rain gutters and other, seemingly random odds and ends)

THEN... be innovative with how you present the materials children already know.

Take vinegar and baking soda for example.  Children LOVE the reaction that happens by simply mixing vinegar and baking soda.  When I lead my Defender of Play Boot Camps, I share LOADS of innovative ideas of how to present the opportunity to create the FIZZ... but this is one that is brand spanking new... hot off the press... straight from the noggin....and totally AWESOME!   

Allow me to introduce you to...... 

Baking Soda Ice Cubes (Don't stop scrolling here....keep on reading.. this grows into another, even more amazing idea!!)

I am not a measuring kind of gal (you should have supper at our home sometime... it gets interesting).  THEREFORE, I have no measurements for you (relax, ye with little faith.. trial and error is GOOD)  What I can tell you is I dumped in a bunch of baking soda, and added water, stirred it well and then filled various ice cube trays with the mixture.  I used silicone ice cube trays from Ikea.  

I plopped (this means I just put it in the environment with ZERO direction or expectation) the ice cubes, a couple of brownie pans, a mini-muffin pan and cups of colored vinegar (each with a squirt of Dawn dish soap added) and pipettes.  I then quietly waited to observe what my littles would do with these materials.

As the "magic ice cubes" melted, and the fizz died down, there was MORE fizz opportunity, and that made for really gorgeous results!

So then... as I was rinsing out this container post-play, I realized that it was really AWESOME to watch it all run down the pan... which sparked the next idea I am going to share with you.....

Frozen Fizzing Ramp!! (I KNOW... right?  HOW CLEVER and FUN!!!??)

Directions:
Do the same thing that you did to make the "magic cubes" only fill a brownie pan with the mixture instead.  Using shelf liner from the Dollar Tree on the edge, (this keeps the pan from slipping) position it on the edge of another container to create a ramp)

Then, my own curiosity led me to grab the scraper to see if they could scrape away the top layer and start all over.  The scrapping was LOTS of fun, and a great sensory experience too!

The children's conversations were rich with comments on the colors they were making, the speed in which the magic cubes were traveling, the sizes of them as they melted and how cold it was when they touched it.  There was cheering for the fish as they slid down the slide and lots of "Oh LOOK WHAT I DID!!"

Recall the magic cubes from earlier?  Well, I made more of those too, and it turns out they are lots of fun on a ramp as well!!

As our morning progressed, and the magic cubes and ramp melted, the results changed.  The ability to fizz happened again and again for the melting cubes and ramp, the rainbow river that appeared was awe-inspiring and sparked lots of conversation and imagination.

 

Innovative materials fosters innovative thinkers.

Hopefully this post will work the same on you, as opportunities like this do on my littles.  Let this inspire YOU to be INNOVATIVE.

I challenge you to take the ordinary and make it EXTRAORDINARY.   Get in touch with your innovative side!  You have children to inspire!