The other day, as a way to make a station last one more day, I removed ONE component, and replaced it with another.
The original station: colored toothpicks and plastic salt shakers.
The exchange: sliced pool noodles (yep...the simple, pool noodles available for $1 at the Dollar Tree, cut into slices like you would slice a baguette) in place of the plastic salt shakers
The results: FABULOUS!!!
 |
| The initial play resulted in a LOT of Birthday cakes! |
 |
| See the learning? Jack is counting how many "candles" are on his birthday cake! Did I ask him to do this? Nope...the conversation amongst the children led to them counting the candles on his cake....ALL LED BY CHILDREN! |
 |
| Finally, it happened....someone built UP. Buh bye simple birthday cakes! |
 |
| Through trial and error, Gavin learned that his stairs (on the left) needed a support (on the right). |
 |
| When is the last time you felt this proud?! Feeling success and pride help children feel safe to TRY NEW THINGS! Erik will try even harder to achieve other tasks such as zipping his coat, putting on shoes, writing his name all because of this little boost to his sense of pride! |
 |
| Opportunities that have no right or wrong, no rules, just freedom help build confident and creative children! Creative children can solve problems, manipulate materials and invent new stuff! |
 |
| A tongue out is a huge compliment to the absorbancy of the activity! Ethan is clearly 100% absorbed in what he is doing! |
 |
| Side note: This piece of "FABULOUS" was created at a "Let Them Play" training event presented by my co-author, Jeff Johnson and myself. Notice the addition of smaller pool noodle pieces. Simply cut the sliced pool noodle into pieces (like a pizza) |
Give children simple materials, time and freedom so they can turn SIMPLE into something FABULOUS!
