This activity was inspired by local teachers @earlyyearsinquirer and @darlamyersclass . We all know how important it is to talk about identity in the classroom, and this activity was a perfect way to start those conversations. 
After reading the book "Brown- the Many Shades of Love" by Nancy Johnson James, students used clay to match their shade of skin to create a portrait. 
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Its the middle of September - so how long have you been drinking that iced or hot PSL? In that case, have you thought about switching up your sensory bin? We’ve curated a few simple and easy sensory bins to set up to give you just enough quiet time to sip that PSL in peace! 

• Feed the Squirrel

This one adds one minor set up for you to consider, creating a “squirrel” from a few pieces of construction paper and an empty bottle. Then add in some birdseed as the base, measuring spoons & cups, fine motor scoops and  you’re off!
Bonus: save some of the bird seed and head to your local nature trails to feed the chickadees! 
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• Apple Washing Sensory Bin

This one was a huge hit last fall with our kiddos (big and small!). Just be sure to throw some towels down if you are working inside, or if it’s a nice day, take it outside! For us, it meant a morning visit to our local apple orchard, then post nap, we took some time to “wash the apples”. Soap, water, a little bit of vinegar if you’re looking for a true rinse of the apples, some scrubbers towels and a few reminders to be “gentle” to the apples, and you’ve got yourself 30 free minutes to sittervise

• Fall Kernals & Pinecones

Okay, so this one basically involves putting a few fall things together, whether store bought or collected on a nature hunt during a family walk, and tossing it all in a bin. It’s great if you have things like magnifying class, scoops or tweezers, but also, just watching them touch, pour and listening to the sounds is great enough. Easy conversations about what happens to the leaves from spring to fall, as well as why there are pinecones can spark natural interest from your little babe 
Fall Colour Sensory Bin
If the whole dumping random things into a bin fires up the mom guilt (teacher moms, do you feel me) this one adds an obvious educational opportunity should you feel your little babe needs it (or maybe wants it!). Using coloured cups, some fall foliage and the best part frozen veg, add in some spoons a bit of water, and voila! You’re kiddo is on their way to practising fall colours

​​Fall Pie Bin

Last, if you just don’t have the time to put it together, there are so many wonderful small shops who have taken the time to do it for you! Stephanie’s Small World is a local mama and teacher, who has themed kits. You literally can’t go wrong for with this choice! This was one of our favourites but be sure to check out all her other options too.

Whether your child is weeks old or moving their way through Kindergarten, you’ve likely heard the term “kindergarten ready” (especially if you’ve been researching daycares!). As teachers, we’ve even heard this term, but I’ve never really understood what it really meant until having my own children. Kindergarten ready does NOT mean being able to read, write and count. In fact, if you’re based in Ontario with us, you’ll know that Kindergarten is largely focused on a play-based learning model. 
    Children learn through play and natural curiosities, so instead of stressing when your child reaches the end of pre-school and they haven’t mastered all the academic skills you feel is needed for school, take a deep breath, exhale and reflect on all the great things your child CAN independently and what they might still need some support in so they feel ready. 

So What IS Kindergarten Readiness? 
Instead of focusing on the academics, let’s shift back to the idea that Kindergarten and Early Childhood Education should be about learning life skills, developing social skills and cognitive thinking skills. Okay, okay, plain speak - think things along the lines of: 

• Can my child follow a multi-step direction? (School is full of those! “We’re going to tidy up by putting away our lunch bags, and lining up at the back door to head to the gym”
  Is my child able to ask for help from another adult? (Are they comfortable seeking support from someone outside of their family? Busy Toddler suggests giving them a chance to order at a restaurant, or ask a doctor a question!) 
  
• Can my child cope with small challenges? (Are they able to spend small amounts of time away from family? Are they able to attempt to solve simple peer problems without adult intervention?)
  
• Are they able to communicate their own needs? (When unsure of a next step or a missed instruction are they confident seeking out support or do they wait? Kindergarten classrooms are busy and their isn’t always the time for the one on one attention they get at home or in small group settings) 
  
• Can they do simple things like zipping open a lunch bag or getting their coat on independently? (This might sound silly but this is a HUGE chunk of time during their school day. Dressing, undressing, and nutrition breaks) 
  

We might also consider sharing or turn taking - but again, this is a skill we expect students to master and understand at very early stages, when in reality, it is a skill that is developmentally appropriate to have mastered during the early primary grades. In fact, collaboration is a major learning skill that is focused on all throughout elementary school. And in all seriousness, your little babe likely does a better job of sharing in school then sharing their own prized possessions in their own personal spaces. 

In the end, what Kindergarten teachers everywhere want you to know, is that it’s okay if they don’t know their ABC’s or 123’s. They will have plenty of time to learn all the academics they will need in their next years and years of education. Right now what they need is to begin to feel confident in who they are as independent little people. So go on, take that deep breath and reflect on all the amazing things your little babe is capable of already, and give yourself a silent pat on the back because you are the big reason they have learned, laughed and loved in these few short moments on earth. ​

​Toy Rotations are all the rage. It’s so smart though right. Pop a few toys away, and after your little babes lose interest, bring a few out and tuck away the others. There is significant research that shows children do better with less. Not only does it decrease clutter, make clean up easier and save you money, it can foster creativity and increase the amount of time your little babe likes to play. 
    So what about your books? It works with some of the same principles! We’ve all been there, you’ve told your little to grab a book off their shelf, and they stand there humming and hawing because they have too many options. Keeping a simple shelf of a few books helps eliminate the stress (and time) it takes them to make a choice. Highlighting a few key favourites at a time, increases the likeness that reading is enjoyable and less like a daunting task. 
    When move books around our house, or choose some new ones from our hidden away pile, all of a sudden the stories have found new excitement. An old favourite reappears, a new story becomes a top interest pick, and excitement has been generated. The best part? You can easily see what books they are enjoying and what books they are avoiding. So get curious, what is it about certain books that steer them away? What is it about the books they love that grabs their attention? This can help you make informed choices when purchasing or borrowing books from the library. Amazing right? 

    So how do you actually rotate it? Here’s a few key tips!

• You can rotate your books weekly, monthly or seasonally for example. We both notice that usually around the month mark is a good time to make a couple key changes if we don’t plan to do a full book swap. 
• Use both forward facing book shelves or baskets in a couple different spots around the house. After some time, move the books from one room to the other. Sometimes all it takes is a new location and the books feel some more love. 
• Keep it simple, as we mentioned, too much choice makes it tough for little ones to confidently make a selection. 
• Do they always need to be a cohesive theme? Not always. Sometimes it can be helpful, but you can also choose based on a favourite author or illustrator, a season (think Halloween or Winter), a social emotional theme that has been coming up at home, when a trip or big change is happening (Hello Potty Training books!). At times I pick based on the colours of the books.

Let us know in the comments any tips or tricks you have for storing or rotating your book collection!