By Ksenia Shusherina Spring 2017 Journal 2 Age

By Ksenia Shusherina Spring 2017 Journal #2 Age group: 15 – 24 months

The Sensorimotor Stage J. Piaget Begin to develop symbols to represent events or objects in the world in the final sensorimotor substage. During this time, children begin to move towards understanding the world through mental operations rather than purely through actions. Use of innate reflexive actions. Initial development of object permanency. Egocentricity. Concrete representations. Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt – E. Erikson The stage when children want to do things for themselves. Learn independence and competence. Trust or mistrust.

Goals, Challenges and Strategies for Teachers Piaget: Provide interactive toys (rattles, mobiles, pound-a-peg). Provide multisensory toys to promote investigation and sensory involvement. Provide space where toddlers can explore. Erikson: Encourage children to do what they are capable to do. Do not shame them. Do not use harsh punishment. Provide for safe exploration of classroom and outdoor areas.

Milestones Physical: Walk on tiptoes, throw and retrieve objects, jump in place with both feet, catch a large ball, open doors by turning knobs, copy straight or circular strokes with a crayon, snip with child sized scissors, fold paper in half. Cognitive: Explore the concept of counting, understand the idea of more than one, show great interest in investigating any new person, thing, sound or taste, understand two part requests ("Please go to the shelf and bring back the blocks. ”), sort shapes and colors, show that understand space and time, imitate behavior. Emotional/ Social: Enjoy playing alone for short periods of time, acts like they owns certain objects, like to do things without help, help with simple household chores, have trouble sharing, may hit, push, and grab to keep toys, demonstrate concern for others, show fear, but can be reassured, shift between doing things independently and wanting help or comfort, are watchful around adults they don’t know. Language: recognize familiar words, use simple phrases, name explosion (around 18), repeat words, understand more than they can say.

Interior Design

Interior Design Enough space for moving and playing Variety of learning material Everything is on child’s eyelevel Technical base Low furniture Everything is safe and reachable Appropriate seating Books can be found in all centers Variety of sensory materials Centers are separated by shelvesdividers

Furnishing Shelves displaying children’s books Sturdy step stool Low chairs and tables Water table Cots or mats for nap time Centers are placed in relation to one another Humidifier Everything is reachable and easy to clean.

Art Center Painting, coloring, sculpting, drawing, and other forms of creative art are an important part of the child care curriculum. Using art tools helps children develop small muscle coordination and control. Children can practice thinking skills by experimenting with color, texture, and design. Art gives children an opportunity to express their ideas and feelings, relieves tension, and provides limits for self-discipline. Art allows children to achieve and expand their creativity. Art supplies: fat crayons and paper, large brushes, paint and glue, scissors (stored away), play dough, clay Art easels Art books Magnetic drawing board Chalk board Coloring books Color-reveal activity book Stickers book Ø Nontoxic Ø No chocking hazard Ø Easy-to-clean furniture Ø Appropriate seating Ø Storage: Some space should be available to children all of the time, while other materials should be kept out of reach

Art Center Books on drawing (art) theme (simple stories, colorful pictures) Nontoxic fingerpaint (safe) Washable, easy-to-hold drawing supplies Glue-stick (easy-tohold, no mess) Nontoxic modeling sand Construction paper of different textures (for developing creativity and sensory skills) Magnetic Drawing Board (no mess, safe to use for toddlers) Color-reveal water painting bad (no mess, safe to use)

Art Center Steady, large, reachable for little people, has a magnet drawing board on the other side for no-mess drawing Chalkboard wall (reachable)

Block Center Children playing with blocks are practicing a wide variety of developmental skills, including manipulating objects, creating structures, and working together. Variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures Minimum 200 blocks Foam, cardboard, or cloth blocks, large building bricks Big blocks for having physical activity Physical activity + construction skills + gross motor skills

Block Center Lego (constructing, developing creativity, dramatic play) Books-blocks (learn words and create structure) Cardboard blocks with numbers, shapes, letters. They promote manipulative skills, construction skills (mathematical knowledge too). Construction + matching skills Large blocks (easy to manipulate) Blocks with different texture (not only construction, but also sensory experience)

Book Center Having access to books stimulates children's imagination and thinking skills, encourages developing language, and provides opportunities for creative expression through storytelling or puppetry. Children can practice book-handling skills and develop a love of reading by having the chance to interact with books regularly. Shelves displaying children’s books Multicultural books In different languages Variety of themes Cardboard books and soft books Books with variety of sensory experience (touch-books) Puzzle-books Blocks with letters Magnets with letters Flannel board for telling stories Reading tent for quite reading • Blocks books • Toy-books • Simple stories • Sound books • Sticker books (with particular interest, for example: cars for boys) • Book-video programs for learning language and things (for example, ‘Your baby can read”) • Reading tent

Books in different languages Cardboard books are on a reachable level, regular books are on a higher level. Variety of themes Simple stories Cardboard books for toddlers (easy to turn the pages, hard to tear) Books can also be placed in each center in the classroom to allow children to read about the topic. First 100 words books Puzzle books Multicultural books Book toy (foam book, easy to turn pictures, safe for toddlers, can be used as a toy) Early reading system (cards with words, pictures, DVDs) Touch-books with different materials to feel Books-blocks Felt board for telling stories and reading activities (learning sequencing also) Textile books Sound books (songs, easy to remember poems) Stickers books for reading activity (+learning to pill off – hand

Dramatic Play Center Dramatic play is an excellent way for children to develop their imagination and creativity. Children learn by participating in dramatic play. It also helps children with their language development. Children also listen and respond to each other while playing in dramatic play. They may also learn new words from one another. Teachers should teach young children how to play. Staff for dolls (utensil, blankets, food, furnishing) Stuffed animals Small people figures Animal figures Telephone Play kitchen Tent Mirror Talking toys Big cars to drive

Dramatic Play Center Stuffed toy (talking toy for learning words) A doll for acting through it (practicing everyday skills bathing here) Kitchen set Doll utensils Playdough for making food for toys Book with mirror for learning face expressions (emotions) A car to drive Mirror (safe, not made of glass, plastic material) Food toys (Pizza) + cutting skills Telephone Small animal figures for play

Manipulative/ Cognitive and Math Helping children develop their fine motor skills and increasing children's understanding of basic math concepts are both important goals in early care and education environments. Children improve their coordination, learn about counting and sorting, and expand their problem-solving skills. Thick pencils and ball-point pens Blocks with numbers Flannel board for presenting sequences Pegboards Simple puzzles (puzzles w/shapes) Stinging beads Blocks shapes Parquetry blocks Sorting material Simple matching and lotto games Counting objects

Manipulative/ Cognitive and Math (2 slides) Nesting cups (+color knowledge) Nesting blocks (number knowledge, manipulating skills, logical thinking, construction skills) Sound book with numbers Sorting material (knowledge of geometric shapes, manipulating skills, logical thinking) Blocks of different shapes Cards with shapes and colors Puzzles with geometric figures

Ponding board (imagination, fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination, relieve stress) Labyrinth toy (visual tracking, hand coordination, logical thinking) Stocking rings Ball (visual tracking, body coordination) Stinging beads (animal types here) Top Curve toy (visual tracking skills, color recognition, hand-eye coordination). Puzzles

Sensory Play and Science Center Math and science skills: sinking, floating, and changes of state, more, less, bigger, smaller, and equal. Physical development: using fine motor skills to scoop, sift, funnel, and pour. Social and emotional skills: practicing of cooperative play and sharing. Sorting items: shells, seeds, macaroni, rice, stones Water with cups, floating toys Nesting cups of different types and colors Sand with pail, shovel, scoop Nesting blocks Doctor kit Different balls Play dough Begs with different materials inside Bubbles Stacking rings (same diameter) Soap foam Large magnets (letters, shapes, etc. ) Squishy gel bag Simple toy train Different fabric materials Large magnifier Sand water sensory table Smelling boxes Sensory board

Nesting cups Stocking rings (+color recognition) Sensory bags (+sorting, matching) Sensory sorting material (+math skills) Sensory box (measuring, sensory experience, sorting activity, imagination development) Balls of different textures Smelling boxes (smell recognition) Playdough Floating toy Scoop Sensory bag

The Music Center The music center helps children explore sound, movement, patterns, and rhythm while having fun and being creative. It is easier to learn new words in rhymes and songs. Free space for having opportunity to dance (physical motion) Music play instruments (piano, drum, xylophone, shakers, bells, rattles, tambouring, rhythm sticks). Computer, speakers.

Piano Xylophone Drum Shakers

Large Motor Gross motor center develops abilities to run, hop, balance on one foot, throw and kick a ball, climb, and ride a tricycle. Push and pull toys Tunnel for crawling through Low climbing structure and slide Larger balls Cars and trucks Pull toy on short string Bouncing or rocking toys Low wagon Pounding bench Stable ride on vehicle

Large Motor Low climbing structure and slide (foam, safe) Tunnel Steady truck (low enough to climb there) Rocking toy Mats

Centers’ location Music center should be in an open area on carpet. If possible, have some music materials available for children to explore during free play. If space is limited, make music available at scheduled times such as large group, or rotate the music area with another center. Art Center should be located near a window (for natural light), near a sink: (for easy clean-up), on a floor that is easily cleaned, outdoors (clean-up is often much easier outdoors). A good place for a block center is a corner of the room bordered by shelves. Make sure there is plenty of room for a couple of children to build together. The block center can be near the housekeeping center but should be as far away from the quiet area as possible. Book center should be located in a quiet area separate from noisier activities such as block building and active play.

Centers’ location Manipulative/ cognitive and math center should be in an area with table(s) and chairs, or a quiet floor area with a rug. The best is to separate this area from noisy areas such as blocks and dramatic play. Low shelves can be used as a divider and a place to store materials. Doing sensory activities outside can be an effective way to reduce cleanup. Ideally, the sand water center should be near a sink, hose, or other source of water to simplify setup and cleanup. Good places for a dramatic play center might be near a block center or another area where children's play tends to be noisy. Avoid placing the dramatic play center too close to the book area or other centers that require quiet concentration.

Outdoor Space Roof in case of rain Tree for dramatic play and climbing Tables and chairs for art activities outdoors Safe play yard Tunnel Low slider Foam soft equipment Large balls Safe and soft climbing structures Appropriate flooring (safe, soft)