Arts & Crafts are often grouped together as a fun, learning experience for children. However, they do NOT mean the same thing. To understand the difference, it is helpful to think of art as open-ended with no clear outcome and the focus is on the process. In contrast, crafts have a goal in mind and are typically teacher- driven. Both arts and crafts offer different learning opportunities. Arts Art provides a creative outlet for children. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to do it. Children can use materials that they choose and want to use. "The goal is the … [Read more...]
Opposites Attract
This month we learned all about opposites! Teaching children about opposites is so important - it is one of the building blocks that children need to learn how to follow directions, expand their vocabulary, increase comprehension skills, and build observation skills. How can you expand on this important skill? Teach the concept by always pointing out the "concept pair." All this means is words that are related, such as hot/cold, wet/dry, big/small, soft/hard, etc. If you hand your child a soft toy, mention that it is soft and point out the related concept pair - "Here is a … [Read more...]
