Process versus Product

Process versus Product

                As adults, we are concerned with the outcomes or the product of our efforts. We want the report to look nice, the cookies to taste great, or the hedges to be perfectly straight. We participate in very few activities just for the fun of doing them.

                In part this is because we are not still learning how to do most of these activities. But do you remember when you learned how to play tennis or golf? Or to use a new computer program? In the beginning you needed to do a certain amount of “messing around” kind of exploring what would happen if you did this or that.

                That is the way it is with your child. Children learn new things all the time, and they need the freedom to try things out without worrying about the end product.

Luckily, young children tend to be more involved with the process or the doing then they are with the end product or results. That is why your child may draw all afternoon yet still not be able to tell you what he drew. And why one child can pour rice back and forth between pitchers all day long, and another will string and un-string beads every day for a week. When your child comes racing up to you excitedly yelling “look, look, look what I did” it’s not necessarily the picture, painting or even a word. It is the process, the very basic movements, shapes, strokes, sounds, smells that we as adults take for granted every day because we forget that our knowledge can fill a bucket and theirs has yet to even produce tablespoon in the same bucket.

It is hard for us adults to look beyond the product of an activity and see what the child is learning from the process. Perhaps he is learning coordination or beginning writing skills or making discoveries about triangles or gravity. He’s certainly finding out that doing for one’s self is very satisfying—and that builds confidence.

Be patient. Allow your child the time to grow and learn through the various processes that are part of the task. Enjoy watching his or her involvement. Ask your child open ended question like Tell me about that? How did you do that? Encourage your child to keep exploring. Yes I know this process can be loud and yes it can be messy, ok it can be VERY messy but the memories and the fun and the joy you will see in you child’s eyes will be well worth it. I promise.  Later, we can all be proud of the product.

I was reading an article the other day from NAEYC titled Every Color on the Canvas  written by Megan Shedd and Rebecca L Coyner. In this article it goes on to explain how they went about using art to explore preschoolers' understanding of differences and how they use that difference. This is done initially without any direction, then with direction. When given direction there was a noticeable change, mainly in the fact that there was no longer any prejudice against color, gender, or type of art. This means that pink and purple were no longer girl colors and blue and green are no longer boy colors, girls can draw trucks and boys could draw families. Everyone can draw abstract, portrait or scenery and the children were excited about the process even more than the end result. If you want to read the article click the link below.  http://www.naeyc.org/yc/article/every_color_on_the_canvas

I guess that is why I like a good mess from all my little people, if there is a good mess then I know that they a really getting into it and really exploring everything they see and feel. They want to know what is going on around them and they want to really want to explore. This is not just a good thing it is a FABULOUS, WONDERFUL thing and exactly what I want. 

For the last week we have been working on Stained glass paintings, and a reproduction of Van Gough's "Starry Night"  painting. We are focusing more on process and the period of popularity rather than the end result, but we all know that the end result will be as beautiful as our little ones who made them. 

I'm going shopping.

YUP I'm going shopping yet again. This time is on a grant and I am excited to say that I am going to be getting the PLAYHOUSE...... YEAH. This is the Step 2 Naturally Playful Countryside Cottage.

The doorbell works, it has cupboards, a sink and stove, a flower area and a mailbox. The children will have so much fun playing in this and I am just as excited to see their faces the first time they see it. Now all I need to do is start getting getting all the outdoor pots pans and food. I will separate some of the indoor things for now since I already bring them outside and take them back in daily. I just want to have some designated for "outside only".

so much fun

 The next thing I am purchasing is the little tykes Activity Garden. This thing is so much fun and makes all kinds of fun noises. It is an outdoor toy for summer and an indoor toy for winter. This way even the really little people have some things they can be really active with in their own space. It even stretches out. I love it.









Next I bought DRUMS. YUP you read right. I sure did, I bought new drums. Now I am not talking about little bitty cutesy quiet drums, I'm talking about really big drums, like real type drums, some on the grant and some not on the grant. I'm talking about bongo drums, Gathering drums, a floor Tom drum, Temple Block drums you know the kind that really makes the good music. Oh yeah I am going to have fun.... Oh I mean the children are going to have fun. Now I just have to find steal drums like they have in Africa. I just don't want cheapy knock offs that fall apart too easy. Oh well you know me I will find it eventually, I always do.

Anyway There is so much more on my list that I have bought that I am so excited about, from dolls to books, to climbers with mirrors, to lacing shapes. Each purchase was made with thought to what would engage each child, and what would help each child in their developmental goals and their personal needs. I am so excited and thankful that the Office of Childcare and the State of Utah offers grants and opportunities like this so that I can participate and continue to provide the highest quality care to your children.

So much is learning through play

We have been learning so much over the last few weeks and every bit of it has been through play. Gavin's parents Chevy and Shanna were hiking up Adam's Canyon and brought back some wonderful things for our Nature Discovery Center 

 

There was a very large leaf, an unusually shaped rock, some bark from a tree, some pine needles, and some seed pods. But unfortunately there was also some trash. So we talked about how we should only leave behind our footprints and hand prints and never our trash. 

 We had so much fun with our outdoor ramps, the children had no idea that they were learning about geometry, algebra and the theories of motion. They were just having fun trying to see how fast things could go down the ramps in the water and which items would go faster. When they would ask me I would turn it around to them and ask them ways that they would be able to figure it out on their own and soon I was no part of it.

Gavin in deep thought

 AHHH the world of art. Art takes many forms in the world in general but in the world of a child it is even more massive and to me even more genuine. Between dance, dramatic play, story telling drawing, coloring, painting, collages, building, and well just talking you name it if they can imagine it they can do it. I love it and every day is a new adventure.

Ryker, I can do it this way

Now I know

Alyvia such a wonderful helper

A Wind Storm

We did it

We only leave hand and feet prints 

finishes masterpieces

What an eye for detail

Let's Not forget about music, we always do music everyday but it is always fun to take pictures and show what the children do.

Jace and Genevieve are getting into it. 

Mr. Ryker just loves his music

Jace found the drums and HE LIKES IT.

The more we sing together 

The more we sway together 

The more we dance together

The more we clap together 

The Happier we will be. 

Now let's not forget about our basic math like measurement, because we have to know how to measure so we know how to cook right. 

1/4 + 1/4 = 1/2 

1/2 +1/2 = 1

4 1/4 = 4/4 which is 1

Now that the lesson is over. Let's head off to the hard stuff because there is a TEST. Are you ready?

I knew you could do it

100% you passed

Oh it has been such a fun filled week. I have loved it so much. I wonder what next week will bring us? Stay tuned and we will see.

West Nile Virus

It has come to my attention that the first cases of West Nile Virus has been reported in Weber County and that the point of contact where it originated from is in Riverdale. West Nile Virus is carried by mosquito's when you get bitten by them. Mosquito's are attracted by standing stagnate water. Mosquito's are also most active between dusk and dawn so if you are out at that time being prepared helps reduce the risk of the virus. Long sleeves and pants, closed shoes with socks, a repellent that has Deet in it, and it MUST be DEET,  Make sure your screens are fitting correctly and there are no holes in them.
West Nile Virus is a very serious virus and there is no immunization against it. The health department said the West Nile Virus affects the central nervous system. Mild symptoms include fever, headache and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash.
The symptoms usually last a few days.
Severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, vision loss and paralysis.
These symptoms may last several weeks and neurological effects may be permanent.
People typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are exposed.
If you think you or a family member has been exposed and are showing some of these symptoms see your physician immediately, it is better to ere on the side of caution than to look back and say I wish I would have.
For more information you can go to Weber County Health Department website or Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/webermorganhealth?fref=nf
 This is a serious matter and I urge everyone to take every precaution necessary.