Play Learn Grow Together

Learning Together Joyfully:

 As children begin to anticipate summer holidays, they may be more easily distracted as their focus and concentration decreases. In an effort to offer them support, you may wish to look at engaging strategies that positively impact their cognitive or brain development. For example, you might include brain breaks that include physical activity, or flow activities where children are more self-directed and can select engaging tasks they are passionate about. Either of these activities can be done at home or at school. Cognitive development is how humans acquire, organize, and learn to use knowledge. It is how children think, explore, make decisions, and problem-solve as they figure things out to better understand the world around them. Having well-developed cognitive skills enables children to become independent and self-reliant in directing their learning. By helping children develop their attention, perception, memory, logic, and reasoning, you are lighting the fire that will motivate them to become lifelong learners.

1.  Read and Sing together 📚 

Check out your school and public library or bookstore to buy or borrow the following recommended books.

There are many benefits gained from the simple act of reading and listening alone, however, by using the opportunity to add some questioning techniques, you are developing important cognitive skills that will support children to think more strategically. The purpose of questioning children during reading is to: check on prior knowledge; actively involve them; increase their motivation; focus their thinking on key ideas; and check and clarify their understanding. One approach is to ask children questions to make predictions about the story. For example, have them predict:

• The content of the story from clues on the book cover and title;
• What happens at the end of a story (by stopping half way through the story);
• What happens in the beginning (if you read the end of a story first);
• What could happen or change if a character makes a different decision.

LEARN ABOUT THE BRAIN

Reading books about the brain lays the groundwork for children to develop strong self-awareness and emotional intelligence. It empowers them to feel a sense of control over what and how they learn. Children who understand more about how their brain works, learn to accept challenges and feel able to overcome them more easily. Children learn that: every person has a unique brain which gives them their own special skills and talents; the brain makes certain activities easy for some and more challenging for others; everyone’s brain works and learns differently – some may struggle with reading but excel in art or sports; their brain is always changing and is capable of getting stronger and learning new skills, just like the muscles in their body.

• The Brain is Kind of A Big Deal by Nick Seluk. Have you ever thought about everything your brain does for you? It is always working to keep you alive and safe. (Plus it lets you think about funny stuff, too.) So why is the brain such a big deal? Because it makes you YOU, of course! The book explains the science behind everything the brain helps you do: keeping your heart beating, telling you when you are sleepy, remembering stuff, and more. The brain is in charge of everything you do, every minute of every day for your entire life.

• Sticky Brains by Dr. Nicole Libin. Did you know that bad thoughts are stickier than good ones? It’s true! Our brains see them more and remember them longer. Sometimes Aria’s brain shows her only part of the whole picture. She discovers something amazing: her brain gets good at what it practices. Aria learns to train her brain to make good thoughts stick too, just by paying attention in a new way. This book uses kid-friendly language to teach ​kids ​(and the adults who love them) about mindfulness and neuroplasticity, empowering them to change their brains to find more ​peace and ​happiness in their lives.​ ​The book, ​includes additional information on mindfulness, negativity bias, and neuroplasticity as well as exercises and activities for children and their families.

• Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by Dr. JoAnn Deak. Did you know you can stretch and grow your own brain? Or that making mistakes is one of the best ways your brain learns? This book teaches all the ways that the brain can develop with exercise, just like the rest of our bodies. An engaging introduction to the anatomy and functions of the brain that will empower each young reader to S-T-R-E-T-C-H and grow their fantastic, elastic brain!

• Good Night to Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak & Terrence Deak. Written by two brain experts, this STEM picture book is packed with fascinating science and fun facts about the importance of sleep that will have kids excited to get a good night’s rest!  During the day, your brain helps you do things like eat, walk, play with friends, and learn new things—and using your brain helps it stretch and get stronger. But did you know that you have the power to grow and train your brain just by going to sleep? In fact, while you’re resting, your brain is doing some of its most important work! Go to sleep and grow your brain! At night your brain locks in what you learned during the day, resets itself so that it’s ready when you wake up; even taking a bath to make sure it’s clean and healthy! This book is perfect for parents and educators to teach kids about brain development, growth mindset, and the power of making healthy choices like getting enough sleep! Healthy Brain means a Healthy Body!

SPRINGTIME BOOKS

• Everything Spring by Jill Esbaum. It’s hard to decide what’s more enjoyable about this celebration of spring: the stunning photographs or the exuberantly descriptive vocabulary. Share this title to help your students unfurl, totter, trickle, and scurry into a new season. In this beautifully photographed picture book, young children can see, hear, and feel the warmth of springtime by reading and learning all about chicks, bunnies, and the other baby animals that come out to play in springtime.

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• Singing in the Rain by Tim Hopgood. Tim Hopgood’s cheerful illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to the lyrics of the classic song – because really, what better way to welcome spring than with a rainbow’s worth of galoshes, bright umbrellas, and splash-worthy puddles?

• Read the book Feel The Wind by Arthur Dorros and learn how the air is always moving and how you can hear it, feel it, and even smell it!

• At the End of the Rainbow by John Benjamin There is treasure at the end of every rainbow, but what kind of treasure is it? As Badger and Fox, two friends on a treasure-hunting adventure, explore this colorful world, they discover that treasure means something different to everyone. Will a rainy day ruin their chance to find their treasure, or will they finally find something more valuable along the way?

• Art and Max by David Weisner. Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter; Max is a beginner. Max’s first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max is inexperienced, he’s courageous—and a quick learner. His energy and enthusiasm bring the adventure to its triumphant conclusion. Beginners everywhere will take heart. David Weisner has mastered the technique of pointillism and this is a great book to share with children before they take on their pointillism project.

SONGS:

SPRING :

• Springtime Dance
• Singing in the Rain by The Learning Station
• The Wind
• Windy Day Movement song
• The Rainbow Song
• Rainbow
• The Rainbow Colours Song
• Art with Mat & Dada: Meet Pointillist artist George Seurat

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT – BRAIN BREAKS:

• Move With Me & Action Songs – Brain Breaks 
• Hello, Hello Can you Clap Hands
• Walk Around The Circle Song 
• Walking, Walking
• Brain Break; Exercise Song

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT – A STATE OF FLOW:

• Melting
• Rainbow Breath
• From Mindless to Mindful
• Bring it Down

2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩 

SPRINGTIME ACTIVITIES:

• After reading Feel The Wind engage children in a focussed task as they learn how to make a simple wind vane or watch how to make a more complex wind vane OR
• Read Feel The Wind and sing the Windy Day song about the wind then invite children to create a Nature Suncatcher Wind Chimes.

• During Spring typically there are many rainbows due to the changeable weather. Encourage children to create their own rainbow as they have seen it outdoors. Sing The Rainbow Colours Song to remind them of the order of the colours in a rainbow. Watch these instructions on how to create a flower using pointillism OR enjoy viewing this guided lesson on how to create a tree using pointillism OR learn more about the two famous French artists who created the technique called pointillism. Now they have some background ask children to create a simple Rainbow Art Pointillism style using paper, paint, cotton balls and Q-tips.

• Read At the End of the Rainbow and then invite children to create a Painted Rock Rainbow as follows:
  • Step 1:  Ask them to gather a mid-sized rock during your next outdoor walk.
  • Step 2: Remind them of the order of the colours in the rainbow.
  • Step 3: Prepare paints and paintbrushes. Paint the rocks one color a time and wait for it to dry.
  • Step 4: Finish by painting on the clouds.

The State of Flow is the fulfilling, focused state of learning that children and adults naturally experience during hands-on activities they enjoy. In flow, children learn how to learn. Activities that lead to a state of flow are often child-directed, where children explore topics that they choose and are personally meaningful to them. Child-directed learning environments motivate children to learn because they are engaging in an activity for the sake of the experience, and not because they expect some reward at the end. It’s important to note that adults can play an important role in child-directed play by setting up age-appropriate learning environments, or by making available specific materials or resources for children to use. Asking exploratory questions, such as “Why do you think that didn’t work?” or “What is another way to use this material?” is also important to deepen children’s understanding of and curiosity about the world around them. Learning to ride a bike or learning to cut with scissors can be activities where children can enter a state of flow.

3. Explore, Engage & Interact together 🌍

FLOW ACTIVITIES:

• A flow activity or station is a place created for children, to be in the zone, or being in flow. It is a place where children can dive deeply into an activity they love without being interrupted, and where they can experiment with a multitude of skills and discover their natural talents.
• Children can experience flow when they engage in hobbies or activities such as reading, doing art, gaming, dancing, gardening, cooking, cutting, learning to ride a bicycle, running, or other sports.
• At home or in the classroom water play is a fun flow activity where children learn how to focus on their self-chosen activity and make small and big decisions as they follow their course of action. 
  • Here are some ideas of how to Create a Water Play Station.
• Create a place where children can keep their most treasured objects. Offer one or more appealing spaces where children can display their treasures.
  • Ideas of how to Create a Place for Treasures.
• Watch how to create a Sensory Path that children will love to explore over and over again. 

SCISSOR CUTTING ACTIVITIES:

As children learn to cut with scissors, it typically requires great focus and concentration and some may enter a state of flow – especially if they feel ready and have chosen to learn the skill. There are many benefits for children to practice scissor cutting, as it: Strengthens hand muscles & Independent movements of each finger (writing, painting); Builds bilateral coordination skills (two-handed coordination); Determines the dominant hand (dominant cuts and helping hand holds and rotates); Enhances visual motor skills (eye-hand coordination) & perceptual tasks (directionality); Builds hand grasp (applied when fastening buttons and holding a pencil); and Encourages focus and attention which can put children into a state of flow.

• Read How to Teach Scissor Cutting Skills or  Watch the video outlining 7 sequential skills for children to practice as they learn cutting skills.
• Download this cutting practice set from thefairyprintsess.com or these trace and cut scissor practice printables from itsybitsyfun.com
• Invite children to combine straws, playdough and scissors for a creative activity and loads of fun.

• This Cutting Practice Tray is a quick setup that makes it easy for children to explore and develop their scissor cutting skills.

• Mosaic art using styrofoam pieces – cutting styrofoam meat trays and then painting them is another way for children to practice their scissor skills and create an individual piece of art. 

• When considering activities that support cognitive development, video games or television shows can make a difference. Keep in mind that research indicates that it is most beneficial for children when the virtual and physical worlds are combined in interactive computer games. Parents and educators are encouraged to ensure that the content is educational and to remember that creating knowledge and intelligence is an active process. Children thrive in environments that encourage investigating and experimenting with adult involvement as they build their understanding of how the world works.
  • Enjoy playing an Online Mushroom Game: Mush, Mush and the Musables Forest Rush game OR an Online Jigsaw puzzle: Mush, Mush and the Mushables  with your child or if computers are available it can be set up as a centre in the classroom.

• LEARNING TO RIDE A BIKE:
  • A key milestone for a young child is learning to ride a bike. It is also a skill that requires great focus and concentration where they can enter a state of flow. It can also be anxiety-producing for both the child and parent! Should you teach them how to balance first or use training wheels or run behind the bike to support them to balance? As you prepare to teach your child how to ride a bike, consider reading an article with Easy Tips to Teach a Child to Ride a Bicycle. The two major factors that involve riding a bicycle are balance and steering direction which should be the first things your child learns. 
  • This article outlines several simple balancing activities for young children or view this video with tips for teaching your child to ride their first bike.  Once children master the art of bike riding, it is a tremendous home activity for them to do for a brain break!

A brain break is exactly what is what it sounds like. It is giving your brain a break from work,  stress, or whatever children are learning and focusing on at the time. They are usually short periods of time that allow children to refocus, refresh, recharge and then be able to go back to what they were previously doing. Brain development is part of cognitive development. Children’s ability to process information with adult involvement plays a significant role in their cognitive development.

4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭

MOVEMENT:

• Brain Breaks
  • Download these lyrics and enjoy 5 Brain Break Songs (teachingmama.org)
  • Brain Break; Exercise Song.
  • Enjoy watching and engaging children in these fun Brain Breaks:
    • Be a Scientist.
    • King Shapes.
    • Giddy Up.
  • Move With Me & Action Songs – Brain Breaks. 
  • Hello, Hello Can you Clap Hands.
  • Walk Around The Circle Song.
  • Walking, Walking.
• Flow
  • Melting.
  • Rainbow Breath.
  • From Mindless to Mindful.
  • Bring it Down.
• Yoga
  • Invite children to join Arnold the Ant in a Yoga Movement and Story or a Creepy Crawlies Yoga Club activity.
  • 5 Kids Yoga Poses For Brilliant Balance.
• Engage children during neighborhood walks whether at school or on family walks. If interested sign up for these 9 free printable scavenger hunt templates that include: general hunt, ABC, numbers, colors, shapes, nighttime, nature, photo hunt, and a make your own template.

NUTRITION:

• Consider these articles recommending Brain Foods for Children
  • 7 Brain Foods for Kids
  • 10 Brain Foods for children
  • 9 Brain Foods for Kids

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning 💭

PIAGET’S STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT:

Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development suggests that children move through four different stages of mental development. His theory focuses not only on understanding how children acquire knowledge, but also on understanding the nature of intelligence. Piaget believed that children take an active role in the learning process, acting much like little scientists as they perform experiments, make observations, and learn about the world. As kids interact with the world around them, they continually add new knowledge, build upon existing knowledge, and adapt previously held ideas to accommodate new information.

THE STATE OF FLOW 

BRAIN BREAK IDEAS: