WHEELS, WHEELS, WHEELS-how many times have we heard, "kids these days have too many toys;? Some times, that couldn't be farther from the truth. Often, it is the sheer number of things that excites a child. Children are natural collectors. They collect rocks, sticks, string, whatever, just for the sake of having it. What we adults fail to realize, is that all of our children's treasures are important in different ways. All things, even if they are identical, do not serve the same purpose of have the same function in a child's play. There is strength in, and that strength is transferred to our kids in terms of self esteem. So gather all those matchbox cars, polly pockets or whatever they're collecting and celebrate it!
Painting is such a relaxing activity. The children are able to converse with one another for auditory stimulation, and feel the smooth texture of paint for sensory/kinesthetic stimulation. Then they finally get the satisfaction of their finished product for personal gratification.
Left to their own devices, kids will create their own opportunities for strengthening their character, self esteem and motor skills. Given the tools, children are the protagonists in their development, and take great pride as such.
Uri examines the stability of the wedgit blocks by stacking them askew to see if they'll fall. Once he determines the sturdiness, he begins to stack them higher. Uri solves the problem of the structure being too high to complete by pulling over a chair to stand on.
