Social Emotional Learning

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Express Yourself! Here are a few tips to help support your little one’s growing self-esteem.

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EXPRESS YOURSELF

Mom and daughter lying on a bed and talking

YOU do YOU

Talk with your little one about what is special and unique about them and about your family. Take time to notice the ways in which you are similar and different from one another; this can range from the superficial (e.g. the way that you look, and the clothes that you wear) to the more nuanced (e.g. interests and hobbies, food preferences, etc.).

little boy in a hallway dressed in a grown up dress shirt, neck tie and funny hat

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Encourage your little one to express themselves and celebrate their individuality by picking out their own clothes. We believe that a few days in an inside-out sweater and mismatched socks builds self confidence. Allowing them to pick out their outfit sends the message that they have the power to make choices motivated by their own interests. In a world where the pressures of conformity and images of “perfection” are increasingly imposed upon us, we encourage you to take this time while your little one is young, and carve out safe spaces for them to confidently assert their individuality.

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more fun activities

Whoever said work isn’t fun?! These activities, inspired by Joan Heilbroner’s marvelous book “Robert the Rose Horse”, reinforce the notion that “Play is the work of childhood!” Explore countless opportunities to notice the important jobs and workers around you. Then, discover the ways that even the youngest among us can be workers too!

Get to Work!

Splish, Splash I’m not takin’ a bath…I’m just playing with water! These activities are designed to delight your little one with all the sensory fun of water while also delivering the soothing social and emotional benefits inherent in this type of play. Discover ways to play with water in all kinds of places and with unexpected materials.

Test the Water

Make math time happy with these fun counting activities. #1: Create your own abacus. #2: Count and play all day! These activity ideas provide a playful introduction to counting and the many ways that we encounter and use math in everyday life.

Count on It

Roll on into fruit play! Have a blast experiencing fruit in new and hilarious ways that will get you moving and laughing. Get your muscles ready, but be prepared! These activities might make you hungry and ready to quickly transition from playing to eating!

Let the Fruit Times Roll

This game brings all the creative fun of printmaking to the sensory goodness of dough play and then adds a clever twist! You make the prints, and your friend guesses what you used to make them. But watch out…it’s simple to make a mark, but easy to be fooled when you are the guesser. When you’re done with the game, keep playing with The Dough Project’s super, all natural, dough.

Be a Dough-tective

Feeling big emotions is perfectly healthy. However, for young children, this can be scary because they feel and are out of control. This play, inspired by Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall, will give you new ideas for how to be brave even in the face of big challenges.

Bravery Breathing

Play ideas for all those times you need a little gentle, quiet fun. Reach for these activities whenever you are looking for ways to create a soothing environment or bring calm to your mind and body.

(Don’t) Bottle it Up

This activity is pure magic.✨ Children will be filled with wonder as they prepare their special fairy houses and adults will be transported to the joy of being a child again.

Build a Fairy House

You will be naturally drawn to this beautiful illuminated play. As soothing as it is exciting, your little one will be filled with wonder as they explore the many items that you place on your new favorite learning platform. We are so happy that you decided to put a spotlight on this magical play.

Light it Up!

What’s black and white all over? This play activity! Invite your child to explore this amazing play that will inspire curiosity and ignite their inner designer. In experimenting and examining each object independent of its color your little one will engage more deeply with all of the other properties of the play materials they are using. Open-ended and easy to set up this original play is sure to be a winner for children of ALL ages.

What’s Black & White All Over?