Yo July

Preschoolers need creativity

When you give the opportunity for awesome to happen, it will. So much of our society focuses on toys that make a racket, light up and do god knows what else. When is there time for imagination when every toy has a set purpose? Our society needs to realize that we are sculpting minds. Imagination and creativity are too undervalued right now. Children need more open ended and un-defined materials. Materials that have no wrong use or wrong outcome. Materials with endless possibilities. Materials that lead to life long skills.

Paint- You can never paint a picture wrong. Colour theory is more important than knowing the ninja turtles names

Clay- Sensory to the max. Allows children to think and explore on a 3d level and to represent their own unique realities.

Loose parts- Children create the definition and use. I've been eating many pom pom ice cream cones lately.

Blocks- balance, stability, geometry....need I really say more?

We need to cut out the crap and stick with the old favs.

That'll learn ya!

So this is my first bit of course work for my E.C.E program. Learning about playground safety. When I was a kid the playground equipment was way faster, way taller, made of way more metal and wood and was considerably more bad-ass. I kind of wonder if kids are missing out on valuable lessons in learning from mistakes when the adults in their lives are constantly kid proofing everything and making it seemingly impossible to scrape a knee and learn from it. Me having to learn about the appropriate surfaces underneath playground equipment to remove all legal implications because your kid is a dumb ass is well...sad. I have to wonder if this generation will grow up with a pass-the-blame attitude and view lawsuits as the quick and easy go to way of getting what they want. Are we really protecting our kids or are we setting them up for a life of false entitlement and legal bills?

In my town alone I know of an 11 year old who jumped off of the top of a slide and broke his arm. His parents sued. It was all over the papers. The family was compensated and the slide has been removed. An 11 year old knows that jumping off the top of the slide is not safe. He didn't slip, he wasn't pushed...he jumped. Honestly, some of these kids might as well be raised by baboons.

No Dice

image from: http://bunnykissd.deviantart.com/art/Coffee-Rabbit-on-Pizza-Paddle-106727424

"It just has always seemed like he didn't want you unless he needed you. Every time the ****** pity party's in town he wants you to make it all better."-- James

You're exactly right.

And it seems to be a bit of a trend.

There's a good chance I either love you or loathe you.

I have issues with "adults." I say this because I have an unending patience for the children I work with and what seems to be a declining patience for the rest of the people around me.

My List Of Annoyances (vol 1)

- People with poor grammar and/or spelling, especially those with this unfortunate (but curable) stupidity who plan on becoming teachers. They do say "Those who can't do...teach."
- People who rely on society's safety net as a means of living their lives. You do not deserve a free ride just for being an idiot.
- People who mask their insecurities by claiming to be "the best" at everything. I don't give a fuck if you suck or rock at something and 99 percent of the time the general public doesn't care either.
- Girls who insist on thinking they look good in makeup comparable to that of a drag queen. There isn't a fine line between smoky eye and raccoon. It's so god damned obvious that a chimp could figure it out. Don't put your eye makeup on in the dark unless you plan on hanging out in alleyways with syringes.
- People who wear Ed Hardy
-People who wear excessive amounts of plaid in different colours and patterns to the point that the fabrics appear to be screaming at each other. Nobody likes to see you at your worst everyday.
- Just because the clothing is on sale doesn't mean you should own it. Rompers will never be fashionable.

This is all I can muster for one entry. I invite you to share your annoyances in theme with this entry.

- the crazy bitch