Friday Group - Painting with Black Liquid Tempura

From month to month young children change so quickly. They are constantly developing new skills. This is why during the next five week session we are revisiting painting with a new twist. Instead of using tempura cakes we're moving on to liquid tempura. I made a few interesting discoveries during our first exploration. To begin, I placed the canvas on the sensory table. Well, this confused the little ones who kept lifting the canvas up to see if there was anything inside. I also underestimated how much our very mobile toddlers would move around taking the painting experience with them to other areas of my house. With each session I learn from the children how best to present materials and maintain their interest. I left the lids off the painting cups so we could use the shaving cream brushes that the children have used before, but looking back I actually think the children are ready for smaller brushes and the no-spill cup lids.

Sebastien didn't miss a beat getting back into the swing of painting. He practiced using the brushes and dipping them in and out of the container. He also spread his painting style all over the carpet and furniture around the house!

The deeper painting cups were a bit of a mystery to the children as they tried to "drink" some paint. I think the cups reminded them of the containers used during water play. Bryce took full advantage of the cups, trying to figure out how to get the paint out. I love how surprised he was when he found paint on his hands but that didn't stop him from using the paint cup as a means to spreading paint on the canvas.

Theo found his body to be the perfect canvas to paint upon. It began with a little and spread and spread. Theo even shared some with his mom.

Max felt the floor was a better place to paint even after he was presented with the canvas. He eventually went back to his floor masterpiece.

Friday Group - A Little Bit of Everything

Theo, Bryce, and Sebastien all enthusiastically explored the sensory bin filled with a little bit of everything even the sea animals were incorporated into the children's discoveries. The containers again added another dimension to the water table. Bryce managed to make an instrument out of a sting ray and cylinder. At first I thought he was trying to get the sting ray out of the container. However, after watching the video I realized he manages to dislodge the sting ray only to put it right back in. His intention must have been to make noise with his creation.

Theo's 'over the shoulder drop' of items he explores is so deliberate that I wish I had some insight into his plan. There are times when every round item he touches goes over the shoulder and other times where only certain items. Most of the time he doesn't even look back to see the effect his action has caused. Even as he transfers the red spiky ball and ping pong ball in and out of the container they remain in the table but it is the glittery ball he first explored that gets the over the shoulder toss.

The boat has a competitor for the attention of the children. The red wagon has now become a hot commodity in the land of toddlers. Watch as Sebastien takes Theo for a spin. What joyous interactions full of communication and intention.

Full Circle

During the very first water exploration playgroup Bryce took notice of another view of the water table and on this last water play session he does so again and this time I'm able to capture it on film! Being able to capture this moment reminds me that by giving children ample time with materials really allows them to revisit ideas, discoveries, and theories.

Wednesday Group - A Little Bit of Everything

During this session I included a little bit of everything we've explored in the water thus far. Sea animals, balls, containers, and rocks were just a few of the items included. I'm happy to say that the children really enjoyed the water table this week and revisited some past explorations along with embarking on some new discoveries.

Observing children while they engage in a material can show just how much children learn from one another. In the following video, Max carefully watches as Sebastien hauls up a container full of water (which ends up spilling all down Max's legs). Later, Max returns to the water table and recreates the experience for himself. What I love about including bigger containers is the increased amount of water being displaced. This usually leads to heavy work by physically challenging the children to move larger quantities of water.

Zadie also recreates an experience she began exploring two weeks ago. The last time she was at playgroup she experimented with putting a ball inside a container of water. This time the container she choses empties water as she picks it up and this visibly delights her, and then she plinks her ball into the container. The second time she tries to put the ball in the same container there is no plink as the water hasn't finished draining out. She watches as the water goes out and when she moves the now empty container she hears the 'tink' of the ball in the container and proceeds to shake the container more.


Sebastien also continues an exploration from a previous week. Last week he brought a long tube container to the water table and experimented with flinging water. This week he works on trying to get a stone into and out of the tube but first he has to make it clear to Zadie that he is using the stone.



Recently another mother asked me how much Sebastien understood of a long explanation I gave him. I told her I couldn't be sure but I feel the more information and descriptions you give toddlers the more they begin to understand that you respect them enough to explain what's going on even if they don't understand everything you say. Well here's an example of one of my explanations and I have to say even I was impressed by how much Sebastien understood and followed through with my request.

Friday Group - Sea Animals

Disclaimer: I didn't get to take as many pictures/movies as I wanted for this session as the two cameras I was using both ran out of batteries.

For Friday Playgroup I made a few small adjustments to the sea animal and water exploration. I took out most of the cellophane and I used watercolor to tint the water blue hoping that this would draw the children to explore the materials for a longer period of time. These adjustments did not make an impact on the children and they spent most of playgroup exploring the other areas of the play space.

Although Bryce, Theo, and Sebastien all spent time at the water table their explorations were brief and they would usually rejoin the exploration when another friend was at the table. In a way I want the children to freely come and go from the table as they desire but I guess the materials I presented them with in this session didn't spur on new discoveries. Not that every exploration has to bring about new discoveries as sometimes materials need to be explored over and over again in the same ways to be fully assimilated into a child's working knowledge.

Bryce found the shells and rocks the most interesting to explore especially because of the noise they make. He briefly checks out a manatee and chomps on a dolphin but it is the sound of the rock clanking together that really intrigues him.

Theo is so aware of those around him that he will sometimes begin an exploration only to stop to watch another child. I have countless videos of him grabbing an item and then watching as a friend explores something else. Theo begins to explore a piece of cellophane only to be distracted by Sebastien. Later he makes his way back to the table and takes interest in the shell and does some solo splashing!

Sebastien is infamous for bringing items into the water table and finds a long container to add to the water table. This gets a big "whoa" from him. He actually inspired the next and last water table exploration by making me think of how I could combine some of the items we've explored in the water during previous sessions with the sea animals to spark more interest.