Lisa Ortiz is a youth director in Seal Beach, CA. She is imaginative, insightful, supportive, and comes up with the sweetest ideas. She has been delivering special packages throughout the pandemic. The other night Ms. Lisa shared with me the gift package she was dropping off for her students, and it was the neatest little … Continue reading Ms. Lisa’s Little Deliveries
As parents and teachers walk into the unknowns of our upcoming school year, there are a couple things I want to remind myself and the world of. First, take your time. By this I mean a few different things. Take time to adjust. Take time for yourself. And take your time moving through what might … Continue reading Learning from Dirt and Dishes: A way of moving.
Let’s just get right to the point. Masks and Kids. Specifically other people wearing masks and kids. It’s weird. However, the social-emotional consequences are more intertwined in the available buffers. Buffers are very close family caregivers and teachers. These are the people who directly influence resilience. So the question really is, how can we use … Continue reading Masks, Children and the Real Question.
Coloring books make very cool provocations. Especially if you can grab one that has your child’s interests. 🖍 I like to color a new page every couple of days and leave it out for NJ, I always add 3 dimensional aspects to explore with- particularly objects that go with things that have come up recently. … Continue reading Making coloring books 3 dimensional and multifaceted.
Our pizza had those tiny white tables, you know the kind we used in our doll houses? I was so excited to see them because I knew they would have many uses for NJ. Tonight I made this tiny space a provocation with many tools she can use for balancing- or anything else she is … Continue reading Play from peculiar places.
One of the Provocations I had set up for NJ looked like this: Again, there was nothing I was trying to teach her and nothing she had to specifically learn. These items have been placed together in different ways for a couple of weeks- and some days they don’t even get touched. But some days … Continue reading Spiritual Autonomy in Children: A pots and pans and prayer beads approach.
That activity sheet, step by step craft, or whatever “plan” that implicitly told your kid(s) what they should be learning and how - became a weird *&$ked up mess. If you read that and thought something like, “ you had to have been in my living room this week,” this one’s for you. We learn … Continue reading Pandemic Vibes
Returning There is something kind and quiet and queer On the carpet. Something standing up, supporting, Even the tiniest of bones. There is something so sedated Between the carpet and a raised voice, Something so severe and fractal, And wasted. A stance so suffocated and substantiated It too is whole. There is something so quick … Continue reading A poem called Returning
Yes, let's talk Christmas trees...... and toddlers. A Christmas tree can be a big opportunity for your toddler, and dare I say, toddlers..... 🙆🏻♂️ I have some tips that might work for you and your family. But we know everyone's home, lifestyle and needs can be wildly different. So feel free to use all of … Continue reading Let’s Talk Christmas Trees and Toddlers: An ode.
NJ is almost 9 months (omg) and her brain is starting to notice grouping and categories. Just like in the classroom I like to set up areas of exploration and provocation for NJ. I usually set up one between each nap. The thing about exploratories is that she’s not “supposed” to use it in any … Continue reading The Art of Intention and the Heart of Play
