Pre-Kindergarten / Some Words of Wisdom

Some Words of Wisdom

When I Play, I am Learning!
written by K.Miller, Children's World National Director of Education

When I paint, I am learning...

to develop my imagination and creativity.
eye-hand coordination, helpful for learning to write.
the names of colors and how to make new colors.
to distinguish shapes, and purposely create shapes.
to notice patterns from background, necessary for learning to read.
to express my feelings and ideas.
that my ideas have value.
relationships of space and size, necessary for mathematics.
concepts of symmetry, balance, and design.
When I play with dough, I am learning...

to see the shape against the background of the table, a reading skill.
concepts of shapes, relative size, big, small, length, and height.
to see negative space when cookie cutter shapes are taken away.
to express feelings, squeezing, and pounding.
to exercise my imagination and creativity.
that the amount of a substance remains the same, even when the shape changes.
When I play with water, I am learning...
that some things sink and some things float.
to observe changes as water takes different form in different containers.
about different temperatures.
about wet, dry and evaporation.
what happens when you add soap.
eye-hand coordination as I learn to pour.
concepts of empty and full, volume and weight, relevant to mathematics.
When I play with blocks, cars and trucks, I am learning...

concepts of shape, size, length, and location, all relative to learning to read, and do mathematics.
to create and repeat patterns, a math skill.
to exercise my imagination.
to express my ideas.
to cooperate with others.
to solve problems.
about the properties of wood.
to see myself from a different perspective, that of a giant.
When I play on the climbing equipment, I am learning...
self confidence as I develop new skills.
physical strength, coordination, and balance.
to use my imagination.
to cooperate with others when involved in some dramatic play.
to solve problems.
When I play in the dramatic play area, I am learning...
to be flexible in my thinking.
to express myself in sentences.
to try on different adult roles.
to solve problems, especially socially, through negotiation with friends.
to sort and organize playthings.
to make decisions.
to improvise and use things in a symbolic way to represent something else...a form of abstract thinking.
to carry out my ideas with the cooperation of others.
to exercise my imagination and creativity.
When I participate in circle time, I am learning...

to listen, sit still, and understand spoken language.
to add my ideas to the discussion, my ideas have value.
to wait when others are talking.
new vocabulary connected with the topic of discussion.
to remember the words of songs and poems.
the names of others in the group.
to cooperate and be considerate of the needs of others.
When I sort things, I am learning...

to notice details of likeness and differences of objects and form categories, essential concepts for reading.
concepts of color, size, and shape.
numerical concepts of more and less.
logical reasoning.

The Value of Children
    ~ author unknown
Amazing, acknowledge them.
Believable, trust them.
Childlike, allow them.
Divine, honor them.
Energetic, nourish them.
Fallible, forgive them.
Gifts, treasure them.
Here and now, be present with them.
Innocent, delight in them.
Joyful, have fun with them.
Kindhearted, learn from them.
Lovable, cherish them.
Magical, appreciate them.
Noble, esteem them.
Open-minded, respect them.
Precious, value them.
Questioners, encourage them.
Resourceful, believe in them.
Spontaneous, enjoy them.
Talented, nurture them.
Unique, affirm them.
Vulnerable, protect them.
Whole, recognize them.
Xtra-special, celebrate them.
Yummy, be affectionate with them.
Zany, listen to and love them.

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again
~by: Diane Loomans

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self esteem first, and the house later,
I'd fingerpaint more, and point the finger less,
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

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