While we may not get snow in this part of the world setting up an invitation with insta snow & ice brings the magic of winter to us. To set this invitation we foraged some nature to freeze in water, provided insta snow, pots, pans, cupcake tins, bowls, utensils, & our sand + water kit from Discount School Supply. The children were invited to create wintry treats in our mud kitchen + tuff tray.
Exploring & creating with these materials provides children endless possibilities for learning through play, letting their imaginations blossom, as well as enhancing so many areas of developmental (cognitive & physical).
The open-ended nature of this type of play encourages creative thinking which contributes to a child’s sense of self & helps to build a strong inner sense of competency. While they engage in this pretend play the social interactions fosters language development & communication skills. Emergent math +science skills + problem solving/critical thinking are practiced as children experiment, make comparisons, solve problems, test theories, make mixtures/recipes, observe different concepts, measure & count ingredients for their creations. The sensory play children partake in while playing allows them to engage in all their senses which promotes their sensory development.
This type of play is important for children. It allows children to play at their own developmental level, meet the diverse needs & interests of all children, and is truly one of the most magical + imaginative ways children can play.
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