Little Acorn Learning ~Celebrating the Seasons with Children
As I was setting up they began to use the carrots as 'people' in their play. Do you see how very simple play can be???
They are so capable of play in every day life - we do not have to add anything. Can we just watch? And just... stop... stop and not add... not comment... not change or enhance.... just watch?
My youngest daughter is turning into a 'girl' and these photos speak that to me. A part of me longs to have a baby in my home again - but I know that time in my life is over... and a piece of me is excited for our future together as a grown-up family. A family that can talk about deeper subjects and go special places... share secrets and work on more difficult projects.
I've worked hard at my role as a mother to little ones. And I just love it. So much so, that is is hard to let go of. But I know.... I will have little ones to care for again - not only in my childcare work but in my family home. My grandchildren one day will fill this space... with laughter, love, kisses, chocolate faces...
And I swear I cannot wait. You may call me crazy but I think of them always. Each decision I make, I think of them.... I imagine them in my home... I imagine them living in this world. I pray for them and especially my daughters, one day as mothers - trying - hoping - loving - to change this place and make a difference like I have tried to do in this little space called home.
And I love them already. Is that crazy? I love people who are not yet here. And I hope they will one day read this and know that. And I think... that if everyone just tried to think like this a little... the decisions they made would be so very different. But for now, I will remember how very grateful I am to love my work as mother and childcare provider. Making yummy soup and saving the scraps for our compost. :)
Teaching children how GOOD food can be.
Making my space in this world. And do you know what???
After this morning of cutting and washing and cooking...
These little children ate more than 4 bowls EACH of soup...of PURE veggies. 
They even ate the onions...
And the zucchini
Blessings on the Blossom
Oh... and guess what? They now LOVE mushrooms! See this sweet boy eating them all up???
Amazing isn't it? 
Topics include:
Something dropped on St. Valentine's Day,
Whirling and twirling and soft and light,
Like wee little letters all dainty and white,
And I guess the sky children were sending down,
This Valentine straight to the children in town.
I left a little sweetness out for my four lovely girls...
I hope they felt the love I have for each one of them today.
Here's how to Enter to WIN!
This morning we made veggie soup together at Little Acorn Playgarden. The weather has been so cold and we've gotten so much snow - it was the perfect thing to warm us up :)
THIS is the curriculum I use in my nursery program. Real life - real daily tasks - family living. My guides and lesson plans also follow this type of learning - 'life as the curriculum' is exactly what young children need and I am so grateful for training programs such as Lifeways that aim to protect each child's right to a childhood full of living, playing and loving for healthy development. Isn't this what all young children should be doing with their days?
Each child picks a veggie out so Ms. Eileen can peel. When we make soup with the school aged children, they are able to help peel and cut with care but the little ones work more as 'helpers'.
After all of our veggies have been peeled, each child picks a few to wash in the sink. Toddlers are more than capable of washing and they really enjoy working with their hands and playing with the water :)
Peel the Veggies one by one.
We take turns putting our chopped veggies into the bowl with broth.
I wait to heat the soup until the entire process is done so the children can help with most of the tasks. It doesn't affect the cooking time or end result and they are so happy to be a part of it all.
This is a wonderful way to make TWO snacks out of one process. We ate the raw veggie slices as we cooked this morning and after we wake up from our nap time, we will have a warm and healthy snack to enjoy with the children who come home from school.
Stay Warm!
