As soon as children arrive at my indoor or outdoor space, they will see, feel, and hear the beauty and tranquility of nature. Soft harp and flute music plays, while children explore tiny treasures, soft dough, silky seeds and grains, and high quality wooden blocks, utensils, and boxes. Scents of cinnamon or jasmine fill the air. Beautiful cups and bowls are arranged neatly around spices, rice, and cornstarch. The purposeful arrangement of materials will spark little imaginations. Soon, children will be feeding tiny play animals, making pizzas and cakes, finding hideouts and crevices for toy bugs, scooping, pouring, feeling, and pounding. Throughout all of this, they will be cooperating and sharing.
This type of open-ended, sensory play is important for developing brains. Engaging the senses in a relaxed, calm environment helps children to focus. From there, they can begin to learn about their world through play. It is very common for me to see children sorting, weighing, and counting. They also make sense of the adult world they see through pretend play.
The role of the facilitator throughout this experience is to be an active listener, to model and encourage sharing and cooperation, and to engage children who may be having trouble following through on their ideas. It is also essential to communicate to the children that there is no right or wrong, and that their ideas are valued. The facilitator also sets limits, and lets the children know that the materials are to be respected and handled carefully.
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