Montrose Messenger
Week of February 1, 2021
Greetings Families!
Happy "snow-ish" day! As winter cold and snow has come to stay, there are many ways we can help the blues to pass us by. One of those ways is to be creative.
Do you consider yourself creative? How do you define creativity? What role does creativity play in your daily life? According to neurology professor Richard Restak (2009, as cited in Kashyap, 2018), “Creativity is critical to solving problems in all parts of our lives.” The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to be creative. We were forced to change the the way we function almost overnight. Our creativity has allowed us to make things a bit better in a bad situation. Now, think about using that creativity to take care of yourself and your family in a new way.
Creatively Yours,
Mrs. Samuels
Kuumba means Creativity
Many of us hear the word Kuumba in late December, as it is the 6th principle of Kwanzaa. Kuumba is not just a word or a day, but a way of living. Practicing creativity clears the mind and the heart in a way that no other activity can do. It allows us to share a piece of ourselves to our audience - and ourselves.
Kuumba is popularly defined as, “To do always as much as we can in the way that we can in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.” The way that we inherit our world is out of our control but the way that we leave it for the next generation is completely dependent on us. For as long we’re on this earth the way that the world looks is more of our responsibility each day that we inhabit it.
Use everyday moments to encourage creativity
Creative thinking is a critical skill not only for artists or musicians, but also for children as a way of thinking about and being in the world. A creative approach leads to persistence, flexibility and innovation — important tools for your child’s 21st century tool box.
Preschoolers are driven by curiosity, asking questions at every turn and experimenting and learning through play. Children are naturally driven to take things apart and transform them into other things — which are core actions in the creative process. It reminds you of just how brilliant they are! Little children have lots of big ideas. Thankfully, there are play experiences that contribute to the development of a strong creative foundation — while keeping children safe and learning.
Here is a set of key “creativity” mindsets or truths:
⦁ There are infinite possible uses for any object.
⦁ There are many possible solutions to any problem.
⦁ The messier the better.
⦁ “Wrong” outcomes lead to the “right” outcomes. (If we don’t rush in and show the “right” outcome.)
⦁ We can take things apart and make new things.
These truths are really easy for little children to grasp — they are wired to come into life thinking this way. It’s our job to try to fill their creativity buckets with experiences that reinforce these truths.
Putting Creative Truths into practice
- Provide open-ended materials. Blocks are a perfect example. There is no “right” or wrong way to use them, and the possibilities are infinite. Try not to lead the experience by building something, or asking “what are you making?” Try saving and sanitizing a big box, presenting it to your child and saying, "I saved this for you! You can do whatever you like with it! Let me know if you need anything!”
- Encourage (or even just allow) kids to make messes. Not all children want to engage in messy play, but it is important to give them opportunities. There is a wonderful saying: "play messy today, think flexibly later." When we allow kids to make mud, mix different paints together or play with soapy water at the kitchen sink, we allow them the chance to get comfortable acting freely and exploring a wider range of possibilities.
Understand that some children need to take things apart. When it comes to play, there is great value in “de-constructing." Some children need to understand how things go together by first taking them apart. Meanwhile, gently teach them that not all objects (e.g. the remote control or your neighbor’s flower bed) are available for de-construction!
The Dot, by Peter Reynolds, encourages creativity
Notes From Nurse Steffi
As we are attempting to settle into our new Hybrid and Virtual Learning schedule and spending most of our waking hours at home, it is easy to get out of our day to day routines. It is also easy to slip out of our normal healthy sleeping habits.
The average preschooler has a busy day. Whether it was pre Covid-19 juggling school and after school activities or our new “normal” which is virtual and hybrid learning, helping with chores, and playing outside - their bodies need a break! Think of it as a mini vacation.
On average preschoolers need 11-12 hours sleep including a nap. Everyone is different and may need more or less sleep. The most important thing is to get into a consistent habit or routine.
For some helpful suggestions about naps and winding down at night, check out the link below:
Montrose Early Childhood Center
Email: bsamuels@somsd.k12.nj.us
Website: somsd.k12.nj.us/montrose
Location: 356 Clark Street, South Orange, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-378-2086