Sharing  The definition of the word-to give a portion of something to another, to use, occupy or enjoy jointly.  How many times a day do we utter the words-you have to share. The question is why do children have to share? In our deep rooted need to instill good values in children, we often find ourselves uttering this phrase over and over again, sometimes out of habit instead of reflection of what we are actually asking children to do when they are deeply involved in an experience. The truth is they don't need to share if they chose not to. The question should be would you li ..read more

 I was out for a hike with my sister yesterday in Cookstown just north of Newmarket. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, lawns were covered in the last of the Autumn leaves-everything was a perfect shade of yellow.   As we walked, we passed many parks with complete play structures, lots of open spaces to run and play all surrounded by the wonder of nature. Sadly, there was not a child in sight. Not at the parks, not on the sidewalks, not on the lawns of homes. Not a single child for the whole three hours that we walked. This is not an isolated observation, I se ..read more

Dear Gentle Readers :) Thank you for your concern with my absence from posting on this blog. Believe me it's not from a lack of wanting but rather from trying to etch out a few minutes to devote myself to sharing my thoughts. My mother used to tell me that the older you get the faster time moves. She was right. The days buzz by so quickly I often forget to eat or pause for a cup of coffee. Life with the children at Reggio Kids is a whirlwind. Every day brings new experiences as they continue to amaze us with their competencies.  My last post was about my grandson-sadly our time together ..read more

Many, but not all parts of the world, have come a long way in the manner in which they view and treat children and respect their rights. In an ideal world children are valued as competent and capable citizens from the time of birth. They are treasured and protected .  Childhood is viewed as a time of potential. Not long ago, circa World War II, children were viewed quite differently. In many countries and homes they were needed to help support their impoverished families so they began working as young as seven years of age. There was little if any time for play. They were seen but not exp ..read more

The First Week with the Colour Orange A traditional approach to engaging children in the exploration of colour is to give them paper and paint or perhaps crayons or play dough. Observe what happens when a vast array of orange loose parts is used to entice them. These are some of the first discoveries the toddler made with the materials ..read more

I met a child on October 19, 2019 who changed my life, or perhaps I should say who reminded me of why I followed the calling to become an educator of young children. Before my grandson Mateo was born, I was told the love you feel for a grandchild is unparalleled to anything you have experienced before. I can say that this is true. More than love, my grandson Mateo invited me into his world to experience the wonders of life through the eyes of a child, to find the child in myself that was hidden behind the mundane tasks that often times plague those of us who are removed from the classrooms ..read more

I just returned from a trip to Rome, and the phrase that resonates in my mind, that was repeated to us as we meandered the streets, was piano-piano, which in a direct translation means quietly. However, the intention of the message was to move at a slow pace, which would be lentamente. However, we got the gist of it. In this two word phrase, sits a message for anyone who has children or works with them.  Go slow my friends.  When we move slowly, we are present in the lives of our children. We are able to assist, support and learn together and appreciate the changes that occur ..read more

I often find myself reflecting on children's abilities to tackle new tasks, solve problems and meet  challenges with undaunted determination. In their first year of life alone they learn to lift their heads, roll over, crawl, walk, eat on their own, babble, talk, dance...The list is endless. Children are an unstoppable force. If we could harness that ability and carry it with us throughout our lives we would all achieve such greatness. I'm not referring to the stuff that legends or heroes are made of, I mean the greatness that comes from doing and being the best version of ourselves; app ..read more

 I've been observing toddler play for a lifetime but in the last year, spending one on one time with my grandson and watching him integrate into a toddler classroom has turned my attention to a new concept, crowding and how it affects learning. We all know that children scaffold learning, think through problems, question, challenge themselves and push boundaries. Just as we know that social contexts can support these skills. However they can also hinder them. Toddlers by nature want what other children have. The age of mine. They flock around other children who have what they want a ..read more

  Mateo and Nonna Many of you have asked where I've been for the last while as I've been absent from this blog and my life at Reggio Kids. I've taken a short break from my career. For the past 5 months, I’ve been on a leave of absence from my adult life spending the better part of my days with my toddler grandson. There’s a lot to be said about giving yourself over to the life of a child. Without the distraction of phone calls, social media, a hectic work schedule or television, I’ve delved into the world of this extraordinary toddler with his exuberance and unrivaled joy fo ..read more