STREAM

Sensory Delights: STREAM Activities at the Beach for Infants

smccue — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:16:04 +0000

Sensory Delights: STREAM Activities at the Beach for Infants

smccue Thu, 06/01/2023 - 16:16

The beach is not just a playground for older children and adults; it can also be an incredible sensory wonderland for infants! With the gentle breeze, warm sand, and soothing sounds of the waves, the beach offers a fantastic opportunity to engage your little one's senses while introducing them to the exciting world of STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Let's explore a variety of enriching activities designed specifically for infants, making their (and your!) beach experience enjoyable and educational.

Sensory Sensations: Babies are naturally curious and love to explore the world through their senses. The beach provides a perfect sensory playground for them to touch, feel, and experience new textures. Sit your little one on a blanket and let their tiny toes dig into the warm sand. Allow them to feel the sand between their fingers, watch the gentle waves roll in, and listen to the soothing sounds of the ocean. These sensory experiences help develop their cognitive and motor skills while creating precious memories.
Outdoor Explorations: Let your infant fully immerse themselves in the natural wonders of the beach. Encourage them to observe seagulls soaring overhead or watch the gentle swaying of beach grass in the breeze. Have them listen to the rustling of seashells or the sound of their own breath as they take in the fresh ocean air. These simple yet captivating moments allow infants to make connections with their environment, stimulating their senses and fostering a love for nature.
Reading and Rhyming in the Shade: Reading is a fantastic way to bond with your little one while introducing them to the joys of language. Set up a cozy spot in the shade and bring along age-appropriate board books with vibrant illustrations of beach scenes. Read aloud to your baby, using expressive voices and engaging them with finger play or gentle rhymes. As you point to pictures and name objects, your infant will begin to make associations and develop early language skills.
Engaging with Water Play: Water play is a delightful experience for infants and offers a multitude of learning opportunities. Fill a small basin or bucket with seawater and let your little one splash and explore. Encourage them to dip their fingers or toes in the water, feeling its coolness and wetness. Introduce them to simple water toys, such as cups or small containers, to enhance their fine motor skills. As they scoop, pour, and observe the movement of water, they are building an understanding of basic physics and cause-and-effect relationships.
Building Sand Sensations: While infants may not yet have the motor skills to build intricate sandcastles, they can still enjoy the tactile wonder of sand play. Sit them on a beach blanket in a shaded area and let their little hands explore the soft, powdery sand. Show them how to make simple imprints or shapes by gently pressing their hands or feet into the sand. This hands-on experience stimulates their senses, promotes sensory integration, and encourages their natural curiosity.
Artistic Expressions with Nature: Introduce your infant to the artistic side of the beach by creating simple nature-inspired crafts together. Collect smooth pebbles, seashells, and pieces of driftwood to create a sensory collage. Let your little one explore these natural treasures, feel their textures, and observe their shapes and colors. Use non-toxic glue to affix the items onto a piece of cardboard or paper. This activity encourages fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and appreciation for the natural world.

The beach is a magical place for infants to embark on their STREAM journey, discovering the wonders of the world through their senses. From sensory sensations in the sand to tech-free explorations and engaging water play, each activity nurtures their development and creates special bonding moments with caregivers. So, grab your beach essentials, embrace the tranquility of the ocean, and watch your little one's eyes light up with wonder as they experience the delights of STREAM activities at the beach!

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STREAM

Infant

What is STREAM?

lba-admin — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 14:55:59 +0000

What is STREAM?

lba-admin Tue, 11/12/2019 - 09:55

What defines STREAM?

INTENTIONALLY incorporating one or more areas of learning into one activity
Academic vs. Intellectual learning – creating opportunities that not only meet academic milestones but also target reasoning and critical thinking
Active learning that starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios – it’s peaking children’s interest and bringing out their natural curiosities about a problem or challenge

Here's a closer look:

S - Science: Science activities include exploring water and sand, comparing and contrasting natural materials, rolling balls across the room, and every other act of discovery. It is:

A way of thinking
Observing, experimenting, predicting, discovering and categorizing
Asking questions and wondering

T - Technology: In our minds when we think of technology we think about electronics, but we have to get used to viewing technology as a tool(s). Anything created by humans-designed to make tasks easier. For example, you could dig a hole using your hand, but it is much more efficient to use a shovel, which is a form of technology. Technology includes all tools, machines, utensils, instruments, communicating and transporting devices and the skills by which we produce and use them. Technology also includes simple machines such as wheels, pulleys, and gears.

A way of creating
Using tools, being inventive, identifying and solving problems and making things
The tools of science

R - Reading: Repetition of a featured book has numerous benefits to children.

A way of expanding thoughts
Listening, prediction, problem solving, identification with character traits, idea generation
A way to foster collaboration and higher level thinking

E - Engineering: Engineering in preschool happens often with blocks. Children are planning and designing structures with little/no teacher direction. This sparks their creative and imagination.

A way of doing
Solving problems, using a variety of materials, designing and creating and building things that work
Products of science

A - Art: Art should be open-ended and not product driven, this will allow for more imagination and creativity to play a roll in the finished piece!

A way of exploring through sensory experiences
Drawing, painting, imagination, symbols and representations of thoughts onto paper
Way of expression

M - Math: Math is present in almost all learning areas. It’s combining ingredients to make a cake in dramatic play. It’s balance and building in blocks. It’s patterning and matching with table toys and puzzles, and so much more.

A way of measuring
Comparing and contrasting, counting, estimating, sequencing, patterning, exploring shape volume and size
The language of science

So why STREAM and not STEM?

Initially, when the STEM movement first started, many toy companies began making STEM kits, schools systems and child care centers began implementing STEM products and activities into their lesson plans, but no one thought how children or young learners would be curious and want to engage. The areas of STEM are logical and attract learners that are more left-brain focused. This includes analytical thinking, math properties, reasoning, logic and numbers. All the areas that peek curiosity during Science, Technology, Engineering and Math activities.

Now, STREAM, engages more of the creative side of the brain, the right-brain learners that are guided by emotion, imagination, creativity, expression and awareness. The specific addition of Art and Reading not only benefit all children, but also focuses on the development of the 'whole-child'.

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STEM

STREAM

Gardening With Your Kids!

lba-admin — Mon, 16 May 2016 17:25:48 +0000

Gardening With Your Kids!

lba-admin Mon, 05/16/2016 - 13:25

Gardening is a wonderful activity that enables children to learn many valuable life skills, such as responsibility, cause and effect and reward. It's also part of STREAM learning! Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can get started very easily with only a small pot, seeds, soil and water!

Any child care expert, daycare center or parent can tell you that preschool children and toddlers are ACTIVE learners. They have a natural curiosity that requires direct sensory experience rather than conceptual generalization. They want to feel and touch, taste, see and smell! Gardens are perfect for this type of learning!

The benefits of gardening with children are priceless. Planting seeds and watching them grow helps children discover the environment, the growth process and the food they eat. Weeding and watering a garden helps children to get exercise and practice responsibility and routines. And, the weather can offer valuable lessons about the need for water and the absence of it, and the science of climate.

Tips for a Successful Garden
1. Start small. It's easy to start with a small garden in the backyard or even a garden planter in the house to foster your child's interest in getting their hands dirty and to bring your family the many benefits growing a garden can provide.

2. Plant something easy. Sugar snap peas are one of the easiest vegetables to grow and seedlings can sprout in only a week, which helps little children not to lose interest. The vegetables taste sweet, are crunchy and can become a super lunchbox snack. Sunflowers also make a good choice as they start out small in pots and can be planted outside later in the season. The flowers, when fully grown, are amazing and will feel like a real accomplishment to a young child.

3. Get children involved. Keep your little one interested! The best education occurs when the emphasis is more on joining the child in hands-on interaction, play and discovery than on teaching concepts. Let your child dig, place the seeds and water the garden. Toddlers and preschoolers love to use a small watering can, too.

Research shows that a child develops more rapidly with practice, so if you are not successful the first time, try, try again (as the saying goes). It takes practice to figure out the right amount of water and sun, but soon enough you and your child will have success!

Happy Gardening!

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STEM

STREAM

Family Life

STEM 101 - How You Can Incorporate it at Home

lba-admin — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 18:26:17 +0000

STEM 101 - How You Can Incorporate it at Home

lba-admin Tue, 03/08/2016 - 13:26

What is STEM and why is it so important to my preschooler, toddler or even infant?

STEM is an acronym that is used by educators to connect the areas of "S"-Science, "T"-Technology, "E"-Engineering and "M"-Math together. At, Lightbridge Academy, we incorporate this program into your child's education every day in simple ways, such as sorting blocks or counting toys, and identifying colors and patterns.

Young children are naturally inquisitive. They instinctively wonder what things are called, how they work, and why things happen. Encouraging your child's sense of curiosity about the natural world around them can support a lasting interest in it. Early experiences shape how the brain develops. As a parent, you should look for opportunities to develop your little ones understanding of scientific concepts in daily routines and activities.

For example, you can encourage their natural curiosity by noticing what they are doing while they are playing. Get involved by asking young children open-ended questions, such as "What are you working on now?" or "How do you think that works?" and "Do you notice anything about how that toy moves?" By focusing your questions on what preschoolers and toddlers have observed and noticed, you are helping them develop valuable communication and observation skills.

Here are a few simple "STEM" activities you can do with your preschooler or toddler at home:

Science- Children love shadows. Observe the shadows of stationary objects such as trees, buildings or cars in the morning and return later on in the day to see how they have moved or changed. (You can even outline the shadows in sidewalk chalk).

Technology- In the preschool arena, technology refers to using tools and developing fine and gross motor skills. Teach your child how to pour using a small plastic pitcher and a several different size cups.

Engineering- Use mixed sets of building materials, such as blocks, Legos, or foam bricks and encourage your child to build a tower.

Math- Repeat patterns in songs with clapping or movements (with silly faces and/or dancing) and then have children make up their own patterns that you can follow.

These little "experiments" and activities can help children develop basic STEM skills and lead them on a path to a lifetime of learning and exploration. As we say at Lightbridge Academy, Learning is fun!

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STEM

STREAM

Fall Pumpkin STREAM Activities

lba-admin — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:05:46 +0000

Fall Pumpkin STREAM Activities

lba-admin Thu, 05/16/2013 - 09:05

In addition to pumpkins being the perfect fall decoration as they transition from Halloween spookiness to Thanksgiving cheer, they also make for some great learning with STREAM. Take your child to the grocery store or pumpkin patch to pick out their favorites to use. Here are some great ways to include pumpkins and STREAM activities at home this fall!

Science: Make Salt Crystal Pumpkins with your preschooler - don't worry, it's easy! You will need iodized salt, small decorative pumpkins, water, a small pot and a plate. Simply boil a pot of water and add enough salt so crystals form on the surface of the water - it will look like a sheet of ice. Remove the water from the heat, place your pumpkins onto the plate and pour the salt water over the pumpkins, making sure the salt on the bottom of the pot is left on top of each pumpkin. Set the plate in a dry location and wat a few days for the water to completely evaporate. Once dry, examine the remaining crystals on the pumpkin with your little one, compare the differences!

Technology: The 'Starfall Pumpkin Halloween' is a great app to safely make jack-o-lanterns with your children, not to mention avoid the mess. It includes learning through measuring, coloring, counting and more!

Reading & Engineering: There are tons of pumpkin themed books out there for you to read with your little ones. The Legend of Spookley The Square Pumpkin is a story about a square pumpkin. This story not only teaches young children some valuable life lessons, but also welcomes the opportunity to enhance with a hands-on activity with some Legos or blocks! After reading the story, have your little one build their own square pumpkins using different shapes, sizes and colors.

Art: If you're like most parents of preschool-aged children, you may not be too excited about cutting into a pumpkin with your child close by. While pumpkin carving can be fun for older children, choosing non-carving crafts may be a better option. You can incorporate stickers and paint and decorate your pumpkins with spooky shapes. After Halloween has come and gone, you can head out to find new pumpkins or simply remove the decorations from Halloween crafts. For thanksgiving pumpkins, you can cut out paper feathers and heads to make turkeys. Paint is also a great way to add wings and a beak.

Math: Cut open a pumpkin and have your toddler help you scoop out the seeds. Before you clean them up, have your child touch them and mush them, this is a great sensory experience even though it gets messy! Once they're clean, have your little one then count and sort the seeds. You can even use them to make slime, add to a water bottle with water and glitter for a discovery bottle, dye them with vinegar and food coloring or cook them up for a delicious snack!

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fall

STREAM

Pumpkins