Freya  24.08.11

  We had a lovely day in the sun. Freya was very good with Ahliah today and seemed to
really enjoy having her company, they pushed their dolls along for a walk, and
fed them together. Where ever Freya went to play she always offered one toy for
Ahliah to play with.

At one stage
Freya was playing with all the wooden animals then went for a ride on her
horse. Ahliah went straight to the wooden animals and knocked most of them
over. When Freya returned she looked and then went to find something else to
play with. In the past these toys would have had to be left alone even when
Freya moved away to play another game. This shows Freya was comfortable with
share toys being moved around and used by others. It has been lovely to see Freya
happy enough within herself to cope with these parts of the day.

We shared cupcakes which Freya had brought from home, Freya squirmed with delight
when she saw Ahliah enjoying them. She proceeded to tell me all the ingredients
that went in to make them sooo yummy.

  Freya has always been very talkative, usually it is related to the game she is playing or
current aspects of our day. Today however she was talking more about past
experiences, things that had happened at home and places she had been. This is quite
new and shows her memory is strengthening – this will flow into a new way of
learning and concepts being reorganised.

26.08.11

We made pear crumble today; Freya wasn't so keen on cutting, but was very determined to do
all the mixing on her own. This is very different form a month ago where Freya
would quickly ask for help. It is amazing the changes that have taken place in
the last couple of weeks.

 During the morning Freya was a little more quiet with Jasmine here. She watches very
carefully  as she gets to know Jasmine.

Half way through morning play Freya was riding on Pony-Horse, softly calling
'Jasmine, Jasmine, Jasmine.' I asked Freya if she wanted to talk to Jasmine she
said 'Yes' I said to Freya if you would like to play with Jasmine you can ask
'Jasmine do you want to play with me?' Freya did this and soon they were
playing in the dolls house together. Freya will learn more and more how to
engage other children and negotiate games.

Jasmine and Freya had a fun, outgoing time in the sandpit after lunch. They did some sand
castle building, then jumped from the highest edge into the sand. Freya would
count herself in then jump! At first she would step down with one leg and have
fun falling into the sand, but through practising Freya could jump with two
feet together and land well.

Then the girls took off their shoes and wiggled
toes in the sand and ran round and round with together, Freya was a horse. She
also went galloping off around the garden! Then we made round sand balls
together, I showed Jasmine how to build a ramp and role them down.

 Later thegirls had a very quiet rest time and I told a story of Mother and Father Wood
Duck, who looked for a safe place to lay their eggs and hatch their ducklings.

Freya  17.08.11

Freya and Ahliah had a lovely play together this morning while we were waiting for Denzil to arrive for our morning walk. Freya invited Ahliah into the rocking horse with her, they had to synchronise to be able to rock 'n' ride. Freya gave Ahliah lots of hugs, it is lovely to see Freya so comfortable and happy in her surrounds.

Freya was also happy to see Denzil come, we enjoyed a morning walk and came in for baking. Having someone older than Freya helps her to see what she can look forward to. For example we made fruit salad for afternoon tea.

I have done this previously with only Freya who was hesitant to use the butter knife for cutting and only did a couple of cuts before letting me finish it off.

Today Freya saw Denzil persevering and successfully followed his lead to the end. A few times she said 'I can't.' but with encouragement she did very well and even asked for more fruit to cut.

Later in the day we were putting on shoes, Freya said 'I can't.' But with Denzil's encouragement showing her how he could put on his own shoes, Freya tried and succeeded! For the rest of the day she said 'I can put shoes on!' with a big smile.

18.08.11

We enjoyed a beautiful sunny walk this morning. I let Roxy (dog) out and Freya was throwing sticks for her. At first sticks were flying in all directions, but with a bit of focus Freya managed some really good throws much to Roxy's delight.

All day today Freya put on her own shoes and persevered with other self help skills such as coat on – coat off, climb on and off the toilet and wash hands. Freya seems really pleased with herself when she is able to help herself, even if sometimes it takes a little encouragement on my behalf. We have been playing in the sandpit more and more; at first Freya was unsure of what to do. I have been building shapes and castles, digging and cooking all kinds of sands cakes. Today Freya went straight to the sandpit, uncovered it herself and was in building a big snowy mountain and then a bird and then lots of other shapes. She also enjoys balancing around the edge and jumping in from the highest spot. All these activities are great for developing the gross and fine motor skills and sensory integration. Freya has had a very outward going and hands on day, with lots of smiles all the way through.

19.08.11

It was a very rainy day today.... lots of mud to squish in! We saw a White-Necked Egret in the paddock and in the afternoon looked it up in the bird book. Freya likes matching the birds to the eggs and seeing the Kookaburra.

We looked up the Swamp Hen, one picture had only the front half of the bird. Freya asked 'Has it got any legs?' 'Yes' I replied 'They didn't get painted, this bird has legs and a tail.'

Then Freya said 'I have no feet in the squishy mud.' Freya's feet disappear into the mud and I laugh saying 'Oh No! Where have Freya's feet gone?' Freya's comment above shows she able to use past experiences/concepts to help understand new experiences/concepts even if they are in a different light – this ties in with the more developed memory function.

 I had three lovely girls today – all of whom are very social and love to play, but I found most the day they found their own place to play and only met for short intervals. At one moment Ahliah started cooking in the play kitchen, she uses the spoons and folks to stir and pots to cook in. Freya said 'Ahliah is cooking some food for my baby.' She then took her doll over to Ahliah and asked Ahliah to feed her baby. Ahliah used her spoon and fed the baby as Freya held it. Ahliah made an eating sound as she fed the baby. Freya spent most of the day riding. A couple of weeks ago Pony-Horse was always too sick, hurting or tired to ride and had to rest and have medicine. This week however Freya told me 'Pony-Horse is not hurting. She can ride very carefully.' I think this may be the way freya is feeling within herself, as I have seen a much more energetic and smiling Freya. Freya asked me to take a photo of her and baby.

Freya Wettergren

11.08.2011

Today Freya came in with fresh energy. She looks taller and older since seeing her on
Thursday! Looking back Freya has just gone through a huge transition period as
well as a growth spurt. Quite often a physical growth is associated with an
emotional period and a spiritual growth.

 Freya spoke about the horses she had seen on the week end: there was a jumping one which
made a big impact on Freya. She took 'Roxy' Horse to jump. Soon we were
building Jumps for Freya to jump over. Ahliah was busy rearranging the jumps.

We have been enjoying the outdoors and letting the new sun warm us through. Freya
particularly loves squishing in the mud and playing in the cubby-house.

 We did wool pictures for our midday activity and I told a story about 'Mother' Earth and a
tiny seed which grew into a beautiful flower with the help of all the elements
(we have also been doing a lot of planting and are eagerly anticipating
spring), along with the seasonal theme this story is one of growth. When I had
finished Freya was able to create a wool picture of her own, she immediately
took to the seed story and created a small garden over and over again, telling
a simple story as she worked.

21.08.2011

Today we had a new friend to play with, her name is Jasmine. Freya was a little quiet
at first, but was very keen to show Jasmine the squishy mud. By morning tea
play time Freya was comfortable with Jasmine and quickly invited her to ride on
Roxy Horse – a very giving gesture. With a smile the two new friends were off
and riding!

 Freya knows the routine very well now and was very helpful with all the transition times
helping Jasmine into the next part of the day.

 The two girls spent the entire day playing together, Freya was very happy and
extroverted. We dug in the mud, cooked in the cubby, raked up leaf pile to kick
about and built shapes in the sand.

Jasmine found 'Unicorn' in the cubby-house and went for a
ride. Freya said 'There's unicorn.' and watched Jasmine ride around the garden.
Then she said 'Soon I can have a turn to ride Unicorn.' I was very happy to see
Freya so relaxed and even when Jasmine hesitated to give Unicorn away Freya
still stayed very calm. I helped with the transition and told Freya how happy
it made everyone when she did such good sharing! Freya had a big smile and
later offered Unicorn to Jasmine for another ride. Freya came to me with a big
smile and told me 'I'm doing good sharing.' I agreed with a big smile.

03.08.11

Freya had her third birthday on the weekend. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Today we took a big basket and picked up all the roly-poly oranges from under the orange
tree's. We have been watching the oranges slowly grow bigger and ripen ever since
Freya started, so it has been really exciting to finally pick them. We have
been squeezing orange juice for lunch. Yum.

 Freya has been inviting Ahliah and myself into lots of games today, I think this is a
sign that she is feeling good within herself and feels a sense of belonging.

 
 
 
For our activity today I planned to make a mobile with little painted stars and an
angel. We painted the stars with yellow bright and then made the angel. Freya
wanted to play with the little angel. She took it flying to the horses, then
found a house for it to live in, soon there was a whole lot of people who moved
into the house with the angel. I didn't end up hanging the angel as Freya spent
the rest of the day with her: taking her on walks, singing and even picked some
grass and had a sea shell as the snail friend.

When I program and reflect on the day I love to see how a seemingly simple idea can be
carried and transformed by the child. Freya did this today and I feel her
little angel has filled her with love and light. Maybe tomorrow we will make
another one to hang.

 There is a beautiful bedtime verse which inspired the mobile idea:

As I go to sleep each night

An Angel watches over me

And fills my soul with loving light

And guides me to the stars so bright

And blesses me each morning.

Above: Freya leading Ahliah on the horse.

04.08.11

 It has been another beautiful warm day. Most our day was spent outside.

Freya's games have become more sociable in the sense that she invites Ahliah and I to
join, but it must be in just the right way: 'Ahliah can ride Unicorn and you
can ride Pony-Horse.' sometimes Ahliah is not interested in following rules
(now a confident walker with ideas of her own) and sometimes I need to be doing
other things. As Freya's awareness is growing she is beginning to learn that
other people have there own ideas, wants and needs. This is all very new and
part of becoming an interactive, confident and social human being.

With a good routine, dedicated play time, lots a reassurance and a clear and calm 'no' when
required we are all readjusting to this new phenomenon of the growing awareness
of a three year old and a fourteen month old.

The photo below shows Freya reading 'Hattie and the Fox' almost off by heart!

She points to all the animals speaking their parts and uses the same character voices as I
have been when reading the story. Freya is a wonderful story listener. I hear
parts of stories I have told surface two weeks later.      Stories are a wonderful medium to use with children as you
impart your knowledge of the world and help them through practical, challenging
and humorous times in their lives. I often retell the same story all week, and
again if requested.