Freya 26.10.11

We had a really lovely talkative day with Freya today. We went for a short walk and then
indoors to the warmth. Freya and Ahliah enjoyed playing in the cardboard box
cubbby.

At morning tea and lunch Freya spoke a lot about her life, including her bunny and guinea
pig, the horses she has ridden on, Roxy the horse, bush walking, the flowers growing in her garden and the red strawberries. Often on a Wednesday Freya speaks more – as the older children are not here to do all the talking.

It is lovely to listen to Freya as she talks about the things she is interested in
and the big moments in her life.

During inside play Freya didn't seem to slip into a game as usual. I read a couple of stories
with her and then took out a bucket of warm lavendar water and started cleaning
to toys. Freya immediately said she would clean too, Ahliah also joined in.
Freya started on the dolls house ans as she cleaned a game emerged; The dolls
had a very dirty house and they needed somewhere nice to live, as Freya cleaned
she carefully set each room up.

At outside play, Freya was keen to uncover the sandpit to see the turtles (last week we
built some turtles in the sand). Freya's memory is getting better and better –she is able to absorb a lot in her environment; things that Ahliah does, conversations between myself and the other children are often reflected in
things Freya says. Freya loves stories and remembers repetitive and rhythmical
parts really well.

 
Our midday activity was painting. Freya chose red and yellow to paint with. The
colours merged together and created a glowing orange. Freya painted a spring
garden with lots of sunshine – in the end it covered the entire page.

 In the afternoon Freya taught Ahliah how to play the chasing game. She giggled and
laughed as Ahliah ran after her – then Freya turned around to get Ahliah! The
round garden makes for a perfect chasing circuit.

27.10.11

Freya, Ahliah and I enjoyed a morning rain walk. We saw that the rose bush was hanging to the
ground, the branches so laden with roses! We visited the horses and said a quick hello to the garden before coming inside to the warmth.

When all the children had arrived, with rain coats we went to the rose bush to collect a big basket of roses. Inside we sorted the petals and filled a large pot to make rose petal jam. In the afternoon the children each received a glowing red jar of rose petal jam.

Freya was great with the older children today, she dressed as a princess and soon became
a fairy alongside Jasmine. They joined with Denzil and played uninterrupted through till lunch. Freya was speaking more with the other children today and even offering assistance with a puzzle. Over the past weeks I have seen her
follow in games and imitate, today when the older children negotiated games
Freya would elect to take on certain roles, which was great to see.

 At outside play time, the children let out lots of energy, as they enjoy running, chasing
and wrestling. One of the children introduced a game where one person is captured
and tide up, only to escape again – it's like a version of 'cops and robbers' or 'police'. Freya and Jasmine took turns at being tide up. Sometimes children like to play a bit of a scary game, it is another emotion to be explored within
the safety of a game. I was close by to monitor and made it clear that anyone could say 'stop' at any time.

They were all very good at practising their strength, whilst listening and being careful of the 'captured' person.

Freya was very excited to show everyone the red strawberry growing – we have been
patiently waiting till it is ready to eat....I think tomorrow will be the day.

 28.10.11

 This morning I introduced a new morning circle – we still have a strong spring theme, but I
have added some verses about insects and a German verse about two birds in a nest.

These new verses will cover many of our weekly themes and stories heading up to the Christmas break.

During the morning tea break the children played inside. The cardboard box is still holding together, it was transformed into a nest, the girls transformed themselves into princesses and the game picked up from where it left yesterday.
Soon a chair cubby was added, where Jasmine and Freya set up house inside.

I had planned to do drawing for our midday activity but instead we made some birds – I
thought this might bring some more cohesiveness to the children's games.

They each chose a colour and together we practice tying a knot and twisting the wool. The children were all very excited about their new creations and flew off to play immediately.... Unfortunately I had to call them all back for lunch.   After lunch we played outside. Denzil and Jasmine played quietly in the garden with their
birds while Freya built really strong and straight sand castles in the sandpit, she has been practising a lot.

Freya then joined me with the guinea pig, she sat very calm and held the guinea so gently.

Freya has bonded with him most out of all the children, she enjoyed letting him run in the boat and tickled him as
he skipped and played.

 Freya occasionally would fly her bird over to the older children and watch for a while before returning to my side. We talked about the guinea and the garden and then Freya spoke about Grandma Hen, who I took over to mum's house a few weeks ago, as she was getting too old. No one asked after her and eventually she passed away.

Denzil happened to ask last week during play time, Freya must have picked up on the conversation; as she reconfirmed with me today, that Grandma Hen is up in the sky flying with Mummy's horse.

 This emphasised to me the amount Freya is absorbing and understanding in her environment.

Freya 19.10.11

Freya arrived ready to start her day. We started with a visit to the mulberry tree and picked
lots of juicy-sweet mulberries. We also collected extras to bake mulberry
muffins. We then fed the horses and visited the dogs. As it was such a lovely
morning we spent it in the garden, greeting the plants and holding our little
guinea.

After morning tea Freya was happy to play inside. Together Freya and Ahliah looked at books
and then I directed the children to a large cardboard box in the lounge room.

 
Freya was very excited as it makes an excellent cubby house. Soon we took out
the crayons and the house was being decorated from top to bottom. Freya has so
much strength and will – she poured it into her work and soon we had a beautiful
cubby. This became our midday activity. A window was added and the two girls
giggled as they went in and out – opening and closing windows and doors.

After lunch we played outside in the sandpit – Freya built sandcastles over and over again,
squashing them to the ground. Once again showing her strong will and
perseverance. Freya seems to be experiencing herself and the world in a very
outgoing manner.

 
 20.10.11

Freya arrived bearing a flower for Ahliah and mum.

We picked more mulberries and fed the horses just as Jasmine arrived. Before long we found ourselves looking for
seeds and checking our little plants in the back garden. Freya began to dig
with the big garden tools, soon the other children joined her. I directed them
into a corner of the garden where we are planning a new garden. All morning the
children worked digging over the garden. Soon it was time to go inside to bake
sunny buns, we added some mulberries to colour them – they added a good flavour
too.

After morning tea the children played inside. They started in the cardboard cubby house and
coloured the walls – Freya preferred to ride her horse around and soon found
another game with the toy bunnies in the playroom. Just as she began to build
them a little home, Denzil had the idea to build another cubby. I helped and
soon we had a cubby house with blue dolphin printed cloth. Freya and Jasmine
set themselves up inside – it was their 'house in the sea'. Freya read books
and rested, the girls played quietly together. Every now and then Ahliah or
Denzil would visit.

 For our midday activity we painted flower pots. Jasmine carefully coloured each side of
hers, each colour had its own place. Tomorrow we will plant some flower seeds
in them.

 
 Freya was in a very positive space today. She loves to play chasing with the other
children and ran around in the heat until her face was red – even when I
encouraged cooler games, Freya was determined to run and wrestle. I introduced
tug-of-war, but Freya was unclear about which way to pull and preferred to just
run!

21.10.11

Freya arrived with smiles. Jasmine was already here, Ferya quickly chose her favourite seat
at the table and went riding out into the back garden. Freya's favourite game
has been chasing and soon she invited Jasmine to chase her. When Freya plays it
is more about running and laughing together – the older children often add in
extra rules. Today Jasmine wanted to play 'tip', where one person has to tip
another and then that person becomes the chaser, who then tips another. I'm not
sure if Freya understood the game or whether she just wanted to run and laugh –
as she was already having so much fun. The tip game never quite eventuated.

For baking we made mulberry pancakes topped with yoghurt – which everyone thoroughly enjoyed
for afternoon tea – Freya enjoyed hers with yoghurt.

We had a story about how giving Mother Mulberry tree is. She becomes one of the happiest
trees in the garden as she always has happy visitors enjoying her gifts of
sweet mulberries and shade green leaves.

Just before lunch we filled our flower pots and chose three different kinds of flower seeds to plant.

We will keep them here until there are some happy strong plants growing and then we will
send them home. Our morning circle is all about the little seeds sleeping and
waking up to push up shoots and wriggle down little roots. With the help of
Sunny Sun and the Water drops there grows a beautiful garden. This theme has
filled the children as they play and sing in the garden.

 A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Freya learning to say 'No' in a positive way. There are
times when Freya all of a sudden stops playing with the other children and
stops talking to them. I have noticed this is often when Freya no longer wants
to play or something has happened which Freya doesn't like. I have been trying
to help Freya with communicating 'No thank you' to the other children, or
helping freya to find a positive way of solving the problem.

Freya 12.10.11

Freya arrived happy and well. We got Ahliah ready and went for our morning walk. We took a
basket and scissors to pick a bunch of spring flowers for our table. Freya
enjoyed finding all the bright flowers in the garden.

We made fruit salad together and Freya did lots of great cutting – sometimes I needed to
adjust her hold on the butter knife.

 Freya and Ahliah have established a wonderful relationship. Some of their day they are
directly interacting, at other times they are following each other or playing
side by side. When I put Ahliah to bed she went to Freya and gave her a kiss
good bye, Freya smiled.

Freya and I decided to wash Roxy and Sammy (our small dogs). We got everything ready and
Freya helped lead the dogs over. She was very calm and speaking to them in a
very friendly manner. Both the dogs seek Freya's attention; Roxy loves to chase
sticks and Sammy sat right beside Freya where ever she stood. Once I had washed
the dogs Freya had fun playing with them till they dried.

 
 We spent the afternoon in the sandpit where Freya cooked lots of yummy muffins and
showed how well she remembers all the ingredients used to make tasty sweets.

13.10.11

Freya, Ahliah and I enjoyed a morning walk and a visit to the horses and the dogs. Freya
loves to run down the hill. Freya is very patient to wait for Ahliah and even
goes back to fetch Ahliah. The morning walk is a great way for everyone to
learn how to walk together.

When Denzil arrived Freya quickly started a fun run-about game in the back yard. She loves
to be running and outgoing with Denzil and will often initiate these kind of
games. Sometimes the older children will play more focussed and quiet games –
which often involves lots of negotiation and communication. Freya often leaves
these games and plays something she is more interested in. It is goos to see
Freya is happy to continue with her own interests, but I have also seen Freya
observe the children at play – as her peer communication skills grow she will
be completely involved in these games.

After morning tea, all of a sudden there were hopping bunnies inside. Freya joined in and the
bunnies hopped about until craft time. Jasmine was the Mother rabbit and took
good care of her babies. I heard Denzil repeating part of a story I have told a
few times in the past about a little Bunny, Cotton tail who learns all the
things bunnies need to know to grow up. It is wonderful to see how stories can
inspire games as well as teach. Freya followed with laughs and giggles and hid
quietly from the fox when ever Denzil pointed it out. It was great to see Freya
so involved.

14.10.11

   This morning Freya arrived with a smile. We greeted the animals and visited the mulberry
tree. Freya got to taste the sweet mulberries – which she enjoyed very much. We
picked some extra ones for the other children to taste too. We all had a hold
of Flicker Guinea pig, he has settled in well. By then it was time to go in for
baking.

Jasmine, Freya and Denzil played really well together. At outside play they raced around
for at least 15 minutes chasing and wrestling each other to the ground, there
was so much laughing. Soon Freya was so exhausted she lay on the grass for a
while to get her breath back.

During inside play the children were eagles soaring and circling. Denzil explained to the
other children how the eggs need to be kept warm and then they can hatch and
when they are four weeks old they can leave the nest. Freya built a very
comfortable nest in between the sofa, she was a very tiniy chick for most of
the game, snuggled in her nest. It is great to see each child bring their
interests and personality to their games.

At morning tea we got to meet our new Silkworms. All week we have had stories about Softy
the Silkworm hatching from her egg and munching on mulberry leaves. Once she is
filled up she begins to spin her cocoon and sleeps. One special morning
Mirrianna discovers there is a silk moth dancing with moon wings, soon they
will lay their eggs and the cycle begins again.

 For our midday activity we felted green mulberry leaves, a small yellow egg and a Softy
Silkworm. At rest time I told a Silkworm story using the felt pieces. At the
end of the day the children excitedly showed their dads our silkworms.

 
Freya 05.10.11

Frey arrived happy and calm. Freya often brings gifts – whether it's an extra packet of
raisin for Ahliah,  a flower or a treasure form the garden – this is a lovely way for Freya to bridge the gap
between home and care. It is also a very generous gesture. Today Freya brought
a specific colour nail polish for each of us to paint our nails with.

 It is lovely for Freya to have this quiet Wednesday together. She is able to play so
imaginatively. Today Freya went straight to the play kitchen after morning tea
and announced she would cook something. Soon her baby came out and needed
dressing and then was taken for a morning stroll.

Ahliah has been teething, I used the last of Ahliah's teething relief medicine and gave the bottle and dropper
to the girls to play with.  Freya nursed
her baby back to health with medicine, Cream, porridge and a big sleep. It is
amazing how well Freya knows remedies for good health – she has had great
people to imitate around her.

The game slowly drifted to the wooden animals and then into the dolls house; Freya and
Ahliah play side by side most of the time. They give each other ideas but don't
communicate their ideas to each other. Freya is slowly beginning to communicate
her ideas in games to the other older children and experiencing both leadership
and following role plays.

 For our midday activity we set up our guinea pig enclosure with soft straw, water and
food. A young male guinea pig named Flicker has moved in. He is a little
nervous, but Freya spoke very kindly to him and fed him lots of tasty grass.
Caring for an animal is a great way for children to learn compassion,
responsibility, love and respect for living things.

06.10.11 
 
 Freya arrived happy and well. She found a place for her drink bottle and went out to
play. As the other children arrived we looked around the garden to see what
changes we could find; the apple tree is blossoming, we spotted one tiny shoot
in our vegetable punnets and the corn is slowly getting taller along the fence.
We greeted our new little pet guinea pig Flicker, who is slowly settling into
his new home. The children were all very gentle and picked lots of nice treats
from the garden.

Our midday activity was painting. Today I wanted the children to paint the blue ocean waves
and yellow sunshine. We also painted a red piece of paper to make a boat –
These we will finish next week. Freya painted her whole page in the ocean blue
waves and painted a bright red boat.

 The children played together much more today, we read some stories on the couch, then the
cars came out and it was quickly agreed on how to share them, it's great to see
how the older children are able to incorporate the younger children into their
games and take turns.

Outside it was raining a little and the children ended up in the cubby-house. Five
children in one small cubby would seem like chaos – but they all worked really
well together. Darcy was door man and set up a password for entry, Jasmine went
shopping for ingredients and Freya and Denzil organised a picnic. Ahliah seemed
busy cooking. Cups of tea were shared and the game lasted until Denzil and
Darcy were picked up.

 Freya and Jasmine then built little flower gardens using the soil we dug over for our new
vegetable garden. The flowers were planted in the rich soil and carefully
watered in. We have been planting and caring for our garden so much and it is
wonderful to see the children use and practice this new knowledge in their
games.

07.10.11

We spent the morning befriending our little Flicker guinea pig – he is still a little shy –
Freya loves to hold him and picks lots of sweet grass.

   Our baking story included a walk in the garden – misty mist had left tiny due drops
hanging form every shoot, leaf and petal, as Sunny Sun shone his light down to mother
earth the garden was transformed into a rainbow jewel garden. Freya and Jasmine
were on the edge of their seats as the listened. Alas Mirrianna (Our main
character) had to come inside for baking....

 Later at playtime I found Freya and Jasmine in the playroom with the coloured clothes.
They were building rainbow gardens, Freya built a little fairy out of feathers.

 
I introduced some other small simple knot dolls, who were quickly transformed
into fairies. The girls played side by side but were mainly engaged in their
own parts of the play garden. Freya sang as she played and flew her small
fairies in her beautiful rainbow garden.

We felted some crowns – this was lots of work. First we carefully laid the coloured wool,
then added warm soapy water and gently pressed the wool. Gradually we began to
rub the wool and soon we had to use all our strength to rub the wool and make
it into strong felt. Freya was very determined and worked diligently alongside
Jasmine. Freya seemed pleased with her crown and wore it for the rest of the
day.

 
At times Freya's communication is great with me and the friends around her. Other
times she seems to close up. Jasmine was repetitively inviting Freya to play
and offering her special toys, but Freya kept running away or turning her back
to Jasmine. I gently explained that Freya could say 'No thank you.' and Jasmine
could play her own game until Freya wanted to play with her again.

 Freya is a great leader and has lots of wonderful ideas. I feel when she 'closes up' it is
because there is something she doesn't like or doesn't want to do – Freya is
learning how to communicate 'No' in a positive way.