Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell, was published in 1960 and has inspired many children to build a fort. Can you imagine what it must have been like to be a 12-year-old girl stranded alone on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean? Reading books is a More…
There is a magical world of fort building happening all over the world. Whether built indoors or out, experts say kids love constructing forts and their growth and development benefits during the process. It all starts with a little imagination and the tools needed to get started. The Whatsitâ„¢ More…
Have you ever noticed when you play a sport or engage in any activity with someone who is slightly more skilled, it often stimulates and motivates you to up your game? This principle is universal and applies to people of all ages and skill levels. Learning from others is More…
Classrooms designed with stimulation, individuality and naturalness in mind often have a positive impact on learning. According to research conducted by Peter Barrett, PhD, DSc, Faye Davies, PhD, Yufan Zhang, PhD, and Lucinda Barrett, PhD, naturalness accounts for about 50% of the impact whereas individuality and stimulation account for More…
Do littles have stress in their lives? It probably comes as no surprise the answer is yes. Children experience stress over small things like whether their jeans look cool, but they also worry about more important issues. Children who have anxiety over their ability to learn, whether their parents More…
There is no disputing COVID fundamentally changed classrooms. Yet, school design was already experiencing a paradigm shift before the pandemic. Regardless of how we design classrooms, the importance of creating a low-stress environment for children during back-to-school cannot be understated. Clear (But Temporary) Advantages The pandemic made everyone in More…
Fine Motor & Bilateral Coordination Skills Arts and crafts projects build fine motor and bilateral coordination skills as children are asked to use the small muscles in their hands and fingers during projects. Activities such as grasping paintbrushes, using scissors, and manipulating arts and crafts materials improve hand dexterity. More…
Have you ever been asked if you see the glass as half-full or half-empty? Regardless of our perception, the glass is actually 100% full. Whether it has air or water in it, there is always something filling the glass. Imagine what we could accomplish if every person on Earth More…
The Great Playroom Revolution If you were to ask anyone over the age of 25 if they had a playroom in their home as a child, most likely you would find 80% of people say no. Today, if you were to poll the average elementary, middle, or high school More…
Everyone has probably struggled to fill an awkward corner in their home at some point. Filling those corners in daycares and preschools can be even more challenging. Utilizing dead space in your classroom is a perfect opportunity to amp up the fun-quotient children experience throughout the day. It also More…