Sometimes we, educators, make mistakes…
One day, in our beloved yard, Chrysi got a cart, turned it upside down and tried to climb on it.
I hastily said “Chrysi, that’s not right“. She, however, stepped on it and proudly started playing by turning cart into a slide. The game started and Christos came to claim his turn.
All I had to say then was “next please!“. Chrysi’s “wrong” use of the cart turned out to be the right game!
(by Maria Gryllaki, teacher in babies’ class in Athens)
Babies discovered plenty of empty tomato cans in our yard and decided to create noise!
Used various toys and a paint brush as drum sticks….
They even composed a song. And after finishing their show, like a good rock band, packed instruments into the car and drove away….
(by Anastasia Kouroubali, teacher in babies’ class in Athens)
I hanged the paper tape over babies’ heads and they instantly started to experiment with it.
Stretched their body in order to reach the tape, touched it, twisted it and eventually, as were trying to play with it, they improved their movement.
And beyond that: discovered one more tool to communicate each other!
(by Anastasia Kouroubali, teacher in babies class in Athens)
In our babies class, we love to sing and play the melodica. Children get excited on music and show great interest in this specific musical instrument and the sound it produces.
Today, after singing our song, they played the melodica themselves. And the result? Spectacular! Just like young musicians, the blew the instrument and pushed the buttons. Some even managed to produce a nice sound!
As a result of this playing, attention and memory of children was stimulated and practiced their control and coordination skills.
But most of all, this experience provided children with the ability to express themselves and have fun! Music is always an excellent tool for babies to discover the world.
(by Maria Gryllaki, teacher in babies’ class, in Athens)
Babies can do great things with just a taxi cab and a paint brush!
They instantly assign roles to themselves, no need to speak. The girl is the driver and the boy is the mechanic.
When job is done, he closes the door like a gentleman and waves goodbye!!
This is how no-talking babies communicate each other…
(by Anastasia Kouroubali, teacher in babies’ class, in Athens)
Today in babies’ class we made jelly – but instead of eating, we played with it!
Babies first look, then smell, touch and finally mix it…
Eventually, they become experts into mixing colors, without even knowing.
It’s just play for them!
(by Anastasia Kouroubali, teacher in babies’ class in Athens)
In our babies’ class, we encourage children to interact with a number of materials, natural and artificial.
Experimenting has to be unconditional, in order to trigger all senses.
This way, we give babies the opportunity to become familiar with reality, engage and interact with it.
Such life derived materials can be sand, rocks, spoons, cups, etc.
Getting in touch with real world always turns kids more creative…
(by Maria Gryllaki, teacher in babies’ class in Athens)
First days in school are always difficult, especially if you are a baby!
I suggest a small tip on how to help babies relax when they are stressed.
Use water. Just water. Or, water with small rocks, sand, plastic balls, toy ducks and anything else you can imagine.
When babies play with water, they relax and release all their stress.
I call it: «THE HEALLING WATER!»
(by Anastasia Kouroubali, teacher in babies’ class in Athens school)
Babies (1-2 y.o.) discover the world through their senses.
In our school, an activity they love doing is producing colored ice cubes.
Then, kids use those ice cubes to paint, while melting.
(by Anastasia Kouroubali, teacher in babies class, Athens)
Life-derived Learning 