We do not cook to learn, but we learn so much while cooking in toddlers’ class!

Cooking is one of kids most favorable activities in school. Apart from being a great life-derived play, cooking assists toddlers to get acquainted with a good number of skills.

Getting in touch with math, for example, in the age of 2.5 y.o is greatly achieved through cooking. Children start to understand what does it mean “two spoonful of sugar” or “4 eggs”.

Their fine motor skills also are greatly enhanced, as well as their decision making skills. “Which goes first, the oil or the cheese?” The purpose is not to give them answers, but encourage them to think for themselves.

As it always goes on play: we do not cook to learn, but we learn so much while cooking!

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Let it snow in Athens!

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Living in a hot Mediterranean city like Athens, snow is a rareĀ  thing to see, downtown. But today, it was one of these days!

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Being unfamiliar with snowy weather, the Municipality of Athens advised all schools to remain closed. However, a brave play-based school like Dorothy Snot is not afraid of some snow flakes!

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The sure thing is our kids loved it. Being able to play with snow in the heart of the city is such an unusual experience down here. Not to mention that most of our 4 and 5 y.o. had not ever seen Athens in white!

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Play in life-derived conditions is always the most exciting thing for children. And we are dedicated to keep providing this kind of play!

Risky Play

Toddlers class (2-3 y.o.) is usually the point in time for children to start experimenting physically. They feel strong now and ready to take risks.

Here, risky play gets into the picture. Of course, we do not encourage children in school to jump out of the windows! But, on the other hand, we do not either overprotect them whenĀ  seem ready and confident to take the extra mile…

Watch Dimitris in the following video, to consciously explore how it feels to fell!

(video by Jenny Diamantopoulou, teacher in toddlers’ class in Athens)

Boxes everywhere!

Suddenly, large and small boxes appeared in toddlers’ classroom. What could we do with them?

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We turned them into sofas, exactly like in the stories we read. We imagined sailing in the sea and boxes were transformed into boats!

We played ā€œhide and seekā€ and we found unique ways to hide ourselves inside the boxes. We had fun, we played and we learned! We got familiar with special notions such us ā€œin and outā€. We practiced our gross and our fine motor skills.

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Last but not least, we learned to share and to wait for our turn! We became more sociable and friendly. We came closer and bonded more!

(by Evangelia Nteka, teacher in toddlers’ class in Athens)

Play in toddlers’ class

Play, is:

  • Two painter balls in a box

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  • Building towers using glasses

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  • Meeting your friends under the table

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  • Wearing strange metal shoes

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  • Wiping the salt

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  • Playing music

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  • Inventing a way to reach the balloons up in the ceiling

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  • Spreading the clothes

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  • Talking with your best friend

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  • And after all these exhausting things, go to sleep!

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Play is life. Children’s life.

(by Jenny Diamantopoulou, teacher in toddlers’ class in Athens)