Play Matters Preschool

This is where magick is made. This is where we share so much laugher. This is a safe space. So many will never understand why it was so important for me to create a safe space for myself & my wild children to grow and thrive... and that’s okay. But just know this: when I tell you I love on these kids like they are my own, I mean it with my whole heart.

Yes it was dark and the mosquitoes were eating me alive but once I started I couldn’t staaaap! I keep telling my husband like dude I hope u realize when we have our own kids they are going to have such a dope play space...he’s like yeah I know and I’m like no I don’t think you do homie! #brattywifelife

Okay I made the mistake of only getting a few of the tree cookie cushions for the cozy spaces because I didn’t know how they would hold with weather & washing and now I’m kicking myself! Must GET ALL OF THEM!

Because our treehouse tree has a collection of wild bird friends and some of which who just hatched. So many bird feeders!!

Took a break from wood working this week and poured some love into our forest preschool. Revamped the gated off tinker space into more of a self service Reggio inspired art studio. Created an official fairy garden/mermaid cove under the treehouse. Shelves are stocked w/ art supplies galore as well as loads of natural materials & nature walk treasures. The children can take and create as they choose then hang their art (child level) so it’s all fully accessible. My 1 youngest of the group wants to do everything the bigs are doing so the gate allows me to redirect his interest to the messy sensory area instead & help him as the bigs direct their own play.

Announcement time! Play Matters Preschool enters its next stage in becoming a FULLY OUTDOOR forest school where parent participation & involvement is truly valued. Once we finish developing the outdoor space over the next month, we welcome families to participate in their child’s play experience. We will limit the number of our forest families to just a handful to make this a safe option! We are asking for your help! Spread the word, share with anyone who you think ma...y want to get involved. Our goal for this mission is to raise $500. Cash donations or specific items bought directly off our Home Depot list would be greatly appreciated. This wild woman will be cutting costs by building the structures herself PayPal donation link: https://www.paypal.me/naomigatlin We plan on using any extra funding to help us create soft, dry and warm spaces as well as weatherproof existing spaces. All donations will be strictly used to enhance the childrens experiences and growth. A little bit about Outdoor Education: Today’s children are experiencing increased stress caused by a range of pressures, from school exams to social media. Mental-health professionals acknowledge that maintaining a relationship with nature can be very helpful in supporting children’s emotional and mental wellbeing. Physical & mental health benefits, learning by experience, exposure to management risk, better sleep & mood, feeling empathy for others & nature, building confidence, independence & self esteem. The role of parents at Forest School is very intentional. We use a lightest touch approach: the idea that, if you do need to intervene, you do so in the lightest way you can, to preserve the children’s autonomy their imagination, their interactions with one another rather than adding an adult agenda.

TAKE THE RISK. Don’t let the unknown stop you from progressing. You have permission to start fresh. Trust in the process. You got this! We have an exciting announcement coming your way! Make sure to stay tuned for what’s next at Play Matters! #energywork #youowenoexplanations #leavealittlesparklewhereveryougo #newbeginnings #embracethejourney #permissiontopause #permissiontobeehuman

Play is so integral to childhood that a child who does not have the opportunities to play is cut off from a major portion of childhood. -Musselwhite #learningthroughplay #playmatterspreschool #playmatters #learning #muddyfootprints #preciousmoments

Invitation to play With the increase of technology and the fast-paced nature of the world today, it’s becoming more and more common that our kids just don’t know how to play. Kids are more clingy, unable to entertain themselves, and feel stressed when mom or dad aren’t available to play. Play is natural and motivating for children, but it is HARD WORK. It takes creativity, active thinking, and problem solving. Play isn’t a passive activity like watching television. If you start to see your child falling into a pattern of needing constant entertainment, it may be time to start implementing some of these easy strategies to help teach your child how to play by themselves.

Crafting a yes environment: https://www.naeyc.org//f/supporting-creativity-exploration A yes environment does not mean never saying no; no can be necessary for health and safety reasons. What’s important about a yes environment is setting up your classroom to promote exploration and asking yourself why you’re stopping a particular behavior. Saying yes as often as possible empowers children to make positive choices and have more control in their daily lives. It builds high-quality teacherchild relationships, limits teacher intrusion, increases authentic learning experiences, and promotes independence and self-esteem.

It is imperative that kids of all ages get a minimum of 30 minutes of active play twice a day. During this time, it is important caregivers allow children the opportunity to explore outdoor equipment and grow physically. Allowing a child to have unstructured free play and the opportunity to climb, slide, swing and hang from the monkey bars, this gives them advantages in many ways to understand and trust their own bodies. I love getting the kiddos outside!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/magickmakerstudio/ Created by the owner of Play Matters Preschool, nature based play advocate Naomi Gatlin brings the Magick from her Reggio inspired classroom to your happy home. Magickmakerstudio offers handmade, heirloom quality toys & educational resources that promote the wonder & innocence of early childhood. As an early educator I’ve spent years using money I didn’t have on high quality materials to stock the shelves of my classroom. This has inspired me to provide unique materials & toys that won’t break the bank. Remember, the less work the toy does the more the child is encouraged to rely on their imagination to guide them into deeper play.

Though our group of forest friends was a third it’s normal size this Halloween, we held the same amount of magic! Over the next 3 weeks we have three new friends joining us and for this I am thankful. To maintain our desired small group for the time being and reach our 7 nugget mark we have 1 part time opening after these babes start. If you know of a wild one that belongs with us, send them my way!

Let’s line them & jump them

Did you know? Unstructured play allows children to develop their vestibular system. This system is responsible for our balance and the sense of touch. It also develops the proprioceptive system, which is our system of tendons, muscles and joints. This is one of the bests we can give our children, to let them explore their environment around them.

Peek-a-boo pumpkin eyes

Sliding into F L L like... #leafpiles #leafplay #fallgrossmotoractivity #natureplay #naturalsimplechildhood

Children will practice scientific skills as they learn about ramps, rolling & sliding objects. They observe & describe the way objects move when they are placed on ramps of different steepness and when they hit other objects.

Tow truck constructing, rock washing & pumpkin ramps #childledlearning #childledplay #waldorfinspired #reggioinspired #letthembelittle #messyplayideas #mudkitchens #forestschooling #tinkerplay #loosepartsplay #classroomwithoutwalls

You have chaos in your soul & lightning in your veins. You, my dear, were made for wild, magical things. -Erin Matlock

Never forget how wildly capable you are #riskyplaybenefits #riskyplaymatters #riskyplayiscrucialfordevelopment #yougotthis #simplechildhood #wildschooling #classroomwithoutwalls #1000hoursoutside

Child led rock balancing on a tree stump that he rolled exactly where he envisioned it next to these rocks.

Unicorn showers

Potion making, working together & mermaid songs

Mud kitchen rock cleaning, transfer work, sharing our puddles, & twirl jumping