The Child Development Center at MiraCosta College

Encouraging children to explore with various materials, help them analyze two- and three-dimensional shapes in various sizes and orientations. https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0KDilBNO5/?igshid=984n0i1vnwok

https://www.instagram.com/p/CG9_05NBKBX/ Practical life skills: When children participate in activities in the environment, they gain knowledge through the real experience of how to accomplish life skills in a purposeful way. When children practice washing items they are exploring spatial awareness & developing strength in their fingers and wrist as well.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CG7dH9CBWOd/ In-hand manipulation skills is the term used to describe the ability to move a small object around within a single hand. Beading activities, especially threading, require children to grasp, translate, rotate, and shift. These movements strengthen the small muscles in the hand and help with coordination.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CG2QJ2wB-2m/ Block play develops a child’s ability to mentally visualize relationships. As children work together to build designs; they communicate through discussion of any challenges that need solving. They are learning about collaboration and communication to achieve goals that they agree on.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGzoUdVhZjj/ Practicing cutting skills gives young children independent movements of each finger and strengthens their hand muscles. Cutting along the line is a tricky task; It involves bilateral coordination and visual-motor skills

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGkOjeLgDeN/ Magnifying glasses are the perfect tool to support children to see the world with more clarity while encouraging observation as a way to discover, explore, and investigate.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGhrePZgRFj/ When children create family pictures, it develops self-pride, self-confidence, and identity, as they paint themselves belonging to a family unit, where everyone is cared for and celebrated.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGZ8strgaKm/ When children play and manipulate tape it leads them to practice and developmental growth in eye-hand coordination. Children work on keeping the tape from sticking to the surface too soon and as they work to apply the tape successfully to the surface they have chosen for their creation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGXSF_AASs4/ During block play, children work on cognitive flexibility, one way this ability is exercise is when children quickly shift their building strategy once they notice their creation needs to be adjusted.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGUxARTA8tC/ Art is a creative way for children to experience and reflect on the world around them, and it allows children to share their thoughts and feelings.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGSR9aNg8ln/ A sensory garden is an environment that is designed with the purpose of stimulating the senses; it's a wonderful way for children to explore and learn about the environment around them while building bonds with peers and supporting adults.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGH8DczgkOB/ The versatile magnetic tiles engage children in creative play and offer the opportunity to visualize and build two and three-dimensional creations. Due to the precise manual dexterity required to connect and construct with them, children develop strong fine motor skills.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGEWlJJAWMr/ The mud will wash off, but the memories will last a lifetime.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFzUq6TgvR8/ Writing is considered a multi-sensory activity. As children write, the hand is communicating with the areas of the brain that process language, and as they visually tracking what they are doing, the brain is even more engaged.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFwwa1DgCJd/ Mural painting with a spray bottle is a great outdoor activity, children are amazed at how the colors blended together to make new ones. This activity not only offers a new environment for children to create in but it also helps children develop fine motor skills and bring smiles to our children's faces as they personalize their unique masterpiece.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFuK4LNA_Aq/ Providing children with the opportunity to explore freely and discover different types of sounds and rhythms from a variety of instruments and objects inspires creativity and facilitates hands-on learning.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFrkku9ALPa/ Gross-motor skills are those that enable us to move around our environment and engage in it. Children need time and space for active play in order to learn, practice, and refine new skills.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFhSiR1gYAQ/ As little hands manipulate and test with building bricks; children are building their spatial abilities and the ability to visualize a plan for a three-dimensional creation.