How do YOU feel about competition in early childhood?

Here’s what a couple experts share from both perspectives:

CON: By definition, not everyone can win a contest. If one child wins, another cannot. Competition leads children to envy winners, to dismiss losers. Co-operation, on the other hand, is marvelously successful at helping children to communicate effectively, to trust in others and to accept those who are different from themselves. Children feel better about themselves when they work with others instead of against them, and their self-esteem doesn’t depend on winning a spelling test or a Little League game.
American Alfie Kohn, author of No Contest:The Case Against Competition

PRO: Healthy competition inspires kids to do their best – not just good enough. When students compete they will become more inquisitive, research independently, and learn to work with others. They will strive to do more than is required. These abilities prepare children for future situations of all kinds. Whether it’s applying to college, seeking a promotion, or finding a cure for cancer, the ability to be competitive will give them an important edge.
Jennifer Veale, founder and executive director of TrueCompetition.org

At Wee Friends, we acknowledge the natural tendency to compete with respect. Today, a friend came in and shared: “I wore this necklace so my friend will be jealous!”. We acknowledged this friend’s competitive motivation and redirected it by asking; “Would you like to show your friend how to MAKE the same necklace, so you can both enjoy the work and each other?” “YES!” was her response. So out came the penne pasta. First, we created necklaces. We studied the shape of the pasta and discussed the word “penne”. We found its origin, and then we made pens (quills) with our pasta. We tried them out and they wrote beautifully.

In another part of the classroom, Lisa played a game of “Go Fish!” Friends were adamant about being first. Lisa explained how to take turns so that everyone gets a chance to play, whether they are first or last. They understood. They agreed. They played.

Finn and Elliott spent most of their morning devising a Coast Guard boat that would support their weight. They brainstormed. They executed. They patched up the previous problem. They tried again.

 

We build. We fall. We rebuild. We succeed. We compete and we collaborate. We cultivate.

Have a great day. –Laurie

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Cheerios and orange slices. Lunch: Penne pasta with red beans, apple slices and carrots/cucumbers. Snack: Graham crackers and peanut butter.

Good Morning!  I wanted to let everyone know the next few weeks of fieldtrips that I have planned.

Also, I wanted to remind everyone that there is $5.00 per child fee farm trip fee that is donated to Prairie Winds Farm.  I will keep a list of trips and bill everyone at the end of the season.  If this creates a hardship for your family, please let me know and WF will cover the cost.  If anyone would like to make a larger donation to our farm, I would gladly accept it for them.

Wednesday, 5/14 leaving @ 9:45    Group A to Prairie Winds Farm

Wednesday, 5/21 leaving at 10:00   Group B to Prairie Winds Farm. Parents of the WWF younger children can join us with your child under 2 years.

Thursday, 5/22 leaving @ 8:15    Group A to Potato Creek Nature Center to explore their current interest in taxidermy.  WF is covering the fee for this one.  (Yes, it has to be this early in the morning.  I’m very grateful to the naturalist Tim Cordell for squeezing us in a full schedule so we can pursue this emergent curriculum.)

Here’s an article published in the Edible Michiana publication.  It’s has some fabulous pictures and it does a nice job explaining our farm’s dedication to sustainable farming.

http://onlinedigeditions.com/publication/?i=147230&p=32#%7B%22page%22:33,%22issue_id%22:147230%7D

Clara turns three today! Happy Birthday, Clara! We love you!

Our friends were so excited to see Elizabeth perform in the Children’s Dance Workshop Spring Dance Recital.  Congratulations, Elizabeth! We are so proud of you!

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Cereal and pear slices. Lunch: Egg casserole, mixed veggies and apple slices. Snack: Clara’s Bday fruit tarts and cheese slices.

Have a great weekend. –Laurie

 

It was alive and now it’s not, but it still looks like it is. Lisa brought a mounted alligator head to Wee Friends on Monday. Our friends have been fascinated with it. The word “taxidermy” came up as we discussed how the alligator got from the swamp to its present state. We asked Wee Friends “Would you like to preserve a dear animal that you’d like to keep forever, even after he/she has peacefully died?”. There was a resounding “Yes!”. So today we began. We explored the steps a taxidermist might use to preserve animals. We pulled out their stuffing and re-stuffed them with newspaper.

In another part of the classroom, friends matched letter tiles to letter people. We studied upper/lower case letters and a few friends created their name.

 

The habitrail construction site was busy with the creation of a Coast Guard house boat.

Leo and Daniel read to one another.

Aislinn and Clara spend a lot of time creating work for Ga-Ga, Aislinn’s lovie.

 

Like our alligator head, life morphs constantly in the Wee World. We love to watch friends change, unfold, expand themselves, learn and play. Have a great day. –Laurie

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Cereal and apple slices. Lunch: Refried beans and cheese on tortillas, mixed fruit salad, sweet peppers and cucumbers. Snack: Orange slices and yogurt.

 

 

Good Afternoon!

**Since the weather looks like its going to stay nice, we’re asking for each family to bring in a bottle of SPRAY SUNSCREEN. Also, if you would like your child to wear a hat while outside, please bring that in as well. Thank you!

Today was beautiful. Flat out gorgeous. Friends took full advantage of it.

We love the rocks, sand, and grass. Maya sat in the rocks and pushed them back and forth with her hands. Later, she proceeded to do this with the sand too!

We ended the day with a little sibling love.

For breakfast, children had eggs and strawberries/blueberries. Lunch consisted of rice with beef, mixed vegetables, and banana. PM snack was raisins and string cheese.

Have a great evening.

It couldn’t have been a better morning to spend at the farm. Two highlights were watching a dentist extract teeth from a horse and meeting Rachel, the newest baby lamb. Gulping in the sunshine and moving with the breeze was joyful. Enjoy the photos.

Wee Sprouts: Grape tomatoes and French Breakfast radishes (thanks you PPC!!!). Breakfast: Cereal and fresh melon. Lunch: Brown rice with beef, mixed veggies and bananas. Snack: String cheese and fresh pears.

Good Afternoon!

It was a BEAUTIFUL morning. Eren and Saskia drove the trucks around the backyard. Up hills. On the tree trunks. They went everywhere!

Lucy enjoyed getting a sensorial spike from the rocks and sand. She took each respectively and moved them around between her hands. Once in the sand, she hopped in the box and started moving the sand from one box to another.

Taters focused on his gross motor capabilties. First, he walked behind the grocery cart. There were a few times when the cart went a little too fast but he caught up!

As Miss Laurie played various songs on her recorder, Eren and Nora listened intently as they danced around. They loved listening to the different songs.

For breakfast, children had whole wheat bagels with butter and cinnamon along with peaches. Lunch consisted of hummus on tortillas, mixed vegetables, and banana. PM snack was strawberries and cottage cheese.

Have a lovely night.

Tomorrow (Wednesday 5/7) we will be taking Group A to Prairie Winds Farm: Finn, Elizabeth, Marta, Max, Elliott, Sophia, Sloane, Ellie, Owen and Aislinn. We will be pulling out of our parking lot no later than 9:45am. Please make sure your Wee Friend wear appropriate shoes that can get muddy! Also-layered clothing!

On Friday, this same Group A (older Wee Friends) have been invited to watch Elizabeth perform in the Children’s Dance Workshop performance of Alice in Wonderland at O’Laughlin Auditorium on St. Mary’s Campus. The performance begins at 10:15am. If you give your Wee Friend permission to attend, please sign the group permission slip posted above the cubbies in front. We will be leaving Wee Friends no later than 9:45 Friday morning. Parents are more than welcome to attend the performance! We have room to transport Wee Friends, but if you prefer to transport your child and meet us there, just let us know!

Wee Sprouts: Green peppers. Breakfast: Bagels with cream cheese and peaches. Lunch: Hummus on whole wheat flat bread, spinach salad with French Yogurt dressing and mixed fruit (bananas, grapes and blueberries). Snack: Cottage cheese and strawberries.

Good Afternoon!

Hope everyone had a splendid weekend.

To start off our Monday morning, a ‘new’ toy was brought up from the basement. All of our friends loved taking turns on our new lion friend. It is an awesome new balance toy for our one year olds!

As we headed outside, friends travelled toward the back of the yard. We started smelling wonderful things! Eren figured out that it was the flower bush that was letting off these lovely smells.

Saskia and Nora camped out in the sandbox where they built towers with different pieces of wood. They also used shovels and sand buckets to carry the sand. Their imagination ran wild!

Lucy, Tate, and Maya worked with the blue tubes. They tilt them back and forth while the materials moved within the tube. Our eyes were very focused of where the items were going. Some of the tubes are silent while some make noise.

For breakfast, children had kix and raisins. Lunch consisted of pasta with marinara sauce, banana, and corn. PM snack was cheddar cheese slices and pretzels.

Hope everyone has a great night.

We are planning a farm trip of Wednesday!

 

This morning, the gymnasts worked on eye-hand coordination. They tossed balls individually, together and through hoops.

Inside, we drew a crayon garden while listening to sweet, happy music. Friends sketched fast and frantically. Then, we used black crayon and drew over the happy garden. We switched the music to a dark, rainy track and slowed our stroked down. Then we took the top of a spoon and pressed as hard as we could to rediscover our garden of color. Some friends carved out letters.

 

Hope you’ve carved out some spring today! – Laurie

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Cheerios and bananas. Lunch: Whole wheat pasta with marinara, corn and oranges. Snack: Havarti cheese and crackers.