UNM Taos Kids Campus

“In the child – and even in the infant – there is, by nature, an inexhaustible and ever increasing interest in the world and in himself.  It is not necessary to ‘entertain’ an infant.  He does not need complicated toys.  For hours, days, and even for months he plays with the most simple of objects which he happens to get hold of.  He plays with these simple objects with the greatest attention, interest and pleasure.”  --From Mary Alice Roche’s summary of Magda Gerber’s Peaceful Babies—Contented Mothers in the Sensory Awareness Foundation’s Bulletin #14

11 November 2013

We see the children using the sensory mobile space as a place for community.  But what is “community” to an infant? In this area we see children’s definition of community as they interact, build relationships, problem solve together and simply enjoy each other’s company.  In their small infant community children are learning from each other to further their own personal learning. 

Two weeks ago, our entire school community did a study of fall, leaves, and the outdoors.  We observed children engaging and interacting with the leaves.  With this study we experienced the joy of “just being:” just being outside, just being with our peers, just being by ourselves.  Children smiled and laughed as they felt the leaves on their hands, the grass between their toes, and the wind on their faces.  We were able to curiously explore our surroundings. 

Recently, we’ve added flowers to the mirror under the sensory mobile.  Children are engaging with the flowers and with the mirror in the following ways…

We have also been exploring sunflowers…

 

Young children are natural explorers.  Every moment is an opportunity for children to see, touch and do new things; it is an opportunity for them to make meaning of the world around them.  Because children are such natural explorers it is important to expose children to the everyday world around them.  Our infants are able to think, draw conclusions, make predictions, look for explanations; our infants are competent, and capable individuals.  Through this type of exploration they are also developing muscle control, language, early math concepts and social interactions.