The Director’s Blog by Ann Gadzikowski includes tips on how to support your child’s cognitive, social and emotional growth as well as information on play-based learning and emergent curriculum.
Families Together Director Ann Gadzikowski is an award-winning author and educator with a passion for challenging children to think creatively and critically. A graduate of the Erikson Institute, Ann has many years of experience as a teacher and director of early childhood programs and her work with children embraces both the arts and the sciences. Ann’s credentials in music and literature informed her role as executive director of Preschool of the Arts, a Reggio-Emilia inspired school in Madison, Wisconsin. Ann developed expertise in robotics, computer science, and engineering through her role as early childhood coordinator for Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development. She served as a curriculum director and executive editor for Encyclopedia Britannica and is a frequent speaker at events in addition to teaching early childhood education courses at Oakton College.
Block Party (Indoor Block Play) Event – Saturday, April 13, 2024 – 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Posted 3/19/2024
Blocks are just blocks, right? They’re random pieces of wood for stacking and building. Wrong! The wooden blocks we use for construction play at Families Together are a special type of learning material called “unit blocks.” The unit, or basic brick, is 5.5 inches long, 2.75 inches wide, and 1.375 inches thick. There is a beautiful mathematical relationship built into these dimensions, a 4:2:1 ratio. And all the other blocks in a unit block set are created in proportion to the unit – half units, double units, and more. The shapes are all part of a system that is carefully calculated to teach children mathematical concepts of shape, relative size, proportion, and fractions.
This means that when your child plays with blocks at Families Together, they’re not only building castles, towers, and train stations, they are also building a foundation of mathematical thinking and spatial reasoning that will last a lifetime.
We are hosting a Block Party (Indoor Block Play) Event featuring construction play on Saturday, April 13 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. We’ll play with a variety of block sets and other construction materials. I authored the book “Young Architects at Play,” and will share information with parents about the benefits of block play, especially during the pre-kindergarten years. Bring your young architect (age 2 to 4) for a fun play session and learn more about our programs at Families Together Cooperative Nursery School.
Listen to the podcast where I discuss architecture education for children with Antonio Capelao, co-founding director at Architecture for Kids.
RSVP at admissions@ftcns.org.
STEM Lab Event – Saturday, March 9, 2024 – 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Posted 2/28/2024
Visit Families Together and experience the joy of play! In our STEM workshop your child (age 2 to 4) will be invited to take on the role of scientist as they experiment with a wide range of STEM activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
Marine Biologist – Play with water, shells, and fish in our sensory table.
Meteorologist – Experiment with wind and air current using fans and feathers.
Veterinarian – Care for pets using toy doctor props.
Engineer – Construct houses and towers using magnetic tiles.
Botanist – Observe plant parts using magnifying glasses and a microscope.
Physicist – Experiment with cause and effect using balls and wheeled vehicles.
Computer Programmer – Program a robot to travel.
RSVP at admissions@ftcns.org.
Research on the Importance of Play
Posted 1/25/2024
Play builds brains. Here are some links to the research I shared at our January Parent Meeting.
LEGO Foundation: Explore the Research
Tennessee Pre-K Study
“Data through sixth grade from state education records showed that the children randomly assigned to attend pre-K had lower state achievement test scores in third through sixth grades than control children, with the strongest negative effects in sixth grade.”
An interview with one of the Tennessee Pre-K Study researchers
“I think children are not learning internal control. And if anything, they’re learning sort of an almost allergic reaction to the amount of external control that they’re having, that they’re having to experience in school.”
A more recent update on Pre-K (preschool) research from EdWeek
“We have evidence that children are receiving increased academics in the early grades, maybe receiving similar instruction in kindergarten, maybe being part of a classroom where there’s lots of large-group time that could be developmentally inappropriate—[that could] result in disengagement or boredom.”
Climate Explorers Enrichment Class
Posted 1/19/2024
Yesterday was the first day of Climate Explorers, our new enrichment class. For our first class we explored different kinds of weather phenomenon including rain, snow, wind, and tornados. One of the most exciting experiments involved simulated wind (an electric fan) and light objects like streamers and feathers. We made predictions about what would happen and we tested our ideas. We also learned to use a digital microscope to observe things that are very small. The teachers and I made notes about the ideas and questions that captured the children’s attention and we will tailor the upcoming curriculum to their interests.
It’s not too late to join Climate Explorers on Thursday afternoons! There are openings in our 1:30 class and a few limited spaces in our 3:30 class. Climate Explorers Application – Winter 2024
Too Many Toys?
Posted 12/28/2023
‘Tis the season for clutter, especially when it comes to toys. If your child receives toys as holiday gifts, it might be time to clear out the old toys and make room for the new.
Storage space is one issue, but did you know that children actually benefit from playing with fewer toys? Researchers have found that when children have limited toy options, they engage in longer periods of play, they are more focused, and they play more creatively. This means that getting rid of old toys will benefit your home décor as well as your child’s wellbeing.
Here are a few pointers to help you get started:
1. Look for duplicates. Your child probably doesn’t need multiple copies of the same game or puzzle.
2. Look for toys your child has outgrown. If your child hasn’t touched a certain toy for several months, that’s probably a sign that their interests and abilities have moved on.
3. Look for toys that are broken, worn, or missing pieces. Teaching children to clean and repair their own toys is a valuable lesson, but if toys are beyond an easy repair, it’s time to let them go.
Some children may have a hard time parting with their old toys. It can be helpful to give children choices about which items will be given away. For example, show your child a group of old toys and say, “Here are some toys you haven’t played with for a long time. Let’s pick three toys to give away. Which three should we pick?”
It’s also helpful to establish a family rule such as “one toy in, one toy out” that allows children to anticipate the need to curate their toy collection. While most children experience a lot of excitement for new toys, as children grow older they can begin to understand that caring for our planet (and for each other) sometimes means buying and owning fewer things.
What Can Kids Do to Take Care of Our Planet?
Posted 12/14/2023
What does the COP28 Climate Summit have to do with FTCNS? This international conference just took place in Dubai and led to a landmark agreement on reducing dependence on fossil fuels. But how does that work relate to fort building, snack time, and other FTCNS activities?
Raising resilient, creative, and caring humans starts in early childhood, of course. While it’s easy to become discouraged about the negative effects of climate change on our planet, I am inspired and optimistic every time I watch our FTCNS children building, inventing, collaborating, and caring for each other through play.
Nurturing children’s creative problem-solving skills will be the focus of Climate Explorers, the unique enrichment class we are piloting this winter on Thursday afternoons. Each week we’ll offer creative play activities that teach concepts related to weather, water, and caring for our Earth. These classes are open to both current FTCNS families and alumni, as well as the broader community, so please help spread the word!
In November, when I presented a session at the NAEYC annual conference titled “Young Children and Climate Change,” I talked about FTCNS and the importance of play in developing the skills, dispositions, and knowledge that children will need to thrive in a world impacted by climate change. Our Climate Explorers class is just one way we support children’s healthy development through play at Families Together.
How to Talk to Children about Thanksgiving
Posted 11/15/2023
We don’t teach the traditional Thanksgiving story in our school. And yet our children are probably still exposed to commercial and media images of pilgrims in buckled hats and Indians in feathered headdresses. Parents often wonder – How do we explain to our children that many images and stories about indigenous people in the U.S. are based on stereotypes and misinformation?
I’m often surprised by how well preschool children are able to understand and use the word “indigenous.” We can explain that indigenous people were the first people to live on this land. Today, some indigenous people (relatives of the first people) still live here in the Chicago area.
Sometimes indigenous people are called Native Americans or Indians. Some indigenous people prefer to be called by the name of their group, like Potawatomi or Chippewa. We know that at Families Together, each person gets to decide what they want to be called. If you know or meet someone who is indigenous, ask them what words they would like you to use.
Regarding the story of the first Thanksgiving, we can explain to children that there is an old story about travelers called pilgrims who came to the land that is now the United States. The story tells us that indigenous people who were already on the land shared their food with the pilgrims. That special meal was called Thanksgiving because everyone was thankful for the food and for each other. We don’t know if that story is true, but we do know that it’s good to share with others. We might ask children to think about times they shared something with others and when others shared with them. How did that feel?
This Thanksgiving I’ll be especially grateful for this FTCNS community. Thank you for the care and support you offer to our staff and to each other every day.
Climate Change & Young Children
Posted 11/7/2023
Next week I’ll be attending the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in Nashville, TN. This is the largest and most prominent professional conference for those of us working in the field of early childhood education. It’s kind of a big deal! I will be attending many sessions on play-based learning, diversity and inclusion, community outreach, and other topics related to our work at Families Together.
I’ll also be presenting a session titled “Climate Change and Young Children: The Importance of Play.” In my session I’ll advocate for empowering children to become resilient problem-solvers through a variety of rich play experiences. And I’ll present a framework educators can use to prioritize play that:
- Nurtures joy in the natural world
- Builds problem-solving skills
- Introduces content knowledge
- Models and supports empathy and care
If climate change, protecting our Earth, building resilience, and fostering empathy are topics of importance for you and your family, it may interest you to know that we are developing a STEM enrichment class at FTCNS that addresses these specific issues. We’ll soon be announcing a pilot program called “Climate Explorers” that we will launch this winter. Look for more information soon!
Warmly,
Ann
Young Children as Creative Planners and Active Citizens
Posted 10/19/2023
This week our Families Together afternoon classes enjoyed a visit from Sean Shaffer and Bob Bryant, Chicago Park District nature play specialists. Sean and Bob explained to the children our process for creating a nature play space in Senn Park and they invited the children to brainstorm and share ideas for park features. The children drew maps and built constructions with sticks, logs, string, and other materials. Some of the ideas included a super fast zip line and a unicorn treehouse!
At FTCNS, we often involve children in making decisions, so this process probably seems pretty normal and natural around here. But I can tell you that, sadly, giving children a voice in important decisions is a rare thing in our world today. The radical idea that children should have a say in shaping their own environments is not something most schools and governments take the time to embrace or even consider.
One important role model in lifting the voices of children as creative urban planners is Mara Mintzer, a city planner in Colorado and program director of Growing Up Boulder. (I highly recommend Mara’s popular TED Talk “How Kids Can Help Design Cities.”) A few years ago I was lucky to interview Mara for an episode of the podcast Raising Curious Learners. She has ideas for including even young toddlers in shaping the plans for parks and urban areas in downtown Boulder, Colorado. I think our nature play design process here in our FTCNS community is very much aligned with the creative approaches used by leaders like Mara.
We hope your family can join us for a design session in Senn Park on Saturday, October 21 between 2:00-5:00 pm while Sean and Bob facilitate brainstorming with open-ended materials as we continue our creative process in shaping the future of our park!
The Importance of Snack and Meal Time for Preschoolers
Posted 10/6/2023
Consider this question – What part of the preschool day is most important? Some might answer story time, when children make connections between print and language. Others might suggest play time, when children cooperate with friends and form social bonds.
All the parts of the school day provide opportunities for learning, but lately I’ve been noticing how much exciting learning happens at snack time and lunch time. The learning doesn’t stop during meals. In fact, some of the most important moments in your child’s growth and development happen during snacks and lunch.
At meals, children build executive function skills such as following routines. Before the meal, children must wash their hands and come to the table. After the meal, children must put their food items away and clean up their spot. These are no small feats, especially for our youngest Families Together students.
Then there’s the food itself – children are learning new vocabulary related to the multi-sensory experience of eating. They are learning the meaning of words like “salty,” “sweet,” and “crispy” through direct experience. And speaking of language, some of the most complex conversations at school happen during meals as children reflect on their experiences and debate important issues (such as what to wear for Halloween or which songs from Frozen are best for dancing).
We may tend to think of meals as a break from learning but they are, in fact, among the most important parts of the day!
Prepare for Back-to-School Separation Anxiety
Posted 8/31/2023
It’s normal for young children to feel worried or sad when they say good-bye to their families and go to school. Parents may have separation feelings too! Here are a few pointers that might help.
Talk about feelings. Help your child name their feelings. If your child cries when it’s time to say goodbye, say, “It’s okay to feel sad or worried about going to school.” Later, after your child has a positive experience, remind them that big feelings don’t last forever. “Remember how worried you were? Now you seem really happy and excited. Isn’t it funny how feelings change?”
Establish a predictable school-day routine. Routines help children feel secure and know what to expect. For example, saying goodbye the same way every day helps to ease separation anxiety. (“It’s time to hug and blow three kisses.”)
Read books about separation. Picture books that help children and families talk about separation include Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney. When your child has separation feelings, use the story to reassure your child – “Remember how the owl mother always comes back? I’ll be back, too!”
Let’s Pretend! How Play School Prepares Children for Real School
Posted 8/24/2023
Help your child get ready for back-to-school by playing school at home. Dolls or stuffed animals can serve as students, and your child can pretend to be the teacher!
Practice these important skills:
How to get ready for school in the morning: Invite your child to help their toy get ready for school. Pretend they are waking up, getting dressed, and prepping their backpack and supplies.
How to ride the school bus: It’s time for the toys to catch the school bus! Pretend to drive around the “neighborhood,” pausing at each bus stop to pick up one of the toys. Make sure everyone buckles their seatbelt!
How to make friends: Pretend that one of the dolls or toys is sad and lonely. What can they do to make a friend? Invite your child to help.
How to eat your lunch at school: Pack a pretend or real lunch and invite your child to “play” school lunch. Use this play lunch session to talk over what meals and snacks will be like at school.
Many children are especially delighted when their parents also pretend to be students at school. Your child may enjoy telling you exactly how to follow school rules!
Watch the Director’s Blog by Ann Gadzikowski for more back to school tips.
5 Back-to-School Tips for Families
Posted 8/17/2023
1. Inform yourself about school plans and schedules. Bookmark the school website and read the school handbook. Download and print the school calendar. Collect logins and passwords for school accounts.
2. Visit the school with your child. If your child is starting school or going to a new school, plan a school visit and, ideally, meet your child’s teachers before the first day. Create a document or list of important things the teachers should know about your child. Play on the playground, if possible.
3. Make a family plan and schedule. Plan your family’s school day schedule, including wake up, meals, drop-off, pickup, and bedtime. Make a visual schedule for your child that shows a picture for each part of the day.
4. Establish new routines before the first day of school. Your family’s school day schedule may include an earlier start, less screen time, less playtime, and an earlier bedtime than what your child has enjoyed over the summer. To help your child adjust, gradually move toward the new schedule a few weeks before the first day of school.
5. Commit to regular school involvement. Regular contact with your child’s teacher is critical to your child’s school success. Get involved with school activities as much as your schedule will allow. Plan ahead for parent-teacher conferences and other school events.
Watch the Director’s Blog by Ann Gadzikowski for more back to school tips.