How to "teach" a preschool program / theme based programs...?

[sunnydays]

Thanks Reggio! I am a new provider...only in it one year now and I have felt pressure to do themes, etc, but it just never seemed right for the care that I want to provide. You have said it so perfectly! Kids used to just be kids and play all day often without adults around. My fondest memories are of the hours upon hours I spent either alone or with my brother or friends playing on the beach (we lived on the ocean)...we used kelp to make pretend food or to play doctor and perform surgery or to make a slippery slide to slide on etc. I didn't start school until 6 as there was no kindergarten in the rural area I lived in. Once i started, I learned so fast that I did two grades in one year and jumped ahead...I loved learning! THAT is what I want for my kids and hte kids in my care. I could teach them their ABC's etc right now...my 22 month old knows some letters, but is it meaningful to a toddler or preschooler? Do they actually understand what letters are for or are they just reciting them by memory with no meaning attached? I think the latter. I want them to love books...to love learning...to be creative and think for themselves. They will have many years of being forced to sit and learn in school ( I was bored to tears once we moved from our small community and I was no longer allowed to learn at my own pace...I hated school, not because I was not smart, but because it was boring and meaningless most of the time). Oh, and Reggio, I am glad you mentioned about the crafts. I have many a time been dismayed at the crafts presented at playgroups for the "kids" to do. Most of the time the parents or caregivers have to do all or most of the work and then the kids take it home and present it as theirs. I have told parents that I do not want to have MY artwork and crafts hanging on their fridges, so my crafts are always simple and allow for creativity. If I child wants to colour a sun black instead of yellow or orange, who am I to say no? Today we coloured paper eggs with bingo dabbers...they were supposed to dab on the circles provided, but I certainly did not object when they dabbed all over front and back...they were having so much fun and mixing colours etc. I don't care what the finished product looks like...the point is they did it themselves and enjoyed doing it