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To continue our celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we read  Powwow Day  by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation) and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation). This heartwarming contemporary picture book honors tradition, community, music, and healing—all shared through the voices of Indigenous creators. In the story, Powwow Day has arrived, and River longs to dance as she does every year. But this year is different—she’s recovering from a serious illness and must sit out. Through River’s experience, the book gently explores what it feels like to be on the outside looking in, and how the strength of community can help lift, heal, and reconnect us. It also offers young readers a meaningful introduction to powwows—their history, their purpose, and their importance across Native communities in the United States and Canada. Powwows are gatherings where everyone, both Native and non-Native visitors, is welcomed with respect and intention. Inspired by the story, we invited the children to create a collaborative gathering drum through open-ended process art. On a tinker tray we arranged feathers, pom poms, tissue paper, sticker shapes, craft sticks, washi tape, glue, and cutouts repurposed from our earlier   We Are the Water Protectors   art invitation. The drum structure itself was made from a recycled wooden spool, wrapped with reclaimed cardboard and covered in butcher paper. The children were invited to explore, create, and contribute freely together as a community. Each child added their own touches, layering materials, textures, and colors. Their individual expressions came together to form a single, beautiful collaborative gathering drum—a symbol of shared creativity, community, and the joy of making something meaningful together.

T he beautiful book  We Are Water Protectors  by @carolelindstrom and illustrated by @michaelagoade is the perfect read for #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth. This powerful story highlights Indigenous-led movements to safeguard one of Earth’s most precious resources — water.  After reading, we engaged the children in a thoughtful discussion to deepen their understanding of water’s importance: How do we use water every day?Where does it come from? What can harm or poison it?  How can we protect it and take better care of our planet? These questions inspired meaningful conversations about community, responsibility, and how even small actions can make a big difference for the environment.  To extend the experience, we invited the children to express what they learned through resist art, using @colorations.artoflearning liquid watercolor and salt glue designs & coffee filter cut outs on poster boards from @discountschoolsupply.  Blending art with literacy not only strengthens comprehension but also gives children the freedom to explore their creativity and voice. When creativity and literacy come together — the results are truly beautiful.

As we continue exploring #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth in meaningful, hands-on ways, today’s focus was all about math—using storytelling, culture, & loose parts to bring learning to life. We read   Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi!  written by Art Coulson and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight . This beautiful story weaves together diversity, math, & the power of storytelling. In the book, Bo wants to find the perfect container to display his traditional marbles for the National Cherokee Holiday. He experiments with many different sizes, learning about volume, capacity, & problem-solving along the way. To bring this story to life, we set up an invitation to explore measurement through play! We placed a variety of containers alongside loose parts variety of marbles ( one , two , three ) inviting children to experiment with fitting the materials into each container. Through hands-on exploration, they naturally discovered concepts of volume & capacity just like Bo did in the story.  Measurement learning begins early — often without formal instruction. From stacking blocks & sorting objects to weighing rocks or filling containers, children are constantly exploring comparisons, quantities, & spatial relationships in their everyday play.  By combining storytelling, cultural heritage, & hands-on math experiences, we help children build a strong foundation in mathematics while deepening their appreciation for #Native voices & perspectives. Honoring #Indigenous stories through literacy & play not only celebrates cultural identity but also keeps these powerful narratives alive in the classroom & beyond.

November is #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, a meaningful time to celebrate the diverse histories, traditions, & cultures of Indigenous peoples. Honoring this rich ancestry through stories is a powerful way for children—& all of us—to learn with respect + curiosity. To continue exploring Native American culture, we read the beautiful book  Fry Bread , written by @noblemaillard & illustrated by @juanamartinezn . This story invites readers into themes of family, history, culture, & both old +  new traditions. Fry bread—a flat dough bread meaningful to many Indigenous communities across North America—represents far more than food. It carries memory, connection, & identity. So many of our own cherished moments revolve around gathering for special celebrations, sharing comfort foods, & strengthening our communities. By exploring foods & traditions from cultures around the world, children learn to appreciate, respect, & experience the beauty of diversity. The book shares: Fry bread is food. Warm and delicious, piled high on a plate. Fry bread is time. Bringing families together for meals and memories. Fry bread is nation. Shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond. Fry bread is us. A celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference. After reading, we invited the children to make their own “fry bread” using playdough. Playdough is a staple in early childhood for good reason—it's a hands-on, open-ended material that fuels creativity while building essential skills. As children roll, squish, pinch, & shape the dough, they strengthen the fine motor muscles needed for writing & self-help tasks. Playdough also sparks rich language & literacy opportunities as children describe their creations, act out stories, & follow steps in a recipe. It naturally supports early math & science concepts through measuring, counting, comparing sizes, observing changes in texture, & experimenting with cause & effect. Plus, the sensory experience of manipulating soft, pliable dough helps children regulate emotions, stay engaged, & explore the world through touch. Because children learn deeply through their senses, pairing playdough with a culturally rich story helps them internalize concepts in meaningful ways—building comprehension, empathy, curiosity, & a stronger connection to the world around them.

When it comes to supporting our children’s schools, a little creativity can go a long way & sometimes, it even glows! This year, a team of parents wanted to make our fundraising efforts for my son’s public school not only impactful but also unforgettable. The result? A GLOW Party that lit up the school for a great cause! From neon decorations to glowing games & endless fun, our goal was to create an event that brought everyone together while raising funds for the programs that  In the Multipurpose Room we sectioned out the following areas:  1. Disco GLOW Den:  DJ Rector kept the beats pumping while the disco ball spun & lights danced across the room. Neon beach balls, LED balloons, & hula hoops added an extra pop of color & energy, creating the perfect backdrop for kids to show off their brightest moves on the dance floor.  Items Donated Oriental Trading UFO Lamp Party Light Bright Beach Balls Parents: Table Decorations  LED Hula Hoops  LED Balloons  2. The GLOW Zone:  Completely darkened & lit only by black lights, this glowing wonderland transformed into a dance-meets-discovery space. With neon floor tape, vibrant cups for building, & pops of luminous décor, every child shined—literally! Their glowing clothes, body paint, tattoos, & accessories came alive in a glowing display of color & movement. Items Donated Oriental Trading: Neon Fringe Chandeliers   Neon Stretchy Noodle Balls Parents: LED Black Lights  Neon 16oz Plastic Cups Neon Tape Lets Glow Sign + Fringe  3. GLOW Up Ink & Gear:  Right before entering the GLOW Zone, guests stopped by this station to gear up for the fun ahead! Tables were stocked with glowing accessories, temporary tattoos, & body paint—everything needed for kids to transform into radiant party-goers ready to light up the night. Items Donated Oriental Trading: Glow Bracelet & Necklace Assortment Parents: Tattoos  Body Paint  Light Up Halloween Rings  Finger Lights  LED Bracelets 4.The GLOW Slime Station:  The biggest hit of the event! This sensory-filled table invited kids to mix, stretch, & squish oozing neon slime. Black tablecloths made the colors pop, while neon bowls, cups, plates, potion bottles, gems, & glitter turned this into a mesmerizing hands-on experience. It was messy & magical! Items Donated Oriental Trading: Table Cloth Clips Black Table Cloth Colorful Slime Glow and the Dark Slime Plastic Bowls Plastic Cups Margarita Glasses Parents: Kitchen Shelves  Handy Scoopers  Potion Bottles Neon Gems  5.Color & GLOW:  Art met illumination at this creative corner! With black canvases & neon acrylic markers, kids doodled, designed, & let their imaginations glow. Every stroke and swirl lit up under the black lights, turning simple drawings into radiant works of art. Items Donated Discount School Supply: 8 by 8 Black Canvases Parents: Neon & Bright Acrylic Markers  6. GLOW-gineers:  Our budding builders got to shine as GLOW-gineers! Using glowing pebbles, cylinders, construction blocks, octagon stackers, & linking discs, kids explored creativity & design on the light panel & mood table. This area blended engineering, imagination, & illumination—true STEM fun in action! Items Donated Discount School Supply: Glowing Pebbles Glowing Cylinders Stack & Build Glow Blocks Linking Discs Rainbow Octagon Stackers Large Light Panel Mood Table 7. Bead & GLOW:  This station offered a bright twist on classic jewelry-making. With trays full of neon & glow-in-the-dark beads, kids designed their own accessories to wear proudly around the party. The result? A parade of handmade glowing awesome accessories.  Items Donated Oriental Trading:  Glow and the Dark Pony Beads Discount School Supply: Bead Bundle Fluorescent Fuse Beads Parents: Tinker Trays Tackle Box Scissors Tape A huge thank-you to our wonderful sponsors,  Oriental Trading  &  Discount School Supply , for their generous donations (everything linked in the blog) & to our incredible parent community whose efforts & support made this night glow brighter than ever!

Last month, our Artist of the Month is the legendary Salvador Dalí — the Spanish Surrealist celebrated for his incredible technical skill, boundless imagination, and delightfully bizarre creations. Through stories and hands-on art explorations, the children have been discovering how Dalí transformed ordinary objects into dreamlike masterpieces that challenge us to see the world in new and unexpected ways. We also explored Dalí’s unforgettable personal style and larger-than-life personality. With his signature mustache, daring fashion sense, and theatrical flair, Dalí’s self-expression extended far beyond his paintings — it was woven into every aspect of his life. His fearless individuality and unapologetic creativity made him not only one of the greatest artists of the 20th century but also one of the most unforgettable icons in art history. 1. Invitation to Create: Salvador Dalí Portraits: To celebrate Dalí’s unique style, we invited the children to create their own portraits of the artist. Using printed photographs as inspiration, they were given an outline of Dalí’s face along with glue, pipe cleaners, scissors, markers, and colored pencils — the perfect materials to capture his playful, expressive energy. Each portrait reflected the children’s interpretation of Dalí’s quirky personality and creative spirit. 2. Lobster Telephone Still Life Painting: Exploring Surrealism: Inspired by Dalí’s famous 1938 work “Lobster Telephone,” the children explored the world of Surrealism through still life painting. We set up a 3D telephone and lobster model alongside images of the original artwork, providing paint, brushes, and paper for the children to reimagine Dalí’s curious pairing. This experience encouraged them to think abstractly and explore how unrelated objects can come together to create something entirely new — just like Dalí did. 3. Invitation to Create: Meditative Rose with Loose Parts: For our final exploration, the children reinterpreted Dalí’s “Meditative Rose” using loose parts as their medium. Presented with the painting and materials that matched its color palette — flat marbles, gems, petals, and a blue tray as the base — the children arranged and designed their own transient art pieces. This open-ended process invited mindfulness, creativity, and reflection, echoing Dalí’s ability to find beauty in simplicity and symbolism. Introducing children to artists like Salvador Dalí broadens their understanding of what art can be. Exposure to diverse styles and creative thinkers encourages curiosity, open-mindedness, and confidence, showing children that art is not limited by rules — it’s about expressing what makes each of us unique. Through these playful, imaginative experiences, the children learned that art isn’t just about what appears on a canvas; it’s about  how we see the world and express who we are . Just like Dalí, they discovered that creativity shines brightest when we dare to dream differently.

Last month, our featured artist was the iconic Salvador Dalí, the Spanish Surrealist celebrated for his extraordinary technical skill, precise draftsmanship, and dreamlike imagery. Through books, discussions, and creative invitations, we’ve been exploring his world, introducing children to the magic and imagination that define surrealism. Today, the children engaged with one of Dalí’s enchanting pieces — “Ship with Butterfly Sails” (1937). This surreal masterpiece beautifully merges the strength and stability of a ship with the delicate beauty of butterflies. Painted during a time of great change and unrest in Spain, it reflects themes of transformation, freedom, and fragility. The ship represents a steady journey, while the butterfly sails symbolize lightness, hope, and the power of change. Together, these elements remind us that art can blend reality with imagination, inviting us — and our young learners — to see ordinary things in extraordinary ways. To bri ng this artwork to life, we invited the children to paint a ship made out of recycled boxes. They painted the ship in rich shades of brown tempera paint, while also creating vibrant butterflies to merge with their creations — blending the real with the fantastical, just as Dalí did. Exposing children to diverse artists and styles expands their understanding of what art can be. When children see that creativity takes many forms — from realism to surrealism — they learn there is no single “right” way to make art. Art experiences like this nurture not only imagination but also vital developmental skills. Through projects inspired by great artists, children learn to: Express themselves creatively — experimenting with colors, shapes, and materialsThink critically — reflecting on their work and the choices they make See the world from new perspectives — finding inspiration in unexpected places Build language and storytelling skills — describing their ideas and creations Art is a cornerstone of early childhood education. Each experience — whether painting a butterfly or imagining a ship made of dreams — gives children the confidence to explore, experiment, and engage with the world in wonderfully creative ways. By introducing children to artists like Dalí, we not only inspire creativity but also teach them that imagination knows no bounds. Every brushstroke, every whimsical idea, and every joyful exploration helps shape young minds capable of seeing the world not just as it is, but as it could be.

This week, we read How to Catch a Monster by Adam Wallace — a fun, heartwarming story about a brave young ninja who decides to face the monster hiding in his closet. What begins as a tale of fear transforms into one of courage and discovery, reminding us all that things aren’t always as scary as they seem. To extend this story beyond the pages, we invited the children to design their very own monsters using play-dough and loose parts. Our tinker trays were filled with an array of creative materials — feathers, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, craft sticks, pom poms, vampire teeth, creepy fingers, and twisty ties — along with Colorations® Neon Dough f or an extra pop of color. As the children rolled, squished, and shaped their play-dough, their imaginations came alive! Each monster told its own story — some silly, some spooky, and all wonderfully unique. Through this process, the children weren’t just creating art; they were building connections to the story, expressing emotions, and exploring new ideas through hands-on play. Play-dough is a staple of early childhood education for good reason. It engages all the senses, strengthens fine motor skills, and supports early language, literacy, math, and science development. When paired with loose parts, it becomes an even more powerful tool — offering endless opportunities for open-ended exploration and creativity. By integrating sensory materials with storytelling, children deepen their comprehension and make personal connections to what they read. Each squish, twist, and imaginative creation becomes a bridge between story and self — turning a simple literacy extension into a rich, multi-sensory learning experience.

Every year, my son’s elementary school puts on the most epic fundraiser — Creepy Hollow. This beloved event transforms the campus into a Halloween wonderland filled with games, a haunted house, a cake walk, bake sale, face painting, inflatables, raffles, and so much more! It’s an incredible community effort that not only raises funds for our public school programs but also creates lasting memories for students and families. This year, I was thrilled to join the planning team alongside an amazing group of parents who pour their hearts into making our fundraising efforts both impactful and unforgettable. My role? Designing the arts and crafts area! I wanted to create a space where children could slow down, get creative, and let their imaginations run wild. Here’s a peek at our Creepy Hollow Creative Stations + Pictures from other areas of the event: 1. Color My Bones: This spooky station featured skeleton body cutouts, Colorations® BioColor® fluorescent and metallic paints , silicone paint cups , and brushes . Children were invited to bring their skeletons to life with bold, glowing colors! 2. Boo-tiful Portraits: At this station, kids designed their own ghoulish portraits using paper frames, ghost cutouts, googly eyes , stickers (flowers, borders, ghosts), washi tape, scrapbook paper, scissors, glue sticks , and tape. Each portrait was as unique (and spooky!) as its maker. Here are the step by step instructions provided: How to Make a Boo-tiful Ghost Portrait Pick Your Perfect Frame  – Choose a frame.  Add a Background  – Slip in a fun sheet of paper as your backdrop.  Place Your Ghosts  – Add your ghost cutouts or ghost stickers right onto the background. Arrange them floating, flying, or even holding hands! Decorate the Details  – Use washi tape,  stickers, or little embellishments to make your portrait truly one-of-a-kind. Show It Off!  – Ta-da! You’ve created a  ghoulishly boo-tiful  masterpiece ready to haunt your walls (in the cutest way possible). 3. Wickedly Wild Coloring: A fan favorite at every event! We featured Friends Art Lab’s Halloween Giant Coloring Poster  — a collaborative masterpiece that let kids (and parents!) color together using a rainbow of markers. 4. Spooktacular Ink: It’s not a Halloween party without tattoos! We set up a station stocked with fun temporary tattoos, spray bottles, and paper towels — easy to apply and always a hit with the kids. Here are the games: Prizes: Creepy Kitchen: Auction: Face Painting: Bounce Houses:

It’s that spooktacular time of year again when we bring out one of our favorite annual traditions a Haunted Mansion made out of cardboard! Set up near our Outdoor Interactive Painting Gallery & Art Studio, this collaborative creation invites our little architects to dive into a world of imagination, creativity, and exploration. One of the most magical things about cardboard and process art is that  anything  can become a canvas. Cardboard’s versatility — with its many sizes, textures, and shapes — makes it a wonderful material for children to experiment with. It encourages open-ended creativity as they paint, design, and build together, transforming simple recycled boxes into something extraordinary. This year, inspired by the children’s excitement for Halloween, we decided to honor their interests by assembling our very own Haunted Mansion. Using recycled boxes, the children painted with vibrant @colorations.artoflearning Tempera Paint and @discountschoolsupply brushes, turning plain cardboard into spooky towers, monster doors, and ghostly windows. Their enthusiasm and engagement were contagious — every brushstroke sparked laughter, storytelling, and collaboration. Through painting and building together, children strengthen so many foundational skills, including:  Fine and gross motor development Hand-eye coordination and control Language and communication as they describe their ideas  Creative thinking and problem-solving  Social-emotional growth through teamwork and shared discovery Most importantly, process art gives children the freedom to experiment, take risks, and express themselves authentically. By transforming everyday materials into something magical, they learn that creativity has no limits — and that imagination truly is their most powerful tool. As we like to say "every child is an artist" — all they need is the space, the materials, and the invitation to create. Here are the other cardboard haunted houses/manisons we have created over the years: one , two , three .

We invited the children to dive into some spooky, squishy fun with a classic sensory favorite — oobleck! Using scoops, baskets , @openplaytoys cones , and measuring cups, the children explored the fascinating world of this gooey mixture by scooping, squeezing, and squishing it through their fingers. What made this experience truly magical was watching their eyes light up as they noticed how oobleck behaves — sometimes like a solid, sometimes like a liquid. When they squeezed it tightly, it felt firm in their hands, but when they relaxed their grip, it slipped and flowed like water. That’s because oobleck isn’t your ordinary substance — it’s a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it doesn’t follow the usual rules of solids and liquids. This hands-on activity not only sparked laughter and curiosity but also offered a playful introduction to scientific concepts like states of matter and suspension. Children who engage in a variety of sensory-rich experiences learn to use and strengthen their senses in new and meaningful ways. The benefits of sensory play in early childhood are profound — it helps build neural connections in the brain, fostering curiosity and a natural drive to take on more complex learning tasks. Beyond the fun, sensory exploration supports: Cognitive growth and problem-solving skills Language development through descriptive play Fine motor coordination and physical development Social interaction and cooperative play Memory and concentration Sensory play and open-ended, hands-on experiences truly are a gift to a child’s developing mind — and some of the most powerful ways to learn in the early years. As the beloved play advocate Bev Boss once said, “If it hasn’t been in the hand and the body… it can’t be in the brain.”

There’s no denying the excitement that comes with Halloween! This season offers the perfect opportunity to build upon children’s natural curiosity—especially when they show a strong interest in something spooktacular like skeletons and bones. When we design invitations that follow their interests, we honor their learning process by allowing them to become active collaborators in their own discoveries. To spark curiosity and deepen understanding, we’ve been reading Give Me Back My Bones! , Skeletons ARE NOT Spooky! , and Spooky, Scary Skeletons —engaging books that bring the world of skeletons to life in fun, age-appropriate ways. For this hands-on exploration, children were invited to investigate skeletons using X-ray images, loose parts, and skeleton figures on our E xcellerations Light Table from Discount School Supply. Integrating tactile materials that children can touch, move, and examine encourages them to categorize, compare, and think critically about what they observe. The light table adds a magical layer of sensory engagement—its soft glow draws children in, focuses their attention, and provides a calming environment for discovery. As they sort, stack, and study the materials, their language skills, scientific thinking, and understanding of anatomy begin to flourish naturally. After all, light has a way of capturing our attention and illuminating new perspectives.