The little holes in plastic eggs scream drip process art and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). Process art and science experiences such as this provides an opportunity for the children to explore the process of experimenting and exploring. The child is using creative and critical thinking skills much like scientists, mathematicians, engineers and artist when they attempt to find new and innovative solutions to create art. To set this STEAM invitation you will need plastic eggs, paint cups, tempera paint #gifted, water, spoons, and butcher paper . Pick out the colors of paint you would like, place then in the paint cup, add white if you want to make them pastel like, and a splash of water to dilute the paint. After all the mixing, have the child scoop with a spoon or pour the paint into the egg shells and have them drip paint all around the butcher paper. Process art has a beautiful way of transforming objects, materials, and techniques. While the child refills the eggs many times with the paint, create new techniques, and explore the dripping paint they are also experimented with mixing paint colors, lifting the egg high and low off the paper, and observing the viscosity of the liquid. Children who feel able to experiment and to make mistakes feel free to invent new ways of thinking, which extends well beyond the art. This open-ended plastic egg art activity also makes for a paint tsunami masterpiece.

Another way to honor #WomensHistoryMonth is through a Small World Sensory Bin. This small world is recreating the book Kamala and Maya's Big Idea written by Meena Harris and illustrated by Ana Ramírez González. The author Meena Harris is a lawyer, producer, and founder of Phoneomenal Woman Action Campaign. She also happens to be the daughter of lawyer & policy expert Maya Harris and niece to Kamala Harris, Vice President, which the story is based on. The illustrator Ana Ramírez González, was a dvelopment artist on Pixar's Oscar-winning film Coco. So naturally this sensory bin is set out to honor all these four women. This story is inspired by the childhood of both Maya and Kamala. Even at a young age the sisters set out to make a change for their community. Not only does this book inspire children that through their imagination they can accomplish anything, it also instills them to become leaders in making a change when working with one another. In this sensory bin is dyed rice with Colorations Liquid Water Colors , #gifted Metal Pails , Kinetic Sand , Wood Bits , Recycled Materials, Hand Painted Fruits + Veggies on Stones, Foraged Flowers, Gardening Tools, and Figurines . Small world play accompanied with sensory materials a great for extending literacy, language, imaginary play, and tactile play. Through play they can reenact what they see in stories and feel even more empowered to have the ability to do phenomenal things just like Kamala and Maya.

As soon as I saw these scented egg bath bombs I had to set up a science invitation to explore chemical reactions. To set this invitation you will need egg shaped bath bombs, vinegar, liquid water colors, pipettes and a tray. To make ten color explosions a pastel like color you first add white liquid water color, couple drops of colored liquid water color, and vinegar. Next invite the child to squirt the vinegar mixture onto the eggs to experience seeing and creating a chemical reactions. This gives the opportunity to explore their environments as they learn about cause and effect, cycles of nature, the ability to make comparisons, chemical and physical reactions and exposure to the properties of matter. Through these types of invitations children build a foundation for future scientific learning. As curiosity builds through science experiments, children learn to be patient with projects that take time and how to make decisions based on the data that they gather. Developing this ability to understand the likeness and differences between things builds a science base as well as a skill for future math and reading skills.

#WomensHistoryMonth is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. While there are so many ways to celebrate and honor women, reading books and integrating them with an invitation is truly a powerful way to connect the two. It is so amazing to see so many stories of women who have made their mark come into the hands of teachers, children, and families. Before setting out an invitation you can read books focusing on women and then set the invitation to create. This invitation to create is a creative way to honor just some of the influential women. You can take frames like Colorations® Wooden Standing Frames #gifted, print out images of women from the books, and a tinker tray filled with loose parts to decorate the frames with. The loose parts in the tinker tray are pom poms , dot stickers, sequins , wood cubes , collage squares, and buttons . Freely let the child glue and create these loose pasts to adorn the frames. This whole month Developing Minds and I have been showcasing how to integrate literacy and invitations every Monday, we hope that you are inspired to continue to extend literacy experiences creatively whether it’s through art, loose parts, play dough, small world play, or whatever it may be!

To continue learning about National Disabilities Awareness Month, Stevie Wonder is a great musician to explore. His amazing story of being blind shortly after his birth, becoming a child prodigy known as Little Stevie Wonder, and becoming one of the most influential musicians that ever existed. Stevie Wonder was also named the Messenger of Peace by the United Nations which helped improve the lives people with disabilities. To explore more about Stevie Wonder reading the book Little People, Big Dreams: Stevie Wonder is a great way to learn about his story. Followed by integrating the experience through trusting your creativity process art. This invitation is set with cutting cardboard in the shape of piano keys, drawing white lines at the natural keys, and black washi tape as the flat keys. Provide tempera paint and a paint brush . You can provide the child with sunglasses, scarf, or blindfold. Whatever they feel comfortable using. Next you invite the child to paint blindfolded or wearing the sunglasses to explore their senses through their body in order to enhance trusting their creativity. You can also play Stevie Wonder music as you let the child paint. We rely very much on our sight to move around and see things every day. Our eyes are very complex in how they work. This experience puts things into perspective of how it is to paint without using our sense of sight. Which will provide understanding for those who are blind. This process also lets them freely discover the whole process in order to instill more confidence in their ability to create while heightening their senses. "We all have the ability. The difference is how we use it." Stevie Wonder.

March is National Disabilities Awareness Month which highlights the many ways in which people with or without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities. Providing children the foundation of understanding, encouragement, and opportunities to be knowledgeable of persons with disabilities from a young age creates awareness about inclusion. To provide a meaningful and mindful way to teach children about people in all facets of a life reading the stories All Are Welcome and You are Enough are amazing books that include an array of people in our communities. Stories such as these provoke discussion of awareness and can be the greatest tool to understanding one another. They can also help children cope, connect with characters are same or different, and learn to be more inclusive. This invitation to build an inclusive community is a great way to extend the literacy connection. To set this invitation you will need blocks , inclusive figurines , and ramps . Through builiding a community that is accesible for all it will help children understand and appreciate diifferent abilities while becoming more mindful as they create an environment ofr their community.

Went off the radar for a couple days to celebrate our three year anniversary in our happy place Big Sur ! Since I was in grad school when we got married at City Hall in San Francisco we decided to do our mini moon in Big Sur. The last time we went was when I was 5 months pregnant in my second year of grad school. Last year we didn’t maintain our tradition due to COVID, and this year since we are both fully vaccinated we decided to take go as a family. It was such a special little getaway. We haven’t been anywhere due to the pandemic. The cabins we stayed at Glen Oaks Big Sur , made us feel extra safe and secluded. We were able to cook and prepare everything in our kitchen and have picnics right by the river. We walked redwood filled trails and made it to the breathtaking panoramic views of the ocean. Being able to continue our anniversary tradition finally with our little guy was extremely special and a memory we will never forget or take for granted.

This whole month Developing Minds and I have been showcasing how to integrate Literacy Invitations through play. This invitation to paint integrates a the story through process art. We have one more Monday this month, so join in on the fun by choosing a story and a creative way to make the story come to life through invitations. This invitation is connected to the story My Grandma and M e, by Mina Javaherbin (Author), Lindsey Yankey (Illustrator). In the true story about an Iranian grandma and her granddaughter celebrates the moments of love, humanity, friendship, and family that create life long memories. This story reminded me so much of my relationship that I have been lucky enough to have of my own Mamani. The beautiful images resonate so much with my childhood that it filled my heart to read this with my son. To extend this literacy experience I cut out recycled cardboard into different sized rectangles, drew outlines of Iranian quilt prints similar to that of the story, and Colorations Tempera paint . Simply invite the child to paint the textiles to recreate the beautiful quilts through process art. Integrating art to deepen the connection with the literacy experience is a great way to continue to the discussion of the book as well as giving the child the freedom to be creative. Creativity is as important as literacy so when the two come together it grows their imagination on a canvas. #everychildisanartist #literacymatters

DEEPLY ENGAGE YOUR TODDLER with this FREE 5 day event! After a stretching year of social distancing and having so many of our support structures as parents taken away, I am more convinced than ever that it is the small, sometimes messy moments of play that are most meaningful for child development in the early years. But I know that giving our kids the gift of play doesn’t always come easy. From toy clutter, big emotions and always wanting to be played with it can be hard to see the value in it. As well as get that peace of mind that you as the parent are truly setting your kiddo up for success in life and doing enough in these little years of explosive brain development. That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about the TODDLER PLAY CONFERENCE . It is a FREE 5-day event happening for the second year in a row. The conference will run from Thursday, April 22 through Monday, April 26. It is entirely online ( sweatpants are welcome ) and you have a full 24 hours to listen to each day’s interviews. Each day will be packed with amazing speakers equipping you with practical tools for creating a home that invites play. We have a fun Facebook group which will be there to help put action to all you are learning as well as get in on daily giveaways . You can attend the conference absolutely free, but you can choose to grab the VIP Ticket at any time. The VIP Ticket gives you instant ( yip, like from today ) access to every part of the conference, additional exclusive content from every speaker, a workbook, a coupon code bundle from our vendors worth 100’s of $’s as well as the ability to listen through your choice podcasting app . The VIP Ticket is currently offered for a hugely discounted price which will go up when the conference begins, so start thinking about it. Are you excited?! (I sure am!) Head over to the HERE to learn more and GRAB YOUR FREE TICKET. More information will be sent straight to your inbox afterwards. I can’t wait to see you there as I will be interviewed about what loose parts are, how loose parts inspire creative play, using books as a point of reference for play, and demonstrations of some spring inspired play invitations. GET YOUR FREE TICKET

These two sensory bins in this table represent some of the #Nowruz food traditions, along with staples in the Persian culture. The first sensory bin is some of the Nowruz traditions. During Nowruz, you eat specific foods to welcome the new year. Kuku sabzi, a Persian herb fritatta-like dish that is made of parsley, dill, cilantro, turmeric, and eggs. It is typically served with mahst (yogurt). The main dish is sabsi polo mahi (herb rice with fish). The fish is served marinated with turmeric, saffron, garlic, and served with sour oranges. The second sensory bin is filled with the most popular dish Chelo Kabob, which is considered the "national" dish of Iran. This dish consists of steamed rice with saffron, one of the many varieties of Iranian kabob, grilled tomatoes, and a platter of raw sabzi (raw herbs). Sometimes instead of rice a kabob is eaten with barbari bread, which is a flat bread topped with sesame or black caraway seeds. These sensory bins let the children get a glimpse of celebrating Persian New Year while gaining a range of sensory experiences, exposure to other foods through different cultures, developing communication skills through role play, and the chance to learn through play. Many of our favorite memories are associated with one or more of our senses, especially with food. That is why children learn best and retain more information/skills when they engage in sensory play.

This invitation is not only a great way to learn about how plants grow through science, it also is great way to bring the tradition for the Haftsin during Nowruz into your home or classroom . In harmony with the rebirth of nature, one of the authentic items of the Haftsin is Sabzeh. Which is sprouts growing symbolizing the fertility of the land in spring and rebirth of nature. There are so many ways to grow sprouts and Little Persian Hands-On Haft Sin came with a Sabzeh Kit is included in each set containing wheat grass seeds, directions for growing and a check sheet to help your little ones keep track of caring for their seeds until they are ready to display. Another way I have done is by placing seeds with water beads . The water beads absorb water and release it to the plant’s roots gradually. With water beads the children are able to see everything that’s going on from root to tip. When children do an invitation such as this it lets children explore the life cycle of a plant. Responsibility – from caring for plants. Understanding – as they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water). Self-confidence – from achieving their goals and enjoying the plant they have grown. Love of nature – a chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place. Reasoning and discovery – learning about the science of plants, animals, weather, the environment, nutrition and simple construction. Cooperation – including shared play activity and teamwork. Creativity – finding new and exciting ways to grow a plant.

Persian carpets are one of the most well known parts of our culture. The artistic patterns are not just a wonder themselves, they each have symbolic meanings and patterns. Dating back to Fifth Century B.C. the symbolism in the rugs is passed down from generation to generation, and have become one of the most treasured possessions that tell the story of our culture Bahar, the Lucky written by Rashin Kheiriyeh is a great story to introduce Persian rugs. In the story Bahar is determined to help her family selling rugs at the local bazaar. The beautiful imagery of how a rug is created with breath taking illustrations by the author is such a special way to showcase the detail and culture in rug making. To set this invitation you can use rectangular felt shapes as the base, provide loose parts in a PlayTray , and simply invite the child to create their own version of a Persian rug. Inside the tray are acrylic rocks , wood shapes , fringe, rhinestone gems , mosaic tiles , and wood cubes . Culture is a strong part of people's lives. Even exploring something like a rug brings culture to a child's world. Exposing children to cultural diversity is important because our world consists of various cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. When different cultures are introduced to children at a young age, they gain a level of understanding and perspective of others, which is needed in order to build relationships, facilitate collaboration, and encourage cooperation and respect in the future.