Learning Through Experience

Subcategories of Learning Through Experience

“My teacher has a worm!”

“My teacher has a worm!”

by Leslie Cooper, teacher Saint Andrew’s School, Boca Raton After 25 years of teaching four- and five-year-olds I anticipate that read more

Plugging in

Plugging in

We made a lot of discoveries on the playground during last weekend’s Seedlings family work day. Lizard eggs, tiny as marbles… ... read more

Sledding, South Florida Style

Sledding, South Florida Style

Kids have been playing with cardboard boxes since the beginning of disposable packaging– and rolling down hills since the invention of ... read more

New Scientific Research Proves: Recess is More Fun!

New Scientific Research Proves: Recess is More Fun!

Keith Richardson is a member of the Sunflower Creative Arts Board of Directors. He is a graduate student at Florida Atlantic University read more

A Place in Nature, Just for Me

A Place in Nature, Just for Me

One of the best things about shifting my life to Evanston, Ilinois, each spring is the fragrance of lilacs that permeates the air. When read more

A family of plastic horses and two 3-year-olds (child-led conflict resolution)

A family of plastic horses and two 3-year-olds (child-led conflict resolution)

There are some days at Seedlings when we get to witness some amazing, completely child-led events. Sometimes it's the fort to beat all ... read more

Remember play?

Remember play?

Whenever I ask a group of adults to share a favorite play experience from their childhood there is a visible shift in their bodies. ... read more

Priming the Pump

Priming the Pump

At Sunflower we have an old metal groundwater pump. The pump is attached to a large bin which, when filled, can spout water when hand ... read more

Balancing Risk and Safety

Balancing Risk and Safety

In my work with children and families, I have been thinking more and more about risk assessment, the importance of risk for healthy ... read more

Where are all the kids?

Where are all the kids?

Sunflower blogger Jaime won 1st place in KaBOOM!’s recent guest blogging contest. Check it out below and on KaBOOM!’s Play Today blog. ... read more

(life is) Risky Business

(life is) Risky Business

On the track at the Palm Beach International Raceway, April 2011: I’m climbing into the passenger seat of an SR3 Radical, next to my ... read more

Experiencing Risk

Experiencing Risk

To seven-year-old Jonathan it was the edge of the world. To everyone else at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex it was just the tall ... read more

Adjusting expectations

Adjusting expectations

One of my challenges as a parent (and a person who resists change) is to recognize and adjust to constantly changing situations. The ... read more

The Possibility of Something Really Important Happening

The Possibility of Something Really Important Happening

It’s always there– A tiny spark, and a space opens up. The idea bubbles, it gains momentum and cracks wide open. read more

Go With the Flow

Go With the Flow

“Being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought ... read more

Slam Dunk

Slam Dunk

posted by Andy Hatcher Overcome by March Madness, I bought a free standing Little Tikes basketball hoop this year for my eleven month ... read more

Seedlings Spaghetti Day 2012!!!

Seedlings Spaghetti Day 2012!!!

Spaghetti Day: it’s an annual end-of-year event in our Seedlings program. It’s oily. It’s gooshy. It’s a ... read more

Discovering “hidden” farms

Discovering “hidden” farms

I sometimes think of South Florida as a vast wasteland of chain stores and  gated communities filled with identical homes. ... read more

Lullabies in the Garden

Lullabies in the Garden

For 20 years my dear families have been asking that I record a tape (back in the day) or CD of music they could keep at home. After all read more

Heart Songs

Heart Songs

Everybody needs a little music in their lives. Some of my most special childhood memories involve the people I love sharing songs with ... read more