#Exploratory Play

🗣️Tell me your favorite activities for modeling AAC without expectation! 🚦 “Stop” and “Go” have never been so fun to model through play! I’m using the Touch Chat AAC app to model language without any pressure or expectation—just showing words in action during a playful moment. No demands. No testing. Just connection and exposure. This kind of toy is perfect for the exploratory stage, where young children love pushing, pulling, dumping, stacking, and figuring out how things work. It’s such a beautiful phase of curiosity and discovery. Modeling AAC during play helps make communication meaningful and real. Even if a child isn’t using the device yet, they’re soaking it all in every time we model. What are your go to activities that kids love? 💌 Be sure to share this reel with your SPED teacher besties! 👉🏼 Follow @autismlittlelearners for more tips and ideas. 💾 Save this post so you can come back to this idea later! #slpsofig #slpeeps #preschoolslp #preschoolsped #preschoolautism #autismteacher #autismclassroom #schoolbasedot #schoolbasedslp #preschoolteachers #spedsquad #speducator #spedtribe #autismmom #autismfamily #autismlittlelearners #AACModeling #NoPressureJustExposure #AutismLittleLearners #ExploratoryPlay #PreschoolSLP #NeurodiversityAffirming #CoreWords #PreschoolPlay #EarlyChildhoodEducation #TouchChat

Most people see mess. I see learning. This is: – sensory input – coordination – confidence Not structured. Not controlled. But deeply important. This is how children actually learn. Save this as a reminder 🤍 #playbasedlearning #sensoryplay #earlychildhoodeducation #learningthroughplay #childdevelopment

An invitation to play can be a great way to spark a child’s interest and get them engaged in play! An invitation to play should be: 1️⃣ Simple 2️⃣ Take less than 3 minutes to set up 3️⃣ Self-directed activity in a YES space Avoid overly complicated setups or activities that must be done in a certain way. You want to leave room for the child to be creative and direct their own play! I love to leave out an invitation to play for kids to stumble upon and allow them to engage with it however they would like. #invitationtoplay #playprompts #playprovocation #playideas #selfdirectedplay #unstructuredplay #independentplay #activitiesfortoddlers #activitiesforkids

In many classrooms, experiences are planned as activities. Activities usually come with instructions. The teacher knows the steps, and often what the final result will look like. A provocation is different. A provocation is an invitation to explore. It might be a collection of materials, an interesting object, or a setup that sparks curiosity. There are no directions and no expected outcome. Instead of telling children what to do, the teacher observes, listens, and follows the ideas that emerge. When you look around your space, do you see mostly activities or invitations to explore? Images used for educational discussion and inspiration. #reggioinspired #earlychildhoodeducation #childdevelopment #learningthroughplay #ChildLedLearning

Nature-inspired sensory exploration 🌸 Little hands exploring textures, materials, and the small magic found in nature. Unhurried play, curious minds, and space to simply be. A few sweet snippets from our Little Wild Ones sessions so far this year 🤍 We gather every Thursday at the Knob Reserve. ✨ This coming week (19th): Bees & Blossoms 🐝🍯🌸 Link in bio to book #LittleWildOnesPlay #NatureInspiredPlay #SensoryPlay #WhimsicalPlay #ChildLedPlay

Olivia was interested in her beam this morning, so we focused the activities around that! • • • • #family #montessori #montessoritoddler #learn #learning #learnthroughplay #play #activities #activitiesfortoddlers #playtime #playbasedlearning #preschool #preschoollearning #handsonlearning #diy #toddleractivities #toddler #homelearning #crafts

Little hands, big discoveries 🌿💧 #SensoryPlay #LearningThroughPlay #FineMotorSkills #LittleHandsBigLearning #EarlyYearsEducation

Open ended toys #openendedtoys#openendedplay#openendedmaterials#openendedlearning#preschool#preschoolathome#homeschool#earlylearning

The Magic of Play✨ When I set out a provocation sometimes it sparks an interest, and sometimes it doesn’t. Well, today, the spark was definitely ignited and the magic of learning through play and loose parts took over! One thing I will say about this particular corner of our classroom- it’s where all things nature live and loose parts are open to grab and play with freely. It’s also the place where imaginations come to life, children play cooperatively, and rarely is a teacher needed. Just goes to show the beauty of child led learning and the power of play✨ • • • • • #playprovication #invitationtoplay #looseparts #loosepartsplay #childledlearning #followtheirlead #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #preschoolclassroom #prek #preschool #earlychildhoodeducation #playislearning #imaginativeplay #preschoolactivities #preschoolplay #earlyyears #earlyyearsideas #earlylearning #letthemplay #makeamess #reggioinspired #reggioinspiredteachers #naturelooseparts #playwithnature #sticksandstones #gems #prekclassroom #preschoolteachersofinstagram #prekteachers

Unit of inquiry play based provocations, as requested😘 I hope it helps you to have a little insight into how I approach other areas of learning within our kindergarten classroom, beyond literacy & numeracy. As today marks the start of NAIDOC week here in Australia I thought it best to share this now. We recognised NAIDOC week early as my students are now on holidays. I had been sharing stories written by our indigenous Australians in the weeks leading up to this classroom experience as part of our unit of inquiry. We also watched these stories being shown in other ways, via the wonder of technology, from dance to stop motion to stories being dramatised (painting and more). Questions welcome😊 ~Jen x #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #wherelearningmeetsplay #kindergarten #classroom #teachergram #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #finemotorskills

✨ New learning games are now available in my shop! All the activities you see in my videos can be found through the link in my profile. Take a look — I regularly add new ideas for fun and educational play with kids 💛🧩 💡 When you support my project, you’re choosing thoughtfully designed learning games, not mass-produced toys. Each activity is created with care and attention to help children learn through play 🌿 #elzasbooks #toddleractivities #learningthroughplay #printableactivities #busybook cutandplay kidsactivities

WHERE DO I START OUR OPEN-ENDED PLAY JOURNEY / COLLECTION?? 🌈🌈🌈 . . This is THE most asked question I get on here, so I thought I’d make a series and talk a bit about open ended toys and how and where to start. No way I could fit this into just one post 😂😂😂 . I divided my series into several parts: OPEN ENDED PLAY 🌈 - blocks and tiles - small world play - imaginative play - loose parts play - sensory play - active movement toys for kids - outdoor toys . I will talk about specific products, give brand recommendations and name our most played with and favourite toys. . Open ended toys are so amazing for kids and their development but I know that the selection is endless and so many people feel overwhelmed by the thousands of products. I really hope this can help a bit and be a little guidance for people who would like to start their collection or have started and are ready to continue their journey. . . Please tell me, how you like the idea and what you want me to definitely include. . . . . . . . . . . . . . @grimmswoodentoys @connetix_tiles @joguines_grapat @olliella @estia.toys @lubulona @avdar.toys @bumbutoys.ro @stapelstein.original @myfunzy @emimis.cz @krokokinder @billesandco @livipur_kinder_spiel_versand @waytoplaytoys @ostheimerwoodentoys @sarahssilks #openendedplay #openendedtoys #playideas #playroom #playroomideas #grimmswoodentoys #ostheimer #lubulona #avdartoys #sarahssilks #playsofa #stapelsteine #grapat #dinkumdolls #playsilks #creativeplay #connetixtiles #magnetictiles #playstand #spielständer #freiesspiel #besttoysforkids #woodentoys #bestespielzeug #holzspielzeug