Core Skills Analysis
Emotional Development
- Recognized and expressed feelings of sadness after a separation event, indicating emerging emotional awareness.
- Displayed self-regulation by seeking a calming, exploratory activity (playdough) to manage emotions.
- Communicated non-verbally through gestures (shaking head) and facial expressions to indicate disapproval of tasting the playdough.
- Demonstrated awareness of social cues and boundaries by not repeating the tasting behavior, showing learning from experience.
Sensory and Fine Motor Skills
- Engaged tactile senses by exploring the texture of playdough and manipulating it with sticks.
- Developed fine motor skills through poking small holes into the dough, improving hand-eye coordination.
- Exhibited curiosity about the material by tasting, indicating sensory exploration beyond just touch and sight.
- Displayed experimentation by selecting tools (sticks) and using them deliberately with the playdough.
Tips
To support Miranda’s emotional understanding and sensory development, encourage a variety of sensory play activities using different materials like sand, water, or textured fabrics. Create a safe, predictable routine for moments of separation to build security and help express feelings with words or pictures. Use simple empathy games and storytelling to help Miranda label and understand emotions. Introduce more fine motor tasks that involve pushing, poking, and rolling to strengthen hand muscles and coordination, such as using stamps, finger painting, or threading large beads.
Book Recommendations
- The Feelings Book by Todd Parr: A colorful and simple introduction to a wide range of emotions, perfect for helping young children recognize and express their feelings.
- Baby Loves Colors! by Ruth Spiro: An engaging book that introduces colors through vivid illustrations, supporting sensory awareness and early concept recognition.
- Touch and Feel: Playdough by DK Publishing: A tactile book that encourages sensory play and exploration, ideal for toddlers learning about different textures.
Learning Standards
- AUSVELS: Personal and Social Capability – Level 1: Recognize, express and manage own emotions and develop empathy.
- Australian Curriculum: Early Childhood Learning – Work with simple tools to develop fine motor skills (ACPPS017).
- Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing and manage their feelings and behaviour.
- EYLF Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners exploring sensory materials and expressing curiosity.
Try This Next
- Create a simple feelings chart with pictures and ask Miranda to point to how she feels before and after playtime.
- Set up a sensory exploration station with various materials like rice, beans, and fabric scraps to poke, touch, and manipulate.