Hodge House

How we teach kids during preschool is important. Here's a great explanation of intrinsic motivation vs extrinsic motivation, and why Hodge House will always focus on intrinsic.

Local families with kids over 2! I’m gauging interest in a half day drop in summer program for all ages over 2. It would be 9am-12pm and completely outdoors. Super fun and active program with crafts, sprinklers when it’s hot enough, obstacle course, mini junkyard play area (wonderful for STEM learning!), tree climbing and lots more. Cost for the morning session would be $25. If you’d be interested, enrollment would consist of signup in our app, providing emergency contact i...nfo, allergy info if any, and signing up for our electronic billing. Then, on the days you wanted, just drop off at 9am. Please comment if you like the idea!

If you bring your kid here, you better be ready for a mess. Confession; I was once totally scared of mess like this. All I could see was the laundry, the messy floor, the extra long bath, which meant more work for me. But then I started learning about the boost to the immune system that mud offers. And the sensory input that helps a child’s brain and nervous system. And the imagination that is strengthened. Oh, plus FUN. The actual joy and FUN! ... So the mess became worth it, when I considered all the positive things for my child. And then I learned ways to handle the mess better. And now it doesn’t phase me at all. And when I see a messy child I like to say You’re so messy! That means you were having SO MUCH FUN!!!

A lot of parents have been asking What do you do when the weather is bad? Well, I’m going to teach the kids that there is no such thing as bad weather. If we are well prepared with the right kind of layers for the cold, wind protection, and waterproof outerwear for precipitation, we can play in all weather. Preparing them well, and also not talking negatively about the weather, helps them learn to find joy, even when things may be uncomfortable.

Documenting the startup of my outdoor play school. So far, I’ve already learned quite a lesson in sustainability, because all our major equipment has been free, dirt cheap, or bartered. I don’t believe that expensive equipment and toys are necessary for learning. Kids typically appreciate real life stuff so much more than toys, so I am literally giving them what they love. These are the building blocks of their classroom, and I’m so excited to put it together for them thi...s weekend. #sustainableliving #preschool #junkyardplayground #junk #treasures #onemanstrashisanothermanstreasure #earlychildhoodeducation #reggioinspired #reggioemiliaapproach #waldorf #waldorfeducation #forestschool #waldorfinspired #play #letthekidsplay #1000hoursoutside #playschool