Cookin' in the Mud Kitchen

 It's always fun to watch kids engage in pretend play at school. One of my favorite places to observe their play is on the hillside in the mud kitchen. It is a place that every child seems to know exactly what to do with the materials inside. Today, L took the time to problem solve a few things and show off her cooking skills in the kitchen. 

She started off by serving some of her friends and then getting back to work. In the video you can see how she navigates the environment with ease, but also takes the time to problem solve where she will get more "food." She encounters some barriers, but with a little guidance she pursued and stuck with the activity most of our time out on the hillside. She made comments to her friends, asked questions, and engaged in a lot of self talk. 

Pretend play is such an important part of development for all young children. It expands play skills and gives them a little taste of what the world is like outside of school. 

Have a safe, fun, and hopefully relaxing Thanksgiving! The Pine teaching team is so grateful for all of you!