Playing to learn...What it's all about

So the twins just turned 1!!!! I feel like we are starting to get to a place where we can really do some learning times with them now.  Also we are starting to cut down/get rid of their morning nap (which is when I would do our school time with Bella)  

So the days are becoming more interesting and we are all trying to adjust to cranky babies who want to sleep but can't, not having as much one-on-one time with Bella, and the twins wanting to do EVERYTHING Bella does :)  So my Tot School posts are going to look a little different for a little while during this time of adjustment!

But my blog is supposed to be about how everyday play experience can be used as learning experiences if you use them that way!  It means you can't just throw them in the basement and let them play by themselves - which I do sometimes - well maybe not the throwing part :)  It means you have to sit and play with them.  Creating hard things for them to figure out - with your help, by themselves, with the help of a sibling.  You talk to them, explaining EVERYTHING, in some times pain staking detail :)

So we play with puzzles a lot.  I let them do some exploring on their own, and Bella sometimes has a hard time letting the twins play their way and not the "correct" way.  So that is usually when I step in and instead of just referring, I teach.  This is what I would try to teach during this time:

-I help Bella learn how to teach them

-I help the twins figure out the way the pieces feel, the color, letter/number

-I also review with Bella what the letters/color/numbers are and have her tell it to the twins also to help her remember

Another toy I set up for play experiences is our Melissa and Doug beading toy.  It has suction cups so I place in different places to create interest.  

 This toy is a great toy to teach Bella to take turns and to love others first.

It is also a great toy to work on fine motor skills.

Then sometimes things come up during the week that we don't plan on but are great fun and also learning experiences even though I don't actively plan/do anything.

Our friends came to visit and brought us big boxes to play with.  Here they learn gross motor skills, social play, cause and effect, object permanence and many other things :)

The twins got a pool for their Birthday, and this is a great sensory activity.  They loved the pool and navigated it really well.  I was quite surprised!

 I think Ada had the most fun.  She loved being sprayed with the hose also.

Then because the twins are 1, we will be getting rid of the bottles soon.  So these pictures are gonna be some of the last ones of them with their bottles.