Portrait of a Wonder-er

The best part of Wonder Studio is the Relationships.

To develop a relationship, you need a commitment.

This is why I really push, not just dropping in to Wonder Studio - but making a commitment to come every week (or at least as often as you can).

This is something I still have to remind myself, anytime I do a new thing.

To learn something new, I know I need a lot of repetition, consistency, and opportunity to just mess about.

Take Sourdough for example.

I was gifted (by one of you - my dear clients, Kinsey and Eloise shoutout!) a sourdough starter. I knew nothing about the adventure I was about to undertake.

I won’t go into all the details…but just know… tears may have happened at least once.

But, the result is some pretty darn good bread and a solid new skill in my toolkit!

Sourdough is not something you are going to “get” right away. But, I was committed. (I am a food motivated type person!)

Frustratingly - you have to make it a bunch of times before you get the “feel” of what the dough consistency should be like… a lot of experimentation, and just a lot of failing (but I always baked it and ate it, no matter what!).

So, what does this look like for your child?

How do we teach them to stick to something?

The biggest opportunity at Wonder Studio is the adult is there with the child.

Co-learning.

We learn together every time - not just the new wonder’ers either.

Your child could do clay or slime or painting everyday for years and years and always approaching it from a new developmental understanding.

It’s fascinating!

Fall in love with learning about how your child learns - it will make your relationship with them stronger and stronger - until they go off to college.

Now, I will share the story of a new Summer Wonder-er - L. with Mom B.

They have been a joy to witness and a reminder to me - about how children learn. I hope you enjoy and I hope to see you soon at Wonder Studio - maybe even this week!

Week 1:

L. has his first visit to Wonder Studio…

Mom is definitely more excited than he is, LOL!

She is smiling and I can tell, she is open to whatever reaction he has to this new experience.

(I will say - mom is an Early Childhood teacher and has a deep understanding of Child Development ) You might think this makes parenting easier - You would be wrong!

Sometimes, it makes parenting harder, hehehe!

Mom spends a lot of the 90minute class with him, just walking around and checking out the environment.

There is a little “Play” but a lot of observation and a lot of feeling things with his hands.

It appears he is developing a relationship to the physical environment.

Mom tells me, he loves play silks (they have some at home).

I wonder if he is looking for something familiar to him?

Something that can help him feel more comfortable in this new place?

He travels around the studio with the play silk.

I find it in the wind tunnel area at the end of class.

I wonder if he put it through?

Week 2:

Wants Nothing time.

Mom is very present with L.

She sits with him and watches how he moves the paint cups back and forth at the easel area.

He seems to be interested in moving things from tray to tray.

I wonder if he tried painting?

Mom doesn’t try and force him into using the paint on the paper.

She is genuinely interested in what his ideas are about this area.

He spends a good amount of the 60 minute play session in this area.

I marvel at mom’s ability to stay with him - following his lead.

Every time he looks up at his mom, he sees a face that is smiling, nodding, and approving.

Memory Observation:

I remember he did also spend a good amount of time, walking in and out of Wonder Studio through the “Wonder Wall”

Question - Is he interested in the physical step that is there?

Or is this also part of his process of first learning about the physical environment?

Week 3:

Play!

This week, L. comes in and I notice a big change.

He seems very comfortable with the physical layout of the studio.

He visits the water table and there is more confidence in him. I can tell he is beginning to feel at home here.

He is moving around in a different way - he looks at me with more recognition.

3 weeks in and the relationship with L. and Wonder Studio is on a solid ground.

What will happen this week?

I wonder!