The 2012 Olympic closing ceremony includes a celebration of achievement, a handover of the Olympic games from one country to the next, and the extinguishing of the Olympic torch.  However, for young children, the end of this year’s Olympics marks just the beginning of their dreams and aspirations. As we consider the celebration at hand, it brings to mind the following two questions…
- How are you helping the young children in your care achieve their hopes and dreams?
- And how are you taking the time to celebrate their achievements along the way?
Over the past several weeks, my fellow bloggers have been sharing ideas that promote play, exploration, and discovery. Each post was in celebration of the Olympics but  these ideas are terrific anytime of the year.  I want to give a recap of just a few of these amazing ideas for you to bookmark and use as you seek fun and simple ideas that foster the hopes and dreams of young children (click on each photo to view the post)…
Working as a team in the process of building hopes and dreams…
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“Teaching kids the Value of Teamwork” from Train up a Child
Imagining hopes and dreams through dramatic play…
 “Show Jumping Play” by Creative Playhouse
Testing hopes and dreams through sensory play…
“Horsie, Horsie” by The Fairy and the Frog
Developing the skills to accomplish hopes and dreams through eye-hand coordination…
Throwing Straws By Toddler Approved!
Developing the skills to accomplish hopes and dreams through math and measuring games…
“Shooter Game” by Life at the Zoo
Developing an age appropriate understanding of competition through simple play…
“Blowing Fabric Race” by Hands on: As we grow
Developing the creative side of hopes and dreams…
“Cardboard Box Boat” by Here Comes the Girls
“Kid made Olympic Flags” from Kitchen Counter Chronicles
“Fun with Cups” by The Educator’s Spin On It
Building large motor skills to achieve hopes and dreams…
“Long Distance Bike Ride” by JDaniel4’s Mom
Finding balance in the process of achieving hopes and dreams
Move Like a Gymnast” by Creative Family Fun
Staying fit and healthy in the process of achieving hopes and dreams
“Family Fitness” by The Iowa Farmer’s Wife
“10 Movement Games” by AngeliqueFelix.com
Celebrating achievementsÂ
As young children seek to foster their hopes and dreams, they will have small successes along the way. Â There are many ways to celebrate the achievements of young children but of course, giving a metal or ribbon for any achievement – no matter how big or small – always puts a smile on one’s face…
“Salt Dough Metals” from Ready, Set, Read
18 Days of Child-Centered Fun!Â
Handing over the torch to you….
On behalf of all the kid bloggers and myself, thank you for all you do to promote the hopes and dreams of young children around the world.
Continuing the celebration…
Be sure to check out the linky below for all the ideas that were shared during the 2012 Olympic season. Â Many of them you will be able to use again and again as you seek to promote the hopes and dreams of young children…
Remember: If you are viewing this post by email or in a reader, you will need to come to the blog post to see the linky but it is worth the trip!!
