Hey all! We are having a busy summer, but we don't want to stop putting out episodes for you! So, we are switching to a bi-weekly podcast and will have episodes coming out every other week. Make sure you are subscribed so you can see when new episodes come up. We love you!

Have you heard of the "100 Days Project"? .  Developed as an arts exercise at Yale University, this exercise in creativity and perseverance individuals to incorporate a project into their routine.  If we push ourselves to move beyond monotony in boredom, and to establish routine with the hire end, we are working towards bettering ourselves

Join us as we discuss this fun family or individual project, and ideas of perseverance and routine with children- because establishing the ground works for hard work, is setting them up for powerful adult abilities later in life.


References

https://www.the100dayproject.org/

https://designobserver.com/feature/five-years-of-100-days/24678

https://ceecs.education.ufl.edu/atoz/3rs/#:~:text=Some%20children%20might%20need%20more,of%20everyday%20routines%20and%20activities.

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/family-home-consumer/10-tips-for-successful-family-meetings/

https://www.northshore.org/healthy-you/how-to-start-a-new-routine-and-stick-to-it/

https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/family-life/routines-rituals-relationships/family-routines

https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/family-life/routines-rituals-relationships/family-routines

https://www.ahaparenting.com/read/structure-routines

This week, we are talking about Repetition! Repetition comes in many forms. This may include reading the same story one hundred times, learning extensions and games that repeat the same skill, peer tutoring, or passively observing a lesson or activity completed by another child. Repetition may also come from routine or the environment. Knowing what to expect, and having things happen in an ordered way, helps children to know what to expect and feel at ease. When the environment is predictable, a child feels safe and secure, which establishes the optimal environment for learning.

We go through a few studies and we talk about why repetition is an important part of learning and skill mastery! In children, these neural connections are only beginning to be formed. Repetition is a necessary building block that allows them to strengthen the connections in the brain that help them learn. "Deer paths to highways".

Repetition helps to strengthen the brain’s neural processors for learning, teaches children to practice, master and retain knowledge, provides the opportunity for practice and reinforcement, is needed for skill mastery and success. Children learn through repetition and memorization:  self-discipline and critical reflection, coordination, differentiation of variations and differences in the world around them, confidence to progress,  internalization of concepts, synthetization, analyzation and application. Research examining motor-skill acquisition suggests that early movements vary highly but become more stable as skill develops. As the progression from variable to stable movements would indicate the shift from novice to expert, it could help adults recognize if mastery has been achieved and when a child is ready to move on to the next activity.

We also discuss when repetitive behavior becomes a red flag. Check out E9: Interview with an Early Interventionist, E12: Interview with a Special Education and Autism Teacher, and E24: Interview with a Speech and Language Pathologist Ft. Kim Hiday to learn more about intervention!

We end with a conversation about supporting repetition though routines, free play, learning extensions, multi-sensory instruction, self-reflection, and PATIENCE!

While a child’s inclination towards repetition is not the most charming part of childhood (and is maybe even one of the top most annoying), it is an extremely important fundamental of child development! Tell that story again, sing that song again, play that game again. When we support the child’s need for repetition, we are trusting and respecting their nature. We are supporting their learning and their development. We are celebrating childhood. And that’s what we are all about here on the Speckled Bees.

https://montessoriacademy.com.au/repetition-child-development-montessori/

http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1234750.pdf

https://earlychildhood.qld.gov.au/early-years/activities-and-resources/resources-parents/read-and-count/the-power-of-repetition

https://360behavioralhealth.com/how-to-know-when-a-childs-repetitive-behaviors-are-a-problem/

Today, we’re going to discuss a topic that is urgent this time of the year- Sun protection! 

Every child needs sun protection. The lighter someone's natural skin color, the less melanin it has to absorb UV rays and protect itself. The darker a person's natural skin color, the more melanin it has. But both dark- and light-skinned kids need protection from UV rays because any tanning or burning causes skin damage

Join us as we discuss the various levels of sun damage and the skin cancer risks involved, the best ways to avoid a sunburn, and the tools to do so 

Is your sunscreen covering all the bases? Do you know the difference between a mineral and chemical sunscreen? Is your sun protection broad spectrum? Are you using hats and long sleeves while outside? What sunscreens are best ranked across the board of pediatrics?

 Join our conversation and discover tips and tricks to best protect your children this summer while having fun in the sun! 


References

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sun-safety.html

https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/news-room/blog/2021/05/children-and-too-much-sun

https://www.aad.org/media/stats-skin-cancer#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20approximately,with%20skin%20cancer%20every%20day.&text=Research%20estimates%20that%20nonmelanoma%20skin,3%20million%20Americans%20a%20year.

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/sun-and-your-medicine#:~:text=Some%20medicines%20contain%20ingredients%20that,or%20other%20unwanted%20side%20effects.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/5240-sun-damage-protecting-yourself

https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/sun/what-to-look-for-in-sunscreen/

https://healthfully.com/1001411-songs-kids-sun-safety.html

https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/sun/sunscreen-mistakes/

https://www.verywellfamily.com/best-sunscreen-for-kids-4684705

This week, we are so excited to bring you an Interview with a Botanist! Lucy interviewed Rachel Tenney (BS in Plant Science) of Plant School Podcast and Tenney Plants. Rachel is super down-to-earth, fun, and extremely passionate about plants! She makes plant care simple even for those of us with the blackest of thumbs! She is also a mother and is the perfect person to teach us about how and why to include children in our planting endeavors.
 
She teaches us all about the benefits of caring for plants including teaching children gratitude, boosting the immune system and building tolerances to allergens, releasing serotonin and helping to stabilize mood, increasing focus, encouraging picky eaters to try new foods, establishing healthy nutritional habits, and exercising in a moderate and sustainable form. She also gives really practical ideas on how to involve children in plant care and gardening. Rachel also gives us some examples of great plants to bring to your indoor environments especially if you are new to this plant business. 

Rachel also gives some advice to moms about not allowing yourself to feel guilty. "Be happy with what you can accomplish, …teach your kids to love the things you love and I think it will pass on to them, and…they will grow to see the things you love and grow into that as well." Please go check her out at one of her several platforms! 

• https://tenneyplants.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/tenneyplants/?hl=en
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNl82BnC262JNxVmaktTYAA

References and Resources:

• School Gardens Enhance Academic Performance and Dietary Outcomes in Children - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/josh.12278
• The Effect of a School Gardening Program on the Science Achievment of Elementary Students - https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/15/3/article-p448.xml
• Growing Environmental Stewards: The Overall Effect of a School Gardening Program on Environmental Attitudes and Environmental Locus of Control of Different Demographic Groups of Elementary School Children - https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/18/2/article-p243.xml
• Ingestion of Mycobacterium vaccae decreases anxiety-related behavior and improves learning in mice - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635713000296
• Soil and Human Health: Current Status and Future Needs - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1178622120934441

 As we get closer into summer months, I begin to feel this strong urge to Tie-Dye t-shirts in the hot summer sun! Its a natural past time, summer and dyeing, and today we are talking about dye techniques, and ways to engage your child in dye based activities that are best suited for warm weather

Did you know that over 90% of clothing today is dyed synthetically? This means two things when it comes to The importance of discussing dye with your children. First, it really does touch their lives constantly, because the clothing they wear has been dyed in someway. This creates a fascinating conversation with your children, in regards to color and the identity of the clothing we wear. 

Join our conversation on why we dye clothing, the best way to do so, and how to get your child excited about natural dye techniques this summer

References 

• https://acecleanuk.co.uk/the-history-of-fabric-dye/#:~:text=The%20first%20recorded%20mention%20of,of%20clothing%20is%20dyed%20synthetically.
• https://blog.patra.com/2016/09/07/to-dye-for-a-history-of-natural-and-synthetic-dyes/
• https://theartling.com/en/artzine/what-are-cyanotypes-brilliant-blue-print/
• https://www.compostandcava.com/home/reasons-natural-dye-failed
• https://ourgoodbrands.com/guide-natural-fabric-dyes-alchemy-textile-artists/
• https://www.diynatural.com/natural-fabric-dyes/
• https://dyekween.com/pages/about-adb-botanical-color

Welcome to the Speckled Bees: A Celebration of Childhood! Early childhood educators - Spencer and Lucy - discuss children, how they develop, and how teachers and guardians can support them in the hard work it takes to learn and grow! Sometimes, supporting children can get lonely and frustrating, so we are also here to help you find the fun in it!

In this introductory episode, we introduce ourselves and offer our credentials, discuss the reasons that we are starting a podcast, shout out our biggest supporters, and tell you where you can find us!

Buzzsprout signup link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1783088

https://thespeckledbees.buzzsprout.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thespeckledbees/
https://m.facebook.com/thespeckledbeespodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@thespeckledbees
"Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Last week we talked about the beautiful side by talking about art in nature. But nature is not always beautiful. This week, Lucy introduces a less glamorous subject, although equally intriguing, by talking about Creepy Crawlies! Hear us out! Don’t turn us off yet! This is a really amazing subject, we promise!

We start with a list about why you should  let and even ENCOURAGE children to play with bugs and insects. Children learn scientific principles, practice environmental stewardship, develop compassion, and work on preliteracy skills. We talk about a few activities for varying levels of comfort and then we provide some tips for adults (especially those who are a little squeamish about these things, haha!)

Books:
The Disgusting Critters Series
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/DCR/disgusting-critters
The Honeybee Hardcover – by Kirsten Hall  (Author), Isabelle Arsenault

References and Resources:
https://spelloutloud.com/observing-worms-with-preschoolers.html (worm observation tank)
https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/spider-science/
https://purposefulmommy.com/let-kids-play-with-bugs/#:~:text=When%20you%20let%20your%20kids%20play%20with%20bugs%2C%20they%20learn,us%20from%20having%20too%20many!
https://www.perfectbee.com/learn-about-bees/the-science-of-bees/science-bees-overview

The weather is warming up outside, and more children, their classes, and caregivers are inclined to spend a greater time in nature! While considering ways to engage children in the great outdoors, we'd like to introduce the some ideas of merging art and nature - one of the greatest pairings throughout the course of humanity.

Introducing your child to the art of nature is as simple as helping them appreciate the most natural beauties around us. 

Join us as we discuss
-activities to better engage your child in natural appreciations
-natural wonders that best pique artistic interests
-artists that marry nature in their pieces
-how to create natural dyes and brushes
-hands on activities that you can try at home

How do you best combine art and nature when educating your child ?

Join the conversation!

References 

• https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-paint-for-kids/
• https://theartofeducation.edu/2019/03/27/10-amazing-artists-to-inspire-nature-related-art-projects/
• https://artfulparent.com/nature-art-for-kids/
• https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/natural-wonder-bucket-list/index.html\
• http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2014/03/mud-paint-recipe.htm l