CDCA's Magic House a Perfect Play Date Event

This is a private event at the Magic House, only open to the families that register.  Tickets are only $6.00.  We have had so much fun at this event the past few years and would love for you to join us this year.  Click here to register and bring as many of your friends and family as possible.

What's your idea of a perfect play date for a child?  We want to know...

Help Us Improve Early Child Care

CDCA has proudly supported children and families in the community for the past 40 years.  Click here to help us to continue to bring these services to your community.  If you would like to donate your time, CDCA is always looking for volunteers.  Call us at 314-531-1412, ext. 19 if you are interested or leave us a note here.

Outdoor Classroom Discussion

The Outdoor Classroom workshop we held on Saturday April 2, 2011 was the first outdoor workshop held by CDCA. It was held at Kids International Child Care Center in Ellisville Mo. 25 participants came and participated in an outdoor classroom setting. We worked in created learning centers outdoors for over an hour. Here are some things that the groups included in their feedback reports. Please join me and others in continuing our discussion about using the outdoor classroom and learning through and from Nature! Here is a list of what participants said were new activities and Ideas that they learned about through the workshop.

1) Nature touchy feely box

2) Live insect boxes/containers

3) Windy day scarves use to mimic movement of trees, grasses

4) Using large and small tree cookies as percussion instruments

5) Making Grab and Go bags with instruments and props to use outdoors

6) Different uses for materials I already have in my center

7) Working with tree cookies cut in halves and fourths as fractions

9) Planning for outdoor experiences will lead to children spending more time outdoors

10) Using natural materials from the outdoors instead of plastic stuff

11) Including a bird watching station

12) Having Children sketch plants

13) Measuring things outside

14) The Tree activity (look,move,build and draw)

15) Creating an Outdoor Play policy

16) Using outdoor materials in art projects (like sticks) and do them outdoors

Again thanks to everyone who shared a new idea or activity they learned.  Click here to see what participants learned in this valuable workshop by going to our You Tube Channel. 

Look for more posts related to The Outdoor Classroom I hope that many of you were inspired and create all of those wonderful spaces and activites that you listed.

For others that may be reading this Join us on April 19 at CDCA from 630pm-830pm for The Outdoor Classroom Workshop.