BABIES AND CHILDREN
- Kindergartens -
Developmental movement classes in Kindergartens
The first years of a child’s life set the stage for future growth. This is the time to learn about yourself and your environment through movement and play. The presence of a developmental specialist in kindergarten can prevent future difficulties.
Children learn best through play - exploring the world with their senses and free movement.
Our part as educators is being there to support and admire, give words to physical and emotional experiences, touch to help them feel and use their whole selves, ask to encourage thinking and speaking, direct them to learn what they avoid or fear of, with the support of the skills they already have.
Today we often see babies who are late to roll, crawl or skip developmental milestones. Special needs are also more common. Children play more with screens and less outdoors. Research shows that early childhood is a critical time for human brain development. Therefore we should provide the right environment for optimal growth.
The presence of a Developmental specialist in kindergarten helps in early detection and intervention to prevent unnecessary frustration, low self esteem and future difficulties.
Ortal works with the children individually and in small groups in full cooperation with the educational staff. In her unique way, built over the years, she helps the children develop the love and joy of movement, sensory skills, self-awareness, orientation in themselves and in their environment, communication and social skills. All this learning stays in their repertoire for life.
All aspects of development are addressed in the lessons: gross and fine motor skills, balance and orientation, early language, cognitive and social-emotional growth.
Each one of the children is guided in learning missing skills, in a supportive and sensitive way and development is being tracked and assessed during the school year.
Ortal offers lectures and workshops for the kindergarten staff to enrich developmental knowledge and gain tools to use in their daily interactions with the children.