Establishing connections between indoor and outdoor spaces and designing activities and interactions give children a feeling of wellbeing and community. Children can develop a sense of community and safety by joining together in a circle for pleasant reading time indoors. I wanted to encourage more imagination from children about butterflies while revisiting The Very Hungry Caterpillar, consider structuring activities and discussions that invite them to dream up their own creative butterfly worlds.
Making new connections
During free playtime, I noticed the children’s happiness and excitement filling the room as I sat with them. Offering them pieces of paper, I started a discussion about butterflies to spark their interest. “Have you ever seen a butterfly up close?” Seeing their eyes brighten with excitement, I asked. Yes,” McKenna said eagerly. “They’re so colorful.” She was encouraged to say more by myself Asking, “What colors did you see?” She said, “There were orange ones and blue ones!”
