The Learning Depot

This past week has been filled with many new and exciting things.

One thing that has transpired over the past few days that both Kelly and I feel very excited about, is the discovery of this place in Blue Ridge called The Learning Depot.

Both Kelly and I are working parents, and like many, we too experience the rollercoaster of emotions that come with parenthood. This ride or journey takes us through guilty valleys, and deserving peaks, and loop-to-loops of toddlerhood. In particular, when the topic of Ethan's care and early education comes about, this dynamic coaster is in full gear.

With much investigation and heartache, we were pleased to find a nice home and very loving caregivers for Ethan. Linda and Jimmie Gray, better known as mi-maw (grandma) and pa-paw (grandad) have taken very good care of Ethan the past couple of months, and Noomsie really enjoys Lukie and the other infants currently also cared for by the Grays.

But with toddlerhood comes new challenges, and finding a solution for Ethan that would keep up with his increasingly curious mind and mobility was a very real issue Kelly and I now had to face. As wonderful as Linda has been in providing the best "care" for Ethan, what is needed now is someone who can provide more hands-on activities, and the exploration of many new learning opportunities.

Enter, The Learning Depot.

Back when we were looking for childcare for Ethan, we visited one particular center (name not mentioned) and en-route, drove by The Learning Depot. At the time of course, we were merely intersted in getting to this foreign address and just last week, Kelly thought to contact TLD and see what they have to offer.

By the act of God, TLD was exactly what we have always been looking for, and that we thought would not be available here in Blue Ridge. TLD is a learning center, a preschool based on the philosophy or approach of Reggio Emilia - Italian early childhood educator. (similar to Montessori)

The Reggio Emilia approach to education is committed to the creation of a learning environment that will enhance and facilitate children's construction of his or her own powers of thinking through the combination of all the expressive, communicative and cognitive languages.

As God would have it, TLD accepts children no younger than 16 months (preferably 18 months old). Ethan is 15 1/2 months old. And a 2 1/2 year old boy is leaving town by the month's end, making available one spot in February (when Ethan just turns 16 months old). Class sizes are small (5 children per age grouping per one instructor). Ethan's class will have 5 children, but 2 are part-time/morning, leaving only 3 children to one instructor in the afternoon.



The children do "social play", music activities, hands-on art activities in an art studio that includes pottery instructed by a local clay artist (!!), outside play, gross motor play (bouncy room), "science", and many others. The children have nap times and also snack times, and with each and everything they do, the children are involved: set up cots to sleep in, put away, wash hands and set up table setting to eat, clean up, and so with each learning responsibility and a sense of self, others and sharing.

This Wednesday, I will go with Ethan for his "first day" but only to see how a day's activity is carried out, and the afternoon, Kelly will go back with Ethan. Once we get a sense of TLD in action, we will make our official registration.

www.learningdepotpreschool.com

Vollmer Farm

Today was a scorcher with temps in the mid 80s. Thankfully, however, there was a good breeze blowing all day which made picking strawberries tolerable. I had Ethan wearing a hat (when he kept it on that is) and used sunscreen for the first time this year. Seems we've jumped straight into summer-like weather after an up and down start to spring.

I almost convinced myself that it was too much trouble to get ready for an outing today. I am glad I persisted though. It is tough being a dad and having to feed an infant outdoors. Having everything Ethan needs for proper diaper changes is one thing, but that's pretty easy and second nature now. But feeding times always require my utmost attention, and to do this outside the comforts of our home?? Well, like I said, almost gave up on this picking strawberries business today.





I had to pack a thermos with boiling hot water and another receptacle to immerse a cold bottle of milk in the hot water to "heat". I use sarcastic quotes since this process is more accurately the cold bottle exerting its effects in cooling the hot water than vice versa. Or at least it seems this way since it takes oh so long to heat a bottle of milk this way and Ethan is ready for his milk as of 20 minutes prior. So not easy, but if you want noomz to experience new things, with mom at work (which is most days), you've got to bear down and just get stuff together.

But it was well worth it. Our play group had a blast, though not all could make it today. The weather was just gorgeous and the cute noomieses darling.











Well enough of my made-up words, here are some pictures!

Bugs et al.

Yesterday, we all went to the Butterfly Conservatory and Insectarium at the Museum of Life and Science right here in our very own Durham! Of course, leave it to the out-of-town(er), my sister, to find activities for kids right around our corner, when I live here and I had no clue they existed. :-D

Well, the butterfly conservatory was by far the coolest. Not literally, because this place is enclosed in a huge green-house looking building that is kept at 80 F (28C) and 80% humidity year-round (kinda like the tropics). Just the day we decide to go out, though, it was absolutely freezing! We couldn't wait to thaw out in the warm environment of the BC and even watched new butterflies released (occurs every day around 3pm I think).


Carmel even got to hold a butterfly as it was being let go. Precious :-D

I enjoyed the butterflies too, especially since there were so many of them, and they flew in pairs or groups all around you and even land on you briefly! But what really interested me were the many different types of plants and butterfly-attracting flowers, vines and foliage. And there were these really colourful and unique birds (pheasants?) that would trot in and out of the low lying plants and into the foot path where we were walking and back into the dense foliage.

Then there was the Insectarium, where we saw mantids, thorny woody insects, brilliantly coloured (poisonous?) frogs, water striders, water beetles, rhino beetle, assasin beetles, tarantulas, hissing cockroaches, scorpions and many others. Fun!

I am thinking I will purchase a membership for Ethan and I for the year, and make regular trips to the Museum of Life and Science. They also had an Aerosspace section, and also an outdoor animal farm among the activities they offer.