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An amusement park with a roller coaster

Building Play with Mr. John has become a regular activity at Haverty Hollow.  It is a favorite among all ages and if you ask any of the participants they can quickly tell you that there are 4 Rules:

1. No knocking anyone’s building down.  You will have to help rebuild it.
2. No throwing the blocks.  This includes anything that can launch the blocks into the air.
3. Everybody has to help clean up.
4. Have Fun!!

Scholastic. com recently published an article on the importance of block play and how it helps with early childhood development.  It lists that the benefits include spatial reasoning, imagination, vocabulary, and creativity.  Mr. John encourages students to build whatever they can think of using the blocks that are available.  At the end of the activity, each student is asked the name of their creation and what purpose it serves, if any.  At them very end, students get to use as much energy and enthusiasm to knock down their creations as they used to build.  Sometimes students choose to build together and sometimes on their own, but always learning from free exploration and benefiting from the value of play.

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/creativity-play/all-about-blocks

A resort with palm trees around the pool

A cabin with a fire in the fireplace

   Tumbling at Haverty Hollow is an activity that involves moving, rolling, jumping, using the ‘cheese mat’, balancing, and taking turns, all with lots of energy!

Our friends love the opportunity to move around the tumbling equipment, testing themselves and their skills.  Tumbling gives them the chance to develop gross motor skills and enjoy good exercise, all in the name of play.