Professional Development

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."
- Maya Angelou

Growth and development is essential, not only to children, but with adults too. Wonder Roots Workshops provide an interactive approach to learning where parents and teachers learn strategies that will empower their practices. Parents and teachers have the unique ability to shape the future for the better and this begins through our work with children.

Nature Play Workshop

More and more children today are growing up noticeably weaker-- their balance systems significantly underdeveloped compared to children of previous generations. The cause? Children are not spending enough time playing outdoors and it is affecting their sensory systems and quality of life. Lack of outdoor play affects learning, behavior and health. Based on the philosophy from TimberNook, an innovative outdoor program developed by pediatric occupational therapist, Angela Hanscom, this workshop aims to empower parents and educators with the why and how of nature play.

Key topics of this workshop include:

• The importance of nature play. 
• Introduction to the vestibular and proprioceptive systems and their importance in child development.
• The art of observation and “dissecting” play-- documenting play in an educational setting.Managing risky play-- renegade rules for respecting childhood and promoting healthy development. 
• Loose parts in nature-- encouraging play experiences

This workshop is intended as a full-day workshop, but can also be modified/divided into smaller workshops or workshop series. Additional book study options: Barefoot and Balanced by Angela Hanscom It’s OKay Not to Share by Heather Shumaker Experience the benefits of nature play first-hand by with TimberNook Field Trips.

Make and Take Workshops

DIY PLAY! Sampler
The workshop is a sampler of a larger 4 part series.
During​ ​this interactive workshop,​ ​participants​ ​will:

• Receive a brief introduction to 7 developmental and learning domains: Social-Emotional, Physical, Cognitive, Physical, Language, Literacy, Math. 
• Learn about ways to promote these developmental areas through play. (Resource materials with additional strategies, book lists, and links to inspiring websites.) 
• Make and take the following items: eye-spy bottles, ribbon wands, animal movement dice, wooden tongs, mini felt board, geoboard, lacing board (other options available).

Make and Take Math
During this workshop, participants will: 

• Explore​ various ​math​ ​concepts​ ​through​ ​play (it’s more than just 1-2-3!) 
• Learn various strategies to promote math in everyday life. 

Participants​ ​will​ ​make​ ​and​ ​take: Boom​ ​Wackers lookalikes, geo​ ​boards​ ​and​ ​lacing​ ​boards, recycled​/loose parts, along with printed resource material.

Let’s Get Real About Food
Note: Counts toward required annual food program training.
In this interactive workshop, participants will:

• Explore reasons to avoid eating processed foods by limiting artificial ingredients and processed sugar and focusing on whole grain products. 
• Learn the differences between white, whole wheat and multigrain products. 
• Practice strategies for implementing healthy eating and child participation in the kitchen. 

Make and Take items: whole wheat pancake/muffin mix, apple crisp (along with recipes, resources and extra baking materials). Gluten, nut-free and dairy free options available.

Gardening with Kids: Seed to Table

Note: Counts toward annual required food program training.

Workshop description: Gardening offers many developmental benefits to children and is a great way for us to build connections with our foods. During this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to create container gardens, grow, taste and prepare micro greens, create pickled veggies and homemade salad dressing.
As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Explain the benefits of gardening with children and implement ways to include children in the gardening process-- from seed, to harvest, to table.
• Implement concepts of the square foot gardening method and design their own container garden.