"Through active learning - having direct and immediate experiences and deriving meaning from them through reflection - young children construct knowledge that helps them make sense of their world. "  Mary Hohmann, David Weikart.

Setting Up A Group

The foundation of any support rests on relationships. Through experiences that facilitate genuine self expression and interaction, relationships and skills can develop.   Some activities are intrinsically therapeutic (such as drumming). Some promote language and social skills (such as storytelling). Some reinforce conventional therapies (linking choices and consequences). Each teacher and therapist brings their own style and unique contribution to a child's development. And within the continuity of a small cohesive group, each individual will take what they need and develop their potential from different activities and instructors in their own way. 

Parents can form their own three/four member groups, sharing the cost of teachers of different activities, keeping a group small for the sake of individuality, flexibility and low administration.  The benefits are not just in the activities but in the genuine friendships and self expression made possible through particular activities, and continuity of relationships within the group, even if activities change.

This website provides a free network database for parents to directly access each other, and a network of teachers and professionals interested in working with small groups, individualizing activities to need and interest. If you would like to be part of an independent self-directed activity group, you are invited to join the on-line database and participate in the group discussions.  By entering contact details in the database, you invite other parents, in your locality and with similar interests, to contact you and build a positive creative community. -- The Virtual Village

If you know of experienced teachers/creative therapists who would like to work directly with parents, please invite them to be part of the free database.   For example, there may be art or music teachers at your school who'd be interested in being available for small groups for a  couple of days/weeks over summer; retired skilled artisans in your community, local museums and existing services, theater companies and so on.    Keep in contact with other groups, through the database, for ideas and sharing of resources.

You might use this site to build summer activities for your children, as a group or as individuals, for occasional outings, or regular meetings.   It’s meant to cut down on the frustrations facing many parents now who are looking for natural social/emotional development through positive activities and interaction.   It’s designed for small groups, spontaneous activity and allows for maturing individuals to gradually initiate and develop their own independent group, decide their own activities and follow their own interests.