Her growing mind.

My daughter isn't satisfied seeing things work. She isn't happy accepting that they work. She needs to know how and she will spend as much energy as she can doing so. She doesn't just accept that the world spins. She needs to know why it does. The other day, she was at her sitter playing with the magnets on the fridge. She would take them off of the fridge and stick them to her hand. They would fall to the floor and she would get a little spark in her eyes. She wanted to know why they would stick to one thing and not another. She wasn't happy accepting that they stuck to the fridge. However, the ability of her mind far exceeds the ability of her body. I have searched for play ideas that enhance her thinking while not pushing the limits of her body too far. Recently, we found something that worked. Sensory play. My husband got a promotion and a few nights a week he is out of town. To make the transition easier on her, I plan one new activity for her each week. Last week, we did pudding finger painting. I colored pudding and let her go to town. The painting kept very well. It didn't mold or stink. It was just like normal paints except tolerant for her little mouth. This week, I made moon dough. I started letting her plain with plain potato flakes and she loved scooping them from one side to the other. Slowly, I added colored water and you could see the gears in her head start turning. She quickly learned cause and effect in that situation.  She sprinkled dry flakes in with the wet mass and formed a bigger ball. I let her continue to do so until it was the consistency of moon dough. She then learned that putting it in the scoops would make shapes. She made a little ball. She had a blast. Her body is right where it should be for her age and can accept this type of play. And her mind? It continues to flourish with the play time. The only problem is that she catches on to each new activity so quickly and gets bored. However, I can afford some beans, rice, and food coloring if it means she is finally getting what she needs. She has been very frustrated with her body. It doesn't do what she wants. She wants to run, but her body doesn't listen. She wants to climb, but her body doesn't have the ability to. She wants to understand everything, but her body often hinders that. Finally, we have found a happy medium. Finally, her body and mind get along.....If only for a few hours.