Little Muddy Fingers

12/17/2025

Too cold? Or just right?

Kids weren’t meant to lose a whole season of play.

Winter outdoor time supports immunity, focus, sleep, and emotional well-being, and it turns “hard things” into confidence builders.

At Tinkergarten, we slow down, explore, and find joy in winter exactly as it is.

Bundle up. Step outside. Watch them thrive.
Join us this winter!

Enroll by 12/19 and receive an adorable little mug to enjoy our warm tea with during story time!

For more info and enrollment go to: https://www.littlemuddyfingers.com/

12/13/2025

Did you know that spinning in circles helps children with body awareness??

Spinning (i.e., rolling down hills, spinning on swings, etc.) is one of the tools we use as occupational therapists in clinic settings to help children know where their body is in space as they navigate their environment.

As many schools are banning spinning on swings for "safety reasons," let's keep in mind that this is a necessary sensory input for healthy neurological development. This is also important for increased safety management and prevention of injury over time.

Let the children MOVE!!! 💕

(Photo via TimberNook at Pace Academy, VA)

12/12/2025

12/10/2025

We’re limiting kids’ ability to movement more than ever before.

“No climbing,” “No spinning,” “That’s too dangerous!”

But as Angela Hanscom (Balanced and Barefoot) reminds us, restricting play doesn’t keep kids safer… it creates more attention, behavior, and sensory challenges.

By trying so hard to protect our kids, we may be causing more harm than good. Let’s give children back the freedom to move, explore, climb, spin, run, and truly play -- the way they’re wired to.

11/23/2025

"We have to develop a society that understands play, and the many good things it does for children's brains and minds." - Dr. Jaak Panksepp

Outdoor play is the ultimate occupation. There are numerous benefits -- especially when done with other children! 💕

Here is just one:

It optimizes volition. Outdoor play taps into a child's intrinsic motivation systems, setting up the brain for sensory integration (organization of the brain). Children will more likely to do hard things, overcome fears, regulate emotions, engage in new play scenarios, deal with conflict, and challenge themselves in other ways never anticipated or expected.

For example, a child that may not normally want to get dirty, may willingly walk into giant mud puddles when they see other children catching frogs. Another child that typically does not engage in construction or STEM projects in a classroom setting, may willingly build a forts with other children out in the woods. The list can go on and on....

That choice, that motivation to explore & play, can trump their fears, anxieties, apathy, disinterest, and more. As they continue to overcome challenges and test their limits in play, they get more and more confident and develop a strong sense of self.

Outdoor play is a priceless occupation. One that we must defend!

11/20/2025

No filter needed. Though a little harder to find now, the stunning autumn leaves are still here!

11/19/2025

🌳 This is not a painting — it’s the view from beneath an ancient pedunculate oak. It is over 400 years old.

When you gaze upward, the interwoven branches create a soaring hall of light and vitality — nature’s own grand masterpiece.

11/14/2025

Nope. That is not edible! That is a gourmet mud pie made by one of our “older” explorers. It’s amazing to see how nature can bring wonder to the tiniest of tots, entertained by merely a bucket with a splash of water and a pinch of dirt…. all the way up to our big kids, and everywhere in between! Nature does not discriminate, and we all need to play!

11/04/2025

It’s not a stick…. It’s a wand!