GEM CLASS

“But Kisha… we don’t have a large indoor area. How are you going to play movement games?” 👀

Ohhhh, you’d be surprised what I can do with a little bit of space. 😂

Movement doesn’t always mean running laps or needing a gym.

We can balance.
We can crawl.
We can mirror.
We can react.
We can problem-solve.
We can work as a team.
We can practice spatial awareness.
We can move BIG while staying in a SMALL space.

Give me a few kids, a little open floor, and some random objects… and we’re moving. 😂

That’s the beauty of movement-based learning-it’s not about how much space you have.

It’s about what you do with the space you’ve got. 💛

Raphael Springs Academy

Come behind the scenes with me before I meet a new group of kids.

Yes, I’m cleaning and prepping the space with some of my favorite nontoxic products + essential oils … but I’m also thinking about something much bigger:

How do I build trust and connection from the very first day?

When I work with families for the first time, I intentionally plan for LOTS of movement, play, exploration, and opportunities for kids to just be themselves.

I’m not walking in expecting kids to immediately sit, listen, follow directions, or “perform” for me.

First, we move.
We play.
We connect.
We learn each other.

Because before I can guide a child, I want them to feel comfortable enough to trust me.

Connection before correction-always.

A little behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating the kind of environment I want kids and families to walk into.

As camps are wrapping up, I want to leave you with this thought…

When we see a caterpillar, we don’t expect it to fly.

We don’t get frustrated because it isn’t a butterfly yet.

We understand it’s still developing.

Children are the same way.

Their brains are still growing. Their ability to regulate emotions, solve problems, control impulses, and communicate is still under construction.

So when a child doesn’t make eye contact, struggles to listen, melts down, or has a hard day, let’s remember-they’re still becoming.

And honestly, so are many of us.

When we feel ourselves getting triggered, let’s pause and take a breath. That’s one of the greatest gifts we can model for children.

We never know what happened before they arrived. We don’t know what they’re carrying or what kind of morning they had.

Let’s choose connection before correction.

Just like the caterpillar, growth takes time.

Trust the process. Be patient. Keep showing up.