The Heart Behind What We Do Part 2: Play for All
After all of the stress and loneliness we experienced during the pandemic, we decided to provide a space where families could play and enjoy their time together. We saw how important play was in our own little family. We saw that we had a really cool backyard with fun things to play on and my kids had their own playroom with everything they could ever want...but if the kids next door don't have those things, and the students in our kids classes don't have those and aren't able to benefit from the joy of play, then what's the point of us enjoying it all by ourselves?
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity is the diversity of human minds and the infinite variations in neurocognitive functioning within our species. Humanity is neurodiverse, just as humanity is racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse. When an individual diverges from the dominant societal standards of “normal” neurocognitive functioning, they don’t “have neurodiversity,” they are neurodivergent.
Mendo LEAP is committed to fostering unity and embracing diversity. Through its facilities, Mendo LEAP creates opportunities for inclusivity, connection, acceptance, and love. By maintaining an open environment for the public, specialists, and organizations, LEAP advocates for collaborative efforts centered on empathy and comprehension. Our core belief is in the inherent worth of every neurotype, embracing diverse thinking patterns and communication styles.
The Importance of Play Part 2: How Play Fosters Creativity
Creativity is an essential skill in our changing world. Children need creativity just to succeed in school—just think of all the projects our little ones are assigned from kindergarten on up! How would they manage to tackle those assignments without creativity?
But creativity isn’t just the purview of the school-aged child. People need creativity when they get into the job market, regardless of what type of work they get into. People who demonstrate creative problem-solving skills often get raises and promotions.
Some people believe that creativity is innate; either you have it or you don’t. Not true! Instead, think of creativity like a muscle. Some of us have developed that muscle, and others just need help training it. For children, developing that creativity muscle is all about offering opportunities for creative play experiences.
The Heart Behind All We Do—Part 1
As small business owners we had to work very hard to prepare and save for Jonathan to take time off after the baby came. We had planned and saved up enough for him to take 2 weeks off. Of course, we would have liked to have more time, but there is no parental leave for small business owners. Little did we know that COVID-19 was going to change the world–and our lives–forever.