Mathematical thinking, physical coordination, and an eye for aesthetics

This week, we had the great joy of receiving a three page "progress report" written by Charlie's primary teacher. Much of it reiterated what we already know - Charlie is drawn to music and movement, art, building with blocks, and reading. Included with the report were several photographs - one in particular shows a three foot long block wall/tower structure that she made with the accompanying caption "Mathematical thinking, physical coordination, and an eye for aesthetics: Charlotte carefully arranges and stacks blocks, centered and in patterns; exploring one-to-one correspondence and symmetry." That statement brought to mind some photographs that we took recently to document some of Charlie's "decorations".

Perhaps it is the fact that Chris and I prefer a minimalist, uncluttered style that makes Charlie so interested in decorating things. She decorates her room, using assorted objects to make patterns and pictures. She can spend a morning arranging, draping, layering. She asks for our help, but directs all the placement of objects, moving them if we don't put them right where she thinks they should go. The end result is always a colorful and interesting collage of items. Usually these creations build throughout the weekend, and we spend the last minutes of our Sunday night putting all the pieces away in anticipation of the next great masterpiece.

Charlie's bookcase: There are three separate arrangements (delineated by blankets) on top.
A detail of one of the sections: