School Age - April update

The warmer weather has made afternoons at the schoolyard lots of fun! This is where school-aged children will be most days between 4pm and 5pm for the remainder of the school year. When we are at the school yard a notice will be posted on the front door of the daycare.

During our annual spring cleaning we found several boxes of Barbie dolls and action figures with all of their accessories in storage, and they have been a hit with the older children! They have dressed them up , acted out movies, and built homes and even towns for them!

We are beginning to make plans for summer in the school age room and look forward to many adventures!

Kinders - April update

Our kindergarten group has taken an interest in dramatic play that centers around a school theme. As they take turns being teachers, students, and principles we get an idea of how they interpret these roles! We provided backpacks, clipboards, and other school supplies to enhance their play.

We have noticed a change in their approach to art activities recently, too. They are choosing materials they are comfortable with (like markers and plain paper) less often, and beginning to ask for new and different materials on a regular bases ( various types of paint, recycled materials, and beads for example). They like to sit together but make independent projects, often each using completely different materials rather than all wanting to make the same “craft”. It has been wonderful to see their unique and creative ideas!

KinderStart/Butterfly group - April update

Two big things happening this month really seemed to capture this groups attention- NHL hockey play-offs and Earth day!

We have used both of these themes as starting points for many activities ranging from process art activities (like rolling marbles through paint to make Earth and designing our own hockey logos on paper pucks with pastels) to dramatic play, to basic math skills (like hockey logo matching games) to literature activities! When we find that the children are excited about something, it gives us opportunities to practice skills and explore concepts in fun new ways!