Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Power of Play!

Toys are fun, but toys are also tools that help children learn about themselves and the world around them. Play is critical to the healthy growth and development of children. As children play, they learn to solve problems, to get along with others, and to develop the fine and gross motor skills needed to grow and learn. Play helps a child do the following:
Develop physical skills.  Gross motor skills are developed as a child learns to reach, grasp, crawl, run, climb and balance. Fine motor skills are developed as children handle small toys.
Develop cognitive concepts.  Children learn to solve problems (What does this do? Does this puzzle piece fit here?) through play. Children also learn colors, numbers, size and shapes. They have the ability to enhance their memory skills as well as their attention span. Children move on to higher levels of thought as they play in a more stimulating environment.
Develop language skills.  Language develops as a child plays and interacts with others. This begins with parents playing cooing games with their children and advances to practical levels such as telling make-believe stories and jokes.
Develop social skills.  Learning to cooperate, negotiate, take turns, and play by the rules are all important skills learned in early games. These skills grow as the child plays. As a result, children learn the roles and rules of society.
As a teacher, what is my role in play?
Teachers are children’s first and best playmates. Teachers have a role in being involved in their children’s play. Children tend to be more creative when their teachers are involved in their play. The best play occurs when the adult plays alongside the child, rather than just providing the toys or supervising. Becoming part of a child’s play may take practice. Some teachers feel that they need to give up “childish” things and “grow up.” However, this is not true for teachers. Some suggestions for joining your child’s play include:
Observe. Watch your child closely to learn what he or she can do and has problems doing. Also, be aware of your child’s favorite activities.
Follow. Join in and play with your child so that he or she knows you are interested in what he or she is doing. You can add to the complexity of the play; however, let your child be in control and determine the direction of play.

Be creative. Let go of the adult idea that there is only one way to play with a toy. Use toys in different ways, and you will be amazed at how many different ways you can play with one toy. Being creative will make playing more fun for you and your child.

At our inservice we got a lot of practice! We had so much fun being children at play!










Friday, May 19, 2017

Teacher Appreciation Week!

Wow, what a great week! Our parents and students have made our teachers feel appreciated,  special, and loved more than ever! We had an amazing lunch today brought in from all the families to show their loving support to all of our hard working and dedicated teachers. Thank You! It is an honor for us to make a difference in your children's lives everyday!


Friday, May 12, 2017

Happy Mother's Day!

What a special day if you're a mom or not! We had a fabulous breakfast this morning for Mother's Day! Ms. Anne and Ms. Shayla made sausage, bacon, fresh cut fruit, scrambled eggs, gravy, and also biscuits from Loveless Cafe. Wow, it was delicious! Congratulations to Mona (Ariana's mom) she won the Loveless basket full of goodies to cook! Congratulations to Heather Honeycutt (Hailey and Ainsley's mom) she won the coffee cup, spatula, and dish towel. Mother's Day is a special time of year when we get to celebrate the wonderful women in our lives. Have a Happy Mother's Day!













Friday, May 5, 2017

Cinco De Mayo!


Happy Cinco De Mayo! Our Pre-K 2 class had a Cinco De Mayo fiesta! They loved eating a special snack comprised of tacos, churros, and fruit! They even had a chance to explore a piñata! They had so much fun at their fiesta!