While learning about the animals and habitat of Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean we watched a video of a starfish on the ocean floor. The preschoolers made their own starfish while strengthening their fine motor muscles. Any activity that requires tearing, scrunching, folding, or twisting of paper is wonderful for the muscles in preschoolers little hands and fun to do!
The Toddler class was able to spend some time outside today… enjoying the amazing fall weather! The playground is a natural place for physical development as well as for social and emotional development. Young children need challenging playground experiences to develop early self-confidence along with large muscle skills and coordination. The boys and girls are learning to share and take turns… they’re making new friends along the way!
Since we’ve been talking about water, we couldn’t leave out the ocean and all of the creatures that call it home! During group time we read “Mister Seahorse” by Eric Carle. The boys and girls were fascinated by the hidden fish in the pictures. During art center, we reviewed our colors and the boys and girls used their fine motor skills to sponge paint all over the paper. They loved the mess they were making and we loved the product that came out… check out our very own Mr. Seahorse!
In reading groups today the Pre-Kers focused on the sight word ‘make’. While reading our book of the week, Making Bubbles, we were exposed to the sight word used in context. Next we listened and identified the beginning sound of ‘make.’ We searched for pictures that had the same beginning sound. To close reading groups for today we searched for the sight word ‘make’. Working with sight words in different ways promotes comprehension and memory.
The Toddler room explored the theme of water throughout September. The boys and girls enjoyed reading “10 Little Rubber Ducks” by Eric Carle and the “Wide-Mouthed Toad” by Keith Faulkner. Although we were busy working on our masterpieces for the art show we were able to slip in a few water creature crafts too. The children made rubber ducks out of potato stamps using yellow paint. There were lots of giggles as their hands were covered in slimy green paint to make frog feet!
Today we practiced holding scissors the correct way. Scissor skills are a definite aspect of independence in the classroom and at home. Understanding the correct way helps keep your preschooler safe and strengthens fine motor muscles. Click here for a great video on teaching preschoolers to use scissors.
1. Index and middle fingers in the bottom hole, keep at the bottom.
2. Thumb in the smaller hole always facing up.
3. Use other fingers to support the outside of the scissors while cutting.
One of our objectives in the Toddler room this month is to go over the concept and vocabulary “in and out”. The boys and girls practice this everyday. Whether it be playing in and out of the play house, putting objects in or out of the sensory table, or going in and out of the classroom… the children are putting the words in to motion each day! Our friends had a great time putting the balls “in” and “out” of the bucket.
Name recognition is a skill practiced daily in preschool. Today we strengthened our fine motor and wrist muscles while working on a vertical surface. The Smartboard makes name practice especially fun. Some fun ways to practice names around the house are writing in shaving cream, flour, dirt, sand, steam on the bathroom mirror, sugar or salt. Letter building is fun to do around the house as well. Help your preschooler create the letters of their name with dry or cooked noodles, beans, candy, or coins.
Click on the picture to practice 10 Little Numbers with your preschooler!
Creative Tots has specialized in the private education of both toddlers and preschool age children for over 15 years. We began in the heart of Madeira and now also have a new Mason location. We are specifically designed to focus on early childhood development for children ages 18 months to 5 years.
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