Our PreSchool Blog

Lately, the Toddler teachers have been observing very friendly friendships growing around the classroom. As the boys and girls start learning and using more words, they are making connections with other children in the class. Here are some helpful tips on expanding communication with your child. Talk throughout the day, listen when your child talks, be nice and supportive when child seems frustrated, give choices to encourage them to talk, and read lots of stories!

This month we have been learning about pets in the Toddler room. In the dramatic play area, the children can feed their animals bottles, play with their “pet’s” toys, and care for them in the pet nursery. During small groups, the boys and girls took turns giving the dirty dogs a bath. The tubs were filled with soapy warm water and the children washed off the spots. They loved splashing around in the water while caring for their pets! 🙂

The Toddlers will be learning all about pets this month. The dramatic play area has turned into a pet nursery. The boys and girls can feed their pets a bottle, carry them around  in a carrying case, and rock them in the rocking chair. The block center is filled with lots of pink blocks to build towers with. We have lots of new pet puzzles and sorting games at the manipulative center. At the sensory tub, the children can search for pet mice in newspaper. We are going to have a fun month!

We might even get a pet of our own…

Today the Toddlers had so much fun playing with the parachute. We worked on the vocabulary and concepts of over and under. The boys and girls did a great job following directions as they held on tight and lifted the parachute into the air and quickly pulled it back down. There were lots of giggles and smiles during this activity.. we will be sure to do it again soon!

Today the Toddlers had a blast digging in the sandbox outside! Sand play promotes physical development. Large muscle skills develop as children dig, pour, and scoop sand. Eye-hand coordination and small muscle control improve as children manipulate sand play tools such as shovels and buckets. Sand play also promotes social skills such as sharing and working together. Exploring in the sandbox is considered open ended play which allows the child to use their imagination and play in any direction that they might like. Watch as the children build on these developmental skills!

The Toddler room has be transformed into a farmer’s paradise. The play house is now a big red barn, there is a farmers market full of fruits and veggies, and tractors galore at the transportation center. The boys and girls have had a field day exploring with farm animals in the sensory tub full of chicken feed!

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!

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.

Despite the dreary rainy day yesterday, the Toddler room was still buzzing with fun and excitement! The children had a blast exploring at the sand/water table. They used their fine motor skills to dig deep to find treasures underneath the styrofoam peanuts. The also socialized and practiced sharing, as they took turns using the table. The boys and girls also had a blast practicing their gross motor skills to jump and skip on bubble wrap. The popping sounds caused lots of giggles in our room!

We had a great first week of school in the Toddler Room! We were so excited to explore all of the fun new toys and centers throughout the room. The boys and girls spent part of  their day practicing sitting for group time and listening to a story! They loved the book 10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle. The children enjoyed pushing the “quack” button at the end of the story! The Toddlers had a great start to the week and are already transitioning smoothly into their new environment!