What Did You Do At School?

The Games We Play

Toddlers have a favorite game.

We play it every day.

Over.

And over.

And over again.

Can you guess what it could be?

 
That's right.

Peek-a- Boo!

It may seem like a silly game, but toddlers LOVE it! And there is a reason for that. They are still developing the idea of object permanence so when they/you hide and then pop out again it is reinforcing that just because they can't see something it doesn't mean that it is gone forever. So -- play away and know that you're helping to teach your toddler an important concept in the process.

Toddler Play

You know how you buy your baby a special toy and they're more interested in playing with the box?

Well, we have lots of special toys at school, too -- easily accessible to the children and chosen especially for their educational value.

And what do the young toddlers play with?

You guessed it. Their shoes. :)
 
 

Purse Play

Small children love to put things inside of other things so purses are a great play accessory.

After all, you never know when you might need a plastic doughnut.

And, if you've ever wondered how closely your child watches what you do, check out what this little girl did with her pocketbook when she was called to sit down and do her art.

 

Check out this cute series of pictures.

"Hmmm. Will this fit in my purse?"

"What else is in here?"

 

"Time to go!"

Now look how she has that purse over her shoulder and tucked under her arm. Yes, even the young toddlers are watching and copying what you do.

 
 
 

Focused Play

This is something that I love to see in our older toddlers:  focused, independent play.

Yes, it's what I love to see, but I don't see it too often. And that's OK. This is really a bit on the advanced side — but it is the direction we'd like to see the children going in.

Some children do seem to have a propensity for longer attention spans, greater imaginations, and play in general. Just like, as adults, some things come more naturally to us than others. To encourage your young children in their play, though, there are few things you can do. Turn off the TV. The very young do not need the visual stimulation of TV and videos. Encourage them to play by themselves. You should not have to entertain your children at all times. They must learn how to entertain themselves, too. That said, play alongside them once in awhile. Talk about what you're doing and about what they're doing. "My car is going up the hill. What is your car doing? Your car is going down the hill." Provide toys that encourage pretend and imagination (this precludes most battery-operated toys).   

Finally, a sunny day!

After several days of miserable weather, even the toddlers were enthralled when the sun came out.

These photos were taken in Toddler 2 last Thursday and Friday.

He was so fascinated he thought he'd just sit for awhile and take it all in.

Hello?

Kids are always paying attention to what the adults around them are doing.

For instance, even the very young know exactly what to do with a phone.

And we learn a lot about the adults in a child's life by how the child plays.

She's well on her way to multi-tasking, isn't she? Interestingly enough, two years ago I took a picture of the same girl holding the phone exactly the same way, in the crook of her neck — at that time she was a young 2 year old. So cute. And, a little sobering, too — to realize that the children are watching us so closely. Just thinking about that makes me want to be a better person! How about you?

Typical Toddlers

There are some behaviors that you can just expect from toddlers:

dumping. You can pretty much expect that if you have a bin filled with, well, anything, that a toddler will want to empty it. If it's a big bin, it'll be a one-by-one proposition. If it's small enough, it'll be picked up and overturned. Fortunately you can usually get them to put the things back in (although, it does become a bit of a game — throw two items out, put one in, throw five things out, put one back, etc.). Which brings us to another common characteristic of toddlerhood:

distraction. Oh, look. Here's a book. Let's look at it (thereby forgetting to put things back into the bin — but, on the other hand, also forgetting to throw things out of it!).

And another very common behavior:

climbing. The world looks so much more interesting from a higher spot. (And, having a good ledge to chew on is nice, too...)

Oh, and removing clothing — especially shoes. If they can get them off themselves, they probably will!

So, the message to parents of toddlers is — this is a very brief time in your child's life. Encourage them to do what you want them to do (keep the toys in the bin, keep their feet on the floor, etc.), but be patient as they really are learning a lot through doing what comes naturally. And, whenever possible, use that tendency to be easily distracted to your advantage!

Do you know the popsicle trick?

If your child has ever fallen and hit his or her mouth, you know how much mouths bleed. It can be scary — and hard to tell how bad the wound really is. Try giving your child a popsicle.

 
The icy popsicle will help to stop the bleeding and the yummy flavor may help to stop the crying. Then you can tell a little better where the blood is coming from — and you'll usually find that it's a very small place that will heal quickly. (Giving children toys to hold can also help the frantic grabbing that they sometimes do when they're hurt.)

Art by Me

Thought I'd give the parents a sneak peak of the artwork that is being submitted to Art by Me.

If you're new to the school and unfamiliar with this fundraising program, each child in each class completes a work of art that is sent to Art by Me (in Concord, NC) and returned to us in the form of a magnet. We will send the magnet home, along with instructions and an order form, giving you the option of paying for the magnet and perhaps purchasing other items showcasing your child's art. This is a great opportunity to get a little Christmas shopping done for the grandparents and other people who love your child. Items to order include things like notecards, aprons, t-shirts, mugs, and so much more. Really, there's something for everyone. Of course, if you don't want the magnet and don't want to order something that is fine. Just send the magnet back to us. No problem at all.

Since we're working with young children here, they did get a little help with their pictures. As you look at the sneak peaks below, you'll notice that some are handprints that have been embellished a little. Believe me, your child's hand is going to grow quickly and those little handprints are going to be very precious to you in the years to come! The older children had guidance with their work, but the placement of pieces is pretty much their own. Our goal is to come out with a product that will cause you to fondly remember these golden years in your child's life.

So, here they are by class:

TODDLER 1 — Angel

TODDLER 2 — Flowers

2A — Butterfly

 

 2B MWF — Butterfly

2B TTh — Butterfly

T3 — Pig

3B — Caterpillar

3C — Caterpillar

T4 — Flower and Bird

4C — Rooster

4D — Ocean Scene

TK — A Tree for Each Season

Sure hope that gets you a little excited to see your child's magnet come home!

The artwork is being sent to Art by Me on Monday. The magnets are scheduled to be returned to us the week of October 19. Then your orders will be due to us by October 30 and the fulfilled orders should arrive at the school around December 3.

Thanks for your support of our school — and thanks to the moms who came in to help with the artwork and to the teachers who worked so hard to make sure everything was completed on time! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

Toddlers

Well, so much for my little blog updating schedule. Here are some photos taken between Monday, September 28, and Friday, October 2. Unfortunately, my camera didn't get in the older toddler class that week, so all of the pictures are from:

Toddler 1

I've said it before, but toddlers — both older and younger — are fascinated by faces. Look at him examining that doll's eyes. Use this interest by talking to your little one about facial features. "Where is your nose? There's your nose!" etc.

 
Mirrors are a great tool for toddlers. Since they are so enthralled with faces, a mirror obviously holds a certain appeal. This mirror in Toddler 1 is extra special as it has a bar for those not yet walking on their own to pull themselves up on and practice a little cruising — all while looking at themselves.

Mouthing — a hallmark of young children. Much of how a very young child learns comes through his mouth. And, in case you're wondering, we're spending a lot of time sanitizing toys!

 

I didn't take this picture so I don't know the context but we'll just assume that it's really early sharing (and not the typical seeing what is wanted and taking it away from whoever has it)! OK?