A Day in the Life of Wee Friends
April 21, 2011
7:45 Friends begin to arrive! Many toddlers begin their day in the Truck Room building with Trios and Magna Tiles. A healthy hot breakfast of cinnamon toast and apples is served. These moments of self directed play are rich with lessons as the children negotiate sharing toys and ideas. One friend sits with his dad reading a book, another sits on the potty practicing for the Big Day! We sing “Sunshine on my Shoulders” and take sun baths as the warm sun radiates through the window.
9:30 The first younger group of tumblers depart. They meet an energetic Ms. Patty who greets them by name and invites them to the mat to begin. They are accustomed to the routine and know the course of exercise by heart. One friend who hasn’t mastered the low beam as yet, sails confidently across today—TWICE!
9:30 While the toddler tumblers are away, the older kids play math games. The Pirate Coin game requires them to fill up a board with coins that they’ve counted out. They play the Farm Animal Matching Egg Game.Tami works with a kindergart
ener as she reads the Bob Book #6. Also, the same child wanted to investigate the non-fiction book, Is My Hamster Wild?, so Tami and a small group learned all about hamster habits, anatomy, family life, and health. Did you know that wild hamsters set their homes up with different “rooms”? They have living rooms, dining rooms, bathrooms, & bedrooms that are all connected by tunnels. This is why pet hamsters love to have tunnels to run through.
10:35 Toddlers return and older kids head to tumbling.
10:40 Lunch prep begins. Today we serve toasted wheat tortillas with refried beans, watermelon (A BIG hit!!) and cucumbers. Kids head outside to play.
12:00 The neighboring church bells ring signaling us to come inside. Older toddlers have returned. We take our own coats off and hang them on our cubby hooks. We wash our own hands and sit down to eat. The older kids pass dishes, pour milk and water and then afterwards, clear and wipe both tables.
12:30 Older kids gather to begin writing in their daily journal. Two friends follow a Step by Step Drawing Book and a kindergartener helps all her friends kid spell.
12:30 The toddlers head to the back of the house to hear their daily pre-nap story. Today Melinda reads “Good Night Sweet Butterflies- A Color Dreamland” She finishes the book, invites them to close their eyes and imagine, as butterflies, what color their meadow (cot) is. They snuggle in with appropriate “pacies”, blankies and lovies.
12:30 The older non-nappers choose books and settle onto their mats.
2:44 Kids are awake. The toddlers page through the Butterfly book exclaiming “I was this one! I was this one!” We will eat raisins and whole wheat crackers and soon, head outside to enjoy this beautiful day!
A peaceful, productive Wee Friends Day. Have a terrific holiday weekend.
We WF parents are so fortunate to have such dedicated and creative people looking after our children while we are at work! Thanks to all of you, and thanks especially for this blog!