Today we say goodbye to Nate. Next week he will join his big brother at ECDC! Nate was just about a year old when he joined Wee Friends. Almost three years later, we send him off with lots of love and gratitude for the time we’ve spent together, learning and growing up! We love you, Naters!!!

Did you know that fine motor development contributes to the development of communication skills in young children? It affects their ability to write a name or message, manipulate a computer mouse, create a sculpture or draw a picture; all of which are forms of communication (Family and Parenting 2010)

Ellie worked very hard this morning, wrapping hair twisties around the neck of her Barbie. As I watched the developing dexterity of her fingers: how they twisted and turned, tensed up and relaxed, I was reminded again of how important the offering of fine motor activities is in the early childhood classroom. So I went on a fine motor activity hunt and here’s what I found:

 

And of course, gross motor, in the form of jumping from one hot lava rock to the other.

In our Wee World, friend’s fingers and hands are moving/working all day long. For our Wee Friends, the value is FUN! From our teaching perspective, we know that our friends are exercising their muscles and their minds in ways that will continue to serve them as they grow! Cheers and Happy Weekend!