Today’s Big Inspirations centered Lisa’s Pick-up-and-Reach Tool and Wee Hair.

We learned that the Pick-up-and-Reach Tool is also an excellent early childhood fine motor tool. We learned that Wee Friends can comb their own hair and they think it feels really good.

How did we arrive inside these inspiring moments? Lisa used this tool during her convalescence and shared with the kids how it works. Their interest created a morning long study that required two developing skills: 1) use your strong fingers to press and strong arms to lift and 2) be comfortable sharing and taking turns.

We listened to “My Hair Had a Party Last Night”. Earlier in the day, we discovered we had a whole package of combs. We put these two materials together and created a surprisingly stimulating study…of combs! And brushes. We examined their differences (thin/thick, smooth/bumpy). We talked about who uses a comb or brush. We wondered where you buy a combs and brushes. Then we played “The Rainbow Connection” and had a Combing My Hair Music Meditation. Then we jammed out again to Trout Fishing in America.

These were the Big Inspirations experienced by large groups today. There were lots of one-on-one, two-on-two and smaller group Inspirations as well. Enjoy.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Oatmeal and pears. Lunch: Cheese pizza on whole grain crust with peas and pear/banana/pineapple fruit salad. Snack: Yogurt and Cottage cheese.

Have a great weekend.

Hello!

Even though the weather outside was less than stellar, our attitudes were great! Happy campers filled the Wee Wee house.

 

Friends are enjoying listening and watching the rain and the different weather actions that come with it such as lightning and thunder. Children are using their ears to listen to the rain. We found that it’s a soothing sound to us.

Even though our mood was high, there were times in the day where the rain made us sleepy!

We muddled through the weather and had a GREAT Thursday!

For breakfast, children had cheerios and banana. Lunch consisted of egg casserole with hash browns and cheese, oranges, and bread. PM snack was cottage cheese and pretzels.

Have a terrific evening.

-Mindy

Sloane to Lisa: “This says Hello back, Lisa!!”

As it turns out, we have Elliott to thank for Lisa’s safe journey back to Wee friends. Elliott created a map to Wee Friends and mailed it to Lisa so that she could find her way back to us!

When other friends heard about Elliott’s map, they rushed to the table to make their own maps. Among the many welcoming moments we shared this morning, it was the anticipation of a treasure hunt that captivated friends’ imaginations. After the maps were created, we used them to play a hunting game in which each friend searched for an object that was included on their map.

From red trucks to baby bottles to lower case ‘e’, friends hunted high and low and were ecstatic with their success!

Alphabet letter matching, good books, and ballerina buns were among the other ways we celebrated a return to the Wee World as we know it!!!

HELLO BACK LISA!

WS:

Breakfast: Peanut butter toast and orange slices.

Lunch:

Snack: Pear slices and cheddar cheese slices.

Have a great day.

 

Good Afternoon!

Our Wee Wee Friends got a special treat this morning! We heard a fire truck with our ears so we looked out the window and it was right down the street. The bunch was gathered up and we headed out to the front lawn. A nice fireman invited us down to take a look at the fire truck! Carefully, we held hands with friends and teachers as we headed down to take a look at the big, red fire engine! The nice fireman asked our friends if anyone wanted to be a fireman when they grow up. We talked about what fireman do and how they help people.

One of the fireman took a group picture of us standing in front of the fire truck! It was sure fun learning about fire trucks and meeting the nice firefighters . They told us to wait outside and they would honk their big engine as they drove by!

It was sure loud! We waved to them as they passed on by. Thanks South Bend Firefighters!

For breakfast, children had oatmeal with cinnamon and pears. AM snack was peas. Lunch consisted of rice with beef, mixed vegetables, and bananas. PM snack was hummus and crackers.

Have a terrific evening.

-Mindy

*The weather forecast tomorrow calls for an 80% chance of rain and thunderstorms. Tami will not be taking friends to the farm as planned. She is devising the farm schedule as we speak and, mostly, waiting for the weather to cooperate so we can get out there ASAP! Stay posted for the next farm date.

*Here’s a new phone messaging system, so if you anticipate a late pick up, or need to communicate something to a teacher during the day,  you have no trouble reaching us: Please call the Wee Friends land line first. If you have an emergency or immediate need, please text or call Lisa or Tami, who keep their mobiles on their person.

Wee Friends landline: 574-288-4560

Lisa’s mobile: 574-250-2785

Tami’s mobile: 574-234-6037

Thank you! Feel free to share feedback as we work this out!

AND!

Lisa has the green light to return to work tomorrow, for a few hours a day! The Wee World has missed her and are excited for her to return.

The big excitement today was bugs. The bugs are out and watch out, friends have resumed their springtime ritual of bug hunting…..

Wee Sprouts: Green beans. Breakfast: Whole wheat tortillas with peanut butter and pear slices. Lunch:

(that’s whole grain rice with shredded beef). Snack: Cottage cheese and orange slices.

Have a great day.

Hello!

The sun started to peak through the clouds this afternoon just as we were headed outside! We enjoyed experiencing new things, playing with friends, and pushing our limits outside today!

The buckets were a big hit today. In the morning, the sand was too wet to play with but this afternoon it made for excellent packing sand! Keerthi rubbed the sand between two fingers. The sensory opportunities in the sand box are endless!

P.K. ended his day searching for worms with some of the older Wee Friends. He found two!

For breakfast, children had eggs with cheese and pears. AM snack was corn. Lunch consisted of whole wheat bagels with hummus, watermelon, and corn. PM snack was animal crackers and cheddar cheese slices.

Have a great evening.

-Mindy

Just a reminder that today was the last day of the current swimming session. Next Tuesday begins the new session.

We watch for/create/study patterns all day at Wee Friends. From poker chips to wee behaviors, patterns are developing all around us.

Patterns cultivate order, creativity and also offer a daily predictability that we think our Wee Friends enjoy! Understanding our Wee Friends’ patterns helps us create a Stimulating and Happy Wee World.

Here are a few patterning development ideas to enjoy with your Wee Friend.

From www.earlychildhoodireland.ie

Language –Think about the language you use with children when describing and creating patterns:
before, after, follow, next, start, finish, between, copy, same, different, middle, again, repeat,

Sing-Sing songs that rhyme, repeat, or have numbers in them.  Songs reinforce patterns (which is a math skill as well).  They also are fun ways to practice language and foster social skills like cooperation.

Make music-Use clapping, drum beats, animal noises, and various sounds to make and explore different rhythms and patterns. Also use percussion instruments to accompany singing.

Get Moving-Create movement patterns as you move across the back yard, down the street or through the park. For example walk, walk, jump; walk, walk, jump. Or make up dances that use a repeated sequence.

Go Outside-Recognize, explore and create patterns, shapes and colors, eg with leaves, pebbles and 2D shapes; Nature provides patterns in flower petals, colorful gardens, and even in the coats of animals such as tigers and zebras at the zoo. Help children to grow plants in the garden and point out the cyclical pattern of planting, growing etc….

For young children identifying and creating patterns is just the beginning of the mastery of life-long mathematical skills. Once children are aware of patterns they will begin to see them in everything.

How do you encourage your Wee Friend to explore patterns?

 Breakfast: Chex and bananas. Lunch: Hummus

Snack: Bananas and peanuts.

Have a great day.

Happy Monday!

Our older Wee Wee’s started their day off waiting for their turn on the blue bus! We were very patient and watched as our Wee friends enjoyed their turn on the blue bus.

When it was our turn, we walked over to Wee Friends and happily climbed onto the blue bus!

Throughout our time on the bus, we worked on sit ups and strengthening our body by doing different exercises.

Our friends were very good listeners .

Our favorite by far was the little trampoline that we got to jump on! Everyone got a turn to do each activity and obstacle course! We LOVE the blue bus!

Thankfully the rain held off this morning and afternoon! We headed outside where friends gathered in the sand box or in the house to play pretend.

Friends Eve and Keerthi enjoyed going down the slide at the same time together.

For breakfast, children had whole wheat toast with cinnamon and pears. AM snack was corn. Lunch consisted of whole wheat noodles with kidney beans, peas, and watermelon (YUM!). PM snack was hard boiled eggs with graham crackers.

Have a terrific evening!

If you didn’t have a chance to see the bathroom weemodel, please check it out at pickup! This weekend, Tami and Charles completed Phase 1 of the multi-phase project.

Wee words can be very unique. Today we jotted down a few conversations we caught, giving us a sneak peak into our friend’s worlds of ideas and connections.

WF:“Are you old?” Teacher: “No, I don’t think so.” WF: “Then why do you wear glasses?”

WF to daddy upon seeing the bathroom weemodel: “You have to come in and see how beautiful this is!”

WF: “I’m happy today, not sad. Do you like Tilapia?”

WF: “I just found out something! Ada-you might know this! Your blood is not really red, it’s blue! Nobody has actually seen it blue. Maybe God has seen it.”

WF: “My mama’s poo poo smells like roses.”

WF: “Only the one potty in the corner is the one we can use. If the babies sit on those they could really hurt themselves, right guys?”

WF: “We are playing boyfriend. It’s a family game.”

Teacher: “Thank you earth for the cool breeze!” WF 1: “You should thank God.” WF2: “Who is God?” Teacher: “That would be a good question for your mom or dad. Why don’t you ask them a little later today and share with us what you find out.”

Lunch: Whole wheat rigatoni with red beans, watermelon and peas. Snack: Crackers and cheddar cheese slices.

Happy Monday.

Happy Friday!

Friends were involved in a sensory experiment this morning that they LOVED!  As some of us waited patiently for our turn, others dove into the excitement!

We talked about the color of the shaving cream along with the different textures and how it feels in our hands. Conversations throughout play is essential.

Clara and P.K. joined one another in the kitchen where they each went hands into the shaving cream! P.K. squished it in between his fingers and hands. Clara took her hands and smashed the shaving cream that was on her tray. She laughed when the shaving cream went everywhere!

Eren had a smile on his face the entire time. The exploration factor along with anything sensorial gets his juices flowin’! Daniel found that if he squished the shaving cream up high in his hands, it would fall down to the table.

Eve put a little shaving cream on her fingers and moved it around. When the cream was on her fingers, she studied it for some time.

For breakfast, children had cheerios and oranges. AM snack was corn. Lunch consisted of soy butter on tortillas, mixed vegetables, and banana. PM snack was pears and hard boiled eggs.

Have a wonderful weekend!

-Mindy