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

Our eggs have changed again. They started out one way and have become something else. Sort of like our day. The morning kicked off with another Hair Party. Friends found their places in the music area and jammed out. Simultaneously, Mel and scientists drained their Karo syrup eggs and submerged them in water, getting ready for the big explosion this afternoon. The eggs will soak up the water again and we’ll have friends pop them!

A conversation about bugs, spiders and worms has begun. From our hair party, we moved to a creative drama exploration where friends became worms and our bedhead became a red robin pecking for a worm to eat.

Elliott and Finn fed their friends information from two earthworm books and the drama moved into a “catch the mole” game.

Three friends outsmarted the group by moving so quickly beneath the earth, they escaped the squish.

When we learned about snakes and then spiders, we tried to use our bodies to create those creepy crawlers.

Then we calmed our bodies to the sweet chirping sounds of crickets.

We really wanted to find a worm. So we decided to give it a try. We did find one worm. And we talked a lot about where the worms were, why they weren’t out and what their favorite weather conditions are…to make an appearance.

We’ll wait. For the worms AND the warm.

Oh! As we anticipate warmer weather, we need to replenish our sunscreen supply. When you think of it, please bring a sunscreen spray bottle to keep at Wee Friends! Thank you!

Wee Sprouts: Celery sticks. Breakfast: Whole wheat bagels with cream cheese and bananas. Lunch: Peanut butter sandwiches on whole grain bread, bananas and mixed veggies. Snack: Yogurt and apple slices.

Happy Thursday!

Rain, rain go away! The Wee Wee’s want to go out to play!

P.K. and Daniel started their morning off by asking for magnatiles. With help from one another, they built a tall tower that they continued to knock over and rebuild! Perseverance was the key word this morning!

Miss Marty read to a group of friends. Clara asked for her favorite book of late which is ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider’.

We had smiles all day today even though the weather outside was icky!

Children loved hugging their friends today to make them feel better. Whether we fell down or just needed a pick me up, friends welcomed hugs! Our empathy for our friends continues to grow daily. When a friend falls down or gets hurt, you can always count on a friend to give that child a hug or ask if they’re ok.

For breakfast, children had cinnamon toast squares and banana. Lunch consisted of ham and melted cheese on whole wheat English muffins, mixed vegetables, and fresh oranges. PM snack was raisins and cheddar cheese slices.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

Good Morning Wee World! There are lessons to be learned, works to be worked and plays to be played. So we started with the laundry.

Friends got excited about how many times they could fold their piece of laundry. The folds of small pieces and large pieces were counted aloud and parents, don’t let ‘em fool ya’—not only are they master folders, they had a blast helping with this necessary work.

A morning long mini-society emerged in housekeeping that started with two big sisters and three little sisters. The big sisters were very focused on teaching good manners and enjoying great wealth. “We are rich! We give some of our money to the old people and keep the rest for ourselves.” one sister exclaimed.

Our friends are creating new and amazing shapes with the Magna Tiles.

We’ve been reading Margie Palatini’s hysterical story Bedhead, about Oliver, who awakens with bedhead and can’t work it out. Trout Fishing in America, a musical duo for kids, who hail from Houston, (www.troutmusic.com) sing a song as if it was written for the book: “My Hair Had A Party Last Night!” We put the two together, donned crazy hats, talked about the trials and tribulations of bedhead and had our own Wee Party on the music rug. Later, we calmed out bodies by listening to and guessing which instruments we heard a friend (behind the chair) playing.

The eggs are still evolving. In fact, today, Melinda introduced the concept of osmosis to our Wee Scientists. They placed the previously shelled eggs into a glass full of Karo syrup. She explained how, by tomorrow (or in 12 hours) osmosis will occur as the syrup pushes the egg’s water out, causing the egg to shrink. Friends got to feel the firm and rubbery egg that is evolving.

Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Cheerios and pear slices. Lunch:

Snack: Strawberries and cheese sticks.

Bedhead+Stinky Eggs+Independent Work and Play=Rainy Day Magic.

 

Hello!

Since it rained outside today, friends enjoyed spending time in the house today. We read books throughout the day and worked on our gross motor skills while on the habitrail. This morning while it was raining and thundering, we looked out the windows to watch the rain fall. Friends opened their ears to listen to the thunder! It was sure loud! Some of us got scared but teachers and friends were reassuring to those friends .

For breakfast, children had whole wheat toast with cinnamon and pears. AM snack was corn. We had to make seconds because our friends wanted more! Lunch consisted of rice with pork, strawberries/banana, and peas. PM snack was string cheese and oranges. Miss Marty couldn’t cut up the oranges and string cheese fast enough for our friends!

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy