What We Do
Our home is organized to guide the children in learning though play. We regularly rotate the toys and activities in the playroom to reflect the interests of the children and to keep things exciting. Monthly and seasonal themes are a framework that we use to plan activities and learning experiences. These themes are both fluid and flexible. They are guided by the ages and interests of the children enrolled. If we are planning a butterfly theme and the children are showing an interest in, say, dinosaurs we will change our activity calendar and learn about dinosaurs. Following the interests of the children can lead to some last minute changes but it is always worth it.
| June 2009 | In My Garden, Down by the Sea, Father’s Day. |
| July 2009 | Sand Castles, Water. |
| August 2009 | Backyard Science, Pizza Parlour. |
| September 2009 | Apples, Magnificent Me, Shapes, Letters A and B, Numbers 0-2, Red. |
| October 2009 | Pumpkins, Nocturnal Animals, Thanksgiving, Letters C, D, and E, Number 3, Orange. |
| November 2009 | Our Town (Community Helpers), Four Seasons, At the Library, Letters F, G, and H, Number 4, Brown. |
| December 2009 | Happy Holidays, Gingerbread, Folk and Fairy Tales, Letters I, J, and K, Number 5, Blue. |
| January 2010 | Arctic Animals, Five Senses, Mittens, Letters L, M, and N, Number 6, Black and White |
| February 2010 | Winter Olympics, Bears, Letters O, P, and Q, Number 7, Purple. |
| March 2010 | Homes, Families, In My Closet, Letters R, S, and T, Number 8, Green. |
| April 2010 | On the Farm, Baby Animals, Feathered Friends, Letters U, V, and W, Number 9, Yellow. |
| May 2010 | At the Zoo, Mother Goose & Friends, Mother’s Day, Letters X, Y, and Z, Number 10, Pink |
Sign Language
We started using ASL (American Sign Language) with our eldest daughter just as she was learning to speak and she picked it up so quickly (we did too) that we now do signing with all the children. We watch a short instructional DVD (Signing Time) and practice new words regularly. It is a fun, informal activity with numerous benefits. These benefits include:
- Improves children's ability to learn their spoken language and helps them gain language skills earlier and faster than those who did not learn signing.
- Enables children to grow up “bi-lingual”, which allows for an easier grasp of additional languages in the future.
- Increased I.Q. points by between eight and thirteen points – benefits which have remained to the oldest age tested to date.
- Young children are able to communicate needs, wants, and fears earlier and better, thus decreasing misbehaviour and temper tantrums.
- Improved co-operation between very young children.
Music and Movement Classes
During the cold, snowy months we bring in a teacher once a week to lead a music and movement class. We have found this to be a great way to break up the day and get us moving. We have also spoken to other providers who bring in people for yoga and story time. We are looking into these activities as well for winter 2010.
Circle Time
We have a daily circle time, often at the table after lunch. During our circle time we sing songs, read books, do finger plays, play word games, and learn about colours, seasons, letters, numbers, and more. This is an enjoyable time for everyone and a great transition to afternoon quiet time and naps.
Quiet Time & Naps
All of the children have a quiet time in the afternoon. Infants and younger children nap in portable cribs (Pack ’n Plays) in our family’s bedrooms. Children who have outgrown their beds move to cots set up in the playroom. The children are encouraged to lie down and read or rest if they are no longer napping. After their rest, older children often spend time working on school readiness skills.
Outside Play
Our outdoor space is an extension of our indoor playroom. We spend as much time as we can outside running, climbing, sliding, drawing, painting, digging, and playing. We have ride on cars and trikes, climbers, slides, a sandbox, a playhouse, picnic tables, balls, water table, hula hoops, bubbles, and pirate ship steering wheels.
Art
Art is an important part of our daily routine. We participate in both structured and open-ended crafts. We colour, cut, glue, tear, draw, paint, feel, touch, mould, shape, bend, and stick. We use our imaginations. We create.
Free Play
Children are given ample time each day to play freely. This is the time the children are likely to be building towers, racing cars, dressing up as animals, princesses, or firefighters. They are playing games, cooking gourmet meals at the play kitchen, and reading books. They are playing ring-around-the-rosie, tossing bean bags, and more.
Kitchen Science
The children are involved in age-appropriate food and meal preparation though out the week. We also plan at least one theme-related cooking activity per week.