Hello 2/3s families,
The summer has continued to fly by and we can’t believe it’s already August. We have had a busy month full of learning. This past month, we have been learning to take turns, communicate our needs and wants, colors, opposites, matching, and have been reading a lot of new stories that involve music and dancing, but also animals–something that is a common interest among the class.
Parallel and Associate Play
As the children have become more acclimated to the classroom and the other children in it, we have seen the children start to play more together. This is typical development for this age group. Parallel play is playing alongside other children, but not necessarily with them. Associate play is playing with other children and having a common interest in what they’re playing with, but might not always have strong interactions during play. We are seeing more frequently that they’re playing alongside one another, but are also seeing a little more involvement from each other when they play together. As teachers, we are also encouraging children to play together. For instance, if we’re throwing balls, maybe throw the back and forth with a friend, or kick them back and forth.
Movement!
Thank you so much to families that have provided us with pictures of their children doing various forms of activity at home whether it’s playing at the park, doing sports, swimming, gymnastics, etc. We have been adding our own pictures to our door that we’ve taken at school. The children have been noticing themselves and others doing various types of movement and are talking about what they are doing in the pictures. We’ve introduced new words to the children like roll and somersault. Next time you’re in the classroom, take a look at the back of our bathroom door to see what your child has been up to with their gross motor skills!
Media Table Play
Our media table, or a sensory bin, has been a common interest for the children. Lately we have had strictly water in it. The children frequently request for the table be opened and we’ve changed the toys out of it numerous times. They get excitement in being able to choose what color we turn the water in the morning, what toys we should put in, and helping empty it at the end of the day if we don’t do it during nap time. Through sensory play, the children learn so many concepts like math, science, language, along with social and creative skills as they play with other children at the table. They also control their body movements as they scoop and pour water and/or sand playing alongside their classmates.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/importance-sand-and-water-play
Reminders:
- Numbers and Nachos–Family Night, is Tuesday, August 1st from 4:45-6:00pm. There is a sign up by the ProCare system to bring a food donation if you are able and would like to.
- If you haven’t already, please return your child’s ASQ and your intake form. These will be put in your child’s file for the summer.
- Continue to bring in diapers and wipes if your child is running low on them.
- Please remember to check in with one of your child’s teachers when you pick up on the playground at the end of the day as we may not see you come to pick them up.
Sincerely,
Krysten, Nadine, and 2/3s staff
