October, 2015 “Little Acorn Grows Up” by Edward Gibbs Theme: Fall Fun
Parents as Teachers Subscribe to our PAT NewsLink for Playgroup schedules, events, and Parents as Teachers info. www.berrienresa.org/pat
Upcoming Playgroups
Why is play play so important? Young children learn best through movement and play. Play expands cognitive, social emotional, language and motor skills. Through play, young children learn how to learn, which is fundamental to school success. Keep these things in mind while playing with your child: •
•
•
•
Play requires active involvement, is spontaneous and directed by the child. It is intrinsically motivated and is always fun. Your child’s play time is more valuable when you join in. When you play with your child, you can help build attention span, encourage problem solving, and ask questions that further the activity. You also strengthen your bond and attachment with your child. Children are naturally inclined to want to play and learn about the world around them. Learning is fun! Kids can be discouraged by flash cards, drilling, demanding answers to questions, and acting as though a child is good or bad depending on if they give a right or wrong answer. Knowing the stage of play that your child is currently in, can help you decide which activities to engage in and how to play with different toys.
Handouts about the stages of play and how to enhance your child’s play are available at the sign-in table.
November
Pete’s Big Lunch by James Dean
December Come celebrate with us at the Berrien RESA for our annual “Welcome Winter” event on December 8, 2015. There are two sessions to choose from: 10:00-11:30a.m. Or 1:00-2:30p.m.
Featured Song: Grey squirrel, Grey squirrel! (bounce up and down on the words) Swish your bushy tail! (shake it) Grey squirrel, Grey squirrel! Swish your bushy tail! Put an nut between your toes (touch your toes) Wrinkle up your little nose! (poke your nose) Grey squirrel, Grey squirrel! Swish your bushy tail!
Remember to thank your local principal for hosting this Playgroup!
Playgroup Activities Sensory Activity: Floam
Discovery Bin: Corn Bin
Puzzles/Games: Acorn Color Matching Acorn Counting Acorn Sorting
Gross Motor: Bowling
Dramatic Play: Animal Dress-Up
Art: Marlbe Box Painting: place a piece of paper in a shoe box. Add a few drops of paint and a handful of marbles. Let your child shake the box.
Homemade Floam Ingredients: -2tsp of Borax -¼ cup of Elmer’s Glue ½ cup of very warm water ¼ cup of warm water Styrofoam cups or Poly-Fil Micro Beads -Food coloring Step 1: Break 4-5 cups into your blender with a tablespoon of water. Blend until fine bead are formed. Step 2: Mix 2 tsp of Borax with ½ cup of very warm water. Stir this mixture and let the borax dissolve. In another bowl, mix ¼ cup of glue and ¼ cup of warm water. Add food coloring into this mix. Step 3: Pour the Borax and glue mixtures into a gallon ziplock bag. Add 1 ½ -2 cups of crumbled Styrofoam into the slimy mixture. Add more Styrofoam if the floam seems to wet. Step 4: This step is perfect for your kids to help with. Zip up the bag and squeeze the mixture around until it begins to solidify. Let the completed mixture air out for a few minutes before using.
To prevent the sharing of germs, all toys and mats are sanitized following each playgroup. Feel free to use the wipes provided in the infant center to wipe toys that have been in a child’s mouth. We also use Surface aide for further protection. See staff for more information about this non-toxic antimicrobial barrier.
Read, Play, Sing, and Talk to your child every day!
