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Ideas for making show and tell meaningful
I think that show and tell is a wonderful idea – in theory. I love that children get to share something that is really important to them, and that they get the opportunity to be the expert, even if only for a few minutes. I don’t love show and tell when it turns into “everyone bring the fanciest most expensive toy that you own and brag about it while the teacher spends the day making sure nothing gets broken and no one cries.” Yup, I’ve been there too. I think there are a few really great ways to stay on the positive side of show and tell, and make it…
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Teaching Children to Respect Materials and Belongings
Accidents happen in the preschool classroom all day long – preschoolers just aren’t very coordinated. But we can reduce some of those accidents if we teach our students to treat classroom materials with care and respect. First and foremost, children have to see their teachers modeling how to treat materials with respect. When children see us helping with clean up time, they are more likely to participate. When you return materials to the correct location, the children will start to do this too. Children pick up on your cues and begin to internalize them as expectations. Another great strategy to use when teaching children to respect materials is self-talk. This…
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Random Acts of Kindness for Preschoolers
An overarching theme for preschoolers is empathy. Whether you’re trying to help them understand that others have feelings, or being touched by sweet moments of caring, empathy is part of every single day. One really fun way to involve preschoolers in caring about others is to practice random acts of kindness. Here are some ideas: Make cards for nursing home patients Collect coloring books and crayons for a children’s hospital Bake cookies for police officers or firefighters Write nice messages on sticky notes and leave them all over the school Paint hearts on rocks and drop them when you go on a walk Collect loose change and choose a cause…
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Friday Freebie – Outdoor Games
Happy Friday! I am ready to spend some time outside this weekend, and if you’re planning on doing the same then today’s freebie is perfect! When I’m on the playground I always forget about all of the fun games that I used to play as a kid. I made these cards so that I could easily flip through and help the children choose a new game to learn. Download your set and have a wonderful weekend!
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Outdoor Imaginative Play
The outdoors are the perfect setting for imaginative play because they lend themselves to a number of themes that children love, such as pirates, faeries, the jungle, and camping. I love to include some basic props on the playground that spark that imagination. Here are some of my favorite materials (all links are affiliates): Dancing Scarves Ribbon Wands Play Food Large Plastic Blocks Pool Noodles Large Foam Blocks These are a great place to start because they can be turned into almost anything that a child might need for whatever theme they are acting out.
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Playground Rules
Do you have a strict set of playground rules or are you more of the relaxed “go explore” type? I love to get others’ opinions on this particular subject because most people generally feel very strongly one way or another. I can certainly see both sides. I understand that rules are in place for a reason, and that they can keep children from getting injured. I also understand the importance of being able to explore and be curious. personally I tend to lean towards the “explore” side of things. I fully believe that children learn best from first hand experience and that safety can be maintained as long as I…
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Teaching children how to play outdoors
I hear it more and more often, either programs don’t take their children outside to play because they feel pressured to accomplish learning goals OR they do take the children outside but then the children don’t know what to do once they get out there. It is becoming more and more common for our young children to not know how to engage in an unstructured outdoor environment, which means that it is our job to teach them! As a child I hated playing outside, I was that girl who didn’t like bugs or dirt or sweating. Even though I complained, my mom insisted that I go out and entertain myself.…
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Friday Freebie – Communication Sheet
Happy Friday, and happy long weekend – finally! The freebie that I have for you today is a great way to make sure you are communicating with all of your parents, even when you don’t have time for a conversation with each of them. This daily communication sheet can be quickly filled out and sent home with each child so that parents know what their child has been up to all day, and if there is anything that you need from them. Download your copy and enjoy your weekend!
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Free Developmental Screening Tool
Yesterday I shared some checklists that you can use to introduce families to developmental milestones, today I have a great way to complete developmental screenings. I just found out that Easter Seals has a wonderful program called Make the First Five Count, and part of that program is to make sure that families have access to developmental screening. Parents can go to their website and complete an Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Within a couple of days the results of the questionnaire will be sent directly to their email. They can also print a hard copy of the screening tool so that they can fill it out and share it…
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Understanding Developmental Milestones
One of the most common questions that I hear from parents is “when will my child be able to…” I usually don’t have the answer right off the top of my head because that’s a lot to remember, but I always know where to refer them. Whenever someone asks me about developmental milestones I give them the information for the CDC’s Developmental Milestones Checklists. These one page checklists are perfect for including in your newsletters or reviewing at conferences because they are easy to use and understand. They are available in English and Spanish, and the website also has photos and videos for each milestone so that families can see…
