
Friday Newsletter 31 January 2019 (Activities for Toddlers)

Friday Newsletter 31 January 2019 (Activities for Toddlers)
31 January 2019
Good Morning Moms and Dads!


Hoping that this week has been a great one for all!
We have had a fantastic start to this new school year, as the children are now settling into their classes and making new friends. Tears are now but a few and have been replaced by smiles, shy giggles and happy laughter. We are so proud of each one of them!
Classroom activities for toddlers have now begun…
Our theme for this week has been “Me and my body” and will continue into next week. From cutting to colouring, sticking to tearing, puzzles to games, the list of activities for toddlers goes on.
Each of our themes and toddler activities (both indoors and out) are age appropriate, and carefully constructed, to incorporate, promote and include the following:
SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL
- Meeting new friends
- Learning to identify and express emotions
- Learning to take turns and to share
- Helping others
- Following directions
- Learn about ourselves and the world around us
- Fantasy Play
- Developing responsibility
- Developing good manners
LANGUAGE / VOCABULARY
- Build language through songs, finger plays and games.
- Discuss weekly theme
- Story time / repeating stories
- Show and Tell / sharing news
- Numbers (counting)
- Recognising own name
- Following directions
- Identifying initial sounds
FINE MOTOR SKILLS
- Drawing (free drawing, colouring, body image)
- Painting & finger painting
- Pasting, cutting & tearing paper
- Puzzles
- Building blocks
- Stencil work
- Manipulating playdough
- Threading beads
- Weaving
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS
- Hopping, galloping, climbing, running, jumping & marching.
- Walking on tiptoes, walking on a line
- Riding bikes, running races
- Catching beanbags
- Catching, kicking & throwing a ball
- Obstacle courses
- Playing with hoops, rolling
- Jungle gym, monkey bars
SCIENCE / SENSORY
- Exploring smells, noises, tastes and visuals
- Explore textures: jelly, shaving foam, spaghetti etc
- Discovering how things grow
- Experiments
- Observing seasonal changes
- Naming days of the week/months of the year
- Mixing colours
- Baking
MATH READINESS
- Counting, rhymes and songs (Rote counting)
- Beginning to recognise numerals
- Identifying shapes
- Identifying similarities / differences
- Sorting by size, shape and colour
- Matching objects
- Problem solving
BIBLE
- Weekly Bible activities for toddlers (Evangeli Curriculum)
- Bible stories
- Christian songs
- Saying grace
MUSIC
- Making instruments
- Dancing
- Singing songs
- Musical games
Hands-on preschool activities for toddlers vs preschool worksheets…
- Hands-on activities for toddlers allow the children to use their senses while learning. They see, touch and move real objects to complete tasks. This means that numbers, shapes, colours, and more are brought to life!
- Children get excited and engaged because they are having FUN
- They have a longer attention span. This helps them to build knowledge and increase their long-term memory
- Children will strengthen their fine motor development. They learn control, communication, concentration and dedication to finishing tasks and problem- solving skills.
- Hands-on preschool activities help children to build a lifelong love of learning.


(Teacher Benita’s class having fun!)
Parents please see important information regarding our:
To coincide with Valentines Day here at school, we have our:
GRANDPARENTS TEA COMING UP SOON….
A special time together as we look forward to:
Thursday 14th Feb: 10:00am – 11:00am
Parents please pass on this special date to diarise to any Grandparents who may be able to join their grandchildren here at school for our annual Grandparents Tea, from 10:00am – 11:00am.
This is a great opportunity for Grandparents to spend time with their grandchildren in their school surroundings, enjoy a cup of tea, meet the teacher and enjoy some singing together.
For those children who may not have Grandparents to join us on the day, they will still be included in our fun morning!
- Should any grandparents wish to take their grandchildren home with them at 11am, please send us written consent from yourself via either sms or e-mail beforehand.
- Parents please remind Grandparents to bring along a sunhat!
- Please confirm during the week with your class Teacher regarding number of Grandparents that will be attending.

“Grandparents prepare us for the future by teaching us about the past” – Unknown
EXTRA MURALS:
Please note that all of our Extra Murals (additional to standard preschool activities for toddlers) will be up and running by next week and are as follows:
Kindermusiek, SoccerStarz, Junior Science Lab, A+ Students (Genius Mathematics) and Ballet / Dancing.
Please speak to your class Teacher should you be interested in enrolling your child in any of the above. (NB. Remember to confirm with your child’s teacher which extra murals are available for your child’s age group).
NB. Extra Murals take place at school during the school morning.
- Fees are payable directly to the individual Extra Mural companies.
That’s it for this week… But before we go:
Thought for the day…

Have a glorious day!
From all of us here at Baby Blessings