Fun at the Park!

The kids have been playing great together. They motivate one another and do their best to offer leadership and encouragement to one another. We have been trying to utilize our time outdoors the best that we can, despite the clouds and rain. The kids are always inventing new games to play with one another, as well as test their skills and agility through obstacle courses and races. The confidence that they exhibit in terms of going out of their comfort zone to try new things in the playground is remarkable.

Building Days

The kids have remarkable moments of inspiration and interest. Building structures out of different materials and objects is a great way for them to display their creativity. And, let's face it, its plain old fun. The kids really enjoy making different structures out of the magnets set we have. They find different ways to challenge themselves in terms of what they build and how they create it. It truly is fascinating to watch what they come up with and why!

Happy Mother's Day

All of the playschool staff would like to wish all of the wonderful mothers out there a very Happy Mother's Day!

Library Adventures

The Wandering Hamsters LOVE to explore the different libraries our great city has to offer. It is also a great way for them to become familiar with different neighbourhoods/areas in the city. The kids love to explore the different reading materials, from graphic novels, to chapter books and everything in between. We are lucky to be able to explore these great locations and talk about different types of stories and novels.

Camera Fun

All of the playschool teachers really try to encourage the children to explore their own ideas of creativity. And, let's face it, these students have an impecable way of infusing their ideas into our daily routines and lessons! It's great! Here is some fun we had with the camera one day, doing different poses and using my legs at a frame!

Drama and Dance Fun

The drama and dance lessons that Lorna comes up with are AMAZING. Her methods are unique and engage all of the children. Theybecome immersed in role play without even noticing it! Above are some pictures of a game the kids really are enthusiastic about. In this particular game, one of the kids is selected to be the 'host' of a party for example. And another child is selected to be a trickster figure, making all of the party guests sick, in a discreet way
of course. They then have to figure out who is the trickster. Its really fun to watch the kids be engaged and really have fun with these types of games!

Encaustic Paintings at Leah's Studio

(Updated post: now with pictures!)

Last week, both groups ventured to Leah's studio to do some encaustic work with her. Unforunately my camera was dead, but I am sure you have all seen by now the AMAZING creations the kids have created! I love that all of their pictures look so different. They all used different tools, techniques and ideas of inspiration to create their pieces. After they were done and during snack, the kids presented their pieces to one another. Leah and I were so proud of the way the kids encouraged each other and said positive things about the work their peers did. The appreciation they display towards one another is genuine and amazing!

Collages

Collages of all different sorts have been a great focus of ours over the last month. The kids have developed a great eye for creating pieces with all sorts of materials and pictures. We have been putting the pictures on display in our space. The kids have drawn inspiration from a number of different sources- creating space pictures, pictures of people, and using different types of magazines to come up with their own creations. They also have been great in describing what their picture is about in great detail.

The Importance of Water

We have been talking with the kids about water a lot this month, in different capacities. Leah has done a phenomenal job teaching the kids about Garrison Creek. Both groups went to Christie Pits recently, and on our way, we viewed some of the sunken houses and talked about the change in landscape.

Last week, we talked about the importance of being kind to the creatures that live in the water. I spoke with the kids about over fishing and litter affecting sea creatures.

We have also been reading a number of stories about different sea creatures and animals that live in the water.

I think this is a great topic of discussion to have with the kids, there are so many things to discuss with them.

Playground Fun

We have been trying to spend more time outside and to change up our routine by playing outside before lunch to work up an appetite! I would say that all of the kids have responded to this minor change very well. The snow has been so much fun. We have created giant snow people and families, and have played many games of tag, king/queen of the castle and a slew of other neat and inventive games that only snow would bring about! In this shot, they are running away from me in a game of tag!

I am sure we will miss the winter and all of the fun activities that accompanied it. But spring and summer will also bring many new adventures!

Little Jamaica

In honour of Black History Month, Little Jamaica/Eglington West was our neighbourhood of choice. One afternoon, both groups of kids ventured down to Little Jamaica to see what it was all about. We went into grocery stores and looked at the different food and drinks, visited the cosmetic stores to talk to Monica about wigs, and had a very tasty treat of jerk chicken and rice. All in all, it was a lot of fun, and the kids all seemed to really enjoy the food!

Some of the delicious food that the kids enjoyed as a part of their snack. We talked about how jerk chicken can be made in drum barrel bbqs, and the kids LOVED that it was name 'jerk' chicken!

Here the kids are all enjoying their tasty snacks!

It was wonderful to see the kids be so brave and adventurous and try different foods!

Little Jamaica was fun! I am sure we will be back!

Neighbourhood Wa;l & Art Gallery Visits

We have been doing a lot of neighbourhood walks over the past month or so. Especially with the weather getting better and better.

We have also been visiting many of the art galleries in the area. It has been fun! The kids are able to talk about the pieces they see, and discuss what they like about the pieces and what they don't like. It's great to hear their ideas and hear them voice their own opinions.

Here, the kids were discussing what they think this piece of art could be. we have talked many times about the fact that art is so magnificent because everyone sees something different. We thought it could be a dishwasher that was ripped out from a wall, a scrunched up robot, a big piece of gum, or a very poorly wrapped present!

We will continue to explore all of the wonderful galleries and opportunities our wonderful neighbourhoods have to offer!

Little Red Riding Hood, The Puppet Version

Our friends the Twirly Birds made some awesome paper bag puppets with Daniel and Lorna before one of our drama and dance sessions. The Hamsters were given the chance to act out the story of 'Little Red Riding Hood' with the paper bag puppets and did an exceptional job!

Drama&Dance Fun

It's almost unbelievable how much the kids adore going to the studio on Tuesdays for drama and dance. They look forward to being in that big space together and doing lots of fun activities. The kids engage in different warm ups; on this day, it was a mini obstacle course to get their muscles moving. They all did a great job!

We are very lucky to be able to have this space to utilize! Many more fun moments from drama and dance to come!

Run! Run! Run!

We have found new and innovative ways to incoporate physical activity into our days. One day after lunch and some quiet play, we headed to the rec center and made use of the track. The kids really loved running at different paces, in partners, and trying to achieve their personal bests. It was fun to watch them get so much excitement and joy out of something so simple.

Continuing Character Education in the Month of March

We did some really exciting things in February, and we will continue to work with the themes of kindness, understanding, comparison, and sharing throughout the month of March. As the kids continue to get older and develop, we think it is really important that the kids continue to learn and grow in these ways.

Valentine's Day

Tomorrow in playschool, we will have a Valentine's Day celebration, having some treats and discussing ways to show that we care for one another all year round. The kids are more than welcome to bring treats to share with their friends and valentine cards to exchange. We will also do some fun crafts.

Our Trip To See Muhtadi!

Last Wednesday we ventured to the Spadina Branch library to see percussionist Muhtadi perform. It was a very exciting and interactive performance, that had the kids singing, dancing and of course drumming! The kids got to see and learn about some different types of drums, as well as learn the basic calypso rhythm. The kids got to take turns drumming with Muhtadi. Pictures to follow soon!

Black History Month

Hey folks! TD Canada Trust is promoting Black History Months through a campaign called 'Then and Now". On the website (http://www.td.com/thenandnow/) there is a description of some very cool events to go to! Great date night ideas parents!

Drama and Dance!

Our new collaborative drama and dance time on Tuesdays has proven to be so much fun thus far! The great space we have in the rec centre gives the kids so much room to try things out, and also work together and learn from one another. Lorna has been doing a great job creating engaging and fun lessons for the kids.

Warming up and making sure they have enough space to do the activities.

Freeze! The mirrored wall really helps the kids to look at the movements and patterns their bodies create during this time as well as to help them follow Lorna.

Here the kids are following Lorna's movements.

Look at that flexibility and range! The kids really enjoy the time they have during drama and dance days.

Our Adventures at the Drop-In Centre

We are very fortunate to be able to frequent the drop-in centre not only as a warm place to eat lunch, but a GREAT place to do lots of fun activities,experiments and an opporunity for the kids to socialize with one another.

Fresh snow+food colouring = a great art experiment. The kids used droppers to release different amounts/concentrations of colour onto the snow.

Making snowflakes, and animal chains has become a favourite past time. It is also great for the kids to work on their dexterity and development in relation to their hand muscles by doing so! Also helps them improve on their cutting abilities, something they all seem to want to be more comfortable and confident with.








Here the kids are enjoying a healthy snack after completing a ton of activities! Time to re-fuel and then head outside for more fun!

The drop in centre is always a lot of fun, and gives the students the opporunity to explore different learning options in a unique space. Thanks for always welcomming us!

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Great Books!

I have brought in a bunch of books from my own personal collection for this month. Please feel free to take a look at them when you come for pick up. You may be interested in reading one of them with your child! Leah and I will be reading them as well, but I think its great for kids to hear about these themes more than once, even if it is from the same book. They are around the themes of Black History as well as ways to show you care+compassion and empathy!

-Erin

Celebrating Chinese New Year

It was a fun week learning about Chinese New Year. On Tuesday we went to Chinatown with the Twirly Birds to look around. We saw a ton of decorations for Chinese New Year and explained to the kids that each year, a different animal is celebrated and that each animal has special traits/characteristics.

We bought some decorations for our individual spaces to celebrate the year of the rabbit, as well as some traditional envelopes. We discussed with the kids that it would be a really nice idea to put nice thoughts or pictures in the envelopes and give them to someone they care about since we are learning about ways to show we care this month.

Then, we headed to the rec centre for drama and dance, and had a great time. Lorna brought in a very cool Chinese dragon that the kids had the opportunity to wear and dance around in to music made by them (thanks to some pot covers!). Lorna also read the kids a very neat story about how certain animals became a part of the Chinese New Year celebration

We will continue on with these concepts this week as well as learning more about Chinese New Year, even if it has passed.

Fun at the NFB

The kids are really becomming pros at travelling-anywhere! I think hands down, the NFB has become one of our favourite places to go. The kids are exuding more independence by learning how to log in, and with some assistance pick the films of their choice.
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Our Themes for the Month of February

February will be an exciting month for the Wandering Hamsters. Lots to see and do! Also, we have some very special things we will be learning about in February. We will be learning about and celebrating Black History Month, Chinese New Year, and Valentine's Day+ ways to show you care. I think that all of these things go so well together and I am sure we will have a blast doing lots of different things.

Please take a moment to let your kids know a bit about these different events, I always think that sharing with them creates a deeper learning experience for them and gives them a basis of knowledge in regards to future information to come.

Some of the things we discuss may be sensitive issues, and we think its very important for the kids to understand the history of different peoples in different places. This is an opporunity we are going to use to not only talk about the trials and tribulations associated with Black history month, but that of all different peoples of different cultures, races and religions. We don't want to promote just tolerance within the kids; rather, we want to foster a deep understanding, appreciation, acceptance and ability to embrace one another no matter what race, religion, culture, etc. In order to help with this, I will be doing lots of character development activities with the kids to further build upon their intial understandings of these themes.

I have tons of great books I will be reading with them and lots of fun activities. I am looking forward to what this month has in store. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please feel free to chat with Leah and/or I or drop us an email!

Our Month So Far...

January has been a very busy month for the playschool students. We have a new welcommed addition to our student body! The kidshave done a great job re-adjusting back to the swing of things since the Winter Holidays. And I can say with pride, that I can really see how much the kids have grown since they all first started playschool. They are a great bunch of kids, and I know Leah and I feel very privileged to not only have great kids to work with, but great families that support what we do!

We will continue to learn about the Arctic this month. That is, the people of the arctic, the food, food chains, culture, etc.

We also have lots going on in February, I am looking forward to next month, it will be exciting!

LOTS of pics to come over the next coming week so stay tuned!