Welcome to winter! December and January are approaching fast.  I wanted to remind parents that the toddlers still go outside when it’s cold and snowy. Please remember to bring all of your child’s winter gear. If you have an extra pair of mittens to keep in your child’s backpack, please let us know. Sometimes mittens get wet and we have to use another pair. Although we have extras, they can run out quickly. Also, label all your clothes, boots, and mittens. It is hard to keep track of all the items brought in without them being labelled.

The children have been working well together these past few months. Everyone is comfortable in the classroom and finding work on their own each morning. On Thursdays, we’ve been baking. The children have been trying out new recipes with Jessica. We made lemon-blueberry muffins, a recipe that came out of our new cookbook.  We also made pumpkin snickerdoodles that were a favorite among the children.  The children have been adding ingredients together along with mixing and scooping. It has been fun to watch the involvement of the children in these cooking projects.

We’ll continue with baking every Thursday but we’ll be working on a few art projects as well. I have a lot of painters in my class this year. Someone is busy at the easel every day. Other items the toddlers use are crayons, colored pencils, and chalk. We have gluing activities too. We use markers together when working in our small group, as well as on the easel when we don’t have paint out. All of these activities help children with their small motor skills, especially their pincer grasp.

Of course with all of this work that can sometimes be messy, comes practical life skills. The children really enjoy washing and drying the table after snack prep. Many children have been sweeping and mopping after projects.  Some children have been washing the dishes after baking.  Easel washing is always a favorite among the children as well.

As you can see we have been keeping busy in the toddler room. With our holiday break coming up remember that your children love to help. If they’re gluing at home, let them wash the table afterward. Let them fill the dog food bowl or let them make the salad for dinner.  Tearing lettuce is a great small motor activity. Toddlers like to help but want to be independent.  Give them a task while you work next to them. Let them do their own work. It’s a great way to see how fast toddlers learn and a great way to see how much they absorb.

Sincerely,

Kristy