DeJong Family Dayhome

Most days we head outside for a minimum of 45mins-2 hours here at our dayhome. But what do you do when you have active kids and it’s too cold? Here’s a great article on the importance of playing in the snow and a few examples of how to bring snow play inside https://gluesticksgumdrops.com/benefits-of-playing-in-snow/

The words we use master- they shape their inner voice

Our new October sensory bin - Bears and birds All about hibernating and flying south for the winter. (I tend to shy away from halloween and focus more on fall themes ) This sensory play station is meant for 1-2 kids and allows for a more focused individual play setting. Leaving the bins out for a good 3-4 weeks really allows everyone ample time to explore the theme and to expand their knowledge throughout other play areas and especially outside time. ... Toddlers are always accompanied

Our sensory bin for the month of September was dinosaurs

Construction sensory bin and a new way to display our costumes

If you were considering sending your son/daughter to preschool but are reconsidering in light of these precautions, let me know! I may have a solution for you

I just finished a self study course on emotional coaching- what a great refresher on Gottmans theories for child development

We love mrs speeches resources

Heres my go to for playdough! Have fun playing (in May )

Some messy play ideas that can be done inside or outside in May

Some taste safe sensory play - in May

Another great idea for play in the month of May

The month of May is for Play! Here is a great idea to support and enhance your childs creative play

What a beautiful day to get out and play!

For lots of our littles this can be a stressful time with lots of changes to routine. Modelling mindful breathing is a great resource to help our littles cope

When our littles cant express in words how they feel, it sometimes shows up in their behaviours

Hope your having a wonderful Easter weekend

children can easily pick up on our anxiety

Im sharing this because I care that your children are receiving the highest quality care. In light of schools and daycares closing there may be many new childcare options becoming available (which is great! Parents will need help and options) Please be diligent as parents when you interview your private childcare providers- we do have rules we need to follow

Feel free to share

I love being a dayhome provider

Februarys sensory table. Weve been using it daily but Id forgotten to share on here Sorting jewels in sizes and collecting foam hearts based on color

Our art area is used daily Sometimes we paint, or stamp, or do stencils, or blow paint bubbles, and sometimes we do a brand new thing. Painting is a way for children to do many important things: convey ideas, express emotion, use their senses, explore color, explore process and outcomes, and create aesthetically pleasing works and experiences... Children form many connections and ideas of how the painting process works for them, as well as what they enjoy about it. Watc...h a child painting and you will see a fully engaged child. Excerpt from https://extension.psu.edu//all/painting-with-young-children. The shelf to the right is new and will hold all our monthly sensory bins experiences.

Heres the newest addition to our dayhome space. A cool down zone When emotions get too big sometimes having a place to cool down helps with regulating those emotions. -swing for motion - feelings buddy to express what might be felt... -books to learn how best to react when we have those big emotions - soft lighting to not overstimulate - tucked away in a quiet area A quiet space is a designated space that children can retreat to when they feel overwhelmed and overloaded by the sensory input from the immediate environment. It gives them time and space to calm their sensory systems and take control of their emotions again Excerpt from https://sensoryintelligence.com/the-benefits-of-a-quiet-spa

Januarys sensory bins Exploring peguins and polar bears. Sensory bins arent just fun, theyre an important part of any early childhood learning experience. Young children learn best when they can touch and feel something, sensory play provides opportunities for children to learn in meaningful ways.... We know that children learn best with their eyes, ears, and hands. When kids can see, smell, touch, and even hear something the learning experience is more meaningful to them, and therefore more effective so sensory bins make perfect sense in the preschool and kindergarten classroom. Excerpt from: https://www.pre-kpages.com/use-sensory-bin-preschool Photos shared with parent permission.

For their 75th anniversary, the Westlock library has free library cards! Be sure to grab one, reading at any age is so important for social emotional, verbal and cognitive growth