RED's Apples
238 Cameron Rd SE T1B 1P3 Medicine Hat, AB, Canada

Last week some of the older kids got to experience a book sale at school. They were so excited about it before and after, so we decided to set up a book sale dramatic play scenario in the playroom this week. It was new and fun for them, and a really great early literacy experience. Flipping through books, practicing their writing skills, making up stories, actually reading the stories. Lots of fun!

How neat! The kids figured out that the square magformers matched the square molding pieces at the bottom of these support pole frames. So they built around and up the pole as a team. I found this neat because it was interesting to see the children compare shapes with the magformers with shapes found in the environment, they were supportive of the original thinkers idea - and engaged positively with one another, they developed a plan to work as a team adding shapes to each side and build up the pole. In this simple little activity the kids were developing intellectual skills (making connections, learning about shapes, discussing colors and patterns), social skills (sharing ideas, engaging in group play), fine motor skills separating and placing magnets together, and being creative!

I love Fall/Autumn ! The change of season cant go unnoticed; so talking about the seasons, and their characteristics is easy to get into. All the color changes allows easy talk about colors, to explore and learn with the little ones. Walks are bright and fun - Fall scavenger hunts can be done, leaves are available to collect for art (and bringing outdoors indoors is/was and accreditation standard). Along with naming colors we can discuss textures, patterns, work on counting (counting leaves we have collected), etc. I enjoy it so much, and I think the kids do too

A fun twist on letter practice. We were making letters stamping Lego into playdoh! Some kids chose random letters, others tried making each letter of their name. Little people just made different textured prints and used cookie cutters. Was fun experimenting with a new way to work on letters with the pre-school and Kindergarten kids. Worked on colors, numbers, shapes, ideas of texture, and even position words (this letter needs to be between these letters, can you put this shape behind this number.. etc). Always learning through play

Meaning to post quite a few things.. and I always just put it off till it's too late. BUT I really wanted to share this activity from Friday Sometimes little people have such big emotions and it is completely normal for them to act out in these circumstances from time to time. A few of the kiddos have been having some conflicts in their play and have verbally argued and hurt the others feelings.. we always talk about it and apologies are made (after saying things like "I dont... want to play with you anymore" we talk about ways we can kindly ask for alone time or instead of ending the play with each other just communicate that something in the play is bothering us and try to maybe change it together, etc. for example). ANYWAY I decided it was time we pulled out the bucket book again, and talked about being "bucket fillers" and "bucket dipping". Then the kiddos colored these hearts and I did a little visual learning experiment with them. I took a heart and crumpled it, asked them to do the same and they didnt want to wreck their hearts. I agreed noone wants their hearts wrecked.. and then tried smoothing out the one I crumpled. I read the little rhyme on it and then pointed out how now if I say sorry to the paper and I try to make it better.. itll always have some wrinkles in it now. That this is the same as our words and actions. Once we say or do somehing we cant take it back .. so we need to make sure we think before we react. I think they really liked the visual representation. Funny note- the other day my Kayci had something said to her that she didnt like and she responded by saying "dont you remember the wrinkled heart! You cant take that back now" hahaha Sorry this ones a bit lengthy ! #workingonkindness #developingemotionalregulationskills