Happy Father's Day!

 Last week at AoSL, we celebrated our fathers with our Popsicles with Pop event Our friends were able to share a yummy popsicle with their dads, while doing a fun sand art project! 

Dads are so important in a child's life and sometimes, they do not get the recognition they deserve. A dad is a child's first hero, first buddy, first partner in crime. As we as early childhood educators know, a child's first word is often "dada." 

Here at The Academy, we are very thankful to have such caring and involved fathers! We enjoyed providing a space for them to relax and we hope all of our fathers and father figures had a great Father's Day Weekend!

Summer, Summer, Summertime

Summer is here at AoSL and we had a great summer kick off week! We are so excited to start our summer program with this year's theme, "Let Them Play."  At the Academy, we believe in learning through play. Our teachers get to let their creativity shine with new and engaging activities during each week's theme. This year's theme includes everything from Under the Sea, Out of This World, Disney days, Dino Romp and more! We got prepared to play by adding new toys and items to our classrooms. 

We started our summer with a trip to the beach. Our teachers and friends got to play with fun beach toys, wear their favorite Hawaiian shirts, and take home a pair of cool sunglasses for a grab and go. We even ended the week with a special visit from Tikiz Shaved Ice! We can't wait to make this the best summer ever!

Happy Mother's Day!

Buzz activities are one of favorite ways to engage our families, and our moms are some of our favorite people! During our most recent buzz activity, we got to celebrate our moms with a Mommy and Me Paint & Sip! We love being able to create a space for bonding and creativity. Our friends and their moms were able to enjoy some sparkling cider while making a painting that was unique to just them. Some of our preschool friends participated in a worksheet that was all about their mom. They got to express more creativity in their responses! We hope that all of our moms enjoyed their Mother's Day Weekend that was all about them!

Parent Appreciation

Ahead of the upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week, we took an opportunity to show some appreciation to our parents! We are constantly grateful that these parents choose us to care for their precious little ones each day. Part of our job is to make their job's easier, so we welcome the chance to take something off their plate. This time, we were able to add something to their plates with a fun, sack lunch to celebrate National Picnic Day! We hope that all of our parents enjoyed their lunch and know how special and loved their children are with us. Our parents shower us with compliments and gifts so it's always nice to give them something extra!

 

All Things Easter!

We hope everyone had a great Easter weekend! We loved all of our Easter activities this month, such as egg coloring  with our families and making fun Easter baskets for our staff. Our favorite Easter activities were a visit from the Easter bunny and our egg hunt! Easter is a great opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends and we always enjoy making extra fun with our friends!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Academy of Seaboard Lane! We celebrated today with lots of dress up, treats and fun! The kids enjoyed playing Leprechaun games, setting traps and catching him. We love including different holidays into our daily lessons and learning about others' cultures and celebrations. 

 

African Jewelry

 
Today was an exciting day for our three-year-olds as they embarked on a journey to learn about the vibrant and diverse continent of Africa. To make the experience even more immersive and hands-on, the children created their own African jewelry, a fun and educational activity that brought the rich cultural heritage of Africa to life.

One of the key benefits of this activity is the enhancement of fine motor skills. As the children threaded beads and assembled their jewelry pieces, they practiced precise hand movements and coordination. This not only helps in developing their dexterity but also prepares them for more complex tasks in the future, such as writing and drawing.

Additionally, making African jewelry provided an excellent opportunity for the children to learn about patterns and colors. African jewelry is known for its intricate designs and vibrant hues. By selecting beads and arranging them in various patterns, the children engaged in critical thinking and creativity. They learned to recognize and replicate patterns, which is a foundational skill in both mathematics and art.

Moreover, this activity served as a gateway to cultural education. As the children crafted their jewelry, they were introduced to the rich traditions and history of African cultures. They learned about the significance of different colors and designs in African jewelry, fostering an appreciation for diversity and global awareness. This exposure to different cultures at an early age helps build empathy and understanding, laying the groundwork for becoming open-minded and culturally aware individuals.

In conclusion, today's activity of making African jewelry was not only a fun and engaging way for our three-year-olds to learn about Africa but also a valuable educational experience. It enhanced their fine motor skills, introduced them to patterns and colors, and provided a meaningful cultural lesson. By incorporating hands-on activities like this, we can create a dynamic and enriching learning environment that celebrates the beauty and diversity of our world.

Lego Stamping

Introducing toddlers to creative activities is a fantastic way to foster their development, and one fun and engaging activity is using Legos to stamp and paint. This simple yet effective method can provide numerous benefits for two-year-olds, helping them grow in various ways.

Firstly, using Legos as stamps encourages fine motor skills development. When toddlers grasp and manipulate the small Lego pieces, they strengthen the muscles in their hands and fingers, which is crucial for later tasks such as writing. The act of dipping Legos into paint and pressing them onto paper requires coordination and control, further enhancing these essential skills.

Secondly, this activity promotes cognitive development. As children experiment with different Lego shapes and colors, they learn about cause and effect, patterns, and spatial relationships. They begin to understand that pressing a Lego with a particular texture onto paper will create a unique print, fostering their problem-solving abilities and creativity. Additionally, recognizing and naming colors and shapes during the activity can enhance their vocabulary and language skills.

Lastly, using Legos for stamping and painting provides a wonderful sensory experience. The tactile sensation of handling Legos and feeling the paint can be both soothing and stimulating for toddlers. This sensory play can help them explore their senses and develop a better understanding of the world around them. Plus, it's a fantastic way for them to express themselves artistically and gain confidence in their abilities.

In conclusion, incorporating Legos into stamping and painting activities offers a multitude of benefits for two-year-olds. It aids in the development of fine motor skills, cognitive abilities, and sensory experiences, all while providing a fun and creative outlet. So, next time you're looking for an engaging activity for your toddler, consider breaking out the Legos and paint – you'll be amazed at the wonderful creations they come up with!

 

Carpet Time

 Many of our group activities at the Academy happen on our circle time carpets. When the teachers and students can be on the same level and interact while engaging in meaningful lessons. Whether it is circle time, story time, baby doll time or enrichment time, the opportunity for the kids to be in a large group is essential for their social development. 

Learning Tables

Our Pre-K 2 class loves to engage in our learning tables throughout the day. A few different curriculum activities are set out for the kids to self guide their creative learning abilities. They typically are in small groups and can use this time to focus on one lesson at a time. We encourage them to use the tools they have and know and to help their friends as well. We love to watch our kids continue to learn and grow here with us! 

 

Baby Doll Circle Time!

 

Toddler 3 is absolutely in love with their babies! Baby doll circle time is a huge hit and they are always looking forward to it. Engaging them into simple care routines with their own doll builds compassion and empathy at a young age. They go over feeding, clothing, rocking, sleep routine and more. They are learning about their own needs while caring for others. It is the sweetest thing to watch!

Festive Dress Up Days

 We love our festive dress up days here at The Academy! Christmas attire is a favorite around here and they love to show it off. As part of our monthly calendars, we include multiple dress up days for the kids and teachers. 

Enrichment time, Enrichment time!

This upcoming Pre-Scholar Enrichment theme is cultural holidays. The children are learning about different holidays around the world and within each culture. They were making Chinese dragons in class this morning and flying them around their classrooms. Including all cultural in our learning and lessons is an imperative way to immerse the children into other cultures.