Outside play in an important part of our day at The Academy. We encourage our teachers and staff to play with a purpose while outside with their class. Whether they are doing relays with the push toys, drawing with chalk or racing down the slide. Keeping the children engaged while being physically active does so much for their development.
Baby, it's cold outside... but we still love it! Outdoor play is an important part of our day here at The Academy for all ages. It is important to develop large motor skills so each child can experience the world around them. It promotes cognitive, speech and sensory development so they can complete tasks and functions on their own. Here at The Academy we use it to our full advantage, even on the not-so-hot days!
Preschool 1 is filling their wall space with all their Christmas and holiday art! Letting the kids use their own creativity and different textures of paint, made for some very unconventional trees. Watching the kids' perception of decorations unfold onto their own tree is very inspiring to see.
Preschool 1 was busy serving up their friends this morning! They were using the play food in table centers to act out being servers, cooks and customers. Imaginative play is important at this age. Each individual child has their own idea of how a concept will play out and using this is a great example of how their perception is towards what they see.
With a new season moving in on us, the kids are happy to be doing seasonal crafts! This week they made polar bears in Preschool 3. The kids used a non traditional paint brush, a fork, to spread the paint and be creative with their ideas of how the fur on a polar should look. They also used the pre-cut pieces to design the face and ears. Our Preschool 3 kids really let their creative side come out with this one!!
We love to explore activities that include the multitude of ways Christmas is celebrated around the world. Ms. Kassidy & Ms. Tracie's class played with dreidels that a sweet classmate brought in for everyone! They even enjoyed chocolate coins called gelt. It was so much fun learning about Hanukkah & we are so thankful that Elior was able to share her holiday traditions with her class!
Art for toddlers can build different types of skills like fine motor coordination and bilateral coordination. ... Art for toddlers helps children with their self-confidence as they take ownership of something they created on their own. Arts and crafts also help children learn problem solving and patience.
