Montrose Messenger
Week of September 28, 2020
10 Things Every Parent Should Know About Play
1. Children learn through their play. Don’t underestimate the value of play. Children learn and develop:
- cognitive skills – like math and problem solving in a pretend grocery store
- physical abilities – like balancing blocks and running on the playground
- new vocabulary – like the words they need to play with toy dinosaurs
- social skills – like playing together in a pretend car wash
- literacy skills – like creating a menu for a pretend restaurant
2. Play is healthy. Play helps children grow strong and healthy. It also counteracts obesity issues facing many children today.
3. Play reduces stress. Play helps your children grow emotionally. It is joyful and provides an outlet for anxiety and stress.
4. Play is more than meets the eye. Play is simple and complex. There are many types of play: symbolic, sociodramatic, functional, and games with rules-– to name just a few. Researchers study play’s many aspects: how children learn through play, how outdoor play impacts children’s health, the effects of screen time on play, to the need for recess in the school day.
5. Make time for play. As parents, you are the biggest supporters of your children’s learning. You can make sure they have as much time to play as possible during the day to promote cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development.
6. Play and learning go hand-in-hand. They are not separate activities. They are intertwined. Think about them as a science lecture with a lab. Play is the child’s lab.
7. Play outside. Remember your own outdoor experiences of building forts, playing on the beach, sledding in the winter, or playing with other children in the neighborhood. Make sure your children create outdoor memories too.
8. There’s a lot to learn about play. There’s a lot written on children and play. Here are some NAEYC articles and books about play. David Elkind’s The Power of Play (Da Capo, 2007 reprint) is also a great resource.
9. Trust your own playful instincts. Remember as a child how play just came naturally? Give your children time for play and see all that they are capable of when given the opportunity.
10. Play is a child’s context for learning. Children practice and reinforce their learning in multiple areas during play. It gives them a place and a time for learning that cannot be achieved through completing a worksheet. For example, in playing restaurant, children write and draw menus, set prices, take orders, and make out checks. Play provides rich learning opportunities and leads to children’s success and self-esteem.
http://naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-things-every-parent-play
School Spirit Day, Friday October 9
A Note from the PTA
If you'd like to order a Montrose spirit shirt or sweater. Please visit MontrosePTA.com to preview our selection. We have all sizes, so don't forget to place an order for yourself, family members and siblings. PTA will also be selling spirit wear at future class playdates.
Pickup and delivery are available. Contact the Montrose PTA at Meccpta@gmail.com for additional information.
Thank you for your support!
Montrose PTA
October 5-9 is the Week of Respect
The first week of October is designated as the ‘Week of Respect’ for
all district and charter schools in the State of New Jersey. Below are the school-wide activities that will take place during this very important week.
Over the course of the week's activities, please add your child's photos and/or a very short video on our KudoBoard (link is below). This will be a fun community activity in which we can all participate. I hope you join in the fun! The Montrose kudoboard will be made public. Faces do not need to be shown. Names will not be shared. Deadline for adding to the board: Friday, October 9 at 12:45pm.
Monday, October 5: HATS OFF TO RESPECT: Students and staff are invited to
wear hats to class as we kick off our Week of Respect. Class discussions will
then explore the meaning of the word respect.
Tuesday, October 6: MIX IT UP DAY: Students, staff and caregivers are invited to wear
mismatched socks and celebrate how we are all uniquely different!
Wednesday, October 7: CHALK IT UP TO RESPECT: Students, families and caregivers are
invited to create inspiring chalk drawings on safe blacktops and sidewalks throughout
our towns. In the event of rain, students are encouraged to create drawings or write words about respect on paper and post their creations in a window.
Thursday, October 8: “TEAM MONTROSE" SHOWS RESPECT: Students and staff will wear their favorite sports shirt, team colors or jersey. Today in Opening Group students will discuss the importance of respecting diversity. Although we may not all wear the same team colors, we are ALL part of Team Montrose.
Friday October 9: SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY: Teachers and students are invited to
wear Montrose colors (blue and yellow) or spirit wear. Each class will celebrate the ways we can continue to be respectful and kind at all times.
Show your spirit! Don't forget to add pics to the Kudoboard below!
Montrose Early Childhood Center
Website: somsd.k12.nj.us/montrose
Location: 356 Clark Street, South Orange, NJ, USA
Phone: (973) 378-2086