News From Room 1
December 16, 2015
Sand,
Oatmeal with Cinnamon,
and More Sand
That's what sensory is all about!
Important Dates
Tuesday 12-22-15 last day before Winter Break
Wednesday 12-23-15 through Friday 1-1-16 there will be NO SCHOOL-Winter Break
Monday 1-4-16 we will have care but there will be NO FOOD SERVICE so you will need to provide breakfast and lunch for your child.
Monday 1-18-16 NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King Day
Monday 2-15-16 Purple Monday, We were originally scheduled for no school to honor Presidents Day but the School Board approved this day as our make-up day from Blue Tuesday (the Royals Celebration, Blue Snow Day...) We will have school this day!
Peppermint Experiment
Peppermint Experiment
Peppermint Experiment
In Review
We are beginning to witness Conscious Discipline skills in action. The children are recognizing when their peers need a wish well (not just when they are absent,) they are able to ask their friends to stop, move over, ask for a turn and tell their friends my turn, give it back and are they are able to give them back. I witnessed a friend upset after drop off, a friend came to me and stated "We wish well," he and I sang the wish well song and it helped the friend calm down. Another friend noticed a peer upset and having trouble with a Lego train staying together and she bent down and asked, "You need help?" It is powerful to see two and three year olds displaying helpfulness, compassion, and empathy.
Peppermint Experiment
Peppermint Experiment
Peppermint Experiment
Coming Up:
When we return we will continue working on our social skills during play times. We will use markers, crayons, scissors, and beading to strengthen our fine-motor skills. We will introduce colored cubes, clowns, applesauce lids, and spike balls to develop mathematical knowledge of sorting, color recognition, and counting. And of course we will be doing more science experiments and natural exploration to develop skills of investigation, observation, reflection, and scientific reasoning.
Enjoy your break and see you in 2016!
Peppermint Experiment
Peppermint Experiment
Peppermint Experiment
HELP NEEDED:
Just about everyone in diapers will need them when we return and if your child is potty training we'd appreciate the pull-ups that have the easy open sides versus the ones that slide on like underwear. The slide on ones require a little more time to change.
We could really use at least one weather appropriate complete (socks, pants, shirt, and underwear if needed) set of clothing. We do play in the sensory table with water and messy items, in the sink, in puddles, and mud outside, and we paint. With snow chances increasing we will go out and explore it if the temperatures allow, therefore socks and pants will be needed.
Water exploration
Buddies
Water exploration
Remember:
Babies
Easel Painting
"Van Liam"
Indoor Recess
Chocolate Swamp Painting
Tall Towers
Potty Training Tips:
Here are a few tips I researched:
Know the signs of readiness:
Instead of using age as a readiness indicator, look for other signs that your child may be ready to start heading for the potty, such as the ability to:
- follow simple instructions
- understand words about the toileting process
- control the muscles responsible for elimination
- verbally express a need to go
- keep a diaper dry for 2 hours or more
- get to the potty, sit on it, and then get off the potty
- pull down diapers, disposable training pants, or underpants
- show an interest in using the potty or wearing underpants
Pull-ups or underwear...
Experts sometimes disagree about whether to use disposable training pants. Some think that they're just bigger diapers and might make kids think it's OK to use them like diapers, thus slowing the toilet-teaching process.
Others feel that training pants are a helpful step between diapers and underwear. Use of them during the night is helpful until bladder and bowel control is achieved overnight. Once the training pants remain dry for a few days, kids can make the switch to wearing underwear.
To begin:
- Set aside some time to devote to the potty-training process.
- Don't make your child sit on the toilet against his or her will.
- Show your child how you sit on the toilet and explain what you're doing (because your child learns by watching you). You also can have your child sit on the potty seat and watch while you (or a sibling) use the toilet.
- Establish a routine. For example, you may want to begin toilet teaching by having your child sit on the potty after waking with a dry diaper, or 45 minutes to an hour after drinking lots of fluid. You may be able to catch your child peeing. Only put your child on the potty for a few minutes a couple of times a day, and let your child get up if he or she wants to.
- Try catching your child in the act of pooping. Children often give clear cues that they need to use the bathroom — their faces turn red, and they may grunt or squat. And many kids are regular as to the time of day they tend to have a bowel movement.
- Have your child sit on the potty within 15 to 30 minutes after meals to take advantage of the body's natural tendency to have a bowel movement after eating (this is called the gastro-colic reflex).
- Remove a bowel movement (poop) from your child's diaper, put it in the toilet, and tell your child that poop goes in the potty.
- Make sure your child's wardrobe is adaptable to potty training. In other words, avoid overalls and shirts that snap in the crotch. Simple clothes are a must at this stage and kids who are potty training need to be able to undress themselves.
- Some parents like to let their child have some time during the day without a diaper. If he or she urinates without wearing a diaper, your child may be more likely to feel what's happening and express discomfort.
- Offer your child small rewards, such as stickers or time reading with Mommy, every time your child goes in the potty. Keep a chart to track of successes. Once your little one appears to be mastering the use of the toilet, let him or her pick out a few new pairs of big-kid underwear to wear.
- Make sure all of your child's caregivers — including babysitters,grandparents, and childcare workers — follow the same routine and use the same names for body parts and bathroom acts. Let them know how you're handling the issue and ask that they use the same approaches so your child won't become confused.
Above all, be sure to praise all attempts to use the toilet, even if nothing happens. And remember that accidents will happen. It's important not to punish potty-training children or show disappointment when they wet or soil themselves or the bed. Instead, tell your child that it was an accident and offer your support. Reassure your child that he or she is well on the way to using the potty like a big kid.
And if you're torn about when to start the toilet-teaching process altogether, let your child be your guide. Don't feel pressured by others (your parents, in-laws, friends, siblings, coworkers, etc.) to begin. Many parents of past generations started potty training much sooner than many parents do today. And it all depends on the child. Kids will let parents know when they're ready.