LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!
  A child's self-esteem is built on those five words, and how the adults in the child's world react to them.
This week I read an article by the Gesell Institute, http://www.oh-pin.org/articles/pex-01-self-help-skills-and-chor.pdf, which gives several practical tips for helping your child learn the value of doing for one's self.
I hope you check it out!

We are having a contest this week. Tell us the name of your favorite storybook from when YOU were a child, and you will be entered in a drawing for a free children's book pick! You may enter once each day. The drawing will be Thursday afternoon. Good Luck!


Congratulations to Lauren!
The book list is available on our Facebook page.

I always loved pet week as a teacher. "My cat had puppies!" was my favorite one-liner.
Even for children who do not have pets at home, this week is a developmental boost. All of the children are talking about pets and learning about the science of living things! They are learning about skin coverings (fur, scales, feathers, etc.), and discussing things living creatures need to survive and thrive (food, water, shelter, and care). Inevitably someone knows someone who has lost a pet, which leads to discussions about the life cycle. While these talks may seem trivial, they are the first steps towards caring for and coping with other relationships in real life!

We hope your spring is a joyful one!

I couldn't resist sharing this picture from one of our preschoolers.

4-16-12 : Fun and Fantasy : It seems like this week is redundant. I mean, children live in a fantasy world most of the time, right? Pretend play is an important part of a child's life, and one that generally gets overlooked in today's 'plugged-in' society. Playing a fantasy game on a computer is not the same as making up the story on your own, and following through with a group of your peers. This week we will be purposefully instigating pretend play to foster their recognition of reality vs. fantasy, to encourage them to recall a plot, and to have them solve pretend problems. And we will have fun doing it!

NURSERY RHYMES: Do you remember your favorite nursery rhyme? Can you close your eyes and still see the illustration that went with it? Rhyme is an important part of pre-reading. I encourage you to share that favorite nursery rhyme with your child this week!

The summer flyer is ready to send out! You can get a sneak-peek at it on the website, http://www.readysetgrowbountiful.com/.
When you pick up your official copy, be sure to take extras for your child's friends! Summer is always better when you share it with friends!
(Plus, when a friend enrolls, you get $200 off your tuition!)