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Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Schedule/Acvitities

Hi Parents, I know you all have lots of questions and Missy is trying her best to get those answers for you. She is reaching out to our board, the state, EEC and many other sources. Please bear with us at this time of uncertainty. 

Several parents have reached out to ask about our daily schedule to try and keep things as normal as possible at home. 
Here is a sample of a day at HDC. The schedules do vary a bit from classroom to classroom but this should help for planning purposes.

6:00 - 9:00 Arrivals
7:15 - 8:00 Breakfast
9:00 - 9:30 Group time
(This includes reading a story and asking questions about the storyline and discussing various topics and questions the children may have)
9:30 - 10:45 Activity time and learning centers
(We will offer some ideas for this at the bottom)
10:45-11:00 Clean up and start to get ready to go outside
11:00 - 11:30 Outside / Gross motor time
11:30 - 12:00 Wash up and then lunch time
12:00 - 12:15 Get ready for rest time with books and other quiet activities
12:30 - 1:45 Nap time
1:45 - 2:30 Wash up and have snack
2:30 Recap the day with the children
2:45 Get ready to go back outside (weather permitting)
3:00 - 5:30 Dismissals, learning centers, outside time and finish up activities that have not been completed.


 I am trying to be mindful of what materials you may or may not have at home but here are a few activities that you could try at home with your child. 

*Reading books and making up your own endings or making a puppet based on a character in the book.
*Building with all sorts of materials, all that extra toilet paper is lots of fun to build with!
*Take an old newspaper or magazine and roll them up and tape to make all sorts of things. We have made bridges in the classroom using this method. 
*Take a box and make your own pinball game to work on hand eye coordination.
*Work on those math and sorting skills with a money sort.
*Continue to work on math by making a number match.
*Make your favorite recipe and have your child help, there is so much math and science too when you cook and bake something.
*If you have baking soda and vinegar in your pantry time to make some mini volcanoes! (Tinted green for St. Patricks Day)

*If you have newspaper laying around, now is a great time for paper mache! We have made dinosaur eggs and hot air balloons in the past at hdc! 
*Get out the recycling bin and let the children's imaginations run wild. 
*Easy alphabet matching game!
*Make a memory game to play together to work on recall.
*Make a small hole in a plastic egg to make a pendulum and experiment with color mixing!
*Let the children help out with the household chores to learn about responsibility.
*Have the children make up and illustrate a story. Use random objects around your home that the children have to create a story about. 
*Use Playdoh or make moon sand with flour and vegetable oil to work on fine motor skills.
*Set up an obstacle course around your house. Ex. crawl under the table, crab walk to the couch, jump like a frog to the kitchen, etc...
*Use a straw to blow paint around on a paper and discuss what air is and how it can move things.
*Make a box of all things that start with the same letter. For instance, F for fossil, frog, flag, football, etc...
*Go on a color or shape scavenger hunt around your home.
*Make a blanket fort to read books or color in.
*Play tic tac toe or a board game.
*Try to recreate a masterpiece and discuss a famous painting.

*Make a song cube out of a tissue box and roll it to pick a song to sing together!
*Make paper airplanes and measure how far you can throw them.
*Make a diorama!

I will do my best to add more as the week continues! Please let me know if there is a certain objective or area you want to work on with your child. 
Please everyone stay safe and healthy.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Cup Stacking

Cup Stacking!!!
 
Aimee and Celimar's class have been having lots of fun balancing, counting and experimenting with cup stacking this week! The children have each put their own unique spin on their stacking creations!
 
We love seeing what our little engineers will come up with when given different items to build with!
 
 
Cup stacking allows children to use both hands in motion together (bilateral coordination). Increasing bilateral proficiency helps the brain develop on the right side as well as the left. Cup stacking has many benefits for cognitive development and targets specific areas of the body and the brain to increase intelligence, problem solving skills and critical thinking. An activity like cup stacking actually increases blood flow to all parts of the brain, which increases energy, thereby making the child more alert. Sequencing and patterning are also elements of cup stacking that build math skills. When kids practice ordering and sequencing they build foundational skills for mathematical learning. 
-Integrated Learning Strategies
 
For more info about cup stacking and
the benefits to children click here.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

World Read Aloud Day!

Happy World Read Aloud Day!!!

 

We had lots of parents and grandparents come in and volunteer their time today! Missy and I also snuck out of the office to read a few books too!
 

 
 

 

Thank you so much everyone!!!
This meant so much to all the children at HDC.

 
The importance of reading to children can not be overstated! Reading aloud in particular helps children to develop the reading readiness skills that they will need to read a book on their own.
 
Reading aloud to children...
 
*Teaches how to hold and turn the pages of a book
*Develops phonemic awareness
*Develops print awareness
*Exposes them to more complex language and to a more sophisticated vocabulary
*Helps to build background knowledge so children can better understand what they see and hear
*Helps children to listen, concentrate and have a longer attention span
*Helps children adjust to the structure and routine of instruction during a typical school day
*Provides experiences with sequencing, cause and effect, and comparing and contrasting which are naturally part of stories and books
*Helps to develop critical thinking skills as they listen and notice how characters solve problems
 
and that's just to name a few!
 
 We have a box of free books at the entrance of the school today so please feel free to take a book home and keep the reading alive!

.
The more that you read the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. ~Dr. Seuss

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Preschool Resource Fair

Last Saturday, Feb. 1st was the
Preschool Resource Fair hosted by Haverhill's Early Learning Leadership Team.  
 
Missy and I were there to represent
Haverhill Daycare Center!
 
 
It was such a great turn out!
Over 200 parents and their children attended!
 

 
 
 


 
Curious Creatures was there with lots of cute little animals! There were hoops, balls, parachute play and a fun game of duck, duck, goose for the little ones to let out some energy. There was even a cute Valentines craft for the children to make. Healthy snacks and drinks were available for all the children and the library was giving away free books!
 
 
It was a great time for all who attended!
 
Thank you to the Haverhill Early Learning Leadership Team for showcasing all the wonderful preschool options that Haverhill has to offer.

Friday, January 31, 2020

School Choice Week

This week we are celebrating
National School Choice Week!
 
 
We wanted to thank all of our families
for choosing Haverhill Daycare Center
for your child's learning and care!
 
We are so happy and appreciative to be able to care for, teach and watch your children grow.

Each day of the week we did a little something to celebrate!

On Monday, the children each got a bright yellow scarf to sport!
 

Our little rays of sunshine showing off their new scarves!

 
On Tuesday, each child drew a picture and discussed what they love about HDC.
 


 
On Wednesday, each child got a sticker!
 
 
On Thursday, each child and teacher took a picture with the banners and pennants!
 




 
On Friday, the children all helped to color and contribute to the celebration banner!
 
 
Thank you to all of our parents for choosing our school and thank you National School Choice Week for the scarves and assorted goodies for the children!!! 

Monday, December 9, 2019

Holiday Party 2019

Last Friday was our annual
HDC Holiday Party!
 
 
We hope all of our children and families had a great time. There was delicious food, cookies, handmade decorations, music and lots of dancing!
 


 
Thank you so much to everyone that came (despite the snow and traffic) and brought such yummy food!
 
We hope everyone has a
wonderful holiday season!!!