By Kathy Eugster
The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, warmth, and connection. Yet for many parents, embracing in the holiday magic feels less obtainable when the season feels like never-ending shopping lists and obligations. These days, it’s so easy to get swept up in the stress and commercialism of the holidays and forget about their real essence, which is not in the gifts we buy, but in the memories we create. Here’s why investing time in enjoying your children, sharing the magic, and focusing on the true meaning of the holidays is essential.
There is something so magical and playful about flurrying snowflakes – partly because each is one of a kind – just like you and me! What a wonderful opportunity to encourage our children to embrace their own uniqueness. Snowflakes Are Flurrying is such a fun way to explain snowflakes to preschoolers with stories and songs!
Wearing empowering messages on our hoodies in PreK this week proved to be very special conversation starters and the perfect way to empower kids!
by Lorrie Holmes
The idea of wearable affirmations in the classroom was born out of the positive reactions to my Halloween costume this year. Sheriff Good Deeds was such an easy costume to put together at the last minute, but it offered an unexpected value that open my eyes wider about how to add extra meaning to costumes as a PreK teacher. This included my issuing tickets to the kiddos for their good deeds which became amazing conversation starters with the kids in a way that was not forced at all. This opened up meaningful conversations about how good deeds are when we do something good just for the sake of doing it and without necessarily wanting something back in return.
A reflection by Indigenous producer and educator, April Johnson.
Through developing the new children’s series Kokum & Dot, April Johnson spoke a lot about truth and reconciliation with her diverse cast, crew and growing audience. The series explores the relationship between a Cree grandmother (aka Kokum) and her inquisitive young friend, Dot, and their conversations highlight intergenerational Indigenous family dynamics as well as model age-appropriate approaches to tackling truth and reconciliation in the following ways:
1. Start local – Truth and reconciliation is a process.
Understanding the history of the lands we live, learn and play on is a great start and connects everyone living on the same territory.
Starting off for the first time and/or returning for a second year of their first day of preschool or childcare is a very big deal for our little learners & explorers. After all, we are that bridge from home to school for the very first time. This is why creating a soft, cozy space that doesn’t feel like a huge leap from home is my favourite way to approach this change for them.
THE LEAVES ARE FALLING ON THE GROUND, THEY’RE FALLING ALL AROUND
There is something so cozy and comforting about the leaves changing colours in the fall and our Music & Language Arts Lesson, The Leaves Are Falling, offers so much opportunity for enjoying this fall theme with music, movement, and through expressive words using poetry and riddles.
Today, I am so excited to be sharing these super playful activities for kids from PreK right up to Grade 2, depending on the interest levels of the students and their abilities to follow along.
A child’s self-expression becomes stronger through adult-lead prompting, and a little bit of trickery…”
Written by Kelli-Ann Oakey
Speaking what’s on your mind is a skill that needs to be taught. Believe it or not, it is not something that comes naturally to children, especially in social situations, or in the presence of adults.
Without resorting to directly saying, “Speak up, kid!” there are a few clever strategies to encourage children to share their thoughts without the internal hesitation of being right or wrong or feeling external pressure from adults.
School counsellor, mom to 3, and author of her first children’s book, Your Heart’s Voice, is teaching our kids about intuition.
Born and raised in New York, Renée Greene Murphy, MS ED, is a mom, a wife, a daughter, and a sister. She is also a school counsellor and the author of her first children’s book, Your Heart’s Voice. Renée worked as a School Counsellor for ten years before having three beautiful children – ages 3, 6, and 9 – all of whom she is thrilled to be at home raising. And during this time at home with her children is also where books have become an integral part of their days, Renee explains.
Music teacher and singer/songwriter, Kim Noller’s New song, BIG is anything but small.
Written by Kim Noller