Educational Programs...

[michellesmunchkins]

I totally agree with the play based learning as well! I do offer a preschool program too that I incorporate into our daily activities. You would be amazed how much you teach a child just in your everyday activities. When we go on walks we talk about the different type of trees, the colour of the cars that drive past us, what type of leaf did we pick up from the ground, what the weather is like, etc. At mealtimes we talk about the colour and size of our food, which one is a fruit or vegetable, who ate the most (meaning who has the least amount left on their plate).

Then during circle time I use the songs/stories etc for learning. We do the days of the week and what's the weather. I have coloured mats on my floor so we play games where we have to pick say a blue square to all stand on. I also have them use worksheets. I give them to everyone. The little ones may just scribble on the sheet but if the worksheet is about the colour green I give them only a green crayon/marker/paint. For the over 2 group, they pick out which crayon matches the word on the paper (usually they need help) and then they colour it. I have they try to trace the letters of the alphabet.

Essentially, they are learning all day long without realizing it, but for those parents who need concrete evidence that their child has learned I send home the worksheets at the end of each week. I limit crafts as well because let's be honest, generally its a hand over hand craft where it ends up being our work hanging on the fridges of the parents homes lol