Live the Joy of the Gospel

LETTER OF THE DAY

              Cc

APPLE THEME

Thursday and Friday

Bring a sliced apple to add to our

yummy applesauce!

·                                  UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING PLAY

              What do our children need to know for kindergarten?

·         Where is the pressure to push academics coming from?

·         How play can prepare our children for school?

It is the role of the Early Childhood Educator to provide an environment that is enriching and full of inviting experiences.  In this stimulating setting children are able to foster growth in all areas of development: social, emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual.  These lively play places promote each child to learn at their own rate, and it is the role of the educator to take those learning play moments and give it added meaning and knowledge where needed.

These skills are essential to the full and successful development that will become the foundation for later learning to be built upon.

Through play children learn to:

*  To get along with others

* To take turns

* To concentrate*  To problem solve

*  To use their imagination and creativity

*  To deal with their emotions and feelings

*  To act out adult behaviour

*  To develop large and small motor skills

*  To explore their senses

*  To build self-confidence and independence

The children who thrive in school enter with strong communication skills.  They are confident and self-assured, adept at making friends, persistent, creative and excited about learning.  These are the qualities that children acquire through play.