Toddle Towne

This month the children will have great fun pretending to wrap presents since we all know they usually love the boxes better than what is in them.  With all that practice they will be ready to help you out wrapping presents at home.  A skill that we will work on this month is one that is extremely difficult for children, putting others before yourself.  We will focus on what to give for the holidays rather than what we get.

• • November 30 – December 4 –We could use your help.  Young children sometimes need visual aids to remember details.   As we talk about families this month it would be very helpful to have a photo of your family to hang up this helps the children when it is their turn to share at circle time.
  • December 7 – 11 – As we talk about homes we will make our own house out of a giant box, boy do the children love boxes, we will talk about all of the things that make a building a home and try to add them to our box house.  We will post pictures around the room of lots of different houses to give us ideas.
  • December 14 – 18– Children frequently get told not to touch the Christmas tree because of all of the fragile things on it, so we will be making our own tree and ornaments that cannot be broken.   We will put it out so that the children can decorate to their heart’s content and then take it off and do it again.
  • December 21 – 23 –We have lots of art planned for this week.  We will be making collages out of wrapping paper, party hats for New Year’s Eve, snowmen, and painting with kitchen gadgets.  After we clean up from painting with the kitchen gadgets we are going to use them to create a Kitchen Clatter Band. As part of the holiday celebration, Toddle Towne purchases new toys and equipment and gives them as presents to the classrooms.  REMINDER: TTLC will be closed December 24 & 25.

This month we will be talking about many holidays that are celebrated by different people in different places.  Although these celebrations are all unique they all have some things in common such as family gatherings, candles, presents, and food.  These are similarities are what we will focus on as we practice counting, cutting, and sequencing.  Another skill that we will work on this month is one that is extremely difficult for children, putting others before yourself.  We will focus on what to give for the holidays rather than what we get.

• • November 30 – December 4 –Snowflakes are falling in the Learning Center as we each make our own glittery snowflake with our name on it.  We will post them on the board and move them up as we learn to count higher and higher and we reach 100!!  Be sure to stop by to find your child’s snowflake.
  • December 7 – 11 –We are talking all about homes this week as we compare where we live with houses from around the block and around the world.  Take some time and walk around the outside and inside of your house so that your child will be ready to share all about where they live.
  • December 14 – 18 – Nothing says holidays like a little baking so we are breaking out the rolling pins and making some holiday cookies.  In addition to being delicious baking cookies give us a chance to practice measuring, following directions, working together and licking the spoon, oh wait, I mean fine motor control.
  • December 21 – 23 – This week we will be comparing family traditions.  Everyone will get a chance to share what holiday they celebrate and what they do to celebrate.  On the ride to school spend some time “remembering” what your family did last year so that your child will have stories to share with friends at circle time. Each year Toddle Towne buys new toys and equipment to give to the classrooms for Christmas we will be having loads of fun playing with all of our wonderful new stuff.  We will also be looking towards the coming new year by coming up with New Year’s Resolutions. REMINDER: TTLC will be closed December 24 & 25.

As winter arrives so do coats, hats, and gloves to keep track of so please be sure to label everything and teach your child organizational strategies such as putting their hat and gloves in the sleeve of their coat. This month we will be talking about, putting others before yourself, this is extremely difficult for children.  We will focus on what to give for the holidays rather than what we get.

• • November 30 – December 4 –It is a Mad Lib Christmas as we try creating our own version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas using all of the parts of speech we know to fill in the blanks.  I suspect the results will be hilarious.  Be sure to stop by to read the posted story it is sure to put a smile on your face.
  • December 7 – 11 – As we talk about homes this week we thought it might be fun to build one, and then we thought it might be fun to eat one.  So we are combining two of our favorite things and we are going to build and eat a gingerbread house.
  • December 14 – 18 – It’s snowing, it’s snowing, well at least in our room it is as the scissors flash and snips of paper fly, yup that’s right it is a paper snowflake marathon.  With designs from simple to elaborate it is lots of fun for all ages it’s going to be a regular blizzard in here.
  • December 21 – 23 – We are architects this week as all of the children rise to the challenge to use a ruler and make a picture of a house using only straight lines. They will be encouraged to be creative and add in as much detail as possible.  Straight-line dog on the porch maybe? We will be doing cooking activities, art projects, and hoping for enough snow to go out and build snow sculptures. REMINDER: TTLC will be closed December 24 & 25.

Each classroom will be staffed with two qualified staff member, one working the early shift and one working the late shift which would have two qualified staff members available for each room during the majority of the day and ensure that we have extra staff available to cover all of the new arrival and departure rules, vacations and absences.

The maximum group sizes are half to one-quarter of what they were before with twice as much staff so there will be plenty of time and staff available to ensure we are adhering to the strictest sanitation protocols and that we can spread out to keep a safe distance between the children.

Parents can take comfort knowing TTLC has always made sanitation a top priority in accordance with DCFS standards, but we have stepped up our efforts to meet the challenge of COVID 19. Every classroom will be sanitized thoroughly prior to opening every day and at least once each morning, during naptime, again each afternoon, and once more prior to closing each day. Playground equipment will be thoroughly sanitized after every use. 

Surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops toys, phones, keyboards, computer mouse, and other items identified as frequently handled will be thoroughly sanitized repeatedly throughout the day. Whenever possible sanitizing will be done when the children are not present.

In all of the planning and preparation required to meet the new State requirements, our directors and teachers kept our standard of “Kids learning while they play, and playing while they learn” as a top priority. This is an unsettled time for young children and we’ve made it our goal to ease that stress as much as possible.

Working closely with our state representatives, we are re-establishing routines where possible while staying flexible to meet ever-changing requirements as they are released. Your patience and cooperation are greatly appreciated as adjustments are made. Working together we will keep our children safe and happy.