Inspirational and Empowering Child Care Business Owners To Build Successful Child Care Businesses

Posts tagged ‘Preschool’

Fun Holiday Activity Ideas

Time for some holiday fun…

I love it when the holidays come! In fact, I look forward to taking photos of all the fun enriching holiday activities that my staff and I plan for the children during the months of November and December.

Moreover, I just love the spirit that is in the air during the holidays. Furthermore, every year for the last 14 years, I have planned many of the same events and activities that have now become a tradition in my childcare business.

Today I am going to share with you some of those  activities and events  with you!

Decorate the Christmas Tree Day

On this day, invite the parents to bring an ornament for their children to hang on the tree. Be sure to take photos to share with the parents

Christmas Caroling

Plan a field trip to a local nursing home or school, so that the children have an opportunity to do some Christmas caroling.

Bring a Toy to School Day

The day after Christmas, invite the children to bring a gift that they received for Christmas to share with their friends.

Christmas Decor ideas

Decorate your home or center with plastic poinsettias and garland. Don’t forget to play holiday music throughout the day!

Holiday Fun with the Staff

Hang a stocking for every staff member and encourage the staff to periodically bring small gifts for one another. This will create more unity amongst the staff.

Fun art Activities:

  • Painting with candy canes
  • Making gingerbread houses with graham crackers, white icing and gum drops
  • Make a Christmas paper collage with scraps of wrapping paper
  • Encourage the children to spray snow on your windows or even paint a snow man
  • Add peppermint extract to the paint. The kids will love that scent while painting.
  • Add Christmas related cookie cutters to the art Center to enhance play doh fun
  • Make ornaments for the tree. You will need a hole puncher, yarn and construction paper
  • Give the kids green yarn and encourage them to create a Christmas tree. You will also need glue and scissors for the children to cut the year.

I hope that you have enjoyed the holiday ideas! Do you have ideas? Feel free to share your holiday fun ideas below.

Happy Holiday,

Shiketa

Category:

Activities, Art, Holidays

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3 Ways to Create a Literacy Enriched Environment in Your ChildCare Business

Our nation is facing an issue of epic proportion and of critical importance.

It is an issue that affects our economy, reduces the competitiveness of our

workforce and challenges our highest ideals.

The issue is America’s early childhood literacy crisis.

~LUME Institute

According to Emergent Literacy, “Literacy skills are promoted through an environment rich in print and writing materials. Classroom centers may include reading center, writing center, art center, and computer center.”

Today I am going to share with you 3 ways to create a Literacy enriched environment for the children in your childcare business:

1. Labeling

Labeling Containers and equipment in the classrooms with words and pictures is a great way to introduce children to new words. Moreover, Labels may also serve as a guide when toys are being put back in their place.

2. Well Stocked Reading Center(s)

Be sure to provide children with a variety of board books, magazines, predictable books, and books with repetitive themes. Also, only display books that are in good condition. Moreover, be sure to add pillows and bean bags to make the reading center a cozy place to read.

3. A Literacy Enriched Writing Center

Having a well stocked writing  center in the environment is a great way to inspire children to practice writing letters, number, words, shapes and experiment with a variety of writing materials. Be sure that you have lots of paper, magnetic alphabet letters, alphabet stencils, a word wall nearby, pencils, markers, ink pens,etc.

For more literacy ideas, check out this great website: http://www.lumeinstitute.org/publications/america%E2%80%99s-early-childhood-literacy-gap/

With Literacy in mind!

Shiketa

Be sure to subscribe to my weekly Child Care Business eNewsletter. Also, for more Quality Curriculum tips, check out the Family Home Child Care Empowerment Club or the Quality Child Care Center eClub.

Category:

Curriculum, Family Child Care, preschool, Quality Care

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