Dramatic Play
Dramatic Play allows children the opportunity to use their imaginations and “ try on ” various roles from the adult world . Through play , children try to make sense of the events happening around them and deal with the emotions surrounding them . Social skills grow as children choose definite roles in the “ play ” of the day whether it be playing house , school , doctor , or restaurant .
Puzzles , Games , and Table-Top Toys
Children enjoy playing with small toys at tables or on the floor . Controlled movements of the fingers and hands enable children to master the muscles necessary for writing . As children work with color and patterns , they develop visual discrimination and memory . When children pretend about things they have built , they are taking their first steps in the use of symbols which are important as they begin to read and write .
Social Emotional Learning
Children develop social skills and emotional self-regulation through stories songs , puppets and activities based on second step curriculum .
Block Area
As a young child builds with blocks , he / she is developing control of the small muscles of fingers and hands as blocks are added to a structure . Perceptions of size , weight , and shape are developing , and language skills are growing as children discuss what they are building . Cooperation and planning among children develop as they work together toward a common goal .
Art Area
Art materials that are freely accessible to children allow them to make choices , interact with a variety of materials , and learn to be thinking and creative . The process of working with the materials is more important than what is made . Choices are made as children select paper , colors of paint , and experiment with the way they are applied . Children develop a vocabulary of describing words such as : soft , hard , squishy , smooth , rough , striped , checkered .
Play Lab
Each week children have the opportunity for hands on learning in our play lab . In the play lab children learn about sizes , shapes , colors , textures and more .
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