Fall Leaves

Working on next weeks theme of Fall/Autumn Leaves. Have found some really neat activities for us to do online.

I hope I'm doing this correctly, but I wanted to share this blog page. She has some awesome leaves ideas that I do believe we will try here next week.

http://toddlerapproved.blogspot.com/2010/09/autumn-puzzle-leaf-hunt.html

Also scroll down on the left and there are Fall and Leaves labels you can click on for some other awesome ideas.

Recycle

Since becoming a childcare provider, I've also become some what of a packrack. LOL I look at things and think "Hmm? What could we do with this?" Not just for crafts activities, but storage, games, and etc.

I often will eat a frozen diet meal for lunch. I got to keeping the pans thinking this would be handy for something. One of the things I found them useful for was to put paint in when we are painting. Some times I'll wash them out and reuse them. Sometimes I'll just throw them away. I'm sure this idea isn't new to everyone, but wanted to share.

Play

My favorite type of "curriculum" to good old fashion PLAY! Today the kiddos were playing with the dress up clothes but not to dress up in. They were using them to play "hide n' seek." Lots and lots of giggling! In this picture they are hamming it up a bit for the camera. At one point the 2 on the right were under all the shirts. Not sure why Mr. J is so serious in the picture, other than it was getting late in the morning so think he was getting tired.

Not only did they have fun, but lots of vacabulary was used, colors described, positions, opposites and the lists goes on. And all ages could play and enjoy the fun.

"Where did she go?" He found her! Simple fun!Love it!

This is one of Miss A's favorite. Putting the hair ties on the dowel rods. She put all of them on one rod, then she sorted them by color and put them on and the list goes on.

Another activity - spooning the rice from one bowl to the other bowl (and back again if they want to). This activity some of my daycare kids liked, some found boring, yet they did it - just quickly and only one direction.

montessori

Here is an activity we did recently. The kids sorted the chips into the 3 colored tins. I bot these tins at a local craft store, but the lids were colored and not the rest. So I took colored duct tape and placed inside the can. These work great too in that when we are done, I can store the chips in the tins.

I have started using some montessori activities in my daycare. I'm really more "self taught" in that what I do know, I've learned from online sights. There are some great ones out there. I won't list all the ones I use here, but I did come across this sight recently where there are videos to show you how some montessori activities are done. Go to http://www.ehow.com/ and type in montessori, montessori activities, montessori videos and the list is endless. I want to thank all those that have done videos on this sight. I'm a visual learner and it helps so much to be able to see some of these activities in action. I would love to have some official trainer, but time, money and finding someone local holds up that taking place.

Blogs

It amazes me how many blogs there are online with loads of information, suggestions, ideas, and so much more. There are other childcare providers, mothers, preschool teachers and etc. I think I've become almost obsessed with following others blogs. So many of them I have used their ideas/suggestions (or a version of it - adapting when needed for the kiddos I have enrolled). I've added a few that I follow to my blog. Thank you fellow bloggers for sharing so much with us.

Also did a few others changes here and there. Still learning some things about designing a blog and enjoying myself as I do. Bear with me. LOL

Wow Has it really been almost a year since I wrote on this blog? Oops! I have no good excuses. I think I will try this again. I do update my FB daycare page much better than this blog.

I had 2 openings in my daycare the early part of Spring. One I was expecting, but happened a few months earlier than originally planned. The other one came out of no where. But I didn't worry about it at first. I normally fill positions fairly quickly. Not this time. This was the longest I've ever had openings. Almost had me worried. Think this economy situation has even affected us providers. So many out of jobs around here.

I did get 2o some odd phone calls for babies - but state licensing says I can only have 3 under 18 months and I had 3 under 18 months. So until August 3rd, I couldn't take a baby. Did have 1 call for 18 month olds, but the mother had to be at work by 6 AM (I open at 7), which means I would have to open at least by 530. Decided not to change my hours. I already work a 10 1/2 hour day (with kids here). Just didn't want to try working a 12 hour day at my age.

A few weeks ago, I was able to fill one position with a baby boy. Now just have to try to fill the other position. This child will have to be at least 18 months and no older than 4 (I care for infants up to school age). I just keep praying and trusting that God will provide in time.

As I said, I did start a new baby boy the week of the 9th. He's a sweetheart. So I now have him, a 11 month old boy, 13 month old boy, 18 month old boy and 3 yr old girl. Would really like to have another little girl - 2 to 4 yrs of age for Miss A to play with. She's a bit out numbered right now. SMILE Her parents have enrolled her in a local preschool 2 mornings a week. It's a great preschool and even though I offer something similiar here as far as curriculum, I encourage parents to send their children to this preschool. At least at the age of 4. This preschool gives their children more of a classroom experience with all children their age, than I do here (multi-age, home atmosphere). Classroom structure. Which personally I think can be good for many children when adjusting to Kindergarten.

It's not the new year yet, but hope to make a resolution that I will write more on this blog.