Happy Birthday Dr Seuss

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, which is coming up on March 2nd we will be entering the wonderful wacky world created by Theo LeSieg for the next two weeks.

Although we do have a few Dr Seuss books we would love it if you would bring in one to share.  


We are especially looking for Wacky Wednesday and the Lorax but any and all would be great.

Licensing Inspection

We had an unannounced / random visit from Community Care Licensing yesterday. She was here for less than a half an hour and did a thorough inspection. I am happy to say that we were in complete compliance and all files were up to date (thank you Brandy). The facility evaluation report and notice of site visit are both posted on the bulletin board and will be there for the required 30 days.

March and April Snack Calendars

 Please check and take note of your child's dates for the next two months.  

If either do not work please let me know :) 

http://peekabooplayhouse.com/Calendar.htm

I know its hard to come up with snack ideas so feel free to get creative. We will have several fun themes / days that can be easily incorporated into snack (Dr Seuss' Birthday, St Patrick's Day, Rainbows, Spring and Easter). 

Don't forget to bring enough for 12 hungry kids.

Presidents Day Holiday

Reminder: We will be closed on Monday Feb 21st. 

Have a wonderful weekend with your family. 

Listening Walk

Today was too soggy to out back but the perfect day to go on a listening walk around the neighborhood. Not only did it give them the opportunity for some much needed exercise it was also the perfect opportunity to explore the changes in the environment and practice their listening skills. They also came home with new vocabulary that they were excited to share me.

 

"Put on your socks and shoes — and don't forget your ears!We're going on a listening walk.  
Shhhhh. 
Do not talk. 
Do not hurry. 
Get ready to fill your ears with a world of wonderful and surprising sounds."

This is what they heard: 
 

Jackson: "Water in the street. It used to be rain, we was watching it fall down into the drain. It sounded like a shower."

Ariana: "I didn't hear anything on the walk but I did find a caterpillar. Leesy stepped on it and it got an owie on its back." 

Izabella: "yeah" (pointing to outside)

Leesy: "I hear the water and I see a snail with no shell. Brandy hold it, her hand got yellow"

Lulu: " It was a kitty cat. It was a strange kitty and Brandy told us we can't touch it because it's strange. He was back like my kitty Alex. My kitty was name Alex and then we had a kitty named Alex and he ranned away because he was strange to me when I was a baby. We found kind of a straight worm and it was moving and Brandy touched it because it was flat. Them are usually round but this was NOT! Then we kept going after that we we went back to Megan's house."

What have you learned from your child today?

 A wonderful reminder

"When we think of kids as creatures to be trained, we use whatever manipulation we can think of to get them to do…whatever. But we miss out on the truest joy of parenting. When we approach kids as human beings capable of decisions and thoughts we get to experience a true relationship with them. That means, sometimes, we get to learn from them.” - Hal Runkel

Happy Valentines Day

Roses Are Red... Roses are red; daisies are white;
Valentine, you make every day a delight.
Violets are blue; daffodils are yellow;
Valentine, you make my heart jiggle like Jello! 

 Playing a heart matching game last week

 Yummy cookies for our party

 Playing movement games ~ Jumping in the red heart

Passing out Valentine's

We went from friend to friend ~ everyone sat and waited very patiently for their turn

Valentine's Day

We will be celebrating Valentine's Day next Monday, Feb 14th. 

We ask that each child who will be in attendance that day bring 12 nameless cards for their friends. 

Along with the card exchange we will be playing games, decorating cookies and talking about friendship and love.

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Happy New Chinese Year

Today we celebrated 2011, the year of the Rabbit. 

Chinese around the world are celebrating the lunar new year for 2011, the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival as it is known marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Gung Hay Fat Choy means "Best wishes and Congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year." 

 

To learn about what Chinese New Year means to the Chinese we have been reading books, signing songs and make some fun crafts. 

Below is one of the kids favorite songs .. sung to a tune very similar to the Jeopardy Theme Song :) 

Gung Hay Fat Choy, Gung Hay Fat Choy
Sing Happy New Year, Gung Hay Fat Choy

The new moon tells us, exactly when
To celebrate with family and friends 

Clean up the house and get out the broom
Sweep out the old year, bring in the new

Bring out the apples, the oranges too 
Their colors bring us joy and good luck too

The dragon dances, the lanterns light
The firecrackers light up the night 






Learning about the traditions has been a two week process. We also made lanterns, dragons and Lucky Goldfish. Today we had fun eating Rice Pudding and opening fortune cookies :) 

Chinese New Year according to the kids:

"Fortune Cookies!" ~ Ian 

"I made a dragon with fire in his mouth" ~ Dylan

"Rice pudding ~ I didn't have any so ~ that means I don't like it." ~ Gwen

"The year of the Rabbit ~ the new moon tells us when it's Chinese New Year. I am a pig, not a rabbit, my mom told me." ~ Lulu

"We made lanterns and sang Gung Hay Fat Choy" ~ Kylie

"The dragon is at the end of the parade and he eats lettuce and red envelopes.I have not been to the parade." ~ Ariana

Punxsutawney Phil Has Spoken

Spring is on its way :)

Although its hard to explain to young preschoolers the theory behind Groundhog Day and how it may or may not relate to upcoming weather patterns, it is a fun day to celebrate.

First we had to wake up the groundhog:

Wake up, Groundhog,
time to see
What the weather's
Going to be.
Time to stretch, Time to think, time to eat,
and time to drink.
Wake up Groundhog, time to see what the weather's going to be! 

Then we made some crafty groundhogs.  

Looked for shadows

and even had groundhogs for snack (use your imagination LOL)

During outside time we created our own groundhog hole and they took turns poking up and seeing if they could see their shadow.