Above,these preschoolers are learning about different emotions and using the feeling masks they created during play. Below, these preschoolers curriculum theme was Learn Everyday About Me. Here you see them painting their name and creating a self portrait.

Please welcome two newcomers to DCDC on Bloom Rd!

- Danielle Spaid is excited to join the team at DCDC Bloom Road, as the Site Supervisor! She has her associate’s degree in Child Development, and has been working in the field for 15 years.

- Cody Lappan is our new Preschool and School Age Teacher at Bloom Rd. He has his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Special Ed/Early Childhood Education from Bloomsburg University. He has worked at another local child care center, and was a substitute teacher.

- Alaina Dorans is a new sub in all areas. She is currently working on her Bachelor's Degrees in Deaf Education and Early Childhood Education at Bloomsburg University. She has previously worked at other childcare centers.

Thanks to all the Grandparents that came for the Grandparent visit. We had great turn out with lots of fun!!

The curriculum we use in all our classrooms is Kaplan-Learn Everyday. This curriculum focuses on skills learned through play. Our infant/toddler curriculum utilizes activities that explore skills in early literacy, fine and gross motor, social, nature, and more.

The preschool curriculum is based on skill not specifically age. All our materials are appropriate for the preschool child whether they are 3, 4 , or 5. As they play with the materials it's a natural progression into using them because as their skills progress the child is able to do more with the materials. For example, when a preschooler first begins using legos they start out snapping them together making towers, as they progress they spend more time building, naming what they built, and building more detailed structures. Same is true with blocks, start with towers, then will build zoos, houses, garages, and add props to create those structures. As the teachers are working with the children their questions are based on the child's skill. At first they may ask them the names of the animals, then where they live, what they eat, etc. Play, along with child-teacher interactions build on one another. For a more detailed look at the  Preschool Curriculum click here .

10 Things Every Parent Should Know about Play

by: Laurel Bongiorno

1. Children learn through their play.

Don’t underestimate the value of play. Children learn and develop:

2. Play is healthy.

Play helps children grow strong and healthy. It also counteracts obesity issues facing many children today.

3. Play reduces stress.

Play helps your children grow emotionally. It is joyful and provides an outlet for anxiety and stress.

4. Play is more than meets the eye.

Play is simple and complex. There are many types of play: symbolic, sociodramatic, functional, and games with rules-–to name just a few. Researchers study play’s many aspects: how children learn through play, how outdoor play impacts children’s health, the effects of screen time on play, to the need for recess in the school day.

5. Make time for play.

As parents, you are the biggest supporters of your children’s learning. You can make sure they have as much time to play as possible during the day to promote cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development.

6. Play and learning go hand-in-hand.

They are not separate activities. They are intertwined. Think about them as a science lecture with a lab. Play is the child’s lab.

7. Play outside.

Remember your own outdoor experiences of building forts, playing on the beach, sledding in the winter, or playing with other children in the neighborhood. Make sure your children create outdoor memories too.

8. There’s a lot to learn about play.

There’s a lot written on children and play. Here are some  NAEYC articles and books about play . David Elkind’s The Power of Play (Da Capo, 2007 reprint) is also a great resource.

9. Trust your own playful instincts.

Remember as a child how play just came naturally? Give your children time for play and see all that they are capable of when given the opportunity.

10. Play is a child’s context for learning.

Children practice and reinforce their learning in multiple areas during play. It gives them a place and a time for learning that cannot be achieved through completing a worksheet. For example, in playing restaurant, children write and draw menus, set prices, take orders, and make out checks. Play provides rich learning opportunities and leads to children’s success and self-esteem.

 

  https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-things-every-parent-play