Dr. Day Care monthly newsletter

This past month has been full of fun and learning! We learned a lot of math concepts this month - like counting, sorting, graphing, comparing, and so much more. Our song of the month, Ten Little Snowflakes, was fun to learn on some of our snowy days! Learning should be fun, we appreciate the opportunity to share our love of learning with the families and children in our care.

We also want to take a moment to congratulate all of the staff at Dr. Day Care Smithfield on receiving national accreditation! They recently were evaluated for re-accreditation based on standards that ensure the highest level of education and quality. These standards ensure a clean, safe, and positive learning environment.

Read on for updates on what we have learned at Dr. Day Care!

- Dr. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith, Founder & Amy Vogel, COO

What we learned:

Sorting mail in the dramatic play post office at DDC Nowell

Exploring the monthly theme "Math is Fun" at DDC North Providence

Building fine motor skills by painting dots in the shape of the month at DDC Foster

Practicing the Spanish word corazon (heart) at DDC Providence

Learning the letters of the month, A, G, & L at DDC Cumberland

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! Enjoying stories by the author of the month, Bill Martin, Jr., at DDC West Warwick

Teaching math concepts to infants

Dear Dr. Day Care,

I am worried that my daughter will not be good at math. I always hated math, in fact her dad and I first met in a class for struggling math students! Even though she is still just a baby, I don’t want her to struggle like we did with math. What can we do to help her? Do you have any suggestions?

Signed, Math Struggles

Dear Math Struggles,

It is never to early to start teaching math skills! Many parents believe they should wait until school starts, not realizing that building a strong math foundation begins at birth.

The best way to engage a child in math concepts is to begin the learning process at a young age. Start with simple math concepts – such as counting aloud as your child begins to eat solid foods. For example, place cereal like Cheerios in front of your child as you count each piece, “One, two, three Cheerios!” Count the steps you take as you walk together. Count toys as you play with them.

You can also encourage early math skills by exposing your child to math concepts such as more or less, shapes, patterns, matching, problem solving, spatial awareness, and more. I recommend building early math skills into your routines, such as meal times, diaper changes, or car rides. Make a conscious effort to include math skills into these routines.

Here’s some math statements you can try:

“You have more Cheerios than I do. I have 1, 2, 3 and you have 1, 2, 3, 4.”

– teaching numbers and operations

“You ate it all! It’s all gone!”

– teaching the concept of zero

“First we put your diaper on, then we put your pants on.”

– teaching sequencing

“You’re sitting next to your sister. There is a hat on top of your head.”

– teaching spatial relationships

The environment around you has so much to offer when teaching early learning concepts. My mom used to tell me to “stop and smell the roses,” but I reframed her words to “stop and count the petals on flowers” or “stop and count the green leaves on the ground.” Take time to build these concepts with your children.

Always keep learning fun! Each time you and your child engage in a hands-on activity, you are at the beginning stages of strengthening early math skills.

Instructions to Receive Closing and Delay Notifications

Below are two ways to be notified if Dr. Day Care is unable to remain open as scheduled:

1. RIBA alerts – receive free email or text alerts

Go to http://bit.ly/RIBAclosures

Follow the directions on this site to receive Text or Email Alerts.

Dr. Day Care is located under the “PRE-SCHOOLS/DAYCARE” category.

Choose the Dr. Day Care location that your child attends.
Also choose “Dr. Day Care- All Locations”

2. Facebook – follow Dr. Day Care on Facebook (@DrDayCareRI) and check for updates.

Menus

Dr. Day Care believes in serving nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children.

All of our centers serve breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack – our goal is to serve your child nutritious food in proper serving sizes as outlined by the CACFP. Meals include a variety of food groups- dairy, fruits, vegetables, bread and grains, and meat/meat alternative.

See our menus

Potty Training Advice from Dr. Day Care

Is your child ready to begin potty training? What are the signs to look for and when is the best time to start potty training? Dr. Day Care shares tips on when to begin training and how to get started.

At Dr. Day Care, our aim is to not only educate the children in our care, but also to promote learning for our parents, teachers, and communities.