Learning to Connect & Grow Through Play

Dear First Pres Families,

Well, here we are! We have made it through the five weeks of school, and our classrooms are beginning to feel like home.

We are learning names, getting to know personalities, figuring out new routines, making friends, and learning all about the people in our classrooms this year.

As difficult as the beginning of the year can be, this is one of our favorite parts of the school year.

There is something special about watching a child who was a little unsure on the first day start walking into the classroom with confidence. A child who didn't know anyone is now calling someone a friend. A child who needed help with everything is beginning to say, "I can do it!" Those moments may seem small, but they aren't. They are the beginning of something important.

The First Six Weeks

Our teachers are intentionally using Teaching Strategies' First Six Weeks of School Study as a guide during these first weeks. This curriculum helps us focus on something we know is so important: relationships come first.

Before children can really settle in and learn, they need to know that they are safe. They need to know who will be there to help them. They need to learn the classroom rhythms and begin to feel comfortable with their new teachers and friends.

So, right now, we are spending a lot of time getting to know each other and learning how our classrooms work.

We are practicing how to be a friend.

We are learning to use our words, wait our turn, solve problems, and handle those big feelings that sometimes come with being three, four, or five!

And yes, we are practicing self-help skills like washing hands, cleaning up, and remembering where our backpacks go, too. These everyday routines may not seem like "learning," but they are. Your children are becoming more independent. They are learning to listen, make choices, solve problems, manage their feelings, and become part of a group, and these are big skills for little people.

The Wonderful Thing About Play

One of the things we love most about preschool is that children don't need to sit at a desk to learn.

They learn through play.

When two children build a tower together, they are learning how to work together.

When they both want the same block, they are learning that sometimes we have to wait, compromise, and figure things out.

When a child doesn't get to do exactly what they want, they are learning that disappointment is something they can handle. We can help them feel their feelings without always making the disappointment disappear.

When children pretend to be a doctor, a firefighter, a restaurant server, a mommy, a daddy, a puppy, or anything else their wonderful imaginations come up with, they practice language, explore feelings, and try to understand the world around them.

When something doesn't work and they try again, they are learning persistence.

And when children make up a game together, they are learning to listen, share ideas, negotiate, and sometimes even agree to someone else's idea!

From the outside, it can look like "just play."

But we know better.

So much learning happens in those moments. Play is where children practice being in the world.

A Little Something for Home

There's no homework for social-emotional development, and there doesn't need to be!

Some of the best things you can do at home are wonderfully simple.

Let them play.

Give them time to make things up, pretend, build, create, and lead the way.

Let them have their feelings.

Sometimes our job is to sit beside them and say, "I know. You really wanted that. It's hard when things don't go the way we hoped." It's so easy to spot the unhappy feelings; be sure to notice and point out the happy and ordinary feelings too.

Give them a chance to work things out.

Before stepping in, try asking, "What do you think we could do?" You might be surprised by what they come up with. We are amazed by your children's problem-solving skills daily!

Talk about friendships.

Instead of just asking, "Did you have a good day?" try asking, "Who did you play with?" or "What did you and your friends do today?" And most importantly, be present. Get down on the floor. Listen to the story.

Look at the rock they found. Let them show you the same thing five times. Put the phone down when you can and just be there. Those moments can feel ordinary to us, but they are anything but ordinary to our children. They are building connection.

These first connections are the foundation for a wonderful year ahead. Thank you for trusting us with your children and for allowing us to be part of your family’s village. We feel incredibly lucky to spend our days with your children, and we are so excited about all that this year will bring.

There will be messy hands, big feelings, wonderful questions, friendships, discoveries, giggles, challenges, accomplishments, and so many little moments that we hope you'll remember for years to come.

With love and gratitude,

Your First Pres Family

Parent Night is always a special chance to experience the preschool classroom through your children's eyes.

Leave your kiddos at home! This is your opportunity to meet other parents and visit with the teachers. So, tuck your sweet children into bed, kiss them goodnight, and leave them in the care of a loving and responsible adult so you can attend this event alone!

Our friends at Rosemary and Thyme would like to offer you a complimentary glass of Prosecco following Back to School Parent Night!

Grab a few friends and plan a date night! Rosemary and Thyme is in the Rosemary District (511 N. Orange Avenue, SRQ, 34236). Call and make a reservation (941.955.7600).

Seed & Sew

Unlock Helpful Parenting Tools with S.E.E.D & Sew

As part of being a S.E.E.D.-certified school, you have access to workshops designed specifically for parents and caregivers. These short, engaging sessions are packed with practical tips to help your child handle big feelings, navigate everyday transitions, and thrive emotionally.

🌿 Access workshops here: Family Workshops

🌿 Family coupon code: FIRSTPRESBYTERIANFAMILIES

🌿 Enter the family coupon code and click Apply to receive a 100% discount!