Springdale Learning Centre

Our friends are in the holiday spirit, here at Springdale Learning Centre! Listening to joyful holiday songs while engaging in holiday activities!

Farm Frenzie! From cow milking activities to pool noodle horse rides, our friends in the Toddler Program really enjoyed the farm experience. It started off with two of our friends picking up a book about farm animals. They began to make the sounds of the animals they pointed at such as cow. The next day our educators turned the dramatic play area into an animal farm hands-on experience. Children engaged in horse rides with pool noodles, milking a cow, playing with ducks in the farm house to rolling eggs down the chicken maze into nests. Our friends were actively engaged in the Springdale Animal Farm

Cause and Effect Play. We often wonder when a child (specifically a toddler) picks up a toy, why do they put it in their mouth or immediately throw it? They are not trying to be “bad”, they are simply exploring the item to figure out its purpose. This is known as cause and effect play. This type of play is crucial for children to be able to make connections between themselves and the environment around them. When our educators observed the children picking up balls in the classroom and placing them in a bin or throwing them, they decided to experiment. To further the interests, our educators placed masking tape on a mini fence, with the sticky part facing out. It was wonderful to see the toddler’s face when they picked up the ball and tried to throw it in between the lines of the fence, but then it ended up sticking to the tape. After that child discovered this, they continued to place the balls on the sticky tape. Then another child observed this and began to do the same. From an observation, to an experiment, to a meaningful learning opportunity. When providing open-ended materials and a safe and engaging environment, children begin to make connections during play. These connections are important to help children self-regulate and understand the environment around them.

Hey families and friends!

We found a great resource for words of encouragement when your little one completes a task, accomplishes a goal or simply makes something to show you! Here are 25 alternatives to “Good Job”!