As we returned from our holiday vacation with snow on the ground, we brought the theme into our creativity room.  “Ivory snow paint” (white paint mixed with ivory snow laundry detergent) has been available at one of the easels along with dark blue and purple paper.  The children can experiment with its fluffy texture and paint their own creations.  Some children painted their names, a bucket, or swirls and lines.  It’s fun for them!  On the second easel we provided chunky flat multi-color crayons and easel paper.  The children are surprised when they use different sides of the crayon and it produces several different colors.  This activity promotes social skills as the children talk about the different colors and it also develops fine motor skills since the crayons are wide and flat. 

The sensory table has been filled with potato flakes that look like snow.  Black bear and polar bear families, a moose, raccoon and rabbit have been available to promote imaginary play.. This activity promotes language, social skills and cooperation as the children take turns using each animal.  This week, the children will experiment with colored water.  There will be two dish tubs placed side by side in the table, one filled with red water and the other with blue water.  The children will be using turkey basters to experiment with the two colors.  This activity again promotes social language skills and fine motor development. 

White peppermint-scented playdough has been available for the children at the playdough table along with assorted beads, coffee stirrers and toothpicks.  The children enjoy sculpting their own creations such as snowmen, pizza and shapes.  Rolling out the dough and picking up the beads promotes fine motor development and conversing about their creations promotes social development.  All while having fun!

The dramatic play room has been full of excitement with all of our new costumes and accessories.  Many of the children have their favorites.  We also have a new combination vacuum-dust buster.  This has been really enjoyed by all the children.  The boys especially have enjoyed showing everyone how it works.  Our theme month has also contributed to our imaginary play, especially with all our Red Sox and Patriots fans.  Coming soon in dramatic play will be a hospital, bringing out many of our future doctors and nurses.

The children have been learning many new songs this month, including Five Little Snowmen, Dripping Snowmen, Amen Praise the Lord, Clap de Hands, A New Year Has Begun, Rock-a-bye Your Bear, Here Comes a Bear, Cookie Jar, Your Face Will Surely Show It, Tickle Toe, Sound Effects Song, Twisty Freeze, The Tempo Marches On, Mashed Potatoes, The Nothing Wrong Song, Color Game, Hands Are For Clapping, and Irrational Anthem.  Words to some of these songs are included in this newsletter.  If you want the words to a particular song, please let us know.

Miss Meg:  What did you do on vacation, (child)?
Child:  I stayed home and hanged out. 

His job was to feed a carrot to the guinea pig.  At clean up time—