Friday Flicks and a fox

Today we wrapped up a unit on " Animals that Live in the Woods." It was SUCH a pretty day we were temped play outside all day. The kids didnt even need jackets on ! Randy snapped a few pictures of outside play .

In small groups today we played the Fox and Football game. We talked about the F sound and how when we say it we bite our lip. The kids had cards and we decided which picture cards started with the sound F. Overall they did really well , even the younger kiddos!

And here's your Friday Flick !

We do other languages !

Hattie and the Fox

Randy and the kids played with the camera today...

Today we read the story of Hattie and the Fox. This book is a great book that practices predictability. As Hattie sees each part of the fox hanging out from the busy the animals all exclaim the same thing over and over - " Well , Well" " Good Grief !" The kids begin after the second time to chime in. Then before revealing the last page we talk about what we think is behind the bushes.

Below you see a picture of Nolan and Dillion playing with the new Woodland creatures set I bought for this unit. There are two families of animals ( skunks and chipmunks ) and a bedroom , livingroom and dining room set. Basically it is playing house but with animals. Sometimes we get in the habit of only exposing boys to what we consider " boy toys" like blocks and cars when in actuality they also like to pretend to play house. They can work out emotions from stress and learn to be nurturers . If you would like to read more about it, here is an article from Education.com .

Teddy Bear Picnic

Today was such a fun day! We had a Teddy Bear picnic ! At 7:45 all the little bears came piling in with their kids in tow.

There were bears everywhere - on floors, in cubbies ...

We read the book " Corduroy." It is the story of a bear in a shop that loses his button and no one wants him. Finally , a little girl take him home. I have a collection of buttons. One of my fondest memories as a little girl is playing with my moms tin of buttons. Today I shared that story with the kids an shared my buttons. We put them on the table and really looked at all of them. We sorted them by shape and color and by size. I was even able to show the kids certain buttons that I remember from my clothes as a child.

After all that math we needed to get up and move around and have some fun . I had hid a button. So, we went on a search for Corduroys missing button.

We made pendants getting ready for our picnic !

We played toss the bear in the honey pot !

One of these bears is not like the other....

We even sorted our bears - small , large and dark and light.

We played the " hokey pokey" with our bears using words like BEHIND our backs.

We went outside with our bears and played teddy bear tag.

And then it was time for our teddy bear picnic !





Even the teddy bears lined up to go to the restroom.

Nap time ! Let's hibernate !

After nap ( which FYI moms and dad's was late ) we will eat teddy grahams.

Visitors

Once a year we have reviewers come in to make sure we are providing a quality learning environment for our children. We usually do fairly well. They are unannounced. We get a 6 week window that they can come in. Not long ago Marcy ( far left ) called and asked could a group of them come to do a mock review for training. Marcy is a huge advocate for family child care and a friend, how could I say no? Today was the day. Today they actually reviewed on a scale called ECCRS ( not FCCRS ) which is what they use for a center type setting. I have never studied that manual since I am not a center and it was practice for them anyway. I have no idea how we did. They counted books and soft toys and listened to the way we spoke to the children. They watched handwashing procedures and bathroom times. They even went outside with Randy and his small group. All in all I think the day went well - no one cried, yelled or puked- not even me.

The kids played with the woodland animals in the puppet stage.

Noah and G are genius' with this magnetic cube. It comes all to pieces. I cant even put it back together but they can.

I went to walmart late last night and as usual found myself in the toy area. SURPRISE! I found these woodland families. We put them on the table on a camo type material with some pinecones ( pretend trees without leaves ) and made homes. I loved listening to the kids make up stories as they played with them

We sorted nuts

In small groups today we played " what's missing" with the color bears. We counted them and talked about the colors and then the kids closed their eyes. I took a bear away and they tried to remember which one is gone. Then we played " feed me" I took two bowls and a skunk puppet and a raccoon puppet. A puppet would ask a child to feed him a certain number of nuts. The child would use the tongs or the spoon to feed the correct number of nuts to the animal. Not only was this a math activity ( counting) but it was also fine motor and following directions.

Noah helping lead storytime.

It was a good day. It all went well. If you look at our activities today - we did the same things we normally do. All inspections cause a LITTLE anxiety but shouldnt create a lot if you arent just " taking the test." If you do it every day... everything falls into place when you need it to.

Animals in the Woods

The kids have been out for a few days for snow and icy roads. They were excited to get back today.

Who's idea was it to bring in the styrofoam packaging ? ? The little styrofoam balls are EVERYWHERE and they STICK TO EVERYTHING.

But look at the lap top one of the kids made. BRILLIANT !

Daniel cutting out his hand. If you look closely you can see styrofoam in his hair

Today we read " The Kissing Hand." It is a wonderful story about a raccoon not wanting to leave his mother and go to school. She places a kiss in his hand so he can carry her love all day. After reading about Chester the raccoon we traced our hands and cut them out to make this predicable story chart.

Luckily bears live in the woods too so we can still use our bears songs that the kids love so much and tell our favorite stories. Today I used these props to tell Goldilocks and the kids loved it.

Tomorrow we have special visitors coming. You know that once a year I have an inspection or review that looks at gazillions of little indicators of quality care. ( Thankfully they don't check to see if I make up words like gazillion. ) But really.. it covers a LOT . Not only the toys and types of toys I have out but things like language with the kids and health and hygiene . It is so particular that you have to COUNT toys. For instance, there has to be 2 soft toys per child. So, if I have all 16 kiddos here I would need 32 soft toys out. Soft toys are things like puppets, dolls, etc... Usually they just show up - we never know other than a 6 week window they give us. This time the lady in charge called and asked could she come do a " mock" review with two or three others so she can train them. GREAT..... ( Too bad you cant read sarcasm.) I mean, I am ready but those days are filled with anxiety. Everyone want to do their best and that is always the day that if something is going to go terribly wrong - it will. So , with that said, when you come in if you see visitors here you will know who they are. They spend pretty much the whole day with us. If your child is sick PLEASE keep them at home. Every time they wipe their nose they have to wash their hands and the same goes for us... It will be a busy day but I am encouraged. We always learn so much from them.

Till tomorrow!