Introducing The Arts

 

Harmony in Red - Henri Matisse

It's no secret that we are big supporters of child development here at Child Care Options, and the arts are an important part of that process.   Research  shows exposure to arts in children has a positive influence in their overall achievement (in areas such as math skills and problem solving.)  Take a look at Catherine Read's (from Simon Fraser University) paper "Fine Art, Imagination and Literacy" for more details. 

 Looking for ways to incorporate the arts in your everyday environment?  A great place to start is a series of board books by authors Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober.  This colourful collection includes the beautiful art work of different artists accompanied by simple rhyming text.  You can read these at circle time, one on one and have them out for children to explore on their own.  Check out an excerpt from "A Magical Day With Matisse"below. 

 

Want to check out these books in person? Make your way to our our Early Years Learning Store!

Imagination Playground

Check out this fantastic playground concept (via Arch Daily) designed by architect David Rockwell. The Imagination Playground took five years to come to fruition and by all accounts was worth the wait.  It is refreshing to see a large scale playground  that focuses on “encouraging child-directed, unstructured free play. With a focus on loose parts, Imagination Playground offers a changing array of elements that allows children to constantly reconfigure their environment and to design their own course of play” (http://www.imaginationplayground.org/)

September Training Opportunities

We apologize for interrupting your blissful enjoyment of summer for this fall bulletin. Our workshops for September are listed on our website and filling up fast.  Register soon to avoid disappointment and keep an eye out for our training calender due out September. We now return you to your regular scheduled summer activities....

Save 25% at The Early Years Learning Store

Check out our great new selection of touchable bubbles, no-spill bubble jars and giant bubble sabers for huge bubbles!

Come visit us for *25% off* all plastic animals, dinosaurs and insects!

Stay tuned for more information about our August Sidewalk Sale!

How Rhymes Help Children Learn

Another reason to embrace your inner Dr.Seuss! How Rhymes Help Children Learn highlights the many benefits of singing and rhyming with children. A great resource for early learning and child care professionals as well as parents. Remember, rhyming doesn't always have to take place during circle time. Try making up funny rhymes and silly songs when doing everyday tasks.

Nature Inspired Activites

Looking for something to do with all the souvenirs from your latest summer adventure?  Pop by "let the children play" and check out some fab nature inspired activities. We love the sea shell sorting idea (pictured above).

No, David!

A fabulous fun read for children ages 0-5 years old. Children never get tired of David's antics and listening to his mother repeat "No, David!" The simple and predictable text makes this a great book for children to explore on their own as well.  One word of caution, once you introduce this book, be prepared to read it over and over again! 

Are your children crazy about David?  Let them make their own picture books....

Materials

• letter sized paper folded and stapled in to a booklet format
• colouring materials (we like pastels for this project!)
• several squares of paper with "No ______________" (with child's name or let the child print their name)
• glue sticks

What to do
Set out materials and let children create their own "No" books.  They can illustrate the pages and add the "No" text where they see fit.  Remember to write out the children's endings to their stories on the last pages .

HST

Wondering how the HST affects you as child care provider and small business owner? Take a look at page 9 of this handy dandy HST guide.  It clearly states that their is no HST for childcare services. Have more questions?  Contact the Canada Revenue Agency Tax Information Phone Service line -1-800-267-6999

"Early-childhood expert is serious about child’s play"

Read this article about Berkley PHD Jane Perry's research and observations on the benefits of play in early childhood. We love her story play ideas and her definition of the "teacher/researcher".  This is another reminder of the value of play and how it is essential for all children.

Drop in at the Park Reminder

Friday July 16th

CLOVERDALE ATHLETIC PARK

6330 168 st SURREY

9:30 am to 11:00 am

We will meet at the water park!

BUBBLES . . .

 

Summer has finally arrived, (Mother Nature has been known to be fashionably late on occasion) and we can look forward to many fun filled days of outside play. As early learning and child care professionals we spend countless hours trying to find new and exciting activities to fill those long summer days.  Bubbles are a great way to have some fun in the sun and are easy to grab when you need to add some excitement to a lazy summer afternoon.  The recipe below makes for some "tough" bubbles that won't pop when they hit the ground.  You can also check out our Early Childhood Resource Library for some great resources on bubbles.

Mix Your Own Bubbles

Follow this recipe to make super strong bubbles. Add food coloring for extra fun.

You will need

• 1 package unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup just-boiled water
• 1 1/2 to 2 ounces glycerin (available in the skin care aisle or at a health food store)
• 8 1/2 ounces Johnson’s Baby Shampoo

Stir the gelatin into the hot water until it’s dissolved. Mix in the glycerin and shampoo, stirring gently. The solution will gel as it cools.Stir the gelatin into the hot water until it’s dissolved. Mix in the glycerin and shampoo, stirring gently. The solution will gel as it cools.