Dear Marigold Families,

This is a wonderful article and for those of your concerned about your preschool-aged child reading and writing before entering kindergarten, I think this is good information for you to have.  The article is from the Washington Post.

Heidi

Kindergarten! Please read!

Hi!

Today I’d like to discuss a bit about the upcoming fun day we all refer to as Halloween! To a lot of us, this one day out of the year signals one of a handful of holidays we have which entails lots of candy.  The thing that is great about Halloween is the wonderful creative element with costumes and makeup. Now, some people love the traditional scary aspects of the holiday. (And remember if you believe in any kind of religion whatever “evil” you associate with Halloween originates from your perspective religion and should not be transferred to others who do not share your specific beliefs.) Others love the cute things that have popped up in the last 20 years or the TV and Movie characters that have trickled down to this popular holiday or candy day.  The one thing that should be on all of our minds as this day quickly approaches is that no matter what we each believe and value, children are children from zero to nineteen.  So, if you see a group of teenagers dressed up in costumes and trick-or-treating, that is great!  We want the teens out there to be safe and enjoy this day along with all the other children.

Of course, not every family out there believes trick-or-treating is something their children should participate in.  This is especially true if you don’t live in an area that is safe or a community that just doesn’t feel the need to doll out cavity-causing candy. So, parties are the norm with a lot of families.  Again, if you know where your children are as responsible adult parents or guardians then your children can enjoy a fun and safe Halloween. Whether it be trick-or-treating or at a party, children of all ages should be allowed this one day of the year to have a lot of fun in their communities.  This is a way for communities to come together and all be a positive part of every child out there having a huge smile on their faces and the pure elated joy of the whole experience!  And, why deny older children the opportunity to see such creativity with the many ways people love to decorate the outsides of their homes for this special evening of the year.

One more quick reminder.  Please remember if you see a teal or aqua colored pumpkin while out trick-or-treating, that means allergy safe candy is being dolled out.  Nut, dairy, and gluten allergies should fall under the teal pumpkin. If you want to provide for both children with allergies and children without please make sure the candies are completely separate and never stored in the same area of your home.  Also, make sure the bowl you serve the cany in has not housed candies containing allergy-inducing ingredients.  Even though the candy comes individually wrapped we can never be too careful.

Please wear light reflective clothing, bring flashlights or other glowing devices along with your candy bags.  Parents and guardians please drive or walk with your children to make sure they are safe every step of the way.  The last thing any child needs to think about or worry about is their safety when engaged in so much fun.  Also, avoid houses or apartments with the porch light turned off. Most likely those people do not participate in this holiday or they are off doing what you all are doing.  

Be safe, have fun and include teenagers because they are still children and deserve to enjoy this holiday until they are unable to due to being an adult.  Let kids be kids until they have to grow up.  Being an adult will last a lifetime, being a kid does not.

Tips from The Marigold School of Early Learning: A Reggio Emilia inspired preschool.

Well after months of seeing a ton of wonderful postings on Mud Kitchens I decided to try making my own! 🙂

   First came purchasing all the supplies I thought I’d need.  This required two trips because I needed more screws than I originally thought. Then I moved everything outdoors and applied two coats of waterproof stain.  I let that cure for 24 hours in between coats.  One thing I learned is next time to make sure I purchase some boards to place all the pieces on as I coat them, so the grass does not adhere to the sticky surface and create a hairy mud kitchen like it did this time! 🙂 Oh, well, a little texture never hurt. 🙂

  I assembled the mud kitchen in different ways until I found a good height combination.

For each step, I used my electric hand-held drill and some Ikea tools.  It took about three days in total to put together, stain, cure, stain, cure and assemble.  After placing a backboard and an extra shelf for stability and storage I was ready to load it up and see how it would handle some tubs with dishes and some flower pots for loose parts.  All put together I thought it turned out pretty functional.  I then placed the unit onto a blanket and slid it along the floor till my sister could help me carry it outside.  I’m sorry, but for now, I don’t have any pics with my students interacting with it so I will post what it looks like outside later on.

If any of you have made your own without the help of your husbands, boyfriends or handymen, please let me know.  And if you care to share a photo or two that would be great too! 🙂

 Walk, Ride a bike or drive to The Marigold School of Early Learning! 🙂

Heidi Scott has over twenty years teaching experience in grades preschool through third and holds a Bachelor’s in Human Development with a Focus on Early Childhood Education and a Master’s In Teaching grades preschool – eighth grades.

 Children ages three going on four are ready for a big responsibility, and that is black line drawing with watercolor painting.  By modeling how to use a black sharpie with my students I conveyed a powerful message that I trust them with this important writing/ art tool. 

 Rose petals are a wonderful part of nature that naturally plays into a child’s artistic expressions.  Another language in which children can communicate their ideas and creative abilities.  Cardstock paper with colored pencils and paint glue made for very textured and colorful creations!  Open-ended learning is the best.  I love watching, listening, questioning and following the children’s lead.

Using bingo dots to create houses for the cars.  And using recyclable containers and wood sticks as a drum set.  Mathematical concepts merging with dramatic play and musical experimentation.  Children inspire children.

 We took a chance and planted some buck beans that we often play with inside our wooden sensory drawer.  Wow, all five beans in each container sprouted! Seeing nature take root literally is the best way to introduce scientific concepts to children. 

 Cutting more scrap paper to add to the colorful paint water.  Cutting, stirring and color experimentation further’s the reality that children are scientists with endlessly curious minds.  

Looking for a quality Reggio Emilia Inspired Preschool where your child is allowed to plan, explore, discover and construct through a wide variety of ways?  Look no further!  Join The Marigold School of Early Learning this fall for the 2018-2019 school year!

Heidi Scott has over twenty years experience as a Teacher and Educator.  She has earned a Bachelor’s In Human Development with a Focus on Early Childhood Education and a Master’s In Teaching grades preschool through eighth and participates in ongoing professional development classes.

 Email or call the school to schedule a tour!  

Email: marigoldschoolofearlylearning@gmail.com

Phone: 360-957-6307

Puzzles are so enjoyable when you have a friend helping you each step of the way!  🙂  Put a puzzle together and strengthen your own cognitive abilities! 

Spring is here and in full swing!  We planted purple lobelia and pink and white English daisies.  My students are continuously amazed and happy about the little sprouts and how they change!  If you haven’t planted any seeds yet, jump on board and start a flower indoors and you can always transplant it later. 🙂