Our PreSchool Blog

Toddlers are experimenting, thinking, solving problems and learning all the time. Through exploration and experimentation, children develop the ability to think, understand, communicate, imagine, and work out what might happen next. In September our cognitive development focus is on the five senses.

I filled our mystery can with big marshmallows.  We shook the can and listened to the marshmallows bounce around using our sense of hearing.  After taking the lid off – I gave the toddlers a peak of what was inside.  We described the marshmallows as white, round, and bigger than tiny marshmallows.

The toddlers used their noses to use their sense of smell.

Every child got to choose one to use their sense of touch to feel and squish.

The best of the five senses was getting to taste the marshmallow!

We took our cognitive development focus one step further and put a lemon in the mystery can.  We went through all five senses and compared the lemon to the marshmallow.  The tasting resulted in some fun pictures.

Because our color of the month is yellow  and our shape is circle – We used large lemons to do prints!

The Studio Toddler class has done such a wonderful job adjusting to their new routine and getting to know their friends and classroom. We have several different centers that our students can play in during their free choice time, as well as table activities that relate to our monthly objectives. See some of their exploring in the photos below!

Table Activity: Yellow Playdough

Sensory Station

Trains and Transportation

Home living/Dramatic Play

Playground Adventures

While our friends are still getting used to our classroom environment, we have been pulling students on an individual basis to do art projects. When we start learning our small group routine, these will be some of the types of projects we will complete in small groups, and some we will still work on individually with each student.

“A is for Alligator” letter craft

Yellow Lemon Print Craft

We have been focusing on the color yellow in the toddler room this month.  Our sensory tub is filled with fun items to “make lemonade”.  We are creating with yellow play dough and  yellow collage free art.

We created an alligator out of the letter A for our letter focus this week.  Add eyes and teeth….Chomp!

“A circle goes around and around”… is the song we sing as we make a circle collage.

We are so “hoppy” to have had a terrific frog theme inspired orientation week.  The children explored the classroom, played outside, made some new friends, sang Five Little Speckled Frogs, and did a sticker craft.  We are so excited about the year ahead!

The toddlers are having a great time this week.  We are very busy with crafts, games, playing with friends, fun snacks, and exploring.

We took turns trying to lift the heavy watermelon.

Our activity turned into a yummy snack!

We also made a “One in a Melon” craft.

Our sensory bin is filled with water beads and ocean animals.

Pool Party!

The toddlers had a great time at the Zoo Summer Playdate!

We created a handprint monkey.

We had music with Ms. Joanie on Monday.

The toddlers went on an animal hunt obstacle course.  We had to cross the river of crocodiles!

Kona Ice on Wednesday!

A fork print lion craft on Thursday!

What a fun week here at Creative Tots!  We dressed up in hats, played games, and made our own pirate hats and princess tiaras to wear home.

The toddlers used playdough and mats to create pirate faces.  We also painted our hands to create a special craft to take home.  Morning tables included a large color page and stickers!

Pirate ship snack!

Discovery bins full of treasure!

At camp, we also have time to make new friends, play outside, and Music Mondays with Ms. Joanie!

Do you know the muffin man?  We baked up a storm during the cooking summer playdate this week.  We all worked together to make blueberry muffins on Monday.

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie…   We used the big mixer to make chocolate chip cookies from scratch on Tuesday.  The toddlers had one for snack and one to take home!  We also watched the mouse jump on the parachute!

We had mini donuts on Wednesday after reading If You Give A Dog a Donut!  We also worked on a donut craft and Kona Ice outside!

Pancakes on Thursday!  Each child got to choose a color and help flip the pancake!  Yummy snack!

We also worked on cupcake crafts, played in discovery bins, had fun outside, and enjoyed music time with Ms. Joanie.  A fun week!

We had so much fun at Music Camp this week.  Ms. Joanie came to see us everyday.  She played her guitar and sang some classics and a few new tunes.  We used shaker eggs to make our own music.

We took turns painting a tambourine.  After they dried, we added stickers so we could take home our own instruments.

Outside time is a big part of camp.  We make new friends, shoot hoops, and explore.

We took some time to work on a card for Father’s Day.  After painting each child’s foot orange, we turned the footprint into a guitar.  “My Dad Rocks!”

The Kona ice truck is always a big hit!