Disco Dance Paint Party!

I know... Does anything sound more fun than this!? Trust me, there isn't!! To end our Traditional Songs month, we held a disco dance party and decided to paint to the music too!

We al know dancing and painting is fun, but heres why this was also educational:

-Drawing and painting develops visual-spatial skills (hand-eye coordination).

-When kids are encouraged to express themselves and take risks in creating art, they develop a sense of innovation that will be important in their adult lives. 

-They learned a little about history and got to experience the sound of music from 40 years ago! 

-Art builds confidence as there is no correct way to express oneself. 

-Both music and painting develop the left hemisphere of the brain. 

-Music and art build community. It was so great to see the children grouping together to share joy! 

Our little creative minds are bursting at the seams! 

Ms. Ginny is a dance instructor and couldn't miss the party! 

Disco line! 

Music from Home!

Last week our sweet kids brought their favorite musical instruments from home! They learned different sounds, taught their friends how to play them, bonded over common interests and even had a music parade in our enrichment room! Check it out! 

Tambourines are our favorites! 

Jam Session! 

I love the flute! 

Playing the blues with his harmonica! 

Shakers! 

Leading with the beat!

Ms. Ashleigh strums the guitar! 

Instrument Parade! 

To book our band, book a tour! Come check us out! 

The Wheels on the Bus

Last week's theme of The Wheels on the Bus involved all things yellow, transportation and bus dramatic play scenes! Check out a few snapshots! 

Preschool One made a school bus! 

The mommy on the bus says...

School Bus Snack! 

Healthy Food Dramatic Play/PreK Friday

For our Fitness Fanatics theme, we set up a dramatic play grocery store in our enrichment room! The classes came out, made grocery lists, ran the cash register and sorted healthy and unhealthy foods! A good time was had by all!! 

Spider Web Make & Take

We decided to have a fun little themed make and take snack for our families! Since we are talking about the Itsy Bitsy Spider this week, we wanted to incorporate spiders in as much of our day as allowed! We let graham crackers be the canvases, marshmallows and chocolate be the medium and our little ones be the artists! 

3's Thursday!

Our Preschool 3 class has been having a blast with this month's theme! Their Fitness Fanatics activity for the week was indoor ice skating! For Itsy Bitsy Spider week, they "pinned" the spider on the web! Check it out! 

A Day in the Life PS1 & PS2 Edition

Our day to day fun is never ending! Each day our children gather together for circle time. During this time, our children sing songs, read stories, and greet each other. What most people do not realize is that this time also teaches patience, teamwork and self control. When the weather is a bit too chilly for regular outdoor play (as it has been lately), circle time can become tricky if children are not provided with supplemental and stimulating activities. 

Here at AoILV, we are always coming up with unique play opportunities and we always see our children learning! Our two year old crowd has been focusing on the development of their fine and gross motor skills this week, along with indoor science! 

Check it out! 

Circle Time! 

CHOO CHOO!!!! 

January is Fitness Fanatics Month and our kiddos checked their heartbeats! 

Healthy food puzzles for Fitness Fanatics month! 

Indoor color blends science experiment! 

Check out the link below for indoor gross motor fun to do at home! 

http://handsonaswegrow.com/gross-motor-activities-preschoolers/

Toddler Tuesday!

Our Toddlers had a blast today exploring our spider web obstacle course! This week our classes are featuring Itsy Bitsy Spider themed activities in addition to their curriculum. Check out our kiddos going on a spider hunt in the obstacle course! 

Twinkle, Twinkle

Our monthly theme is Traditional Songs and our first week in January focused on the classic song Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Our Toddler 2 class created star sensory bags as they sang along together! 

Get Set!

PreK One had a great time learning penmanship, creating mat men, and writing their own letters with no prompts! Here is a quick peek into their focused and proud moments! 

Check out the curriculum link below for more info! 

https://www.hwtears.com/gss

Infant Monday!

Something new we decided to try for the new year is to feature an age group per day on our blog! We love our sweet kiddos and want to highlight each of their weeks! Infants were all smiles today as usual. They are growing so quickly!