 Oh, those sweet little faces so excited about the festivities they are about to engage in! They melt my heart!!! Nothing scary about this Pumpkin Party, except maybe a tantrum or two!! But, hey, it IS toddler'ville so let's get this party started!!! Pumpkin Bowling was a huge HIT! We painted our toilet paper to look like ghosts and Jack-O-Lanterns. We then stacked, re-stacked, patterned right side up and upside down and placed them in towers and rows. Balancing was the name of the game as we balanced our pyramids and towers as well discovering how to roll the pumpkin on its side and aim it correctly to hit its target!! The pumpkins weebled and wobbled and knocked them all down to the delight of our bowling babes. Stacking toilet paper rolls seems easy, but it's really quite challenging even for our parent players. Seed Hunt!Our fine motor skill and math builder activity "Seed Hunt" was provided by our curriculum provider, Mother Goose Time. This took patience, and impulse control as the children instinctively wanted to grab the seeds and soil with their fingers. After instructed that they couldn't "win" the game unless they used the tweezers, they silently sifted, and pinched the dirt until they unearthed the prized seeds inside. They then used the counting cards to properly place the appropriate number of seeds on each card. I can always tell when an activity is a major skill builder by the noise level. Most of the time when the children are engaging several senses, they are calm and quiet. The activity is soothing and causes the child completely focus. Pumpkin Pounding They will poke, hammer, saw, and twist and turn until these pumpkins are in pieces. I LOVE the pumpkin pounding project just as much as the children. It gives them an opportunity to utilize their tools toward a rewarded goal of seeing the inside of the pumpkin. I had to capture a before shot, because once the party got started this area was covered in kid! Our supplies and signs were provided by Mother Goose Time in our Pumpkin Party planning kit. What a fun way to plan the activities for our party!!! Make a Mummy! This is one of my party favorites because it takes teamwork! The players must find a friend, then work together with patience and problem-solving skills to carefully wrap one another up with a roll of toilet paper to make a mummy! The paper tears as they take turns wrapping, draping and dumping paper on top of their "mummy" friend. When one child decides they are done, it's easy to remove the wrap and start again!!
Friends, Food, Families, and Fun!When we have a party everyone is invited! It is our hope that the mommies and daddies will be able to party with us and join in the fun. This is actually the most important reason why we have celebrations. To involve the whole family. When children see their families engaging with caregivers, teachers, childcare environments and schools in a positive and encouraging manner, it bolsters confidence in the child in their own safety and bonds with that environment.
Studies have shown that children whose families are involved in the school environment are more successful in their academic careers. "Significant research over at least 25 years has demonstrated that "family involvement is critical to the educational success of children" (Kniepkamp, 2005, p. 16). To elaborate on that finding is an additional conclusion from the research: "When schools acknowledge the relevance of children's homes and cultures and promote family involvement, they can develop a supportive environment for learning through meaningful activities that engage and empower families" (Ramey & Ramey, 1999; Rhodes, Enz, & LaCount, 2006). " ( http://www.education.com/reference/article/research-family-involvement-early/) "The report, a synthesis of research on parent involvement over the past decade, also found that, regardless of family income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to:
This is why we party, have celebrations, meetings, Open Houses and reach out to families to let them know they are important and welcome. It literally makes them smarter, more connected, and enthusiastic about their education. I can't think of a better reason..... I wish you well and I hope you get to play today. - L
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Life is made of moments..."There isn't anything more full of hope, joy and peace than a child's smile... It captures the mundane and makes it extraordinary." - LaDonna Woolsey I am a Mother Goose Time Blogger. I decided to become one after trying their products because I they are comprehensive and serve my mixed age group well. I do receive products to review from Mother Goose Time and do so with my own honest and thorough opinions. For more information, please contact me at Ladonna@woolseyacademy.com
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