Monday, September 14th, 2026~

red6750

Sep 14

3 min read

Our First Monday Welcome Savina!!

We were so excited to welcome everyone back to school today and especially excited to welcome a new friend into the mix, Savina! Everyone made sure to welcome our Miss Mushroom and show her all the ins and outs of her knew classroom. We couldn’t be more impressed with how quickly they’re learning the routines of our school day and already anticipating what comes next. They have started to take ownership over their classroom responsibilities as they clean up their materials and set up the space for the next friend. Over these next few weeks we will continue to guide and model our expectations as they navigate around their learning space. This week we will keep each provocation the same before we begin adding anything new. It’s important during these first few weeks of school that your children can rely on the classroom looking the same during this period of transition. Also, as we are teaching your little ones the flow and function of our day it is important to keep materials the same so they can practice the operations side of our routine. Today we captured so many wonderful moments of your little ones busy in play and thought this would be the perfect starting off point to share how invaluable play is to your little ones overall development. As we dive deeper into curriculum, the foundation of our teaching practice will always be rooted in open-ended materials that foster both independent and collaborative play.

The Importance of Play

When thinking about the early childhood classroom play is one of most important aspects of our curriculum (and our work with young children!). Giving children the space and the freedom to act out, tell stories, create magical experiences, and test the boundaries of the world around them is instrumental to their development. Children naturally communicate through play and bring their imaginations to life in all that they explore, therefore, making play the most important form of interaction and communication children participate in!! Consequently, it is our responsibility as their caretakers to allow for children to partake in authentic and open ended experiences for this is what nourishes their development!

What is Play?

•Play is the arena in which the body, mind, and spirit are in balance.

•Play is active, intrinsically motivated, and free of external rules.

•Play is dominated by the players and is meaningful to the players.

Why is play important?

•Play supports the development of the whole child

•Play helps children develop motor skills. Through physical activity, children develop and practice gross and fine motor skills and physical co-ordination.

•Play is a primary vehicle for and indicator of mental growth. Play advances cognitive and creative development. Play also allows children to both practice and demonstrate their competencies and acquired skills in a relaxed environment.

•Play works off excess physical energy and releases tension. Children exercise when they play. Children also use play as an outlet for their emotions and stress.

•Play improves social skills. Children learn to negotiate through play, share, wait their turns all while they build interpersonal relationships.

•Play allows children to master anxieties and conflict. Often times a child's worries will come out in their play as a way to understand and/or cop.

Today was a beautiful example of how your little ones are already using our classroom to create their own magic and knowledge about the world through play....