Despite the cold weather our toddlers had lots of energy and a persistent desire to use their gross motor skills– therefore, dance parties were a daily occurrence (sometimes multiple) to get our bodies moving. Teachers had frequent special requests for “Dance Mode” and “Sleeping Bunnies” if you’re looking for a new tune in the car!
We continued our theme of friendship from last week by coloring on pictures of our friends/classmates. This gave the toddlers an opportunity to connect with each other in conjunction with progression of their fine motor skills. Phrases like “I’m coloring (insert any classmate/teacher name here)” were heard continuously.
Our class also had a week full of social emotional learning– a very important repertoire of skills our toddlers are learning about and growing every day. They have been practicing how to respect each other’s words and space as well as advocating for themselves and their own needs. Through their daily interactions and play they are learning how to express their feelings appropriately while additionally understanding the emotions of their peers. Some examples from this week include using our words, such as “space” when we feel overwhelmed by the people around us rather than our pushing hands. The growth in this realm is ongoing through adulthood but we are continually proud and impressed by the toddlers’ progress.
