Over the past several weeks, there has been a great deal of interest in puzzles. Some of the children like to do peg puzzles, and others prefer to do floor puzzles. Many of the children have been working together to complete puzzles, while a few prefer to do it by themselves. It’s very interesting to watch the different strategies that children use. Puzzles offer many opportunities to develop cognitive, social-emotional, and physical skills. When completing a puzzle, children are developing problem-solving abilities, persistence, and self-confidence.

Often, puzzles are self-correcting, meaning that children can recognize when the piece is in the
incorrect spot and work by themselves to adjust their approach and keep trying. This builds resilience.

As educators, we facilitate learning by expanding on ideas and adding to the environment based
on our observations about the children’s interests in learning. After observing the interest in puzzles, we wondered if they would be interested in connecting other things too. We put out some
Duplo and some stacking puzzles and they have been very interested in these new opportunities
too.

​This past month we’ve spent a lot of time talking with the children about feelings. The children have had the opportunity to explore their own feelings and those of their classmates. We’ve also thought about how the characters in stories are feeling. Amy, our ECE student, offered an activity where the children created faces with loose parts to show how they were feeling. They talked about what makes them feel happy or sad or angry. It’s so important to talk about feelings with young children. Children need to have the words to express their emotions. We can teach them to name feelings by labelling how we feel, how they feel, and how others (even characters in books or movies) feel. We
can also help them by accepting all feelings – even the messy, uncomfortable ones – without trying to change them.

In the toddler group, the children are getting to know each other and starting to build a community. They are learning each others’ names, exchanging high fives, and learning to ask if it’s
okay to give a hug. They also continue to be very interested in music. They use the instruments
frequently and love to dance to music.

We are excited to welcome Fall with the cooler weather and the changing colours. This month, we have seen the children doing so much creative exploration on the playground. They have been using the planks, crates, tires, and logs in different ways to challenge their physical abilities. We often see them working together to move the planks around and build challenging obstacle courses, which helps them develop collaboration, communication, and planning skills. Some children have experimented with pushing a yoga ball along the course, learning about balance and coordination. Others have pulled a heavy suitcase or pushed the wheelbarrow, strengthening both their gross motor skills and perseverance. Some children like to stack the crates in tall towers, which encourages problem-solving, spatial awareness, and trial-and-error learning. It’s amazing to see their creativity and critical thinking grow through these hands-on experiences.

In the toddler group, rolling has been an ongoing interest. The children have enjoyed rolling tires,
balls, and marbles down ramps and through tubes. These activities promote hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and an understanding of cause and effect. When we got out new instruments, the children even experimented with rolling wooden balls on a washboard, exploring sound and rhythm as well as showing their curiosity. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Gingerbread Social!

Hello LCNS Families,
Over the past month, we have been introducing the children to a variety of real tools.  The children have been working with a teacher to take apart the retired Christmas trees using a saw.  They have been using mallets to break up ice and smash chalk.

In the classroom, the children used potato mashers, an old style whisk, and juicers with the playdough.  In the art studio, the children have the opportunity to use lever style hole punches, staplers, and a manual paper shredder. 

​​We know that young children are competent and capable individuals who can safely and effectively use real tools with appropriate guidance. Engaging with authentic materials allows children to develop self confidence, problem-solving skills, and a sense of responsibility. By including children in meaningful work, we are helping them build practical skills, confidence, and a deeper connection to the world around them.

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