Portraits and Fingerpainting

Hello Blog Friends,

Sorry I was unable to blog yesterday. Whew! So many things to do...so little time. I get involved and realize it is the end of the day and I need to leave...even after a 10+ hour day. We have been busy learning how to draw circles, how to draw a person and practice, practice, practice. Today we made portraits of our family, check your cubbies. This is preparation for a big surprise at Christmas for all of you!

Today we fingerpainted with red, white and blue paint which we use as a collage for a bigger project. Yesterday we made our windsocks, Johanna completed them with the yarn and they are ready to be hung. Tomorrow, look for some great photos when we go down to the VA to say THANK YOU to our Vets.

Enjoy the photos,
Miss Sue

Support Our Vets and Service Women and Men

Hello Blogsters,

We have a short week this week with being closed on Friday, 11/11, for Veteran's Day. Short, but not shortchanged. We are devoting this week to a patriotic theme with a culmination of going down to the VA on Thursday, 11/10 at about 10 a.m. to deliver our handmade stars to our honored Veterans. We are the home of the free because of the brave.

Check out the great stars we spray painted. We also collaged some, colored some and these are my favorites. We also are making red, white and blue windsocks that we will hang outside and some other fun art projects this week.

Come join us soon! We would love to see you!
Miss Sue

Pajama Day Rocks!

Hello and Happy Friday to you!

Pajama day rocks! Everyone came in their pajamas and we have been having a great day! We have Snow White pjs, Disney Princesses nightgowns, Diego pjs, flower, elephant and sock monkey pjs. So fun! We had a great morning with sharing and working on our shape book. Just wait until you see it.

I have had many parents ask about academics here at Cherub. Yes, academics have their place, but remember, developing fine motor skills happens when you finger paint, color, string beads and any other fine motor activity so that they work their finger muscles. Number and letter recognition happen several times a day. "It's time to go to snack...if your name starts with A, B, C. etc." "Let's talk about how many children are here today...."(this is counting with correspondence).

Remember play is your child's work. They work through things, they learn and develop valuable social skills, cooperation, cause and effect, conservation skills like more and less, bigger and smaller, tall and short etc. Every activity we schedule here has a reason and a desired outcome for each child. Some of our younger ones will be learning to use more words, older ones will learn how to cooperate, participate, take responsibility, etc.

We have several activities every day that exercise different areas of the brain like: large motor skills, fine motor skills, social skills, showing empathy and becoming a cooperative member of our group, etc. We focus on the science of life, the practical side of life, the whimsy of life.

Remember that they are only (fill in the blank) years out of the nest and are learning how to negoiate this complex world. What may seem commonplace to you and I, is often met with confusion, the need for reassurance, repetition and enthusiasm of something new.

A recent study showed that children need to hear something on average of 75 times before they understand and "get it". We use a lot of repetition here to help children grasp a concept. We use many different ways to communicate with your children; tactile, auditory, visual etc. Questions? Please ask.

I have a semi-uncooperative camera today...so only one photo from the internet. Have a great weekend and make a memory together!

Miss Sue

Books, books and books

Hello Followers,

Thank you to everyone who is following us and reading the blog daily. We appreciate your follow...and if you are not a regular follower, please consider "following" us. As I look at our statistics, we have had views by people on 6 continents! The only place we haven't been viewed is Antarctica!

Today we are working on several projects at once. One is the making of peanut butter balls, rolled in rice crispies for snack today. Secondly, we are working on our Rainbow Book, made from paint chip samples and children's drawings of their favorite red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple things included. Additionally, as if that's not enough activity, we are creating our own Shape book. The shape pages are drying at least 24 hours, due to...well, you know...the prolific use of glue. It's all in the exploration of a preschooler.

Looks like we will not be going out this afternoon due to the rain, so we have fun things planned...stay tuned. Thanks for the support. We appreciate it!

Also, keep your eyes peeled for a new name and reincarnation of Cherub. Way back in the day, "Cherub Child Care" was a cute name. Now, it seems a bit dated, so we are working on getting a new name. Look for it by the 1st of the year in all likelihood. Can't reveal it yet, but it's going to be great....to go with our reinvigorated program, staff etc.

Have a great day,

Miss Sue

The Library at it's best

Hi Followers,

Today we played in our library, plus we had Ellie, a retired librarian, come and visit and read us two stories. Plus told us two stories and brought her friend, Humpty Dumpty, to visit with us too! It was mesmerizing, spellbinding and powerful! She was fantastic and we can't wait until she comes to visit us again.

Plus, dress up is back full force. Check out the fashion risk/statement made by one of our enthusiastic fashionistas! Tomorrow...more fun in the library...our Rainbow Book is almost finished! Can't wait until it goes home!

Best to you all,

Miss Sue

The Literary Arts

Hello Friends,

Today we began our study of books, libraries and all things literary. We learned how the library works, what resources they have available and played like we were at the Cherub County Library. Each child had a ticket to check out 2 books and how to return them when they were through reading them. Additionally this week we will be creating some of our own books, dictating what they would like their book to be about.

Halloween was terrific, we are all recovering today...especially the children who look very tired after a super fun day yesterday. Looking forward to more literary events coming up...stay tuned.

Have a fabulous day,
Miss Sue

From ghoulies and ghosties and Long Legged Beasts....

And things that go bump in the night... Good Lord deliver us! Traditional Scottish Prayer


Happy Halloween!

Welcome Spooktacular Friends!

What a jolly good, fantastic, spooktacular kind of day we had! Yahoo! It's Halloween. We had "Puff the Magic Dragon" bounce house, went Trick or Treating at the VA Hospital, had a party, sang songs! Whew! What a magical day it has been! Thank you to all the parents and grandparents who brought food for us! It was all yummy and delicious!

I came as Old Mother Hubbard...I asked all the children if they knew where I could get a bone to give to my dog. Even though I just had a dress, apron and bonnet on, I had several children ask if I was still Miss Sue! What a great day!

Enjoy the photos!

Miss Sue