June in Polar Bears!

I’m sure you are as thrilled as we are that it is finally Spring! So lovely!! But here in Colorado, we have those cool mornings and sometimes days too, even all summer! We have been wearing small jackets or sweat shirts for morning outside play… thanks for making sure the children are prepared to be outside and have fun!

Please put sunscreen on your child before or during drop off each day. I have seen parents put sunscreen on as part of their drop off ritual. This is a very sweet way to spend a couple of minutes of quality time with your child. You could sing a little sunscreen song and have some eye contact. We will reapply sunscreen in the afternoon before we go outside again. Sunhats are also a very smart thing to bring. We will have the children wear their sunhat if they have one!

This is our month to love up the Fathers! I always ask the dads if they wrestle with their children. This is one of a dads main “jobs”. ☺ My boys and their dad wrestled until they could basically overpower the dad at around age 12. Then they found other ways to spend quality time, like card games and hiking and camping. Very important for a child to have some sorts of father figure in their lives, be it a Grandpa or uncle or even a friend of the family who takes an interest. Later this month we may have a luncheon for the fathers, stay tuned for that.

I have found that children (and everyone) need to have the “boo-boos” acknowledged. The little scrapes or scratches simply need to be witnessed (usually). I have a “boo-boo” song that I sing while holding their hand and having eye contact. “Love and Light, Love and Light, Now your going to be alright.” Most times they simply run and play after, even when arriving to me for love and light with big alligator tears. Acknowledging hurts helps build trust. And trust is lost when hurts are not acknowledged. (Take that one and run with it ☺) In the Polar Bear classroom, we have build consistency and trust.
I spell out our expectations, sometimes-even letting the “love and light bunny family” acts out how to ask for a toy and take turns. The “Love and Light family” are a basket full of stuffed bunnies. They are a favorite in our classroom, and the children are really learning to use their words rather than automatically hit or grab! I wish you could see the wonderful cooperative play that is happening every day in our classroom!

I have a special interest in emotional development and actually met Marshall Rosenthal years ago as he performed his puppet shows with his giraffe and other characters. He wrote the book, Non-violent Communication. I have watched the work develop through the years for children. The best system that I recommend is Generation Mindful (Genmindful.com). Hang a poster in your home or on the refrigerator to help you and your child identify and deal with emotions is valuable work.

Have a wonderful spring! We will certainly miss our Lola!! Thank you for supporting her on her way. You may run into her now and then as she her Luna is still with us at Sunset.

Sincerely,
Ms. Iris and Ms. Gloria