Shaving Cream Fun

On this home visit our activity was shaving cream experience. When I arrived little K's five siblings were home for the summer break and joined in the activity with little sister and Mom. We all talked and shared about how the shaving cream felt, was it hot or cold? how does it feel? we also made pictures with the cream on a tin baking pan and covered the picture of the teddy bear, talked about his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, head, neck, arms, legs, tummy. Little K also made circles with the shaving cream and was very happy to share the activity with her siblings and proud to show them and Mom what she is able to do. It is always a joy and encouragement to have family members join in the socialization and learning experience.

EGA

Learning Through Play

Mom and I observed 18 month old TM, as he participated in pretend play at a recent social. He set out plates, poured from a cup, pretended to take bites and shared ''food' with his mother and brother. Mom joined in and used parallel talk, by naming and describing the use of each item as he picked it up and used it. Mom was surprised and delighted as she observed his play activities "in the kitchen". Through observation, Mom discovered that TM learned best through play and that it affected his social, emotional, physical, intellectual and language development.
JM

Exploring the Library

Every summer we have some of our socials at the local library. The families participate in storytime, sign up for the summer reading program, and take a tour of the library. Parents who might be hesitant to go to the library on their own for the first time appreciate going as a group with our program and are helped with the process of getting a library card. On recent home visits, several children have proudly showed me the prize they have won for their participation in the reading program. One mom, who came a year ago to the social at the library, has continued to visit the library weekly and check out books for herself and her children. On each home visit, she takes a moment to show me the books she is currently reading to her children. It is great to help these families connect with a wonderful community resource and begin a new habit of reading library books to their children.
CRS

Making blocks

On this particular visit with little J, Mom had been collecting boxes to make home made blocks for little J. She collected the materials and wanted me to show her how to make the blocks. It became a great activity that involved Mom and little J, Mom felt so happy and proud to make something for her son and little J loved to help. After we finished little J played with the blocks and had the best time. Mom was happy and proud of herself that she had made something for her son, for both to enjoy.
I love the way this program, guides and encourage parents.

EGA

Dr. Teacher

Little J went to the doctor recently. He informed the teacher that the doctor looked at his chest. J's teacher informed mom that something did not look right with J's chest. His primary doctor sent J to a specialist and the parents were informed of possible corrective surgery down the road. J's parents were grateful and thankful for the teacher's active involvement on encouraging J to visit the doctor.

LJ

Out of Sight, But Not Out of Mind!

At or around 8 months, parents may begin to notice that their baby is actively searching for something, they have hidden from their child. This developmental milestone is known as object permanence and is the ability for babies to understand that even though an object is hidden, it still exits. At JR's eight month visit, he demonstrated that out of sight does not mean out of mind. Mom sat on the floor, showed JR a hand puppet and made it disappear behind her back. With inflection in her voice, Mom said, "Uh-oh! Where did it go?" Wonder and curiosity took over as JR leaned forward and quickly crawled, to look for the puppet behind Mom's back. He grabbed it, gave it to Mom and the games began! The intellectual milestone of object permanence had been achieved!
JNM

The Most Important Teacher

An essential element of our program is the follow-up activity. Each week we give parents a specific activity to practice in the home. It may be stacking blocks, using parallel talk while their child plays, playing a homemade matching game, singing a new song together, or working on a new discipline technique. We remind parents that they are their child's first and most important teacher. We are there to give information, answer questions and model activities, but it is their implementation of the information and activities that makes the difference. Each week the parents are eager to share what they have been practicing with their child and the progress that is being made.
CRS