Christmas is.....

Christmas looks like children's smiles,
      shining oh-so-bright,
Christmas sounds like merry carols,
      and singing in the night.
Christmas tastes like gingerbread,
      sweet but spicy too,
Christmas smells like roast turkey,
      specially made for you!
Christmas feels like nice warm hugs,
      as we're putting up the tree,
Christmas is Jesus' birthday
      - who really does love me!

 

 

 

CHEESE!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON!!

 

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our 2 year old class!!! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playground Fun!

Playgrounds are places where children’s play can take off and flourish. Good outdoor playgrounds are large enough and designed in such a way that children’s play can come to full expression, where children can make a mess, run, jump and hide, where they can shout, whistle and explore the natural world.

Purpose of Outdoor Play

There are two fundamental reasons why outdoor play is critical for young children in early childhood programs and schools. First, many of the developmental tasks that children must achieve—exploring, risk-taking, fine and gross motor development and the absorption of vast amounts of basic knowledge—can be most effectively learned through outdoor play. Second, our culture is taking outdoor play away from young children through excessive TV and computer use, unsafe neighborhoods, busy and tired parents, and elimination of school recess.

Physical Exercise

Children need to develop large motor and small motor skills. Extensive physical activity is also needed to address a growing problem of obesity in America.

Enjoyment of the Outdoors

Outdoor play is one of the things that characterize childhood. Childhood must include outdoor play. Children need opportunities to explore, experiment, expand, influence, change, discover, practice, yell, sing, and create.

Learning about the World

Outdoor play enables young children to learn lots and lots and lots of things about the world. How does ice feel and sound? Can sticks stand up in sand? How do plants grow? How does mud feel? Why do we slide down instead of up? How do I make my tricycle go faster? How does the overhang of the building create cool shade from the sun? What does a tomato smell and taste like? What does a chrysalis change into? Do butterflies have to learn to fly? Much of what a child learns outside can be learned in a variety of other ways, but learning it outside is particularly effective—and certainly more fun!

 

Health

Everyone who works with young children in early childhood programs and schools knows how quickly bacteria and viruses spread in these environments. One way to reduce the spread of infection is through lots and lots of fresh air. Outdoor play enables the infections to spread out and dissolve- it also enables children to get fresh air and exercise and be less constrained than they are in the classroom.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a special family lunch to celebrate this season of Thanksgiving. Thank you to all of the families and friends who made it out to this special event. We are so grateful for the wonderful families we have here at Holly Tree and treasure your little ones as we learn and grow with them every day.

There was lots of laughter and joy as we celebrated our families together!

May your stuffing be toasty.

May your turkey be plump. May your potatoes and 

gravy have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious and 

your pies take the price and may your Thanksgiving dinner 

stay off your thighs.  :) 

We want to wish you all a Happy holiday filled with love and joy. We are thankful for our Holly Tree family and look forward to a new year full of blessings. 

Why Preschool Matters!

 How important is preschool?

There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to preschool. At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. And, more important, they learn how to socialize - get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time.

Music and gymnastics classes are great, but what preschools do that less formal classes don't is teach kids how to be students. Your child will learn how to raise their hand, take turns, and share the teacher's attention.  All of this makes for an easier transition to kindergarten. In fact, educators have so recognized the importance of giving kids some form of quality early education that about 40 states now offer state-funded pre-K programs.

What will my child learn?

In addition to strengthening socialization skills -- how to compromise, be respectful of others, and problem-solve -- preschool provides a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence. Kids in preschool discover that they are capable and can do things for themselves -- from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables to tackling bigger issues like making decisions about how to spend their free time. Quality preschools help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation.

There are other advantages to preschools -- primarily that they are the foundations for academic learning. In preschool your child will listen to poetry and songs -- building blocks needed to grasp phonics and reading skills when it is developmentally appropriate. The play that takes place with water, sand, and containers form the foundation for understanding some basic math concepts. The presence of other children and a wide variety of materials are two big reasons why a preschool is a positive experience. 

We take pride in the great skills we provide for the children here at Holly Tree Christian Preschool. The love our teachers offer is evident in every classroom you walk into. As Thanksgiving is fast approaching, we are THANKFUL for the wonderful teachers we have investing daily in our children's lives. 

Corn Shucking

Our Pre-K classes had a fun time experiencing corn shucking! 

 They all wanted to eat the corn ;)

 

Here are some fun facts about CORN:

• Corn is called maize by most countries, this comes from the Spanish word ‘maiz’.
• Corn is a cereal crop that is part of the grass family.
• An ear or cob of corn is actually part of the flower and an individual kernel is a seed.
• On average an ear of corn has 800 kernels in 16 rows.
• Corn will always have an even number of rows on each cob.
• A bushel is a unit of measure for volumes of dry commodities such as shelled corn kernels. 1 Bushel of corn is equal to 8 gallons.
• With the exception of Antarctica, corn is produced on every continent in the world.
• There are over 3,500 different uses for corn products.                                

 

Fall Fun!

We have been in full Fall ready mode at Holly Tree Priest Lake! Our teachers have gone above and beyond to create fun, creative artwork and activities this season.  

Stay tuned for more artwork and pictures from our AWESOME classrooms at Holly Tree Priest Lake!  :) 

Costume Day!!

We were all decked out for Halloween today!!!

We hope you all have a FABULOUS Halloween weekend! Get lots of candy and be sure to stay SAFE!! Check out our previous blog about Halloween Safety for some safety tips! :) 

The Importance of Tummy Time!

Babies need to be active from birth. Tummy time is a great way to encourage your baby to get moving and start building muscle strength.

 Babies who don't get much tummy time may be slower to develop than babies who do. This means that it may take a little longer for them to reach major milestones, such as rolling over, sitting up, or crawling. By giving your baby a chance to develop his muscles, you will be helping to stimulate your baby's development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tummy time has lots of benefits for your growing baby.

Lying on their front helps your baby to strengthen his/her back and shoulders, as well as giving them a chance to move their arms and legs in a different way. This will develop their gross motor skills, which will help them to roll over. As your little one gets older, they will start trying to push up from the tummy position and straighten their arms. This is the precursor to crawling, and it will strengthen the muscles needed to get moving!

 

 

 

 

Tummy time will also strengthen your baby's neck, which will give them greater head control. This means that your baby will be able to look up and around. Being able to see things around them will develop your baby's coordination and their ability to follow things with their eyes.

 

 

 

We are Thankful!

Our Preschool 1 class is THANKFUL......