Emotion Detective
We loved stepping into the role of emotion detectives as we explored each Little Spot!
Using magnifying glasses, we carefully observed the facial expressions—eyes, nose, and mouth—of the characters on our playdough mats to determine the emotions they were showing.
We discovered a variety of feelings, including happiness, calm, love, sadness, anger, worry, confidence, and even scribble spots.
After identifying each emotion, we used playdough to recreate the proper expressions, bringing the characters' feelings to life!
Little Spot of Celebration
Our Little Spot of Celebration helps us build confidence by setting small, achievable goals—like putting away our toys or helping set the dinner table. With each goal we accomplish, we grow more capable and self-assured in our abilities.
To continue the celebration, we created our own Little Spot puppets to take home and use as a fun way to talk about our feelings!
Peaceful Spot
Did you know that when your body, mind, and heart feel worried, angry, sad, or even scribbled (experiencing all your emotions at once), you can use calming strategies to feel more relaxed? One helpful technique is imagining smelling a flower and then blowing a bubble—it helps your body feel calm and at ease.
Practicing yoga poses is another great way to find peace. Our families had so much fun creating animal poses inspired by the story Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
Bye Bye Tears
When we visited the water table, we started with a dry blue sponge. We noticed that it felt light, just like how we feel when we are happy and loved.
But when the sponge absorbed water, it became heavy—just like our hearts can feel when we are sad. We learned that, just as squeezing a soaked sponge releases water, our bodies release tears as a way to express sadness and help us feel better.
Pushing Our Buttons
We expressed our angry feelings by pushing our red button. As we did, we shared things that make us feel upset, like when someone doesn’t share, when we can’t have a cookie for lunch, or when a toy gets broken.
We learned that in these moments, our angry shield comes out, and it’s important to use I statements to express our feelings. When we say things like, “I feel angry when…”, adults and friends can better understand our emotions and help us regulate our anger, guiding us back to feeling calm and peaceful.
Bird Feeders
We learned that when the weather is cold, it becomes difficult for birds to find food. That’s why we were so excited to create our own bird feeders! We can’t wait to hang them outside and observe the birds that come to visit.
We hope to see a variety of birds and look forward to sharing our observations with our friends. Who knows—we might even capture a picture of a bird enjoying our feeder!
Sharing Our Valentines
We loved sharing a delicious snack while chatting about our Valentine’s Day plans!
Our February Bulletin Board
Getting Ready for Pre- K and K = School Readiness
Many of our friends are eagerly preparing for their transition to preschool or kindergarten! Families often wonder what resources are available to support school readiness skills at home.
To help guide this transition, the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Education developed the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS). These standards provide a framework and common language for what children should know and be able to do from birth to age five.
If you're interested in learning more about the CT ELDS, please visit https://www.ctoec.org/ct-elds-strategies-for-learning-at-home/ on the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood website and select the age level band appropriate for your child.
Another fantastic resource for supporting school readiness at home is the free Sparkler app. To learn more, visit https://playsparkler.org/ct/. If you choose to download the app, please use our MILFORDFRC code when registering.
We hope these resources help make the transition to preschool or kindergarten smooth and exciting for your family!