November Newsletter
Kiddie Academy of Quakertown
We Are Friends
Infants
The focus this month is to continue to strengthen the bond between infants and caregivers. Babies rely on adults to support and reassure them that their needs will be met. Younger infants will experience feelings of thankfulness when adults comfort them and respond to them in times of distress. Older infants will show gratitude by showing affection to a familiar adult.
Toddlers
Toddlers are at a stage where they are sensitive to how others react, and they seek approval from adults and caregivers. Toddlers look to caregivers to praise their efforts. They rely on adults to be a secure base from which they are willing to venture out and try new things. Toddlers look to their caregivers for affirmation before they repeat actions. Children feel validated when they receive positive responses, which leads to feelings of contentment and gratitude.
Twos
At this stage children are able to communicate being thankful for things such as their favorite toys and important people in their lives. The focus this month is to create an environment where children are learning to be thankful and are able to express their gratitude. Gratitude is a trait best learned through modeling. By modeling polite behaviors and showing appreciation for others, teachers can help children develop the skills to be thankful and grateful.
Creating Character Moments
- Be mindful to say “please” or “thank you” throughout the day. Encourage the children to do the same. By modeling polite behaviors, teachers can help children learn and understand that people deserve respect and recognition when they do kind things.
- Model thankfulness by sharing with the children things you are thankful for each day; for example, “I am so thankful for the warm weather today, so we can go outside and play.”
- Show children that you are grateful for things that are happening in the classroom. Talk about the positive things you see the children doing. Share with the children specific reasons why you appreciate and are grateful for them.
- Begin the day by discussing with the children what they are thankful for. Creating a daily routine where children can begin to think about and relate to the concept of thankfulness will help guide the children to learn to be appreciative.
- Be patient with the children; appreciation is a learned skill that takes time and effort to instill. Children may not show their appreciation outwardly. As children’s language development increases so will their ability to express their appreciation.
Preschool &
The goal for this month is for the children to recognize and be grateful for the people, experiences, and possessions in their life. The focus will be providing children with the opportunity to feel grateful and content.
- Positivity: looking at the positive (good) side of things
- Contentment: the state of happiness and satisfaction
- Appreciation: recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something; feeling or expression of approval or gratitude
- Gratitude: feeling of thankfulness and appreciation; showing appreciation for others
Pre-k
The goal this month is for the children to recognize and appreciate the many things they have in their lives for which they are thankful. This unit will focus on the character traits of positivity and contentment and how they enable us to feel grateful and show appreciation.
- Positivity: looking at the positive (good) side of things
- Contentment: the feeling of happiness and satisfaction
- Appreciation: recognizing and enjoying the good qualities of someone or something; feeling or expression of approval or gratitude
- Gratitude: giving or sharing what one has with others, including time and attention