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What great day to head outside and go for a walk. That’s exactly what our little family did today. Of course after the short walk around our house we realized that it was too great a day to waste. So we climbed on to our bikes and headed out for a ride. Unfortunately we didn’t get any pictures of our ride.
Continue reading “Project 365-175: Going for a walk”
Yesterday was Fathers day, and I spend it with my kids. Of course posing for pictures as a group is not one of their strong suits. But I did manage to get a nice picture with each of them. So I thought I’d share some of the pictures.
Saturday we celebrated Jacobs birthday with friends and family. We held it at Nana and Papa’s in there backyard, till the rain started. Luckily for use it held out till we were just about ready to head in for Presents and Cake.
The Bouncy house was a big hit with every one.
Last night Jacob came running up to me all excited, it seems he saw an iPad where it showed Toy Story. So now my not quite four-year old wants an iPad. It was so amusing that I just had to get it on tape and share it with the world. Of course this also makes me realise that I have to do more with video. So I’m hoping to start doing regular video post, so stay tuned.
Today was Kindergarten orientation, so Melissa, Jacob and I headed to the school, if you think pre school was fun, you will love kindergarden. It was strange to be in what will be Jacobs classroom in just 4 short months. The school gave us a bag with some books and other things to help get Jacob ready for school.
Why are preschool programs good for your child?
Preschool helps children:
get new knowledge and skills – for example, they start learning more about numbers, letters and words
improve their communication and social skills through playing and interacting with other children and adults
make new friends and develop new relationships with adults
develop physical skills – for example, children learn to balance on play equipment and practise fine motor skills like drawing with a pencil and cutting with scissors
develop problem-solving and creative thinking skills
develop responsibility, independence, confidence and self-worth through doing things like looking after their own belongings and spending time away from home
get ready for the transition to school.
What happens in a preschool program?
Preschool is all about learning through open-ended play and structured play activities that allow children to develop at their own pace. Whether your child is finger painting, building a block castle, or singing with other kids, preschool helps your child increase her experiences, abilities and knowledge.
Preschool programs offer both indoor and outdoor learning experiences, as well as opportunities for solo and group play.
Indoor learning experiences often include:
painting, drawing and writing
clay or playdough play
puzzles and games
construction – for example, with blocks or Lego
books
sensory activities.
Outdoor learning experiences often include:
sand play
play in the natural environment
carpentry
water play
dramatic play
swings and climbing equipment.
Group learning experiences often include:
stories and poetry
dancing and singing
playing with musical instruments
drama and acting
show and tell.
When can children go to preschool?
In general, children can go to preschool when they’re four years old, or in the year they turn four. Some preschools in some states and territories also offer programs for three-year-olds.
What kinds of preschools are there?
In Australia there are several different types of preschool programs and kindergartens. All preschool programs are run by qualified early childhood teachers:
Sessional preschools: these offer programs ranging from two-and-a-half hours to seven hours a day, a few days a week.
Long day preschools: these programs run for an entire day and include a lunch program.
Preschool programs in long day care or child care centres: some centres offer preschool programs.
Steiner, Montessori and Reggio Emilia preschools: these offer programs based on individual philosophies about children’s learning. The program models and hours vary.
Three-year-old groups: these programs might include an activity group run by a trained coordinator or a qualified teacher at a kindergarten or preschool.
Most preschools operate in purpose-built facilities, although in more remote areas they can be mobile or online. Preschool programs might be managed by a volunteer parent committee, local government, state education department, independent school or private company.
Tonight before bed Jacob decided to use Violets new bath toy to write out the Alphabet. Jacob has been fascinated with letters and words ever since he realized that they ment something. We can’t go out anywhere without him reading out the letters of signs trying to understand what they say.
Today after skating Papa, Jacob and I headed over to Moores to pick up the Tuxes for the wedding. It was also time for Jacob to try on his Tux. It’s strange to see my little main all dressed up and looking like a big boy. It seems just yesterday that I he was under the lights in the NICU.
Today we have a picture of Violet, I took it while she was watching mommy drive off with Nana. The women were heading to the spa for manicures and pedicure, getting read for the big day on Saturday.
Today we have a picture of Jacob running by while I bbq’d some chicken for dinner. It was a strange little moment, I had pulled my phone out to try to get a picture of my little guy but he wouldn’t stand still. At first I didn’t think I got anything worth keeping, but after looking over the results I thought it was an interesting photo. So here it is, what do you think?
Today Jacob start started his first skating session at Canlan Ice Sports Skating Academy. It’s the first time he’s skating without me or Papa. It’s just him on the ices with his classmates and teachers. His first lesson went great. He listened to the teachers and participated in the different activities. I didn’t get any pictures of him on the ice today, but I hope to get some in the weeks to come.