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Parenting a preschooler can be challenging, and we hope that this newsletter will add to your parenting toolbox by delivering inspiration and expert advice to your inbox each month. Do you have burning parenting questions or a topic that you would like us to cover in a future newsletter? We would love your input! Please contact Nicole Casey at ncasey@fayschool.org with any questions, comments, or feedback.

BOOK CLUB - Too Many Pumpkins

Too Many Pumpkins is perfect to get your child into the fall spirit - and get them thinking like a problem solver. The story focuses on Rebecca Estelle, her problem of having too many pumpkins, and creative solutions to the problem.

LITERACY AND NUMERACY - Scientific Thinking

Young children are naturally great at scientific thinking because of their curiosity, so it is often easy to incorporate basic scientific principles into their play through their own inquiries.

This fall, try harnessing your child's curiosity about pumpkins into a scientific investigation. Some questions you could discuss are below.

How much do you think a pumpkin weighs?
How many seeds do you think are inside a pumpkin?
Do you think a pumpkin will sink or float in water?
What do you think will happen to a pumpkin after carving it?

To answer these questions, encourage your child to make predictions and then test them. Your child can even document what they think will happen by drawing a picture. For example, if they think a pumpkin will sink in water, they could draw a picture of the pumpkin under water. After they test their theory, they could draw another picture that depicts the outcome.

ARTS & CRAFTS - Pick-a-Face Jack-o-Lantern

Materials Needed:

Orange and Black Paper or Felt
Scissors

Directions:

Use scissors to cut a pumpkin shape out of orange paper or felt.
With the black paper or felt, cut out various shapes that can be used for the pumpkin's eyes, nose, and mouth.
Create endless jack-o-lanterns!
While your child is creating their jack-o-lanterns, you can talk about the shapes they are using. For example, you can point out that triangles have three sides, while squares and rectangles have four sides.
You can also talk about the facial expressions that your child is creating for their pumpkin and the emotions behind them. For example, if your child creates a jack-o-lantern that looks happy, you can talk about how happiness feels and about things that make each of you happy.

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE - Childhood Fears

Is your child afraid of the dark, imaginary monsters, or loud noises? While these fears seem irrational to adults, they actually feel very real to young children and should not be ignored or dismissed. Instead, it is important for parents to remember that they should support their child's fears and to acknowledge them. For example, instead of responding to your child's fear by only saying something like "monsters aren't scary," try reassuring them by telling them that you used to be scared of monsters or that many other children worry about monsters too.

Your child's fears most likely will not vanish overnight, so have patience and praise them for their progress. You can also boost their confidence by talking about their bravery and reminding them of other situations where they overcame their fears. For more information and tips about managing childhood fears, click here for an article from the Child Mind Institute.

FIELD TRIP - Halloween Celebration at Fay School

Join Fay School and the Southborough Library for a special Halloween event on Saturday, October 23 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. The event will feature a costume parade, a Halloween concert by Stacey Peasley, crafts, games, and a storytime. The event is free to attend and is open to the public. Click here for more information.

PARENTING ADVICE - Enrolling Your Child In Kindergarten

Kindergarten is the first formal step in your child’s educational journey, but like most childhood firsts, it can raise a lot of questions for anxious parents. How will I know whether my child is ready for kindergarten? What does my child need to know before the first day? What does a good kindergarten program look like? As you start to weigh your kindergarten options, click the button below for some factors to consider.

Four Things to Think About When Enrolling in Kindergarten

Kindergarten at Fay School

Kindergarten often lays the foundation for a child's entire learning experience. At Fay, our small class size and individualized approach helps each kindergartener establish the skills they will need for a successful educational journey. Our teachers focus on each child’s literacy, numeracy, science understanding, and social-emotional development, supported by a team of expert specialists who coordinate instruction in art, music, French, and Spanish, and P.E. Our teacher also focus on fostering a love of learning, and they know that when students believe that their learning matters, they give their all.

Learn more about Fay's kindergarten program and beyond at our Virtual Open House on Sunday, November 7.

RSVP to Fay's Open House

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Southborough, MA | 01772 US

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