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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.
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BOOK CLUB - Swimmy
Leo Lionni’s Swimmy, is about a black fish living in a school of red fish who discovers that being different is a strength. The book is great for teaching children about the power of unity and about celebrating one's uniqueness. The book can also help children be thoughtful, respectful, and curious as they explore racial and cultural differences. See below for more activities related to uniqueness, similarities, and differences.
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Try the activities below with your child to help them understand similarities and differences.
- The next time you need to empty your dishwasher, ask your child to sort the utensils. They will need to closely examine some utensils to find their differences (little and big forks and spoons).
- Make your dinner conversation about your family one night and discuss everyone's favorite color, height, or age. How is everyone different and what are the similarities?
- On your next walk, ask your child to collect various objects found in nature, and when you get home sort everything. How will they sort their collection? Maybe it will be by size, shape, color, or type of object (stick, rock, leaf).
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ARTS & CRAFTS - Scrap Paper Rainbow
Materials Needed:
- Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and white paper
- Glue
Directions:
- Gather the materials above.
- Ask your child to rip the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple paper into small pieces that are similar sizes.
- On a piece of white paper, draw the outline of a rainbow with spaces for each of the six colors above.
- Tell your child that each empty space on the rainbow needs to be filled in with a single, unique color. Then, ask them to glue pieces of their paper in each space so colors that are the same are grouped together.
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DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE - Reading
Reading anxiety can be common in early childhood. Some parents wonder if their child is meeting benchmarks, and some kids do, too. Fay Kindergarten teacher Lee Bogaert remembers one student at the beginning of the year exclaiming in a panic, “I’m the only one in my family that doesn’t know how to read!” At Fay, Primary School teachers address those concerns by emphasizing that reading is an individual journey. Reading groups are frequently reshuffled, leveled book bins are labeled by color and animal to discourage comparison, and every student works on specific skills in a program that meets them where they are. “Reading is as much a developmental milestone as an academic one,” says Lee. “The literacy pieces fall into place at different times for every child.”
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FIELD TRIP - Winter Weekends at Good Pickin' Farm
Make the short trip to Westford for Good Pickin' Farm's Winter Weekend events. The events will take place each Sunday this winter through March 13 and will feature ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing, a petting zoo, crafts, tractor rides, bonfires, concessions, and more. Click here for more information.
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PARENTING ADVICE - Five Tips for Planning a Great Staycation
Remember when you had never heard of a staycation? Well, thanks to the pandemic, many of us have discovered the joys of vacationing a little closer to home. There’s no hassle with long airport lines, overbooked flights, or crowded resorts, and with a bit of planning, a staycation can be just as relaxing as a vacation getaway - maybe even more so! If you choose to stay local this February Break, here are a few tips for planning a memorable and fun week with the family.
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Don't let summer sneak up on you! Register now for FaySummer.
FaySummer Day Camp, for children ages 3 through entering grade 9, features busy days full of fun activities with opportunities to explore new things, discover new talents, and create new memories. Campers are grouped by grade and follow a weekly schedule that offers activities to suit every camper’s interests. Younger campers have a more structured schedule, while older campers have increased privileges and more choice in their daily activities. All campers will have the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities, including sports and games, arts and crafts, time on our outdoor adventure challenge course, and time in our pools with swimming lessons.
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