Friendship Matters ​

​We read books and practice using positive language about friendship. I model this language with phrase such as:
"When you help him build that tower, you are a nice friend" 
"When you share your toy, you are being a nice friend"
"Letting little kids go first is being a nice friend"
" You were saying nice words to your friend, that's great!"


Activities
​​I structure activities where children learn empathy, caring, other people's emotions, and friendship. . 

                                  Inside Play

​Dress up & Super Heroes!
Who needs Halloween when you can play dress up all year! I have two dress-up bins and 10 hooks full of dress up clothes. The super hero capes are always a favorite!

Pretend Play & Imaginary Play
During free play time, the children come up with creative ways to play. I have combine different bins of toys to come up with new games, such as: building blocks and animal puppets or kitchen toys with dolls. 

Board Game & Card Games
​​When the weather keeps us inside we take the time to play games. We practice taking turns, sharing, winning/losing with grace, sportsmanship, and problem solving strategies. 

Water Fun
We have "car washes" and "toy washes" in the winter. This helps keeps toys clean and provides a new way to play

Building Forts & Movie Day
Once a month we have a movie day (or on certain days with rain or snow).

Beyond our Home 

Maple Grove Arboretum
Two houses down from ours is a bridge that connects us to the Arboretum. There are beautiful trails for us to use. We go on walks, pick wild flowers, and have picnic snacks . 

Arbor View Preschool
The preschool is across the street from us. We can use this fully-fenced- in and shaded playground when school is not in session. 

Ferber Community Park/Baseball Diamonds
Across the parking lot from Arbor View Preschool, is another park and baseball field. We go there in the summer to play on the playground and have kickball or baseball games. 

Arboretum Waterfall
Down the trail, about a half mile from our house it a waterfall. We go for walks on the trail, using bikes, scooters and a stroller. This ia a fun walk where we go for snack and story time too. 

Fall Outside Play

​​Fall Activities:
Leaf Collecting
Leaf projects
Leaf Book
Jumping in leaf piles
Walks along the trails: flower bouquets & nature hikes
Apple tasting and projects
​

Winter Outside Play

Winter Activities:
Building Snowmen
Building Snowforts
Short walks 
Making snow angels
sledding
backyard play
Winter art projects
​Holiday art crafts

Spring Outside Fun

​Spring Activities:
Walks along the trails 
Flower picking
Getting back outside to play 
May Day baskets
Rainbows and spring art projects 

Summer Outside Fun

Summer Activities: 
​Water Days/Water Fights
Ice Cream/Popsicle Treats
Puddle Jumping
Playing at the Parks/Baseball Field
Walks to the Waterfall along the trail
Jumping in our bounce house
Outside Obstacle Courses
Meeting Maple Grove Police Officers









Putting all of these memories together by creating a summer scrapbook for each child

Pirate Day

We painted paper towel rolls in advance to use as SpyGlasses.

I decorated the house with dress up supplies, streamers, and treasure chests.

We painted miniature wooden treasure chests and then filled them with chocolate coins.

We read a book about Pirates, There was an Old Lady Who Sallowed a Treasure Map. 

The kids made pretend treasure maps using pirate stickers. 
​
We then went outside for a treasure hunt. I hid a small bag of treasure for each child to find. I gave them hints to look for theirs. Each child took their turn searching for their treasure. 

​Then the children searched for the large treasure box buried in the sand box. The bow was filled with toy necklaces/rings, chocolate coins, play money, and suckers. ​