Pat's Chats


Written this month by Jessica DePan. Jessica has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education Pre-k through sixth, a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and a NYS Teaching Certifiction. She has thirteen years experience in the Childcare field, the last seven as a Director. She is currently assuming the role of Assistant Administrator, helping to run the family business. Jessica is also Pat's daughter.

As you drop your child off each day to "daycare" you may wonder what we do all day or why we call ourselves teachers when all we do is play all day.

Each day, your child's teacher plans activities that are developmentally appropriate and focus on developing specific skills or knowledge. Even the seeming simplest tasks are helping children to grow and change. Let's use sand play as an example. As you walk into the classroom you might think to yourself, "Oh, they're playing in the sand. That's fun." And you are right. It's fun. But let's look a little closer.

As your child digs, scoops and sifts in the sand she is developing her gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. She is also developing her fine motor skills as she uses the smaller sand toys like spoons or sticks and holds tight to a cup of sand.

As your little one "plays" in the sand with those other few children, he is learning social skills he will need for the rest of his life. He is developing communication and language skills he will need in Kindergarten and his future workplace. He learns to problem solve when issues come up with sharing, or the best way to make a hole. These social skills are necessary to be successful throughout life.

Sand play helps build beginning math awareness as we put measuring spoons and cups into the sand box and facilitate discussion about the sizes of the cups and spoons or amounts of sand. Children become familiar with mathematical terminology like less/more, big/little, heavy/light.

We can incorporate writing into sand time as children write letters in the sand and are challenged to name them. Art is incorporated as they draw pictures in the sand or imagine what their sand pile might look like. When we add animals or dinosaurs or other toys into the sand it gives children the opportunity to role play and learn about the different animals and sparks exploration into new topics.

With just one simple activity teachers are able to help develop the skills your little one will need for school and beyond. Just think, if one activity can encourage all of those skills and development, what a whole day's worthof activities can do! So, the next time they tell you that all they did was "play" take a peek at the curriculum for the day and find out what they learned.

Your questions and input are always encouraged. With your suggestions and cooperation we can continue to maintain the loving, secure environment that you have come to know at Care-A-Lot. Thank You!
Miss Jessica




Pat DePan,
BS Developmental Psychology
Owner of Care-A-Lot Childcare Centres, Inc. since 1985



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Derby -- West Seneca -- Lakeview -- Grand Island