Term 2 has seen an increase in friendships strengthening and increased collaborative play and cooperation. The children have been enjoying using the photo wall for their pictures, moving them around and matching the name labels. Next we will add photos of houses. If you would like to email one in, we can print it and add it to the wall. We even added photos of the staff, which the children loved and thought was fun!

There is a new writing desk and some name writing sheets for the children to try writing their names. We have been encouraging this as the children arrive at Kinder each day. Literacy and Numeracy is embedded across the program: with name labels, games, bingo, puzzles and matching games. The level of engagement with each of these will depend on each child, their interest and readiness to engage with various activities. We continue to support the children to engage in the activities as they feel comfortable to and as they show interest.

The children are enjoying ‘Show and Share’ which gives the opportunity for them to build their confidence, use language, engage as part of a large group, listening and waiting for their turn.

At the easel we have made paint brushes using natural materials, giving a new experience to painting. Using an easel (vertical surface) provides opportunities to develop fine motor and gross motor skills. Fine motor skills develop by moving the painting tool from the paint container to the easel surface requiring focus and control. Gross motor skills grow as using the easel works the shoulder and entire arm. The bigger the surface, the more exercise this area of the body gets.

At the easel there is also opportunity for crossing the midline of the body. This is important to combine movement patterns that cross the body for daily tasks such as reading, writing, and tying shoelaces. It is needed for tasks that involve both hands, where they work together to do a job.

For the last few weeks, water play with containers and spray bottle were a popular activity with Eucalyptus Group. The children spent extended time measuring and carefully pouring water, opening small lids and using the small spray bottles. Then we added colour and small ice cubes with some jewels to the tray, adding another element of interest to the play. Finally we added some large dinosaurs in larger blocks of ice to the tray and water. The children spent time trying to melt the ice with the water to free the dinosaurs.

Just a few reminders:

The Melbourne Museum will be visiting kinder (date TBC)
It is always a good idea for all children to have a hearing and eye test before beginning school, so if you haven’t done this already please try and make the time.
As the weather is getting cooler, don’t forget to check the spare clothes in bags are weather appropriate and to pack a warm jacket. We play outside even when it is cold.
We need some help with the Kinder washing, which is usually some wet towels from water spills etc, smocks and a few table cloths. We did have a roster though that wasn’t possible during Covid. Now we are able to send it home now with a parent again. So if you can volunteer to do it one week we would much appreciate it. It is usually just a small load.