It's hard to believe that my blog this quarter is starting with Christmas! But the holidays have a habit of arriving early for child care centres. This November we are hosting a Christmas Purdy’s fundraiser. The proceeds from this fundraising, as well as the proceeds from our Annual Silent Auction Christmas Baskets, are going towards a purchase of an Auto External Defibrillator (AED) for the centre with child-sized pads. As professional educators, we dedicate our time to ensure that we are current with all First Aid and CPR training. The well-being and safety for all at Thistleoaks has motivated the educators to raise the money to meet a need they see in the centre. What phenomenal support and dedication we have in our educators!
They design their classroom environment to provoke inquiry and provide inviting spaces that offer children the opportunity for choices, exploration, relaxation, investigation, and discovery. Together they ensure that the space engages families through creating connections, a place that reflects our beliefs about children and what they deserve, and supports their development, interactions, and interests. The space, with all the objects within, including the various materials and resources for learning, is created and arranged as the children’s learning process unfolds – it is constantly being negotiated by and with the children design their classroom environment to provoke inquiry and provide inviting spaces that offer children the opportunity for choices, exploration, relaxation, investigation, and discovery. Together they ensure that the space engages families through creating connections, a place that reflects our beliefs about children and what they deserve, and supports their development, interactions, and interests. The space, with all the objects within, including the various materials and resources for learning, is created and arranged as the children’s learning process unfolds – it is constantly being negotiated by and with the children.
It is their thoughtfulness and intentionality that guides my vision when planning for improvements and design of the Thistleoaks environment - to create an environment that is thoughtfully designed to invite, provoke, and enhance learning, and to encourage communication, collaboration, and inquiry, but most importantly, an environment that cultivates and fosters a sense of belonging, from the moment you step in to the centre. I would love to see the parents' voices represented in our centre, and invite all suggestions and ideas you may have. For those of you who may wonder where I am, I have moved my office to just outside the KinderClub room upstairs.
Reminders
· November 20th is National Child’s Day. Here is an article from the Canadian Child Care Federation on the Right to Play.
· Stay tuned for details around our Annual Christmas Open House
· Bathroom Renovation and Lighting Project running from November 6th to mid-December
· Oakville Santa Claus Parade November 17th 9:00-12:00
· Check out our Facebook page for useful information about childhood research and child development studies
