The first time you drop your child off at school or child care can be full of mixed emotions--for you and for your child, as you are sad to be away from one another but also excited about all the new experiences s/he will have. School should be a fun, exciting place where your child learns new things, makes new friends, and feels safe and loved with wonderful caregivers. How do you find the right

What is Dialogic Reading?

Some of you may have heard or read about dialogic reading in materials from First Connections or elsewhere, and hopefully many of you in playgroups will recognize this style of reading aloud from our circle time.

Dialogic Reading is a technique that has been shown to improve children’s language skills and readiness for reading independently. It is a technique that we use in our playgroup circle times and encourage families to

Often, when adults see a child do something that hurts someone else, intentionally or unintentionally, they immediately admonish the child, "Say you're sorry!"

Well, that's not always (or even most of the time) the best solution. If he did it on purpose, your preschooler may very well not be sorry that he took that toy he wanted from someone else, that he pushed someone out of his way while he was running on

Social and Emotional Skills for Preschoolers

Two and three-year-olds are learning to…

• Have a sense of themselves as individuals
• Develop strong relationships with familiar adults other than their primary caregiver(s)
• Name emotions
• Identify emotions in themselves and others
• Use words to express their feelings, needs and desires
• Begin to regulate their emotions, using new coping strategies for when they are upset, with adult support
• Use self help skills: dressing and undressing independently

To make homemade play dough:

Mix:

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

2 Tablespoons cream of tartar

Add:

2 cups of very HOT water (almost boiling)

Food coloring

Mix until you get a good consistency. There may be some flour left in the bowl. If it is too runny, add some flour. If it is too dry, add a little water.

After it cools, your kids can play with it.

Store in an

It is often harder to get children to clean up at home than it is in a group setting such as playgroup or school.  The routines at home are more variable, and whatever they are leaving play time to do is usually not as exciting as circle or the playground.

So cleaning up at home can be more challenging than in a group setting.  But you

You hear parents and other adults telling kids all the time, "Share your toys!" But do kids always have to share? And when can they do it without help from an adult and/or throwing a tantrum? 

Well, it all depends. It depends on the  situation, on the toy or activity your child is being asked to share, and on your child's developmental stage. And you also get

Playgroup Songs:

Willoughby Wallaby

Willoughby wallaby Wellie,

An elephant sat on Ellie;

Willoughby wallaby Wary,

An elephant sat on Mary.

Banana-fana

Ellie, Ellie, bo bellie,

Banana fana fo fellie,

Me my mo mellie,

Ellie.

The Jumping Name Song:

There was a girl at playgroup today,

And Ellie was her name-o.

Jump, jump, Ellie, jump.

Jump, jump, Ellie, jump.

We're glad you're here today-o!

Galloop

Galloop went the little green frog one day,

Galloop went the