Little Explorers

Little Explorers

These little ones love to look out the window to see the birds and chipmunks!

Domain: Cognition and general knowledge

Strand: Science inquiry and application

Topic: Inquiry: Observe the physical and natural world around them

We love playing together in the pool full of soft toys!

Domain: Social and Emotional Development

Strand: Relationships

Topic: Peer interactions and relationships: 

Participate in simple back and forth interactions with peers for short periods of time.

She loves to play with the farm animals and barn!

Domain: Approaches toward learning

Strand: Engagement and persistence

Topic: Attention:

Focus on an activity for short periods of time despite distractions.

We love to play on our playground and crawl around in the grass! Sunshine and fresh air are the best!

She is showing us how well she can balance by letting go with one hand to wave!

Domain: Physical well-being and motor development

Strand: Motor Development

Topic: Large muscle, balance and coordination

Move with increasing coordination and balance, with or without adult support and/or assistive device

The boys stick together! 

Domain: Social and Emotional Development

Strand: Relationships 

Topic: Peer interactions and relationships

Show interest in other children. 

We love to play peek a boo around the tunnel with our friends while playing outside!

Domain: Approaches toward Learning

Strand: Initiative

Topic: Initiative and curiosity

Explore the environment through a variety of sensory-motor activity

Just enjoying the fresh air and sunshine!

Peek a boo!

Exploring her environment while outside is so much fun!

Domain: Approaches toward Learning

Strand: Initiative

Topic: Initiative and curiosity

Explore the environment through a variety of sensory-motor activities

After a long morning of playing, she likes to kick back and watch everyone else play while she relaxes.

Domain: Social and Emotional Development

Strand: Self

Topic: Self-comforting

Comfort self in a variety of ways

Getting so strong, holding herself up all by herself!

Domain: Physical Well-being and Motor Development

Strand: Motor Development

Topic: Large Muscle, Balance and Coordination

Demonstrate strength and control of head, arms, legs and trunk using purposeful movements

These friends love to play alongside one another.

Domain: Social and Emotional Development 

Strand: Relationships

Topic: Peer interactions and relationships

Participate in simple back and forth interactions with peers for short periods of time

Smile for the camera!

Our infants are always growing!

So happy playing dress up! She is always full of smiles.

Domain: Social and Emotional Development  

Strand: Self  

Topic: Awareness and Expression of Emotion  

Express a variety of emotions (contentment, distress, happiness, sadness, surprise, dislike, anger and fear) through facial expressions, gestures, movement and sounds.

She played so hard and watched her friends play so much that she fell right to sleep without a peep. She does great with sucking her fingers to soothe herself to sleep.

Domain: Social and Emotional Development

Strand: Self

Topic: Self-Comforting

Comfort self in simple ways and communicate needs for help through vocalizations and gestures.

She does such a great job holding her head up to watch her friends play.

Domain: Physical Well-Being and Motor Development

Strand: Motor Development

Topic: Large Muscle, Balance and Coordination

Demonstrate strength and control of head, arms, legs and trunk using purposeful movements.

She knows when she sees the camera that it is time to smile! 

Great friends!  She just loves that baby!

She always wants to play with the smaller baby.

Domain: Social and Emotional Development

Strand: Relationships

Topic: Peer Interactions and Relationships

Show interest in other children.

He loves to play with his friends in the classroom as well as the teachers.  He often dances to music with his teachers.

Domain: Social and Emotional Development

Strand: Relationships

Topic: Interactions with Adults

Participate in routines and experiences that involve back and forth interaction with familiar adults. 

She's always on the move! Loves crawling around to find new things to play with.

Domain: Physical Well- Being and Motor Development 

Strand: Motor Development

Topic: Large Muscle, Balance and Coordination

Move with increasing coordination and balance, with or without adult support and/or assisting device.

Check Out Our Little Movers!

It seems like over night we went from rolling over, to sitting up, and finally to crawling.  Our entire class is moving around!  It is great to see all the new things they are discovering as they move.

One of the children's favorite new games is what I call "race to the top of soft city".
Domain: Approaches toward learning:  Strand: Initiative  Topic: Planning, Action and Reflection 
Act on the environment to meet needs or interests.

They are also finding that others can move to the toy they are playing with.  As you can see we are all great at sharing!
Domain: Social and Emotional Development  Strand: Relationships  Topic: Peer Interactions and relationships

Some of us are even getting strong enough to pull ourselves up to explore things on a different level.
Domain:Approaches toward learning  Strand: Initiative  Topic: Initiative and curiosity 

We are also learning to move our hands in order to feed ourselves.
Domain: Physical Well-Being and Motor Development  Strand: Motor Development Topic: Small Muscle 

We are so excited to see the progress our babies are making and cannot wait to see what new things they learn!

HAVING A BALL

With the great weather we have been having lately, we decided to get the balls out and let the babies explore them outside.

This little girl is getting a taste of the good life!

Motor Development: Oral-Motor

This little man is making room for everyone to spread out and relax.

Geometry: Spatial Relationships

Stay on your toes, this little one has great aim.

Science Inquiry and Application: Observe, hold, touch, and manipulate objects.

We think  it's fun to just sit back and enjoy the show!

Engagement and Persistence: Demonstrate awareness of happenings in surroundings.

MAKING DISCOVERIES

Our infants are growing physically as well as intellectually each day.  We wanted to take the time to share some of the discoveries we have made over the past few weeks.

Birthday balloons can provide hours of entertainment.

Hats are not only useful outside, they make us look great indoors as well.

Singing is a great pass time.

Did you know our friends have feet too?

On sunny days we get pretty light shows.

Ice can be tasty and fun to play with.

Indoors and Out, We're All About!

Now that the weather is getting warmer, we are spending more time outdoors and our infants are having a blast exploring everything around them.

We catch some sun...

we have a ball...

and we relax and enjoy the ride while it last.

As much as we would like to stay outside all day, there comes a time when we have to return to the classroom.  We still find lots of exciting things to do indoors as well!

First, we help each other cool off with a nice cold drink of water.

Next, we cuddle up with some of our favorite toys.

Finally, we strike up some conversations with our close friends.

Workin' Out at the Gym!

We are having a great time in the infant room.  One of our favorite areas to hang out is under the play gym.  It gives our babies a good opportunity to explore different objects in their environment, as well as becoming more aware of their own body and its movement.

This little one his showing off her leg muscles by kicking to make the toys move.

These two are spending quality time together at the gym.  A workout is always better with a partner to support you!

Who doesn't like to people watch at the gym?

Swinging the toys between them, these good friends make working out look easy and fun.