Spring is a great time to get outdoors, take advantage of the nice weather, and explore the change of the season. Being outside provides numerous benefits for your child’s developmental growth and physical and mental health.
Below are some activities to do this season that are not only fun, but also educational.
1. Create a Nature Journal
Start a new routine by taking walks with your child. Look for signs of spring, such as flowers, birds, and green leaves. After each walk, provide your child with a notebook and writing utensils. Encourage them to draw pictures or write about the things they saw. This fun exercise fosters creativity, writing, fine motor, and memory skills.
2. Fly a Kite
Did you know that April is National Kite Month? Enjoy the breezy weather with your child! Find a wide-open field or park without trees or power lines and let your kite soar high in the sky. Use this opportunity to practice gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination and discuss concepts, such as wind and directional vocabulary.
3. Make Nature Prints
Provide your child with a small bucket or basket and go outdoors. Ask them to collect a few favorite flowers or leaves. Roll out play dough or clay and encourage your child to gently press the item into the dough. Carefully lift the item to reveal a beautiful print. Ask your child to describe what they see. Roll the dough again and continue the fun.
4. Garden
Gardening is a hands-on activity for children of all ages. Start small with a few pots or planters. Discuss the importance of sunlight and water for growing healthy plants and flowers. Each day, ask your child to help water the garden. If you’ve planted seeds, encourage your child to measure the plant’s size and track using a chart or graph.
April Newsletter
Dear Merryhill Families:
April promises to be a super exciting month! We are going to be so busy celebrating Name Yourself Day, Week of the Young Child, Earth Day, and doing lots of gardening!
This year we plan to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables in our garden boxes. These gardens will provide an opportunity to teach our students about plant life cycles, how to care for the plants/Earth, and the impact of making changes to the environment.
The week of the Young Child will be celebrated here at the school April 4-8 with five fun-filled, themed days to celebrate of our youngest learners! The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration hosted by NAEYC to spotlight early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. Our goal is to spread the word about the importance of high-quality early learning, and the critical role early childhood educators play in a child’s development and learning.
As we prepare for the upcoming fun and activities that will take place during the Spring, we ask that you make sure to keep extra clothes in your child’s cubby and to double check if they are weather-appropriate as we move to warmer days. There will be many outdoor activities, and children may get wet from time to time. We want to make sure to keep them dry & clean (for the most part) after some messy projects take place.
Sincerely,
Katie Moyer
Assistant Principal
News From our Education Department
4 Educational Activities to Do with Your Child in Spring
Below are some activities to do this season that are not only fun, but also educational.
1. Create a Nature Journal
Start a new routine by taking walks with your child. Look for signs of spring, such as flowers, birds, and green leaves. After each walk, provide your child with a notebook and writing utensils. Encourage them to draw pictures or write about the things they saw. This fun exercise fosters creativity, writing, fine motor, and memory skills.
2. Fly a Kite
Did you know that April is National Kite Month? Enjoy the breezy weather with your child! Find a wide-open field or park without trees or power lines and let your kite soar high in the sky. Use this opportunity to practice gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination and discuss concepts, such as wind and directional vocabulary.
3. Make Nature Prints
Provide your child with a small bucket or basket and go outdoors. Ask them to collect a few favorite flowers or leaves. Roll out play dough or clay and encourage your child to gently press the item into the dough. Carefully lift the item to reveal a beautiful print. Ask your child to describe what they see. Roll the dough again and continue the fun.
4. Garden
Gardening is a hands-on activity for children of all ages. Start small with a few pots or planters. Discuss the importance of sunlight and water for growing healthy plants and flowers. Each day, ask your child to help water the garden. If you’ve planted seeds, encourage your child to measure the plant’s size and track using a chart or graph.