Wednesday, October 16, 2024

🎃Save the Pumpkins🎃

 


🧡Save the Pumpkins Activity🧡 

Happy Wednesday Academy of Westhaven Families! It’s been such an amazing month so far, it’s hard to believe that we are in the last weeks of October already. 

Fall is in the air, and pumpkins are everywhere! It's the perfect time for our littles to engage in a fun and educational activity that also develops their fine motor skills! We had a blast while exploring this exciting "Save the Pumpkins" activity designed to captivate little ones while enhancing their hand-eye coordination and dexterity. We started out by setting up our “Pumpkin Patch” and our littles were ready to accomplish the task at hand with tongs and a cup to put the “safe” pumpkins into. This was the perfect activity for building those fine motor skills in our littles working on handwriting and grasping! We did this activity in groups of two, but you can adjust it to your liking. Once the mission was complete they were excited to count and see how many pumpkins they were each able to save. “Save the Pumpkins" is a delightful and engaging fine motor activity that combines imaginative play with skill development. It's the perfect way to celebrate the fall season while helping preschoolers enhance their hand-eye coordination and precision. As the little ones rescue their pumpkin friends, they're also nurturing important motor skills that will serve them well in their future adventures. So, grab your sensory bin and some mini pumpkins, and let the pumpkin-saving adventures begin! Happy fall, and happy learning. Check out the fun below! 











Tuesday, October 1, 2024

🐸💗Open House💗🐸

 




Happy Tuesday Academy of Westhaven Families! It’s hard to believe that we are already in our first week of October. We are all soaking in the weather and outside that we are making up for after all of the rain. It’s been fun to see the hallways be filled with fall artwork and the littles sharing their exciting costume ideas!

We recently hosted our much-anticipated Open House, and we were thrilled to see so many of our preschool families join us for the evening. It was a perfect opportunity for parents to gain a deeper understanding of what happens in their child’s classroom every day, meet our dedicated educators, and access a range of resources to support their child’s early learning journey.

Throughout the evening, parents were able to explore the academic expectations for their child’s age group, and learn about our engaging, hands-on curriculum. We also provided valuable information about speech therapy services for those interested in additional support. Our staff proudly showcased our safe place, an essential part of our conscious discipline program, allowing parents to see firsthand how we help children navigate their emotions in a safe and nurturing environment.

In addition to meeting the team and learning more about classroom routines, parents had the chance to sign up for parent-teacher conferences and connect with other families in their child’s class. Many took the opportunity to exchange contact details and strengthen the sense of community among our families.

Lastly, we gave everyone a sneak peek of the exciting upcoming events planned for this school year, building anticipation for the fun and learning that lies ahead.

Thank you to all the families who attended, we look forward to continuing to partner with you throughout this school year and your child’s preschool adventure with The Academy!

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

💗Babydoll Circle Time💗

 


💗Babydoll Circle Time💗


Happy Tuesday Academy of Westhaven families! We are excited to start another amazing week with our littles. They have all been loving this fall like weather that we’ve been having, and of course all of the extra outside time that comes along with it. We’ve also began our Frogstreet curriculum, and Babydoll Circle Time. 

Baby Doll Circle Time has quickly become a favorite activity among the students! During this special time, each child is given their own baby doll to care for. It’s heartwarming to watch them rock their dolls, gently feed them, sing soothing songs, and pat them to sleep with the utmost care.


This nurturing role-play provides more than just fun—it supports the emotional and social development of our little learners. By caring for their dolls, children practice empathy and compassion, learning how to respond to the needs of others. The act of rocking, feeding, and singing to their baby doll also helps to build their sense of responsibility, mirroring how caregivers tend to them in real life.


Baby Doll Circle Time is also a great opportunity for developing motor skills. Whether it's cradling the doll or mimicking feeding motions, these gentle movements enhance coordination. Additionally, through this activity, children engage in cooperative play and learn about the dynamics of relationships, which helps them understand the importance of kindness and patience.


We are so proud of how our students are engaging in this activity, nurturing their baby dolls just like they are nurtured every day. Baby Doll Circle Time has been a beautiful addition to our routine, fostering both heartwarming moments and essential developmental skills.

Check out the fun below! 









Monday, September 9, 2024

💗Grandparents Day Celebration💗

 


💗Grandparents Day Celebration💗

Happy Monday Academy of Westhaven Families! We are so excited to start another amazing week with all of our littles. We also have started back the school year with our Frogstreet Curriculum, which they are all loving so far!

Last Friday, we had the pleasure of hosting a heartwarming Grandparents Day celebration at our preschool! The day was filled with joy and connection as the children welcomed their grandparents into our classroom for a special afternoon together.


The highlight of the event was our delightful strawberry shortcake bar. The children loved choosing their toppings and assembling the perfect shortcake with their grandparents. Paired with refreshing lemonade, it made for a sweet treat that everyone enjoyed.


After enjoying the snacks, the children and their grandparents moved on to the arts and crafts station. It was wonderful to see the creativity flow as they worked together on various projects. From painting to making keepsakes, the crafts allowed for meaningful bonding moments.


To wrap up the day, the children gathered around with their grandparents to read storybooks together. The room was filled with laughter and smiles as they shared their favorite stories and made new memories.


Thank you to all the grandparents who joined us for this special day. Your presence made the celebration truly unforgettable for the children, and we look forward to creating more cherished memories in the future!

Check out the fun below!










Saturday, August 31, 2024

☀️SUMMER OF IMAGINATION 2024☀️

 

☀️SUMMER OF IMAGINATION☀️

As the summer comes to an end, and so does our incredible Summer of Imagination program, we want to take a moment to reflect on the unforgettable journey we've had with your amazing children. Each week was a new adventure, filled with creativity, exploration, and the kind of joy that only a child’s imagination can bring to life. From the moment we stepped into the world of each theme, it was clear that this summer would be one to remember.

Under the Big Top kicked off our summer with a burst of excitement as our little ones transformed into circus performers, clowns, and ringmasters. The magic of the circus came alive with fun games, bright colors, and laughter echoing through our halls.


During Let’s Build, our students became architects and engineers, constructing imaginative structures with blocks, Legos, and recycled materials. Their creativity knew no bounds as they collaborated to build cities, castles, and even rocket ships!


Disney Days was a whimsical week where beloved characters jumped off the screen and into our classrooms. From fairy tales to adventures with Mickey and friends, our little ones delighted in dressing up, singing along to their favorite songs, and embarking on magical quests.


At Camp Academy, the spirit of the great outdoors filled our days. We set up campgrounds, went on nature scavenger hunts, and even crafted our own s’mores (without the campfire, of course!). It was a week of exploring nature’s wonders right in our own backyard.


The wild world came to life during Animal Planet week. Our budding zoologists learned about animals from all corners of the globe, created animal art, and even had a visit from some special furry and scaly friends!


We are America was a week to celebrate the red, white, and blue. We explored what makes our country special through crafts, songs, and patriotic activities that highlighted our nation's history and diversity.


The ocean's depths were explored during Under the Sea week, where the children discovered marine life, created their own coral reefs, and even met an aquatic veterinarian who shared the wonders of ocean animals with us.


Things got delightfully messy during Ooey Gooey week as we experimented with all things slimy, sticky, and squishy. From sensory play to science experiments, this week was all about diving hands-first into fun! They even got to slime all of their teachers!


Our young heroes were put to the test during Superheroes in Training week. They designed their own capes and masks, practiced superhero skills, and learned about the importance of kindness, bravery, and helping others.


The spirit of friendly competition filled the air during Olympics week. The children participated in our own mini-Olympic Games, complete with ribbon dancing, obstacle courses, and an awards ceremony where everyone was a winner!


The countryside came to our preschool during Barnyard Bash week. Our little farmers gathered eggs, "milked" cows, sheared sheep, and adopted their very own farm animals (balloon pets) to take home.


Chopped Junior was a culinary adventure where our budding chefs created their own masterpieces in the kitchen. From mixing to decorating, their creativity shone through in every dish, and the results were both tasty and impressive!


Dinosaurs roamed the earth again during Dinosaur week. The children became paleontologists, digging for fossils, making dinosaur crafts, and learning about the giants that once walked our planet.


We wrapped up our summer with a Back to School themed week, where the children got excited about the new school year ahead. Through fun activities and preparations, they’re now ready and eager to embark on the next chapter of their learning journey.


This summer, we witnessed countless moments of wonder, discovery, and pure joy. The memories created during each themed week will last a lifetime, not only for the children but for our teachers as well. Thank you for entrusting us with your little ones and allowing us to be a part of their summer adventures. We can’t wait to see what the new school year brings!


Check out the fun below!































Monday, August 12, 2024

🐷🐄❤️BARNYARD BASH❤️🐄🐷




🐷🐄❤️BARNYARD BASH❤️🐄🐷

Our Barnyard Bash week at preschool was a fantastic success, filled with hands-on activities and farmyard fun! The children had an amazing time exploring the wonders of farm life through engaging and imaginative play.

We started the week with an Animal Roundup! The children enjoyed pretending to be farmers, rounding up their favorite stuffed farm animals. This activity was a great way to introduce the theme and get everyone excited for the week ahead.

Our “Day on the Farm” activity was full of exciting experiences. The little ones got to:
- Pretend to milk a cow.
- Collect eggs from the “chickens.”
- Shear a sheep using shaving cream.
- Explore our very own “chicken coop.”

The children were thrilled to take part in these hands-on farm chores, and it was a great opportunity for them to learn more about life on the farm.

The fun continued with Farm Sensory Bins. These bins were filled with various farm-themed items, allowing the children to explore different textures and engage their senses. It was a delight to see them dig in and discover all the surprises hidden within the bins.

We channeled our inner artists during our Crop Harvest painting activity. The children used fresh vegetables as paintbrushes to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind artwork. It was a wonderful way to combine creativity with the farm theme, and the resulting masterpieces were truly impressive!

To wrap up our Barnyard Bash week, each child got to adopt their very own farm animal—a fun inflatable walking balloon! The excitement on their faces as they chose their animal friend was priceless, and it made for a memorable end to a fantastic week.

For a special treat, we served popcorn at pick-up, in the shape of corn on the cob, which added an extra touch of fun to the end of each day.

Thank you for your continued support as we create these joyful and educational experiences for your children. We look forward to more fun-filled weeks ahead! 

Check out the fun below