St. Matthew's R.E. Church & Day Care Center

Grateful for a beautiful week 🌞Have a nice weekend friends 🎉

We have some Busy Bears and Ducks these days 😊🌤️

Looks like there’s a new sweet face in our infant room this week !
Welcome, welcome little Keeley 😍💗

Happy 5 th Birthday to our buddy Chase 🎉
Thank you for the Pizza Party today !

We are loving this weather !

When it Rains 🌨️ ..it’s time to bring out the Trains 🚆

5 lessons from the book "The Importance of Being Little" by Erika Christakis argues for a shift in how we approach early childhood. The book champions fostering a child's natural curiosity and love of learning through play, exploration, and strong relationships rather than the current focus on academics in early childhood education. This is a must-read for parents, educators, and anyone interested in fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment for young children.

1. Embrace the Journey: Many parents view childhood as a race to get children "ready" for kindergarten or beyond. The Importance of Being Little reminds us that childhood is a valuable journey in itself. Don't pressure your child to achieve specific academic goals at a young age. Focus on creating an environment that sparks their curiosity and allows them to learn and explore at their own pace.

2. Motivation Matters More Than Rewards: Traditional methods often rely on rewards (stickers, praise) and punishments (time-outs) for behavior management. Christakis argues that these extrinsic motivators can undermine a child's intrinsic motivation – the natural desire to learn and explore. Instead, focus on open communication and positive reinforcement. Help them understand the impact of their actions and the natural consequences.

3. The Power of Play: Play is not just about fun and games; it's essential for a child's development. Through open-ended play (think building blocks, dress-up, imaginative scenarios), children explore their creativity, problem-solve, develop social skills, and learn about the world around them.

4. Building the Foundation: Feeling loved and accepted unconditionally is crucial for a child's well-being. The Importance of Being Little emphasizes the importance of strong, secure relationships with caregivers. This sense of security allows children to feel safe to take risks, explore their environment, and learn new things.

5. Conversations, Stories, and Songs: Formal lessons aren't the only way to help your child develop language skills. Everyday interactions like conversations, storytelling, and singing are filled with rich opportunities for language learning. Engage your child, ask open-ended questions, and listen attentively.

 Trying to keep it active and fun on very humid day.

Fun with Bugs🐜🐞🐛Boxes and Shaving Cream .. and a few random pics from the last two weeks .. we can’t believe August is almost here

Yes ! It is true .. The Lamb class ate Mud today .. apparently there were gummy worms to 🪱😂

Just a few pics from last week 😊

We have a new face in our Baby Class ! Welcome Sweet Conner😍

Rainy Day back up plan 😊

Someone is”5 “ now 🎉 Happy Birthday to our buddy Mason 🎉
Thank you for the Pizza Party and yummy Phillies Birthday cupcakes 🧁

Someone just turned “3” 🎉
Happy Birthday Sweet Ella 💗Thank you for the yummy cupcakes🧁
P.S Matt says he’s “3” now to 😂😊

Happy July 4 th friends 🎉🇺🇸❤️

Today we went on The Cliff Walk 🌊 in Newport RI , then visited The Breakers Mansion 🏯 What are our friends doing today ?

Hey Friends ! Don’t forget to post your fun pics of the week here ! This is me and Miss Anna today in Rhode Island at the Green Animal Topiary 😊

Summer Days.. have a safe and fun week next week friends 😊

Don’t forget friends VBS starts tonight bring a friend !Ages 5 to 12 yrs old

Lambs Camp Out 🦗🏕️🍪

Water play mornings ..staying cool in the afternoons. It’s been a fun week 💦😊

Did Someone say SMORES 😍

Hot days = Water Play days 💦🎉

Some new faces in our Lamb Room 😍🎉

Happy,Happy 4 th Birthday Josie girl 🎉💗 Thank you for the Pizza Party and yummy cupcakes 🍕🧁

What a great night !
St.Matthew’s 39 th PreK Graduation
So very proud of our graduates, they did an awesome job 👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓🎉

Wow ! Two Birthdays to
Celebrate today !
Happy 3 rd Birthday to our buddy Jackson, and Happy 4 th Birthday to our buddy Cillian 🎉
Thank you both for the delicious pizza party and yummy cupcakes 🍕🧁😋