June is a great month to get out and enjoy the beautiful sunny days, and we did so as often and as long as possible. The children enjoyed many outdoor activities, and their favorite was playing in the water. Whether the children were running under the sprinkler, splashing at the water table, or filling and pouring water from pails and watering cans, it was all wonderful for the children's gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and social skills. It's also a great opportunit

November started with some beautiful sunny weather that was perfect for planting some flower bulbs. The children loved the idea of "putting the bulbs to sleep" and covering the bulbs with a "blanket of soil" to tuck them in. Even though we will have to wait a long time to see the flowers, it's nice to know a surprise awaits us in the spring. November's weather was also quite conducive to nature walks, and the spectacle of falling leaves prompted the children to bring along

With December came the snow, and we had lots of fun playing in it We made snowmen, complete with pumpkin "crowns..." and snow horses fit for several riders! Like little elves, when we weren't playing outside, holiday crafts kept everyone busy. The children created a variety of ornaments to bring home and share with their families. Each activity honed fine motor skills. The crafts included skills like winding yarn around a form (it's tricky to put the right amount of tension

In the wake of the No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top policies, the push to increase direct teaching of academics to ever-younger children is a topic on many parent's minds. While it can be a point of pride for children and parents when preschool children learn their alphabet and numbers, an academically rigorous curriculum can miss out on something that is of equal importance in determining Kindergarten readiness for children- learning how to interpret and address emo