The Benefits of Circle Time

Circle time is a cornerstone of childcare classrooms and offers much more than a simple gathering routine.  

One of the biggest benefits of circle time is the development of social skills. The interactions that students have during circle time help build empathy, patience, and respect, all of which are essential for lifelong relationships.

During our circle times the teachers will bring out our frog puppets to cue that it is time to learn and they will implement conscious discipline routines. The circle time conscious discipline routines consist of four key components that make up our Brain Smart Start. 

 Unite - Bringing the students together

Connect - Having students participate together, building social skills

Calm - Engaging in a calming technique 

Commit - Committing to keep the classroom and each other safe

Circle time is a powerful took that nurtures social-emotional growth, supports language development, and helps children feel valued as part of a group.

 Happy Holidays from AOR🎄

As we move into this joyful season, we at AOR want to pause and celebrate what truly matter most - Family, Connection, and Community. This time of year gives us so many opportunities to slow down, come together, and create memories that last far beyond the holiday lights.

We loved watching families gather for Friendsgiving, sharing laughter, stories, and the warmth that only good food and good company can bring. Moments like these remind us how powerful it is when people come together to support one another.

  

One of our favorite parts of the season has been seeing the pure joy on children's faces during Cookie and Pictures with Santa. There's nothing quite like the magic in the room when little ones share their wish list and experience the wonder of the holidays. These
gatherings
truly capture the spirit of connection, celebration, and togetherness that we treasure so deeply.

From our AOR family to yours, we wish you a warm, joyful, and connected holiday season. May your days be filled with love, laughter, moments that bring you closer to the people who matter most.

🎄Happy Holidays! ❄

 Sensory Play in Preschool

Sensory play is more than just a fun activity for the little ones - it's the foundation for learning, development, and exploration in early childhood. From the moment a baby is born, they begin to experience the world through their senses: sight, touch, sound, taste, and smell. As children grow, sensory experiences continue to shape how they understand their environment, build connections, and develop critical skills.

                            

Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates one or more of a child's senses. It encourages children to investigate, experiment, and create using their natural curiosity. This type of play also supports language development, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving, and emotional regulation. 

                                            

Some examples of sensory play are:

• Playing with water or sand
• Finger painting
• Exploring textures (fabric, playdough, foam, grass)
• Listening to music or nature sounds
• Smelling scented materials
• Tasting safe foods with different flavors and textures

    

 

My friends enjoyed jumping on our emotional circles but our PS2 Teacher Mrs. Lizzy changed the game into a emotion hunt, all my friends had to find all the emotional circles and as they found them they had to identify what emotion the face was showing. 🙂😃😡😱☹️🤢

Monthly Theme: Color Me Creations
Parent Engagement Activity: Marble Painting 

 

Sorting Patterns In Our Enrichment Time With Ms. Terri!!

Splashing Around For The Summer!! 

Water play offers surprising benefits for emotional and sensory development. Engaging in water sensory play allows children to express and manage their emotions in a healthy way. For example, the calming benefits of splashing water can be a fun way to release pent-up energy