Greetings!
The Fall is typically a time when children are experiencing more formal social interactions with other children, be it in class, or preschool, clubs and sports, but also with parents, child care Providers, coaches and teachers. We know that social interaction is important for the development of children, specifically it assists with the development of language, creativity, confidence, empathy and communication. The Ministry of Education sets out a pedagogy for early learning and it outlines four foundations of learning that ensure children flourish in early years settings. One of the four foundations is “Belonging”, and the goal of the Ministry is to ensure that all children have a sense of belonging or connectedness to other people and the world around them. At Wee Watch, part of our Program Statement focuses on ensuring that all children experience an environment that fosters their social development and promotes a sense of "belonging”. We do this through our Wee Learn and Together Wee Can events and programming that contains many group games, songs, outings, crafts and the many wonderful activities our Agencies and Providers deliver that foster interaction in an inclusive way.
As we move into this period of increased social interaction, some children can find increased socialization stressful while others love it. For that reason we thought the fall Newsletter would be the perfect time to provide further insight, tips and ideas on socialization for children of all ages in traditional and non-traditional ways.
Good luck to all children heading out to school for the first time or returning for a year of growth and new adventures! We also hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and a fun Halloween in October!
Celebrations in September & October:
Muharram - Sunday, September 1st
Labour Day - Monday, September 2nd
Rosh Hashanah - Monday, September 30th
Yom Kippur - Wednesday, October 9th
Thanksgiving Day - Monday, October 14th
Halloween - Thursday, October 31st
Sincerely,
Lisa Parise