Greetings!
Happy New Year to all!
Everyone at Wee Watch is very excited to be starting a new year – 2022 holds promise to be a better year! Did you know that 2022 will mark Wee Watch’s 38th year of providing quality care to children across Ontario?! We are proud of our 43 Agencies, 980 childcare Providers, and 65 Home Visitors that deliver the highest standard of childcare to our 4200 wee children in care. This year we have a lot to look forward to!
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Our Wee Learn educational program that Providers and families love is getting a refresh and will officially relaunch in the Spring!
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Do you follow us on social media? Wee Watch has a page on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and most local agencies also have their own pages. Follow your local agency on their Facebook and/or Instagram page to see all the amazing things your Providers are doing, there are often tips and contests on these pages as well!
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We are also VERY excited to share the theme of our Together Wee Can Program for 2022 – it’s a good one!! Click here to see a summary of our 2021 Program, Together Wee Can Come Together – a wonderful year where children engaged in activities focused on learning and community!
Drum Roll...For 2022, our annual theme is Together Wee Can Read, Learn and Grow! Throughout the year we will be celebrating and promoting all things literacy! We know that early literacy skills are the most important foundational elements that our Providers contribute to the development of the children in their care. Each month, we have selected a wonderful book to focus on. We have developed special activities that correspond with the book and the events of that month. The aim is to develop each child’s love of literacy and learning! So parents, look for a poster in your Provider’s home each month that announces the book of the month. Your child will receive a book bag they can colour and personalize themselves, and will engage in a number of fun literacy based activities! Also, look for notices of our monthly Facebook Live event where a “Mystery Reader” will read the book of the month and engage with parents, Providers and children.
What better month to kick-off a literacy based program than in January, when we celebrate Family Literacy Day on the 27th. We have some information throughout our newsletter to support families in reinforcing early literacy with your children of all ages/stages with information, tips and activities you can try at home! Have fun!
Sincerely,
Lisa Parise
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Learning is Fun with Wee Watch |
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Literacy Skills & Development |
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Focusing on developing each child to their full potential is part of the DNA of the Wee Watch Program. Our Wee Learn curriculum focuses on learning through play and ensuring that children develop cognitive, social, gross and fine motor skills. Near and dear to our hearts is focusing on early literacy. Our childcare Providers create opportunities for children to develop early literacy skills through a variety of activities and programs. This year, our Together Wee Can program will be celebrating and promoting literacy specifically. Each month we have selected wonderful books that will focus on various learning themes and activities that corresponds with the chosen book. We know this will be a great way to develop each child’s love of literacy and learning. A child's positive early experiences with books and language lay the foundation for success in learning.
It’s never too early to start, as children prepare to read long before they enter school. In fact, early literacy skills begin to develop right from birth!
Why Early Literacy Skills are Important
Early Literacy development is an essential building block to your child’s future language, reading and writing development. Reading, rhyming, singing, and talking, beginning from birth all profoundly influence literacy and language development, the foundations for all other learning. Developing literacy skills early in life will make it easier for children to learn to read in school. Children who enter school with these skills have an advantage that will carry them throughout their school years. Also, research has found that early exposure to rich literacy experiences helps children understand the world and people around them better than children who do not.
Wondering how you can help children develop literacy skills? There are five easy ways that Providers and parents can practice with the children.
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Every Provider and child has access to our Wee Learn educational curriculum! Wee Learn and all its associated programming was designed by a team of childcare experts to help children meet their developmental milestones and to prepare them for success in school and beyond! Our program is focused on play based learning for all ages and stages!
Try some of these activities which align with our program:
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Wee Beginners (0-18 months):
Wee Explorers (18 months-3 years):
Wee Builders (3-4 years):
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Wee Learners (4-5 years):
Wee Experts (5-6 years):
Wee Mentors (6+ years):
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Together Wee Can Play, Learn & Grow |
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Each year Wee Watch organizes exclusive and educational events and activities around a theme that all Providers across Ontario participate in called "Together Wee Can".
Wee Watch will be celebrating and promoting literacy all year through our Together Wee Can Program for 2022, “Together Wee Can Read, Learn, & Grow!”. Through this program, we have selected a wonderful book to focus on each month and developed special activities that correspond with the chosen book and theme.
Take a look at what's coming up in our homes...
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Chinese New Year, which is now more commonly known as Lunar New Year (since it is based on the lunar calendar) will be celebrated this year on February 1st. This month we will be reading “Bringing in the New Year” by Grace Lin and exploring a variety of New Year traditions and popular activities. |
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February 14th is Valentine’s Day and this month is all about love, which is the perfect time to read “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney. This story teaches children a fun way to measure love, using their body, such as how wide you can stretch your arms, or how high you can reach. It’s the perfect book to set the mood for Valentine’s Day, and to encourage little ones to share with their loved ones just how much they love them. |
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Each month we will have a Mystery Reader reading the book of the month either live on Facebook or in a pre-recorded video that will be posted on our Facebook Page.
Don't miss our upcoming Facebook Live with special guests Gayle O'Connor, Wee Watch Supervisor & Xian, Wee Watch Home Visitor, who will be reading this months book "Binging in the New Year" by Grace Lin.
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Cooking with kids isn't just about recipes, it can be a delicious learning experience for everyone! Cooking encourages literacy skills, harnesses imagination, empowerment, and creativity.
Check out this months recipes for kids:
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There is always so much happening in our homes, be sure to check out our slideshow to experience some of the fun & learning.
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Congratulations to our wonderful Providers on their milestone anniversaries!
We thank you for your ongoing commitment to the families in your care, your community, and Wee Watch.
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We have so much to share with you... |
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Turning a recycled egg carton into a perfect “Christmas Tree” and an educational activity for the little ones in care! This simple festive craft/activity engages 6 important areas of development; motor skills, literacy, math concepts, creativity, self-esteem, and team work! Oh and its lots of FUN! 🎄
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During our "Spread the Warmth" event, Wee Watch Providers, children, and their families collected new and gently used winter clothing and accessories for those in need.
Thank you to all our Providers and families that contributed to make this event a success!
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Family Literacy Fun! - Wee Watch
January 27th is Family Literacy Day. Family Literacy refers to the way parents, children and extended family members use literacy at home and in their community. Engaging in literacy activities as a family improves a child's skills and also helps ...
Read more
www.weewatch.com
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