By Elizabeth Sholtys | Director
As we approach the halfway point in the school year, our playgroup kiddos have been having a great time gearing up for the upcoming holidays!
Along with their typical weekly activities - coloring, beading, rhyming, paper crafts, play dough, warm ups and exercise, free play, puppets, and lots more - the children have enjoyed various holiday-specific activities that the teachers have designed. Their aim is to foster an understanding of how and why we celebrate each of the holidays, while letting the children participate in some of the time-honored traditions and colorful festivities that make each occasion so joyous. Our teaching team looks for every opportunity to talk about the colors, sights, special foods, and unique characteristics of each festival.
The past few months have been packed full of special days - Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Independence Day, Navratri, Eid, Ganesh Chaturthi, and more, to the delight of the children. This week, in anticipation of Diwali, the festival of lights, the playgroup children had a blast learning Diwali rhymes and singing Diwali-themed songs, doing a diya (earthen lamp) art activity, and receiving monthly attendance awards at a special Diwali celebration at the end of the session.
The children's parents love that the AIC playgroup gives their children the opportunity to socialize, play, and learn, while also maintaining a focus on their holistic development. A quick poll of the playgroup parents at the most recent weekly session revealed that if AIC did not offer the opportunity for 2 year olds to participate in playgroup, 100% of the parents stated that they would not be able (financially, logistically) to send their children to another playgroup-type arrangement. Additionally, they cited the medical care, nutritional benefits (mid-day meal), and sense of community as aspects of the experience that they value as unique to AIC's playgroup.
Thank you for continuing to support school readiness, socialization, community building, and festive fun for the little ones at AIC!
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