The school-age 2 children have been enjoying playing with the new toys on the after and before school shelf. They have been exploring and trying new games like CVC Blender and Tinker Builders, as well as familiar games like Spot It, Lego, and magnets. Over the past two weeks we have taught each other about ourselves through group games like heads up seven up, mystery wink and tag games outside. We have done this by forming groups with each other and having laughs together and through conversations to figure out what the children have in common.

A common interest among the children in before and after school has been enjoying sensory play with sand, slime, fidget toys, and beads. This interest started when I saw the children in both groups always taking out the sensory fidget toy bin and playing with the toys in it. I expanded this interest by providing some different sensory play activities in the program. Sensory play fosters cognitive growth, language skills, problem-solving abilities, and fine and gross motor skill development. We can continue to do sensory activities during our time together in the program.