Since September our preschoolers have gradually become more comfortable and confident when interacting and playing with their peers. They are developing their social and communication skills by welcoming others into their play, sharing indoor and outdoor toys, taking turns, and engaging in meaningful conversations with one another. They are also becoming increasingly familiar with our daily routines and expectations.
Throughout the day, the preschoolers have been developing important self-help and social skills, such as patiently waiting for their turn, sharing toys, listening to their peers and educators, using the bathroom independently, following proper handwashing procedures, putting on their jackets and hats, lining up, and tidying up toys during transitions. To further support and extend these developing skills, we decided to begin the month of October by creating opportunities for the children to practice some important basic skills in the classroom. We began by talking about the importance of tidying up our toys, identifying which baskets and containers each toy belongs in, and learning how to return toys to their appropriate places. Through conversations we discussed how keeping our classroom organized makes it easier for everyone to find the toys they want to play with.
We I placed several toy baskets on a table and attached pictures of the toys to both sides of each basket. The preschoolers were then invited to identify which basket each toy belonged in and place the toys into the appropriate containers. They seemed excited to participate and demonstrated their understanding by carefully sorting and organizing the toys.
After organizing the toys, the preschoolers enjoyed practicing sweeping the floor with small brooms. To make the activity fun and engaging, we scattered pieces of pool noodles across the floor and pretended that we had made a big mess. The children then practiced sweeping the pieces into a square box that I created using green tape. The children eagerly worked together to clean up the “mess.”
Throughout this activity, the children developed their gross motor skills by using their whole bodies to sweep, bend, reach, and move around the classroom. They also practiced following instructions, sorting and organizing materials, cooperating with their peers, and taking responsibility for their classroom environment. Most importantly, they built their self-confidence as they successfully completed the task and proudly contributed to keeping our classroom clean, organized, and welcoming for everyone. This experience provided the children with meaningful opportunities to practice independence, cooperation, and responsibility while learning that caring for our classroom is something we can all do together.
