October Literacy Activity Calendar

Today is the first day that has made me realize that Fall is actually upon us. It is time to pack up the flip-flops & sun hats and start to think about Halloween costumes and light jackets. Please find attached a copy of the Literacy Activity Calendar for October. I have tried to include suggestions for Fall activities that I always enjoyed both as a child and later as a parent. Collecting leaves was always a big hit with my children when they were younger. There is so much that you can do with them (other than continuously rake them). You can  make leaf rubbings, sort them by colour or shape, and of course jump in them.  I hope that however you spend it, you enjoy the Fall season and all the beauty that comes with this time of year!

Benefits of Block Play

Lego and Duplo blocks are an age-old toy that children continue to engage with today. I don’t know of a daycare centre, parent-child playgroup or a doctor’s waiting room that doesn’t have Lego in their toy area. You probably remember playing with them as a child, and if you ever stepped on one, chances are you’ll never forget that!

As children build with such blocks they are developing several skills such as:

• Fine motor skills and hand eye co-ordination.
• Thinking skills, such as problem solving and planning.
• Creative thinking.
• Pre-math skills including, sorting, counting, patterning, size and shape.
• Descriptive vocabulary.
• Social skills when building with others.
• Imagination as they play “pretend”.

The 2 little boys in the attached pictures were quite involved in their Lego play during an Ontario Early Years Play and Learn program in Plattsville. I noticed that there was quite a bit of conversation taking place between these two 3 year olds, followed by laughter and then more conversation as they were planning the next steps of building “the wall”. I observed their interaction for a few minutes before I approached them, asking if they could tell me about what they were making. Humpty Dumpty’s wall was the answer I received. They were using a little wooden character piece as Humpty Dumpty and they were taking turns making him fall off the wall. My heart was full. This was such a wonderful example of creative play. I asked if they could recite the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme and not only could they both recite it, they requested that we all say it during our circle time. Oh yes we can and we did. Lego and Nursery Rhymes are still alive and well.

Oxford Early Literacy Forum 2017

I am happy to share the brochure for the 2017 Oxford Early Literacy Forum. I look forward to seeing you on October 25th as we learn together of the wonderful resources that Oxford County has to offer.