Welcome to the Puffin Room!
Communication: Please feel free to ask any question you have regarding the school or the Puffin room. If you have an issue you are facing at home with your child such as bedtime blues, tantrums or whatever, we may have an idea, an article or a book that we recommend that would help you.
Create a Goodbye Ritual: I read about a mom who says goodbye to her son the same way every day: She kisses him on the lips and gives him a butterfly kiss (her eyelashes on his cheek), and then they rub noses and hug. When the embrace is over, he knows it's time for her to go to work.
Discipline: We use redirection, rephrasing and, when needed, Time Out. For more information see the book "1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12" by Tomas W. Phelan.
Friendships: We use the phrase "we are all friends here" because we accept everyone.
Hand Washing: We ask that you have your child wash her/his hands before they enter the main classroom.
Independence: We encourage our Puffins to become self-reliant and self-confident. If a child can do it on her own, then she should. We coach them to clean up after themselves, hang up their own clothing, put on their own shoes and so on.
Label: Label everything-spare clothing, blanket, naptime toy lunch bag... everything.
Lunches: A good example of a balanced Pre-school lunch is: 1/2 fruit, 1/2 Peanut butter sandwich, 1 small oatmeal cookie and a milk. We will heat food if necessary but please do not send Kraft "Easy Mac".
Naptime: Naptime is very important in the Puffin room. Each child must be able to lie quietly on their cot without distracting others. Please do not plan on picking up your child between the hours of 1:30 to 3:00.
Partings: Partings are not always easy. Consider getting to the Puffin room with extra time so that your child can explore her new environment with you. The transfer of security and trust can take some time, but once you say good-bye leave promptly. The longer you stay, the harder it is. Let your child know that you'll be there to pick her up, and say "See you later!"
Sharing: Many 3 year old children here in the Puffin room have not crossed into the cooperative play developmental stage. Therefore we do not demand that they share toys. What we do ask them to do is to request toys - "I want to play with that toy when you are finished with it."
Show & Tell: Every Friday is Show & Tell day. Puffins may bring one object from home (related or not to that week's subject). Please label their Show & Tell item. Please do not send irreplaceable or expensive items to school.
Toys: One soft (quiet) naptime toy is permitted; please keep all other toys at home.
Shoes: If you need to buy your little Puffin a new pair shoes may we recommend Velcro or slip on shoes for the hours they are at school? Most 3 and 4 year old are not developmentally ready to learn how to tie their shoes just yet.
Lastly: Please check your child's mailbox daily.
Welcome to the Puffin Room!
Communication: Please feel free to ask any question you have regarding the school or the Puffin room. If you have an issue you are facing at home with your child such as bedtime blues, tantrums or whatever, we may have an idea, an article or a book that we recommend that would help you.
Create a Goodbye Ritual: I read about a mom who says goodbye to her son the same way every day: She kisses him on the lips and gives him a butterfly kiss (her eyelashes on his cheek), and then they rub noses and hug. When the embrace is over, he knows it's time for her to go to work.
Discipline: We use redirection, rephrasing and, when needed, Time Out. For more information see the book "1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12" by Tomas W. Phelan.
Friendships: We use the phrase "we are all friends here" because we accept everyone.
Hand Washing: We ask that you have your child wash her/his hands before they enter the main classroom.
Independence: We encourage our Puffins to become self-reliant and self-confident. If a child can do it on her own, then she should. We coach them to clean up after themselves, hang up their own clothing, put on their own shoes and so on.
Label: Label everything-spare clothing, blanket, naptime toy lunch bag... everything.
Lunches: A good example of a balanced Pre-school lunch is: 1/2 fruit, 1/2 Peanut butter sandwich, 1 small oatmeal cookie and a milk. We will heat food if necessary but please do not send Kraft "Easy Mac".
Naptime: Naptime is very important in the Puffin room. Each child must be able to lie quietly on their cot without distracting others. Please do not plan on picking up your child between the hours of 1:30 to 3:00.
Partings: Partings are not always easy. Consider getting to the Puffin room with extra time so that your child can explore her new environment with you. The transfer of security and trust can take some time, but once you say good-bye leave promptly. The longer you stay, the harder it is. Let your child know that you'll be there to pick her up, and say "See you later!"
Sharing: Many 3 year old children here in the Puffin room have not crossed into the cooperative play developmental stage. Therefore we do not demand that they share toys. What we do ask them to do is to request toys - "I want to play with that toy when you are finished with it."
Show & Tell: Every Friday is Show & Tell day. Puffins may bring one object from home (related or not to that week's subject). Please label their Show & Tell item. Please do not send irreplaceable or expensive items to school.
Toys: One soft (quiet) naptime toy is permitted; please keep all other toys at home.
Shoes: If you need to buy your little Puffin a new pair shoes may we recommend Velcro or slip on shoes for the hours they are at school? Most 3 and 4 year old are not developmentally ready to learn how to tie their shoes just yet.
Lastly: Please check your child's mailbox daily.