Learning Through Play
Outdoor Space
Mis Amiguitos Daycare is lucky to have a large fenced-in backyard with so many things to do! From a large playground equipped with slides, swings, and a rock wall, to a standing sandbox, there are activities for all interests! Children in care have the freedom to ride bikes and scooters, power wheel toys, and a kids’ roller coaster. One of the kids’ favorite activities, though, is to just run—and roll!—up and down the tiny hill in the back. In the summers, they also enjoy a splash pad to cool down!
Literacy, Music, and Math
At Mis Amiguitos, I believe that music is essential to learning. Parents of children in care report them singing the colors, the alphabet, and—a favorite—La Vaca Lola, at home. My favorite nursery rhymes and artists are used regularly to give children a routine and confidence in their Spanish, and additional songs are used to teach other concepts such as certain letters, numbers, shapes, and more!
The best part about the songs utilized in care? They are mostly bilingual! Therefore, not only do children learn abstract concepts such as colors, but they learn them in two languages!
After the abstract concept is introduced, we do crafts and other fine motor skills to further practice. Examples are: sorting fruit loops by colors, then making rainbows out of them; tracing letters, numbers, and names, then practicing writing; putting large colored beads on a string or in groups of different quantities; and identifying and producing the names of different colors on our walks (from “where is the blue car” to “what color is that truck?”—all in Spanish, of course!)
Crafts!
What is daycare without crafts?! We LOVE crafting at Mis Amiguitos! Most of the time, crafts are related to the theme that we are learning about, but sometimes, it’s just fun and games. ☺️
