Varsha's Dayhome

Outdoor play!!
Children were engaged in making lemonade and the drink dispenser was a great addition and super hit

Hello 😊
Spots available in my licensed dayhome for September located in the Hamptons area.
Contact me for more information and details.
Thank you

Outdoor play

The children took the playdoh outside to the picnic table, where we all sat down, expressing gratitude for the beautiful weather and listening to the birds chirping and a squirrel running on the fence. The children commenced creating with playdoh, utilizing the flowers I provided. I overheard P stating that he was making tacos. He created a circular playdoh piece, added some colorful flowers, pretending they were vegetables, and then folded it, saying "look Varsha, I made a taco." Meanwhile, S was creating "cookies." She made some circular playdoh pieces as well and used the flowers, pretending they were sprinkles.

Today, P and M had a wonderful time experimenting with snow and colored water indoors. It all started when I brought in a large bowl of freshly fallen snow from outside, knowing that the cold, crisp texture would be a fascinating experience for them.

P was excited as he touched the snow with his hands, giggling at how it felt cool and soft. He immediately began squishing it between his fingers, marveling at how it held together for a moment before melting away into droplets on his skin. He commented, “It’s like little pieces of ice,” as he continued to mold the snow into small piles.

To add an extra twist to the play, I introduced several small bottles filled with colored water and some shapes as well. I explained that we could use the colored water to “paint” the snow and watch how the colors mixed.

As she played, M noticed how the snow was melting faster where the colored water was applied. She pointed at the puddles forming, saying, “The snow is going away because it’s getting warm with the colors.” I encouraged her to explore this change by adding different colors, and she quickly tried blue, purple, delighted by the bright patterns she could create.

The hands-on experience with snow and colored water provided the children with an opportunity to explore cause and effect, as she saw how the snow transformed with the addition of liquid. She experimented with how much water to use and observed the various effects of mixing colors. Her creativity blossomed as she created swirls of colors.

This activity also encouraged their fine motor skills, as they manipulated the shapes and carefully poured the colored water onto the snow. The tactile experience was engaging, and it also gave them a chance to practice patience and focus as they explored the melting process.

At the end of our playtime, they proudly showed me their "snow masterpiece" – a swirling mixture of vibrant colors. She looked at the puddles on the tray, saying, “The snow turned into water now! It’s like magic!” I praised her for her thoughtful observations and creative exploration.

Key Learning Outcomes:

Sensory Exploration: M aengaged her senses of touch and sight as she interacted with the snow, feeling its cold texture and watching the colors spread.
Cause and Effect: M and P developed a deeper understanding of how liquids, like colored water, can alter solid materials (snow) and change their form.
Creativity and Imagination: The activity sparked P and M creativity as they mixed colors and experimented with different patterns and designs in the snow. They also named the shapes as they poured color on it.
Fine Motor Skills: By using containers and bottles and carefully pouring water, they practiced hand-eye coordination and precision.
It was a joyful and educational experience that allowed them to learn through play and develop new skills in a fun, hands-on way.

Wish you all a Holly Jolly Christmas

Soccer ⚽️🏆🎉💪

What could be a better way to connect with nature and engage in physical development. We took a little walking trip. During that time, we met 2 pet owners who offered to pet their dogs, but the kids weren't willing. We came across a little garden, but we were not allowed to touch any produce. We collected natural loose parts that we used later in our play, such as leaves, pinecone, and more. The kids run up and down the hill, sometimes falling and getting up on their own. They enjoyed the moment. We sat silently, listening to all that nature has to offer, birds chirping, trees swaying..

Bubble wrap painting