Safe Child Care. 1:7 staff to student ratio.

Forever Young Intergenerational Program

During their time at Clapp Children's Center, your child will have one-on-one activity opportunities with the residents of Breckenridge Village. Occassionally a few children will visit Toddlerville, which is our large motor playroom, with Miss Jeannie and meet with a few residents. A preplanned and developmentally appropriate activity will be implemented during the visits involving interaction between the children and the residents. The activities planned include sharing story time, creating crafts, and baking small snacks together.

The small group intergenerational activities involve a group of four to six children who will remain with the director for 30 minutes in the Toddlerville activity room. The activities will take place from 9:30am-9:50am, which is structured free-play time at school. The children included in each activity will rotate so all who have parental permission have a chance to experience this learning opportunity. When your child has attended one of the activities, they will bring home a form highlighting the residents they met with and the activity they worked together on. (A sample of this form is attached to this notice.) We encourage you to let your child discuss their experience to extend the learning at home.

These small group activities have been created to offer new learning adventures for the children outside of their classroom. With this opportunity, we hope to provide variety to our preschool curriculum and help the children adjust to changes within their learning environment. Interacting with residents will also help the children learn how to respect older adults as they learn how much fun it can be to have friends of all ages.

Spring Fun

Outside the Classroom... The children will explore the season of spring through shady outdoor picnics and walks through the campus full of gardens created and cared for by the residents of Breckenridge Village. Color hunts will take place on nature walks as the children enjoy the sights and scents of the blooming flowers. After exploring spring and all the changes it brings, the children will return indoors to share their outdoor adventures with one another.

Inside the Classroom... The children will learn together through many structured activities that engage them in theme related discussions that welcome participation. Sharing thoughts and ideas and creating will be a part of each daily classroom experience. Here are a few examples of the activities your child will enjoy...

Marvelous Mud Pies

• 1 miniature graham cracker crust
• 2 spoonfuls of chocolate pudding
• 1 spoonful of crushed Oreo cookies
• Fill the crust with pudding and crushed Oreo cookies, stir and enjoy!

Spring Has Sprung!
Discussions about rain, rainbows and the fabulous colors of the season will give each child the opportunity to share their own thoughts and ideas observed through the changes brought on by the new season.

Spring Fun

Outside the Classroom... The children will explore the season of summer through outdoor playtime adventures. The children will stay cool in the hot sun by running through the sprinkler, sharing Popsicle breaks, water balloon tosses, sponge relays and enjoying short movies in the air-conditioned theatre on Breckenridge Village campus. After exploring summer and all the changes it brings, the children will return indoors to share their outdoor adventures with one another.

Inside the Classroom... The children will learn together through many structured activities that engage them in theme related discussions that welcome participation. Sharing thoughts and ideas and creating will be a part of each daily classroom experience. Here are a few examples of the activities your child will enjoy...

Oh, Watermelon!
(sung to the tune of 'O Christmas Tree')
Oh, watermelon, big and green,
You are the brightest that I've seen!
Oh, watermelon, big and green,
You are the biggest that I've seen!
Underneath the green and white,
You're juicy red, let's take a bite!
Oh, watermelon, fun to eat,
You are my favorite summer treat!

Summer, Summer, Summetime!
Discussions on the best ways to stay safe throughout summer will take place. A weeklong Safety Town adventure is planned to educate the children on outdoor and indoor safety as well as stranger dangers.

Autumn Fun

Outside the Classroom... The children will explore the season of autumn outdoors through nature walks. As backyard animals scurry to make burrows and birds fly south for the winter, the children will observe and share the changes the season brings. Acorn hunts and leaf piles will engage the children outdoors as they make new discoveries in their daily surroundings. After exploring autumn and all the changes it brings, the children will return indoors to share their outdoor adventures with one another.

Inside the Classroom... The children will learn together through many structured activities that engage them in theme related discussions that welcome participation. Sharing thoughts and ideas and creating will be a part of each daily classroom experience. Here are a few examples of the activities your child will enjoy...

Fall Leaves
(The children hold up the correct amount of fingers as the fingerplay is read.)
One leaf and two leaves
Tumbling to the ground,
Three leaves and four leaves
Make a rustling sound.
Five leaves and six leaves
Twirling all around,
Seven leaves and eight leaves
Whirling in a mound.
Nine leaves and ten leaves-
A north wind comes along,
And blows every leaf away
And that ends my song!

Autumn brings so many things!
Discussions on the changing colors of the leaves as they fall to the ground and the new sights and sounds Autumn brings will engage the children in creative thought and expression. Fall color collages and paintings will decorate the school as the children collect, count and explore the fallen leaves.

Winter Fun

Outside the Classroom... The children will explore the season of winter outdoors through Snow Play Days. Snow angels and snow people will join the children as they mold the snow into their own creations. Sledding days will provide active fun for the children on the 'bunny hill' next to our center. After exploring winter and all the changes it brings, the children will return indoors to share their outdoor adventures with one another.

Inside the Classroom... The children will learn together through many structured activities that engage them in theme related discussions that welcome participation. Sharing thoughts and ideas and creating will be a part of each daily classroom experience. Here are a few examples of the activities your child will enjoy...

Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen fat,
Each with a funny hat.
Out came the sun and melted one,
What a sad thing was that!
(Substitute four, three, two, and one in place of five in each verse.)

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

• Discussions on 'What makes snow?', 'How does it feel?', 'What can we do with snow?'
• Creating snowmen indoors out of cotton balls makes a wonderful display that will not melt away!