Hi everyone!
It’s exciting to see the kids starting to settle in here at school, understand our routines and know that they can rely on teachers when they need help. We also hope that they’re starting to develop the sense that school is a place where they can meet their own needs. They’re starting to understand where materials are, how to get a new paper to paint on, find a marker, store a picture in their cubby. As kids have adjusted to school, we have started to serve snack family style. This means that kids take a portion of the snack from a shared bowl and are starting to pour their own water into their cups. Being able to serve their own snack and put away their own dishes afterward helps develop a sense of agency and competence. All of these procedures, which seem pretty obvious to us adults, present a degree of challenge for young children.
Since kids were used to having snack already on their napkins, we showed the new procedure for getting your own snack out of the bowl at group time. Even after seeing this modeled, some kids struggled to understand what to do. Was the serving bowl just for them? What if the bowl is out of arm’s reach? Some like taking the snack so much that they want to keep reaching in and pulling more out even though they have lots of snack on their napkin already. Kids are starting to understand that the serving bowl is really for everyone and that even if you can’t reach the bowl, there are ways to get it (even without climbing on the table or walking around to the other end of it). We’ve let kids know they can say Pass the snack and also added that if they say the name of someone near the bowl, they’re more likely to pass it. As kids start to reference each other at snack, they’re becoming more familiar with each other and starting to have conversations about the food. Kids start to notice that some people share their tastes, but others might have different ideas about what tastes good or familiar. They might even try something they don’t usually eat at home.
These situations provide opportunities for kids to recognize the needs and thoughts of others, practice using language to express their needs, modulate their movements to avoid spills, and coordinate their actions with others. They’re also developing an understanding that they have the ability to meet their own needs. As spills occur, we show kids where the towels are they can use, so that they can clean up after themselves. At school, everyone spills at some point and accidents are just a part of the learning process.
And since we’re on the topic of snack, we thought it might be helpful to have a few reminders about snack guidelines. Our snack list is very specific in order to prevent the risk of allergen exposure. Please double check it before purchasing snacks for school. Items that are packaged must arrive with the packaging still sealed (including the box) and the label visible. Any produce that is to be sliced must be prepared at school. As much as we appreciate how much easier it is to prep snack at home, we just can’t allow it due to the risk of cross-contamination.
We take allergies very seriously here at school. Protecting the health and safety of children is of the utmost importance to us. Because of this, we also ask that you refrain from bringing any additional snacks or beverages to school for your children. It may seem tempting to offer your child a bite of something outside of the classroom, but we ask that you don’t. It is too hard for us to monitor what may or may not contain allergens. Similarly, we ask that you leave your child’s beverage bottle at home. We have filtered water available at school for children to drink. Even if your child’s bottle only contains water, it is impossible for us to monitor what is inside of each bottle or what may have come into contact with the outside of the bottle. It also eliminates the possibility of someone else drinking out of your child’s personal bottle.
Lastly, a housekeeping note. As the weather cools, more of us are wearing coats and other warm items. Sometimes kids put their coats on the wrong hook or have the same coat as someone else. Please label your child’s outerwear to ensure that the correct clothing comes home with your child!
Thank you :)