School report: April 2013 Engaging in small experiences

Your report for April. I am not surprised at how much you enjoy storytime. I didn't know you could say, "more, more"!

School report: April 2013 - Engaging in small experiences

Lucas has begun to settle in really well over the last few weeks. There are still some tears in the morning after he is dropped off however he is able to settle himself quite quickly as he begins crawling around the room exploring what is on offer for the day.

As a result, Lucas has begun to show a greater interest in participating in planned experiences alongside the other children. Previously he preferred not to join in these experiences, however now he shows interest in what is happening around the room, as soon as he sees an Educator sitting down with books or other resources, he makes a beeline straight to them to see what is happening.

As a result Lucas has been participating in a large range of experiences over the last few weeks. He has enjoyed engaging in music time, where he waits his turn for an instrument and then enthusiastically joins his peers, shaking the maracas wildly with a big smile on his face. Lucas has also enjoyed story time, participating in a range of interactive stories including lift-the-flap books, touch-and-feel books, books with buttons that need pressing.

Since Lucas is showing such interest in joining in these experiences, we have been encouraging him to participate more, inviting him over by name, and closely observing what experiences he particularly shows interest in, thus giving us more information we can use in planning meaningful experiences for him. A definite favourite of Lucas’ is giving us more information we can use in planning meaningful experiences for him. A definite favourite of Lucas’ is the interactive stories, and we have organised a story time each morning not long after he arrives, to help ease any separation anxiety he may be feeling. This often helps Lucas to settle and he often bounces up and down in excitement as we begin to read. He takes delight in watching his peers engage with the stories as well as having a turn himself, and upon finishing a story he points to where books are stored and babbles “more, more”.

Analysis of Learning/Where to Next: Lucas is continuing to develop skills in self regulating his emotions, and this is further supported by the curiosity he has developed about his learning environment. Lucas quite enjoys music experiences, but shows more of an interest in story time. As he participates in these experiences, Lucas is enjoying the company of his peers and beginning to appreciate the benefits of shared learning experiences. Over the coming weeks we will be continuing to plan regular story reading experiences, inviting Lucas to join in. Props such as felt pieces, puppets and resources relating to the story will be added, and we will be encouraging Lucas to further develop his vocabulary, modelling key words for him to say as we read the stories and talk about the pictures.

2014 Mother's Day

Here are some photos from Mother's Day this year. We went to the city for lunch with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunty Mandy. We tried to motivate you to walk around, see the video below. You're a bit more steady on your feet since that video was taken but still not walking on your own. We need to entice you to walk more!

14 months: photos from my iphone

Here are some photos from last month that I finally uploaded from my phone. These are the everyday moments at home and out and about.

 You look so mature compared to your 9 month photos!

Mummy and Daddy take you into the city on the bus for 2 days a week to attend daycare. We've been taking you in the carrier but now that you're getting bigger, we'll have to take the stroller.

How cute do you look in the adidas hoodie that Aunty Mandy bought you?

14 months: videos of you playing

You still love holding on to your green coin. Recently you've been hiding your coin underneath your tray and then taking it out with a flourish when we ask you where the coin is. It's so cute. You also try to hide your sippy cup but it's a bit big to hide.

Here's a video from a couple of weeks ago playing throw and catch with grandma and grandpa.

14months: singing old macdonald

Your favourite words are: ba, ga and variations thereof. Here's a video I just took of us playing outside and singing 'Old Macdonald had a farm'.

14 months: making a mess

While I was uploading your photos to the blog, this was what you were doing:

At least I've finally found a way to get you to practise standing and walking!

14 month sticker photos and video

You turned 14 months over the long Easter break. It's been so much fun spending time with you at home.

Your favourite things at 14 months:

• Going outside to look at planes and birds. Whenever you hear planes flying overhead or birds chirping, you get really excited and start pointing outside wanting to go out.
• You're loving Sandra Boynton books, especially the book Doggies.
• Playing music. You also press the buttons on your toys until you get to a song. Then you hum and bop along with a big smile on your face.
• Singing nursery rhymes. I love how you give me a clap whenever we finish a song. I think you picked that up from daycare. It's the cutest thing.
• Your Elmo lift the flap book.
• Rice. You love to eat rice, whether it is Asian-style or risotto. You've been putting on weight in the last few weeks and finally now over 9kg.
• Baby yoghurt.
• Plums and apples.
• Babyccinos! You'll drink milk as long as it's warm and frothy. 
• Watching channel 22.

Things you don't like:

• Getting water in your eyes when we wash your hair.
• Getting a haircut! We had to leave the hairdresser with only half your hair cut because you were upset. I had to finish the job the next day. I did a passable job but as you can see in the sticker photos, we will have to find a baby-friendly hairdresser in a few months time or I'll have  to watch youtube vidoes to learn how to cut your hair.

Crossing your ankles

Little drooler

 So hard to take photos of you this month! You wouldn't sit still.