Dear Forest families,
It’s hard to believe this school year is coming to an end! It’s truly been a pleasure being apart of this most special year as they leave preschool behind and enter the big kid world. We will miss your children dearly!
Thank you to all of the families that were able to attend this years school picnic! It was great to see families come together to celebrate our wonderful year with friendship and yummy food.
This week – We had fun learning a few new dances. We danced to the Macarena, YMCA, Chicken dance, the Cha Cha slide, the Hokey Pokey, and did a dance line to Jump in the Line by Harry Belafonte. Your little kiddos will be ready to tear up the dance floor this summer!
There are many benefits to dance besides having fun. Dance helps children mature physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. The physical benefits of dance are important, but there are significant emotional, social and cognitive attributes too.
Here’s an article from National Association for the Education of Young Children about social/emotional development.
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2018/promoting-social-and-emotional-health
Physical Development: Dancing utilizes the entire body and is an excellent form of exercise for total body fitness. Young children are naturally active, but dance offers an avenue to expand movement possibilities and skills.
Emotional Maturity: Dance promotes psychological health and maturity. Children enjoy the opportunity to express their emotions and become aware of themselves and others through creative movement.
Social Awareness: Dance encourages interaction and cooperation. Children learn to communicate ideas to others through body movement. Children quickly learn to work within a group dynamic.
Cognitive Development: Young children will create movement spontaneously when presented with movement ideas that can be solved with a movement response. Movement provides the cognitive loop between the idea and the solution.
A peek into next week- As we end this school year we will celebrate the week with fun games and field day activities.
Dates to remember
- May 28th – Memorial Day Holiday – No school
- May 31st – Kindergarten and Preschool Graduation
- June 1st – Teacher workday for summer set up – No school
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ms. Melissa, Ms. Jess, and Ms. Freya
