September 2012 Newsletter



Claire, Sienna, Mateo & Sigal working on masterpieces.

 We're all getting settled in and used to our new friends and routines. Tyson, Kazu and Monica have been a great addition to Little Foot and we are happily gaining new experiences together. Unfortunately, August brought many foggy days and between the babies' naps, we didn't get to enjoy as much outdoor time as we would have love to have. We did manage to make-up some of our outdoor time in the last few days when we took advantage of clear blue warm days. This month I'd like to work a little more on potty training, the letters A-D and numbers 1-3. We are also challenging the children's large and fine motor skills with a new walking route that include the Aerial Staircase and more manipulatives.

Important Dates to Remember:

• Monday, Sept. 3rd - Closed for Labor Day



Friday, Sept. 7th - Sigal's 2nd Birthday





Wed.,Sept. 26th - Claire's 2nd Birthday















































Here are some moments we'd like to share with you.





Claire watching Tay climb the tall structure









Tyson checking on Kazu







Tyson cruising at the Playground



Water fun with Aquadoodle












Sigal on a "train" with her "Baby"






Look who can Spin the top!








Taking care of Baby Kazu



Snap shot at Stow Lake

August 2012 Newsletter

Claire & Mateo taking care of Monkey.

We slowed down in July to get to know Baby Tyson and Monica. I believe that things always happen for a reason and I am pleased to have had a light month. Sienna has been home for the summer, and although we miss her, it has given us time to adjust to the new dynamics. We introduced Tyson and Monica to some of our favorite places and activities. Miles visited us earlier in the month and Sienna and Heather accompanied us to the Bay Area Discovery Museum. We focused a little bit more on numbers and letters and have been getting messy with water play and glue. This month we would like to introduce, 3 Month old, Kazu to Little Foot; he will be joining us in the middle of the month!

Boys and their toys!



Claire & Mateo playing in the water, Tyson catches a starfish.



Important Dates to Come:

Closed: Fri. September 21st & Mon. September 24th.....?  My family and I have been invited to go camping this weekend, which trails from Friday-Monday, and we would really like to go. Considering that we only have 2 children who attend on Monday, arrangements with Monica can be made. However, due to the numbers on Friday, accommodations will not be available. This trip would be considered our Summer Vacation, I understand that Friday might be a tricky request.....Please let me know if this request can be made possible, or if an earlier pick-up (3pm) would work best for you. Thank you

Claire, Mateo & Sienna @ B.A Discovery Museum

All About Tyson: This Cutie Pie has been adjusting so well considering his move from Miami! After a few short visits he decided that it was time to crawl and get to know his new environment. He is such a happy baby and you can tell by that huge smile on his face. He has been very busy, is welcomed by the other children, and it feels like he has been with us all along.

All About Sigal: Green! It must be her favorite color or just the excitement of a new word, but for now everything is green. Sigal's vocabulary is growing everyday, it's really great to hear her talking with the other children and sing. She is very motherly and definitely knows right from wrong. I can see her being very attentive to the other children in the future. She has been very involved in dramatic play, feeding her baby, changing them, reading to them and putting them to sleep.

Sigal feeding her baby while reading her a story.

Going for a boat ride!

All About Claire: Can you guess who is becoming more stable on  her feet and who is even trying to make a run for it? If you guessed Claire, you are so right. Claire is becoming very comfortable on her feet, she has really been working on those large motor skills, just recently she climbed an impressive amount of stairs (Aerial Street Stairs). We have also been experimenting with some tactile play. In the past Claire has been really sensitive to some tactile stimulation, but with gentle encouragement she is able to paint with a paint brush, use glue, and climb in the turtle for water play.

Claire taking her baby for a stroll!

All About Mateo: Terrible twos, need I say more? All day long i fell like I'm saying No, Stop, Come Here, Give that back and so on. But at the end of the day, all this little booger needs is Mommy. I apologize in advance for any behavior this little one exerts. He has also been such a busy guy, we started a potty chart this month for him and in no time I'm sure we'll be ditching the diapers. He is cutting one of his 2yr old molars and his vocabulary has tripled in the last two months. He is now speaking in full sentences, although grammar will soon follow.

Sigal & Mateo making bubble water.

June 2012 Newslettter

Greetings June! We're ready for you, but first a look back on May. We are really coming together as a group and have enjoyed this past month with new discoveries, outings, and group activities. The first week of May was so busy, we took advantage of the free days at the San Francisco Zoo, Academy of Science, and the Bay Area Discovery Museum. We have met and feed the goslings at Stow Lake. Enjoyed sunny warms days at the playground and on the deck, and are using all of our senses on walks around the neighborhood. Take a look...

Mateo and Sigal at the San Francisco Zoo

Look! A Hippo



Roar!!!



Fitting in with the cubs

Claire, Sigal and Mateo at the Academy of Science

Turn on the sink





Having Fun!



Hmm, what's in here?

 

Up the stairs, down the stairs

Row Row Row your Boat...

Fun Outdoors

Sigal and Mateo examine flowers

Chalk fun

Mateo and Claire on drums



Claire practicing with keys



Sigal and Mateo holding hands for a walk

Sigal, Mateo and Claire being nice w/ the flowers

Play Time Indoors

Always on the move

Mateo and Sigal with the Little People Town

Snack for all

Watching the top spin



Sigal as happy as a bee



Concentrating on cutting

Working together

The art of steering

Sienna loves snack

Claire learning how to maneuver over gate

May's Short and Sweet 2012 Newsletter



Examining and petting the flowers.



The flowers have bloomed, the bees are busy, the weather is warm and it's all being expeirenced. The deck hasn't seen this much action in months, with the weather being so inviting, the kids gravitate towards the doors. We've ditched the stroller behind on occasion, stopped to smell the roses, and have ventured out for fun. There is so much learning that takes place everyday, the kids' interest have really peaked and we are enjoying more group acvtivities. We are singing more as a group and exercing large motor muscles with games like "No more monkeys jumping on the bed", "Ring around the Rosies", and "Simon Says". Art was really popular last month and the kids have been fine tuning thier small motor muscles with crayons, paint brushes and stickers. This month we will continue to enjoy all of these activities and focus alittle more on sociallizing and working as a team.





Important Dates to Remember:     

• May 13th - Mother's Day
• May 20th - Mateo's 2nd Birthday
• Mon. May 28th- Closed for Memorial Day
• Tues. May 29th - Non-Mandated Furlough Day
• (Please let me know if care is needed, otherwise we will be closed)

Taking turns going up the Tunnel Slide at the Children's Playground.





Kids' Schedule:

M - Claire, Sigal & Mateo

T - Sienna & Mateo

W - Sigal, Sienna & Mateo

Th - Claire & Mateo

F - Claire, Sienna & Mateo

All About Mateo:

With the Geese at Stow Lake.

Mateo is turning 2 this month, which may explain his cognitive growth spurt. He is currently very interested in using two word sentences and saying words with two or three syllables like: sit down, lay down, dirt bike, magenta, hat on, high chair, and cooking. He just started using the word "me" and "mine" the last few days. He grasp the concept of sharing, trading, taking turns, and next although sometimes he's just not ready. He is such a social bugs and always desires a buddy by his side to play with, he can be very pushy with his offers-which is his way of asking you to play with him, he is finding out that not everybody wants to do what he is doing all the time and is learing how to ask nicely with the sign for "please". He knows his shapes pretty well now along with his colors, we are working on counting and letters using songs, puzzles, books, and everyday interactions.

All About Claire:

Hugging the flowers.

Claire has been a nice addition, we are learning so much about her, making friends and learning how to respect them. Claire just started walking alittle more than a month ago and is catching on fast, she is all about moving about on her feet and climbing. We are working up some confidence to help her navigate through the day. She really like to be involved in all the activities we take part in and can be quite opinionated. She loves when we sing, she's chatty and i enjoy the mini conversations we have. She likes story time and being outside. She knows her colors, is interested in almost anything and is a little sponge waiting to soak it all up.



All About Sigal:

Siggy loaded up the truck and taking it for a drive.

Sigal is such a little observer, she likes to sit back, take it all in, and is very purposeful in her play. She loves books, art, and playing the group games. She loves to dance and sing - i love listiening to her try to sing "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" and can't help joining in. She is interested in letter, numbers, and shapes. Her vocabulary seems to be growing and she seems to be using more words than she does sign. She is more of a solo player right now but is engaging more with other in her play. I can see that she is getting comfortable in our environment and is less nervous around vistiors and parents droping off and picking up. She greets everyone that we meet on our walks and outings and is very sweet and loving.

All About Sienna:

Water play at the Bay Area Discovery Museum.

Miss Sienna has cut all of her molars without a fuss, just started taking unassisted steps, and his experimenting with cause and effect. She is very effectionate and loves to play with the other kids. She is very persistant and wants to be invloved in every way possible. She is becoming very strong willed and is testing the boundaries. She loves everything and anything that moves and can drive a car or truck around all day long, she has a great attention span for things she is interested in and cannot get enough of Little Foot. While Mateo her her main squeeze she is really interested in playing and interacting with the girls.



~ A Note From Kimberly

Thank you so much for trusting me and allowing me to put my heart and soul into caring for your children and mine. I am truely lucky to be able to a mother my child and teacher your's at the same time. I adore each and everyone and them, they teach me so much and keep a smile on my face. I love that I have the opportunity to get to know them so well and guide them through this very critical time in their lives. Together we are building the foundation they need to be strong, independent and successful members of our society.

Thank you ~ Kimberly

April's Short and Sweet 2012 Newsletter

Woo hoo, Spring is here! I can not tell you how excited I am about the warm sun, flowers, and wildlife to see. I look forward to enjoying the outdoors and some fun activities with the kids this month. I am also really excited about a new student. Please welcome, 16 month old Claire, to Little Foot. She will be starting the week of the 16th and will be with us on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. We will also have a special guest, Kylie (Kaitlyn's big sister), with us the week of the 9th.

I want to Congratulate Travis & Jeanine on the purchase of their house in Livermore! Although, I am so sad that they are moving, I am really happy for them and wish them all the happiness and luck with this new transition in their lives. We will miss Shane so much and look forward to pictures and updates in the future.

Important Dates to Remember:

Fri. the 6th- Furlough Day (Please let me know if you need care this day, otherwise we will be closed)

Sun. the 8th- Happy Easter!

All about Shane:
With his new crawling skills, Shane has been busy rediscovering our play space. He is so happy moving from one place to the next on his own that he has also discovered a strong will for independence. He has his own agenda now and won't , or at least he thinks, be interrupted. He's been so chatty lately, babbling to himself and others. Recently, while using my finger for support, he stood there in front of me just babbling away swaying back and forth to music I couldn't hear. He is too much, I just want to eat him up. I'm going to miss that cute little voice, his dance moves and giant smile.

All about Sienna:
Sienna is getting so close to walking, her confidence is strengthening and she shows it by standing all on her own ( w/o holding on to anything). She is very much into to dumping and loading and will go about throwing toys as far as she can. In the past month she has traded in her bottle for a straw cup and is very happy with her finger foods.

All About Sigal:
I'm so pleased about Sigal's transition into Little Foot. She's making friends, working up an appetite, naps well, and is happy and comfortable with us. She has taught us a few new signs, enjoys books and music as much as we all do, and is a great addition to the group. Sigal and Claire are already neighbors but I know they will become such great freinds now that they have each other at Little Foot.

Kaitlyn and Mateo:
These two have really become a team, from setting the table together to pretend play, they are getting closer. Kaitlyn has been happier and tantrum free this past month. She's learning how to be patient with the little ones and finds pleasure in interacting with them. We are learning that babies aren't bad, and are learning new things everyday. Mateo really looks up to Kaitlyn and wants to be included in the activities that she enjoys. We are re-visiting the idea of using the potty and he is interested. In March we played a pretend restaurant game that continues to get more creative and we have been practicing for Easter Egg Hunting.