Last month, we added Specials into our day, and they have been a success! Along with Jumpbunch, Yoga & Medication, Spanish, Author of the Month, we also incorporated Positive Psychology!
Our preschool shifted into a Positive Preschool in 2019. What that means is that a few of our teacher and Administration (all staff will complete and become certified) have completed the Positive Education Certification and have been applying everything that was learned and putting it back into the classrooms, with the children as well as staff and families.
The definition of Positive Psychology is a scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. It was founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.
Every month the certified staff and Admin, have a meeting where we focus on how to incorporate what we have learned and give the teachers the tools for in the classroom with their children as well as activities, tips, techniques for families at home. Also, we have team building opportunities, fun facts, and informative information for staff as well.
For October, we focused on Kindness and Gratitude! The teachers discussed with the children what the meaning of kindness and gratitude means and what it looks like. How to show kindness and how to show gratitude. There are so many reasons to be grateful that we often take for granted and it’s so important to share that with yourself, your family and especially your children. Be sure to share what you’re grateful for and ask what the people around you are grateful for.
Something fun that you can do at home with your family & friends, the teachers did as an ice breaker for our October meeting was Ping Pong Gratitude. You partner up and toss a ping pong back and forth and share what they are grateful for, but the kicker is, you and your partner cannot repeat words. “I am grateful for the blue sky!” “I am grateful for the mountains!” “I am grateful for chocolate!” “I am grateful for coloring!” “I’m grateful for hugs!” This small, but fun activity will make you stop and thing what you really are grateful for (big or small).
We also listened to a story, “Gratitude is my Superpower” by Alicia Ortego. We reviewed what we were grateful for by creating a Gratitude Tree for Art.
As we moved into November, we are focusing on Connections/Relationships and Mindfulness! Relationships and Connections are such a great topic, especially during the upcoming holidays. Here are some fun and effective activities to do at home that are affordable, easy, and practical ways to spend purposeful family time together for building strong family relationships.
- Technology-free zones
- Taking turns reading books
- Take a walk together and share what you see
- Dinner by candlelight
- Take turns sharing a hobby
- Fishbowl questions
- Trying new experiences together
- Learn something new together
- Playing board games together
- Movie night in a fort
Have fun!
Stay tuned for more information on Relationships/Connections and Mindfulness as we will be posting every week!
