Hello Redbud families,
Well wishes to you all! Today’s Video Messages:
1). Sing and move along to a class favorite, “Wake Up Toes”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
2). This second video presents a puppet show about wearing face masks, and specifically how children may feel nervous when they can’t see facial expressions. Because we have a pretty broad developmental range in the Redbud class, I’ve tried to keep this pretty simple. I’m sure families are already talking about this, but I just wanted to offer one more resource. As always, choose to utilize what feels helpful to you and your family.
Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
And here’s a NY Times article that talks about why young children may be afraid of masks: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/
Learning At Home: Puppet Shows
At CCS, we often use puppet shows as a way to reinforce practices (like hand washing or turn taking) or to talk about feelings. When children see a puppet expressing something they may have felt recently, it allows them to think and talk about the feeling when they are not actually experiencing it themselves. Here are some tips we’ve found helpful in the Redbud room:
1). Keep it simple! There really doesn’t have to be an elaborate story line – toddlers will often be fascinated by seeing puppets do the most everyday of things – from sitting on a potty to taking some deep breaths when upset.
2). Model behaviors you DO want rather than those you don’t. Toddlers are imitative learners by nature and often take in the message of what they see more strongly than the words they hear. So, if you want to do a puppet show about being gentle with your sibling or pet, let the puppet say something like “I’m really mad and I want to hit right now” (if that’s what’s happening at home) but then show the puppet finding an alternative.
3). Let older Redbuds help problem solve. If the puppet show is about how Giraffe really doesn’t want to go to bed at night, leave space for your kiddo to suggest solutions. “Hmm.. I wonder what can help Giraffe feel ready for bed time?”
4). Refer back to puppet shows in the moment. “I notice that you seem frustrated. I remember when Sock got frustrated and sang “One Step At a Time”. Would you like to try singing that too?” (And, yes, we know from experience that this doesn’t always work – but it’s another tool in the toolbelt.)
5). Anything can be a puppet! Don’t worry if you don’t have actual puppets at home. One year the Redbuds had a series of puppet shows about “Rock” and “Stick” – true story!
Finally, if there are any themes coming up at home that you would like to have the teachers make a video puppet show about, please let us know.
Laura
