What a way to sum up the first day of YMCA Early Learning at Hollis! YMCA Atlanta Early Learning

Tuesday Tip: Recognize emergent writing! Is your little one making marks on paper? It's not scribble scrabble, it's emergent writing! To learn more, check out activities for parents to help children begin writing on Cox Campus: tinyurl.com/23ux5yv6

Tuesday Tip: Encourage play! Did you know that much of children's play is based on what they see at home? Children come to school and act out their home lives to learn about the world and build relationships. Support this play by including your child in daily tasks!

Tuesday Tip: Sort it out! As children play, they naturally sort and classify. Encourage your child to sort objects at home. Can you put the cars in groups by color? Pile the blocks up by shape? Play with your child to encourage this important cognitive skill!

Tuesday Tip: Teach your child letters beginning with the letters of their name! These are the most meaningful, recognizable letters to children. Begin with the first letter in their first name then move to the other letters in their name in a fun, hands-on way!

Children at AWY YMCA practice deep breathing before starting the learning day. Deep belly breaths help children disengage the stress response so they can focus and engage in play-based learning. Learn more about the benefits of deep breathing here: consciousdiscipline.com/videos/s-t-a-r…

Tuesday Tip: Try something new together! Meal times are great opportunities to gather and connect through conversations. Encourage your child to take risks by trying new foods as a family. Model for your child by preparing a new type of food and trying it together!

Tuesday Tip: At YMCA Early Learning Centers we work to provide children with structure and routines so they know what to expect each day. You can do the same at home! Watch this video from the CDC to see what it can look like: youtu.be/JPEm7khwoKk

Tuesday Tip: Talk about what you build! It's important for children to construct objects with blocks- it helps with fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, and problem solving. But it's also important to talk about what they build. Ask questions about their work!

Water safety skills are essential for young children! At the Eastlake Early Learning Center, preschool students visit the pool and receive swimming instruction and water safety classes. Sign your child up at a Y location near you!

Tuesday Tip: Explore textures! Children love to use their sense of touch to explore the world. Try incorporating different textures into play. Allow children to play with natural materials like sand, water, soil, or clay. Discuss and compare how the different textures feel.

Tuesday Tip: Embed writing into play! Building with blocks? Start with a blueprint! Playing restaurant? Make sure your little one has a pad to write down orders! Young children are learning that writing is a way to communicate and express oneself. Bring it to life during play!

Tuesday Tip: Listen to environmental sounds! What does the rice sound like moving through the tube? Focusing on sounds helps children develop listening skills. These skills will allow them to hear & identify the sounds in spoken language, leading to great reading outcomes later!

Tuesday Tip: Talk about stories! At the YMCA, learning revolves around a book each week. Ask your child about what they read. What was their favorite part? What did the characters do? How did they feel? You'll be surprised at how much little ones can share about the week's story!

Could not be more thrilled to have spent a semester with these fine #HeadStart leaders in The Academy National Head Start Association Director Credential! Looking forward to seeing what you do next! CAPSLO Mary Crane League AVANCE, Inc College Station ISD JC Child Development YMCA Atlanta Early Learning WCCA MN Options for Learning

Anthony Bowden, born a slave in 1809, founded the first YMCA for the Black community in Washington, D.C., in 1853. Additional Black Ys and college chapters were established in the following decades, with membership reaching 28,000 nationwide by the mid-1920s. #BlackHistoryMonth

Did you miss #StrollingThunderGa 2023? Join us for a virtual training on Saturday, March 4th from 10-11 AM to make your voice heard. Families with young children who attend will receive a gift card for their participation. Register here: eventbrite.com/e/2023-strolli…

Hey Families! Use the DECAL Summer Camp Checklist @ ow.ly/MESQ50N4XmS and call 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS to find a safe, high-quality, affordable camp. #GeorgiaCamps #Summer2023 #SummerCamp #camps #Georgia #Atlanta #Childcare #Cobbcounty #Savannah #Augusta #Macon #parents #Fulton