PUMPKIN WEEK

During pumpkin week we will talk about the color, size, shape, texture and weight of pumpkins. I will have some pumpkins on the screen to show the children. We will explore the pumpkin and see what is inside one.
Learning through sensory experiences is one of the many ways your child develops their awareness of the world around them. Talk to your child about the pumpkins you have at home and the ones you see growing in a garden/at the pumpkin farm. If you go to a farm you have an opportunity to talk to them about where food comes from and how plants grow. If you buy your pumpkin at the store you can find some books about farms and food or research it online. When you cut open your pumpkin you have a great opportunity to teach your child new words. Words that describe the texture of the inside of a pumpkin and words that describe their feelings while they are exploring a cut open pumpkin. Remember that some kids love to get messy and others will just want to watch as you pull a handful of goopy seeds out of the pumpkin. Either way your child is learning and creating new pathways of information in his/her brain. These early learning experiences are stored and used to build their foundation for later learning.
We will talk about a variety of ways your child learns but one of them is through sensory play.
Touch. (from an article by Danielle Steinberg)

• Play games or engage in activities that require the use of muscles: jump on a trampoline or the bed, crab walk, have a three-legged race, make a fort or an obstacle course, play leap frog or hopscotch, try tossing or catching games (use different objects like stuffed animals, water balloons or bean bags) and play tug-of-war.
• Include your child in chores that encourage the use of muscles: let him push a laundry basket or grocery cart or clean together (wiping the counters, sweeping, mopping … every parent’s dream come true!).
• Make use of stimulating textures or objects around your house. For example, in the kitchen, hammer ice cubes in a plastic bag, play with whipped cream or cookie dough, go on a texture scavenger hunt, sip seltzer or drink through a straw.
• Partake in sensory activities that don’t require any objects: have a parade or march around the house, pet an animal or simply cuddle.

Enjoy creating some fun new memories as you enjoy introducing your child to pumpkins, farms and family traditions.