Bella Mente Early Learning Center Parent Resources for at-home learning As we continue to embark on a time of ‘learning from home’ our goal as teachers is to find a balance in supporting our Bella Mente community with resources while also continuing to work on our physical classrooms (like we typically would be doing during our August closure) to be ready for when we are able to come back together in our group preschool setting. We want these family resources to reflect our beliefs and keep our children connected to their friends and teachers, but also to take into consideration a framework that supports parents as we all adapt to a different daily routine. It is important to us that the children's activities at home still allow for discovery, learning and fun but that parents understand that replicating what happens in our classrooms is not something we can achieve during this period. Our goal is to work in collaboration with families to keep alive the culture of learning that is unique to our program. We hope this overview of resources helps you during our time away from school. 10 Little Ladybugs by Rocket Town by Bob Blue Hat, Green Hat Giraffe's Can't Dance There's a Wocket in The Foot Book by Dr. Melanie Gerth Logan by Sandra Boynton by Giles Andreae and my Pocket by Dr. Seuss Read by: Mr. Eric Read by: Mr. Eric Read By: Miss Carly Guy Parker Rees Seuss Read by: Miss Carly Read by: Miss Carly Read by: Miss Carly
Ten Apples Up On Top Batman is Brave by The Very Hungry Knuffle Bunny by Mo Good Night Moon by Brown Bear, Brown by Dr. Seuss Don Lemke and Ethen Caterpillar by Eric Willems Margaret Wise Brown Bear by Eric Carle Read by: Miss Carly Beavers Carle Read by: Miss Erin Read by: Miss Erin Read by: Miss Erin Read by: Miss Erin Read by: Miss Erin
Books Tap on a picture to link to the reading Pete the Cat: I Love Go Dog Go by P.D. The Little Engine that Are You My Mother by Elsa adapted by Anna adapted by My White Shoes by Eastman Could by Watty Piper P.D. Eastman Courtney Carbone Courtney Carbone Eric Litwin Read by: Miss Carly Read By: Miss Carly Read by: Miss Carly Read by: Miss Erin Read by: Miss Erin Read By: Mr. Pieper
Counting Kisses by The Little Blue Truck by Guess How Much I Good Night Ocean by Snowmen at Night by Best-Ever Big Sister by Karen Katz Alex Schertle Love You Mark Jasper and Caroline Buehner Karen Katz Read by: Miss Erin Read by: Miss Tara Read By: Miss Erin Cooper Kelly Read by: Miss Erin Read by: Miss Erin Read by: Miss Erin
Books Tap on a picture to link to the reading It's Not Easy Being a The Paper Bag Where the Wild Things What Pet Should I Row Row Row Your Goodnight Gorilla by Bunny by Marilyn Princess by Robert Are by Maurice Get? by Dr. Seuss Boat by Jane Cabrera Peggy Rathmann Sadler Munsch Sendack Read by: Miss Alyssa Read by: Mr. Eric Read by: Mr. Eric Read by: Miss Tara Read by: Miss Alyssa Read by: Miss Delaney
Dear Zoo by Rod Bugs, Bugs, Bugs by Five Little Ducks Bedtime at the Goodnight Goon by I am Enough by Campbell Bob Barner Read by: Mr. Eric Swamp by Kristyn Michael Rex Grace Byers Read by: Mr, Eric Read by: Mr. Eric Crow Read by: Miss Danielle Read by Miss Danielle Read by: Miss Danielle
Books Tap on a picture to link to the reading Jumpy Jack and Mommy Loves Me by Olivia by Ian Falconer Don't Let the Pigeon Owen by Kevin Tickle Monster by Josie Googily by Meg Karen Moore Read by: Miss Erin Drive the Bus by Mo Henkes Bissett Rosoff and Sophie Read by: Miss Erin Willems Read by: Edna (Miss Read by: Miss Alyssa Blackall Read by: Miss Danielle Erin's daughter) Read by: Miss Danielle
All the World by Liz The Hokey Pokey with Love from the Very The Kitten's First Full Pooh's Honey Trouble Always by Emma Garton Elmo Hungry Caterpillar by Moon by Kevin by Dodd Read by: Miss Tara Read by: Miss Tara Eric Carle Henkes Read by: Miss Tara Read by Miss Tara Read by: Miss Tara Read by: Miss Tara
Books Tap on a picture to link to the reading Ten Tiny Tadpoles by My Favorite Color The Very Snowy Day LMNO Peas by Keith Debbie Tarbett Green written and by Ezra Jack Keats Baker Read by: Miss Erin read by Fiona Tito Read by: Miss Erin Read by: Miss Erin (Miss Erin's Daugher)
Books Tap on a picture to link to the reading You can create a playlist of your classroom’s favorite songs and have a dance party— your child might be interested in dancing or clapping along. During other activities, they may like having this music played in the background.
• Icky sticky bubble gum • Baby shark • These are my glasses • Sleeping bunnies • Wheels on the Bus • Chicka chicka boom boom • Skidamarink • Octopus (slippery fish) • Mr. Sun • The clean up song • ABC • Going on a Bear Hunt • Run Baby Run • Pieper's Song
We've created a youtube playlist that includes many of our favorites: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ZFri5X4DuMj1l-sK7cYERL6RdLLF6KB
Songs We love to sing at Bella Mente. Music is great for development. It often improves mood, encourages movement to build fine and/or gross motor skills, and builds neural connections as they listen to different types of music. Here are some videos of teachers singing some of their favorite songs for you and your child to enjoy.
• No Bananas with Miss Alyssa • Criss Cross Apple Sauce with Miss Danielle • Balloon Song with Miss Cascade • Three Little Monkeys with Miss Danielle • 5 Silly Monkeys with Miss Cascade • Five Little Pumpkins with Miss Danielle • Looking Through My Peepholes with Miss Cascade • Tiny Tim with Miss Danielle • Two Black Birds Rhyme with Miss Zuli • Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes (in Spanish!) with Miss Zuli • Adventure Class Goes to the Zoo with Mr. Pieper • Open Shut them Hands Song with Miss Danielle • Discovery Class Goes to the Zoo with Mr. Pieper • Maven Class Goes to the Zoo with Mr. Pieper • Little Green Frog with Miss Alyssa • Little Duck with Miss Alyssa • Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star with Miss Molly • ABC's with Miss Erin • Itsy Bitsy Spider with Miss Erin • You Are My Sunshine with Miss Erin • 5 Silly Monkeys with Miss Cascade • Rain Rain Go Away with Miss Erin • Old McDonald with Miss Erin
We’ve also created a playlist off our videos that you can access here: https://youtu.be/WqtCTCV3kwY Videos Wondering how your teachers keep those little minds and bodies engaged all day? Here are some video tutorials created by teachers filled with sensory play, movement, and games.
Yoga with Miss Ball tunnel with Letter Hunt Sensory Rock Alphabet Toilet Paper Roll Delaney Miss Tyler Exploration with with Miss Tyler Craft with Miss Miss Tyler Delaney
Body Trace with Lemon/Lime Play dough Bean Sensory Hiss Card Game Miss Tyler Sensory Exploration Exploration with Exploration with with Mr. Eric and with Miss Tyler pt 1 Miss Tyler pt 1 Miss Tyler Rex
Activities Wondering how your teachers keep those little minds and bodies engaged all day? Here are some video tutorials created by teachers filled with sensory play, movement, and games.
Dance with Miss Baby Calming Sensory Stocking Squishy Soap with Cascade Sensory Slides with with Mr. Eric Miss Tyler Miss Delaney
Predator or Prey ABC Time with Miss Drill Painting with Marshmallow with Miss Tyler Delaney Miss Tyler Engineering with Mr. Eric
Activities “When adults try to do their own work while trying to pay attention to their children, both parent and child end up feeling frustrated” - Magda Gerber
In a yes space, everything is a yes and nothing is off limits. If you realize that something is going to be a problem, you adjust it.
Creating a yes space, you're essentially working to make everything as safe as possible, within reason. This gives you the peace of mind knowing you can leave your child in this safe space while you attend to other things ( bathroom break, cooking, cleaning, work meeting etc.); all while knowing your child/ children are safe.
This isn't meant to be a space that you would leave your child / children in all day, rather a space that you can use periodically throughout the day. It's a space that is meant to give everyone in your family to get some alone time, time to get something done or independent play!
A ‘Yes’ space can be either inside or outside, just follow the same guidelines and you should be good to go on creating a space that is safe for your little ones.
Click on the blue arrow to hear more from Miss Krystal about "yes" spaces.
Creating a "yes" space Baby / Child proof space Examples: Cover electrical outlets Tether large furniture to the wall Make cords unaccessible Take out any Small objects / Choking Hazards Add a Cushion / Mat Baby Gate(s) to create a boundary line Put things at their level Books, Toys, Materials that are okay for them to play with.
*You can also peek on Pinterest for ‘Yes’ Space Ideas
Creating a "yes" space Children of all ages thrive when they know what to expect / what’s coming next. Children get a sense of control when they can predict what is going to happen next; this helps to lessen ‘battles’ when accompanied with Real Choices*.
*Real Choices are options that are appropriate and will work for all parties (parent + child) and align with the desired outcome. Example: Time to brush your teeth. A real choice offering could be ‘would you like to brush your teeth in your bathroom or our bathroom’. If it becomes a struggle, remain calm, know your boundaries, talk slowly and with your authentic tone of voice. No matter how many choices you give them at this point they are probably at a mental/ emotional state which is making it tough for them to make a reasonable decision. “I know you don't feel like brushing your teeth right now. But we always brush our teeth before bed. I’m going to help you to the bathroom and get your toothbrush ready.”
Creating a daily rhythm or schedule for your family doesn't have to be something that is constricted by ‘Time’. Instead think of it as a daily flow dictated by certain activities or things that have to be done throughout the day. Such as meal times, screen time, work/focus time, rest time etc. Keeping it consistent is key to maintaining a predictable rhythm for you and your child.
Finding your Daily Rhythm In the study "The Power of Play" by the American Academy of Pediatrics, it explains that children who are given toys to play with without directions from adults come up with 3 times the number of uses of toys. We have found this to be especially true with loose parts. Loose parts allow children to be creative, develop literacy skills through dramatic play, and learn physics concepts through trial and error. Here are some examples of how we use loose parts in our classrooms.
Baby/Toddler Loose Parts In the study "The Power of Play" by the American Academy of Pediatrics, it explains that children who are given toys to play with without directions from adults come up with 3 times the number of uses of toys. We have found this to be especially true with loose parts. The beauty of it is seeing how they use the items differently than we anticipate. Loose parts allow children to be creative, develop literacy skills through dramatic play, and learn physics concepts through trial and error. Here are some examples of how we use loose parts in our classrooms.
Preschool and School Age In the study "The Power of Play" by the American Academy of Pediatrics, it explains that children who are given toys to play with without directions from adults come up with 3 times the number of uses of toys. We have found this to be especially true with loose parts. The beauty of it is seeing how they use the items differently than we anticipate. Loose parts allow children to be creative, develop literacy skills through dramatic play, and learn physics concepts through trial and error. Here are some examples of how we use loose parts in our classrooms.
Preschool and School Age At Bella Mente art is an extension of sensory. Art allows our children to express themselves and discover different colors and textures. As in all forms of play, we let the children lead the way.
Art At Bella Mente art is an extension of sensory. Art allows our children to express themselves and discover different colors and textures. As in all forms of play, we let the children lead the way.
Art Need more entertainment? Here are some outside resources of people reading stories that your family might enjoy.
Grover reads "The Monster at the End of This Book" Betty White reads "Harry the Dirty Dog" Eric Carle reads "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" Astronauts reading stories in space
External Resources Charlotte's Web is a great classic book and one of Miss Alyssa's favorites. The book is written at a fourth grade level, but because many children have the background knowledge of farm animals, we think it is accessible to younger grades as well. Here are some links to read a chapter at a time.
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 & 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11
Charlotte's Web