Today was our Founder’s Day Celebration.  The entire school sang and prayed together.  We also recited “A Pledge for Pauahi.”  “We, the keiki of Kamehameha Schools and of Hawai’i nei, give our love to Ke Ali’i Pauahi.  We will always remember her with kindness and respect.  Mahalo, mahalo, mahalo e Kamehameha!  Mahalo, mahalo, mahalo e Pauahi!”  Our keiki received a special gift from Kamehameha Schools:  a special edition T-shirt in honor of the 125^th anniversary of our schools. 

Today was our Dance Party with the 4 year olds from Papa ‘Ohe.  The ‘Ulu children started off a little shy, but soon got moving and dancing.  We ate snack with them too.  We also exchanged gifts.  Our ‘Ohe buddies made a bead bracelet for us and we gave them a bag of snacks. 

We had a visit from our Hawaiian Santa Claus.  One child exclaimed, “You’re not Santa, you’re a man.”  Another child said, “That’s not Santa, that’s Uncle Brian”   Some of our three year old children didn’t’ want to take a picture with Santa.  At this age, many children are afraid of Santa.  Think about it……a stranger with a white beard who says, “Ho, Ho, Ho.”  It’s perfectly normal for young children to be afraid of Santa, as well as other costumed characters. Children eventually outgrow their fear of Santa and may want to take a photo with him when they are older.  Don’t force your child to approach Santa and allow your child to approach him at his/her own pace.

Today, we introduced plastic sit down scooters with handles.  These scooters help strengthen the upper and lower body, help to develop muscles and gross motor skills, help to improve coordination and posture.  While riding the scooters, the children have to practice strict safety rules to keep from getting injured.  This is not always an easy thing for three year olds to do because it is normal for young children to act impulsively. Impulsive behaviors are actions a child makes without consideration of the consequences. Discussing possible positive and negative consequences before hand and setting limits and rules can decrease trouble and/or injury.  Then most importantly, provide positive feedback when behavior is appropriate. 

We’ve been practicing our dance moves and grooves.  Next week Tuesday, our 4 year old Papa ‘Ohe buddies invited our class to a Dance Party in their classroom.  Three year olds enjoy moving, playing, and creating with their bodies.  Dancing is good exercise, burns energy, and allows children to express themselves and their feelings.

M-E-R-R-Y  C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S! 

The Christmas Center continues to be a very popular center.  Some children enjoy decorating the tree.  Some children pretend that the Christmas ornaments are Christmas cookies.  Some children use the Christmas boxes and pretend to give presents to each other.  In this picture, the children dressed up to go to a birthday party.  The Christmas stockings on some of their feet are precious!

Lately, many of the boys want us to help them tie a scarf around their neck. They run up and down the hill.   “We’re Supermans,” explained one boy.  “I’m Spiderman,” explained another.  Television programs for young children today have much room for improvement.  Shows like The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Transformers, or even Ni Hao Kai Lan can have battle scenes, inappropriate language, or adult situations.   But, as long as children have access to such programming, early educators as well as parents must be prepared to help children deal with what they see on television or learn about from their peers.  During pretend play, we guide children to play without aggression, physical contact, or destructive outcomes. 

On a daily basis, lunchtime cannot come any sooner for the ‘Ulu class.  By ten o’clock, some children are already asking to eat lunch.  Eating is a social event.  Some children have been able to find the balance between eating and talking. Some children are still working on being easily distracted and sitting properly.  The most important thing about lunchtime is that it provides children opportunities to perform self-care tasks independently.  They learn to take out and put away their own food.  They learn to open their own containers.  They learn to get their own utensils and napkins if needed.  They learn to clean up their own spills.  And they learn to put away their own cups, clean up their area, and push in their chairs.  It is a lot to do for a growing three year old.  But, all of them find success!

The Block Center has a handful of blocks that are wrapped with Christmas wrapping paper.  The children seem to enjoy stacking them and pretending that they are presents.  The conversations in there are meaningful and personal.  In the Art Center, we put pieces of Christmas wrap.  The children seem to enjoy wrapping toilet paper rolls. This activity helps children use tape and scissors in a purposeful way.