T’ai Chi Ch’uan Exercises
Tai chi ch’uan has been described as an exercise, dance, and method of achieving mental peace and relaxation. Tai chi is an ancient Chinese sport. It has been referred to as shadow boxing. The desired outcome of this exercise is the harmonizing of mind and body. Tai chi is fun and besides having a good time children who practice it experience numerous benefits; improved functioning of the neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and skeletal systems. Lung capacity increases, digestion improves, muscles strengthen and joints and limbs become stronger and more flexible.
It’s relaxed, smooth, and graceful movements make it suitable for children as well as the elderly.
Hatha Yoga
Now what yoga exactly? The word yoga comes from the ancient Indian language Sanskrit which means ‘union’. By practicing yoga it is believed that the individual unites his or her body, mind and spirit. Yoga is fun and besides having a good time children who practice yoga experience numerous benefits; increased learning capacity, mental alertness, better balance/co-ordination and improve self discipline to name a few!
Our yoga practice is child directed. A child directed exercise means that the children decide which pose follows the last. Child directed activities enhance self-awareness, builds self-esteem and promotes leadership qualities.
Music and Movement
“Music is universally loved by children. Language, cultural and developmental barriers come tumbling down when children listen to sounds, singsongs discover rhythms and patterns in nature make instruments and listen to music. Music is non-judgemental. There is no right or wrong. Everyone can be successful in music” Jackie Silbery
At Alligator Pie we sing thru our days. When we stir our flour for bread making we sing. When we walk
to feed the birds in the green belt we sing. When we paint and when we sit together as a group during
music time – we sing!
We sing songs according to the seasons and celebrations. We sing the songs the children love to sing. Our song and music time are child directed.
To enhance long term memory skills old songs are sung regularly and new songs are continually being introduced.
This time is set aside each day to find rhythm in movement.
The children listen to a variety of music. It is our intention to continue to build our music library to represent music from all over the world. We welcome any donations to our collection!
‘It is by the sound of children singing that the birds learn their songs’
Free Play
Free Play or interactive play is unstructured playtime for the children. The children will play together: ring games, dress-up, hide-n-seek, and bean bag toss and more. Free play fosters creativity, good will and co-operation, social skills that will only benefit your child as he or she enters the public school system.
During free play the children are encouraged to play independently of adult participation and direction. We have a wide variety of plastic toys that may be brought outdoors, wooden and cloth toys for indoor use.
Play opportunities for the children include:
- Full play kitchen with dishes and food
- Baby doll pram, wooden cradle and dress up clothing for the dolls
- Sand box
- Play house
- 2 wooden doll houses with furnishings and dolls
- wooden castle, Noah’s ark, pirate ship
- African, First Nations and Inuit communities
- skipping ropes
- bean bag toss
- 2 wooden train sets – wooden trucks and boats
- Dress up clothing for imaginative play: multicultural costumes, fisherman, butterfly, king, wizard, queen, and fairies and more
- Puzzles and wooden blocks (large and small)
Note* Toys are rotated on a regular basis.
Arts and Crafts
At Alligator Pie your child’s self expression and sense of discovery will be nurtured during our Arts and Crafts time. Art unlocks your child’s creative potential. Children love art. The magic of creating something beautiful is appealing to people of all ages. Guided classes which emphasis ‘tool’ use will open a world in facilitating a love for art by providing s many mediums as possible for the children to experiment with.
The seasons and celebrations are reflected in the development of our art curriculum.
We offer the use of beeswax block crayons, non-toxic paints, modeling clay, acid free paper and a variety of embellishing and finishing products.
We will have a few professional artists join us at Alligator Pie. This is of no additional charge to the parents.
| HOME | PROGRAM GOALS | EVENTS | GARDENING | STORIES | EVALUATION | CONTACT |
|
