Arrival.  Children and parents begin by greeting each other in the classroom.  We begin joyfully preparing the morning snack, which includes the fruit that each child has brought from home.

Snack Time.  We gather in a circle for the morning verse.  It is then time to wash hands and sit down for our snack.  We give thanks for our food at snack time not because we are a denominational organization but because it develops in our children a sense of gratitude and reverence for what they receive.

Play and Activity Time.  The playhouses are set up, the kitchen opened, and blocks taken down for the children to play with.  Crafts are done mainly in preparation for an upcoming festival, but this may vary from time to time. We will be calling on you, the parents, to help us to supervise the craft stations.

Tidy up Time.  It is time to clean up our room.  When our “Dusty Gnome” comes out we welcome him with our song and the children soon know what to do.  It is best here for all the parents to simply join in singing our song and begin tidying up.

Morning Circle.  We form a circle and enjoy our morning songs and verses, a few seasonal poems and movement songs, followed by a little story.  We will sing the same songs and say the same rhymes for several weeks because children delight in repetition, which gives them a sense of security.  In time, we will provide songbooks for our new parents.  Remember – your participation and enthusiasm in circle will eventually be reflected in your child, since children at this age learn by imitation . . . so sing to your hearts content.

Goodbye Song.  One very important part of the program is to re-gather around the circle before we depart to sing our “Good-bye Song”.  To build our children’s sense of order everything has a beginning and an end.

*The order of the events of the morning may change depending on age and dynamic of the group.  Our goal is a healthy rhythm.