Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Nothing says fall like quite like seeing pumpkins everywhere! This past week each of our teachers decorated a pumpkin with their class for the chance to win an ice cream party. These pumpkins blew our minds as they turned out even better than we could have imagined! These pumpkins will definitely be the cutest pumpkins in the patch.We sure do have some creative teachers here! Check out all of the pumpkins below! Which one was your favorite?

All the pumpkins are setup and ready....let the voting begin!

We sure have some artistic teachers! That pumpkin should be in magazine!

Eeekk! That's one scary pumpkin that's all ready for Halloween! Watch out for those chompers! 

Thumbkin pumpkin! Those little thumb prints are adorable!

Minions! Banana!  

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E! It's a Micky Mouse Pumpkin!

Fabulous Footprints! Sweet babies!

Monster!!! His got his eyes on you!

Who doesn't love "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"? We love Eric Carle!

Ssshhh, baby sleeping! All the kids loved the baby pumpkin and it's authentic pacifier!

 

Bunnies aren't just for Easter! They come out for Halloween too!

PS2 posing with their pumpkin!

PS3 posing with their pumpkin!

PS1 posing with their pumpkin!

Infant 3 posing with their pumpkin...and asking for high-fives in the process of course!

This blue eyed beauty sure loves her class's pumpkin! 

Voting is open!

I think we can see which one this little one wanted!

This little really wanted to take the baby pumpkin home with her!

Annnnddd the winner is The Very Hungry Caterpillar! PreK2 will get to enjoy an ice cream party! 

For more information on AoFC and our Programs please click HERE

For some family fun pumpkin decorating ideas click HERE

Fall Fest Fanatics

Fall is in the air, and that means....Fall Fest! This past week we celebrated our annual Fall Festival. Every year AoFC host our families, and the community for our fantastic Fall Festival. It's a time where we can get together and enjoy food, fun, and fellowship. We have different activities set up inside and outside the school. Our families as well as community members were able to enjoy a chili bar, train rides, pumpkin painting, pumpkin play-dough, games, a little shopping and even giveaways! 

Welcome to FALL FEST!! Don't forget to enter for some of these amazing prizes! I definitely wish I could have entered to win! 

 Hay-belles just scream fall! Don't forget to strike a pose!

We teach the cutest little pumpkins in the patch! Grab a pumpkin and get to painting! 

Pull up a seat and get your Picasso on! Create some masterpieces!

I spy some artist at work! 

Train Stop! Alllll aboard the Forrest Crossing Express!

All setup and ready to paint some faces! I think I'll take the candy corn or should I get the ladybug!  Such tough decisions!

Sweet toddlers having fun at our Pumpkin play-dough station.

Pumpkin Play-dough Station! Fall is indeed in the air with our homemade pumpkin scented play-dough!  

Hop on over to the bounce house and hop like a bunny! Hop, hop, hop little bunnies!

Pumpkin Chunkin! Knock down the pumpkins! 

Spider toss! Can you get the spider in the web? 

Games are in full swing! Pick your game, play and win a prize!

Take a look in a book! 

Hot Chocolate/ Apple Cider Bar! Yes please!

Toppings galore! Candy corn was the favorite of the night!

Pop on over to the popcorn bar!

Mingling and of course...food! 

For more information on AoFC and our Programs please click HERE

Click HERE for some fun fall actives to do at home 

Baby Doll Circle Time (BDCT)

Sometimes, we get carried away with trying to find the best toy or perfect environment for our children. We know as well as you do that your child’s development depends on the caring relationships they experience. It’s not the book that’s of extreme value as much as it’s the caring lap we read it from; and we read a lot of books from our caring laps! We also know it’s hard for young children to be away from their parents and for you to be away from your children. Baby Doll Circle Time will help us form more caring relationships, and bridge the gap between the home family and the school family.

These are the 5 steps that we take to make sure BDCT is a success everyday! These are the same steps that we will use each and every time!

BDCT allows our toddlers to recall the connections that are made over and over again. This helps to optimize their development along the way!

We start each BDCT by gathering in a comfortable place and retrieving the babies from their basket. We sing "get your babies, get your baby, get your baby, time to play" to the tune of "Oh My Darlin".

Rock your baby, rock you baby! With all that rocking those babies are sure to be asleep in no time!

Peek a boo baby! This little one wanted to help show Ms. Claire where her baby was! 

When we're all done we sing "bye bye, baby..bye bye, baby bye bye baby, we'll play again some day" to the tune of "Good Night Ladies"

For more information on AoFC and our programs please click HERE

For more information on Baby Doll Circle Time click 

Creating a Fire Safety Plan for Your Family

Creating a Fire Safety Plan for Your Family

Parents.com give us some great advice on creating a fire safety plan for your family.

Plan a Family Fire Drill

Your first step: Create an escape plan based on your home's layout. Identify two ways out of every room, if possible. Then go over the plan with children ages 5 and older. Children younger than 5 children understand better by practicing, so walk around your home and show your children where the exits are and how they'll get out. 

Home drills can be scary for small kids, so it's important to reassure them. Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide says "Tell your child that it's your job to protect her. You can say something like, 'We don't expect to have a fire, but if it happens, this is what we'll do to be safe.'"

Make sure all doors and windows can be opened easily and that all adults know how to operate the emergency release devices on window guards in upstairs rooms.

Next, teach your kids to "get low and go." Have them practice escaping from each room by crouching down very low and crawling along the perimeter of the room to an exit. Make sure your child understands that this technique is different from "stop, drop, and roll," which is what kids should do only if their clothing catches fire. (Carr explains that during at-home drills, many children have tried to stop, drop, and roll their way out of rooms.) Coach your child to feel a closed door with the back of his hand before he opens it; if it's hot, he should quickly head to the second way out if there's one available.

If your family lives in an apartment or multi-unit building, review the building’s evacuation plan. Teach your children to always take the stairs if there’s a fire. 

Do your drill a couple of times each year, using a different exit each time. If you have a fire escape, make sure that it's clear. If you live in a home with a second or higher level and you don't already have a Ul-certified collapsible rescue ladder, consider getting one to stow near an exit window. Children should be a rung above you and stay between your body and the ladder as they climb down, so you can catch them in case they slip. The Fire Department of New York recommends attaching the ladder at least once soon after you get it, so that you know it works and you're familiar with it in an emergency.

Finally, work out which parent will oversee which child's removal. "This should reduce any confusion that can cost precious seconds," says Carr. Establish your family meeting spot outside the home so that you can quickly do a head count.

For More information on Fire Safety Visit Parent.com

For more information on AoFC and our Programs please click HERE