PreK Two Polar Express Party

WOW! Our parents, teachers, and kiddos are the BEST!! At AOFC we love to throw a good party! Recently, the PreK Two classroom hosted a Polar Express themed party which was a huge success thanks to the awesome parent involvement, teachers hard work, and the kiddos pure joy and excitement! The party kicked off first thing in the morning. The students got to come into the classroom and see how it had transformed into the polar express train station. There were five stations at which a parent volunteer was eagerly waiting to help the kids. There was a (frozen) hot chocolate station complete with marshmallows, a writing station where the kids got to draw/write how to make hot chocolate, a reading station at which a parent volunteer read the book The Polar Express, a gingerbread house making station which was as delicious as it was adorable, and a stocking stuffer station where kiddos got to pick out a stocking with their name on it and then stuff it with all sorts of fun goodies. The kids had such a great time going from station to station but there was even more fun to be had! After station were complete, the students headed out to the Enrichment room to watch The Polar Express movie while munching on some popcorn! What a treat! Afterwards, everyone came back in for lunch and once they all had full bellies, the kids sat down on the circle tim drug for their classroom book exchange. Each child brought in a single wrapped book to exchange with another student in the classroom. By the end of it, everyone ended up with a brand new book! The children had such a great time and the teachers were overjoyed! We can't wait to see who will throw the next awesome AOFC party! 

Look at those awesome stocking stuffers! Thanks Mr. John and Mrs. Carolyn for your thoughtful and generous gift to the kids! 

(Frozen) Hot chocolate station! They loved getting to sit together and sip a fun drink! 

Look at that form and craftsmanship! Nice work! 

Popcorn, Pjs, and The Polar Express. What could be better than that!! These kiddos loved getting such a special treat. 

Post party book exchange! Everyone was so excited to get a new book! 

For more info on AOFC and the programs we offer, please click HERE

For more fun party themes for kids, please click HERE

Sweets with Santa

The day that has been long anticipated finally came!! SANTA WAS HERE! The kiddos had been talking about his big visit all week. We prepared for the big jolly guy by having the children write out their letters telling Santa what they wanted for the upcoming Holiday. Once Santa arrived, the line quickly grew but there was plenty to do to keep kiddos busy while they waited. There was a card making station, an ornament making station, a cookie decorating station, and of course.. SWEETS!! Everyone had a blast and (almost) everyone was so excited to see Santa. Check out some pictures below of this totally fun event!

Santa made his big debut! Everyone was so happy that he was here. 

A fun and delicious cookie decorating station. We loved getting to see all the fun creations

Sweet friends! There are so many amazing relationships built here! 

Look at the excitement!! This friend was thrilled to tell Santa what he wanted for christmas! 

There were so many sweet treats, this friend needed to wash it down with ice cold milk! 

Baby's first Christmas! She did so well as she cooed at Santa! 

Can't you tell how delicious these sweets are. Cupcakes and cookies and brownies oh my! 

Besties making ornaments together. Sweet times being shared. 

This friend loved getting to visit with Santa. There were so many fun things on her list! 

Christmas card making station! How much fun for these babes to make fun cards! 

For more information on AOFC and the programs we offer, please click HERE

To see more AOFC fun, follow us on instagram @aofckids 

December Happenings

What a magical time of year we are in!! AOFC LOVES this time of year because we have SO MUCH fun and everyone is filled with the Christmas spirit! Our December calendar is full of exciting activities, snacks, and visitors! So far we have constructed awesome fizzy candy cane experiments, tapped into our creative side and made bow art, gobbled up delicious elf munch and a special reindeer snack, AND we hosted our 3rd annual door decorating contest. Hard to believe we did all of the just in the first week of December! Check out all of the other fun things happening at AOFC in December! 

 Special snacks are always a huge hit here! On December 11, we will have a christmas tree cone special snack that  the kiddos will get to help with! 

For more holiday themed snack ideas please click HERE

 Dress up days are the best days!! Let's all wear our favorite Christmas sweater on December 12 and show our Christmas spirit! 

Want to get creative with your kiddos sweater? Click HERE for some DIY inspiration

 I bet your little ones have their lists all ready for christmas! On December 13 we will all write letters to Santa and drop them in our special mailbox so they can be delivered to the North Pole in time for Christmas! 

Click HERE to check out some awesome templets for your letters! 

 SANTA!!! REAL LIVE SANTA!!! On December 14 Santa himself will be here to share some sweets, take a pic, and hear all those christmas lists!! Santa will arrive at 3pm and will have to depart back to the North Pole at 4:30. Families are welcome!!! 

Are your kiddos not so keen of the big jolly giant? Click HERE for some tips on how to help your trip to pictures with Santa go over smoothly! 

 A true holiday favorite!! On December 17, we will all read The Night Before Christmas in preparation of the big day! Does your family have a favorite Christmas book? 

For a list of AMAZING holiday books that you can read with your family, please click HERE

DELICIOUS!! Whats better than building and making masterpieces? The fact that you can EAT IT afterwards!!! On December 19, we will host a gingerbread house building party in the classroom! 

For some gingerbread inspiration, please click HERE

Who doesn't love a good Christmas craft?? We have incorporated so many fun activities like this for our kiddos this month. Between tissue paper wreaths, Christmas tree creations, and some fun fire work art for the new year, these kids will be all crafted out! 

For some awesome holiday crafts you can do at home with your little one, click HERE

Yup! That's right! On December 24 and 25 we will be closed in observance of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Regular scheduled school hours will resume December 26! 

 School is in session but the Christmas fun will continue! We invite your kiddo to wear their favorite pair of pajamas to school and cozy up in the enrichment room for a movie day!! 

For a list of great family Christmas movies to watch at home, click HERE

We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. May this season be filled with love and fun memories. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! 

For more info on AOFC and the programs we offer, please click HERE

To keep up with the latest happenings at AOFC, follow us on instagram @aofckids

3rd Annual Door Decorating Contest

The teachers at AoFC LOOOOVEEEE to decorate their doors every month. But one very special month out of the year they pull out all of the stops. They go all out and bring out all the bells and whistles. We have officially entered that month! December hosts our Annual Door Decorating Contest. Teachers have been working long and hard to have the best of the best! The winner is awarded a $50 gift card to Parent Teacher store to pick out some new goodies for their room. The doors are finished and voting is open! Now through the morning of Dec 7 all votes will be counted and a winner will be announced that afternoon. Don't forget to vote for your favorite door!

All aboard the Polar Express!!

Oh  christmas tree, Oh christmas tree. How lovely are your branches!! 

Santa Clause is coming to town! 

Oh deer! Christmas is here! 

I wouldn't touch you with a 39 1/2 foot pole! 

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Gingerbread wonderland! 

Holly jolly! 

The stockings have been hung by the chimney with care

Twas the night before christmas and all through the house. Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. 

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer! 

For more info on AOFC and the programs we offer, please click HERE

To keep up with who's going to win our contest, follow us on instagram @aofckids

Classroom Feature: PreK 2

Our PreK 2 teachers, Ms. Carolyn and Mr. John, make an AWESOME team. They go together like milk and cookies. They are two peas in a pod! Not only are they always implementing a fun and challenging Kindergarten readiness program, but they are always coming up with new and innovative ideas to bring to the classroom. For example: This holiday season they are bringing the North Pole to the classroom. (Stay tuned for another blog about their big North Pole surprise) Through our Frogstreet curriculum, Enrichment program, and so many other fun and educational activities implemented throughout the day, our PreK 2 kiddos are learning so much! Sight words, shoe tying, writing and journaling, and fine and gross motor skills just to name a few. We often see our PreK friends taking adventures through the school on a cold, rainy day or setting up an outdoor obstacle course and making up their own fun games. There are so many things that we love about our PreK 2 class and the teachers in there but their love for the kiddos, excitement to teach, and fun ideas brought to the classroom are a few of our favorites! Check out the pics below to see some of the fun had in the classroom! 

PreK2 is ready for the holiday season! All aboard the Polar Express!

Mr. John reading the story of Jack and The Bean Stalk and has sequence magnets ready to be able show visuals! 

Practicing those letters! This friend has the letter A mastered!

Practice makes perfect! Our friends work hard in PreK2! 

Craft time! Gluing and cutting and tearing  oh my! 

All work and no  play? Yeah right!! We love to get down and play! These tracks are a classroom favorite! 

For more info on AoFC and the programs we offer,  please click here HERE

Stay tuned for a blog about the Polar Express surprise coming up in this classroom! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

There are so many things to be thankful for. This Thanksgiving season, AOFC is extra thankful for all of the sweet families we have here and the memories we get to make together. We recently got to all gather around for an amazing Thanksgiving family feast. We had turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie and so much more! Mom and Dads, brothers and sisters all came to share memories and give thanks together right there in our Enrichment Room! There were many laughs, messy faces, and expressions of gratitude from all. AOFC wants to wish all of their families and friends a very happy Thanksgiving. We are so grateful for you all and the times we get to share with your little ones. 

Look at that delicious pumpkin pie!! It definitely didn't last long but we had plenty to go around! 

Memories in the making! So grateful for friends, family, and good times. 

Family time is the best time. We hope all of our families had a great time! 

The pumpkin pie was a huge hit! This friend gobbled his up so quick! YUMMY!! 

All of our families were served but the line was massive! Everyone waited eagerly for their plate of yummy thanksgiving food. 

Family style dining was so much fun. Families from different classrooms got to interact and create relationships. 

We love mac and cheese!! Another huge hit! 

Thank you all again for making this an amazing thanksgiving feast! We all had so much fun and hope everyone has a great holiday! 

For more info on AOFC and the programs we offer, please click HERE

For fun thanksgiving themed activities to do with you little on please click HERE

A Day In The Life Of An AoFC Infant

Watching babies grow and learn is so special. We see the first light bulb go off, witness first steps, hear first words, and watch as they go from babies to toddlers almost in the blink of an eye. Our Infant Program is packed with so much fun that challenges our littlest friends to grow and learn. Learning through play is the best way for these cuties but every moment is a moment for learning. When we read books to infants they are developing language skills. If that book is a touch and feel book, they will be interested in reaching out to grab the book and feel the different textures. Tummy time and time on the floor is a great way to work those baby muscles through leg movement, rolling over, and holding themselves up. Even when eating, we can learn! When a baby is in a highchair eating, they can use baby signs for "more", "please", "all done" and so much more to let us know that they need! There are so many ways to learn in the classroom between toys, books, songs, movements, and so much more!! Check out some pictures of our sweet babies learning! 

Classroom toys are a great way to kick off learning. Educators are able to tell the baby what color(s) the toy is, what shape it is, and can help demonstrate what the function of the toy is.

As babies develop, they start to reach for and grab items, such as toys, within their view. To encourage this, we place toys in front of their face to watch them grab for it and then eventually as they are able to sit up on their own, the toy is placed on the floor in front of them so they can reach for it on their own. 

Feedings are a great opportunity to help babies grow and develop their brain. Through serve and return interactions, educators and babies are able to create a bond and trust. The infant shows interest through coos and smiles, different noises. We are able to return the interest by cooing back, singing, smiling, talking. Likewise, the educator can smile at the baby, talk to them, and sing songs which will provoke a response in return from the baby! 

My muscles are growing! I am able to sit up. Look at that sweet smile!

Reading is a great way to help develop language skills. When an educator reads to a child, the child hears the words and sees the picture. The child can point to the picture and the educator can tell the child what the picture is. The book make have pull outs, flaps, touch and feel pages, or actions for the baby to follow like clapping hands. 

We can see again how this little friend is reach for toys within her sight. Her muscles are growing and she is able to pull the toy down towards her.


For more info on AoFC and the programs we offer, please click HERE
For more information on our infant curriculum please click HERE