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Week of August 15th, 2011
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Dear Parents,
Listening to children laugh and giggle at the New York Kids Club is one of my favorite sounds to overhear. Nowhere is this more prevalent than when a child is introduced to water. Whether it's at the beach, in the bath, running through a sprinkler, or getting a sip at the water fountain - children are immediately attracted to the calming, cleansing qualities of water!
During musical circle time we will sing songs that always bring a smile, including the childhood favorite "All the Fish Are Swimming." Ask your child to teach you the melody and lyrics so you can practice at home, at the beach, or in the bath!
Learning through play is an important part of both our classroom and gym curriculum. Creative play is a central activity in the lives of healthy children. In general, research on the subject shows strong links between unstructured, creative play, and verbal, physical, cognitive, and social development. According to researcher Sara Smilansky, children who show the greatest capacities for social make-believe play, also display more imagination, less aggression, and a greater ability to use language for speaking and understanding others.
Observing the children in the gym quickly reinforces the adage "Laughter is the best medicine," as a good laugh engages core muscles, lowers blood pressure, and generates a wealth of healing biochemicals in both children and adults. Laughter increases circulation in your body simply by the convulsions you experience during the process of laughing; so it boosts immune system function. Laughter increases oxygenation of your body and also produces increased levels of brain-altering chemicals like serotonin that add to our overall feeling of happiness.
I hope your week ahead is filled with moments of laughter!
As always, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
 Gair Morris Director
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