The holiday season is almost upon us………. and with it comes the bombardment of marketing media touting this year’s hottest gifts! It is so easy to get caught up in it all! Young children are especially vulnerable to all the advertising and as parents, we do not want to disappoint. We adults understand that, “Tis better to give than to receive”, but how do we teach this to our children? Here are some tips to keep the spirit of giving alive and to keep the holidays in perspective:

1. Keep the gift giving low key. It is an exciting enough time without going crazy! 
2. Focus on the giving part. Involve your child in the selection and purchasing of PJs and books for our school drive. 
3. Try and keep your children rested so that everyone can enjoy the holidays! Racing around is hard on little bodies!
4. Take the time to enjoy the holiday season with friends and family!

Finally, as the whirlwind of shopping and entertaining unfolds, be selective about what you take on to minimize stress and maximize the joy. Easier said than done, but we can try!!

Tis the time of year to adjust our sleep patterns no matter how old we are! Now that fall is here, the days are shorter, and we are losing the daylight more and more each day! On November 3rd, we change our clocks back one hour. Here are a few tips to make this transition easier at home:
​
Control the light
Stick to a routine
Be sympathetic

Children will have a successful sleep if the evening follows a routine. After dinner; a good warm bath, cozy PJ’s, a stuffed animal and a good book will help set children up for a restful night of sleep. One of the best parts of the day is to cuddle up with a young one and share a story together. This is quality time together plus reading to your child is the most important thing you can do as it will help to foster a long love for reading. Gaining an hour of sleep on Saturday night can sometimes take a few nights for children to adapt even though it is only one hour. Be patient and give it a few nights! If your child is tired and still asleep in the morning, let him/her sleep, if you can! It does take their little bodies a few days to adjust and lose that sleepy feeling in the morning!

“Let him sleep, for when he wakes he will move mountains.”
                           -Napolean

October is the month to ponder and ask ourselves what we are grateful and thankful for in our lives. We
need to live each day to the fullest and be thankful for what we have and more importantly for all the
wonderful people in our lives! Enjoy your beautiful children every day as we are thankful to have them
here at the Lawrence Park School!

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our
souls blossom!”
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Jennifer and Kirsten

We would like to welcome you to the Lawrence Park School where learning and fun go hand in hand! It is hard to believe that it is already the end of September and by now your children have settled nicely into their new classroom routines. It is so nice to see happy children in each classroom!

Thank you for entrusting us with your children for this school year! We are excited to get to know each and every child who is under our care! Our goal is to work together as parents and educators to give your children the best possible start in all areas of development.

This year, we are thrilled to share with you all the new and exciting things taking place at school throughout the year, so please stay tuned and check out our weekly school blog.
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Here’s to a fun, happy successful year full of learning, exploration and growth!

 “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it!”  (by Andy Rooney)
                            
Kirsten and Jennifer

It is hard to believe that another year at the Lawrence Park School has come to an end! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful children with us. We have enjoyed interacting with every one of the smiling faces that pass by us each and every day!

Your children have worked and played hard all year and now it is time for a break. Some parents have asked us what can be done during the summer months to keep the momentum of learning strong. The one thing we suggest is to read to your child every day! Put down all the screens, curl up together in a cozy chair or in bed at night time and open a book. Share together the pictures, the print and the connection time!

We wish you all a wonderful, happy and safe summer. Good luck to our families moving on and we will see those returning during our Summer Program or September! Get outside and enjoy!!
 
“Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read.”
Marilyn Jager Adams (Growing Book)
 
Jennifer and Kirsten

“The more we get together, together, together, the more we get together the happier we’ll be; cause my friends are your friends and your friends are my friends, the more we get together the happier we’ll be!”.
 
When children are young, they generally play with the children around them rather than choosing a “best” friend. However, Toddlers and Preschoolers, like adults, vary in their sociability, some are naturally more social than others. Through early friendships, children develop the tools they will use in future social development, such as:
 
Communication: Children learn to communicate at a young age. They communicate by using gestures, sounds or words.
 
Empathy: As children develop relationships, they learn when others are happy or sad and even when their friends need a little bit of comfort.
                      
Sharing: Through both associative and parallel play, children begin to learn how to share and take turns.           
 
Team work: As relationships develop children begin to combine their sharing and communication skills and begin working together in their daily activities such as art.
 
Jennifer and Kirsten

Tis the season to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and watch nature bloom! There are many benefits of outdoor play. It is a great way for children to develop and strengthen their muscles, use their imaginations and it can provide a time to be social with siblings and/or friends. Please see the link below to learn more about the great outdoors and its importance for young children.

Tis the time of year to adjust our sleep patterns no matter how old we are! Now that spring is almost here, the days are beginning to get longer, and we are gaining the daylight more and more each day! On March 10th, 2019, we will change our clocks ahead one hour. Here are a few tips to make this transition easier at home:
​
Control the light

Stick to a routine

Be sympathetic

Children will have a successful sleep if the evening follows a routine. After dinner; a good warm bath, cozy PJ’s, a stuffed animal and a good book will help set children up for a restful night of sleep. One of the best parts of the day is to cuddle up with a young one and share a story together. This is quality time together plus reading to your child is the most important thing you can do as it will help to foster a long love for reading. Losing an hour of sleep on Saturday night can sometimes take a few nights for children to adapt even though it is only one hour. Be patient and give it a few nights! If your child is tired and still asleep in the morning, let him/her sleep, if you can! It does take their little bodies a few days to adjust and lose that sleepy feeling in the morning!


Happy March Break to You All!

Jennifer and Kirsten

Welcome back to our returning families and we would like to welcome some new ones as we begin 2019! We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends.
We are excited to continue our educational journey with you at the Lawrence Park School. January is a time for new beginnings, a time to set new goals and a time connect with old friends and make new ones!
If you have any questions or concerns, please email the office or pop in to chat with us. We are here to help in your child’s growth and development during his/her early years in life. We want our children to be happy, successful and develop a love of learning that will stay with them now and well into their post Lawrence Park School years!
 
Jennifer and Kirsten
“New month
New beginning
New mindset
New focus
New start
New intentions
New results"
                             -Unknown