2023-2024 Monthly Themes
SEPTEMBER: All About ME
-- facial features
-- body parts
-- my family
-- my house
-- my abilities
-- ways we are alike
-- ways we are different
**Family Engagement Activity: Fall Daycare Family Picnic (kids & parents)
OCTOBER: Apples & Pumpkins
-- where apples grow
-- apple characteristics
-- cooking with apples
-- where pumpkins grow
-- pumpkin characteristics
-- cooking with pumpkins
-- jack-o-lanterns and other signs of Halloween
**Family Engagement Activity: Fall Conferences (at my house or yours)
NOVEMBER: Birds
-- where birds live
-- what birds do
-- bird characteristics
-- how we can care for birds
-- different kinds of birds
-- turkeys
-- Thanksgiving
** Family Engagement Activity: Family Sign Language Workshop (kids & parents)
DECEMBER: Christmas
-- signs of Christmas
-- using our five senses to explore the holiday season
-- Christmas baking
-- baby Jesus
**Family Engagement Activity: Daycare Pizza & Craft Party (kids only, siblings welcome)
JANUARY: Snowmen
-- snow flakes
-- snow characteristics
-- snowman characteristics
-- what we (and snowmen!) wear in the snow
-- melting
-- animals in the snow
**Family Engagement Activity: TBD
FEBRUARY: Feelings
-- happy
-- sad
-- angry
-- excited
-- sleepy
-- silly
-- love
-- Valentines Day
**Family Engagement Activity: Family Sign Language Workshop (kids & parents)
MARCH: Weather
-- sun
-- clouds
-- wind
-- rain & rainbows
-- lightning and thunder
-- Easter
**Family Engagement Activity: Spring Conferences (my house or yours)
APRIL: At the Farm
-- farm animals, and their different characteristics
-- farm tools
-- farm crops
-- farm buildings
-- animal sounds
-- how we take care of the animals on the farm
**Family Engagement Activity: TBD
MAY/June: Gardens
--seeds & planting
--fruits & vegetables
--flowers
--growing things (what plants need)
--Mommies
--Daddies
**May Family Engagement: Moms and Muffins breakfast (moms & kids)
**June Family Engagement: Dads and Donuts breakfast (dads & kids)
**I use a combination of curriculums to create my themes and activities each month. These include: Playbook (infant/toddler curriculum), Funshine Express, and Early Learning Success. I also have a special focus each month on a color, a number, a shape, and 2-3 different concepts. I send home monthly newsletters (check them out here) with a brief description of the activities we will be doing during the month, and examples of the songs and finger plays we will learn.