1st Day of 3 Year Old Preschool

Yesterday we officially started a 3-year old preschool program, and we loved it! Actually, it was quite a busy and crazy day...one that ended up nothing like I planned. I had our schedule all neatly written out in my day timer (that was my first mistake). At least I wrote in pencil.

Our day was supposed to have started at 8am with breakfast and then actual "school" starting at 9am. Well, my little sleepy princess didn't wake up until almost 10am. Really nothing unusual, so I'm not sure why I was so shocked that she wasn't falling in line with the day timer (o:. I know, I know...I could have woken her up. But, I figure one of the benefits of doing this at home is she can sleep in. By nature she is a night owl; and I've tried changing her to be a morning person like me, but somehow we always end up staying up late and sleeping in late. Besides, I had no desire to wake up my sweet little 3 year old before she had a full night's sleep...nobody would have been happy!

So we had just enough time to throw on some clothes, gulp down some food and head off to tumbling class where her new instructor convinced her to flip over the bar. It took a lot of convincing, but Olivia did it. And the best part? Everyone--kids, parents, instructors--clapped for her!!! The smile on her face was priceless!!!!

So, now it's noon and we hadn't done any "school" plus I had to go to the store because we had nothing suitable for lunch. By the time we got home and ate lunch it was 1:30pm, and I had just remembered that I had to be out at the organic foods co-op sometime between 3 and 6pm. (I forgot to check my daytimer).

So we jumped in to school and it was great. I'm using Hubbard's Cupboard, and one of the things that kept me from getting frustrated with our ever changing schedule was something they had said on their web site..."Please keep in mind that learning times should be flexible, structured and organized...Remember that your child is only 3 and the main focus should be on their heart."

What a great reminder!

She is only 3 and there's no need to put too much pressure on either one of us. She has many, many, many years of schooling ahead of her, and my main goal right now is to enjoy her as she enjoys learning. And I am very blessed right now to have a little girl who ended her first day with the words, "what's next?"
We talked about the colors black and white in association with our Bible Story about Creation and God creating the day and the night.
1 was the number for the day. Here she had to shake a button in an egg carton and determine if it landed in a square marked with a number 1.
Our "white" snack--popcorn, marshmallows, and milk. Loved the popcorn and milk, took one small lick of a marshmallow.
Practicing writing the number 1 in a pan of flour.

We also went on a walk to listen for the sounds of God's creation, sorted night activities from day activities, read a few books, glued a black triangle on a piece of white paper to remind us God created day and night, made a black coloring/poem book and a white coloring/poem book, sang a couple songs, and reviewed the ABC song...I think that's it.

Day #2 tomorrow, Wednesday.