Dear Parents

Helping Preschoolers Navigate Big Emotions

At preschool, we know that emotions can sometimes feel overwhelming for young children. As they grow, they are still learning how to recognise, express, and manage their feelings in a way that feels safe and appropriate. Focusing on emotional awareness helps children develop the skills to navigate their emotions with confidence. By working together as teachers and parents, we can support them in understanding their feelings, learning to express them effectively, and building resilience in everyday situations.

Recognising and Validating Emotions

Children need to feel that their emotions are acknowledged and accepted. When a child is upset, we can help by recognising their feelings and putting them into words. Simple phrases like, "I can see you're feeling frustrated" or "It looks like you're excited about this" help children feel understood. By consistently validating their emotions, we create a space where they feel safe to express themselves.

Building Emotional Vocabulary

Young children often struggle to express their feelings because they don’t yet have the words to describe them. In the classroom and at home, we can encourage them to name their emotions using simple words like happy, sad, excited, or worried. Books, songs, and visual aids, such as emotion charts, help children learn to identify and label their feelings, making it easier for them to communicate.

Modelling Healthy Coping Strategies

Children learn by watching the adults around them. As teachers and parents, we can demonstrate how to manage emotions in healthy ways. For example, if we feel frustrated, we might say, "I'm feeling a little frustrated, so I’m going to take a deep breath and count to five." When children see us managing emotions calmly, they begin to adopt these strategies themselves.

Encouraging Self-Regulation Techniques

Simple techniques like deep breathing can help children calm down when they feel overwhelmed. We can guide them by encouraging "smell the flower, blow out the candle" breathing exercises or introducing calming activities like stretching and listening to soft music. These small moments of mindfulness can make a big difference in how children handle their emotions.

Offering Choices to Empower Children

When children feel a sense of control, they are less likely to become overwhelmed. In the classroom and at home, offering simple choices—such as "Would you like to tidy up now or in two minutes?"—helps children feel involved and reduces frustration. These small decisions build independence and confidence in managing emotions.

Creating a Safe Space for Emotions

Having a calm, cosy area where children can go to take a break when they need it can be helpful. This could be a quiet corner in the classroom or a comforting spot at home with soft pillows, books, or sensory items. Providing a space where children can regulate their emotions allows them to return when they feel ready.

Exploring Emotions Through Play

Play is a natural way for young children to process emotions. Through storytelling, puppetry, role-playing, and creative activities like drawing, we can help them explore different feelings safely and engagingly. Encouraging children to express emotions through play supports their understanding and emotional growth.

Encouraging Problem-Solving Skills

Rather than solving problems for children, we can guide them through the process by asking open-ended questions like, "What do you think we could do to make this better?" or "How can we help your friend feel happy again?" Teaching children to think through solutions helps them develop emotional intelligence and resilience.

Providing Consistency and Reassurance

Predictability helps children feel secure and minimises emotional outbursts. Establishing consistent routines, whether at school or home, gives children a sense of stability. When changes arise, preparing them in advance and offering reassurance helps them adjust more easily.

Supporting Emotional Growth with Patience and Encouragement

Emotional regulation is a skill that takes time to develop. By being patient, supportive, and encouraging, we can help children build the confidence to manage their emotions. Acknowledging their progress, no matter how small, reinforces their ability to handle big feelings in positive ways.

Together, as teachers and parents, we can nurture children’s emotional well-being, helping them develop the skills they need to navigate life’s ups and downs with confidence. Through guidance, support, and understanding, we empower them to express their emotions in healthy ways and grow into emotionally resilient individuals

A Peek Into Our Week

The Grade 000s have settled back into the second quarter with great enthusiasm, and it’s been wonderful to see them so happy to be with their friends again. Watching their social circles grow as they play and learn together has been a joy.  

This week, we explored the world of pets! We:

• Had fun mimicking the different sounds pets make

• Talked about where pets live and sleep

• Created pet-themed crafts, and shared our favourite (and least favourite!) animals
  
  

A highlight was our visit from the petting zoo, which led to lovely conversations about being kind and gentle with animals.

We’re looking forward to another term of learning, laughter, and fun!

Pooh Bears Weekly Highlight

This week, the Pooh Bears had a blast taking their creativity outdoors! One of their favourite activities was using paintbrushes, soapy water, and chalk to paint on different surfaces outside.  This fun twist on our usual indoor art time gave the children a chance to explore texture, cause and effect, and large motor movements in a whole new way.

Benefits of this activity include:

• Encouraging creativity and self-expression

• Strengthening fine and gross motor skills

• Enhancing sensory exploration

• Promoting outdoor learning and experimentation with different materials.

It’s been a joy watching them discover how art can happen anywhere!

Kanga's House 

This week was full of creativity and teamwork! We had so much fun with box construction, using our imaginations to build our very own little houses. Everyone worked hard designing and decorating their creations, showing excellent problem-solving skills. We also built a super tall Lego tower with our friends—it reached higher than our heads! These activities helped us practice working together, sharing ideas, and using our fine motor skills, all while having a blast. What a fantastic week of learning through play!

Owl's House

This week, the Owls had a wonderful time learning the new “r” sound! We brought in all sorts of interesting items for Show and Tell that start with the “r” sound, which made for an exciting and interactive experience. The children enjoyed using playdough to form the “r”, practiced writing it on whiteboards, and even drew creative pictures of things that begin with the sound.  It’s been a fun and engaging week full of learning and laughter!

Registered Nurse- Amy Dolley

Library Adventure

In 1995, UNESCO held a General Conference in Paris, where World Book Day was born as a worldwide tribute to books and the people who bring them to us: authors, publishers, booksellers and libraries. This day was intended to honour books as a vehicle of peace and the eradication of poverty. Thirty years later, these truths have not changed, and we still know that reading to children and assisting them to read with enjoyment and meaning will change their lives forever. The stories you share with your child impart language skills that are essential building blocks for every area of their lives. 

You are invited to our Book Sale in the Senior Preparatory hall, where the ladies from Bargain Books will have a large display of picture books for younger children. Please see our poster underneath for shopping times. 

Happy World Book Day on Wednesday, 23 April!

Elise Crouse - Librarian

2025 Dates 

Please note that there has been a slight change to the 2025 dates indicated in blue below:

Provisional dates for 2025
Summer Quarter: 20 January – 28 March
Autumn Quarter: 08 April- 25 June
*Mid-term break: 29 April – 2 May
Winter Quarter: 22 July – 23 Sept
Spring Quarter: 14 October – 05 December

Important Dates - Autumn Quarter 2025

18 April Public Holiday - Good Friday 

21 April: Public Holiday - Family Day

23 April: World Book Day - Dress Up as your favourite book character 

22 - 25 April: Science Week

27 April: Public Holiday: Freedom Day

28 April: Public Holiday

MID-TERM BREAK

29 APRIL - 2 MAY

1 May: Public Holiday: Workers Day  

5 May: Author: Roslynne Toerien visiting Gr R - 3

9 May: Slipper Day - Reach for a Dream Foundation

11 May: Mother’s Day

14 May: May Play Photographs - Grade 000 & R

15 May: May Play Photographs - Grade 00 

16 May: Grade 00 Cake Sale 

23 May: Grade 00 Occupational Dress-up Day 

28 May: Build your burger with Chef Kerry 

29 May: 09:00 - 10:00 May Play (Grade 000 - R) 

29 May: 10:30 - 11:00 May Play (Grade 000 - R) 

30 May: 09:00 - 10:00 May Play (Grade 000 - R) 

30 May: 10:30 - 11:00 May Play (Grade 000 - R)
31 May: Open Day

1 June: International Children’s Day 

  Happy Birthday Kerry Kemp

2 June: Happy Birthday Chanay De Klerk

International Children's Day- Movie & Pop Corn (Grade 000 - R) in the hall
Crackerjacks Music & Marshmallow in their classes       

13 June: Reports sent to parents 

15 June: Father’s Day

16 June: Public Holiday: Youth Day 

17-20 June: Report Feedback Meetings Grade 0000 - R

20 June: Grade 000 and Crackerjacks Cake Sale 

24 June: Winter Olympics and R20 ‘entry’ fee towards Grant Pienaar Foundation

25 June: Last day of the quarter  

29 June: Happy Birthday Litho Voxeka

Conclusion

We will be celebrating World Book Day on Wednesday, 23 April. We can't wait to see the school filled with beloved storybook characters brought to life in fun costumes! 

Whether you're home or away this break, we hope you're finding moments to rest, reconnect, and enjoy the slower rhythm of the holidays. From gentle siestas and mindful breathing to nature walks and family adventures, may these days bring you joy, movement, and meaningful time with your little ones.

To those celebrating Easter, we wish you a joyful and peaceful time ahead. And to those marking Passover, Chag Same’ach — may this time be full of reflection, connection, and togetherness.