Songs, Finger Plays &

Communication with
Families:
Part I

Athena Skliros, RECE

Faculty, Trainer & Marketing Coordinator
Mothercraft College
Enhanced Language Training (ELT) Program
Agenda

• Circle Time
• Songs & Finger Plays
• Highlighting Diversity
• Communicating with Families
Introductions…

Athena

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What is Circle Time?

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Why is it important?

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 Talking about circle time for…

• Infants
• Toddlers
• Preschool
• Kindergarten

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Things to consider for circle times…
• Ways to transition the
children to circle time
• How long should the circle
time be
• What can you include in
your circle
• How to follow the interests
of the children
• Keeping the circle
interactive

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Using visuals in your circle…

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Using other props in your circle…

 Felt board
 Puppets
 Books
 Instruments
 Scarves
 Fidget toys
 Name tags

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 Choosing books for…

• Infants
• Toddlers
• Preschool
• Kindergarten

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 Books & Stories!
Children often love to
listen to books and
stories.

It’s important to tell the

story with your whole
body – use different
voices, facial
expressions, and body
language to tell the
story!

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Babydoll Circle Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EcmofqX8kI

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Let’s Practice Songs &
Finger Plays!

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 The Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider, went up the water spout.
Down came the rain, and washed the spider out!
Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider, went up the spout again!

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 Five Green Speckled Frogs
Five green and speckled frogs, sat on a speckled log!
Eating some most delicious bugs, YUM YUM!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool,
Now there are four green speckled frogs, GLUB GLUB!
(Continue until there are no green speckled frogs)

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 Old MacDonald
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!
And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O!
With a moo moo here, and a moo moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo,
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!

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 The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town!

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 Five Little Monkeys
Five little monkeys, jumping on the bed!
One fell off and bumped his head!
Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said,
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

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Highlighting Diversity

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 Highlighting Diversity

There are many different types of people.

It’s important that we embrace all
differences and similarities, and teach the
value of diversity.

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How can we include
diversity?

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Communicating with
Families

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Small Group Discussions:
Communication
Consider interactions that you may have with
families & children:

• How do you feel about talking to families?

• What are some things you could talk about?
• What are some possible challenges?

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 Communicating with Families

When you first meet the children and

families, you have the opportunity to
help them feel welcome.

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 Communicating with Families
Welcoming Families
 Families should
always be greeted
with enthusiasm and
a smile.

 Ask open-ended
questions about the
family.

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 Communicating with Families
• Professionalism
• General appearance
• Organize and completes tasks
in a timely fashion
• Maintains confidentiality
• Courteous and polite

Developing relationships is a
priority. Families should always
be greeted with a smile, a hello,
and a question. Learn the parents’
and caregivers’ names!

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 Building Trust & Attachment
Eyes

Safety
Voice
Messages

Touch
Attachment in the Classroom: How Trusting Early
Experiences Shape Brain Development – Dr. Jon Baylin

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 Building Trust & Attachment
Eyes

Safety
Voice
Messages

Touch
Attachment in the Classroom: How Trusting Early
Experiences Shape Brain Development – Dr. Jon Baylin

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 Communicating with Families
• Demonstrate positivity and be
encouraging
• Always have something nice
to say about the child
• Compliment parenting efforts,
especially with more
challenging children
• Initiate conversation
• Offer to help at arrival and
departure times
• Be mindful of individual and
family priorities
• Activity respond

Show passion, enthusiasm, and a

desire to make a positive impact
in the life of the child and the
family.

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 Benefits of Family Engagement
Research concludes that children are more likely to be
successful when parents are engaged in their learning.
When parents are truly engaged, children:
• Attend school more regularly
• Are better able to self-regulate
• Have improved academic
outcomes
• Have a better sense of how to be
successful
• Are more likely to continue onto
post-secondary education
When parent engagement is connected to learning, it
contributes to enhanced results and development.

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 Summary

Self-Reflection
Exercise

“What is the most important thing

you’ve learned today?”

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Questions?

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