From our classroom to the community: Sensory bug play & partnership manual
July 28, 2025Last week in our classroom: 🐞 Bugs, Bears & Brave Little Voices
The past two weeks themes have been camping and bugs.
Sensory table: Our sensory table has been buzzing with activity! We watched children scoop, sort, and pour—building coordination, concentration, and confidence with every motion.
filler (split peas)
small manipulative (Learning Resources counting bears)
an assortment of cups
Activities: We kept things light, creative, and developmentally rich.
bingo dauber bug sheet: we sing “dot dot dot” while we fill in the circles, building fine motor skills and rhythm
toilet paper caterpillar experiement: Color a toilet paper strip, roll it up like a caterpillar, and use a dropped to bring it to life.
playdough bug fossil: simple, sensory, and full of discovery! Learning Resources Bug Counters
chalk bug stomp/jump: you’re outdoor classroom is just as powerful as your indoor one
A tip from your preschool teacher!
In one sweet moment, I overheard two toddlers navigating a tricky situation:
One said, “I’m not all done.”
The other paused, respected that space, and waited.
Then came the sweetest phrase: “I’m all done! Here you go.”
It might sound simple, but this is huge. Here are three turn-taking tips I love to share with parents:
We don’t take toys from friends.
I often narrate for the child: “He’s still playing with that.” or “She’s not all done yet.”We can ask, but we wait.
No timers. No forcing a child to be done. Waiting builds patience and trust.Teach the magic handoff.
When your child is ready, they can say: “I’m all done.” or “Here you go!”
That moment of giving builds generosity and social confidence.
These small moments are big milestones.
To this week from our partners: Partnership Manual
Parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but this might be the next best thing.
This fall, we’re launching our monthly partnership series—eight months of expert-backed content designed to support you and your family.
Adjust into the school year this September with Antoniotti Chiropractic, voted the #1 Local Pediatric Chiropractor in the 2024 Kzoo Kids Top Docs contest.
📅 Every Monday, a new blog post will go live, along with a free printable handout—just subscribe to get it straight to your inbox. These topics were chosen by YOU, based on the real questions and concerns parents shared.
This month, you’ll learn:
The benefits of pediatric chiropractic care
How it supports better sleep
Why it may help with ear infections
Its connection to digestive health and constipation
Because let’s be real—you don’t need more on your plate.
You just need the right info.
To this week in our community: Build A team of hope
Build A Team Of H💜pe Golf Outing
This weekend, we attended our very first community event as a sponsor — the Build a Team of Hope Golf Outing.
It was more than just a beautiful (hot) day on the course — it was a chance to give back, connect, and honor someone the playschool family would have loved. We celebrated the memory of Mary Rapelje (Grandma Mae Mae) — a beloved mother and grandmother from one of our Playschool families who lost her battle with cancer in 2020.
Build a Team of Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides financial support to cancer patients, helping cover the everyday expenses that insurance doesn’t touch. This year marked their 6th annual outing, which raised funds for the new Beautiful You Program at Bronson Cancer Center — offering wigs, salon services, and comfort care for patients during treatment.
We're honored that Allie’s Playschool could be a part of this impactful day. A big thank you to our generous partners Mindset PT and The Little Gym - Kalamazoo for donating month-long class passes to the “Summer Essentials” raffle basket.
This was just the beginning of something really special. To learn more or get involved next year, visit buildateamofhope.org. 🫶🏼
