Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY, hosted a course entitled “Terrific Toddlers.” The class was taught by Donna-Marie Lasco, a certified teacher and the owner of Terrific Twos©.
Pre-schoolers and their parent/caregiver were invited to the program. They met once a week from September 2021 through May 2022. The purpose of the program is to prepare children for the start of school and to help the parent/caregiver work with the child at home. Another important piece is to teach the children routine.
Each week the children would learn a color or a shape. The children wore clothes to match the color that was being learned in the class. Their clothes, the tablecloths, napkins and the snack also matched the color. When class started, everyone would create different shapes using Play-Doh. After that, they would play with a puzzle or matching colors game. When finished, the children would wash their hands, say a prayer and have a snack. There was a different activity every week. The toddlers would either paint, glue different materials, etc. Each activity chosen had to do with either the color or the shape they were learning. Following that activity was reading time. Then the children would either play rhythm instruments, march, match shapes or play games such as ‘Ring Around the Rosie.’ Of course, everyone left with homework. It was usually an art project, which would follow-up on the lesson taught.
An extra special gift was that at the end of each semester, the toddlers received a copy of the books that were read during the program.
We saw a beautiful transformation in the toddlers. In the beginning, they would come in and tend to be quiet and stay close to their caregiver. It didn’t take long before the children would walk in, go directly to their seats and begin their work. They are certainly prepared to begin Pre-K.
A special thank you to Mrs. Lasco for all her hard work in preparing for the class and teaching the class. We are looking forward to welcoming our next class in September.