Pre-KG 2024 / 25 Blog 30 Hands–On

Pre-KG 2024 / 25 Blog 30

Hands–On 

As the Pre-Kindergarten children continue to learn about their body and their family, they do so through a lot of hands-on experiences. 

The hands are the body parts used in many activities and if you look how often the word „hands” is mentioned in phrases of all languages, you can easily understand why this part of the body has such a special meaning. 

Most people, especially the ones who work in Early Childhood have heard the term „hands–on“. It is frequently quoted and very important for a good reason. 

In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, „hands–on“ is defined as „ relating to, being or providing direct practical experience in the operation or function of something, involving or allowing use of or touching with the hands, characterized by active personal involvement, gained by actually doing something rather than learning about it from books, lectures etc.“ ( nowadays we would have to add T.V. or digital devices). 

Hands–on learning is learning by doing and it can happen in many ways, in different spaces, using a variety of activities and materials.

Children are natural hands–on learners from the day they are born and these experiences are the key to developing understanding of the world around them. Babies learn by exploring their environment and so do older children and even adults. 

So please give your child lots of opportunities to use the hands and kindly sing the songs from the Pre–Kindergarten songbook with them which features many songs involving Finger play and gestures. 

In Pre–Kindergarten the children show as every day what they can do with their hands from the first moment of arrival when changing their shoes to waving goodbye! 

Please find herewith some charming photos of the Pre–Kindergarten using their hands this week ! 

Washing and drying hands properly 

Stringing and moving beads 

Using finger paint, making signs for the assembly and holding the props

Making cars move along the roller coaster and the table

Holding on to a scooter and filling up the tank

Putting the Lego figurines onto the board

Calling the family and taking pictures of a friend

Colouring a beautiful parrot and cutting it out 

Pushing a stroller with the teddy bear

Scooping up sand and making a cake 

The children also again used playdough ( see previous blog) and all their lunch utensils well.

Amazing, isn’t it ! 

Additionally, we made a special excursion with our friends from K1 and K2 to see the lovely tulips at the tulip field where the children had planted the bulbs with their hands in autumn. We admired their colourful beauty and will soon go to receive the bulbs for replanting. 

And as mentioned earlier, it was time to wave and say goodbye to one of our friends from K1. Nicholas started at DSKI in my Playgroup and now he will move with his parents Sunny and Peter to the US. We will miss them dearly and the whole family will always be remembered by us for their smiles, their kindness and their big heart. 

Auf Wiedersehen, lieber Nicholas und Familie, we wish you all the best and are looking forward to seeing you again some day ! 

I wish you all a lovely weekend with good times and good friendship and lots of hands–on activities. 

With kind regards, Mit herzlichen Grüßen, 

Anita Ursula Mönch 

DSKI Pre–Kindergarten homeroom teacher Playgroup / EY Deutsch & German     

German Saturday School homeroom teacher

PS Please do not miss to attend our informative and important Parents Cafe on screentime next Tuesday !