Children's Centre

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

The Children’s Centre has many Christmas traditions. From PJ Pancake Day, to Santa’s Workshop camps, to decorating our classroom Christmas tree. But, nothing compares to our annual Winter Christmas Concert

The Arbutus Club preschoolers begin preparing for this special day in November. Each teacher chooses a song that the children enjoy singing and together they build a repertoire of songs, chants, rhymes, and dances to perform at the concert on Friday, December 17.

The class practices the lyrics, learning actions or dance steps, prepares props and learns to sing cohesively as a group. A big thing to learn for this age group is how to share the stage. Each child needs to be in control of their body and their impulses so they can move around when they are performing. How do we teach them to share the stage and stay still?

Here is our strategy: We practice this by standing on a line of masking tape in the classroom. Each child gets the same spot and is placed next to the same child every class. We share with them tips on how to be respectful and what the parents would be happy to see. After many days, the children soon discover how to share the line and space around them. When they master this, they are proud of themselves and get excited to be “on stage” the day of.

With our Christmas Concert, the learning is immense and the practice sessions are hard work. But because children naturally persevere when given the right encouragement, every year the children deliver the cutest, most precious concert you can imagine.

As teachers, we feel fortunate to be a part of this special day. If you happen to walk by, be sure to stop for a moment and enjoy the lovely concert this winter season. ♦

If you would like more details on our 2021 Christmas Concert, holiday programs, or more information about our toddler and/or preschool programs, please contact Connie Smith, Children’s Centre Manager csmith@arbutusclub.com