Freelance Writer
With Autumn quickly approaching, schoolkids excitedly prepare for a new school year, but those too young for public schools get just as excited. For those youngsters attending Methodist Children’s Day Out, MCDO, much fun and learning awaits their arrival. Like the children, caregivers and teachers share the excitement.
MCDO Director Elaine Murphy says the excitement builds with the program’s open house this Sunday, August 14, beginning at 2 p.m. For children and teachers, the real fun begins the following Tuesday, August 16, on the first day of the 2022-2023 school year. MCDO runs Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and follows Bristow Public Schools’ in-session programming calendar.
Attending youngsters as young as nine months through four years of age will learn valuable social skills, cooperative play and learning, manners, and build friendships and connections with each other and teachers, who share a love of the Lord among them.
For those wondering what activities children enjoy throughout the program, they sing, dance a little and play during songs and recess, color, eat, do puzzles, and play games together. Even babies in the nursery are exposed to music and experience interactive playtime with caregivers and each other. Older children enhance fine motor skills and coordination through physical activities, learn the alphabet, colors, numbers, how to count, and prepare for the time they begin preschool and kindergarten as they grow and work together. Additionally, attending MCDO provides children with out-of-home structure and expectations similar to what elementary school will require. Children improve communication skills, and many of them learn to cooperate and follow rules via their peers in ways they may be unable to experience at home with family.
Children enjoy holiday parties and other special events together as well. In October, children dress up in costumes and form a costume parade. They also celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter. In the past, the program occasionally heldspecial, unique events. For example, it invited animal groups to visit, showing and teaching the children about animals and their care and even hosted small petting zoos.
For MCDO staff, Elaine said it best: “We love being able to interact with children and families and seeing the children grow with us. We learn as much as they do and enjoy every minute! When multiple generations of families get involved, we really enjoy it being a family affair. It really is all about the kids, but we have as much fun as they do.” She hopes families will attend the open house to meet staff and check out classrooms with their children.
Open House attendees may park in the south or west parking lots of the church, which is located on the southwest corner of 7th Avenue and Chestnut Street, and enter through the playground area. The open house should last about an hour. Anyone unable to make it to the event or with questions or concerns may contact Elaine at (918) 760-1265.