3rd annual Kind Hearts Campaign
The preschool students at Dr. Day Care Pawtucket answered the call to bring a little cheer to those who may be feeling lonely this time of the year! The Pawtucket Police Department posted a request on Facebook, asking for “kids, crafters, and those with a kind heart” to send valentines for the community. Dr. Day Care Founder, Dr. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith, saw the police department’s post asking for cards as part of the Kind Hearts Campaign. Dr. Day Care Pawtucket’s preschool classrooms were excited to participate in this project. Preschool students (ages 3-5 years old) created many valentines for distribution.
While making valentines for their community, the Dr. Day Care Pawtucket students aligned this project to Conscious Discipline. Conscious Discipline is a research-based social-emotional program, designed by Dr. Becky Bailey that teaches adults and children how to regulate and manage emotions. The focus of Conscious Discipline is on building connections. Preschool students learned how they can make someone feel by making cards.
The students also learned more about how to send a letter or card in the mail in their “post office” right in the classroom! The dramatic play center is a place for students to learn through imaginary play, and this month the dramatic play center was turned into a post office. The students enjoyed playing in their own post office while creating valentines. Some children took the lessons to heart, asking to create valentines or cards for students who were out sick.
Dr. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith visited the Dr. Day Care Pawtucket Preschool 4 classroom to see the creativity in action. This classroom is a state Pre-K classroom, awarded through a competitive grant process to provide a high-quality early childhood education, ensure that all children begin school ready to learn, and are prepared to succeed in school, as life-long learners and as productive citizens. When asked why they were creating valentines, the 4-year-olds answered that it was “so people are happy” and so that they “know we love them.” We hope that the valentines will help spread cheer to the seniors in our community!
Dr. Day Care Pawtucket is located at 25 Thornley St. in Pawtucket. Visit www.drdaycare.com for more information.