April at The Learning Experience: "Grant Wishes" with Grace and Charity!

April at The Learning Experience (TLE) is all about kindness, giving, and weather exploration. With the guidance of our beloved canine characters, Grace The Greyhound and Charity Chihuahua, children will learn how small acts of kindness can make a big difference. This month, our focus will be on fostering empathy and generosity while also exploring the wonders of spring and the different weather patterns that come with it.

Main Theme: "Grant Wishes"

This month’s theme emphasizes the power of kindness and giving. Under the motto "I have the power to make a difference," children will learn that through simple actions like sharing, kindness, and giving, they can positively impact others. As part of our philanthropic efforts, we will partner with Make-A-Wish to help grant wishes for children battling critical illnesses. Additionally, the children will explore the beauty of spring by investigating the sights, sounds, and feelings associated with various weather conditions.

Philanthropy Focus: "Give"

Throughout April, the central focus will be on giving. Children will practice this concept by creating and sharing artwork with one another, reinforcing the idea that giving brings joy and strengthens bonds with others. In line with this, TLE will support the "Let’s Grant Wishes" campaign, encouraging students to contribute to Make-A-Wish's mission of granting life-changing wishes to children facing critical health challenges.

Social Skills & Manners: Acts of Kindness

The concept of kindness will be a key component of this month’s curriculum. Children will practice social skills by engaging in activities that involve sharing, empathy, and acts of kindness. They will also learn the importance of manners in building positive relationships with their peers and teachers. Activities like creating kindness wands and designing kindness-themed message boards will help reinforce these values, fostering a classroom environment filled with care and thoughtfulness.

Weekly Breakdown of Activities:

Each week, we will introduce new activities that encourage kindness, sharing, and exploration:

• Week 1: A Wish Takes Kindness Children will start the month by learning about friendship and kindness. Infants and toddlers will engage in peer play and read books that promote kindness, while twaddlers and preppers will practice caring for pets in dramatic play. Preschoolers will create kindness wands and brainstorm ways to help others, exploring the idea of “superpowers” through acts of kindness.
• Week 2: Sharing is Caring The second week will focus on the importance of sharing and turn-taking. Infants and toddlers will practice sharing materials during playtime, while twaddlers and preppers will build patience through games. Preschoolers will engage in activities like decorating a donation box, playing musical hugs, and conducting a windy bubbles experiment, which encourages turn-taking and sharing.
• Week 3: Wishes are Rays of Sunshine As we explore the theme of weather, children will experience the sensory aspects of different weather conditions. Infants and toddlers will feel a gentle “rain shower” and explore weather sensory bags. Twaddlers and preppers will create sun catchers and make rain sticks, while preschoolers will measure rainfall with a rain gauge and dance with colorful scarves to simulate wind.
• Week 4: To Give is To Receive The fourth week will emphasize the joy of both giving and receiving. Infants and toddlers will engage in affectionate interactions with their teachers, while twaddlers and preppers will discuss friendship and collaborate on a classroom art project. Preschoolers will create kindness cards and explore how gentle hands, sharing, and playing together help form lasting friendships.
• Week 5: Let’s Grant Wishes In the final week, children will reflect on everything they’ve learned about kindness and giving. Infants and toddlers will practice motor skills by placing items in a pretend donation box. Twaddlers and preppers will participate in a memory game, while preschoolers will create artwork for friends and family, receive kindness stars for demonstrating acts of kindness, and engage in pretend play with superhero masks.

Sign Language Focus

To encourage inclusive communication, each age group will learn a different sign language word this month:

• Infant: "Done"
• Toddler: "Help"
• Twaddler: "Happy"
• Prepper: "Fingers"
• Preschool: "Rain"

These words help children express themselves and enhance their learning experience, promoting a sense of connection with others.

Suggested Home Activities:

To extend the learning at home, we suggest the following activities for each age group:

• Infants & Toddlers: Encourage your child to blow kisses and practice sign language words. Read books about kindness and talk about how to show affection.
• Twaddlers & Preppers: Model acts of kindness at home and invite your child to demonstrate them. Create a card together for a neighbor or friend.
• Preschoolers: Encourage your child to donate an item to a cause in your community. Create a weather journal and have your child draw or write about the weather each day. Together, create kindness cards for friends or family members.

Not only will your little one be exploring important life values in their classroom through April’s Grant Wishes curriculum, they will also have the opportunity to live out those values through The Learning Experience’s annual tradition in partnership with Make-A-Wish, Let’s Grant Wishes. Through the 2025 theme, Kindness is Our Superpower, little ones will use their kindness superpowers to grant wishes for deserving children in their communities alongside the Make-A-Wish organization!
The Learning Experience invites you to join in this heartwarming initiative with its Wish Granter Hero Mission at-home activity series! Each ‘mission’ video takes you through a craft that you can complete with your little one at home! Each activity was intentionally designed to help your little one strengthen their kindness superpowers and reinforce their understanding of philanthropy!

Wish Granter Hero Mission One: Kindness Capes!

• Every kindness superhero needs a cape! Get your little one excited about giving back by creating a Kindness Cape. All you need is a T-shirt to become an official kindness superhero!

Wish Granter Hero Mission Two: Wish Keeper!

• Brainstorm ways you can use kindness superpowers with your little one and write them down on slips of paper. Fold each slip in half and place them in a box or jar. Whenever you’d like, pick out a kind act from your Wish Keeper with your little one and encourage them to make that kind wish come true that day!

Wish Granter Hero Mission Three: Kindness Superhero Puppets!

• Bring The Learning Experience characters to life with our kindness superhero paper bag puppet templates [link the PDF template]! Encourage your child to act out situations that involve the character puppets being kind to each other, sharing, giving back to reinforce these valuable concepts!

Character Spotlight: Grace & Charity

Grace and Charity are the heartwarming mascots that guide children through the month of philanthropy. These lovable canines embody the spirit of generosity, teaching children that small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the world. Grace, the Greyhound, and Charity, the Chihuahua, inspire children to practice empathy and give back to their community, helping to shape compassionate, caring individuals.

Conclusion:

April at TLE is a month filled with learning about the power of kindness, the joy of giving, and the wonders of weather. With Grace and Charity leading the way, children will experience firsthand how acts of kindness and generosity can create a ripple effect, spreading positivity to everyone around them. By the end of the month, each child will have learned the valuable lesson that even the smallest acts can make the world a better place.