TOPP KIDS Clubs
TOPP KIDS CLUBS
At TOPP KIDS, we pride ourselves on giving children the opportunity to
explore their interests and build both leadership and social capacity
among their peers. What better way to do that than to help them
create their own club?!
Clubs are a huge part of what we do here at TOPP KIDS, and we LOVE to help the children explore the world using them. We encourage clubs to be based purely on the children’s interests. Below are our rules for our clubs:
RULES:
- There must be min 4 clubs per month.
- Pictures MUST be taken and added to club sheets for evidence
- Clubs can happen anytime during the daily flow, with the exception of
programmed group outdoor activity and enrichment time - Clubs are child run with the assistance of the JR Leaders/Mentors and an
Educator - Each club is an opportunity for a child led experience
- Clubs will be announced by the JR Leader/Mentors or an Educator
- A club sheet and club crest must be filled out for every club
- The clubs crest must be posted on the Kids Board until the club is finished
- Clubs last as long as the child’s interest is shown
- All club sheets and past club crests must be stored in the Clubs Binder, then filed at the end of each school year
- EDUCATORS are encouraged to offer their own PASSION clubs in addition to
kid’s clubs, e.g. knitting, quilling, cooking, golfing, Tae Kwon Do etc.
CLUBS FOR SCHOOL AGE KIDS:
INVOLVE KIDS IN PLANNING…
The very first thing to do in effective school age program planning is…. FIND OUT WHAT THE CHILDREN WANT TO DO!!!
Involving children in program planning is a vital part of quality school-age care curriculum, with experience, comes the knowledge of knowing what the children may like to do (build those relationships and connections with the children in your program). Incorporating the children’s vision promotes a sense of belonging as well as stimulating a child’s enthusiasm, anticipation, creativity and leadership skills.
CLUBS connections with the TOPP KIDS concepts
WHY CLUBS:
CHILD CHOICE:
- Programming based on their interests, ideas and passions
- Learning through their choice of play
LEADERSHIP:
- Kids that are not JR Leaders/Mentors have the opportunity to lead a group
- Development of a child’s voice- self advocacy – value
CONFIDENCE:
- Social emotional development
- Sharing ideas = breaking out of comfort zones
- Allows kids to SHINE and be celebrated
- Feeling valued in their contributions
SKILL BUILDING:
- Building skills and learning concepts that go beyond the categories of our portfolios
- Teamwork, cooperation, public speaking, etc
REINFORCES TK VALUES:
- Inclusion
- Establishing rules and expectations
- Evaluating risks and taking responsibility
- Child importance to program
ESTABLISHES ROUTINE:
- Allows for monitoring of toys from home on specific days
- Maintains a sense of comfort in routine and a cohesive schedule for Educators
- Children’s excitement for their part of the routine
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING:
- New friendships formed on mutual interests
- A deeper connection to children and their backgrounds
- Opportunity to build relationships with others outside of their typical peer group
LITERACY AND COMMUNICATION:
- Through planning and filling out club sheets, children practice literacy and communication skills
INNOVATION:
- Leaders and kids mutually benefit from challenging each other in planning and activity ideas
- NEVER STOP IMPROVING!
THE KEY TO MAKING CLUBS WORK CLUB OFFICE:
- Set a day weekly for the JR Leaders/Mentor and/or Educator to meet with
children to schedule a day and time that they want their club to run - Establish materials needed and then bring any purchases necessary to the
Program Coordinators attention - Establish club rules
- Name the club
- Post club sheets for that week on kid’s board for children to sign up
- On the day of club: complete the rest of the club sheet and design the club crest
ENTHUSIASM AND PASSION FOR THEIR CLUB:
- Show your enthusiasm when announcing, participating, and setting up for the
child scheduled clubs - Passion is contagious, Educator passion clubs can inspire the children’s
creativity and wonder
ORGANIZATION AND FLEXIBILITY:
- Remember to accommodate opportunities for the children to run their
club on a different day/time should changes be necessary. BE FLEXIBLE! - Support by ensuring space and materials are accessible for the children.
