Dear Merryhill Parents,
As the cooler air and vibrant colors of October arrive, we are reminded of how much this season inspires curiosity, creativity, and hands-on discovery in our students. Throughout the month, our students will have opportunities to explore pumpkins by scooping out the inside, observing the seeds, stacking and measuring pumpkins, and sorting by size, color, and shape. The children will also use their creativity through pumpkin decorating and pumpkin patch dramatic play centers in some classrooms. Students will also learn about the changes in weather, colorful leaves, fall textures, and the many signs of the season around them. These experiences help build confidence, independence, language, early math and science skills, and meaningful connections through play and discovery.
Families are also encouraged to continue the learning at home by reading seasonal books together such as Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell, The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano, Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington, and Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson.
We are also looking forward to our upcoming Trunk-A-Treat event later this month. This will be a fun opportunity for our Merryhill families to come together, enjoy the fall season, and create special memories with our school community. More details, including the date, time, and how families can participate, will be shared in a separate communication soon.
Parent Corner: October Learning at Home
October is a wonderful month to extend classroom learning into simple family moments at home. Families can go on a fall nature walk and look for colorful leaves, acorns, pumpkins, and signs of cooler weather. Children can help sort leaves by color or size, count pumpkins at the grocery store, or talk about how the weather feels each morning. These small conversations help build vocabulary, observation skills, and early math and science thinking.
A few fun October activities to try at home include decorating a pumpkin together, making leaf rubbings with crayons, baking or tasting apple treats, creating a cozy fall reading basket, or asking your child to draw their favorite thing about autumn. Reading together is also a great way to support language and imagination, especially with seasonal books that connect to what students are exploring in the classroom.
As the days become cooler, please take a moment to refresh your child’s cubby with an extra set of weather-appropriate clothing and a jacket for chilly mornings or outdoor play.
As always, thank you for trusting us with your child’s growth and learning. We are looking forward to a wonderful month filled with curiosity, creativity, independence, and joyful fall memories.
Warmly,
Ms. Yvonne Valenzuela
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We are excited to announce that our enrichment classes will return next month, beginning the week of September 7, 2026! The following programs will be offered at our campus for children 2½ years and older:
Karate Zoo – Mondays at 9:30 AMMusic Matt – Mondays at 3:00 PMSoccer Shots – Tuesdays at 9:00 AMAmazing Athletes – Wednesdays at 9:30 AMGymnastics – Fridays at 9:30 AM
As the Head of School at Merryhill Midtown, I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting many of you over the last few months and look forward to meeting more families in the months ahead. Many Merryhill Preschool families choose to remain part of the Merryhill family by enrolling in our program for Kindergarten. There is something so special about students that have grown up together in their preschool years moving onto Kindergarten, Elementary and then Middle school together. Many families choose to remain at Merryhill Midtown through 8th grade, resulting in a wonderfully close-knit, vibrant, inclusive, and diverse school community! We call these students our “Legacy Learners”!
Kindergarten is a very important time in your child’s life, and we understand it can bring both excitement and apprehension. As you begin to consider elementary school programs for the 2027/2028 school year, we hope to serve as a resource ensuring the transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten is a smooth one. As the Head of School at Merryhill Midtown, I have been dedicated to the field of Education for more than 23 years working with students ranging in age from infant to 8th grade as both a classroom teacher and administrator. I am honored to lead a school with a legacy of success established by strong relationships with parents and through our approach, known as the Merryhill Method. This approach focuses on building resilience, independence, and confidence through active participation in rigorous academics rooted in rich and authentic learning experiences. In addition to core academics like math, reading, science and social students, all Kindergarten students also enjoy specialty courses including Technology and Design, Spanish, Art, Music and Physical Education.
It is the face-to-face interactions that I value most, with this in mind, we’re committed to getting to know your child in person before school even begins and have a variety of upcoming events and activities planned to do just that:
More details will be sent in the weeks and months ahead about all these events, enrollment, and more!
Over the course of the next few months, you can expect to receive regular communications from Mrs. Gosselin, our Manager of Enrollment, and myself as we work to support both you, and your child, with the transition to Kindergarten. Additionally, I will be sending you reminders about the enrollment process for our school, which is streamlined to make the process as stress free as possible. If you’d like to schedule a tour, or if you have any questions, please feel free to call 916-429-6055, reply to this email, or email our Manager of Enrollment, Michelle.gosselin@merryhillschool.com.
Enrollment for the 27/28 school year will begin in January, and our program does tend to fill quickly, so please keep an eye out for reminders and, of course, reach out with any questions. Though our school year follows a traditional schedule from August through June, we also offer a summer program leading into Kindergarten called “Kinder Prep”, which is designed to provide students a smooth transition following preschool graduation while also reinforcing Kinder readiness skills. It is highly encouraged that all students entering our Kindergarten program attend at least one week of our summer program. We will ensure all families receive details about that program as well.
On behalf of the entire Merryhill Midtown community, we look forward to welcoming your child to the “big campus” over at V street, and the Midtown family!
Rachel KennedyHead of School
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Crawling and Walking: Infant Milestones and Tips
Parents and caregivers are often eager to see their baby crawl, stand, and take those first steps. While every child develops at their own pace, there are some common patterns you may notice as your baby becomes more mobile. And once they get moving, watch out! They’ll want to explore everything around them.
Below, we’ll share the key signs that your little one is getting ready to move, simple activities you can try at home to encourage their progress, and essential tips for keeping your explorer safe along the way.
When Do Babies Start to Crawl?
There is no exact age when babies should start crawling. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says crawling is usually mastered between 7 and 10 months, but some babies crawl earlier or later. Some babies also skip crawling and find another way to get around, such as scooting or moving on their stomachs.
Look for these signs that may signal your child will be crawling soon:
● Spending more time on their tummy
● Reaching for toys just out of reach
● Rolling or scooting to get where they want to go
● Getting into a hands-and-knees position
● Rocking back and forth on their hands and knees
● Moving from sitting to a crawling position
By around 9 months, many babies can sit without support and get into a sitting position on their own. These skills help build the strength and control they need for the next stages of movement.
How Our Teachers Encourage Crawling
Teachers in our Infant classroom provide purposeful tummy time and use interesting materials such as mirrors, books, toys, and different textures to encourage babies to reach, grasp, kick, and move. And they’re huge cheerleaders! Kind and patient, our teachers encourage and praise babies as they make strides toward this milestone.
At Home Tips
Some of the best ways to encourage movement are simple floor games. Place a favorite toy just beyond your baby’s reach. Give them time to reach, roll, scoot, or crawl toward it. Better yet, spend time on the floor with your baby and play alongside them. Your attention is often a bigger magnet than any toy on the market!
Firm pillows and cushions can create simple, low obstacles to crawl over as you stay close to supervise. Keep small objects and other choking hazards off the floor.
From Crawling to Walking
As your baby becomes more mobile, you may notice them becoming interested in standing. They may pull themselves up using furniture, then begin moving from one piece of furniture to another. This is called cruising.
These steps help your baby practice balance and strengthen the muscles they will use for walking. Around their first birthday, some babies may take a few steps on their own. Others may need more time before they feel ready.
How Our Teachers Encourage Walking
As babies become stronger and more mobile, teachers provide safe opportunities for them to practice standing, balancing, and moving independently. They may place interesting materials just out of reach to motivate babies to stand and reach for them or encourage them to move between safe, sturdy surfaces. Teachers stay close by to support babies as they practice these new skills.
Give your baby plenty of safe opportunities to move. Let them pull up on sturdy furniture and cruise along it while you stay nearby. You can also place a favorite toy on a stable surface to encourage them to stand and reach for it.
Once your baby starts taking steps, they may enjoy pushing a sturdy toy or wagon. If you use a push toy, make sure it is stable and weighted so it will not tip when your baby pulls up on it.
Side note: You may wonder if your baby needs shoes to learn to walk. Inside, babies generally do not need shoes while they are learning. When your baby begins walking outdoors, choose comfortable shoes with flexible soles and enough room for their feet to move.
Baby walkers with wheels do not help babies learn to walk and can pose serious safety risks, including falls down stairs. The AAP strongly advises against their use. Instead, stick with the activities we mentioned, which let your baby build skills at their own pace.
Creating a Safe Space for Your Little Explorer
Once your baby starts crawling and walking, they can reach more places and get into things they couldn’t before. This is a good time to look around your home again from your baby’s point of view.
Keep small objects, medicines, cleaning products, and other unsafe items out of reach. Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs and make sure furniture your baby may pull up on is sturdy and stable.
Every Milestone Is Worth Celebrating
Every baby develops at their own pace. Give your little one plenty of safe opportunities to move, play, and practice. Before you know it, those first steps will lead to a whole new world of exploration!
We’d love to partner with you as your baby reaches those big milestones. Contact us today to learn more about our Infant program!
