Why Our Private 4K/5K is the Heart of Kindergarten Prep

If you’ve peeked into our Blossoms classroom lately, you might have seen a familiar face! I (Grammy Kim) have been back in the classroom leading our oldest learners, and it has been such a joy to see their growth firsthand.

Whether your child is one of our “Buds” (our younger preschool group) preparing for the next level, or you are a Pewaukee family looking for a smaller, more intentional alternative to the “big” public school 4K programs—we are so glad you’re here. We believe these final years before “big kid school” are the most critical, so we wanted to share exactly what makes the 4K/5K experience at Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’S so unique for both our long-time families and the new friends joining us this season.

Purposeful Design (Yes, even the floor plan!)

Some parents notice that our classroom feels a bit “tighter” than a gymnasium-sized public school room. That is 100% intentional! We’ve designed the space to prevent “the zoomies” and running around. Instead, the layout naturally guides children toward focused play and fine motor development. It turns a large room into a cozy, high-functioning learning lab where every corner has a purpose.

The “Sprinkle” of Academics

We are, and will always be, play-based. But in our Blossoms class, we’ve mastered the art of “academic sprinkling.” While the kids think they are just having a blast, we are intentionally weaving in:

• • • Math Magic: Recognizing numbers 0-9, counting to 20, and even simple addition.

    • Early Literacy: Rhyming, identifying first sounds in words, and learning to write first and last names.

    • Spatial Awareness: Understanding “over, under, and behind”—the building blocks of geometry!

Small Groups, Big Results

This is the “Private School” difference. Unlike the large ratios in public preschools, we keep our groups small. This allows me (and our future lead teachers) to work at the child’s level. I can sit with one group that is mastering the tripod grip and writing letters, while simultaneously helping another group that is still in the “beautiful scribbling” stage of expression. No one gets left behind, and no one is held back.

The “Secret” Outdoor Games

Recess isn’t just about burning off steam; it’s about “Gross Motor Mastery.” We play games like Red Light, Green Light, hopping on one foot, and mid-line crossing (like touching your right hand to your left foot). The kids just think they’re playing a special game for being great listeners at the fence—but we know they’re actually building the balance and coordination they need for healthy physical development.

“I can do it myself!” (The Gift of Independence)

A huge part of Kindergarten readiness is self-care. We follow a “try it first” rule. Whether it’s zipping a jacket, pouring a drink, or independent bathrooming, we empower our kids to attempt the task before we step in. This builds a Growth Mindset where it’s okay to make mistakes—because that’s how we learn!

Our 4K/5K Checklist: What We’re Tracking

We don’t just “hope” they are ready for Kindergarten; we track it. We are currently using a comprehensive assessment (that I personally refined) to ensure our kids are hitting milestones in:

• Cognition: Sorting, puzzles, and shape drawing.

• Social-Emotional: Managing impulses, waiting for turns, and showing sympathy for others.

• Health: Using scissors properly and independent dressing.

Why Stay with the “Grammy & PopPop” Family?

We know the “free” public school options are out there. But they can’t offer the tiny ratios, the “home-away-from-home” consistency, and the deep personal relationships we have here. We are shadowing our lead teachers and raising our expectations because your child deserves a transition that feels like a step up, not just a move out.

Space is Limited!

Because we keep our ratios so small, we rarely have more than a couple of spots open at any given time. If you’re looking ahead to the Fall or even next year, let’s chat!

Want to see the Blossoms room in action? The windows face the right side of the front walkway—give a wave if you see us in between our window bean plantings! Or better yet, book a Meet & Greet to walk through and see the lesson plans for yourself.

Have questions? Pop in and ask! We’re here to help your “Blossom” thrive.  Inquire here.

Watch this short video to take a peek inside our preschool class to see a fun way to wash hands as a group. It’s only 40 seconds – you can do it!

We like to make things fun at Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’s and we wash hands a lot – so we change it up and turn up the tunes for this one….

If you stroll through the halls of Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’s and hear the faint sound of a lullaby or a upbeat toddler tune, you’ve likely found your way to our Raindrops room. This week, we are so excited to introduce you to one of our wonderful Lead Teachers, Ms. Chrissy!

The Raindrops classroom is a busy, joyful space designed for our little ones who are officially “on the move.” Whether they are master crawlers or brave toddlers taking those first wobbly steps, Ms. Chrissy creates an environment that feels like a musical hug.

A Nurturing Presence in Pewaukee

While Ms. Chrissy is a newer face at our Pewaukee daycare, she joined our team with years of meaningful experience in early childhood education. Her transition into our school family has been seamless, largely because of her naturally patient and nurturing soul.

It’s one thing to read about a teacher’s credentials, but it’s another to see it in action. My own son has formed such a sweet, genuine bond with her—seeing him light up when he sees “Miss Chrissy” is the best testimonial a parent (and an owner!) could ask for.

The Magic of “Goodnight Moon”

Every teacher has that one story that feels like home. For Ms. Chrissy, that book is the timeless classic “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown. Her reason for choosing it is something every parent can relate to: Nostalgia. Ms. Chrissy spent years reading this book to her own children when they were small, and those quiet, bedtime moments stayed with her.

I feel the exact same way! I spent many nights reading those same words to Madison. Even now, I could probably recite the “hush” and the “mush” from memory. At our school, we love these types of stories because they bridge the gap between the classroom and home. They remind us that reading isn’t just about literacy—it’s about the bond formed when a child is tucked in and feeling safe.

Visit the Raindrops Room

We are so lucky to have Ms. Chrissy’s expertise and bright spirit in our 1K program. She truly embodies our “Let Them Be Little” philosophy by leaning into the songs, the snuggles, and the slow, steady pace of toddlerhood.

If you’re looking for a Pewaukee early learning center where your child is cared for by educators who treat them like their own, we invite you to come meet Ms. Chrissy and the rest of our talented team!

At Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’s in Pewaukee, we believe that the heart of our school is our incredible team of educators. Today, we are so excited to shine a spotlight on a teacher who has been bringing joy, dedication, and a whole lot of love to our center for nearly a year—Ms. Adelis!

Whether she’s leading a creative art project or sharing a laugh with the team, Ms. Adelis has a way of making every child feel seen and celebrated.

Learning at Their Own Pace: The Raindrops Way

One thing that makes our Pewaukee early learning center unique is that we don’t believe in “one size fits all” when it comes to age. Our classes are not grouped by calculated ages; instead, we focus on developmental milestones.

We know that every child grows, explores, and shines at their own pace. By grouping children based on their specific skills and emotional readiness, we create an environment where they can truly thrive. It’s all about finding that “perfect fit” for every little learner!

A Favorite Story with a Special Meaning

We asked Ms. Adelis to share her favorite children’s book, and she chose a classic: “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister. While many of us know this story, the reason Ms. Adelis loves it truly touched my heart:

“It’s the first book I was able to understand in English. It’s a great reminder that we are all special and unique in our own way but can share those gifts with those around us. We get to share who we are and our unique talents with these little ones every single day.”

How beautiful is that? Honestly, “The Rainbow Fish” hasn’t always been at the top of my personal must-read list—but hearing her perspective totally changed the way I see it. It reminded me that we all have “shiny scales” to share with our community.

Visit Our Family in Pewaukee

We are so grateful to have Ms. Adelis as a Lead Teacher on our team. Her journey and her passion for inclusive, milestone-based learning are exactly what make our school feel like home.

Are you looking for a daycare in Pewaukee that treats your child like family? We’d love to have you visit the Kindness Hub, meet teachers like Ms. Adelis, and see our “Let Them Be Little” philosophy in action!

I created our positive reward system, YayTags, stemming from the popular Brag Tags that are used in a lot of elementary schools. I am not a huge fan of the word brag though, so I knew that had to change.

Simple Reward System for Behavior

Children that are a part of our oldest classes of 3K and up at Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’s, can earn a YayTag for showing good behavior. They just love earning YayTags and we see lots of smiles.  A circular shaped badge is worn on a lanyard that is kept at school for them to collect YayTags AND a wrist badge adorns the wrist of the child so they can share their reward with their family at home!

These rewards are earned and praised with huge shout outs at the time of earning so all of the class can cheer the good behavior on. We are always looking for reasons to add additional YayTags (and remove) based on the needs of the class.

Like most things at preschool, there are some more motivated than others and different days and activities certainly brings a variety of opinions. But one thing is for sure… YayTags are loved by all.

Each class was asked to decorate a pumpkin. The only stipulation was that each child had to participate in part of the decorating and WOW did they do a great job!

Now, we need your help, because there is no way I could pick a favorite. There are many colors, creativity, and personality throughout the pumpkins.

Click here to cast your vote for the best pumpkin in Pewaukee!

Don’t wait… we need your vote by Wednesday at 6:00 PM Central time to count.

They just couldn’t stay sitting when the big reveal at the end happened

The Magic of “The Mouse’s Pumpkin House”

At Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’S, we believe the best early education happens when children are truly engaged and when they choose to. Here you can see we focused on hands-on storytelling to capture their imagination and foster a love of learning!

Today, our classroom with mostly 2.5-3.5 year olds had a magical moment with the short story, “The Mouse’s Pumpkin House.” As you can see in the photo, the children were completely captivated, watching closely as I dramatically tore the paper (shh, don’t tell them it was just paper!) to tell the tale of a mouse building a cozy home. The best part? Getting everyone to “nibble” like a little mouse! It was fun watching them try to wrinkle up their noses like I did.

I was very surprised they were so engaged!

This simple, immersive activity is a perfect example of our developmental curriculum at work. It naturally reinforces their listening comprehension, and creative play, preparing children for a lifetime of learning while celebrating the warmth of the season.

We love sharing these joyful, easy activities with you to enjoy with the littles in your life.

Click here to get the full story and simple instructions, so you can create your own cozy Mouse’s Pumpkin House at home. It’s free and you don’t have to give us information to get the pdf – just click and download.  All you really need is that and a piece of paper (orange preferred but not necessary). Have fun!

Ready for the next step in your child’s educational journey? Schedule a tour today to learn more about enrollment for children 6 weeks to 5+ years old!

Take Advantage of the Listening Ears

I mean…I love singing along to Laurie Berkner songs when in the car with the grands, but it’s also a fun opportunity to make up your own songs. You

have a captive audience and a little bit of novety can be the perfect fit to fill in the time until you get to your destination. You can create songs with no purpose at all singing about the grass being green and that 1 + 1 = 2 with some animal sounds and rhyming. Or you can have intentional lyrics, like the one I created, Lenny’s Favorite that is teaching letters and names.

The Story of Lenny’s Favorite

There are more songs that I’ve created over the years that were forgotten after the first rendition and never sung again, but there are a few that have stuck around too.  In the three-year old classroom, I joined for lunch one day and while waiting for everyone to be served, I saw them getting bored so I just started asking what each of their names start with. Some answered, and then… here it comes….. to the tune of the Sesame Street song, “C is for Cookie“, Lenny’s Favorite Kim song came out:

“L is for Lenny, that’s good enough for me,

L is for Lenny, that’s good enough for me,

Oh, Lenny, Lenny, Lenny starts with _____”

[and I would pause and hear the class shout, “L”!]

I know… it doesn’t make sense… like how is an L good enough for me?  I don’t know… but… it has been a song remembered by many of the kids and we take turns singing through their names, animals, objects, and more. I’m pretty sure Lenny may have even introduced it to his family at home.

5 Steps to Create your next Toddler Earworm

1. Choose a simple tune. Pick a tune that you (or your toddler) enjoys and is easy.
   • Some ideas include: ABCs/Twinkle, Twinkle [did you even know that is the same tune?!]; B-I-N-G-O; and Open Shut Them.
2. Decide the topic. Choose if you are going to have a topic or just silly rhyming with no purpose at all.
3. Simple. Simple. Simple. Keep it very simple and start with lots of repetitive words & phrases
   • This is so you don’t forget the words and so that your toddler is all ears listening
4. Add some action. Add in some clapping and sounds, if you aren’t driving, of course!
5. Include them. Invite your child to sing along with you and just keep singing it over and over. Presto! You’ve got your new earworm.

Now you can sing it everywhere and share it with your family so they can help make your song, the latest earworm.

This article isn’t about how to be the next musician featured on stage at Summerfest, the song doesn’t have to make sense… it’s more about keeping your toddler and children entertained in the car while learning. [and maybe your car mate too!]

If you can’t Find it… Create it!

I have looked for a while at different resources to have a list of foods that are common allergens; recommended as first foods for babies to try; and checkboxes as foods are determined to be safe for baby to eat. But… guess what? If you know me, you know I’m a bit over-the-top and I couldn’t find one that worked. It was either more than one page long, full of ads, too many discussions on the method, or missing foods. So, I made one of my own and I want to share it with you!

I designed these food lists to be a simple, go-to resource to support you as you introduce new flavors and textures to your baby.

3 Lists for you

There are three lists included in this resource.

1. Keep this food list handy or when shopping: without any checkboxes.
2. For your refrigerator with 3 boxes to check off when you’ve introduced the food to baby as it is helpful to give your baby one food item at a time for 3 feedings in a row so you can rule out any allergies and have a quick identifier for new foods. You could also put a date on top of each checkbox if you wanted to track when it was fi
   

   

   rst fed to baby.

3. For your childcare provider or grandparents to track what foods you feel are safe for baby to have outside of your presence.  Likely, you have already introduced these foods three times to baby.  We laminate this list at Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’s and keep it in our Raindrops Room where our babies are beginning purees and table food eating. Parents will update the list with a checkbox as new foods are determined to be safe.

No, you don’t have to enter any information to get the checklists, just click on the title below and you will see it pop up in a new browser window and you can print it.  If you have a child that attends at Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’s, we will print them for you!  Feel free to share with others… I hope it helps!

the FIRST BITES to SAFE BITES Food List

Remember to partner with your child’s doctor to ensure a smooth and safe experience.

Smile or Acting Goofy

I just love to see the pictures of children heading to their first day back to school. The posed smiles with likely some challenges on some days of keeping still, shirt tucked in, holding the sign just right and knowing that there likely was some acting goofy and some crazy cheesy smiles in between.

The day filled with excitement and some nerves heading into the next class… and for parents, likely some of the same feelings plus some relief too It’s amazing to see the growth that happens in a year when parents post comparison pictures, often in the same spot.

What’s Written on the Signs

While I’m usually not one to focus on the negative thoughts, it’s important to be intentional and aware about those cute signs and what information you post when it comes to your children.  Like many things, you hear the stories and think, surely it wouldn’t happen to me, and then it does. Or to someone close to you. Identity theft, non-custodial parent issues, stalking, all with information handed to them on a platter.

I believe that each parent needs to make the decision about what they post on the internet (and permit others to post) regarding their children, but I also believe that they need the information in order to best make that decision.

What is Posted on the Internet… Stays on the Internet and Other Tips

• What is posted on the internet, stays on the internet
  It doesn’t matter if it’s a private account, information can get out easily to people you didn’t intend to see it.
• Watch what is in the background of your photo. Is there a street sign? House number? School name or logo?
  This can be information that you think you are not giving away, but prominent for a person that’s looking to do harm.
• Privacy and geotagging automatically will add the location of where the photo is taken.
  This can include when that photo is posted on Social Media. Review your settings on your phone and social media platforms.

But, I like those Signs

You know what? I do too. I even made the one in the picture for Grand7 (have you noticed that I do this? It’s intentional).  But think about either omitting or blurring some information from the signs on pictures to post on Social Media or even use a different generic sign that says “First Day of PreK” for those you will post. You can text the picture of the cute signs to the grandparents directly.

Be safe… and enjoy this back-to-school season,