 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
The holiday season is upon us once again, and we are looking forward to the excitement of the coming weeks. We will be celebrating several holidays in December and have included a list of them. If you have a tradition that you would like to share with the children, please let the teachers know.
EFC'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY PROGRAM
Please join us for our annual
Holiday Program
on
Wednesday, December 13.
Program starts at 6:30 pm.
All ages participate in the program
-
join us for this festive event
.
Your immediate family is welcome. However, due to limited space, we
'
re sorry, we don
'
t have room for other relatives.
Frequently Asked Questions about the program:
What ages participate in the program?
All age groups have a part in the program
-even the infant group has a special role at the beginning of the show. After their performance, infants are handed back to their parents
��
What time do the doors open?
We open the doors at 6:15 pm
Where is the program held, and where do I drop my child off?
- The program is held in the Monkey (older preschool classroom).
- The children are dropped off in the following classrooms when you arrive that evening:
- Infants: drop off in the young infant classroom.
- Young/Old Toddlers: drop off in the older toddler side (Chipmunk side).
- Dolphins/Monkeys: all preschoolers drop off in the Dolphin classroom.
What should my child wear?
There isn
't a dress code for the show,
however, many children wear their
"party" clothes or "fancy" attire for the program.
Can I video tape the program?
Parents are welcome to video the program
and take photos, etc.
Will the parking lot be crowded?
Yes
- we recognize that our parking lot can get ver
y crowded
- some families do park on neighboring streets.
How long does it last?
The entire show lasts between 45 minutes to one hour.
|
 |
|
|
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
Santa Claus will be here on Thursday, December 14, at 9:30 am. Santa
's visits every classroom and enlightens us with stories and songs. He will even spend time with our youngest babies, shaking rattles and building with blocks. We do our best to capture a photo with Santa and your child.
|
 |
OLD LOG THEATER
The Dolphin and Monkey classes will be attending
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" at Old Log Theater on Tuesday, December 19
. The show starts at 10:00 am and we will be leaving at 9:15 am. The cost will be $11.00 per child. Please contact the office if you are interested in volunteering as the tickets are limited.
|
|
|
|
We understand many families have plans to travel during the holiday weeks. Please mark an
"
X" on dates your child(ren) will not be attending in the attendance log in the front entrance.
EFC WILL BE CLOSED on the following days:
Monday, December 25, 2017
Monday, January 1, 2018
To appropriately staff for these weeks, we are asking parents to confirm days off by
Friday, December 15.
*
Vacation credit reminder: When you have been enrolled at Especially for Children 6 months or more - you will receive a half weeks
' tuition credit if your child is absent five consecutive days. It does include the days that we are closed over the holidays.
|
|
|
|
HOLIDAY SEASON TIPS
Here are some helpful tips that we hope will make your Holiday Season more enjoyable, fun and memorable for everyone in your family:
- Remember to keep a normal sleeping schedule to ensure that your child doesn't get overly tired.
- Keep a regular diet. Limit the amount of sweets and rich foods.
- Don't be surprised or disappointed if your child does not want to sit on Santa's lap. Children have been taught to be aware of strangers.
- Don't expect a young child to participate in all the rituals during the holiday season. His/her short attention span may only be able handle a few minutes of tree decorating or cookie making.
- Make gift giving simple. When so many gifts are opened at once, so much is lost in the excitement of new toys.
Remember to have fun! You are making memories that last a lifetime and traditions that will be passed down from generation to generation.
Have a happy and safe holiday season!
From all of us at Especially for Children
|
|
|
"A GOOD TOY IS REALLY ONLY 10% TOY AND 90% CHILD."
I read this quote recently and it inspired me to think more about the kinds of toys available to young children. So many toys are one-faceted and leave little to a child's imagination. Or, they are "learning-oriented" and have right and wrong answers associated with them. So much now is made of plastic and feels cold and hard. It's challenging to know what to consider when selecting toys today.
And just at the time when many of us are looking for holiday gifts, the great outdoors is not providing as many nuts, twigs, pinecones, and stones to play with as children have had for the last several months. At least some of each day during spring, summer, and fall, children were connecting with nature's loose parts and thinking of their own ways to play with them.
So, this year as I am making lists of toys that I can give to our grandchildren, I am trying to keep in mind the above quote by Joan Almon, former director of the Alliance for Childhood.
And, in doing so, I am also inspired to look at the toys as multi-dimensional, even if the inventor of the toy had something else in mind.
An example of that is LEGOs - the small ones that come with directions on how to build a really cool vehicle. Our grandson got several small sets for his 5th birthday. For a few months I helped him keep them separated in plastic baggies with the pictures and instructions in each bag. Together we assembled several of them, although it was tedious and so much work that he didn't want anyone to touch them once we had put them together. Then one day my grandson dumped all the LEGOs out on a tray. At first, I was horrified. How was he ever going to figure out how to make the vehicles "right" now?
But, as you might imagine, it doesn't matter that those vehicles may never be put together. Instead, Alejandro is making his own LEGO creations - and is so proud!
So now I am looking for toys that have varied properties and can be moved and manipulated in many ways. I get excited about toys that allow children to invent, create, explore and, when possible, rearrange loose parts. I am happy if a toy has no specific directions. If children can use their imaginations and try their own ideas, they can discover their own answers and create new possibilities. So, join me in the search for those creative and interesting toys!
|
|
TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
|
|
|
|
It has been a wonderful year at Especially for Children, and we want to thank you again for choosing our program.
We've gathered some of the special moments of learning and fun from across EFC centers in a photo slide show. Check it out, and thanks again for a great year!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
