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Dear (Contact First Name),
"MARCH...IN LIKE A LION, OUT LIKE A LAMB"
Spring will be here before we know it!! I can almost smell the mud in the air. We have a fun packed month in store for you, with the first day of spring, St. Patrick's Day, daylight savings, and much more.
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SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FUN!
On Friday, March 16 we will be celebrating
Saint Patrick's Day at our center. This is a
day to celebrate Irish history, ancestry, traditions and customs. We ask that children wear green this day, as everyone
has a little Irish in them on Saint Patrick's
Day. Over 34 million Americans are of Irish
descent, almost nine times the population
of Ireland.
In the past, the leprechaun has been known
to get into some mischief by hiding his gold,
and has even turned our milk green! We
may need to come up with some ideas on
how to capture the leprechaun. We will
celebrate with "Groovy Green Smoothies"
along with other fun activities and games.
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MINNESOTA SPRING
Mud, slush and water... Oh My. The first day of
spring is March 20 and with that comes the thaw.
With this thaw, comes lots of puddles and wet
snow. The children are getting wet all the way
through their snow pants and sometimes
through boots too! Please make sure your child
has at least two changes of clothing at school,
including extra socks, and mittens. We want to
make sure that the children can play outside
every day and still come in and be able to learn and play in comfort. Thank you
.
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GROOVY GREEN SMOOTHIE
Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Here is a great way
to get your children to eat some greens! This is
what we will be serving on our Saint Patrick's
Day Celebration. Feel free to experiment with
different amounts or types of fruit.
What you will need:
1 banana cut into chunks
1 cup grapes
6oz vanilla yogurt
½ apple, chopped up
1 ½ cup fresh spinach leaves
Combine items in a blender. Cover and
blend until smooth. Pour into glass and enjoy!
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10 REASONS YOU SHOULD READ TO YOUR CHILDREN
We all know reading to our kids is a good thing - but are you familiar with the specific advantages your toddler or preschool-age child can receive by being exposed to the merits of reading? Below are some benefits that highlight the importance of reading to your child between the ages of two and five.
- A stronger relationship with you. As children get older they are more on the go. Reading a book together allows time to slow down and snuggle.
- Academic excellence. One of the primary benefits of reading is higher aptitude of learning in general. Studies show that children exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do well in all facets of formal education.
- Basic speech skills. Throughout toddlerhood and preschool, your child is learning critical language and enunciation skills. By listening to you read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, your child is reinforcing the basic sounds that form language.
- The basics of how to read a book. Children are not born with the innate knowledge that text is read from left to right or that words are separate from images. Essential pre-reading skills like these are among the major benefits of early reading.Better communication skills. Children will be much more likely to express themselves and relate to others in a healthy way.
- Better communication skills. Children will be much more likely to express themselves and relate to others in a healthy way.
- Mastery of language. Early reading for toddlers has been linked to a better grasp of the fundamentals of language as they approach school age.
- More logical thinking skills. Helps children to grasp abstract concepts, apply logic to various scenarios, recognize cause and effect and utilize good judgment.
- Acclamation of new experiences. When reaching developmental milestones or potentially stressful experiences, reading relevant stories can help ease the transition.
- Enhanced concentration and discipline. Your child will learn self-discipline, gain a longer attention span and better memory retention.
- The knowledge that reading is fun! Early reading for toddlers helps them view books as indulgence, not a chore. Kids exposed to reading are much more likely to choose books over video games and television.
Great book lists
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GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP
Are your children getting enough sleep? Many studies have shown that children who do not get good quality sleep on a regular basis can have a variety of significant side effects. One is that their cognitive performance suffers.
That is because while we are sleeping, our brains are very active. "While in deep sleep,
all the information children have learned gets selected, consolidated and stored in the long-term memory, so it can be put to good use at a later date," says sleep physiologist Dr. Guy Meadows. "A child has to be awake enough to be focused and attentive in the first place, and then well-rested to recall those memories and use them to solve problems in the future.
Poor sleep can affect every stage of the learning process."
You may ask, "How much sleep does my child need?" Everyone's needs are different, but health professionals recommend that each day, children ages 1-2 get 11-14 hours, 3-5 get 10-13 hours, and 6-13 get 9-11 hours.
Across the world, children are sleeping less. There are a number of reasons for this, chief among them is dependence on technology, a more child-centered style of parenting, poor diet, and the example set by an older generation who work longer hours, come home later, and constantly check their phones.
"Our benchmark of what is normal is changing," says Meadows. "For children and adults, waking up feeling tired is becoming the new normal. So people are just reaching for energy drinks, reaching for caffeine as ways of coping and seeing that as perfectly normal. Parents need to make their children aware of the importance of sleep." Parents can become role models for their children, showing them, "I don't stay up late, I have a regular bedtime, I don't stay on my smart phone before bed."
Tips for a child's good night
- Avoid sugary snacks and caffeine; particularly at suppertime. Opt for alternatives like banana, oatmeal or whole wheat bread.
- Think about the bedroom environment: is it calm and conducive to sleep?
- Have a consistent routine that you follow every evening in the hour before bedtime.
- Consider whether bathtime is relaxing. If it isn't, separate it from the bedtime routine. If it is, have the bath 30 minutes before bedtime to allow the body temperature to rise and then drop again - this helps us feel sleepy.
- No screen activity in the hour before bed; no TVs, computers, phones or tablets.
- Activities involving hand-eye coordination help the brain wind down before bed - things like puzzles or coloring.
- Have a set wake-up time, even on the weekends.
- Provide your child with a visual cue so they know when it is time to wake up, like a light on a timer.
Many of these tips can be used by adults too!
Information taken from:
Children of the World Sleeping Less, Child Care Exchange
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
Now-3/18 The Wiz, Children's Theatre Company, Mpls
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"Play is the highest form of research."
- Albert Einstein
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