Greetings!
I would like to start by wishing all of you a Happy New Year! I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season.
The colder weather and shorter days make many of us want to curl up and stay warm indoors - but the colder weather shouldn’t stop you and your family from being active indoors and out, body and mind! We want to encourage you to be active 365 days a year, no matter the weather. Canada recently received a D- rating in physical activity in a
ParticipACTION
report, a trend that can be reversed one family at a time! To help provide some ideas and motivation, we are focusing this newsletter on getting active indoors and outdoors – check out our articles that highlight the importance of children getting outside in the winter, ideas for getting active inside and outside. When children participate in active play during the winter months, studies show they experience improvements in cognitive abilities, academic behaviour and overall attitude! As well it is just a fun way to spend time as a family!
Keeping the ‘mind’ active during winter months is equally important and we have shared some articles/ideas in support of Family Literacy Day on January 27
th
and the importance of encouraging a love of reading in children of all ages.
We are proud to say that this year marks the 10
th
anniversary of the launch of our unique Together Wee Can program which provides a wonderful opportunity to bring all of our homes across Ontario together to participate in themed activities and events on specific days, weeks and months throughout the year. Each year has different themes and activities, which are carefully chosen for their importance to children, families and the community.
Our theme for 2018 is “Together Wee Can Celebrates 10 years!” We are bringing back some of our favourite activities and community outreach programs from the past 10 years. These “Together Wee Can” events provide a great learning opportunity that meets the needs of children of all ages and ultimately strengthens our Wee Watch community. You can stay informed by reading about our upcoming events in the Together Wee Can section of the newsletter.
Celebrations happening in January/February 2018:
Jan 1
st
– New Years Day
January 27th – Family Literacy day
February – Black History Month
Feb 2
nd
– Groundhog Day
Feb 14
th
– Valentines Day
Feb 16
th
– Chinese New Year
Feb 19
th
– Family Day
Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy 2018!
Sincerely,
Lisa
Parise
