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WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE!
We appreciate your decision to choose our center. Whether you are new with us this fall or whether you have been with us for years, we want to say - "We're so glad you are here!" We are excited to share this upcoming year with you and your family.
We will work hard to:
- Keep your child safe.
- Maintain our environments to promote health and sanitation.
- Love and nurture your child.
- Provide activities that stimulate your child's development and growth.
We're excited to watch this year unfold!
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EFC 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
When: Tuesday, September 20,
5:45 pm -7:45 pm
Where: Centennial Lakes Pavilion and
Amphitheatre
7499 France Ave. South, Edina
A light dinner will be served from 5:45-7:00 in the Pavilion. Beginning at 7:00, the Teddy Bear Band will perform in the Amphitheatre. We will be joining the families from the Edinborough and Bloomington EFC locations for this evening of fun. Please RSVP here by September 15 to help with our planning. We hope to see you there!
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JUST FOR FUN
Here are some interesting fun facts about us.
Did you know...?
*Especially for Children was started in 1976. Priscilla Williams, president of EFC, worked as an early childhood teacher and director before opening the first center.
*Edina EFC has been open since 1982 and has been at 4 different locations- Highlands School, Edina Community Center, Cornelia School (for one brief summer) and here since August of 1996.
*There are 8 Especially for Children centers located throughout the metro area. Of the 8 centers, the Edina location has been in operation the longest.
*The Department of Human Services licenses us every other year.
*We are accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
*We are a 4-star Parent Aware rated program (the highest possible rating).
*Each and every staff person is required to spend between 1-2% of his/her total working hours in in-service training related to child development.
*We have 28 staff members with over 200 years of childcare experience between all of us.
*The following teachers have worked for EFC 5 or more years... Bernie, Susan, Robert, Michelle, Darci, Kayleigh, Alicea, Wai Yee, Melissa, and Simone.
*Our lunches are made by The Preschool Pantry catering service operated by EFC and located at our administrative office. Jan Smith is the managing dietician and is responsible for menu planning and meal preparation.
*Cassie Bros and Elizabeth Williams, two of our teaching staff, attended EFC as a child. Susan and Bernie were their preschool teachers.
*We are proficient in many areas such as carpentry, plumbing, nursing for bumps and bruises, counseling, cooking, sanitation, engineering, interior decorating, art and science. We are also supportive, protective, watchful, sincere, sympathetic, devoted, careful, and loving.
*We have fun at EFC each and every day!
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CHILD'S TEACHERS...
When you put your child into a child care program, you are, in effect, entering into a new interpersonal relationship with another adult(s). Someone else important and influential is becoming a part of your child's life. As staff we strive to communicate with you and listen to
your input. We hope that by talking openly with one another we will team up to develop the best possible plans for your child's growth and development. When a child senses that his teachers and his parents are comfortable with one another, he will be able to relax, have fun, and get the most out of the experience. With some new faces around our center, please feel free to take the time to talk with your child's teacher, even about fun and exciting things that may be happening at home!
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TRANSITION TIME
Welcome to our fall program! The beginning of the school year is an exciting time for children and families. Some of your children are in their first days at Especially for Children while others are heading into fall after a fun summer program of Learning to Grow, Growing to Learn.
Autumn is often a time of transition for families, and we want you to know that we are here to support you and your child through the opportunities and challenges that transition times bring.
If your child is new to our program or moving into a new classroom for the fall, please know that our teaching staff is ready with extra hugs and moments of comfort. Older children may have questions about areas of the classroom or new routines, and our teachers are prepared for several days and weeks of everyone settling in.
Teachers will spend time setting and reviewing classroom expectations on a regular basis; this helps children understand and feel comfortable with their surroundings. Children gain a feeling of control and a sense of order when they know what is expected of the group.
When emotions-whether they be excitement, anxiety or uncertainty-come to the surface during times of transition, it is an opportunity for supporting social and emotional development. As researchers from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) write, "acknowledging a child's feelings validates emotions, teaches emotion words, and helps children learn to handle their feelings appropriately."
Through the following example of a classroom transition, they advise caregivers to:
- Acknowledge the emotion with words ("Caleb, it's hard to clean up. I can tell you're worried about leaving your castle.")
- Engage the child in problem solving ("What can we do? Would you like to take a picture? Save it in your cubbie?")
- Help the child follow through on a solution ("Let's save it on a shelf for tomorrow and go over to snack.")
Labeling emotions and identifying a solution helps children transition and teaches them appropriate ways to respond to difficult situations.
These strategies can be applied during bigger life transitions (e.g. starting a new school) as well as the daily transitions that are affected by that change.
Some additional tips that help children through transitions are:
- Give advanced warning that the child can understand ("After we read one story, it will be time to get in the car.")
- Develop rituals
- Keep your language simple
- Get down to your child's level
Please let your child's teacher or your center director know if we can be of additional help during this season of transition. We are excited for our fall program and for all of the learning, growth and development that will take place for your child this year!
Information taken from:
Beyond the Journal, May 2008, NAEYC
Parents.com
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
Now-9/30
Big Bugs, MN Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen
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Sue Smith has worked for Especially for Children - Edina/Edinborough since August of 1987, making her the teacher with the second-longest tenure in the company! Read about Sue in our latest 40 Spotlight on the
Parent Blog.
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