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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
As the busy holiday season is coming near I want to take a moment to thank the amazing teaching staff at the center. Their hard work and dedication is truly inspiring. Their love for your children is evident in their daily interactions.
 
We are truly privileged that you have entrusted your pride and joy to us. We strive to provide a fun, loving, nurturing and safe learning environment where your child will grow and develop into the wonderful little people they are meant to be.
 
From the Coon Rapids EFC family to yours, we wish you a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!

PARENT REMINDERS
IT'S GETTING COLD OUTSIDE...
As we enter November, the crisp air can turn chilly in a flash. Please remember to take home shorts and tank tops from your child's extra clothes bucket and replace them with something warm. It is also time to send your child(ren) to EFC with appropriate winter clothing including a warm hat, coat and mittens/gloves. We go outside daily and want to ensure your child stays nice and warm!! Also please be sure to label your child's items to assure we have the right item on the right child.
 
EFC HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
Thanksgiving Holiday: 
Thursday, November 24 - EFC closed
Friday, November 25 - EFC closed
Winter Holiday:
Monday, December 26 - EFC closed
Monday, January 2 - EFC closed


TIME OFF DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Please let your child's teacher know if your child will be taking time off during the holidays. The sooner we know this information, the sooner we are able to let the teachers know if we are able to grant everyone's requested time off. 

PARENT RESOURCES
turkey
THANKSGIVING IDEAS
Fun ideas for new Family Traditions during the holidays:

Keep a record of all your Thanksgivings with a Book of Thanks. Take a group picture of your guests each year and have each one write what he/she is thankful for. #thanksgivingmemories

 
Love this! Buy a table runner and each year add a turkey. What a fun tradition for years to come!
 
 
Fill up the jar all year long each time you have a reason to be thankful and then read them at Thanksgiving.  

IN THE COMMUNITY
CAR SEAT CLINIC
Did you know 4 out of 5 car seats are installed incorrectly? Get tips from professionally trained car seat technicians from the Coon Rapids Police and Fire Departments at the car seat clinic. This free service is available by appointment only to Coon Rapids residents through Safe Kids Anoka County. To schedule an appointment, send an email or call the phone number below.
 
Date:  November 16, 2016
Time:  4:00 PM  7:00 PM
Location:  Coon Rapids Police Department
Address:  11155 Robinson Drive
               Coon Rapids, MN 55433           
Contact:  763-767-4680 x680
Cost:  Free
 
APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS RECYCLING
Date:  November 19, 2016
Time:  9:00 AM  3:00 PM
Location:  Coon Rapids Recycling Center
Address:  1831 111th Ave NW
               Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Fees and more info:  See city website

ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS
CULTIVATING EMPATHY IN YOUR CHILD
The Harvard Graduate School of Education has an initiative called Making Caring Common. The project is gathering information about strategies for promoting empathy. The premise is that empathy is extremely important for school, professional and life success. "Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human."
 
This topic may seem a bit heavy for our roles as adults working with young children, but in reading the research it is apparent that children are learning about empathy at a very young age. Empathy begins with the capacity to take another perspective, to walk in another's shoes. But empathy also includes valuing other perspectives and people. It's about having compassion.
 
"Children learn about empathy both from watching us and from experiencing our empathy for them. When we empathize with our children they develop trusting, secure attachments with us. Those attachments are key to their wanting to adopt our values and to model our behavior, and therefore to building their empathy for others."
 
In addition to experiencing how we tune in to them as individuals, children also learn empathy by watching how we interact with others. They notice how we treat a server in a restaurant. Do we treat them as if they are invisible, or do we interact in a friendly, respectful way? If a new family moves into the neighborhood, do we reach out to make them feel welcome? Does your child observe you caring for others?
 
Do you help your child understand that the world doesn't revolve around him/her? This can be done in simple ways - insisting at times that children turn off the T.V. and help around the house, being polite even when they are in a bad mood, or listening to others at the dinner table instead of allowing them to dominate the entire conversation.
 
An interesting perspective for me was learning that when children don't express empathy, it's not because they don't have it. It's because some feeling or image is blocking their empathy. Often the ability to care for others is overwhelmed, for example, by anger, shame, envy, or other negative feelings. Helping children manage these negative feelings as well as stereotypes and prejudices about others is often what "releases" their empathy.
 
So, as the holidays approach and young children often become focused on their own wishes and experiences, it's a good time to explain how empathy and compassion for others are gifts that we all can easily give. Talk about how your child can comfort a child who is sad. Or maybe your family can provide support for a family in need. Let your child become a part of the process and claim the theme Making Caring Common as a part of your family's values.
 
 

Information for this article taken from  How Parents Can Cultivate Empathy in Children Harvard Graduate School of Education
TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
Now Thomas & Friends Explore the Rails, Children's Museum, St. Paul
11/8-1/8 Cinderella, Children's Theatre, Mpls
11/18-12/28 Ruldolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Stages Theatre, Hopkins
11/19 & 11/20 Paw Patrol Live, Mpls
11/24  LifeTime Turkey Day 5k, Mpls
11/25-11/27 Holidazzle, Mpls

How does Murray from Sesame Street learn about empathy? Check out the video on the Parent Blog!
 


Especially for Children
8885 Evergreen Blvd
Coon Rapids MN 55433

Lisa Ward
Director, EFC Coon Rapids 

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