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ANNUAL PARENTS NIGHT OUT
Hey parents...are you ready for a "night out"? On Friday, December 16, EFC will remain open until 9:00 pm to allow you to do some shopping or go out to dinner. We will serve pizza, do arts & crafts, and play games. The cost of this event is $25.00 for one child, $35.00 for two and $40.00 for three children. The money will be paid directly to the staff working that evening. This is open to all children and siblings are welcome. If you are interested, please fill out the Parents Night Out form, which is located on the parent table.
HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE FOR VEAP
We will be collecting holiday toys for VEAP, a service organization that provides resources for low income families in Edina, Richfield, Bloomington and south Minneapolis. If you would like to donate, please drop off new items during December 1-7. Suggested items include; books (board, picture, and chapter), games, Legos, puzzles, mittens, gloves, and hats. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
We wish everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season!
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THE MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS SHOW
Robert the Magician will be stopping by on Monday, December 19 to do a show called "The Magic of the Holidays". Magic, storytelling, comedy, and songs will all combine to bring this very magical party to life. The show will begin at 3:30 for all toddlers and preschoolers. Stop by and join us if you are able.
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DATES TO REMEMBER:
Friday, December 9 ~ Company-Wide Holiday Party - EFC will be CLOSING AT 5:00 P.M.
We thank you in advance for your understanding.
Monday, December 26 ~ Christmas Holiday - CENTER CLOSED.
Monday, January 2 ~ New Year's Holiday - CENTER CLOSED.
For your planning purposes, you can view our
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HOLIDAY ATTENDANCE
We understand many families travel during the holiday weeks. Please let us know your child's attendance by signing the sheets on the classroom doors by December 16. This will help us staff classrooms correctly, and allows us give our teachers some well-deserved time off. Thank you!
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HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD
During December, we like to discuss with the children other holidays that are celebrated around the world. Some of the holidays we briefly talk about are:
- St. Barbara Day, Dec. 4
- St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6
- St. Lucia's Day, Dec. 13
- Las Posadas, Dec. 16
- Hanukkah, Sunset Dec. 24-nightfall Jan. 1
- Kwanza, Dec. 26-Jan. 1.
If you and your family have a special holiday or tradition you would like to share with us, please let us know. We love learning more about our EFC families.
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HOLIDAY STRESS IN CHILDREN
The holidays are a fun and joyous time, but also a very busy one, and holiday stress and anxiety in children is a common occurrence. Here are some tips to help ease any degree of holiday stress;
Set a calm example:
To minimize anxiety in children, take steps to handle you own stress.
The way parents handle an issue sets the tone for how their kids will behave.
Set up conditions for good behavior:
Avoid taking children to the mall or holiday gatherings when they are hungry or tired. It's hard even for grown-ups to deal with noise and lots of stimulation when not feeling the best. Understandably, children have a tough time being on their best behavior when they are
exhausted or hungry.
Remember the importance of routines:
Try to get routines back on track once an event or party is over. If a school holiday or gathering runs late, try to stick to quiet, calm activities
the next day and get your child to bed on time the next night.
Get your child moving:
Fresh air and exercise are essential for boosting mood and re-setting the spirit. Make sure to schedule some time to get your child outside to run and play!
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THE IMPORTANCE OF FINE MOTOR SKILLS
In a world where technology is not going away and infants and toddlers are learning to "swipe and tap", we don't want to be fooled into the idea that these activities are what children need for the development of fine motor skills. From an early age children need time to play with and experiment with materials that help them develop coordination in their fingers and strengthen their hand muscles. These experiences start in infancy when a child learns to hold a rattle and pick up food to eat. Then children move on to skills like building with blocks, playing with play dough and eventually learning to zip and button, draw and form letters.
There is real concern across the country that children are not getting enough practice with real objects. Many are going to kindergarten lacking the basic fine motor skills needed to hold a pencil and write. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends absolutely no screen time for children under the age of two, and less than an hour a day for preschoolers. Parents should not give their smart phones to babies in car seats or strollers. They should not play videos for infants and toddlers to keep them occupied. They should not take iPads to restaurants. Preschoolers should not have televisions
in their bedrooms.
Those are a lot of "children should not..." rules. But at Especially for Children we want you to be assured that we supply our classrooms with time-tested materials to help children practice fine motor skills. From crayons, markers, chalk, paints, pencils and scissors to blocks, Legos, dolls, play dough and finger paint, children have a multitude of materials that allow them to manipulate real objects and interact with people, not screens.
We thought it would be helpful to give you some ideas of activities you can do at home to help your child build fine motor skills. We have posted them on our blog with specific suggestions on how to incorporate them into your daily routines. Here is an example:
Kitchen projects
: Making homemade play dough strengthens muscles in the hands and fingers. Roll snakes and balls of all sizes: build with the balls and snakes. Your child can play with play dough at the counter or table while you make dinner.
See EFC's favorite play dough recipe on our blog.
Make peanut butter or sugar cookies that require the dough to be rolled into balls and smashed with a fork.
December is often a month with lots of cooking projects, so think ahead to how your child can participate. Not only will you be enjoying the activities together, but you can think about the important fine motor skills you are helping your child to develop. Look on the blog for even more ideas to do at home!
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
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Check out these activities that help support the development of your child's fine motor skills.
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