December News from Especially for Children

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DECEMBER FAMILY EVENT

On Thursday, December 15, we invite you to stop by the preschool classroom between 4-5:30 PM to decorate your very own gingerbread cookie with your child. We will provide an array of candies to decorate the cookies. Apple cider will also be served!

PARENT REMINDERS

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Friday, December 9 ~ CENTER CLOSING AT 5:00.

Monday, December 26 ~ CENTER CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.

Monday, January 2 ~ CENTER CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF NEW YEAR'S DAY.

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 14. This will help us staff classrooms correctly, and allow us to be able to give our teachers some well-deserved time off. Thank you!

For your planning purposes, you can view our holiday closure dates in 2017 here.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD

During the month of 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 Day, Dec. 13
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.

PARENT RESOURCES

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!

PRETTY PEPPERMINT STICKS

This is a fun cooking project to do with kids and makes a simple yet sweet gift. Place sets of five candies in clear cellophane bags, staple them closed, then attach a decorative label.

Ingredients

1 cup dark or milk chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

15 (4-inch) soft or hard peppermint sticks

White nonpareils

In a small bowl, microwave the chocolate chips and oil for 1 minute; continue in 10-second bursts, stirring between heating. When most, but not all, of the chips have melted, stir the chocolate until it is smooth.

Spread the nonpareils on a sheet of waxed paper. Dip one end of each peppermint stick into the chocolate, then roll it in the nonpareils. Set the sticks on another sheet of waxed paper until the chocolate has set, about 1 hour.

Courtesy www.familyfun.go.com

ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

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!