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SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
"You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout, I'm telling you why. Santa Claus is coming to town."
Santa Claus will be coming to visit our good little boys and girls on Friday, December 8. He might even have a few surprises up his sleeve. Santa will be here at 10am. If you would like to come and take pictures of your child with Santa, please feel free.
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HOLIDAY CLOSURES
Please mark your calendars in preparation for the holiday season. EFC will be closed the following days:
- Christmas Day: Monday 12/25
- New Year's Day: Monday, 1/1
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CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
We thought everyone would enjoy learning about other celebrations that are happening around the world during the month of December. We will touch on these holidays with our children this month, so they are aware of not only Christmas, but holidays celebrated by other children:
St. Barbara's Day - Dec. 4:
In this Syrian Legend, St. Barbara's miserly father didn't approve of her giving to the poor. However, she still made sacrifices to help those in need.
St. Nicholas Day - Dec. 6:
In the Netherlands, children put shoes out as a sign to St. Nicholas that they are safe in bed. They awake on St. Nicholas Day to see if sweets or toys have been placed in their shoes.
St. Lucia's Day - Dec. 13
: In Sweden, a young girl, usually the oldest daughter, dresses in a long white dress with a red sash and places a crown of evergreens
adorned with glowing candles on her head. Her task is to serve coffee and special twisted buns with raisins, called lussekatter, at daybreak.
This celebration is for the return of light after
the
darkest time of the year, and the beginning of the Christmas season.
Las Posadas - Dec. 16
: Las Posadas (literally lodging) is celebrated by Spanish-Mexican Americans. It is the re-enactment of Joseph & Mary's trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem to find lodging.
Hanukkah - Sundown Dec 12 - Dec.20:
Jewish people celebrate this eight-day "Festival of Lights". A very special part of the celebration is the lighting of candles in a holder called a Menorah.
The last Hanukkah was this early was in 1888 and, according to one calculation, and won't happen again for another 77,798 years: the convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa - Dec. 26-Jan. 1
: Kwanzaa means "First fruits". The 7 principles reflected upon are unity, self-determination, collective work & responsibility,
cooperative purpose, creativity and faith.
We hope everyone has a safe and warm holiday season!!
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WINTER FUN IN THE SNOW
SNOW MOLDS
Just like sand, snow is wet and dense-and can be formed into shapes. When you go outside...take out the sandbox toys, buckets, containers and molds. Create a snow castle (instead of sand castle). Create and have fun!
ICE MAN
Fill three balloons with water (one big, one medium and one small). Let freeze overnight. Peel the balloon off and stack the balls (use salt between to help them melt and stick together. Have kids clothe him, put a carrot note, stick arms, etc.
SNOW SQUIRT ART
Give children squirt bottles filled with colored water and let them color the snow. Consider also using dish detergent bottles, filled with water and food coloring; they work more easily with mittens on. (Having done this with children, using small squirt bottles is difficult for kids to press. If using 'squirt' bottles - use those with larger nozzles). TIP: Get a supply of old used mittens as to not soil children's' gloves.
By: KidsActivities
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"A GOOD TOY IS REALLY ONLY 10% TOY AND 90% CHILD."
I read this quote recently and it inspired me to think more about the kinds of toys available to young children. So many toys are one-faceted and leave little to a child's imagination. Or, they are "learning-oriented" and have right and wrong answers associated with them. So much now is made of plastic and feels cold and hard. It's challenging to know what to consider when selecting toys today.
And just at the time when many of us are looking for holiday gifts, the great outdoors is not providing as many nuts, twigs, pinecones, and stones to play with as children have had for the last several months. At least some of each day during spring, summer, and fall, children were connecting with nature's loose parts and thinking of their own ways to play with them.
So, this year as I am making lists of toys that I can give to our grandchildren, I am trying to keep in mind the above quote by Joan Almon, former director of the Alliance for Childhood.
And, in doing so, I am also inspired to look at the toys as multi-dimensional, even if the inventor of the toy had something else in mind.
An example of that is LEGOs - the small ones that come with directions on how to build a really cool vehicle. Our grandson got several small sets for his 5th birthday. For a few months I helped him keep them separated in plastic baggies with the pictures and instructions in each bag. Together we assembled several of them, although it was tedious and so much work that he didn't want anyone to touch them once we had put them together. Then one day my grandson dumped all the LEGOs out on a tray. At first, I was horrified. How was he ever going to figure out how to make the vehicles "right" now?
But, as you might imagine, it doesn't matter that those vehicles may never be put together. Instead, Alejandro is making his own LEGO creations - and is so proud!
So now I am looking for toys that have varied properties and can be moved and manipulated in many ways. I get excited about toys that allow children to invent, create, explore and, when possible, rearrange loose parts. I am happy if a toy has no specific directions. If children can use their imaginations and try their own ideas, they can discover their own answers and create new possibilities. So, join me in the search for those creative and interesting toys!
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
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It has been a wonderful year at Especially for Children, and we want to thank you again for choosing our program.
We've gathered some of the special moments of learning and fun from across EFC centers in a photo slide show. Check it out, and thanks again for a great year!!
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