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Greetings!
2019 EFC SUMMER PROGRAM
We are looking forward to spending a fun summer with your child, learning, growing, and enjoying the great Minnesota summer season!
The Creative Curriculum will continue to be our foundation. This year, our teachers are expressing their strengths and creativity by choosing their own summer themes with an emphasis on themes that are tangible, relatable experiences that children can make connections to. Some of the themes that have been selected include picnics, going to the cabin, summer sports, bugs, lakes, camping, fishing, and boats. These themes will continue to be reflected in interest areas, books, sensory activities, science experiments, etc. throughout the classrooms.
This summer, you may see the curriculum implemented in a different way. For example, a group time happening in the grassy area or a writing activity being implemented through the use of chalk. We hope to take advantage of the nice weather!
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THANK YOU!
Thank you to all the moms and grandmas for attending our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast! We love being able to celebrate you!
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DADS & GRANDPAS
We want to invite our special dads and grandpas to join us for root beer floats and games on
Thursday, June 13, from 4-5:30 PM at the grassy area. Come and hang out with us!!
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JUNE FIELD TRIP
On
Friday, June 28, the preschool groups are going to Oak Hills Splash Pad in St. Louis Park. Timing and bus information will be posted in mid-June. Please remember to send a swimsuit and towel with your child as well as pack a nut-free lunch.
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CENTENNIAL LAKES SHOWS
In the summer, the City of Edina hosts children’s entertainment at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Centennial Lakes Park Amphitheater. Our preschool classrooms typically go to one or two shows per month, weather permitting. We will let you know if your child needs to bring a bag lunch or if a picnic lunch is provided.
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LOOKING AHEAD
Especially for Children will be closed on
Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day and
Friday, July 5, as our floating holiday for the year. Enjoy your long weekend!
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SOCCER SHOTS SUMMER SESSION
This summer we will be offering a 10-week parent paid soccer option for our preschool classes, starting the week of
June 17. Classes will be held on Mondays through mid-August. If you want to learn more about Soccer Shots, go to
www.soccershots.org/minneapolis
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PARENT PAID CLASSES
- Kid Dance has open enrollment for our preschoolers and runs all through the summer! Let your child’s teacher know if you’d like your child to try out a free class if they have not already and then decide if you would like to enroll.
- The last session of Kiddy Keys will be held on Tuesday, June 4. Kiddy Keys will open enrollment starting in September.
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STAR WELLNESS: WATERMELON PIZZA
This watermelon pizza is a fun little treat that everyone can enjoy! It’s healthy, easy to make and when we think of summer, we think of watermelon!
Instructions:
- Using a sharp knife, cut off a slice of watermelon right down the middle about 2-3 inches thick.
- Using a spatula, spread an even layer of your yogurt around the watermelon, leaving a bit of empty space at the top. (where your “pizza crust” is.)
- Layer your fresh fruit on top as you please. You can add as little of as many toppings as you like!
- Drizzle with honey or maple syrup for a little extra sweetness if desired.
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THE VALUE OF TINKERING
My late uncle loved to tinker. At his beloved cabin you would most often find him in the garage amongst his tools, trying to figure out (often with success) how to repair any number of broken items: lawn chairs, doorknobs, kitchen utensils, and more. While he believed that something broken could and should be restored instead of thrown away, I also think that he simply loved to explore how things worked.
The definition of tinkering is to “attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way, often to no useful effect.” The last phrase of the definition is deceiving, however, because while the object that is being tinkered with may turn out to have no particular use, the process of tinkering is highly valuable.
For children, the opportunity to tinker with real-life materials can help them build problem-solving and creative thinking skills. Through tinkering, they develop fine motor skills by manipulating small objects. It can help them gain confidence by making them familiar with the physical attributes of various materials and by building an understanding of how things work. When done in groups, tinkering builds social skills and cooperation.
How can adults foster this valuable process (which is becoming more valuable in a busy and digitized world)? The answer is relatively simple. Children need time and real-life materials. Do you have an old VCR, DVD player, or even a computer that could be taken apart and used for tinkering? What about some cardboard, tape, and toothpicks? Or you could take the tinkering process outside, using natural materials such as sticks, rocks, and water, in combination with tools. Then, give your child a substantial amount of free, self-directed time during which they can tinker. While it may be tempting to help your child create something that has a function, it’s important to remember that tinkering is about the
process rather than an end product with any useful purpose.
You can find inspiration and resources online on how and why to foster tinkering at your home. Here are a few places you might start:
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And if you are ready for a tinkering field trip, check out:
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Angie Williams
Director of Finance and Marketing
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
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Especially for Children
3300 Edinborough Way
Edina MN 55435
(952) 835-0505
Center Directors:
Anna Wilson
Samantha Baker
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