Greetings!
ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24 6:30-7:30 pm
We will be having our annual fall festival party on
Thursday, October 24
, from 6:30-7:30 pm.
Bring the whole family! We will have games, music, photo booth, and a snack. Don’t forget to dress in a costume (even the adults)!
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FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
This year Fire Prevention Week is
October 7–11
. Many fire stations around Eagan have Open Houses on
Monday, October 7
. More information can be found at the parent counter.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
- Lifetouch Picture Day on Wednesday, October 30. Keep a look out for more information!
- EFC will be closed Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
- EFC will be closing at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, December 24, and will be closed on Wednesday, December 25.
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FALL CLOTHING
As the weather continues to cool down, please be sure your child has appropriate outdoor clothing at EFC. We go outside every day, morning and afternoon, and want to be sure children are comfortable to be playing outdoors. Also, please check your child’s cubby to be sure there is extra clothing that fits and is appropriate for the current season.
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PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
At Especially for Children, we have parent-teacher conferences twice a year. The fall conferences will be held towards the beginning of November. More information will be available soon. Each conference lasts about 15 minutes. If you feel you will need more than that, please discuss this with the teacher. Parent-teacher conferences are the perfect time to talk about your child’s development and progress.
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BUILDING RESILIENCE IN CHILDREN THROUGH “CONTRIBUTION”
Last month I had the opportunity to attend a community meeting at which two high school students provided opening statements. I was impressed by their confidence in front of a large group of adults as well as the articulate ways they expressed themselves. In addition, I found it inspiring that they were using their time and talents to contribute to the community around them.
One of the areas of social/emotional development we have
written about in the past is resiliency
. It is important for children to build skills that help them work through the inevitable challenges of life and not feel defeated by the obstacles they may face. Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, who practices at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and has spent decades studying the topic, has developed a framework called
The 7 C’s: The Essential Building Blocks of Resilience
. The fifth C is Contribution, which is when children understand the world is a better place because they are in it. Dr. Ginsburg writes:
“Children who understand the importance of personal contribution gain a sense of purpose that can motivate them. They will not only take actions and make choices that improve the world, but they will also enhance their own competence, character, and sense of connection.”
We can begin affecting a child’s sense of Contribution at a young age. Some ideas of Contribution that young children can participate in include:
- Picking up trash on your next walk to or from a local park.
- Hosting a Little Free Library—or simply adding books to one.
- Drawing pictures, making baked goods, or even shoveling the sidewalk for an elderly neighbor.
- Choosing a favorite charity to which the whole family can contribute.
Does your family have special ways that foster the idea of Contribution? We’d love to hear comments
on our blog
that we can share.
Finally, Dr. Ginsburg encourages caregivers to think about the following questions as they relate to Contribution:
- Do I communicate to my child (at appropriate age levels, of course) that many people in the world do not have as much human contact, money, freedom, and security as they need?
- Do I teach the important value of serving others? Do I model generosity with my time and money?
- Do I make clear to my child that I believe she can improve the world?
- Do I create opportunities for each child to contribute in some specific way?
- Do I search my child’s circle for other adults who might serve as role models who contribute to their communities and the world? Do I use these adults as examples to encourage my child to be the best he can be?
Contribution can be a key ingredient in raising resilient children by empowering them with a sense of purpose and creating connections to others and the world around them.
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Angie Williams
EFC Marketing and Finance Director
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
Apple Orchards & Pumpkin Patches
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Especially for Children
3370 Coachman Rd.
Eagan, MN 55121
(651) 452-0043
Center Directors:
Bri
Dieffenbach and Kate Beck
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