DECEMBER 2021
Greetings!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
The holiday season is upon us once again, and with everything that we have experienced this year, it is going to look a little different than years past. To continue with our tradition, we will learn about and celebrate several different holidays during the month of December and have written the holidays on our calendar. If you have a tradition that you would like to share with us, please call or email your child’s teacher to share that special tradition.
 
Classrooms will continue to focus on our Creative Curriculum studies during the month of December with supplements about various holidays spread in throughout the month.
 
This month the infants and toddlers will focus on clothes and music with the Dolphin class concentrating on Balls and the Monkey classroom’s focus is signs. Watch your Daily Connect app for pictures and information about what we are learning.
CENTER HAPPENINGS
VIDEO HOLIDAY SINGING PROGRAM
It has been a long tradition to host a holiday singing program each year at our center. Since we cannot have a traditional program with all families attending…we have decided to still go through with the singing program here at the center—however—we will be recording it and emailing it out for you to view at home. 
Video-taping will take place on Tuesday, December 7, with the accompaniment by Mrs. Jean, our music teacher.  We will communicate if we need to change the date.
STORYTIME WITH COSTUME KIM
This month Kim will come to the center dressed up as Mrs. Claus. She is scheduled to tell stories and sing with us on Friday, December 17 at 9:00 am. Toddlers through preschoolers will participate in this activity in small groups –following social distancing protocols. 
PARENT REMINDERS
HOLIDAY CLOSED DATES
We understand many families may take time off over this holiday season. Please mark an “X” on dates your child(ren) will not be attending in the attendance log in the front entrance. 
 
EFC Will Be CLOSED on the following days:
                 Thursday, December 23, 2021
                 Friday, December 24, 2021
                 Friday, December 31, 2021
 
To appropriately staff for these weeks, we asking parents to confirm days off by Tuesday, December 14, 2021
 
*Vacation credit reminder: When you have been enrolled at Especially for Children 6 months or more- you will receive a half weeks’ tuition credit if your child is absent five consecutive days. It does include the days that we are closed over the holidays. Each child receives two credits per year.
ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS
HOLIDAY DE-STRESS
by Sarah Barlow,
EFC Inver Grove Heights Assistant Director
The holidays are a great time to get together with family and show each other how much you care. They are meant to give us a break to relax. Often during this time of year, however, we find ourselves overwhelmed with feelings of stress and anxiety. This year, instead of overindulging in food and drink to de-stress, here are some healthy ways to manage the stress of the holidays:
 
Stay connected: Reach out to family and friends with whom you have positive and healthy relationships and whom you can count on to help during these times. It is important to have strong social connections with people and ask for help as well as offer help. Volunteering is a great way to help others and in return feel good about your positive contribution.
 
Communication with Children: Talk with your children about the expectations of the holidays, allowing them to partake in some of the planning, and making sure expectations are being discussed. This includes the children’s expectations as well as your own.
 
Set realistic expectations: We need to make sure we are setting realistic expectations for taking on what we can handle mentally, physically, and financially. This is a great opportunity to highlight the value of money with children and making sure their holiday expectations are heard and realistic.
 
Self-Care: Make time for yourself. Go for a walk, workout, or just set some time aside for you to be alone. The holidays are stressful and keeping our minds and bodies healthy will keep us moving and able to handle stressful situations that arise.
 
During these times not only do we as adults become overwhelmed and stressed, but children do, too. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays it is important to keep things as calm and as normal as possible. Here are some tips to helping minimize your child’s stress during the holidays:
 
Maintain a regular routine/schedule: It is important to stick to a schedule with children. If there is an event that causes bedtime to be delayed, try having a more calming evening the following night to help get your child back on track and eliminate stress.
 
Watch what they are eating: Try to keep snacks that are healthy on hand when shopping or out at events for the holidays to help minimize the sugar intake.
 
Don’t overschedule, make time for outdoor activities, schedule quite times together, and remind them that the holidays are about giving, gratitude, and kindness.
I hope these tips will help reduce feeling overwhelmed and stressed during the holidays.
 
Sources:
American Psychological Association. (2016, November 1). Tips for parents on managing holiday stress. http://www.apa.org/topics/parenting/holiday
 
How to Prevent Holiday Stress and Anxiety in Children By Katherine Lee. Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD on December 05, 2020
TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS

Now-12/19 European Christmas Market, Saint Paul
Now-12/25 Holidazzle, Minneapolis
Now-12/27 Elf the Musical, Stages Theatre, Hopkins
Now-12/31 Gingerbread Wonderland, Houses of Norway, Minneapolis
Now-1/2 Glow Holiday Festival, MN Fair Grounds
Now-1/2 Christmas in Color, Valley Fair
Now-1/2 Winter Lights, Mn Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen
Now-1/9 Annie, Children's Theatre, Minneapolis
Now-2/26 Night Trains, TC Model Railroad Museum, St Paul
12/9-12/12 Disney on Ice, Xcel Center, Saint Paul
12/11 Pop-Ups on the Plaza: Crayons & Creatures, 50th & France, Edina
12/11 Reindeer Run, Lake Harriet, Minneapolis
12/15-12/17 Cathedral Festival of Lights, Saint Paul
12/26 Kwanzaa Celebration, Midtown Global Market
12/31 New Year's Eve, Lebanon Hills Park, Eagan

Especially for Children
6223 Dell Road
Eden Prairie MN 55346 
(952) 934-1119 

Center Director:
Cathie Underwood 
Center Assistant Director:
Jamie Kittleson
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