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Greetings!
OCTOBER HAPPENINGS
We have a very busy month planned for the children in October. It is hard to believe it is autumn already! As the leaves start falling and the temperatures are dropping, it is important that your child has warmer clothing for outdoor play. Please make sure to label all clothing items as many children have the same type/brand/color of clothes.
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FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL
To celebrate the season, we will have a Family Fall Festival Event on
Thursday, October 24
. This event will take place in the evening from 6:30-7:30pm. Pick up your child as usual and return to the center for some fun fall activities and games in each classroom! Everyone is welcome to come in costumes as well!
On
Thursday, October 31
, come dressed in orange and black and wear your spookiest hairdo! The children will have a special Halloween breakfast to start the day!
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PICTURE DAY
Lifetouch preschool portrait studio will be here on
Monday, October 28, for fall picture day. Flyers will be found on the parent counter, about a week before the picture day. Picture taking will begin at 7:30am.
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SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS
We will begin offering scholastic books again this month! Flyers for orders will be available on the parent counter along with a drop off box for your order form and check. Our school earns new books for our classrooms with this program!
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LOOKING AHEAD
Conferences will be held in November. Each class will have a sign-up sheet on the parent counter. If none of the available times work for you, please see Linda to make other arrangements.
Especially for Children will be closed on
Thursday, November 28, and
Friday, November 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
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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
2 H South Pine Dr.
Circle Pines MN 55014
(763) 786-9410
Center Director:
Linda Burck
Center Assistant Director:
Kris Steffens
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