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Greetings!
FOOD DONATIONS NEEDED
Last year, Edinborough EFC staff and families collected a whopping 885 pounds of food to donate to VEAP during the holiday season. This year, we’re hoping to beat last year’s donations and have set a goal of collecting 1,000 (!!) pounds of food. Just like last year, there will be collection boxes in several classrooms and food will be collected
between December 1 and
Tuesday, December 17. The classrooms with the most donations win a smoothie party on
December 19!! If we exceed 1,000 pounds, all classrooms will enjoy a fantastic smoothie party! We can do it-- Go EFC!!
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THANK YOU
…
Thank you to our Polar Bear and Grizzly Bear families for joining us for our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon! Our bellies were full and our hearts are thankful!
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ADVENTURE PEAK
We are going to Adventure Peak & gym on
Tuesday, December 10—in our holiday PJs!!
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KID DANCE HOLIDAY RECITAL
On
Wednesday, December 11, Kid Dance will host their annual holiday recital in the Edinborough Theatre starting at 5:30 PM. We hope to see you there! Dancers will also perform for the Brookdale Seniors the following week on
Wednesday, December 18, at 9:30 AM.
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SANTA VISIT
Santa will stop by our center on
Thursday, December 19, and tell us stories about the North Pole & his reindeer. Please wear your best holiday outfit for some terrific pictures!
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JANUARY FAMILY EVENT
Join us for a family breakfast on
Friday, January 3, to kick off 2020!! We will be serving a warm breakfast in the Polar Bear/Grizzly Bear classrooms between 7 and 8:30 AM.
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HOLIDAY CLOSURES & ATTENDANCE
Please mark your calendars in preparation for the holiday season. EFC will be closed the following days:
- Christmas Eve: Tuesday, 12/24; closing at 3 PM
- Christmas Day: Wednesday, 12/25
- New Year’s Day: Wednesday, 1/1
We understand many families have plans to travel during the holiday weeks. Please let us know your child’s attendance by signing the sheets on the classroom doors no later than
Friday, December 13. This will help us staff our classrooms correctly and be able to give our staff some well-deserved time off! Thank you!
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SNOW EMERGENCIES
If Especially for Children cannot open due to inclement weather or other emergency conditions, the centers closing will be announced on our website, Facebook page, and via email in the morning. If weather conditions during the day make it necessary to close before our regularly scheduled time, we will reach you at your workplaces.
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HOLIDAY STRESS IN CHILDREN
The holidays are a fun and joyous time, but also very busy, and holiday stress and anxiety in children is a common occurrence. Here are some tips to help ease any degree of holiday stress:
Set a calm example: To minimize anxiety in children, take steps to handle your own stress. The way parents handle an issue sets the tone for how their kids will behave.
Set up conditions for good behavior: Avoid taking children to the mall or holiday gatherings when they are hungry or tired. It’s hard even for grown-ups to deal with noise and lots of stimulation when not feeling the best. Understandably, children have a tough time being on their best behavior when they are exhausted or hungry.
Remember the importance of routines: Try to get routines back on track once an event or party is over. If a school activity or family gathering runs late, try to stick to quiet, calm activities the next day and get your child to bed on time the next night.
Get your child moving: Fresh air and exercise are essential for boosting mood and re-setting the spirit. Make sure to schedule some time to get your child outside to run and play!
Remember to have fun! You are making memories that last a lifetime and traditions that will be passed down from generation to generation.
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“WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IS INVISIBLE TO THE EYES” AND
OTHER THINGS FRED ROGERS KNEW
by Angie Williams
I grew up watching Mister Rogers. Perhaps some of you did, too. But I have not reflected on the lessons of his television show until recently. Ahead of the movie,
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
, there have been several excellent profiles about the man who touched millions of children’s lives with his kind demeanor and profound grasp of humanity. He spoke directly to children about the joys and the challenges of their experiences. He gently but consistently emphasized the importance of children acknowledging and talking about their feelings in order to understand themselves and the world around them.
There is a new, 10-episode podcast called
Finding Fred
, which explores the themes and methods of his show. I listened to the first episode last night entitled, A Genius of Empathy. The host and guests discussed how Fred Rogers was able to teach children about empathy—a pretty tricky emotional concept even for adults—by, again, recognizing the feelings children have, helping them understand that feelings are universal, and giving them words and ideas to help them manage their feelings. (If you haven’t listened to his song, “What do you do with the mad you feel?”, it’s a great example of this.)
We know—and Fred Rogers knew—that the social and emotional development of children is paramount to their overall wellbeing as well as their ability to be a “good neighbor,” which is what we hope all of our children will be.
The depth of his thinking is something that I can appreciate only now as an adult. The following paragraph of an article stood out to me:
“L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.” That was Fred’s favorite quote. He had it framed and hanging on a wall in his office. “What is essential is invisible to the eyes,” from Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince.” “It’s not the honors and the prizes and the fancy outsides of life which ultimately nourish our souls,” he once said, expounding on the idea in a speech. “It’s the knowing that we can be trusted, that we never have to fear the truth, that the bedrock of our very being is good stuff. … What is essential about you that is invisible to the eyes?”
These are deep thoughts for both adults and children, and I love that Mister Rogers reminded children that there
is
something essential within them that they can love and share. When I reflect on the message within those words, I think of what an amazing privilege it is to engage in the life of a child as a parent, and for our teaching staff, as caregivers and educators. It is such an honor (and a responsibility!) to help children discover the essential parts of themselves—those interests and traits that make them who they are and connect them to life and the world in a positive way. Once again, as Fred notes, “the bedrock of our very being is good stuff.” How lucky we are to share that lesson with children and watch it grow within them.
Sources:
http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/music/songs/what_do_you_do.html
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Angie Williams
EFC Marketing and Finance Director
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
Now-1/5
Cinderella
, Children's Theatre, Minneapolis
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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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