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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.
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CENTER CLOSING
EFC will be closed for the holidays on the following days:
Thursday, December 23 (floating holiday)
Friday, December 24 (Christmas)
Friday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve)
We understand that families may have plans for some time off over the holiday weeks. Please let us know your child’s attendance by signing the sheets on the classroom doors no later than Wednesday, December 15. This will help us staff our classrooms correctly and be able to give our staff some well-deserved time off! Thank you!
We wish you a happy, wonderful holiday season!
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SNOW EMERGENCIES
If Especially for Children cannot open due to inclement weather or other emergency conditions, the center closing will be announced on WCCO radio, TV and website in the morning. If weather conditions during the day make it necessary to close before our regularly scheduled time, we will reach each of you at your workplaces. Please remember to keep an eye on road conditions & weather, and plan to arrive by 6 PM so our staff can get home safely.
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PRETTY PEPPERMINT STICKS
This is a fun cooking project to do with kids and makes a simple yet sweet gift. Place sets of five candies in clear cellophane bags, staple them closed, then attach a decorative label.
Ingredients
1 cup dark or milk chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
15 (4-inch) soft or hard peppermint sticks
White nonpareils
*In a small bowl, microwave the chocolate chips and oil for 1 minute; continue in 10-second bursts, stirring between heating. When most, but not all, of the chips have melted, stir the chocolate until it is smooth.
*Spread the nonpareils on a sheet of waxed paper. Dip one end of each peppermint stick into the chocolate, then roll it in the nonpareils. Set the sticks on another sheet of waxed paper until the chocolate has set, about 1 hour.
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by Sarah Barlow,
EFC Inver Grove Heights Assistant Director
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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:
How to Prevent Holiday Stress and Anxiety in Children By Katherine Lee. Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD on December 05, 2020
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
Now-1/9 Annie, Children's Theatre, Minneapolis
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Especially for Children
5133 W. 98th St.
Bloomington, MN 55437
(952) 831-1435
Center Director:
Kathy Hane
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