MARCH 2023
Greetings!
"READING GIVES US A PLACE TO GO WHEN WE HAVE TO STAY WHERE WE ARE"
Reading to our children at all ages is great for their development in language as well as an appreciation for learning new things through books. Each month our studies have different books that the teachers read to the children as a focus. Teachers in the younger age groups email the book cover of the book they are focusing on for the week. We read a variety of stories each day and hope that your kiddos come home talking about the different stories they hear.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
COSTUME KIM, STORYTELLER
Costume Kim visits Thursday, March 9. This month she will be reading “Pete the Cat and His 4 Groovy Buttons”. This will start at 9:00 am and includes the toddler and preschool classrooms.
MYSTERY READERS
To go along with our reading focus this month, we will be looking for volunteers to read aloud in your child’s class. Outside each classroom, we will have posted times that parents/grandparents/guardians can sign-up to read to their child’s class. If you cannot find a time that works for you, please ask a teacher to arrange another opportunity. You are welcome to bring a few favorite books from home or we can give you a few stories from our collection. It is a fun experience for everyone and we appreciate your participation. This time…SHHH   IT IS GOING TO BE A SECRET FROM YOUR CHILD…THEY WILL NOT KNOW WHO IS COMING TO READ…JUST SIGN UP AND WE WILL SEE YOU HERE.
  
We also plan on inviting some MYSTERY READERS from our community…so we hope to find a fire fighter…a police officer…maybe even an employee from Holiday or the mini mall next door…stay tuned in Daily Connect on who we find….
clover
DECORATE A SHAMROCK
This month’s family project is to decorate (color/paint/cut it out/make a collage) a shamrock. We will have supplies in the front entry for you to take home. We hope that you enjoy doing the project together and bring it back to hang in the entryway.
PICTURE DAY
Lifetouch will be here on Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17, to take Spring Photos. Please watch for further information on which days each class will be getting their picture taken.
PARENT REMINDERS
MINNESOTA SPRING
Mud, slush, and water… Oh My. The first day of
spring is March 20 and with that comes the thaw. With this thaw, comes lots of puddles and wet snow. The children will get wet all the way through their snow pants and sometimes through boots too! Please make sure your child has at least two changes of clothing at school, including extra socks, and mittens. We want to make sure that the children can play outside every day and still come in and be able to learn and play in comfort. This is also a great time to double check your child’s extra clothes to ensure they have the proper sizes! Thank you!
SUMMER ENROLLMENT
We have all ready started making plans for summer at Especially for Children and are looking forward to a great season.
 
As families begin making plans, please keep us posted if your schedule will be changing for the summer months. It helps us with planning for programming and staffing. We appreciate your help.
ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS
THE GIFT OF LANGUAGE
One of the great gifts we can give our children as they grow is the gift of language. While technology has changed many aspects of communication in our society, children’s experiences are enriched when they deepen their understanding of language and expand the breadth of their vocabularies. Given the pervasive nature of technology, it is perhaps more important now than ever to ensure children have exposure to new vocabulary and different ways of interacting with language. Below is an article from NAEYC that offers tips for supporting your child’s language development:
 
8 CREATIVE IDEAS TO HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN NEW WORDS
 
Language development happens very rapidly in early childhood -- it’s especially amazing to watch in the first two years of a child’s life (Galinksy 2010). This means that infants’ and toddlers’ home and family play a critical role in language and vocabulary growth. Children learn new words mainly by hearing them in a meaningful context (which often includes a story’s illustrations or a speaker’s gestures).
 
Reading to and with children, and engaging them in conversations, are great ways to build their vocabularies. However, if they are exposed to interesting words only once, or a limited number of times, they may only have a partial understanding of the word meaning (Christ & Wang 2010). Children must be exposed to new words multiple times and in different contexts to fully understand their meaning.
 
How can you expose your child to new words?
 
1. One of the best things you can do is talk with your child—talk about their day, what you are doing together (e.g., making breakfast or folding clothes), or where you are going.
 
2. Establish family literacy routines. Read to your child daily and choose books with illustrations that provide clues as to what the words mean. Read books as many times as your child wants--the repetition helps with understanding and learning new words.
 
3. Designate a special place for reading that is comfortable and quiet.
 
4. Have conversations during story reading.
 
  • Ask your child questions about the story and illustrations.
  • Help your child use the illustrations to make predictions about what will happen next.
  • Explain the meaning of unfamiliar or interesting words.
  • Draw connections to your family life, community, or experiences.
 
5. Make your home a print-rich environment filled with fun ways to play with letters and words.
 
 Have storybooks in each room.
  • Label items throughout your home so that your child can connect a word with its meaning. Write the word on an index card with large, clear letters.
  • Place magnetic letters on the refrigerator that are accessible to your child so she can play with letters and writing.
  • Bring take-out menus home from restaurants and help your child find foods that he likes. Encourage your child to draw a picture of the foods and then help him write the foods name on a whiteboard or build the word with plastic letters.
  • Ask your child to help you write grocery lists or create a menu for the week.
  • Have conversations with your child about pictures that you find in magazines, books, or online.
  • Write the letters of the alphabet on index cards, and then tape them to a wall. Have your child help you find pictures with the beginning sounds of the letters, and tape the pictures underneath the letters. To get started, just make one index card with the first letter of your child’s name.
  • Let your child play with food boxes—point out the words and explain what the food is. Talk about their favorite food, and then help them write the word or build the word with plastic letters.  
  • Label photos of people in your home with the person’s name.
  • Take your child on a “word hunt.”
 
6. Visit the library.
 
7. Sing songs and teach your child nursery rhymes.
 
8. Make art projects that connect with the stories you read.
 
We hope some of these ideas are helpful to you as you celebrate National Reading Month this March!


TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS

Now-4/2 Corduroy, Children's Theatre, Mpls
3/3-3/19 Once on this Island, Jr., Stages Theatre, Hopkins
3/4 Kids' Film Fair 2023, Walker Art
3/12 Hardsmalta Pond Skim Festival, Hyland Hills, Bloomington
3/18 Rockin’ Robins Kids Music, Midtown Global Market
3/19 An Irish Day of Dance, Landmark, St. Paul


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

Center Directors:
Cathie Underwood and Jamie Kittleson
In case you missed it! EFC is opening a new location in SW Minneapolis this May. See the latest pictures here. If you know anyone who may be interested in this location, we always appreciate your referrals!
CONNECT WITH US