Greetings!
ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, JULY 4, FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY. WE WISH EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEKEND!
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WELCOME, ANDREA
We’d like to officially welcome Andrea to her new role as co-director at Edinborough Especially for Children. Andrea comes to our program with near 30 years of experience working with young children. She holds an Early Childhood Education Specialist Diploma from Rasmussen College, and has worked as both a teacher and director prior to joining us. Please stop by and welcome her to her new role!
DADS & GRANDPAS
Many thanks to the dads & grandpas who stopped by for a root beer float treat a few weeks ago! From the first EFC root beer float party... to the last…
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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Fire and tornado safety are important to us at EFC! Each month, we practice these drills, so the children and teachers know what to do in case of an emergency. Feel free to discuss fire and tornado safety at home, and make sure you have a plan in place for your family as well.
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READ-A-STORY THEATER
Read-A-Story theater will be here on Friday, July 8, to tell stories to our toddlers and preschoolers, starting around 10 AM. The Read-A-Story theater group consists of senior men & women who dress up & perform children’s stories to groups of young children. At the July visit, we will get to listen to the following stories: Too Much Noise, Three Billy Goats Gruff and Stuck in the Tub.
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SUMMER VACATIONS=VACATION CREDITS
Please let us know about any vacation time you plan on taking this month by writing your child’s name on the calendar located on the parent table in the hallway. If you are on vacation for five weekdays in a row and have been with us for more than 6 months, you are eligible for a half-week tuition credit. To receive the credit, you need to complete an account adjustment form (also located at the parent table by the office).
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ANNA VACATION
Anna will be on vacation starting Friday, July 15, returning on Tuesday, August 2. Andrea and Sarah, Inver Grove Heights assistant director, will be available in the office during Anna’s absence.
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SUMMER SHOES & SUNSCREEN REMINDER
Make sure your child comes to school in closed toed & closed heel shoes for safe outdoor activities. We know that sandals are fun to wear but would appreciate appropriate shoes while at the center. Flip flops are not allowed at EFC.
Please also bring in a bottle of non-aerosol sunscreen (labeled with your child’s first & last name) for your child since we will be going outside more frequently. We look forward to a fun outdoor season!!
Waterbottles are permitted at EFC but must be brought to school and back home each day. They must also be labeled with your child’s first and last name. We appreciate your help!
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STAR WELLNESS FOOD, FITNESS & FUN
Here are some fun outdoor activities and patriotic recipe that you may try at home…
ACTIVITY: Scoop Ball
AGE LEVEL: Preschool
EQUIPMENT NEEDED: Empty and washed plastic milk or “Tide” bottles with handles, a tennis ball, nylon stocking ball, yarn ball, or Nerf ball
SKILL DEVELOPMENT: The child gains gross motor skills by throwing with control.
DIRECTIONS: Make a scoop out of the plastic bottle by cutting it off at an angle, starting below the handle. Try different angles. Tape edges with duct tape. Start by having the children move the ball in the scoop, without dropping the ball. Then let them throw the ball into the air using the scoop and catch it again in the scoop. Next, let them toss the ball back and forth to each other using the scoops. As the children gain success, they may move further back. Have fun!
ACTIVITY: Water Transfer
AGE LEVEL: Toddlers
EQUIPMENT NEEDED: 2 buckets, sponges, water
SKILL DEVELOPMENT: Fine motor, hand strength
DIRECTIONS: Have the child help you put water in 1 bucket. Show the child how to squeeze the sponge to deposit water into the other bucket, let the child continue to transfer the water from one bucket to the other.
FRUIT SPARKLERS HOW TO:
- Cut watermelon vertically into 1-inch-thick slices.
- Use a small star cookie cutter to cut out star shapes from the flesh of each watermelon round.
- Thread 7-10 blueberries into the center of each bamboo skewer, leaving enough space at the end for someone to be able to comfortably hold it, and a space at the top for the watermelon star.
- Place the watermelon star on top and set the fruit sparklers on a serving tray. Cover and refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
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TIME TO INVESTIGATE
(Originally published: July 2017)
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When children are interested or intrigued by an object or an idea, they need to dig deep and explore.
- Judith Pack, Early Childhood Education Consultant
One of the most important characteristics we can foster in our children is that of curiosity. We have previously written that children are naturally inclined to have inquisitive minds—it is how they begin to understand the world around them.
Following a child’s lead and asking open-ended questions are two ways to foster a child’s sense of curiosity. These interactions flow out of our conversations in a natural way, but we can also create opportunities for discovery through planned activities, such as science experiments. The field of science provides a method of investigation, hypothesis and trial and error that can spark (sometimes endless!) curiosity.
If you have ideas that you’ve tried in your family, we would love for you to share them in the Comments section of the blog!
Human Sundial Shadow Experiment
In this experiment, children record the size of their shadows throughout the day using sidewalk chalk. Through observations and questions, children can learn about the rotation of the earth and how time relates to the position of the earth relative to the sun. Get all the details on this activity here:
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Filtering Water Experiment
Children filter dirty water through coffee filters, paper towels, colanders, etc. to see what gets left behind. Children compare and contrast the effectiveness of different filters and learn about liquids and solids. For more details, check out:
Balloon Rocket Experiment
Using string and balloons, children create a zipline from which they launch their balloon rockets. Children can learn about force, friction, angles, speed and more! For info on setting up your balloon rocket, go to:
Have fun with your investigations!
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
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Especially for Children
3300 Edinborough Way
Edina MN 55435
(952) 835-0505
Center Director
Anna Wilson
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