EC News Readers!
We're inviting you to check out our February edition of The Buzz. This monthly newsletter is a great resource for families! Text
FAMILYSPEAK to 22828
to subscribe or click
HERE
!
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K is for KINDERGARTEN!
Kindergarten is an exciting and critical time in your child’s development and growth. You can play an important role in this wonderful journey. Here are some helpful steps to get the journey started off in the right direction.
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- Plan a kindergarten visit. Visiting the new classroom or school with your child will help make preparing for kindergarten easier. If possible, meet with your child’s new kindergarten teacher. Kindergarten orientation is time for you to introduce your child and yourself to the teacher. Remember there will be lots of children and families attending, so save in-depth conversations about your child for another time.
- Keep informed of school happenings. Be sure to read the information that is shared with you about school happenings. Keep informed and don't be afraid to ask questions!
- Establish bedtime routines. Resume the regular bedtime routines about a month before school starts to help ease the kindergarten transition. You will be glad you did this as the first few weeks can be exhausting for a new kindergartner.
- Establish a morning routine. Having a morning routine will save you time and frustration. See how long it takes in the morning to get to school before that first day. A "dry run" will help with time management. Remember, school preparation almost always takes more time than you think.
- Plan time for breakfast. Having a good breakfast before leaving for school is important. Be sure to adjust your morning schedule to account for the extra time for your child to enjoy breakfast. Nervous tummies don't need a huge breakfast that first day.
- Create a lunch plan. Be sure your child understands the lunch plan. This can be very confusing for a kindergartner who thinks they might want to eat what the school is serving instead of the lunch you may have prepared.
- Decrease or phase out naps. For preschoolers who still take a nap, begin decreasing nap time so that he/she will be ready for a full day by the time kindergarten starts.
- Make a plan for before- and after-school. Make sure you and your child know the routine for before- and after-school care if that applies. Discuss where he/she will go, how he/she will get between school and child care, how he/she will get home, etc. Have a back-up plan for what to do in case you are late. Be sure that your emergency pick-up people know where the new school or after-school program is located and what the pick-up routine is there. Better to prepare ahead of time than wait for an emergency.
- Connect with your child's teacher. It is important to give yourself and your child a chance to “bond” with the new teacher. Give time for the new relationship to develop between you, your child, and the new teacher as you all adjust to the kindergarten classroom.
- Go shopping together for school supplies. Let your child choose colors or styles for their school supplies. This is a fun activity when getting ready for kindergarten!
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Kindergarten Registration Dates for 2020- 2021
For information about kindergarten registration dates for the 2020-2021 school year, you may wish to contact school districts directly. Below are the links to the registration page for each school district. While your " home" school district is determined by your street address, parents may apply for "optional enrollment" to attend a school of choice during open enrollment windows.
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Building language and literacy in February with these sweet stories!
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Froggy's First Kiss
By: Jonathan London
He can't even think straight when she's around. When Frogilina smiles at him through the monkey bars, Froggy falls smack on his head-bonk! So with Valentine's Day just a week away, Froggy gets busy making an extra-special valentine.
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Happy Valentine's Day Mouse!
By: Laura Numeroff
Mouse is making Valentine's Day cards for his friends. As he makes each one, he thinks about what he loves about them. Just as he is getting ready to give out his valentines, there is a knock on the door ... all of his friends have brought
him
special valentines.
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One Love
By: Cedella Marley
One love, one heart, let's get together and feel all right. Adapted from one of Bob Marley's most beloved songs,
One Love
brings the joyful spirit and unforgettable lyrics to life for a new generation. Readers will delight in dancing to the beat and feeling the positive groove of change when one girl enlists her community to help transform her neighborhood for the better. It's a testament to the amazing things that can happen when we all get together with one love in our hearts.
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Love Monster And The Last Chocolate
By: Rachel Bright
When Love Monster comes home from vacation, he discovers a box of chocolates on his doorstep. He knows he should share it with his friends, but what if there's none left for him after everyone has a piece? What if they take his favorite-the double chocolate strawberry swirl? And even worse-what if the only piece left is the coffee-flavored one? Ick! In the end, Love Monster learns that sharing with friends is the sweetest treat of all.
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Love, Splat
By: Rob Scotton
It’s Valentine’s Day and Splat has a special valentine for a certain someone in his class. Her name is Kitten, and Splat likes her even more than fish sticks and ice cream. But Kitten doesn’t seem to like him at all. And then there’s Splat’s rival, Spike, who also likes Kitten. Will Splat’s heartfelt valentine win Kitten’s paw in the end?
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Pete the Cat Valentine's Day Is Cool
By: James Dean
At first, Pete thinks Valentine's Day isn't cool...until he realizes all the special cats there are in his life.
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The Day It Rained Hearts
By: Felicia Bond
One day it rains hearts, and Cornelia Augusta catches them. She realizes that the hearts are perfect for making valentines. Each heart is special in its own way, and Cornelia Augusta knows exactly who to send them to: her animal friends.
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How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?
By: Jane Yolen & Mark Teague
Parents and children can never have enough ways to say "I love you"--and now, America's favorite dinosaurs are giving families a funny book, perfect for bedtime, story time, anytime. Even when little dinosaurs are naughty, it's important to remind them that no matter what they do, they are always loved. In this book, readers will laugh aloud as parents cope with the typical antics of childhood, but in the end, hugs and kisses show your little one how much you care.
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Fun February Ideas that Promote The Early Learning and Development Guidelines... otherwise known as the ELDGs!!
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Baby Sensory Bags!
Looking for a fun sensory experience for you little learners? How about a Sensory Bag Exploration activity for some tummy time fun!
First:
Fill gallon size baggies with a variety of textures and shapes: pom poms , straws, sponges, cotton balls, crayons, hair gel , water with floaties inside, the ideas are endless.
Next:
Take duct tape and tape around all the edges to avoid anything from escaping out of the bag.
Finally:
Tape the bags to the floor with duct tape. Your little ones will enjoy exploring with their sense of touch. This activity can be made seasonally as well for some fun variation. This is also a great way to encourage some tummy time and physical development.
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CANDY HEART SALT DOUGH SENSORY PLAY
Candy heart salt dough sensory play! These candy hearts make for perfect
Valentine’s early learning play
! Candy heart salt dough is the perfect, quick and easy sensory play recipe you have to try! The possibilities are endless with one simple bag of conversation heart candies!
Recipe:
Mix 1 C of Flour
1 C of Table Salt
1/2 C of Water
That's all you need! If it is a little dry depending upon your climate, add little amounts of water. Place on a tray with candy hearts, cookie cutters, pipe cleaners, and whatever else you may want to add.
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Building Social & Emotional Development
10 Ways to Show Love for Babies and Toddlers on Valentine's Day... click
HERE
.
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Helpful Tax Information For Families
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Get Ahead Colorado: Tax Credits for Working Families Public Information Campaign
For more than 25 years, The
Piton Foundation
has been conducting a public information campaign, now called
Get Ahead Colorado
. The annual campaign raises awareness about valuable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and shares information about free tax assistance through
Tax Help Colorado
.
As part of the campaign, you can access a suite of free educational materials for
partners
. Visit the
online store
to order or download copies today.
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Family
SPEAK is a project of Alliance for Kids, El Paso County's Early Childhood Council
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