Thompson Integrated EC Newsletter
February 2015
Principal’s News:
Happy February!
Wow! The month of January quickly went by and it’s hard to believe that it’s February already. February is a great month to learn and do things with your child. In my research, I learned some interesting things. Did you know that Facebook was launched on February 4, 2004, as thefacebook.com? I also learned that Hershey’s Chocolate was founded on February 9, 1894. Of course, with it being Valentine’s Day, this is a great time to try something new and learn together. I found a lot of great activities that I could do with my kids.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Lamb Caro, EC Administrator
Keeping Kids Healthy!
**Keep your eyes open for Schools on the Move!This month Early Childhood is participating in the Schools on the Move Challenge! Schools on the Move is a one-month program to encourage, students, families and school staff to adopt the 5210 healthy habits. Anyone who returns a completed Schools on the Move calendar at the end of the month, will earn a free T-Shirt! Be sure to complete a calendar for each person who is participating. (Again, this is for students, family members and school staff!)
Have you heard of 5210?
5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
2 or less hours of recreational screen time each day.
1 or more hour of activity each day.
0 sugary drinks each day.
Tips:
· All children should eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. One serving for a preschooler is roughly the size of the palm of their hand.
· Keep screen time (like TV, video games, computer) down to 2 hours or less per day. Screen time includes TV, computer and video games. All are important to limit.
· Everyone should have 1 hour or more of physical activity every day.
· Drink 0 sugar-sweetened drinks. Replace soda pop, sports drinks and even 100% fruit juice with milk or water. Try water and low-fat milk instead of soda and drinkswith high sugar content.
There is much more information on 5210 online at: http://pvhs.org/body.cfm?id=2211&fr=true
Early Childhood Health Coordinator,
Christiana Shorten (970)613-0749
Social Emotional Resources
Now that we’re into the second semester, your child will be learning some more advanced social and emotional skills. One of these skills will be to learn to solve their own problems. When preschool aged children are learning to share, manage their feelings and interact with others, conflicts and struggles will often arise. It is our job to give them some tools to use to make solving these problems a little easier. Some of the tools they will learn to use include:
Ø Getting a timer to use when taking turns
Ø Getting an adult to help out
Ø Asking nicely for a toy or a turn
Ø Saying “please stop”
You may find that some of these tools will help at home as well!
Mary Bowman, Mental Health Coordinator, 613-6179
Banana in a Blanket
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
1 (6 inch) whole wheat tortilla
1 Tbsp reduced-fat smooth peanut butter
1 medium banana
1 tsp maple syrup or honey
1 Tbsp cruncy, nutty nugget cereal (Grape-Nuts or something like that)
Lay tortilla on a plate. Spread peanut butter evenly on the tortilla. Sprinkle cereal over peanut butter.
Peel and place banana on the tortilla and roll the tortilla. Drizzle maple syrup or honey on top.
Optional: garnish with more cereal on top.
Nutritional information:
Calories: 303
Total fat: 6.4 g
Saturated fat: 1.2 g
%calories from fat: 17%
Protein: 9 g
Carbohydrates: 63 g
Dietary fiber: 7 g
Family Engagement
A Checklist for Parents
“You are your child’s most powerful agent in his and her education”
Please look over the following list of helpful tools and suggestions you can use at home to promote your child’s learning and well-being. If there are some things you don’t know about yet or would like more information about, speak to your Teacher, Classroom Para or Family Service Provider.
Safety Rules
Cozy Corner
Calming Down Steps
Problem-Solving
Promoting independence and self-esteem
Tips on reading to my child
Picking out good books for my preschooler
Building vocabulary through good conversations
Toys for learning
Routines at home
Good habits for good health
TV Viewing and Media Time
Teaching the behaviors you want
There may be other things you have seen in your child’s classroom
you would like to try at home.
Ask us! We’d love to help!
Have you noticed the “Learning Targets” posted in your child’s room? These are the short term focused skill that your child’s teacher is helping your child learn. Noticing these targets and talking about them at home with your child can help reinforce their learning at school. It is amazing how much the children can remember from one environment to the other, and this carry-over helps them retain the learning for life.
www.facebook.com/ThompsonIntegratedEarlyChildhood
Get fun ideas, information on school events, and sometimes just a nice message to help your day go well.
We are also on the web at:
http://tinyurl.com/thompsonec