Hello Toddler 1 Families!
We have been so thankful for the pictures we have been receiving of your child doing certain activities at home. Each time we receive a picture, it brightens our day and brings a smile to our faces. This week we are celebrating two events at our center, Week of the Young Child and our online Book Fair! Below you will find out more information about these two events.
This week we have a couple of teacher birthday’s to celebrate in our classroom! We want to wish a Happy belated Birthday to Joy and a Happy Birthday to Krysten and Sam this week!
Joy: April 12th Krysten: April 15th Sam: April 18th
Picture Challenge
To start off the week, we will give another picture challenge. Last week, we wanted to see pictures of your favorite animal– a pet, a stuffed animal, or a picture of your child holding a picture of their favorite animal. With all the rain and warm weather we have had, nature has really started to bloom. This week, your picture challenge is to send us a picture of your with flowers. We can’t wait to see all the different flowers your children may see! Keep an eye out in next week’s letter for pictures of the flowers your teachers find and WOYC activities we participated in!
This week we celebrate the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child and our online Book Fair! You can visit https://www.naeyc.org/events/woyc to learn more about NAEYC and WOYC.
Our WOYC committee had put together daily activities we would celebrate with. Even though we aren’t at the center, we are still going to celebrate, just from a distance! Below you will find the theme and spirit wear for each day of the week. Some of the days were changed from what NAEYC suggests and new themes were made. An activity is provided for each day, or you can be creative and come up with your own way to celebrate!
Music Monday
Spirit Wear: Red/Black Huskie Spirit Dress
Activity: Make Your Own Instrument
- Use recyclables: oatmeal canisters, plastic bottles, boxes, lids, paper towel tubes, etc.
- Fill with: rocks, sand, dirt, or any other ideas you may have to create a sound when shaken
- Pots and pans, plastic bowls, plastic cups, and serving utensils can also be used to create music
Benefits:
- Physical Development (Fine Motor): Children demonstrate the ability to coordinate their small muscles in order to move and control objects.
- Cognitive Development (Creative Expression): Children demonstrate the ability to convey ideas and emotions through creative expression.
Tasty Treat Tuesday
Spirit Wear: Tacky and Wacky Dress
Activity: Smoothies
Use fruit or vegetables you may have at home. This is a great way for children to eat their fruits and vegetables, by blending them all together. Spinach, kale, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, and mangoes are just a few ideas.- Put chosen fruits and/or vegetables into a blender and add water. When I make smoothies, I usually do about ½ cup to ¾ cup water. If the smoothie is too thick, add more water to make it thinner and easier for the children to drink. Ice can also be blended in as well to make the smoothie colder.
- If your child does not want to drink it, you could always add the smoothie to a bowl and let them eat it with a spoon, or you can freeze them in molds to make Popsicles.
Benefits:
- Social Emotional (Relationship with Adults): Children demonstrate the desire and develop the ability to engage, interact, and build relationships with familiar adults.
- Physical Development (Fine Motor): Children demonstrate the ability to coordinate their small muscles in order to move and control objects.
- Language Development (Receptive Communication): Children demonstrate the ability to comprehend both verbal and nonverbal communication.
- Cognitive Development (Quantity and Numbers): Children demonstrate the awareness of quantity, counting, and numeric competencies.
- Cognitive Development (Science Concepts and Exploration): Children demonstrate a basic awareness of and use scientific concepts.
Work Out Wednesday
Spirit Wear: Workout Clothes
Activities:
- Yoga
- Dancing
- Bike riding
- Obstacle Course
Whatever your activity may be, enjoy moving and exercising!
Benefits:
- Physical Development (Gross Motor): Children demonstrate strength, coordination, and controlled use of large muscles.
- Physical Development (Fine Motor): Children demonstrate the ability to coordinate their small muscles in order to move and control objects.
- Cognitive Development (Safety and Well-Being): Children demonstrate the emerging ability to recognize risky situations and respond accordingly.
Eisa also found Stretch-n-Grow of Illinois. There are physical activities you can sign up for, but they also have Facebook fitness classes for children every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 a.m.! Here is a link to their website: https://sngillinois.com/.
Thank the Community Thursday
Spirit Wear: Dress as your favorite Community Worker
Activity: Giving Back to the Community
NAEYC says that Thursday is Artsy Thursday. For this day, consider drawing a picture for our essential workers in the community. If you aren’t comfortable going out in public to deliver your drawing, you can always mail a letter or drawing to an essential worker. During these uncertain times, receiving something from a young child may bring a smile to their face.
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Mail Carriers
- Veterinarian Clinics
- Garbage Collectors
- Paramedics
- Police Officers
- Firefighters
- Doctors
Benefits:
- Physical Development (Fine Motor): Children demonstrate the ability to coordinate their small muscles in order to move and control objects.
Family Friday
Spirit Wear: Pajama Day
Activity: Chat with Family
It has probably been a while since you have been able to see some of your family members. Consider calling them on the phone, video chatting with them via Zoom, Skype, Facebook Messenger–the list could go on and on. I’m sure it would brighten their days to hear from you!
Benefits:
- Social and Emotional Development (Relationship with Adults): Children demonstrate the desire and develop the ability to engage, interact, and build relationships with familiar adults.
- Language Development (Social Communication): Children demonstrate the ability to engage with and maintain communication with others.
This week marks the beginning of our online book fair through Scholastic. Starting April 13th and continuing through April 26th, you will have the opportunity to shop for books for your children. These sales help support the Child Development and Family Center, and also enhances your children’s literacy skills. Should you purchase any books, these will be delivered to your homes, with free shipping on orders over $25. We will have another Book Fair at the center in the fall. Thank you for your support! https://www.scholastic.com/bf/niuchilddevandfamilycenter
We hope that you are all doing well and staying healthy and safe. As the days and weeks pass, we think about you all the time and can’t wait for the day that we return to the center. As always, if you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here for you through this!
Have a great week!
Krysten, Ecila, Eisa, and Tena
