2015 Newsletter 

April Dates to Remember:

April 1 - April Fools Day

April 3rd - Good Friday - Daycare Closed

April 22 - Earth Day

 

April Reminders:

Please Refrain from Parking in the staff(teacher) parking lot, and the school bus lane when Picking up and Dropping off your children

Please ensure that your children have appropriate clothing to go outside each day.  They will need clothing to keep them warm and dry while they play outside.  Please also note that at times all of the children go out at the same time, therefore sharing clothing between siblings does not always work. Please ensure that each child has what they need to keep them warm and dry while they play together outside.

 

 

As We Grow..........................

Easter Family Fun
 
Celebrate the joy of Easter with your family by spending time together, making memories as you spend time together. Combining the holidays, family fun activities and food is a great way to enjoy each other.

 Bunny Pizza! This delicious treat is sure to please the whole family. Set out many different healthy options and let your family build their own pizza!
Ingredients: Offer a variety of healthy toppings (ex. Pineapple, olives, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, etc.) 3 tbsp of light olive oil Tomato Sauce Mozzarella Cheese Fresh Pizza Dough 
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Grease a baking sheet lightly with olive oil. 3. Roll out one big ball of dough for the bunnies head and 2 little ones for the bunnies ears. 4. Spread the tomato sauce (can substitute with olive oil). Add your favourite toppings. 5. Sprinkle with cheese. Using carrots or other toppings, make the face of your bunny. 6. Bake for approx.. 20-25 mins 

Dying Eggs

1. Plan Ahead for the Mess

Most egg dyes will stain, so wear aprons or old clothing you wouldn’t mind getting stained. You may want to cover the floor with an old shower curtain liner, just in case.

2. Hard Boil Eggs

Before dying eggs, it’s important that the eggs are hard boiled first. If the eggs are too fresh, they will be hard to peel, so try buying eggs about 5 days prior to boiling them.

3. Experiment with Techniques

Some of the prettiest designs can be made by not being afraid to experiment a bit. Some ideas include:

•        Try writing on your egg with white crayon to make stripes.

•        Start with a small amount of concentrated dye in a cup, add your egg, then add small amounts of water at a time to make ombre striped Easter eggs.

4. Use Whisks

To get a good “grip” on your egg, place it inside a wire whisk. No need to worry about the egg rolling off of a spoon!

Earth Day

The very first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. This day was created by American Senator, Gaylord Nelson, to make people aware of the importance of keeping our planet healthy and clean. On that day, people made promises to help the environment and make positive changes in their community. Since then, more than 500 million people in over 180 countries have participated in Earth Day activities

Here are some Earth Day Family activity Ideas :

•        go out and collect garbage in the park or your yard

•        prepare your garden

•        pre plant some seeds for the garden

•        turn out the lights, save electricity

•        make a craft using recycled materials.

•        talk about taking care of the earth everyday and what you can do together to take care of the earth.

                                                                          March

2015 - Newsletter

March Dates to Remember

Tuesday March 17th, 2015 - St. Patricks Day - Wear your green

Things to Remember:

-Please remember that we like to go outside everyday, therefore please ensure that your child has apporpriate outdoor clothing each day that they are at the child care centre.

-Please refrain from parking in the bus lane and School staff parking lot! This rule is in place for the safety of the school children and your children!

As We Grow....................

Time With Your Kids

Your Child(ren) may spend a lot of time in Child Care, yet you(their parents) are still the most influential on their development. Parent involvement is fundamental for children's mental health and well-being. Even the most ordinary events can turn into opportunities for bonding, communicating, and learning!

Some opportunities for bonding, communicating and learning can be as easy as :

-Instead of turning on the TV to entertain them while you get supper ready, have them make supper with you

-Have them help you clear the table and do the dishes

-Do homework and chores together, discuss what you are doing and communicate about the day.

-Have supper together at the table instead of infront of the TV

-Don't just send them to their space to play, go and play with them

-Read with them before bed, this will give you great bonding time, as well as instill a love for reading in your children, and can also help with the bed time routine.

2015 Newsletter

February Dates to Remember :

February 2nd - Ground Hog Day

February 10th - Ogema IMPACT

February 13th - Valentine's Party

February 16th - Family Day - DAYCARE CLOSED

IMPACT 2015 - This year’s IMPACT event will be held on February 10, 2015 from 4pm-6pm at Ogema School. All children turning 4 in 2015 (born in 2011) and their parents are invited to this year’s IMPACT event. Please Watch for your invitation!! If you don’t receive one and have a child born in 2011, please contact Tara West at Ogema TLC. We hope to see you there!

Valentine's - If you wish to send out valentines, a list can be found in the information pockets located at the bottom of the mail folders.

Family Photos - We are still looking for a photo of your family so that we may begin our family wall!

　

　

As we grow..............................

How Important is Nap TIme to Your Child?

The Importance of Naps Nap. It's a small word, but for most parents a hugely important one. Why? Sleep is a major requirement for good health, and for young kids to get enough of it, some daytime sleep is usually needed. Crucial physical and mental development occurs in early childhood, and naps provide much-needed downtime for growth and rejuvenation.

Naps also help keep kids from becoming overtired, which not only takes a toll on their moods but may also make it harder for them to fall asleep at night. And naptime gives parents a brief oasis during the day and time to tackle household chores or just unwind.

Sleep Needs by Age There's no one-size-fits-all answer regarding how much daytime sleep kids need. It all depends on the age, the child, and the sleep total during a 24-hour period. For example, one toddler may sleep 13 hours at night with only some daytime catnapping, while another gets 9 hours at night but takes a solid 2-hour nap each afternoon.

Though sleep needs are highly individual, these age-by-age guidelines give an idea of average daily sleep requirements:

Birth to 6 months: Infants require about 16 to 20 total hours of sleep per day. Younger infants tend to sleep on and off around the clock, waking every 2 or 3 hours to eat. As they approach 4 months of age, sleep rhythms become more established. Most babies sleep 10 to 12 hours at night, usually with an interruption for feeding, and average 3 to 5 hours of sleep during the day (usually grouped into two or three naps). 6 to 12 months: Babies this age usually sleep about 11 hours at night, plus two daytime naps totaling 3 to 4 hours. At this age, most infants do not need to wake at night to feed, but may begin to experience separation anxiety, which can contribute to sleep disturbances. Toddlers (1 to 3 years): Toddlers generally require 10 to 13 hours of sleep, including an afternoon nap of 1 to 3 hours. Young toddlers might still be taking two naps, but naps should not occur too close to bedtime, as they may make it harder for toddlers to fall asleep at night. Preschoolers (3 to 5 years): Preschoolers average about 10 to 12 hours at night, plus an afternoon nap. Most give up this nap by 5 years of age. School-age (5 to 12 years): School-age kids need about 10 to 12 hours at night. Some 5-year-olds might still need a nap, and if a regular nap isn't possible, they might need an earlier bedtime.

Signs of Insufficient Sleep Most parents underestimate the amount of sleep kids need, so be sure to watch your child's behavior for signs of sleep deprivation, which can range from the obvious — like fatigue — to more subtle problems with behavior and schoolwork.



Ask yourself:
Does my child act sleepy during the day?
Does my child get cranky and irritable in the late afternoon?
Is it a battle to get my child out of bed in the morning?
Is my child inattentive, impatient, hyperactive, or aggressive?
Does my child have trouble focusing on schoolwork and other tasks?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider adjusting your child's sleep or nap schedule. It may take several weeks to find a routine that works. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your child's sleep.

Naptime Routines and Other Concerns The key to good napping can be as simple as setting up a good nap routine early on and sticking to it. With infants, watch for cues like fussing and rubbing eyes, then put your baby to bed while sleepy but not yet asleep. This teaches kids how to fall asleep themselves — a skill that only becomes more important as they get older. Soft music, dim lights, or a quiet story or rhyme at bedtime can help ease the transition to sleep and become a source of comfort for your child.

For toddlers and preschoolers, sticking to a naptime schedule can be more challenging. Though many do still love their nap, others don't want to miss out on a minute of the action and will fight sleep even as their eyes are closing. In this case, don't let naptime become a battle — you can't force your child to sleep, but you can insist on some quiet time. Let your child read books or play quietly in his or her room. Parents are often surprised by how quickly quiet time can lead to sleep time — but even if it doesn't, at least your child is getting some much-needed rest. If your child has given up daytime naps, consider adjusting to an earlier bedtime.



Many parents worry that naptime will interfere with kids' bedtime (and if a child takes a late-afternoon nap, this could be the case). But before you end naps entirely in an effort to wear out your child by bedtime, consider this: Well-rested kids are quicker to settle down at night than overtired ones. Overtired kids are often "wired" and restless, unable to self-soothe at bedtime, and more likely to wake through the night.

If you feel your child's late naptime is the cause of bedtime problems, try making the nap a little bit earlier, which may mean waking your child a little earlier in the morning so the nap can begin sooner.

You might also try waking your child from a nap earlier than usual so he or she has a longer active period before bedtime. In other words, try to make some adjustments before abandoning the nap — both you and your child will feel much better if there is one!

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: January 2013

　

                                                                    2015 Newsletter

January Dates to Remember :

January 1 - Daycare CLOSED

January 14 - Annual General Meeting at 6:00pm

Annual General Meeting :

This meeting is one which you can find out about what has been going on at the centre, this meeting is for you, the members of Ogema Total Learning & Child Care. If your child is enrolled in the centre, you are a member and are invited to attend

Things to Remember :

Please remember we go outside everyday(as long as it is warmer then -28 with the windchill). Please ensure that your child has all the clothing which they will need to keep them warm and dry while the explore outdoors.

Family Photo :

We are going to be working on putting together a display of our families, if you could help us with this process by bringing a photo of your family which we can use here at daycare(one which you do not expect to get back)

Fundraising :

Thank you to everyone who participated in our fundraisers! With the money raised we were able to purchase garden boxes for our door space.

 

 

 

 

As We Grow.....................................

Canada's Food Guide

 

By eating the right amount and type of food recommended in Canada's Food Guide, children can get the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Young children can have small appetites which can sometimes make meal time a challenge. Check out some ideas on how to meet their needs.

Serve small nutritious meals and snacks each day.
Because preschoolers and young children have small stomachs, they need to eat small amounts of food more often throughout the day. One Food Guide Serving from a food group can be divided up into smaller amounts and served throughout the day. For example, half a Food Guide Serving of Meat and Alternatives can be served at two different meals such as one egg at lunch and about 30 g (1 oz.) of chicken for dinner.

 

 

Learn more about Food Guide Servings divided throughout the day with some sample menus for young children:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do not restrict nutritious foods because of their fat content. Offer a variety of foods from the four food groups.

 

 

 

Offer a variety of nutritious foods, including some choices that contain fat such as 2% milk, peanut butter and avocado.

 

 

 

Satisfy their thirst with water.

Encourage young children to drink water to quench their thirst and replenish body fluids. Canada 's Food Guide recommends that children and adults choose vegetables and fruit more often than juice. Children also need a total of 500 mL (2 cups) of milk every day to help meet their requirement for vitamin D.

Respect your children's ability to determine how much food to eat.

While parents and caregivers determine the selection of foods offered, young children can determine how much food they need. Throughout the day, children are able to adjust their intake. This explains why some children eat more at one meal than at another.

 

Be a good role model.

Be a role model for healthy eating. Start by having meals together as a family as often as possible. Turn off the TV. Set a good example. If your child sees you eating your vegetables - he/she will be more likely to eat them too!

 

Be patient.

If an unfamiliar food is rejected the first time, it can be offered again later. The more often children are exposed to a new food the more likely they are to accept it.

 

Organize fun physical activities.

 

 

Young children rely on parents and caregivers to provide opportunities for physical activity. Some ideas include: bicycling, walking, dancing, games of ball or tag in the summer and sledding or building a snowman in the winter. For more great ideas check out tips for being active.

The above information was found at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/choose-choix/advice-conseil/child-enfant-eng.php.

 

Sample Menu for a 3 year old

Breakfast

Smoothie made with 2% milk 125 mL (1/2 cup) and frozen berries 60 mL (1/4 cup) and Whole grain cereal with 2% milk 125 mL (1/2 cup)

Snack

Sliced banana 1/2 Bannana

Lunch

Butternut squash soup 125 mL (1/2 cup) and 1 Tuna wrap made with half of a whole wheat tortilla,(tuna 38 g 1 1/4 oz) and green peppers 60 mL (1/4 cup) and mayonnaise 5 mL (1 tsp) and 2% milk 125 mL (1/2 cup)

Snack

Cucumber slices 60 mL (1/4 cup) with dip 15 mL (1 Tbsp) and 2% milk 125 mL (1/2 cup)

Dinner/Supper

Stir fry made with broccoli, carrots and cauliflower [frozen medley]125 mL (1/2 cup) and 1 chicken 38 g (1 1/4 oz), and cooked brown rice 125 mL (1/2 cup) and Oil to cook stir fry 5 mL (1 tsp) and Roll 1/2 (18 g) with non hydrogenated margarine 5 mL (1 tsp)

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER

-December 19th - 1pm School Christmas Concert

-December 24th - Daycare Closed

-Daycare Closed DECEMBER 25 Due to Christmas

- Daycare Closed DECEMBER 26 Due to Boxing Day

-January 1st - Daycare Closed Due to New Years Day

January 14th - 6pm Annual General Meeting

　

Christmas is quickly approaching! From all of us to you, we wish your families a Safe and Happy Christmas with many memories made!

DECEMBER REMINDERS

-Please Remember that we like to go outside everyday! When it is cold we will go outside just for a shorter amount of time, therefore Please ensure that your child has the clothing necessary to keep them warm outdoors at daycare each day!

-Please be reminded that your child requires indoor shoes at the center each day.

 

 

 

As We Grow...................................................

 

The festive season provides many opportunities for parents to have fun with their children while naturally encouraging language development - simply by introducing new words, describing actions and asking open ended questions.

 

 

 

Christmas cookies

 

 

Ideal for hanging decorations or presents - and of course eating! Children will love this gooey activity, and have fun choosing different flavourings - such as ginger, mixed spice or lemon – to add to your basic biscuit dough. Don’t forget, most young children also love to wash up!

 

 

 

Christmas presents

 

 

While you’re wrapping parcels, give your child a selection of empty boxes and cardboard tubes, some old wrapping paper and masking tape. Older children can have scissors, cellotape and ribbons. Talk to them about the various box shapes and sizes, what could fit in them and how much paper they might need to cover them. You could let them put a soft toy inside the box before wrapping, and then together act out the ‘Dear Zoo’ story or read ‘Dear Santa’, both by Rod Campbell.

Christmas cards

 

 

There are so many ways to decorate a card, so try to avoid any set ideas you might have - let your child lead the way! The end result may be not what you had in mind, but your child will feel so proud of their own work if no one else has tampered with it. In any case, the youngest children will be just as interested in the glue as any materials they may put on!

Once the cards are dry, encourage your child to attempt to write their own name, praising them for their efforts. Also, why not make cards for relatives, place in envelopes and have a trip to the Post Office - which will provide plenty of opportunities for language and future play ideas. Suggested reading: ‘Jolly Christmas Postman’ by Janet & Allan Ahlberg.

Christmas outdoors

 

 

The outdoors offers wonderful opportunities for language development. And remember that for children, there is no such thing as bad weather - only bad clothing! So wrap up warm and head out to your local park. Run through the leaves, collect them and any other interesting nature resources; let you’re child look, touch and smell them. If it’s raining, put on your macs and wellies and jump in the puddles - look at the patterns they make if you move them with a stick. And if it snows, you simply have to build a snowman and make snowballs!

With all of the above activities, don't worry about the results: it's the doing of the activity that is important, not the finished article; give your child lots of praise and encouragement for their efforts, allowing them to attempt new skills but helping when needed. Most of all, enjoy your time together and have fun!

So, however you choose to enjoy Christmas, make the most of this time to have a truly memorable, magical Christmas with your children.

November Dates to Remember

November 11th, 2014 - Remembrance Day - Daycare Closed

November 20th, 2014 - National Child Day

November 22nd, 2014 - Ogema Market Place - at the Hall

November 22nd, 2014 - Mom's Pantry order Forms are Due

______________________________________________________________________________________

The weather is getting cooler. Please Ensure that your child has the appropriate clothing to keep them warm while they play outside



Please Refrain from parking in the bus lane when dropping off and picking up your children from Daycare. There are parking spots located on the other side of the trees.

Scholastic Book Orders are located on the wall above the Lockers. Each book ordered counts towards points, which the centre can use towards ordering books for the daycare library.

Save your Campbell's Soup Labels and bring them into Daycare. Each label counts as a point which can be used towards equipment, new toys, and craft supplies.

Please Ensure that your December and January Calendars are in no later then November 15th. This is so that we can ensure that we are staffed properly over the holidays, and we can go ahead and plan staff time off. Thank you :)

　

　

　

Little Poppy

Little poppy
Given to me,
Help me keep Canada
Safe and free.

I'll wear a little poppy,
As red as red can be,
To show that I remember
Those who fought for me

______________________________________________________________________________________

　

As We Grow..........................................



Here are a few simple ways that you can mark Remembrance Day with your family this year

At 11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month, people across the country will pause and observe a moment of silence to honour the men and women in Canada’s military service—those who have fallen, and those who remain.

Remembrance Day can be a difficult topic to broach with your children and it may even be difficult to know how to mark the day. To help, Veterans Affairs Canada has compiled a list of 50 ways to remember. From that list, we have selected five simple ideas that you can try as a family.

• Wear a poppy to honour those in uniform who have served Canada and also those who have died in service to our country.

• Attend Remembrance Day ceremonies or if you can’t go watch them on television. (Veterans Affairs has a list of ceremonies across Canada).

• Pause for one minute of silence at 11 a.m. to honour those who served and died in times of war, military conflict and peace.

• Thank a Veteran or Canadian Forces member for supporting peace and freedom efforts around the world (this could even be a family member or a family friend).

• Participate in "Write to the Troops" projects. Send special greetings to Veterans in local nursing homes or Canadian Forces members posted overseas. Visit the National Defence website to find out how.

You may also want to craft paper poppies with your children, as poppies are a symbol of Remembrance Day. We found a great poppy craft over at Learn Create Love that uses coffee filters, paint and pipe cleaners. Our food columnist Jill Dubien has a great snack idea that makes for a good lead-in to the topic of Remembrance Day as well.


What will your family be doing for Remembrance Day?
　

　



Celebrate National Child Day
What is National Child Day?

National Child Day is celebrated on November 20th each year. National Child Day has been celebrated across Canada since 1993 to commemorate the United Nations' adoption of two documents centered on children's rights: the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Childhttp://www.unicef.org/lac/spbarbados/Legal/global/General/declaration_child1959.pdf on November 20, 1959, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Childhttp://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx on November 20, 1989.

By ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, Canada made a commitment to ensure that all children are treated with dignity and respect. This commitment includes the opportunity for children to have a voice, be protected from harm and be provided with their basic needs and every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Celebrating National Child Day is about celebrating children as active participants in their own lives and in communities, as active citizens who can and should meaningfully contribute to decision-making.




　

OGEMA TOAL LEARNING & CHILD CARE WREATH FUNDRAISER

If you are interested in purchasing a wreath please contact a family which attends Ogema TLC or contact the office.  Order Forms are Due into the office no later then October 31, 2014, the wreaths will arrive in early December!

 

 

 

Bird Seed Cottage -$28.00

Bird Seed Trees x2 - $20.00

Bird Seed Wreath with Crate - $30.00

Live Christmas Wreath - $30.00