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