July 2011 Parent Page

In This Issue:

Unlocking Nature's Secrets in Summer

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North Queen Anne Child Care

First Free Methodist Church

Reading Recommendation

by Sandy Simmons

Do your children know that reading is an important part of your lifestyle? We often think that we need quietness to read--meaning that the children are sleeping, or you read on your bus or train commute, or on your lunch hour. While these times may be the most ideal to you, your children may not be witnessing your enjoyment of personal reading. It is something to think about.

Summer is an ideal time for family reading. I'm not talking about reading to children in this instance, even though it is an essential part of their pre-school development; I'm talking about creating a time when everyone in the family can be in the same room and enjoy their own books. Most toddlers who have had those board books read to them dozens of times are capable of sitting down and browsing through them remembering the words and stories while you enjoy your own book. Pre-schoolers can also browse through picture books or those amazing DK or Usborne non-fiction books with the beautiful illustrations. School age children can select a book from a summer reading list from their school or the library. And you can enjoy a nice summer read!

If you set aside a time for reading like this, the benefits are that they know you love reading and they are likely to love reading as well. It also helps them to learn that they do not need your constant, undivided attention and can enjoy quietly being together without interaction for 20-45 minutes, depending on their ages. Doing this 2-3 times a week at home or on your vacation can add a nice dimension to your summer as you promote reading in the lives of your children, and slow the family pace a little.

Concerning school-age reading, Sable Verity has a wonderful article in the June 22 edition of the Queen Anne News (Opinion, page 4), "Keep your children reading this summer." She lists "three things for a successful reading plan:
. Access to books and other reading materials
. A dictionary or access to one (as crucial to reading comprehension)
. Time to talk about what they are reading."

In July and August NQACC will post near the sign-in station a poster on which you may write in what you, or your children are enjoying reading this summer.

Read on,

Sandy Simmons

New Bridges Building Bridges

Greetings!

We are thankful to have an opportunity to share a small portion of your child's early years with you. This time of year is often difficult for our teachers as we see our children going on to Kindergarten and a few following parents on to new jobs. We are thankful to have a few come back for before and after school, as well as some returning each year for the summer. If your family is part of the group we are saying farewell to this summer - we look forward to hearing how you are doing and how your child is settling in to their new school.

Just as we recognize that we only have a short time with your children, sometimes we only have a short time with some of our teachers as well. It is with a very similar bitter-sweetness that we are wishing Dana Munn and Vicky Lee a farewell. They will both be heading off to new adventures in their lives and their last day with us will be this Friday - July 1!

Dana and her family are moving to the eastern side of the state to live closer to family. Dana began at NQACC somewhere around 2006 as a parent and then joined our staff in 2008. She has helped in almost all of our classrooms, worked in a variety of fundraising efforts, scholastic books, eScrip, Move-A-Thon, Auction, Bake Sale and she and her husband offered their painting skills a few years ago for the wonderful paint work in our classrooms.

Vicky joined us in 2009 after graduating with a degree in journalism from Point Loma Nazarene University in California. Vicky has worked with the Green Monkeys and the Blue Birds. She has helped with editing our Parent Page, and offered her skills in creating a humourous training video for our staff. She has found a job that will utilize her journalism degree and writing skills to their fullest.

We will truly miss both of these ladies, as they have brought laughter, joy, enthusiasm, and fun to the children and our entire staff. However, just like the children that we will be sending off to kindergarten in a few months, we want to support and encourage both of these ladies on the next step of their journey.

While we are saying goodbye to Dana and Vicky we are welcoming Cara and Paula to our team! Cara will be working in the Orange Giraffe classroom alongside Jess. Paula is going to be a third person working in our Green Monkey Classroom. We will be looking at our in-house teachers for someone to take Vicky's place in the Blue Bird classroom.

We look forward to Dana and Vicky checking in on us from time to time - saying hi and letting us know how they are doing.

Unlocking Nature's Secrets In Summer

By Mary Ann Abbott, Parent Consultant

North Seattle Community College

THE SCENE: A young child bends over a plant in the park. Mother is nearby.

"Does a ladybug have wings? Where are they? Can I see? How come the bug is so small? Will it hurt me? What's an aphid? Can I see? What's that gooey stuff?"

THE SCENE: Dad and his child are walking in the woods, near a lake.

"Why do we have flies? Are there any bees around here? I don't like bees! Can I see the dragonfly's wings? Pretty! What's that buzzing noise? Is it a bee? Yuck, that water's dirty!"

THE SCENE: Checking out groceries at the store.

"Why are we bringing our bags to the grocery store? I really wanted a plastic bag, so I could make a parachute. What's the 'carpon' footprint? What's "green?" Our bag wasn't green."

QUESTIONS! WE GET QUESTIONS, EVERY DAY! Parents have experiences like the above ones every day. Children want to know about the world - they want to know about everyday life. They want to know "why?" Children can ask the most complicated questions!

Recently I attended a seminar about how children can learn about the natural world - science learning. I was reminded that young children are eager to explore the world's secrets. And, the learning can take place in the most ordinary places and with the most ordinary things -and with their parents!

Professor Greg Brazell from Pierce College believes parents have a pivotal role in making scientific learning happen. He thinks fun, relaxed parent involvement can make science inviting and exciting. I agree!

Here are a few of Prof. Brazell's suggestions for parents to make learning come alive:

(1) Children need a tool kit! He suggests arming children and their parents with a magnifying glass and plastic tweezers. How better to explore the world! Maybe add a measurement tool, such as a ruler or a string, and maybe a flashlight. It takes a magnifying glass to really "see" an ant. It takes both a magnifying glass and tweezers to see the parts of a tulip. What shape is a tulip petal? One can separate the inside parts and finally see the flower design inside. What about a rose? How is it different? Roses come in many colors-and so do butterflies! Maybe these examinations call for another tool - a digital camera! The summer is filled with wonderful opportunities to explore with these tools! Don't forget the old "sniffer," a wonderful sense to use.

(2) Children process learning from open-ended questions. Parents can nurture and model flexible thinking through questions such as: "What do you see here?" "How is this different from ...?" "What will happen if ...?" "Do you have an idea of how ...?" "Can you think of another reason?" "What do you think about ...?" "What are some ways to ...?" "Why do you feel that way ...?" "Does this remind you of anything?" Probing in this way helps the children think through their experiences and verbalize what they've learned. It's a great conversation opportunity!

(3) A positive attitude brings it all together. The encounter should be fun and not hard to do. Put simply, it's about discovery together. It's about doing activities in the natural world that are fun, unstructured, and hands-on. It's all in the first-hand exploring -- feeling the tickle of a feather and touching the microscopic hairs, gently touching a gooey worm in the dirt, following the intentional path of a northwest slug, charting the new leaf development on a tree, watching a bird take a bath. And, follow-up conversation.

Parents have unique opportunities every day to share learning in the natural world.

Parents hear the "why?" questions in the car, on a hike, at grandma's house.

Parents experience the eagerness "to know" -one question leading to another-- when putting their children to bed.

Parents are the trusted people to whom a young child goes for the "real answer - the real truth."

Parents are there when a child brings a "treasure" in from the yard.

Parents are there when young children express fears and wonderings about life and creatures.

Parents are there in the woods as Mt. Raineer hovers over a lake and a blue heron flies in.

Parents are there when a toad jumps from the bushes to the walking path.

Parents are there when a child spies nature's secrets in the backyard, in the garden, in a park, on the beach, or in the ocean.

It's summer! Let's explore the natural world together! Don't forget the tool kit! And, there's always Wikipedia and Google for questions that stump parents!

Off My Wall:

"Promise yourself not to try to solve all of life's problems at once."

(This is cut out of an old calendar hanging on my office wall. Reminding me, a busy working parent, just like a lot of you, to take things one day at a time.)

Sincerely,

Royale Lockhart
North Queen Anne Child Care