Issue: # 55April 21, 2014
                       

"When you carry out acts of kindness, you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, yes, this is how I ought to feel."

-Harold Kushner
News

Have you ever wondered about your child's development? Maybe wanted to find some activities to do with your child? Or perhaps you are seeking some positive parenting tips. Now there's a website that contains all these and more.

 

Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive contains resources for families concerning the development and health of your child. You can print a Developmental Screening Passport to track your child's development and milestones. There is information on what milestones to look for at each age, ideas of ways to interact with your child to enhance development, and parenting tips for each stage of development.

Preschool 
Campus Building Walk
 

Construction Zone

As our focus remains on buildings, we are diving into the concept of construction. Students explore construction materials using our tool bench. Children build social skills by working together to be construction workers using hammers, saws, screws, safety vests and hard hats. In the block area, children use measuring tapes and rulers to measure the structures they build.

 

We are reading many books that will help us build our construction vocabulary, including names of various construction vehicles. On Thursday, we are walking to a construction site on campus to get a real life experience of the sounds, sites, and smells at a construction site.

 

Focus Questions: "Who builds buildings?" and "What tools do they use?"

Toddler
Construction Site Field Trip
 
Toddler Trikes

With sidewalks finally free of snow and ice, the toddlers have once again been able to enjoy utilizing the plethora of outdoor toys that have been stored away all winter. An outdoor climber, chalk, bubbles, and sand toys now provide a great deal of fun and excitement during our daily outdoor time together. However, the ever-favorite toys remain the scooters and trikes!

 

Children are often motivated to ride a tricycle by a desire for action and independence. Aside from being a fun seasonal activity, trikes lend themselves to group play and provide a healthy outlet for children's energy. A tricycle is also an excellent toy to develop large motor coordination. Younger toddlers push with their feet on the ground, working to coordinate their legs and arms as they learn how to push and steer at the same time. This gross motor development is necessary for children to eventually learn how to ride larger bikes.

 

As children grow, they begin to experiment with using the pedals on a tricycle. They learn by trial and error that if they move their feet in a certain way on the pedals, they can go forward or backward. As children practice pedaling they also learn about momentum; it's easy to go down a gentle slope, but very hard to pedal up a hill.

 

This is the perfect age for children to begin to build the skills and coordination necessary to ride a bicycle. If your family has the outdoor space to accommodate a small tricycle or scooter this spring or summer, I would highly encourage you to do so. It may become a family activity that you will be able to enjoy for years to come!


                  

Phone: (269) 387-2277                                    
Email: [email protected]
Website: wmich.edu/childcare                                       
In This Issue
Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive
Preschool
Toddler
Important Dates
KC Ready 4s
Things To Do
Tax Information
Important Dates 
Billing for 
Apr. 21-May 2
Due Apr. 22
  Late by May 2
 
Preschool Field Trip to construction site
Thurs. Apr. 24
Will Your Child be 4 years old by Oct. 1, 2014?
  
The Children's Place Learning Center is a KC Ready 4s and GSRP approved site. These programs offer tuition assistance to attend our Preschool Program.
  
Please see Kathy for an application or more information.

         

Gilmore Festival Family Concert 

 

Saturday, April 26

 

Two Shows:

10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Oshtemo Branch 

 Library

 

A Grand Piano in the Library!

 

Classical music that sounds like pop and pop music that sounds classical! A grand piano in the library!

 

Billboard topping artists, Anderson & Roe are known for their adrenaline-filled performances.

 

Join us for an informal piano concert in the round.

 

All ages welcome!

Tax Season Information

Tax information is available at the bottom of your child's billing statement.

 

On each statement through April, your statement will include a line "Yr. Total 2013". This is the amount of child care tuition you were billed for 2013. Our Tax ID is also listed under this line.

 

If you need additional copies or other information, Kathy or Anne should be able to help you.