MARCH 2018
CARING for PETS
Craft: EASY NO-BAKE BIRD FEEDERS
Hats off to Dr. Seuss' Birthday March 2! Playworks will be celebrating with a special menu, themed artwork, and a movie.
Welcome to PW’s Playhouse Unleash your imagination in March by celebrating the magic of Dr. Seuss month! Playworks plans to pull inspiration from Dr. Seuss’ books to provide our students with engaging activities, yummy snacks, and themed artwork on the author’s birthday, March 2. This month, Playworks preschool and pre-K classrooms will be investigating pets. What’s not to love about our canine, feline, or other furry companions? Students will learn about different types of pets, what pets eat, how pets communicate, and how to properly care for pets. Have your kiddo flip to page 4 for tips on pet care responsibilities. The infant and toddler classrooms will concentrate on experiences while playing with toys. Research shows that learning through play is an important part of a child’s development. Incorporating age-appropriate toys into a child’s learning can also help them learn many different skills needed throughout their life, such as problem-solving, causeand-effect connections, creativity and imagination, and how to share with others. Toys that encourage children to play with their peers also helps to build social skills. As winter comes to an end and we are gearing up for spring, remember to set your clocks one hour ahead for Daylight Saving Time on March 11. And don’t forget to comb your hair and smile for the camera on March 22—it’s Playworks Picture Day! As always, thank you for supporting Playworks.
Important Dates
Suggested Reading
March 2:
Dr. Seuss’ Birthday
I Want to Be a Vet by Daniel Liebman
March 17:
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Saint Patrick’s Day
March 22:
Playworks Picture Day
Emma’s Turtle by Eve Bunting and Marsha Winborn
Where is My Frog? by Mercer Mayer
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff
Playworks Staff Spotlight: Tyler Tuma
Educare Early Learning Classrooms
Pets and Playing with Toys Pets are beloved members of many families. This month, Playworks’ preschool and pre-K study is all about pets. Young children love to observe their furry friends and imitate animal movements, sounds, and expressions. Pets can teach children the importance of taking care of others, showing love and affection, being sensitive to others’ needs, and how to develop lasting friendships. A study on pets not only offers opportunities for children to explore a topic that interests them, but it also allows them to gather information and become increasingly aware of the world around them. Students will explore many types of pets, what they eat, where they live, how they communicate, and how to care for them. Children in the infant and toddler classrooms will focus on experiences, and this month they plan to learn all about playing with toys. Babies are eager to learn about the world around them. Everything is new—shapes, colors, textures, and sounds are all learning experiences for them. Sensory toys, such as plastic keys, help stimulate the discovery of senses. When shaken, rattles create music. Blocks help build motor skills and strengthen handeye coordination. Infants can use toys to explore, move, and touch objects, while also learning about cause-and-effect relationships and developing motor skills.
How long have you worked at Playworks? 6 years
What is your position at Playworks? Maintenance Coordinator
Describe your personality in one word: Happy Favorite part of working at Playworks?
Seeing all the smiles every day
Favorite children’s book:
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
Favorite board game: Risk Favorite food: Pizza Favorite color: Blue Favorite animal: Eagle
At home, try helping your child learn the names of shapes or create patterns out of similar items. Consider starting a “family play night” where everyone plays a board game together. Or maybe family night consists of giving the dog a bath. Activities like these help develop strong family bonds that can last a lifetime.
Children love their pets—and for good reason! Furry friends—large and small—teach, amuse, and offer a special kind of companionship with their humans. Some kids will promise to do anything in order get a new pet, but it can quickly become a challenge to get them to follow through with pet chores. With a few helpful planning tips, pet ownership can be a positive experience for all family members.
1. Make a list of all pet care responsibilities, and talk with your child about which chores they feel they can handle. Discuss why the chore is important and what could happen to their pet if the chore is not done (e.g. the animal could go hungry or get sick). 2. Make a dedicated effort to praise your child every time they perform a pet chore without you having to tell them. Using a fun pet activity as a reward, such as playing or cuddling with the pet, can positively reinforce responsible behavior and increase the likelihood of it reoccurring.
3. Don’t associate pet responsibilities with rewards or punishments not related to the pet itself. For example, if a child does poorly on a test at school, don’t take away play time with the pet or assign an extra negative pet chore as a punishment. That can introduce frustration or resentment toward the animal. 4. Introduce new games, toys, or training to add motivation for your child to continue interacting with the pet. Encouraging your child to learn as much as possible about their pet is a great way to keep them interested in all aspects of their care.
Chores
AGE-APPROPRIATE
AGES 2–5
Kids this age should always be supervised when interacting with the family pet Help put food and water in pet dishes (parents should still be the ones to actively give food to animals—pets can get excited about food and accidentally nip tiny fingers) Help with cage maintenance, such as lining the bottom with newspaper or refilling the pet's bedding and shavings
AGES 6–10 Help put food and water in dishes (if the pet is a dog, this should still be supervised) Help with cleaning and maintenance of pet areas Clean up pet droppings Help with brushing, grooming, and bathing Help with exercise and walking
Clean and put away pet dishes Help put away pet toys
Do You Have a Pet at Home?
Or does your child have a favorite animal they’d like to share with the class? We would love for your child to bring in a photo to share. Please let your child’s teacher know!
No Pets at Home? Families without pets can still teach their children the importance of responsibility by properly caring for their toys and belongings.
Source: parenting.com
Craft:
Easy No-Bake Bird Feeders Birds need food throughout the year to survive migration and the cold Minnesota weather. Hang your bird feeder on a tree branch or pole near a window and watch the birds enjoy their winter feast!
Materials:
2 tablespoons coconut oil Mixing bowl 1 cup birdseed Spoon Cookie cutters (variety of shapes) Metal baking sheet Straw Ribbon
Directions: 1. Scoop the coconut oil into a bowl. Place in the microwave for 20 seconds or until melted. 2. Combine the birdseed with the melted coconut oil, and stir well. 3. Place the cookie cutters on a metal baking sheet. Scoop and press the birdseed mixture softly into the cookie cutters. 4. Gently push a straw into the birdseed to make a hole for the ribbon. 5. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until hardened. String the ribbon through the hole for hanging. 6. Hang in a tree for the neighborhood birds to enjoy!
BUILDING CONNECTIONS:
I Love You Ritual
According to Dr. Becky A. Bailey, creator and founder of the Conscious Discipline program, our brains are shaped by the loving relationships in our lives. The health of a child’s relationships with others is a vital link to academic success. I Love You Rituals are activities that provide unconditional acceptance, sensory integration, caring touch, and messages of hope for kids. Try this month’s I Love You Ritual with your child, called a Wonderful Woman:
SAY THE VERSE
DO THE ACTION
A wonderful woman lived in a shoe.
Hold child’s hand and give a palm massage.
She had so many children,
Touch each finger on one hand as you say each word.
She knew exactly what to do.
Massage each finger.
She held them,
Fold thumb in and then fold the fingers over it.
She rocked them,
Cradle and rock the hand.
She tucked them in bed.
Tuck the hand in under the child’s chin.
“I love you, I love you!” is what she said.
Hugs!
Family-Friendly SMSC
Events
Be the best you in 2018 with Mazopiya. We’re independent and locally owned, so we control our price points. That means you can find your go-to wellness products for less than our local, regional, and national competitors. We’ve done the research. You can, too. Stop in to discover our competitive prices today.
March 10 Kids in the Kitchen • Free
9-10am & 11am-noon Mazopiya (2571 Credit Union Drive, Prior Lake) One of the best ways to get your kids excited about eating healthy foods is to have them take a more active role in the kitchen. This fun, hands-on class will focus on making some delicious, healthy, kid-approved dishes that your children will love. For kids ages 6 and over.
SUPPLEMENTS | PROBIOTICS | SKIN CARE
SMSC
Organics Recycling Facility
SMSC
Organics Recycling Facility
Recipe:
Teddy Bear Toast Looking for ideas for a simple but healthy, kid-friendly breakfast or snack? Then this four-ingredient Teddy Bear Toast recipe is a BEARY good solution!
Ingredients:
2 slices sandwich bread 4 tablespoons peanut butter 1 banana, sliced 6 blueberries
Directions: 1. Place the bread slices in a toaster, and toast until golden brown. 2. Spread peanut butter onto each piece of toast and smear into a large circle for the teddy bear’s face. 3. Place two banana slices on the top of the bear’s head to make ears, and place one banana slice in
the center of the large circle to make a mouth.
blueberry directly on top of the middle banana slice to make a nose.
4. Place two blueberries above the middle banana slice to make the bear’s eyes, and then place a
enjoy!
Do you or your child have a peanut allergy? Try Nutella or sunflower butter instead!
Full- & part-time
OPTIONS
availAble
A swim program designed to build confidence in the water
Summer Camp with xtreme adventure and xtreme fun!
Starts June 11
educational programs
FIELDTrips
hands-on experiences
atrium play Daily meals included
Get ready for summer, Register today! youth & adult classes available 952.445.9400 | dakotahsport.com 2100 Trail of Dreams • Prior Lake
REgister Today!
ime full-t with er camp summ llment! Enro
Contact Summer Camp Manager Anna Effertz at 952.496.6814 or anna.effertz@playworksfun.com
952.445.play (7529) | playworksfun.com 2200 Trail of dreams • Prior Lake
952.445.PLAY (7529) | playworksfun.com 2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN |
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