AUGUST 2016
National Immunization Awareness Month
DIY Project
Handmade Bookmarks
Recipe: Fresh Salsa
Kids Eat Right Month
W
elcome “back to school” with Playworks! Yep, it’s time to prepare for your child’s first awesome day back. Update their immunizations, make some bookmarks for their library finds, and learn how to help your kiddos snack and eat healthy year-round. Let’s celebrate the end of summer, and get ready for another exciting year to learn, play, and family at Playworks!
UPCOMING EVENTS Back to School Party Aug 28
End of Summer Activities for Pods 1-4 Aug 29-Sept 2
This Month’s
DIY Do It Yourself
ON BACK PAGE
To Playcare Parents:
Please remember to get your Playcare stamp before leaving Dakotah! Sport and Fitness. All membership cards must be presented upon check-in. No outside food or beverages. Remember, socks are required in the Atrium. The Playworks mission is to provide high-quality education and care to children, build cooperative partnerships with parents, provide meaningful employment, and provide a viable, fun, quality entertainment source for families.
Recipe: Family Fresh Salsa Ingredients 12 tomatoes, skinned and diced 1 ½ cups onion, chopped 1 ½ green peppers, chopped 6 jalapeño peppers, chopped 3 tablespoons sugar 3 teaspoons kosher salt 1 ½ teaspoons fresh parsley 1 ½ teaspoons oregano leaves 6 tablespoons regular oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice 3 tablespoons vinegar 1 8oz. can tomato sauce Directions Mix all ingredients together. Store in fridge for up to 3 weeks. So easy!
You can find all the ingredients for Family Fresh Salsa at the SMSC’s natural food market, Mazopiya, located at 2571 Credit Union Drive, Prior Lake, MN. mazopiya.com | 952.233.9140
BACK TO SCHOOL? MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD’S IMMUNE SYSTEM IS READY Vaccines are among the safest and most costeffective ways to prevent disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. They not only protect the vaccinated individual, but they help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Following the recommended immunization schedule is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children, as well as other students and daycare buddies. If a child falls behind the recommended immunization schedule, you can still catch up! Unvaccinated kids are at an increased risk for diseases. Plus, they can spread disease to others in their play groups, child care centers, classrooms, and communities – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, as well as people
with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions. There are also some who choose not to vaccinate due to religious, personal or philosophical reasons. Keep in mind that many vaccine-preventable diseases are still common in many parts of the world. For example, measles is brought into the U.S. by unvaccinated travelers who are infected while in other countries. When measles gets into communities of unvaccinated people in the U.S., outbreaks are more likely to occur. Be prepared, be healthy! Talk to your health care provider today about your child’s immunization schedule. Information Source: Centers for Disease Control
HELP YOUR KIDS EAT RIGHT Now’s the perfect time to put nutrition at the forefront in your household. August is Kids Eat Right Month! Get started with these tips: Cook Healthy. Whip up excitement about healthy eating in the kitchen with your kids. Let them chop, mix, and prepare meals. They’ll be more likely to try new foods and tastes if they’re doing the cooking.
Shop Smart. Get your kids involved with picking out their food. Let them explore the produce department and pick out one new vegetable they want to try.
Eat Right. Research shows that families that dine together have children with higher self-confidence who also perform better in school. So make a healthy dinner, and gather around the table to connect and make sure your kids get a good meal in.
Empower your kids to make good choices! Let Mazopiya help, with their quarterly Kids in the Kitchen cooking classes for kids ages 6+.
Bonus: Get moving as a family. What you do with your body can be just as important as what you put in it. Regular physical activity is vital to strengthen muscle, promote a healthy body weight, support learning, and build self-esteem.
DIY: Do It Yourself
HANDMADE BOOKMARKS School supplies are everywhere! Put them to good use with these super-fun-to-make bookmarks. So grab some pretty paper and inspiring quotes, and get gluing! Your kids will love the opportunity to express themselves and put a personal touch on their homework or library book.
Suggested supplies: Paper with different colors and patterns (whatever your kids like!)
Stickers Scissors Glue Stick
Paper Cutter Corner Punch Hole Punch Yarn and Twine Laminator Laminator Sheets
Instructions: 1. Cut your paper 1 ½ inches wide and 6 inches long for each bookmark. 2. Then round the corners with a corner cutting punch. 3. Use a hole punch to add a hole at the top. 4. Once you’re done with the basic shape, you can cut out words or phrases along with other matching shapes to create a fun bookmark. Insider tip: layout the design, and then go back and glue it with a glue stick. 5. Once you’ve glued down your design, laminate it! Run it through the machine twice if you want
it really perfect. Skip this step if you don’t have access to a laminator (just make sure the glue is dry before using and keep in mind they probably won’t hold up as long). 6. Then cut around each bookmark and punch the hole at the top again. 7. If you want to add any puffy stickers…now is the time (It’s better to add them after you laminate). 8. Run a few strands of yarn or twine through the top hole and tie them together close to the bookmark. 9. Now you have a custom handmade bookmark! Good stuff, right?
EDU ENROLL TODAY!
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HIGH-QUALITY, EDUCATIONAL HOURLY AND CONTRACTED CHILD CARE FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS TO 12 YEARS.
CREATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FUELED BY IMAGINATION, ACTIVE THINKING, AND CONSTRUCTIVE PLAY.
Family Fun N ight Every Monday 5-9 PM
$5.00* Special Pricing for DSF Members Only *Restrictions Apply
dakotahsport.com • 952.445.9400 2100 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN 55372 E N TE RPRI SE S OWN E D AND OPE RATED B Y T H E S H AK OPEE MDEWAK ANT ON S IOUX C OMMUNIT Y
2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN | 952.445.PLAY (7529) | playworksfun.com PW’s Playhouse is a publication of Playworks |