VOL. 08 DEC 2020
This Month's News
Parent Resources
CultivateMN
Weather Reminder, Holiday Gifts, Hiring Teachers, Scholastic Book Orders
Your 6 Step Process for Emotion-Coaching when Your Child is Upset
Stories Shared by Child Advocates
NURTURE. GROW. EMPOWER
December News Learning about Construction workers in Preschool 1
Message from Candice One of my dear friends and colleagues sent me a message early this morning, the first day of December, the last month of 2020 (that’s crazy, right?), about the concept of tilting. Most people strive to find balance. Balance between work and personal life; balance between school and work; balance in relationships; balance in beliefs. But, what if part of finding balance was learning to tilt? The author of the message wrote “When I picture myself tilting, I consider a tree that has put down deep roots which allow it to be flexible and resilient. Some days it stands upright and serene, other days it sways gently, and, when fierce storms come, it might lose a branch but it bends with the winds and does not break.” Striving for balance
Learning about doctors in Toddler 3
is good! We don’t want to give up on that, but we do want to be flexible enough to tilt when we need to, especially when strong winds prevail. What might tilting look like in your life right now? For Cultivate, we’ve had many opportunities this year to tilt, to lean into life, and to continue being flexible and resilient. In all of this, we’ve continued to be deeply rooted in our vision and mission at Cultivate, which is to cultivate an inclusive community working together to create a safe and stimulating environment of love and learning for all children. Our focus this past month was on community and values. Children had lots of opportunity to learn about the community by visiting with parents working in many areas of the community. Teachers also spent a week teaching about the Cultivate values and how they look in action! As a Cultivate community, we were able to
Learning about dentists in
collect boxes and boxes of donations for the CADA House. Thank you for your contributions!
Preschool 2 Moving ahead for the month of December, we are focusing on giving and supporting local businesses. Since we cannot host a staff or family celebration this year, we wanted to take the funds budgeted for that and support our local businesses and donate to nonprofits in our area. We’d love for you to participate with us! Stay tuned for updates on that from Ms. Anissa, our Community Coordinator. Thank you for all you do to continue supporting Cultivate, the children, and the team! Tilt on~
Learning about bankers in Preschool 3
CULTIVATE NEWS | 2
CANDICE DEAL-BARTELL Executive Director www.cultivatemankato.com
Covid-19 Policies Review and download our COVID-19 Policy and Procedures
Click Here
We are Hiring: Lead Teachers We are recruiting teachers who: • Have experience in the childcare field: 2 year degree in early childhood education or 4 year
Weather Reminder
degree in any field and equivalent workforce experience in a licensed child care center or elementary school
As the snow has already fallen this month,
• Have the passion to provide high quality care: build
we want to remind you of our weather
healthy relationships with families and coworkers
policy. Cultivate Mankato does not follow the district 77 weather closings. However,
and co-create a dynamic environment with children where play and learning happens
we may have to close if it is deemed unsafe
• Have outstanding customer service skills, strong
for families and employees getting to and
organizational skills, and the ability to:
from Cultivate. We have only had to close early once last year so hopefully early closures will be minimal. Also, please remember to bring snow boots, snow pants, hats, mittens and a coat every day. We do have some extras but our extras are limited.
◦ ◦ ◦
multitask and manage multiple situations effectively flexible in various teaching environments lesson plan and co-create a dynamic learning environment for children
Salary: $15 per hour + Benefits (depending on qualifications) + Sign On Bonus
Upcoming Study
Employment Package includes: health, dental & vision insurance, child care benefits, retirement plan, professional development stipend and other employment perks.
Within our education curriculum, we use studies to guide our lesson planning. Studies are a broad concept that we focus on for 4-6 weeks. Currently our study has been all about
Please share this information to help us find an outstanding, caring and qualified individual to join our team!
the community with a focus on voting and choice study and in the next couple of weeks
winter study where we will focus on snow, winter clothing, winter in MN, and cold weather. we will begin our
If you feel your family has something special to share in regards to our upcoming study, we would love family participation. Reach out!
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www.cultivatemankato.com
Cultivate Administrative & School Age Expansion
SHOP OUR ONLINE STORE FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS!
Cultivate Mankato, along with our non-profit branch, CultivateMN, has leased the building next door! Our intention is to move our administrative offices over to the building, along with a podcast recording studio, and our temporary school age distance learning program. While we can’t anticipate how long children will be in the distance learning model for this school year, we wanted to make sure to have a plan in place that allows us to continue providing quality educational experiences for all children. We needed more space to be able to do this! Our current office space at Cultivate will become a teacher resource center that will allow our teachers more space to prep and plan materials for classrooms. Leasing the space next door also means that we will be able to use the parking lot, which will make drop off and pick up easier for families. The lot is small, so families will still need to use the other options available at this time as well, but it gives us another option that we’re excited about.
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www.cultivatemankato.com
Let It Glow Window Display We are participating in the LET IT GLOW window display contest sponsored by City
Upcoming Center Closings We will be closed the following upcoming days:
Center Partnership in downtown Mankato. Our busy little elves dancing in the windows
Christmas Eve
are greeting the people passing by.
Christmas Day
New Year's Day
Scholastic Book Orders We are excited to start the Scholastic Book Club program at Cultivate. This program provides access to affordable, high quality books. Reading is a crucial part of your child’s development. Here at Cultivate Mankato, we want to provide ways to foster your child’s growth.
New Rates We will be doing a center-wide rate change effective 01/01/2021 (please note new families entering our program are already on the new pricing schedule). We believe that we are offering a high quality program with qualified teaching staff, excellent food, educational resources, and other resources that best serve the needs of all children.
Through the Scholastic Book Club, you have the choice to place an order each month. Your orders will also allow us to earn free books for our Cultivate library and will be used throughout all of our classrooms. Books will be delivered to Cultivate and sent home with your child. Orders will be due on the 2nd Friday of each month.
Use the link below to order. Order will be due on Friday, December 11th. Any questions about ordering can be emailed to Ms. Tera at
tera.vankeulen@cultivatemankato.com
Link to order: https://orders.scholastic.com/R76H7
Class Code: R76H7 CULTIVATE NEWS | 5
www.cultivatemankato.com
CELEBRATING ONE YEAR WORK ANNIVERSARY Bridget Kavan, Nikki Stalcar, Aleia Macrae
CULTIVATE NEWS | 6
Dec. Menu
We would like to give families the opportunity to order the bread that River Rock makes for our children. There are two different options to choose from: Sourdough and Midwest Multigrain. Pick up is at Cultivate. Payment is added to your tuition.
Click the menu to download a pdf
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To place an order: Email us at info@cultivatemankato.com or send us a message in ProCare!
www.cultivatemankato.com
Parent Resource
1. Calm yourself first. Use your pause button: Stop, drop your
Your 6 Step Process for EmotionCoaching when Your Child is Upset Written by Dr. Laura Markham. June 19, 2019
https://www.ahaparenting.com/blo g/the-6-step-process-for-emotioncoaching-when-your-child-is-upset
agenda (just for now), and take a deep breath before you engage with your child.
Remind yourself that your goal is to calm the storm for your child, not escalate it.
Don't take your child's emotions personally. This isn't about you, even if she's screaming “I hate you!” This
"I was sent to my room as a child when I
is about her: her tangled-up
got emotional, so I always get upset
feelings and still-developing brain.
myself when my son is upset, and then I
Calm yourself with a mantra: “It’s
make everything worse. Could you write
not an emergency” or “This is an
more about emotion coaching? What do
opportunity to be there for my child
I actually do when my child is upset?"
when he’s upset.”
When our children get upset, most of us get upset too. If the child is angry at us, we feel defensive; like the child's feelings are unwarranted. If he's upset at something else, we want to make him feel better, to make the emotions go away as quickly as possible.
Notice the sensations in your own body so that you're aware of what you're feeling. Notice if you feel annoyance, or the urge to make you child’s feelings go away. Decide that your goal is to use this opportunity to build a closer relationship with your child and
But emotions aren't dangerous. The only
teach him helpful lessons about
way to resolve emotions is to go through
accepting and responding to
them, and when your child is feeling big
emotions.
emotions, that's an important learning opportunity. Teaching your child a healthy approach to emotions means coaching him to be aware of his feelings, to accept them, and to express them responsibly.Here's your game plan.
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www.cultivatemankato.com
2. Connect To Create Safety. Your child needs to let himself feel those big emotions instead of stuffing them -- that's how they'll begin to heal. Your job is to help him feel safe, so he can let himself feel deeply. Reach out to connect emotionally, and if you can, physically.
If your child is expressing anger at you, resist the urge to tell her to be appropriate. Instead, acknowledge the feelings and invite her to tell you what she's upset about. “You must be so upset to talk to me that way, Amelia. We can make this better. Let's start over.”If you don't know what your child is feeling or your
Create safety with your touch, your
child gets angry when you “name”
warmth, your tone, your attitude.
her emotions, “upset” is a good all-
Give your child the verbal and/or
purpose word: “I hear how upset you
nonverbal message: “I will help you…
are about this.”
You’re safe... You can handle this.”
Describing what your child is
If you breathe slowly and deeply, your
physically expressing helps him feel
child will usually begin to breathe more
seen and heard, and can either help
slowly.
you name emotions or intentionally avoid it: “I see you’re biting your lip.
3. Empathize.
You look worried.” Or “Your arms are crossed over your chest like this, and
Your empathy creates safety by helping your child feel understood. Match your child's tone. When kids feel that you really understand how upset they are, they can let themselves feel the emotions -- and they don't need to escalate. Welcome the emotions and reflect them, mirroring your child’s tone. “You seem a little worried about this sleepover” or “You look so mad!” If your child is describing a
your brows are tight, like this. I wonder what's going on?” Acknowledge your child's perspective. “You wish that….” or “This isn’t what you wanted….” If your child is crying, words can be a distraction. Use them sparingly, to create safety and welcome the emotion: “Everybody needs to cry sometimes. It's good to feel those tears and let them go. I'm right here. You're safe."
problem to you, repeat back to him what you've heard: “I hear you loud and clear. You’re fed up with your brother going into your room and taking your gum."
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4. Double-check to be sure your child feels understood by what you've said.
“You’re saying that I love your sister more…. Ethan, that must feel so awful, to feel that…” “I didn’t understand how important
This way, you don't have to worry about
this was to you. Tell me more.”
whether you were able to accurately
“I hear how angry you are about this.
reflect your child's feelings. Just ask.
What can I do to help make this better?”
“Is that right?”
“So I hear you’re upset because of X
“Is that what you’re telling me?”
and also Y! Is there anything else?”
“Am I getting that?”
Asking if there's anything else often opens the floodgates to get to the
Your child may agree—“Of course I’m
heart of why your child is upset. He
mad!”—and elaborate.
may start with what a lousy mother you are for making oatmeal again,
Your child may correct you: “I’m not
and end up telling you that he thinks
disappointed! I’m mad!” In that case, try
you love his brother more, or he’s
again. If possible, use your child's exact
being bullied at school.
words so they know you're listening: “I’m
“Thank you for telling me this. I’m sorry
sorry, Caleb. I see now how mad you
that what I did upset you so much.
are. Tell me more about why.”
Please tell me more.” When your child is angry at you, let him know you're
5. Deepen the conversation to help your child feel understood. You can do this by offering support, validating your child’s emotion, or simply inviting your child to tell you more. Validation doesn’t necessarily mean you agree, only that you understand why your child would feel this way.
listening. You may find out something that will transform your relationship for the better. Or you may find that his anger has nothing to do with you after all. Describe the incident without judging, so your child feels understood. “Lena wanted to play with your doll and you were worried. You said ‘No!’ You hit Lena and you both cried. Right?”
“Ouch, that must have hurt!”
Telling the story helps the child to
"Oh, Sofia, no wonder you’re
calm down, reflect, and integrate the
upset.”“It could be really
emotions, as the emotional
embarrassing, to have your teacher
experience that was processed by the
say that.”
right frontal lobe is articulated and understood by the verbal, more rational left frontal lobe.
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www.cultivatemankato.com
Let yourself feel some of what your
Of course, if you were part of the
child is feeling, while you still stay
"problem" your child was upset about,
centered. If you really feel the emotion
feel free to suggest a solution: "I know
with your child, then you may get tears
it's disappointing that we can't practice
in your eyes at how heartbreaking this
your jump shot tonight because of my
must be for your child. This increases
meeting. How about we make a deal to
the connection between you and helps
spend all morning on Saturday working
your child trust you.
on it?"
6. Support Your Child To ProblemSolve.
If your child still seems upset and negative and isn’t open to problemsolving, that’s a sign that he hasn’t
Most of the time, when kids (and adults)
worked through the emotions yet and
feel their emotions are understood and
you need to go back to the earlier steps.
accepted, the feelings lose their charge and begin to dissipate. This leaves an
Time consuming? Yes. But you'll notice
opening for problem solving. You might
that as you get more comfortable, you'll
say something like "This is a tough
move through the steps quickly. Even
problem. I wonder what you could do
better, you'll see your child get better at
now to make things better?"
expressing emotions in a constructive way. Emotion coaching raises kids who
Resist the urge to tell them what to do
are more emotionally intelligent and
to solve the problem; that gives your
better at regulating their emotions. It
child the message that you don't have
also helps you stay calm when your child
confidence in their ability to handle it.
is upset, so it creates a more peaceful
If your child feels stuck, help them
household.
brainstorm and explore options.If they suggest a solution that you think would lead to more problems, you might say:
Less drama, more solutions. And a lot more love.
“Hmmm…. So you think you might do X. I wonder what would happen then?”
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www.cultivatemankato.com
Laura has years of experience in the classroom as a preschool and kindergarten teacher and also brings a plethora of leadership experience. She works directly with our
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teachers to ensure they are supported in early childhood education.
Laura Walser, our Early Education Coordinator will be creating short parent resource videos called Upskill for $10/month.
Upcoming topics will be: Handling big emotions Emotion coaching Keeping yourself calm Bedtime routines Building independence
Some more topics that will be discussed in the future include: Biting Morning routine Teaching a skill vs consequences Multiple environments equals multiple expectations Childcare drop off and pick up routine
“My name is Laura Walser and I am the Early Education Coordinator at Cultivate Mankato. I am from Minnesota Lake. I graduated from Maple River Schools, then got my Early Childhood Education degree from Minnesota State University Mankato. I worked at Maple River for 14 years as Kindergarten teacher and then Early Childhood Director. Through my experience in working with children and being a parent, I have established a passion for social/emotional development and the important role it plays in laying the foundation for a child's life. It is so incredible to think of the impact we as early childhood care providers can have on children...it's an amazing feeling to know that our work truly makes a difference! I am thrilled to be part of
Setting your child up for successful
curriculum development and ensure best
sleep at childcare
practices with the team at Cultivate
Potty training
Mankato. I strive to provide the staff with
The importance of sleep
the competencies, support and
Knowing yourself as a parent
confidence they need to create a positive
Guiding your child’s behavior; positive
learning environment! I also enjoy
discipline
collaborating with families and the
Learning to talk; language
community to empower them as well, in
development
meeting the needs of young children.”
If you have questions, please email Laura
laura.walser@cultivatemankato.com CULTIVATE NEWS | 12
www.cultivatemankato.com
What is Cultivate MN? CultivateMN is a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to promoting awareness within early childhood programs, family services organizations, and child welfare programs. We believe sharing stories promotes awareness and cultivates connection.
CULTIVATE NEWS | 13
www.cultivatemankato.com
Click Here to Listen
CultivateMN is a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to promoting awareness within early childhood programs, family services organizations, and child CULTIVATE NEWS | 14 w e l f a r e p r o g r a m s . W e b e l i e v e s h a r i n g s t owww.cultivatemankato.com ries promotes
Coming Soon
CultivateMN is a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to promoting awareness within early childhood programs, family services organizations, and child CULTIVATE NEWS | 15 w e l f a r e p r o g r a m s . W e b e l i e v e s h a r i n g s t owww.cultivatemankato.com ries promotes