Cultivate Mankato: June 2021 News

VOL. 13 JUNE 2021

This Month's News

Parent Resources

CultivateMN

Infant Development Center Announcement, Sensory Room, Love Wall Community Project

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Meet our Podcast Guests, Rent Podcast Room

NURTURE. GROW. EMPOWER.

June News Watering their seeds in

Index

Toddler 2

02-03

Upskill Parent Resources, Business Membership Future Closures, Coffee Sale, Reminders, Playground Updates

06

Infant Development Center Announcement

Playing in the ball pit in Infants

07

Outdoor Mural, New Hats, Providing Sunscreen, Cultivate MN now 501c3

New Sensory Room: Donation Needed

Upcoming Study, Snack Cart, Cultivate Connect

Families Plan, Scholastic Book Order, Snack Packs, Mommy & Me T-Shirts

Toddler 3

08 09 10

Juneteenth Celebration, Hiring

Enjoying a walk in

05

11

Community Room, Workiversaries

12-13

Meal Menus

14-15

Parent Resource

16-17

Cultivate MN Podcast

18-22

Releasing their butterflies in Toddler 1

CULTIVATE NEWS | 2

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 teachers to ensure they are supported in early

Click Here to Subscribe

childhood education.

“My name is Laura Walser and I am the Early Education Coordinator at Cultivate

Laura Walser, our Early Education Coordinator will be creating short parent resource videos called Upskill for $10/month.

Emotion coaching Keeping yourself calm Bedtime routines

graduated from Maple River Schools, then got my Early Childhood Education

Upcoming topics will be: Handling big emotions

Mankato. I am from Minnesota Lake. I

degree from Minnesota State University

TWO NEW VIDEOS COMING

Building independence

IN

JUNE!

Some more topics that will be discussed in the future include:

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

Biting

plays in laying the foundation for a

Morning routine

child's life. It is so incredible to think of

Teaching a skill vs consequences

the impact we as early childhood care

Multiple environments equals multiple

providers can have on children...it's an

expectations

amazing feeling to know that our work

Childcare drop off and pick up routine

truly makes a difference! I am thrilled to

Setting your child up for successful sleep at childcare Potty training The importance of sleep Knowing yourself as a parent Guiding your child’s behavior; positive discipline Language development

be part of curriculum development and ensure best practices with the team at Cultivate Mankato. I strive to provide the staff with the competencies, support and confidence they need to create a positive learning environment! I also enjoy collaborating with families and the community to empower them as well, in

If you have questions, please email Laura

laura.walser@cultivatemankato.com CULTIVATE NEWS | 3

meeting the needs of young children.”

www.cultivatemankato.com

PARENTS WE

NEED

YOUR

HELP

SPREADING

THE

WORD

ABOUT

THIS

MEMBERSHIP

BE THE CHANGE #supportyouremployees

EMPLOYERS WHO PROVIDE CHILD CARE BENEFITS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES BENEFIT FOR EMPLOYERS & EMPLOYEES

ot pu

55%

of parents would take a pay cut for a job that offers child care.

77%

ot pu

ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT

Source: KinderCare Education Works

BECOME A MEMBER

Source: Harris Poll, 2019

IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY increase in work-life balance, employees with access to child care reported.

Source: KCE Fortune 100 Client Survey

ENCOURAGE ENGAGEMENT

30%

ot pu

ot pu

10%

of parents are looking to employers to offset the cost of child care.

reduction in employee absences by providing child care.

Source: Child Care Council, 2014

CULTIVATING CONNECTIONS CHILD CARE BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP

Future Closures

Playground Update

January 1st | New Year's Day

Do you come through the front door for pickup

April 2nd | Teacher Appreciation

new playground? Here it is! But please do check

May 31st |

extra minutes!

Memorial Day

and drop offs? Maybe you have yet to see our

it out in person the next time you have a few

July 2nd | Independence Day September 3rd | Fall Readiness September 6th | Labor Day October 22nd | Teacher Appreciation November 25th | Thanksgiving November 26th | Thanksgiving December 24th | Christmas Eve December 25th | Christmas Day

Reminders Safety: If you park on Broad Street to drop off or pick up, please be sure you pull forward PAST the BIKE LANE SIGN. This allows some space between your vehicle and the corner on Main Street. Sometimes cars come around that corner really fast and we want there to be some time for them to see you and your vehicle.

Also, remember to make sure the side door leading out to Broad Street closes all the way.

Many families exit out of this door which is totally fine. However, sometimes the door gets swung open too far and gets stuck open, which brings in cold air and causes safety risks as well.

If you can please make sure to check behind you to ensure the door closes that would be deeply appreciated.

CULTIVATE NEWS | 5

www.cultivatemankato.com

COMING SOON SAME PROGRAM & VALUES – SECOND LOCATION

CULTIVATE NEWS | 6

www.cultivatemankato.com

Love Wall Community Project

NEW HATS!

We would like to welcome the community to take part in our 'Love Wall Community Project' mural with Bellissimo Painting.

Why hearts?

One of our core values is Love.

Heart symbols = love.

But also... because of our location, we have a civic responsibility to create art that is meaningful for the community to enjoy.

And last... we want this mural to be a remembrance of the COVID-19 impact and how we all came together... with love!

ORDER HERE

Supplying Sunscreen Moving forward we will be supplying Rocky Mt. sunscreen for all families.

Click here if you have yet to fill out a permission form.

CULTIVATE NEWS | 7

MAKE A DONATION HERE

www.cultivatemankato.com

We are currently working on opening a new sensory room for CultivateMN. This room will include different items such as large motor items, sensory books, and a few different sensory table top activities that help children with high

This will be available to all children that attend Cultivate Mankato. The items are mobile and can transfer from building to building. sensory needs, sensory processing disorders, and sensory diets.

We are asking for your help in funding this project. We have a great need at Cultivate for these resources to support children with various sensory needs. The estimated cost of the project is around $5,000. If you are interested and able to donate, Thank you,

CLICK HERE. All donations will also be tax deductible! Any contributions will be greatly appreciated.

Cultivate MN

What is a sensory room and who benefits?

A sensory room—a therapeutic space with a variety of equipment that helps children with sensory issues calm and focus themselves so they can be better prepared for learning and interacting with others.

Sensory issues occur when a child has a difficult time receiving and responding to information from their senses. Children who have sensory issues may have an aversion to anything that triggers their senses, such as light, sound, touch, taste, or smell. Symptoms of sensory processing issues may depend on the way in which a child processes sensations. Children who are easily stimulated may have hypersensitivity. Children who aren’t as easily stimulated experience fewer sensations and have hyposensitivity.

Sensory spaces in schools have been shown to decrease negative behaviors and improve student engagement. The benefits of sensory rooms in schools have led some educators to begin using sensory rooms for groups of students beyond those with a diagnosed sensory processing disorder or developmental disability.

Having sensory rooms within a school can also reduce the need to send students out of the school for additional services. For students who need to work with occupational or physical therapists, these professionals can be brought into the school, rather than students being taken out of class and the school to have these appointments. This maintains consistency in a student’s day and reduces the amount of time they have to be away from school.

CULTIVATE NEWS | 8

www.cultivatemankato.com

Upcoming Study Within our education curriculum, we use studies to

C U L T I V A T E N U R T U R E .

C A F E

G R O W .

E M P O W E R .

guide our lesson planning. Studies are a broad concept that we focus on for 4-6 weeks.

Currently our study has been about water. This month we will begin our

Cultivate Cafe Connect Stop by the Cultivate Cafe for a cup of coffee with Candice!

Once

a

month,

Candice

will

summer study. If you

feel your family has something special to share in regards to our upcoming study, we would love family participation. Reach out!

be

offering parents an opportunity to connect with her. Parents can stop by

the

Cultivate

Cafe

cart

where

Candice will be serving coffee. The Cultivate Cafe cart will be located at either one of our entrances.

CCC Hour with Candice One Friday a Month 7:30-8:30am **will be announced the monday before**

Snack Cart Did you know we have a snack cart for children to take a snack home at pick up? Our snack cart is next to the island in our community room and it is stocked with healthier snack options; apples, bananas, fruit snacks, pretzels, crackers, etc.

Some pictures from our Water Study the last few weeks.

CULTIVATE NEWS | 9

www.cultivatemankato.com

Juneteenth Celebration

We Are Hiring We are always looking for top performers to join our team!

Employment Package includes: health, dental & vision insurance, child care benefits, retirement plan, professional development stipend and other employment perks.

Please share this information to help us find an outstanding, caring and qualified individual to join our team!

www.cultivatemankato.com/employment

The Greater Mankato Diversity Council (GMDC) is proud to announce the 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 19, 2021 which commemorates the historical beginnings of African-American independence in the United States.

This annual Juneteenth Celebration is hosted by the Greater Mankato Diversity Council (GMDC) in partnership with The Minnesota Hip Hop Coalition (MN-HHC) every June.

Promoting CultivateMN at Juneteenth Revolutionize Child Care: Providing Equitable and High Quality Early Education Experiences

Event FB page: www.facebook.com/events/478937109916712

CULTIVATE NEWS | 10

www.cultivatemankato.com

Have You Heard?

The American Families Plan calls for investing billions of dollars into programs such as child care, paid family leave and education.

Scholastic Book Orders Through the Scholastic Book Club, you have the choice to place an order each month.

Your orders will allow us to earn free books for our Cultivate library and will be used

Click Here

throughout all of our classrooms. Books will be

to Learn More

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, May 14th.

Any questions about ordering can be emailed to Ms. Tera at

tera.vankeulen@cultivatemankato.com

Link to order:

Snack Packs

https://orders.scholastic.com/R76H7

Class Code: R76H7

Snack Packs are a healthy option for business meetings, parties, or even a great grab and go option for your children at home this summer, the lake or a picnic!

To order visit: www.cultivatemankato.com/shop

Toddler Sizes Now Available: Order Today!

SAVE $5

when you purchase

Adult & Toddler Matching Shirts

ORDER HERE CULTIVATE NEWS | 11

www.cultivatemankato.com

s& U r e off Ref 0 2 ve $ on i e c Re uiti t r you

Community Room BEAUTIFUL EVENT SPACE FOR YOUR UPCOMING PARTY OUR COMMUNITY ROOM PROVIDES: • A large kitchen island with bar stools

• A kitchenette with a refrigerator, freezer, sink & microwave

• Tables, table clothes & matching chairs

• Access to a preschool room or an extra meeting room

• Three large windows for lots of natural lighting

• Access to bathrooms

• Beautiful artwork

ENROLLED CULTIVATE FAMILIES RECEIVE A FREE COMMUNITY ROOM RESERVATION

To reserve visit:

CULTIVATE NEWS | 9

www.cultivatemankato.com/community-room

www.cultivatemankato.com

CELEBRATING ONE YEAR WORK ANNIVERSARY Caitie Lawin, Infant Lead Teacher Janae Tschida, Preschool Assistant Teacher

CULTIVATE NEWS | 13

June Menus

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 at Cultivate in 1-2 business days.

Click the menu to download a pdf

CULTIVATE NEWS | 14

To place an order: Visit our Cultivate Mankato shop!

Questions? Email us at info@cultivatemankato.com

www.cultivatemankato.com

We would like to give families the opportunity to order snack packs for your child(ren) or upcoming event. Choose between a meat or vegetarian option or send us a message to create a custom order.

Pick up at Cultivate in 1-2 business days.

Click the menu to download a pdf

CULTIVATE NEWS | 15

To place an order: Visit our Cultivate Mankato shop!

Questions? Email us at info@cultivatemankato.com

www.cultivatemankato.com

Parent Resource Taking a Break: Using a Calm Down Area at Home Written by National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations

When you create your calm down area, think of things that your child already uses to calm down. They might be stuffed animals, a favorite pillow, a puzzle, squishy toys, or books. Put those in the calm down spot.

Show your child that you have created a calm down area and let your child know that they can use the area when they need to “feel better”. You might explain to your child

https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/Calm-DownArea_Tipsheet.pdf

A calm down area provides a child a place to calm down and take a break. It is one strategy that might be used when children are feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed. Families can help children learn how to take a break from activities or interactions that are challenging to them.

Just like adults, young children might react to stress, frustration, and disappointment by becoming angry, shouting, refusing help from adults, or engaging in other challenging behaviors. Adults might use

that sometimes you go to a calm down spot that helps you feel better (e.g., “When I am feeling frustrated with my work, sometimes I lay down on the couch.”).

Encourage your child to play with what you have put in the spot. You might add a visual that helps the child take deep breaths

(link)

or a social story like “Tucker the Turtle ….”

(link) that might help your child calm down.

Encourage your child to get familiar with the calm down area when they are calm. This will give them a chance to explore the items in the calm down area and figure out what is most soothing and calming.

helpful strategies such as self-talk, deep breathing, or taking a break when they are feeling the need to take a break and calm down. The calm down area provides children with a place to let go of strong emotions and begin to feel calm and ready to engage with others again.

Getting Started The calm down area or calm down spot does not need to require a lot of space. It

When you think your child might benefit from the calm down area, remind your child that they can go to the calm down area to feel better or guide your child to it (e.g., “I am going to help you go to your calm down spot so you can feel better.”).

Click Here for Tips for Using a Calm Down Area

might be a chair that your child prefers, a group of toys that you child likes that are in a bedroom, or an area where you place a basket of calming toys. The only requirement is that it is an area that is quiet, away from interactions with others, and soothing for the child.

CULTIVATE NEWS | 16

www.cultivatemankato.com

Cultivate MN has a new private podcast studio available to rent ‣

$25 per hour private podcast recording room

for each microphone

‣

Audio interface

‣

‣

Two dynamic microphones

‣

Mic boom

System designed to be compatible on MacBook

All you need is your own computer! And we will help you install audio interface software. Don't want to edit your podcast? We partnered with Nulifestyle Co: Meraki Marketing to offer podcast editing for an additional cost. To book our podcast studio, contact us at info@cultivatemn.org

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 | 18

www.cultivatemankato.com

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CultivateMN is a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to promoting awareness within early childhood programs, family services organizations, and child CULTIVATE NEWS | 19 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

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SOON

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SOON

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CONFERENCE

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HOSTED

BY:

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