VOL. 24 MAY 2022
Congratulations Graduates OUR PRESCHOOLERS OFF TO KINDERGARTEN
May News Index 03
2022 Center Closures
& Coffee is on Us, Conscious Discipline
04
Upcoming Study, April Guests
05
COVID Policies, Key Fobs, Leave a Review
Packet, We are Hiring
06
Upskill Parent Resources
07
Infant Development Center
08
Community Room
09
Workiversaries
10-11
New Team Members & Partnerships
12
Fit & Grit
13
Persist Therapy
14-15
Message from Anissa, Parent Resource
16-18
Menus
19-20
Kindergarten Celebration, NEW Family
We were finally able to enjoy some warm weather this month!
CULTIVATE NEWS | 2
www.cultivatemankato.com
g! Upcomin
CULTIVATE NEWS | 3
Covid-19 Policies
You Are Invited! VIRTUAL TRAINING
updated February 2022
Review and download MN Department of Health COVID-19 Decision Tree for People in
Saturday, May 21st, 9 am – 11 am
If you need more than two key fobs or you have
Through a generous donation received by the Kramlinger Family, CultivateMN will be hosting a virtual 2 hour Conscious Discipline training for our Cultivate parents and early educators and in the Mankato and North Mankato areas. We invite all early educators and
misplaced your key fob, you may request
parents to join us for a small $10 fee.
Child Care Programs
Click Here
Need a New Keyfob? additional or replacement key fobs using this form. You will be charged a $15.00 fee to your
This is a wonderful way to engage with
Procare account.
content that promotes healthy relationships
Key Fob Request Form
and understanding of a child's healthy development. For over 20 years, Conscious Discipline has fostered a fundamental shift in thinking that empowers adults and children to be the change they want to see in the world. Conscious Discipline is an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach to Social Emotional Learning. It’s multidisciplinary approach is based on three distinct brainbody states in adults and children that drive behavior. Conscious Discipline empowers us to be conscious of brain-body states in ourselves and children. It then provides us with the practical skills we need to manage our
LEAVE
A
REVIEW
HERE!
thoughts, feeling and actions.
Once you've left us a review, email us at
Topics covered in this on-line/virtual
info@cultivatemankato.com with your choice of
training will be; what is the Conscious
coffee. Check out our website to decide which
Discipline Mindset and the transformational
blend you would like:
process, along with Understanding the Brain
www.cultivatemankato.com/shop
State Model.
Note: Pick up only at Cultivate Mankato Administrative Office; 110 S. Broad Street (located right next to our center).
CULTIVATE NEWS | 4
Register Here!
Upcoming Study Within our education curriculum, we use studies to guide our lesson planning. Studies
Thank You to All of Our April Guest
are a broad concept that we focus on for 4-6
Today we had an extra special guest! Author Jill
weeks. Currently our study has been all about
Kalz came and read her book “Farmer Cap” to
Spring. This month we will begin our
each preschool classroom. Farmer Cap is a
Study.
Water
unique farmer who had some interesting farming techniques (watering with maple
If you feel your family has something special
syrup?!) and grew some pretty special things!
to share in regards to our upcoming study, we would love family participation. Reach out!
Learn more about Jill Kalz and her books here: www.facebook.com/jillkalzauthor
CULTIVATE NEWS | 5
www.cultivatemankato.com
Reminder for parents who have children going to kindergarten in the fall!
Employment Package includes:
NEW! Family Information Packet
health, dental & vision insurance,
We have created a family
retirement plan, professional
packet that includes
We Are Hiring development stipend, child care benefits, and other employment perks.
links/resources/forms/etc all in one spot!
Please share this information to help us find caring, outstanding and
Whether you are a new
qualified individual to join our team!
family or a current family,
Open Positions: Teachers, Assistants and Supports in our infant & toddler programs
www.cultivatemankato.com/ employment CULTIVATE NEWS | 6
this packet is where you can go to find the answers to your questions.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR FAMILY INFO PACKET www.cultivatemankato.com
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
Click Here to Subscribe
Setting your child up for successful sleep at childcare Potty training The importance of sleep Knowing yourself as a parent
HAVE YOU JOINED OUR FB GROUP?
IT'S FREE! CULTIVATE NEWS | 7
Guiding your child’s behavior; positive discipline Language development If you have questions, please email Laura
laura.walser@cultivatemankato.com www.cultivatemankato.com
CULTIVATE MANKATO INFANT
NOW
DEVELOPMENT
ENROLLING
&
HIRING
|
CENTER
COMING SPRING 2022
w w w . c u l t i v a t e m a n k a t o . c o m We are excited to announce a tentative opening date of May 9th! We have started to use the kitchen and soon food will be catered from the IDC Kitchen to our Main Street location. We are actively enrolling AND hiring for our Infant Development Center. If interested in enrollment, your first step is to fill out our enrollment contact form.
Our Infant Development Center, coming Spring 2022:
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
Conveniently located near Mayo Hospital & Mankato Clinic Space is designed specifically for infants 3-16 months Brand new facility with the same stellar infant program Exceeds policies & procedures expectations Detailed parent communication throughout the day Infant development checklists, lesson planning & activities Staff on-site training & professional development
CULTIVATE NEWS | 8
ENROLLMENT CONTACT FORM JOIN OUR TEAM APPLY HERE MORE INFO 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 two YEAR WORK ANNIVERSARY Grace Rydeen, Infant 5 Co-Lead Teacher Tera Van Keulen, Infant 2 Lead Teacher
CULTIVATE NEWS | 10
CELEBRATING three YEAR WORK ANNIVERSARY Anissa Sandland, Community & Culture Coordinator
CULTIVATE NEWS | 11
New Team Members & Partnerships New Team Member: Bailey Burnett Hi! My name is Bailey Burnett and I’m a teacher in one of the infant rooms. I grew up in Lake Crystal Minnesota and have lived in Mankato since graduating high school. In my free time, I enjoy snuggling my cat, spending time with family and friends, and working on crafty Pinterest finds. I graduated from rasmussen university and obtained my Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and Leadership. I have been working in the childcare industry for four years now. Throughout those years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with all of the different age groups, but I specialized in infants. I enjoy being able to help these children grow and develop new skills. I’m so grateful that Cultivate has given me the opportunity to do what I love on a daily basis.
New Partnership: Valley Veggies This spring and summer we will once again be taking part in the community garden located just across the street from Cultivate. We are so excited to have the opportunity to provide a hands-on learning experience to all of our Cultivate friends and families! To help our garden flourish we have the privilege of being joined by Kimberly Brown, an Intern from Valley Veggies & Flowers, a farm that is minutes from the Minneopa Bison Range in Lake Crystal, Minnesota. Kimberly recently visited the community garden plot with our preschool classrooms to read 'Planting a Rainbow,' introduce them to the space where they will be planting and growing produce and to teach them little about how plants grow! Kimberly is graduating this spring with a degree in Recreation, Parks and Leisure services and has a passion for the outdoors, and she loves to share that passion with others. We are so excited for the privilege to have her spend time with us and see what we can cultivate together! Along with having Kimberly on site to facilitate hands-on learning experiences, Valley Veggies and Flowers is providing our classrooms with starter plants to place in our garden and will also be providing our kitchen staff with an array of seasonal vegetables to use as snack and lunch items! We are excited to see what the future holds and cant wait to share new and exciting experiences with our classrooms! If you would like to learn more about Valley Veggies and Flowers, they can be found on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.valleyveggiesmn.com
CULTIVATE NEWS | 12
ABOUT US: At Fit & Grit Training our mission is to make sustainable, healthy living accessible to families. We use a holistic approach that focuses on fitness, mindset/stress management, and healthy eating. So whether you need a grocery store “tour guide” or strategies to help get your kids to eat their veggies, tools to manage your stress, or convenient babysitter-free fitness training that meets you at your home, at a local park, or online, we make it easy for you and your family to live a healthy lifestyle.
WHAT WE’RE DOING: In our partnership with Cultivate Mankato, every week we get to bring in fun and fitness for the preschoolers. We focus on some of the most important things for kiddos at this age, including controlling body states, proprioception (knowing where your body is in space), and balance. Each session we start with warm ups, then we let our bodies go wild and calm down, practice moving our bodies through space (ask your kiddo what animal was their favorite!), and finish with deep, calming breathing to transition back to the classroom.
ACTIVITY: Want to try an activity with your kids?! Try out this calming breathing exercise. You’ll need a small stuffed animal or soft toy (beanbag, etc…). Start by having your kiddo (and you!) lie on their back. Place the soft toy on their belly button. Begin taking slow, deep breaths, trying to move the soft toy up high with each inhale and back down with each exhale. Go nice and slow and stay in control to keep the soft toy balanced and in place. Do this for 30-60 seconds at a time for maximum benefits. This works great to aid in calm transitions between activities and even before bedtime!
CULTIVATE NEWS | 13
What Does an Occupational Therapist Do? Sam Olsen, Persist Therapy Hello, Cultivate friends and family! Let’s take some time this month to talk about what an occupational therapist does. This is honestly one of the most difficult questions I get because... the possibilities are endless! Someone once said that occupational therapy (OT) helps me to feel accomplished and confident in the things that I need and want to do. Which is exactly what I hope kids feel when I work with them. Let’s break it down to the top 5 things that an occupational therapist can work on with children. 1. All things sensory. Our sensory systems are complex, unique and individual to us. When people hear the word sensory, they immediately think, tags on clothing, weighted blankets, and picky eaters. But sensory is SO much more. For some learning to find strategies that help their sensory systems work optimally comes naturally. But for others it does not. They may feel stuck in a world that just doesn’t seem right. Our goal is never to change the sensory system but rather to help each child (and parent) better understand their individual sensory system—what it needs, what it craves, what it is sensitive to and what it may want to avoid. We give skills, tools and strategies to learn to be kind to the sensory system, adapt the environment and help a child to feel their best within their body. A few sensory flags to consider: Overly sensitive to different sounds and noises, to the point that it impacts where you go and what you can do. Avoids certain activities (brushing teeth, combing hair) or environments (struggles in the community) and it limits what you do and where you go. Needs constant soothing (snuggles, hugs, tight clothing) and can’t seem to calm on their own (is it colic??) 2. Sensory motor. I like to break apart sensory and sensory motor systems. We all know the basic senses—touch, taste, smell, hearing and seeing. But did you know there are actually 3 more— vestibular, proprioception and interoception. Each of these sensory motor systems contributes to how we move through and feel within our environment. There is not a sensory motor system that is “right” or “ideal” but if a sensory system interferes with how we go about our day, it is worth getting it checked out. A few sensory motor flags to consider: Always on the move and can’t seem to sit still. If their need for movement cannot be satiated and impacts what can be done, you most likely have a sensory craver on your hands. Movement is very rigid, hesitant, or unsure and because of this child avoids many activities and prefers to be an on-looker. Doesn’t seem to know their own body well—constipated often, can’t detect temperature, pain—what’s that? This my friends, is interoception.
CULTIVATE NEWS | 14
3. Self-Cares. This is where the independence piece comes into things. If your child is struggling doing what they should be able to do—wash their hands, pull up their pants, sleep well or brush their teeth—an occupational therapist can help. There are so many reasons that may impact why a child is struggling with finding their independence—sensory, motor, coordination, confidence, sequencing. If you have concerns, it is worth reaching out to an occupational therapist. A few self-care flags to consider: They cannot seem to figure out how to get their shirt or pants on and off, no matter how many times they have practiced. Bath time is a scream-fest day and isn’t getting any better. My child seems to sleep okay but wakes up tired or seems tired throughout the day. 4. Social emotional skills and self-regulation. This is another tough one, because kids have big emotions and can’t always communicate them. But if your days feel like a rollercoaster of emotions or reactions consistently do not fit the situation, there may be more going on and an OT evaluation is warranted. A few social emotional flags to consider: Big emotions are often intense and last for a long time. Doesn’t seem to have interest in engaging in play (either by themselves or with others). You walk on eggshells because we never know the reaction we are going to get. 5. Motor skills. There are a lot of areas of motor skills that occupational therapists can address— coordination, hand dominance and bilateral integration, general weakness, low muscle tone or high muscle tone. If your child is behind on meeting those developmental motor milestones (crawling, rolling, jumping, skipping) or appears clumsy or rigid—reach out to an occupational therapist! A few motor flags to consider: Struggles with using utensils when eating so they just finger feed. Butt scoots or army crawls but is not crawling. Won’t let those feet leave the ground. Is constipated (wait what, this can be a motor issues?? Sure can!). I could go on for HOURS about all of the different things that an occupational therapist can do. But when it comes down to it, YOU—know best. If there is a feeling in your gut that something just isn’t right or seems “off” or behind—reach out. Don’t take the “wait and see what happens” approach, please seek out OT. The sooner we can work with your child, the quicker we can give them tools, teach them good patterns and train their brain to form the right pathways! Have further questions or concerns? Please feel free to reach out or grab me if you see me walking around Cultivate.
Dr. Sam Olsen OTD, OTR/L info@persisttherapy.com | 507-338-6446
CULTIVATE NEWS | 15
Message From Anissa
Parent Resource
SPRING!
Why Do Kids Whine? 3 Steps to Make it Stop
In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt - Margaret Atwood
Written by
Amy McCready, Founder of
Positive Parenting Solutions
You may remember we had a community garden plot last summer
Link to Article
just down the street from Cultivate. This year our Operations Coordinator, Samantha Laman is taking the lead and already has AMAZING things instore for our garden. We will be working together with an intern from Valley Veggies & Flowers to not only grow a beautiful, bountiful garden, but to create a wonderful learning
You said “no” to brownies for breakfast, a new puppy and your 15-year-old’s request to spend the weekend at a beach house with friends. And each time, just like clockwork, the whining begins. From toddlers to teens, all children know how to argue with your decision in their best nails-on-a-chalkboard voice.
experience for the children. You’ve tried everything from time-outs to
Our new partnership with Valley
earplugs, but the whining won’t end. Don’t
Veggies & Flowers will bring garden
worry–you’re not alone. Parents worldwide
fresh vegetables to our meal times at
fall victim to their child’s whining daily, but
Cultivate Mankato. Valley Veggies &
this doesn’t mean you can’t stop it.
Flowers relies on volunteers to make it
By learning why your kids whine, you can
happen. I will be coordinating
discover how to put an end to it for good.
volunteer opportunities for parents to help throughout the growing season.
Why Do Kids Whine?
Be on the lookout for volunteer
Because it works! (For your kids, that is.)
opportunities at the community
When your kids whine and negotiate, they
garden too! Whether you are a gardening pro or a novice like me, there are opportunities
secure a big chunk of your attention. Positive Parenting is based on Adlerian Psychology which asserts all humans are hard-wired with two basic emotional needs –
to learn and grow all spring and
belonging and significance. One of the
summer long!
crucial ways parents can meet a child’s need
CULTIVATE NEWS | 16
www.cultivatemankato.com
for belonging is to give kids sufficient amounts of attention.
Kids don’t whine to intentionally irritate us —they whine because they haven’t learned a positive, productive way to get our attention or have their needs met. Let’s face it, parents are the busiest creatures on the planet and there are about a billion things competing for our time and attention. But when kids aren’t getting as much positive attention as they need from us, they’ll experiment with different ways to get our attention–whining, helplessness, tantrums…you get the idea. And of course, when kids whine, we typically respond with a correction or a reprimand — not exactly the positive attention they were looking for – but it worked to get our attention.
The truth is, children only continue behaviors that work for them. When kids whine and parents give in, kids
How Can You Make the Whining Stop? Now that you know why kids whine, you can
Here are 3 steps you can start using today to curb the whining in your home: make it stop–before your ears fall off.
1. Make it NOT work Remember the main reason why your kids whine? It works! By not giving in to whatever they’re whining for–you’ll cut back dramatically on this annoying misbehavior. Whether you’re in the grocery store or at the dinner table, say “no,” and stick to it. If a tantrum happens, calmly let it happen in a safe place (like the car)–and your child will soon learn that whining, and even a tantrum, won’t get him what he wants. You should still help your child deal with his big feelings of disappointment, but you’re not caving in to the demand.
2. Pay No (Negative) Attention By refusing to give attention to the whining,
realize that whining gets them what they
you’ll remove a big part of the payoff. Here’s
want–the attention they crave and maybe
a simple 3-step training process to make it
even that candy bar in the grocery checkout
work:
line. But giving in to demands–like one more television show or another scoop of ice cream–isn’t the only way we reward our kids’ whining. Just responding, even if it’s to reprimand them, gives a child payoff. Picking up the child or responding with an annoyed remark (“Enough! Stop whining!”) still gives the child attention–even though it wasn’t the positive attention she really wanted–and now she’ll be more likely to whine again and again to get the same result.
CULTIVATE NEWS | 17
Step 1: Set the expectation In a calm moment, tell your kids: “You’re growing up so much! You’re big enough now to ask for what you’d like in a normal voice without whining AND be okay if you don’t get it. If you ask me something in a whiny voice, I will put my hands over my ears which will be a gentle reminder to use your regular voice. Then, you can try again with your normal voice and I’ll be happy to talk about anything that’s on your mind.”
NOTE: You may have to do some role-playing
www.cultivatemankato.com
about the difference between a normal voice
ignore the email notification. Don’t respond
and a whiny voice.
to the text. Hold off on the dinner prep.
Step 2: Reveal how you will respond
voice and then I’ll be happy to listen.”
When you fill your child’s attention basket positively and proactively, your kids will become more cooperative and less likely to resort to whining as a way to gain your attention.
Step 3: Confirm understanding
Life is busy for everyone, and finding extra
“Just so we’re on the same page and we don’t
time in the day may be daunting at first, but
have any surprises, let’s practice how we’ll talk
think of this as an investment in your
to each other and what I will do if you decide to
relationship with your children and in
use your whiny voice?”
helping them learn more positive and
“If you continue to use your whiny voice, I will not respond. Instead, I’ll just go about my business until you want to talk in your normal
effective ways to communicate their needs. Okay, you’ve laid the groundwork. But, once you’ve made this bed, my friend, you MUST lie in it (don’t worry, it’ll be really relaxing before you know it).
Final Thoughts With these strategies in place, you’ll keep
Follow through EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. your
the whining to a minimum. But the truth is,
children start to whine. Stay calm and walk
other frustrating behaviors might pop up in
away – even a negative non-verbal reaction to
its place.
When your child uses her normal voice, be sure to respond RIGHT AWAY, calmly and pleasantly. whining can be a payoff.
We all know behaviors don’t develop overnight, so curbing the whining in your home can take days and even weeks to remediate. However, with a little patience, practice, and consistency, you’ll help your child kick this habit in no time.
3. Provide Proactive POSITIVE Attention.
I wish I could help you tackle every frustrating behavior in this one article but sadly, there is no silver bullet to parenting! Correcting misbehavior and raising respectful, independent, capable kids requires an intentional process and set of tools. As always, happy parenting! You’ve got this!
For these steps to work, you must also provide plenty of positive attention to meet your child’s need for emotional connection. Each parent should shoot for 10 minutes of quality time every day with each child. You can play their favorite card game, shoot hoops in the driveway or whatever they love to do! During the special one-on-one time,
CULTIVATE NEWS | 18
www.cultivatemankato.com
May 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 | 19
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 | 20
To place an order: Visit our Cultivate Mankato shop! Questions? Email us at info@cultivatemankato.com
www.cultivatemankato.com