Playworks PW's Playhouse September 2018

TURN YOUR BACKYARDinto a

Playground the BEGINNING ofschool YEAR and going outdoors

COLOR SCAVENGER HUNT

playworks highlights It’s that time of year again—back to school!

Emotions can run high with the summer coming to an end and new routines starting up, but Playworks learners will have all the help they need to make the most of the new school year. Playworks staff will do their best to help alleviate nervous jitters and ensure September (and the rest of the school year) is simple and stress-free!

This month, our pre-K and preschool students will study something that we all use in our daily lives: chairs and things to sit on. Things we sit on, like benches, desk chairs, and sofas, all vary in shape, size, and functionality, and the Educare kiddos will be excited to share with you new perspectives of objects to sit on. Playworks’ infant and toddler classrooms will focus on experiencing the great outdoors—rolling, climbing, and crawling outside helps stimulate sensory and motor skills in young children.

Know someone who might be interested in learning at Playworks? In September, we will be hosting an Educare Open House on September 6 from 4:306:30pm—tell a friend! Our Educare friends and families are also invited to a free spaghetti dinner on September 20 (no RSVP is necessary). Hope to see you there!

important dates

Suggested Reading

September 3:

Playworks Closed for Labor Day

September 6:

Educare Open House 4:30-6:30pm • Playworks

A Chair for My Mother

by Vera B. Williams

September 20: Educare Spaghetti Dinner

4:30-6:30pm • Playworks LINK

Event center

Black, White, Just Right!

by Marguerite W. Davol Peter’s Chair

by Ezra Jack Keats The Hello, Goodbye Window

by Norton Juster

Thank you to everyone who joined us for 2018 Xtreme Summer Camp!

What Was it Before It Was a Chair?

by Roseva Shreckhise

Educare Early Learning Classrooms

Beginning of the School Year and Things to Sit On + Going Outdoors The beginning of the school year is an exciting time for children!

During the month of September, our pre-K and preschool students will become familiar with the classroom and school routines, and they will learn to find comfort in being a member of their classroom community while maintaining a secure connection to home.

Our Educare students will also look forward to answering the “Question of the Day,” daily read aloud times, small group activities, and time outside on the playground. They will each discover fun and educational materials through the various Playworks interest centers. Students will also become familiar with the many objects in their lives that they sit on. Studying things to sit on will offer Educare students the opportunity to investigate objects from different perspectives.

While the pre-K and preschool students become accustomed to their new classrooms and different things to sit on, the infant and toddler classrooms will learn all about the outdoors. Certain outdoor activities can help teach children about imagination, exercise, and science. Games and playing outdoors can help promote social skills and teaches children to explore with their senses.

Take advantage of the fall weather this September—get outside and learn through play! Be sure to incorporate playtime into your child’s day, whether they’re pending it at school or at Playworks.

Going outside, learning, and playing together can help strengthen the bond between you and your child.

BUILDING CONNECTIONS:

I Love You Ritual

Integrating social-emotional learning into the classroom and at home, Dr. Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline method transforms everyday issues into teachable moments. Encourage a connection (and giggles!) with your child through this finger-play rhyme, “There Was a Little Mouse.”

SAY THE VERSE

DO THE ACTION

There was a little mouse

Holding the child’s palm; “walk” your fingers in their palm like a little mouse.

And she had a little house

Release the child’s palm and encircle the child’s handwith both of your hands.

And she lived Walk your two fingers up the child’s forearm. With your tone of voice and facial expressions, build the child’s anticipation of the next move.

Up here!

Touch the child in a spot that would be a surprise, such as their earlobe, top of their head, or their nose.

Turn Your Backyard into a

Get out and play!

Catch

Capture the Flag!

Playground It’s as easy as it sounds! Grab a football, Frisbee, or favorite ball and toss it back and forth with your child. Make up your own rules or see how long you can go without it hitting the ground! This game teaches great hand-eye coordination.

September is National Child Obesity Awareness Month, meaning it’s a great time to get moving. There are so many activities you and your children can enjoy from the comfort of your own backyard. From capture the flag and playing catch to hide and seek tag and duck, duck, gray duck, it’s easy to enjoy exercise right outside your front door with family and friends.

Whether the game is a classic or something you’ve never heard of, enjoy some friendly competition and give these fun outdoor activities a try!

Split a large group into object in their “territory.” the other team’s object territory without being the designated “jail” in can be rescued by being

two teams. Each team hides an The goal of the game is to capture and bring it back to your team’s tagged. If tagged, you must go to the enemy’s territory. Those jailed tagged by a member of their team.

Hide Seek

Tag

Set a “home” where the seeker counts down. Once everybody hides and the seeker is done counting, hide and seek turns into a game of tag, where everybody who is hiding must run “home” before getting tagged. If tagged, they join the seeker during the next round until one winner remains.

It’s gray duck, not goose—we’re in Minnesota, after all! Sit in a circle while the person who’s “it” walks around saying duck and tapping each player on the head. Once the person who’s “it” says “gray duck,” then the person who was tapped on the head last must chase them, trying to tag them before they run around the circle and replace them in their spot.

Tip: Teach colors by having the person who’s “it” say the color of the person’s shirt instead of “gray.”

Recipe:

Graham Cracker Pencils

Do you have all of your back-to-school supplies? Try this easy (and yummy!) graham cracker pencil recipe to gear up for the new school year!

Ingredients: 1 box graham crackers 4 cup pink candy melts, melted 2 cup white candy melts, melted 3 handful of mini chocolate chips Directions: 1. Lay out a piece of parchment paper before you get started.

2. Carefully break graham crackers in half lengthwise.

3. Use a pair of clean kitchen scissors to cut the tip of the graham cracker into a point.

4. Dip the pointed end of the graham cracker into the white chocolate and press a chocolate 5.

chip onto the point for the pencil tip.

Dip the other end of the cracker into the pink melted chocolate, spread evenly with a knife, and place onto parchment paper to harden.

Playworks Staff Spotlight: Katie Traxler

How long have you worked at Playworks?

5 months

What is your position at Playworks?

Toddler Teacher

Describe yourself in one word: Fun

Favorite board game: Sorry!

Favorite food:

Favorite part of working at Playworks: Hibachi Reading stories with the children

Favorite color:

Favorite children’s book:

Blue

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

by Bill Martin Jr.

Favorite animal: Goats

Highlighted Learning Objective:

Classification Skills Classifying objects and toys can have a positive impact on a child’s organizational skills. Whether your child sorts their snacks, puzzle pieces, or clothes, they are improving their skills and thinking about how and why certain things go together. September’s Highlighted Learning Objective is using classification skills. Check out what these skills look like and how you can help improve your child’s classification skills below!

What this looks like:

Suggestions for improving classifications:

Gathers all the vehicles from a shelf

Provide opportunities for children to practice organizing, such as picking up all the toys that are trucks

Puts all the red beads together and then all the blue beads together Says, “These buttons are red and these are blue,” then organizes them by size Before putting art tools away, sorts them into different categories based on function

Sing, recite finger plays, and read books that focus on colors, shapes, machines, animals, etc.

Record older children’s ideas about dogs and cats; ask them to find similarities between the two groups; present ideas in a Venn diagram Ask children questions about organizing, such as, “How can we organize this collection of books?”

Keep Your Child’s Health

Top of Mind

Although children need lots of food and nutrients to grow, it’s important to keep their health top of mind when considering diet and exercise choices. Throughout September, the childhood obesity epidemic will be brought to light during National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 6 children in the United States is obese—that means that around 17 percent of children are at a higher risk for chronic health conditions, bullying, and obesity as an adult.

To help your family prevent obesity and support a healthy lifestyle, try out the tips below: Add nutritious, low-calorie foods like fruits and vegetables to your diet, and remove foods that are high in sugars and bad fats Keep track of your child’s growth and screen them for potential weight issues Cut out the sugary beverages and juices and drink more water Be a role model—your child will learn from what you eat Exercise every day; make sure your child is getting at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day

Family-Friendly SMSC

EVENTS

September 6

Educare Open House

4:30-6:30pm Playworks (2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake)

Join us in gearing up for back to school! At Playworks, learning and fun go hand-in-hand. Educare is a high-quality, developmentally appropriate child care program for ages 6 weeks to 12 years. The Educare Open House is a great opportunity to meet teachers and explore the classrooms. We’re here to answer all of your questions! Full-time and part-time options are available.

September 7–October 28

JOIN US FOR

Sever’s Fall Festival

Fridays: 1-8pm | Saturdays: 10am-8pm Sundays: 10am-6pm $15 (Free for children under 3) Canterbury Park (1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee)

During weekends in September and October, Sever’s Fall Festival is the perfect family fall outing! Check out the obstacle course, corn maze and corn pit, exotic animal petting zoo, live shows and entertainment, and more. Visit seversfallfestival.com MINNESOTA STATE LOTTERY VAN for more information.

11AM

September 20

Educare Spaghetti Dinner

4:30-6:30pm | Dinner is provided Playworks LINK Event Center (2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake)

Calling all Educare families! Join us for a free spaghetti dinner on Thursday, September 20, from 4:30-6:30pm in the Playworks LINK Event Center. No RSVP is needed.

Questions? Contact Amy Donaldson at amy.donaldson@playworksfun.com.

SHAKOPEE DAKOTA CONVENIENCE STORE #1

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY Friday, September 14

RAFFLE ALL-DAY

11AM-2PM

DISCOUNTS & SPECIALS

VENDOR

DRAWINGS

& PRIZES

SAMPLES

Craft:

Grab a few friends, head outside, and soak up the last rays of summer during this scavenger hunt activity. Don’t forget to use your imagination!

C o l o r Scavenger Hunt Materials:

□□ White paper lunch bags

□□ Colored markers

Directions:

1 Write “Color Scavenger Hunt”

3 Store all your treasures inside

2 Choose the colors you want to

4 When everyone is finished,

at the top of the white paper lunch bags.

hunt outdoors forand seek them out in natural objects outside.

Use the markers to scribble small squares on the front of the bags for each color.

the bag as you find them.

sit in a circle and play show and tell with all of the items everyone found!

• Playtime • Family Play • Groups & Parties

PLAY HERE. PLAY TODAY!

Playworks is the best place to PLAY. We offer a variety of hourly child care services, family play, and more. Our child care is both flexible and fun for children 6 weeks to 12 years of age.

952.445.PLAY (7529) • playworksfun.com 2200 trail of dreams, PRIOR LAKE, MN