Playworks Playhouse September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

Routines and

Experiences Back -to -School

To -Do List

recipe: A+ Pencil Waffles PLAYWORKSFUN.COM / PLAYHOUSE

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THIS MONTH AT

Playworks...

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eptember is all about transitioning from laidback summer fun to creating new routines to help make life easier for the upcoming school year. So this month, Playworks is ready to focus on preparing students for their back-to-school transition. No matter your age, Playworks has some exciting events planned that will help bring families, students, and teachers together for a successful year.

On Thursday, September 9, from 4-6pm, we will be having an open house for all of our Playworks families!

This is a great opportunity to connect with teachers and to familiarize you and your child with the classroom.

As always, we thank our families for being a part of Playworks and allowing us to provide high-quality education and care to your family. We hope you all have a wonderful and safe month of September.

Bus Safety Week will be acknowledged from Monday, September 20, through Friday, September 24.

Fall transitions will be held Monday, September 13, through Friday, September 17.

The Playworks annual Spaghetti Dinner will be held on Thursday, September 23, from 4-6pm in the Playworks LINK Event Center—be sure to bring your appetite!

dakota value

Suggested Reading

Wóksape Wisdom

important dates

A Pocket for Corduroy by

SEPTEMBER 6 Playworks Closed—Happy Labor Day! SEPTEMBER 9 Educare Open House SEPTEMBER 13-17 Fall Transition SEPTEMBER 20-24 Bus Safety Week SEPTEMBER 23 Educare Spaghetti Dinner

With knowledge comes wisdom— embrace learning in all its forms to channel deeper levels of understanding.

Don Freeman Papi, How Many Stars Are in the Sky? by Angel Vigil The Gingerbread Man by Karen Schmidt Crazy Pizza Day by Bonnie Dobkin

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PLAYHOUSE / SEPTEMBER 2021

I LOVE YOU RITUAL:

EDUCARE EARLY LEARNING CLASSROOMS: CREATIVE CURRICULUM

Beginning of the school year

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he beginning of the school year is an exciting time! During the first several weeks of school, preschool and prekindergarten students will become familiar with school and classroom routines. They will also learn to find comfort in being a member of the classroom community, while maintaining a secure connection to their home and family.

Children at Playworks can look forward to answering the “Question of the Day,” participating in daily “read aloud” times, small group activities, and spending time outside discovering educational and engaging materials in the interest centers below.

• • • •

Art Blocks Cooking Dramatic play

• • • •

Library Music and movement Puzzles and games Sand and water

Talking to your child about what to expect at Playworks this school year will get them excited and eager to join us!

Mama’s Sweet Girl/Boy This is a wonderful activity to help children go to school. It is especially useful at the beginning of the school year when the transition from home to school can be so difficult.

PREPARATION AND INSTRUCTIONS: Kneel down or pick up your child in your arms so that you are eye to eye. This song is sung to the tune of “Mama’s Little Baby Loves Shortening Bread.”

THE GAME: Kneel down or pick up your child in your arms so that you are eye to eye. Sing the following song to your child:

Mama’s smart girl/boy is precious, precious.

Mama’s smart girl/boy is loved so much.

Mama’s smart girl/boy will go to school.

Mama’s smart girl/boy will meet the bus.

Put on your socks. Put on your shoes.

Going to school is wonderful news.

PLAYWORKSFUN.COM / PLAYHOUSE

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Craft:

MATERIALS:

Cinnamon Painted Apple plates With a new school year starting, it’s not uncommon to see apples used to symbolize and celebrate all things back-to-school. Creating this scented apple craft is a great way to welcome back fall!

DIRECTIONS: 1. Pour green paint into a cup, bowl, or paper plate. Help your child coat their hand and then place it firmly on the card stock to create a handprint.

2. Set handprint aside to dry.

3. Pour red paint into a cup or bowl and mix in one or two teaspoons of cinnamon. Be careful not to add too much! Paint should not turn into paste.

4. Give your child a paintbrush and let them paint the entire paper plate red.

5. Use scissors to cut out the green handprint to use as a leaf.

6. Use scissors to cut out a stem from brown construction paper.

7. Use glue or tape to assemble all the pieces of the apple together.

As the painted apple craft dries, the cinnamon will add texture and smell to create a fantastic sensory experience.

8. Optional: Cut a “v” at the top and bottom to give more of a rounded apple shape (see photo).

Try This!

Create this scented apple craft for a teacher or a friend, as it is sure to impress and delight!

• Green and red craft paint • Bowl • White card stock • Cinnamon • Paintbrush or silicone marinade brush • Paper plates • Scissors • Brown construction paper • Glue or tape

T H G I L T O P S F F A ST ostrom Elyse M

How long have you worked at Playworks?

5 months

Describe yourself in one word: Friendly

What is your position at Playworks?

Customer Care Representative and Front Desk Attendant

Favorite board game: Sorry!

Favorite part of working at Playworks: Meeting new people and interacting with the kids Favorite children’s book: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss 4

PLAYHOUSE / SEPTEMBER 2021

Favorite food: Chick-fil-A Favorite color: Blue Favorite animal: My dog

Back -to -School

To -Do List

The process of sending your child back to school can feel overwhelming at times (for everyone involved!), but taking steps to be prepared can help ease the anxiety that often accompanies this time of year. Check off items on this to-do list to help make the transition to Playworks Educare classrooms or kindergarten a much smoother one.

Make sure immunizations are current. If not, schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor’s office.

Update emergency contact information. If your child has health needs, allergies, or takes medications, be sure to notify the school.

Review the school’s policy on sick days and arrange an emergency backup in case one is needed.

Arrange for after-school care and make sure your child knows where to go each day.

Practice walking to school or to the bus stop. Also, make sure your child knows his/her address and the phone number you can be reached at.

Designate an area at home to store school supplies like backpacks and books, so your child is ready to go when they leave each morning.

Prepare for your child’s school day the night before by setting out clothes with your child.

Teach your child about healthy eating and plan out after-school snacks for the week­­­—check out Playhouse recipes for creative ideas.

Discuss healthy habits with your child. Explain the importance of hand-washing while at school.

Find time to talk with your child about his/her feelings toward the beginning of the school year and address any concerns they might have.

Explain to your child the importance of being kind and helping others. This will be important when they begin to form friendships.

As the first day of the school approaches, simple preparatory measures—such as those listed above—can make all the difference in setting your child on the path to school success.

PLAYWORKSFUN.COM / PLAYHOUSE

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CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE FOCUS:

Power of Attention and and Skill of Assertiveness Assertiveness

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his month focuses on the power of attention, which helps us focus on what we want ourselves and others to do. Between back to school and fall activities, September is a time of transition, and transitions can be stressful for even the most resilient of individuals. It is helpful during times of transition to lean into our power of attention so we can consciously focus on what we want. This power helps us create predictable routines and structure, which can be very helpful during times of transitions.

When we lean into the power of attention, we can also access our skill of assertiveness. Assertiveness helps us model how we want to be treated, and it helps us set limits for ourselves and our children.

FOCUSED EXPERIENCE:

Routines and Experiences

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his month, Playworks’ focused experience is all about routines and new experiences. There are five routines and eight experiences that are essential to the learning and development of children from birth to age three. The uncertainty of change can be stressful, but these practices can help your child comfortably ease into learning new things:

Routines: • Greetings • Bathroom training • Practicing mealtime

• Dressing etiquette • Sleeping and naptime habits

Experiences: • Creating art • Playing with toys • Imitating and pretending • Listening to stories and books • Connecting with music and movement

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PLAYHOUSE / SEPTEMBER 2021

• Preparing and tasting food • Surveying sand and water • Exploring the outdoors

Family -Friendly Events Family-Friendly SEPTEMBER 1 -6

SMSC AT THE STATE FAIR Times Vary by Day | Adults: $16 | Kids $14 | Children Under 4: Free Minnesota State Fairgrounds (1265 Snelling Ave N, St. Paul)

Visit the first-ever SMSC booth at the Great Minnesota Get-Together—in between rides and food, of course! The booth will be in the education building. Information about the SMSC will be on display for visitors from all over and will represent Native American culture and heritage in an impactful way.

SEPTEMBER 10 -OCTOBER 31 SEVER’S FALL FESTIVAL Fridays: 1-8pm | Saturdays: 10am-8pm Sundays: 10am-6pm 3121 150th Street, Shakopee Sever’s Fall Festival is the place to be for a fun family outing this fall! Check out the pumpkin patch, obstacle course, corn maze, corn pit, petting zoo, live music, and more. Visit seversfallfestival.com for more information or to buy tickets.

SEPTEMBER 23 EDUCARE SPAGHETTI DINNER

4-6pm Playworks LINK Event Center (2200 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake) Calling all Educare families! Join fellow Educare families and teachers for a free spaghetti dinner on Thursday, September 23, from 4-6pm. No RSVP necessary.

DAKOTAH!

BOWLING BOWL E AT PLAY

Entertainment sure to STRIKE your fancy.

Delicious eats for the entire group.

Arcade games for kids and adults alike.

Call 952.496.6886 to book a reservation.

D A K O T A H S P O R T. C O M

952.445.9400 | 2100 Trail of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN 55372 O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D B Y T H E S H A K O P E E M D E W A K A N T O N S I O U X C O M M U N I T Y

Recipe:

A+ A+ Pencil Pencil Waffles Waffles Need some back-to-school inspiration? With just a few ingredients, this nutritious breakfast is an A+ option!

Ingredients: 2-3 frozen waffles 1 banana

Handful of chocolate chips 6-9 raspberries

Directions: 1. Toast waffles and cut into large rectangles.

2. Slice banana into ¼-inch pieces. Carefully cut the banana slices into triangles to resemble the tip of a pencil.

3. To assemble your pencils, place a banana slice above one end of a waffle, as shown in the photo.

Place one chocolate chip on the pencil tip for the lead, and three raspberries on the other end of the waffle for the eraser.

Enjoy!

• Explore • Interact • Play

School-Age Progra m Playworks provides care for children before and after school. Children are given time to do homework, explore, interact, and acquire new skills through activities and play!

Busing services are available.

ENROLL TODAY! 2200 Trail Of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN 952.445.PLAY (7529) • playworksfun.com