SEPTEMBER 2020
Craft:
rice crispy maracas
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
TIPS
EXPERIENCE
MUSIC AND MOVEMENT PLAYWORKSFUN.COM / PLAYHOUSE
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THIS MONTH AT
A
Playworks
nother fun-filled Xtreme Summer Camp has come to an end and it’s time to shift gears to all things back to school! Although this academic year will certainly look a bit different than years past, it is an exciting time indeed for students and parents alike. The back-to-school season brings with it structure and routine, which often fall to the wayside during the exciting summer months. As students become acquainted with their new schedules, parents are adjusting to the new normal too.
As always, the safety of Playworks families and staff remains our top priority. We have implemented many health and safety practices to protect our students, employees, and family members of the children in our care—read more about these safeguarding measures on page 7. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Suggested Reading
Dakota Value
important dates
A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman
Wówahbadaŋ Humility
SEPTEMBER 7 Playworks Closed—Happy Labor Day!
The Great Big Book of Families by Mary Hoffman The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
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At Playworks, we are here to support the needs of all our Playworks families—no matter what learning environment your little learners require. Our schools are offering in-person learning, distance learning, and a hybrid of both. We understand that these are challenging times and that there is still a great deal of uncertainty in the year to come. We want our Educare families to know that we will continue to do our best when it comes to safely providing the education and care your family needs, whatever situations may arise.
PLAYHOUSE / SEPTEMBER 2020
We have a spirit; we are no better nor less than others. “True humility is contentment.” —Henri Frederic Amiel
I LOVE YOU RITUAL: EDUCARE EARLY LEARNING CLASSROOMS: CREATIVE CURRICULUM
HERE’S THE BUNNY
Beginning of the Year
This fun, interactive finger game will be sure to tickle your child’s bunny bone.
T
PREPARATION AND INSTRUCTIONS: The child is the bunny and the adult is the hole. When playing the game, the child makes a bunny shape by holding up two fingers of one hand and the adult makes the hole by configuring his/her hands as described below.
he beginning of the school year is an exciting time! During the first several weeks of the school year, children will be learning to say goodbye to their families, becoming familiar with the classroom and school routines, and learning to find comfort in being a member of the classroom community, while also maintaining a secure connection to home. During the month of September, children at Playworks will look forward to answering the “Question of the Day” and daily “Read Aloud” times, small group activities, time outside on the playground, and discovering the fun and educational materials in the interest centers listed below:
• Blocks • Dramatic Play • Puzzles and Games • Art • Library
• Discovery • Sand and Water • Music and Movement • Cooking • Outdoors
SAY THE VERSE:
DO THE ACTION:
Here’s the hole in the ground.
Make a circle with both hands for the hole.
When a noise she hears,
The bunny (the child) bends his/her ears down by bending the two upright fingers down toward the thumb.
She picks up her ears,
With a quick snapping motion, help the child stick his/her fingers straight up in the air.
And jumps in the hole in the ground!
Have the two fingers jump into the “hole” you made. Once the bunny is in the “hole,” give the fingers a couple of loving squeezes.
Here’s the bunny with the ears so funny.
Help the child hold up two fingers to be the “bunny.”
PLAYWORKSFUN.COM / PLAYHOUSE
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Craft:
Musical Shaker
Get musical with these easy-to-make shaker instruments. With just a few materials, craft time leads right into music lessons!
MATERIALS: • Plastic bottle or glass jar • Popcorn kernels
• Decorative ribbons or pipe cleaners • Hot glue gun
DIRECTIONS:
STAFF SPOTLIGHT:
Nicole Kutscher How long have you worked at Playworks?
1 year What is your position at Playworks?
Teacher Favorite part of working at Playworks:
Engaging with the students Favorite children’s book:
Baby Beluga by Raffi Describe yourself in one word:
Passionate Favorite board game:
Clue Favorite food:
Pasta Favorite color:
Yellow Favorite animal:
Fox
1. Fill bottle or jar with desired amount of popcorn kernels, then screw the top back on.
2. Decorate by tying ribbons or pipe cleaners around the container.
3. With the help of an adult, use a hot glue gun to make a seal, securing the twist-off top.
4. Let the glue dry for several minutes. 5. Start shaking!
Provide opportunities for success. With so much uncertainty around the upcoming school year, allow opportunities for your child to succeed in what they do best. If your kid’s a math whiz, do more math exercises. If he/she excels in social studies, devote more time to social studies. Mastery triggers the brain to release feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Remember, academic learning is important, but well-being is essential.
Pivot to a new point of view.
Back-to-School
TIPS FOR PARENTS
For many families, back-to-school planning will look radically different this year than it has in previous years. In the past, you may have helped your children with homework when they hit a rough spot. Today, you’re attempting to juggle the roles of teacher, parent, and professional. As if your head wasn’t already spinning from all the other life changes imposed by this pandemic! Fortunately, in this digital age, most schools are utilizing online learning portals, and there are thousands of other resources to help with the academic part. But successful teaching and meaningful learning requires a lot more than sitting a student in front of a screen. Here are some ways to set yourself and your kids up for successful home learning:
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Get on a schedule. It’s helpful for children to know that life is going to be different, and that you will find a new normal together. A predictable daily pattern helps do just that. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach for creating a schedule. Experiment, be curious, and choose what works best for your family. Remember to also take your needs into account when creating the schedule. If you are telecommuting for work, schedule activities and tasks your child can complete independently while you work.
Create a home learning routine. Whether you are creating set times for learning or allowing learning to occur naturally throughout the day, it is helpful to create a learning routine. Start by deciding how long your learning sessions will last. The younger the child, the shorter the timeframe. If possible, conduct your learning sessions in the same location every day. Within your learning routine, change up the learning experience. Structure time to play online math or word games, visit a virtual museum, take part in a virtual dance, or listen to an author read aloud. Be sure to include breaks for outdoor play or free time between sessions. It is also helpful to provide a visual timer for children to track their progress through the routine.
When frustrated over academic content or a child’s behavior, you may need to pivot your learning routine to focus on a positive action. It can be difficult as parents to help our children in their new living room schoolhouse. However, many parents are in the same boat, and schools know this is a challenging time for families. Even for parents who excelled at academics “back in the day,” new methodologies and processes can make schooling at home a challenge. If we can pivot our minds away from what’s wrong long enough to verbalize what we would like to see, we brighten our outlook, provide usable information, and increase the likelihood of compliance.
Hit the pause button. Make safety and connection your top priority right now. If possible, avoid the introduction of new material for at least the first week or two to help smooth the transition to at-home learning. This provides breathing room for both schools and families to figure out new logistics and establish a new pattern before attempting new teaching/learning. You can add new and more complex academics as your routines become more normalized. Be kind and patient with yourself, your children, your loved ones, and the educational community as we all adapt to unprecedented life changes. Remember that all of us, including you, are doing the best we can amidst challenging circumstances. Take the time to speak with your child so you can probe their understanding of the pandemic, address any concerns, and help set new expectations. Source: consciousdiscipline.com
PLAYWORKSFUN.COM / PLAYHOUSE
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HIGHLIGHTED LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Participating
Cooperatively and Constructively in Group Settings
W
hile we may be keeping our distance physically from one another now, it’s inevitable that children will have to work in a group setting throughout the various stages of their lifetimes. Being a productive and functioning member of a group requires interactions that can be complex. The skills needed for these interactions include cooperation, negotiation, leading and following, and expressing their feelings. Parents and caregivers can help foster these skills by encouraging the following activities and behaviors. WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE:
• Interacts with other students through independent and teacher-directed activities • Develops interpersonal skills WAYS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN HELP ENHANCE THESE SKILLS:
• Provide opportunities for cooperation by giving ample time and materials so that students are engaged but also able to develop their skills for sharing and working together. • Provide a structured learning experience that can prepare students for the reality of working with people with different skills, cultures, and backgrounds.
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PLAYHOUSE / SEPTEMBER 2020
FOCUSED EXPERIENCE:
Music and Movement
C
hildren naturally love music. Whether it’s soft and soothing or a lively tune, children feel it both physically and emotionally. Music and movement allow children to explore cause and effect, develop motor skills, improve balance, coordination, and rhythm. Children also learn how to interact and connect with others through songs and actions. WHEN YOUR CHILD…
YOUR CHILD IS LEARNING…
Is soothed when you To comfort himself/herself play soft music Holds hands and About playing with other dances with another children child Stomps around the room to a march
To use his/her large muscles
Joins a finger play
Fine motor skills
Playworks HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES Your family’s safety, health, and well-being remain our top concern. We have implemented several preventative measures to ensure that our students, staff, and families stay safe and well during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upon entering Playworks:
Adults (staff, parents, guardians, caregivers, vendors, etc.): • Must wear a cloth face covering Adults and children are required to: • Practice social distancing by maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others • Wash or sanitize hands • Remain at home if anyone in the household is sick • Have their temperature taken—must be under 100°F to stay at Playworks
Drop-off and pickup:
During drop-off and pickup, we are asking all adults to remain in the lobby. No visitors or pets are allowed at Playworks during this time. The following procedures will take place to minimize contact with others: • When dropping off a child, Playworks staff will contact the child’s classroom and have a teacher meet the child/adult in the lobby. The child and teacher will then proceed to the classroom.
952.233.5533 • GOlFTHEMEADOWS.com 2400 mystic lake blvd, PRIOR LAKE, MN
• When picking up a child, Playworks staff will contact the child’s classroom and a teacher will bring the child to the lobby to meet the adult.
In addition to our health and safety policies, Playworks has implemented the following additional measures: • Staff are screened daily before they are able to work. • Random temperature checks are taken throughout each day. • Staff are staying six feet apart from each other. Students are encouraged—with assistance from staff— to practice social distancing and have been placed into small groups. • No more than 10 people are allowed to congregate in a group setting. Teacher-to-child ratios will remain the same based on the age of the children. • Students and staff are required to wash or sanitize their hands every 15 minutes or whenever they enter a classroom. •
Individual activities are provided to students and students are kept spread out from one another. When a child leaves an activity, that activity is removed until sanitized. Sensory tables are closed. If students play with play dough or other sensory items, they will be kept in individual labeled bags with their names on them or thrown away after each use.
REFRESH IN MOMENT
THE We offer custom labeling, a variety of sizes, and high-quality purified water to make sure your next special event is a memorable one.
• Sanitizing is being done every hour. Toys are being rotated throughout the day so that they can be cleaned after each use. These measures are in no way meant to be punitive. The continued health and safety of our Playworks family is our top priority. We want everyone to stay safe and healthy and we wish all of our families well. Please contact us with any further questions during our operating hours of 6:30am-6:30pm, Monday-Friday.
952.233.2983 • smscwater.com 15372 Orion Rd NW, Prior Lake, MN Owned and Operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
Recipe:
Rice Crispy Maracas
Shake your way into the new school year with this music-inspired treat!
INGREDIENTS: • Rice crispy treats (store-bought • Large pretzel rods or made according to package • Chocolate melts in instructions) various colors • Mini chocolate candies • Edible embellishments, such as sprinkles
DIRECTIONS:
1. Carefully use a rolling pin to flatten the rice crispy treats until they are about ¼-inch thick. Then cut out 6-by-6-inch squares of the rice crispy treats. 2. Shape your maracas by using a muffin tin as a guide, creating a bowl with each rice crispy square. 3. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of mini candies into each “maraca” bowl. 4. Gently seal the maraca edges by pressing the ends together around one large pretzel rod, using melted chocolate as “glue” to hold the rice crispy treat and pretzel together.
enjoy!
5. Time to decorate! Drizzle melted chocolate as decoration or use it to adhere sprinkles to your maracas.
• Playtime • Family Play • Groups & Parties
Learn Play PLAY HERE. Party PLAY TODAY! here.
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.
2200 Trail Of Dreams, Prior Lake, MN 952.445.PLAY (7529) • playworksfun.com