Head Start Family News - January 2023

Head Start Family News

Director’s Corner

Set Realistic New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year, Head Start Parents!

Hello and welcome to 2023! We hope you enjoyed the holidays with your family, and are ready to begin the second half of the year. A new year means new beginnings. Are you one to make a new year’s resolution? Please be easy on yourself, and make sure the goals you set are small, attainable steps. Added stress is not necessary at a time when we are recovering from the pandemic. Your goals may take longer, but it will be worth it in the end when you succeed.

Our goal as we journey through the rest of this program year is to keep moving forward in strengthening our program. Following the nationwide lead of Head Start programs, LCCAA will renew its focus on child safety. We have always worked to keep the children in our care safe. COVID created many socialization challenges for our youngest children in addition to staffing challenges for preschool and child care programs across the country. These new dynamics mean we need to make sure child safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Our approach will include more discussions and, importantly, celebration of successes. Staff have been empowered to recognize each other’s efforts. Each of our centers is unique so these efforts will look slightly differently across the program. If you ever have any concerns about your child’s safety, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

The impacts of COVID continue. We will still sometimes need to close classrooms due to COVID and workforce issues. Rest assured we remain committed

to providing high quality comprehensive child development services. Please stay engaged with ClassTag for the latest information.

You should also know we rarely close our centers for weather emergencies. Centers located inside public school buildings will close when those districts close. Other centers will only close in the worst of circumstances. You will find information about any program wide closures on local media and on our website at www.lccaa.net.

Shauna Matelski, Ed.D. Head Start Director

Manage Separation Anxiety with Rituals

The morning goodbyes can sometimes be a challenge for children and parents. These hellos and goodbyes are children’s first steps on a lifelong journey of learning how to separate from and reunite with the important people in their lives.

Learning to say hello and goodbye is a process, not something to be achieved overnight. Rest assured that most children just need a couple minutes to manage their emotions to prepare them to participate in the rest of their school day.

LCCAA Head Start gives special attention to hellos and goodbyes in our program because they are such a major part of your child’s life — now and throughout life. Being able to separate is necessary if children are going to develop as confident and capable individuals. Learning to reunite is equally important.

How teachers and parents can work together to ease this transition

Try to spend some quality time with your child in the morning and at end of the school day. Your presence will help make the transition between home and school easier for your child. Ask questions like: “Tell me about the best part of your day.” “Who did you play with today?” “What did you play?” “What is your favorite area in the classroom to play?” “Why is this your favorite?”

Never leave without saying goodbye to your child. It is tempting to leave quietly if your child is busy and

not noticing you. By saying goodbye, you strengthen your child’s trust in you. Your child knows that you will not disappear without warning.

Create hello and goodbye rituals. A goodbye ritual might be as simple as giving your child a giant hug before you leave. A hello ritual at pickup might be to bend down to your child’s eye level, smile, open your arms wide, and softly call his name. Having rituals offers both of you the comfort of knowing what to do.

Every day is different. Be aware that, on some days, goodbyes and hellos will be harder than on other days. Your child’s stage of development and other factors, such as being hungry, tired, sick, or upset by a change in your schedule, can make saying goodbye and hello difficult.

Bring familiar items from home. Teachers welcome family photos and other reminders of home (Ex. favorite blanket or stuffed animal for nap time) that we may keep where your child can reach them. Seeing these special objects will help your child feel connected to you throughout their day.

By working together, we can help your child feel comfortable, secure and confident at school. LCCAA Head Start has put together backpacks that can be checked out by parents to help on topics like separation anxiety, divorce, loss of a loved one or pet, new baby, etc. Please talk with your classroom teacher or family service assistant if interested in checking one out.

Book of the Month: The Three Snow Bears

When the weather is cold and icy, that is a natural time to talk about polar animals and winter. Just having conversations like this with your child is teaching them about the world around them and science concepts, such as habitat.

Jan Brett’s The Three Snow Bears is an alternate version of the traditional story The Three Bears. Talk about things that are same and different between the two versions to really boost higher level thinking skills.

If your child enjoys the book, try Brett’s other charming books such as The Gingerbread Baby or The Mitten. Check your nearest library.

Children Love Simple Experiments

Help your child build critical thinking skills and have fun at the same time! Here are a few safe experiments to try with children that don’t require many materials you don’t already have at home.

Sink and Float

Gather some waterproof items together and fill a sink, tub, or bucket with water. Let your child predict and experiment!

The Floor is Lava Challenge

Rescue as many bears as possible from the lava by building a structure with only these materials: 3 plastic cups, 5 popsicle sticks, and counting bears (or other small objects). Bears cannot be at the table level, only above it, so that the lava doesn’t get onto their feet or bodies in any way!

Move Pompoms with Air Pressure

Understanding the idea that air can have enough force to move objects can be a little challenging. Use a straw to blow pompoms, crumpled paper balls, or other small objects and talk about what things move faster or slower. You can compare this movement to wind blowing things around outside.

Which Shape is Strongest?

This is an easy, fun experiment to find out how strong different shapes are. Fold a sheet of paper into different shapes and see how much they can hold. Try a triangle, square, and cylinder.

Grow a Paper Towel Rainbow

1. Fold a paper towel in half horizontally.

2. Cut off about 1/3 of the paper towel. Save the smaller section for later.

3. Draw the rainbow colors with a marker on one end of the paper towel in rectangular blocks. Make sure to go over the colors a few times with the markers so there is enough dye to travel up the paper towel.

4. Repeat the same on the other end. Make sure the

colors line up on both ends.

5. Pour water into two glasses until they are about 3/4 full.

6. Place the two ends of the paper towels into the cups. 1/2 of the rainbow blocks should be in the water. Do not fully submerge the entire colored portion of the paper towel in the water.

7. Watch the colors travel up the paper towel! How long it takes for the color to travel up the paper towel will depend on how much dye from the marker you used and the absorbency of the paper towel.

Build a Toothpick Tower

Use apple pieces or mini marshmallows as the connector between toothpicks. This is more of a challenge than an experiment, but still a great experience!

Mix up some “magic” milk

Begin by pouring milk onto a plate. You will need to ensure you have enough milk to cover the base of the plate.

Add a few drops of food coloring to the milk. This will give you a great opportunity to talk about colors and point out if any of them mix together to form new colors.

Carefully add one drop of dishwashing liquid to the middle of the milk.

Quickly a chemical reaction will occur, which will see the colors begin to spread away from the dishwashing liquid drop and begin mixing and churning the colors.

Have You Resolved to Quit Smoking?

Smokers often resolve to quit in the new year, however, the success rate for quitters is low. The high stakes include the impact on children in the smoker’s home. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and even brief exposure can cause immediate harm. Because their bodies are developing, infants and young children are especially vulnerable to the many poisons in secondhand smoke.

Children are significantly more likely than adults to live in a house with at least one smoker. Secondhand smoke exposure increases risks for the following:

X Acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis;

X Ear infections and middle ear disease and the need for surgery to insert ear tubes;

X Slowed lung growth and asthma;

X Children with asthma who are exposed to smoke have more frequent and more severe attacks which can be life threatening;

X Respiratory symptoms such as cough, phlegm, wheezing and breathlessness.

Furthermore, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is more likely if the baby is exposed to smoke either in the womb or in the home. Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke may have lower birth weight babies

which can lead to many other health issues.

Help is available locally and nationwide. Lorain County Community College and Mercy Foundation both have Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists on staff to help. Virtual counseling is available through the Ohio Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) as well as the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA.

Studies on the use of e-cigarettes or vaping to quit smoking are so far inconclusive. The FDA does not endorse the use of e-cigarettes to quit smoking; however, the CDC says they may help non-pregnant users in some cases.

Learn more about the risks of smoking, the benefits of quitting and resources to help you quit at www.loraincountyhealth.com/quitnow.

Baby Signs Can Help Keep Kids Safe

LCCAA’s Early Head Start has introduced the Baby Signs program this year. Signs can help keep children safe and healthy. Some examples were recently shared in the program’s “At Home” newsletter.

Signs for “hot” or “hurt” can help even the youngest child communicate about illnesses or injuries or avoid accidents.

Signs and Safety—Stop, Look, and Listen! Signs can help keep children safe and healthy. Here are some examples:

Safety signs can help babies tell you

when they are sick. For example, the sign for hot can indicate a fever. In addition, the sign for hurt made next to the ear can indicate an earache or made near the stomach can indicate a belly ache.

Safety also has to do with helping avoid accidents. For example, the sign hot can be used by babies to indicate that their food or their bath water is too hot. And the sign

for dirty can add emphasis when children are warned against eating or playing with unsanitary things. When you use the sign gentle, it can help calm your child’s fear during temperature taking, wound cleaning, or bandage application. And then, when your child is familiar enough with gentle to use it on her own, she can tell you when you need to treat her a bit more tenderly.

Winterfest Celebrations Shared Via Video

Due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and other illnesses, LCCAA Head Start Winterfest celebrations were shared with parents by video. Activities included several pajama days, performances and seasonal crafts. Simple recipes for cookies and seasonal playdough were also shared. Visit our Facebook page to see more photos and videos.

Gingerbread Playdough

Ingredients

Start by mixing all of the dry ingredients together, then add the oil. Add the warm water and mix and knead all of the ingredients well until you get the consistency you want.

If the playdough is too sticky, knead in a little more flour at a time. If it’s too crumbly, add a little more water at a time.

Store in a sealed Ziploc bag or plastic container. Don’t forget to share your playdough creations with LCCAA Head Start on ClassTag.

Above, LaGrange students make gingerbread playdough (recipe below) on their pajama day. Left, Wellington students performed several songs on their pajama day. Below left, Griswold students made wreaths on their pajama day and at Hopkins Locke, below EHS students also enjoyed their PJs.

Sugar Cookies

1 cup softened butter

2/3 cup sugar

2 cups flour

Mix butter and sugar together. Add flour and mix well using hands to form a dough. If desired, add 1 tsp. almond extract.

Roll into 1 to 1.5 inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchament paper.

Dip the bottom of a cup into sugar and the press the balls down. Add sprinkles if desired. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes at 325°.

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

Combine the peanut butter, white sugar and egg. Mix until smooth.

Roll into 1 to 1.5-inch balls and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes at 350°.

Water Assistance Helps with Balances

LIH-WAP, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, can provide up to $1,500 to income eligible Lorain County residents who need help paying their water bills.

Households must be living at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Level or actively receiving assistance from TANF, SNAP, or SSI.

You must also have a residential account and either be in arrears or disconnected. If you are disconnected, the program can also help with reconnect fees.

Your municipality or water company must agree to participate. Payment is made directly to them.

Winter Crisis Help Available through March

LCCAA’s Winter Crisis Program began November 1 and all appointments will be conducted over the phone.

Winter Crisis applicants must be living at or below 175% of the federal poverty line. Crisis appointments can be scheduled at lccaa.secure.force.com/appointments for the following reasons:

X Heat has been disconnected;

X A disconnection notice has been received;

X You need to establish new service;

X You need to pay to transfer service;

X Bulk fuel users have less than a 10-day supply of wood, coal, pellets, propane or oil;

X Defaulted on PIPP payments.

These emergency situations qualify for an appointment with LCCAA staff, which will be conducted over the phone.

Those with a pending disconnection notice must provide an account number during appointment scheduling to place a hold on the disconnection.

The appointment must be at least 48 hours before the scheduled disconnection.

Maximum benefits for Winter Crisis are:

X $175 for regulated gas and electric utilities

X $750 for unregulated gas and electric utilities

X $900 for bulk fuel, propane, heating oil or kerosene

X $550 for coal or wood

The program can also fund up to $500 in heating unit repairs or replacements.

For complete details and to schedule your appointment, please visit our website. Winter Crisis will operate through March 31, 2023.

WG Cinn Chex or WG Cinn Toast Crunch, Pineapple Tidbits

Egg Omelet Maple Sweet Potatoes Croissant Baked Cinnamon Apples

Turkey Stick WG Crackers

WG Banana Bread, Tropical Fruit Cup

Bean Dip, Corn Chips Vegetable Juice Applesauce Cup

Diced Pear Cup WG Educational Crackers

WG Blueberry Waffle Apple Slices

Meatball Sub Broccoli & Cauliflower w/Ranch Diced Pears

Danimals® Yogurt, Fresh Orange

WG Banana Bread Apple Slices

Build a Tortilla: WG Tortilla, Seasoned Chicken, Cheese, Lettuce, Salsa, Clementine

WG Graham Crackers Sun Splash Veggie Juice

WG Mini Wheats Pineapple Tidbits Cup

Cheddar Cheese Cup WG Pizza Crackers Vegetable Juice Applesauce Cup Mango Peach Applesauce WG Cheez-Its

Purple Daze Smoothie WG Bunny Grahams

BBQ Glazed Chicken Drumstick Cheese Cubes, Carrots & Green Beans, WG Cornbread, Tropical Fruit

WG Flatbread Round WOWBUTTER® and Jelly

WG Mini Wheats Watermelon

Teriyaki Beef Dippers, Teriyaki or Sweet/Sour Dip, Fried Rice, Peas, Pineapple Tidbits

Carrots w/Ranch Cheese Stick

WG Mini Bagel w/ Strawberry Cream Cheese, Applesauce

Beef & Veggies w/Gravy Mashed Potatoes Diced Peaches WG Garlic Twist Diced Pear WG Educational Crackers

WG Banana Muffin Diced Peaches

Homemade WG Mac-n-Cheese Steamed Broccoli Mango Chunks

Local Apple, WG Pretzels

WG Mini Bagel w/Strawberry Cream Cheese, Applesauce

Bosco® w/Marinara, Tossed Salad w/toppings: cheese, croutons; French or Ranch Dressing, Tropical Fruit

Diced Pear WG Educational Crackers

WG Cinn Chex or WG Cinn

Toast Crunch, Pineapple Tidbits

General Tso Beef

Brown Rice

Steamed Broccoli Diced Pears

Turkey Stick WG Crackers

WG Cheerios Pineapple Tidbits

WG French Toast Sticks, Sugar free syrup, Chicken Sausage Patty, Tater Tots, Tangerine

Mango Peach Applesauce WG Cheez Its

WG Blueberry Waffle Apple Slices

Build Your Own Nachos: WG Tortilla Chips, Seasoned Beef, Black Beans, Salsa, Cheese, Mango

Danimals® Yogurt, Fresh Orange

Purple Daze Smoothie, WG Bunny Grahams

Cheddar Cheese Cup, Cheese Stick, WG Pizza Crackers, Vegetable Juice, Applesauce Cup

WG Flatbread Round, WOWBUTTER® and Jelly

WG Banana Muffin Diced Peaches

WG Spaghetti w/Meatballs, California Blend Veggies, WG Breadstick, Fresh Fruit Salad

Local Apple WG Pretzels

Yogurt, Strawberry & Granola Parfait

WG Ravioli Steamed Green Beans Diced Pears

WG Tortilla Chips, Salsa

Yogurt, Blueberry and Granola Parfait

Bean Dip, Corn Chips Vegetable Juice Applesauce Cup

Banana, WG Goldfish Crackers

Yogurt, Strawberry and Granola Parfait

Homemade Sloppy Joe Maple Cinnamon Carrots Diced Pears

WG Tortilla Chips, Salsa and Guacamole TRY DAY

Yogurt, Blueberry and Granola Parfait

Turkey w/Gravy Mashed Potatoes WG Dinner Roll, Honeydew

Banana WG Goldfish Crackers

WG Banana Bread Apple Slices

Build a Burger: WG Bun, Cheese, Pickle Chips, Ketchup; Baked Beans, Apricots

WG Graham Crackers Sun Splash Veggie Juice

WG Mini Wheats Honeydew

Braised Chicken Thigh, Maple Cinnamon Carrots, WG Cornbread, Clementine

Celery w/Ranch Cheese Stick

WG Mini Bagel w/Strawberry Cream Cheese, Applesauce

Beef & Veggies w/Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Diced Peaches, WG Garlic Twist

Diced Pear WG Educational Crackers

Yogurt, Strawberry & Granola Parfait

WG Ravioli, Steamed Green Beans, Diced Pears

WG Tortilla Chips, Salsa

WG = Whole Grain. Milk is served daily at breakfast & lunch. Children less than 2 years old are served whole milk. When a specific food allergy is identified, appropriate food substitutions will be provided. Menu items are subject to change due to food availability or unplanned school closings. Menus are reviewed & approved by M. Robison, MPH, RD, LD. Equal Opportunity Provider.

Healthy Snack Tips from LCCAA

Upcoming Events at LCCAA Head Start

LCCAA Head Start @ Firelands

Jan. 5: Children Return

Jan. 12: Parent Meeting, 10 a.m.*

Jan. 16: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 20: Guacamole Try Day

Jan. 23: Virtual Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m.*

Jan. 26: Education Advisory Committee, 9 a.m.*

LCCAA Head Start @ Griswold

Jan. 5: Children Return

Jan. 16: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 17: Parent Meeting, 10 a.m.*

Jan. 20: Guacamole Try Day

Jan. 23: Virtual Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m.*

Jan. 26: Education Advisory Committee, 9 a.m.*

LCCAA Head Start @ Hopkins-Locke

Jan. 5: Children Return

Jan. 14: Parent Meeting, 10 a.m.*

Jan. 16: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 20: Guacamole Try Day

Jan. 23: Virtual Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m.* Jan. 26: Education Advisory Committee, 9 a.m.*

LCCAA Head Start @ LaGrange

Jan. 5: Children Return

Jan. 10: Parent Meeting, 10 a.m.*

Jan. 16: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 20: Guacamole Try Day

Jan. 23: Virtual Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m.* Jan. 26: Education Advisory Committee, 9 a.m.*

LCCAA Head Start @ Wellington

Jan. 5: Children Return Jan. 10: Parent Meeting, 10 a.m.* Jan. 16: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 20: Guacamole Try Day

Jan. 23: Virtual Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m.* Jan. 26: Education Advisory Committee, 9 a.m.*

LCCAA Early Head Start

Jan. 6: Socialization, 10:30 a.m.* Jan. 16: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 20: Guacamole Try Day Jan. 20: Socialization, 10:30 a.m.* Jan. 23: Virtual Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m.* Jan. 26: Education Advisory Committee, 9 a.m.*

LCCAA Home Based Head Start

Jan. 13: Socialization, 10:30 a.m.* Jan. 16: No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 20: Guacamole Try Day Jan. 23: Virtual Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m.* Jan. 26: Education Advisory Committee, 9 a.m.* Jan. 27: Socialization, 10:30 a.m.*

*Indicates a virtual event.

Avocados Subject of Next Try Day

Try Day is traditionally a multi-sensory experience with teachers capitalizing on kids’ curiosity to create lessons.

For January, classes will try avocados. Whole avocados will be shared with teachers on Jan. 17. At snack time on Jan. 20, guacamole will be added to the menu along with chips, veggies and salsa.

The Easy Guacamole recipe takes only five minutes to prepare.

Ingredients for single serving 1 ripe avocado ½ lime

1 small clove garlic, grated on a microplane or finely minced Pinch of salt

Optional additions: chopped tomato, cilantro, finely minced chilis, finely minced chipotle peppers, a few drops of liquid smoke, finely crumbled bacon.

Procedure

1. Cut the avocado in half, pull out and discard the pit. Using a spoon or your thumb, remove the flesh and place it into a bowl.

2. Squeeze the lime half into the bowl with the avocado, being careful not to get any seeds in the bowl. Add the garlic and salt.

3. Using a fork, gently mash avocado with garlic and salt. Stir in any of the optional ingredients.

Note: Guacamole is best made and eaten right away. If you must store it, make sure you cover it with plastic wrap directly against the guacamole. Press the plastic wrap into the mixture with your fingers to prevent any air getting to it and causing it to turn brown.