WAM Happenings
Back to School Edition
Baby Splish Splashin'
Train Ride at Wheaton Regional
Colonial Fort at Montpelier
Letter from the President
Summer somehow manages to be too long and too short at the same time. Now the end is so near, and back to school is just around the corner! If you have a child heading to preschool or kindergarten, hopefully you will find some ideas in this newsletter to make the transition easier on you and your kids.
In WAM business news, we will be closing the Babysitting Co-op officially. WAMmies are a great resource for swapping childcare, but we have found that members are able to do this best through our playgroups and the co-op was adding an extra step of unnecessary complexity. If you are not in a playgroup and need to swap childcare, you can email your request to the general WAM listserv. We are also creating a new list of recommended babysitters as a resource for those evening and weekend babysitting needs. There is a survey in this newsletter where you can easily input your sitter information and the completed list will be distributed to all members.
We are also nearing the end of the WAM Board year. Thank you to everyone who served on the board this past year and to those who have already volunteered to take on a leadership position next year! We are dependent on member participation to make everything run smoothly and I know, as at home parents of young children, that you are all very busy. I truly appreciate that you do what you can to help build this wonderful, supportive community for all of our members.
Even if you are not able to take on a board position this year, there are many other ways to get involved during the year and I hope that every member will contribute to our community in some way - from party set up or clean up, to signing up to provide a meal through Helping Hands; from participating in service events or volunteering with Smart Sacks, to hosting activities for our monthly calendar. We need your help, because even our intrepid board members cannot do it all!
I'm looking forward to cooler weather, apple picking, and fall festivals! Please share some of your favorite fall activities through the listserv or the monthly Activity Calendar.
Best,
Elise Lee
President, Wheaton Area Moms
Wings of Fancy
Hands on History Playground
Animal Friends
Current Board Members 2014-2015
- Activities - Katie Amos: katie@twosistersteam.com
- Babysitting Coop - Kate Spigler: katespigler@hotmail.com
- Book Club - Ashley Derr: ashleyderr11@gmail.com
- Community Service - Claire Barry: cisbarry@gmail.com
- Helping Hands - Allison Davis: adpope@gmail.com
- Knitting Club - JoAnn Kester: joannkester@gmail.com
- Membership - Yvonne Quilop: yquilop@gmail.com
- Newsletter - Kimberly McEachen: kschmidt07@yahoo.com
- Parties - Alana Laliberte: alana.laliberte@gmail.com
- Playgroups - Susan Powell: susan.chong.powell@gmail.com
- Preschool Fair - Allison Nadelhaft: allisonnadelhaft@hotmail.com
- President - Elise Lee: ecolella@gmail.com
- Secretary - Sara Goberdhansingh: sara.auchincloss@gmail.com
- Treasurer - Jeanna Coviello: jcoviell@hotmail.com
- Website - Caroline Nason: carocan111@gmail.com
WAM Annual Party
Craft Table
Play time
Helping Hands
Back to School tips from WAM parents....
Here are some helpful tips to help you prepare for getting those kiddos back to school...
Easing first day jitters
How do you get your child to open up about his/her day?
Ask pointed questions - not just ones that could be answered with a one word answer. Instead of "how was your day?" Ask - what was your favorite thing you did today? Learn your child's schedule and specials. What center were you at today? What did you do? What did you do in PE? What book did you read in Media? What did you play at recess? Asking questions that illicit a more lengthy response will get your child talking. Allison N.
Separation Anxiety
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (FYI: there is a reference to someone in heaven.)
Bring a favorite stuffed animal to keep in the cubby for a reassuring hug during the day; Add a family photo to the lunchbox; Lots and lots of reassuring conversations. Theresa M
Back to School Books
- The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing. I read it to my daughter before she started Preschool and now am reading it to my son, since he starts in September. It's a cute book about a boy who is nervous about going to Preschool, but when he makes friends and has some fun he ends up being very excited to go back! (It's pretty cheap on Amazon) - Kate S
- My Preschool by Anne Rockwell is a nice, simple what-to-expect book. - Ashley D
- You can see a list of other books on kindergarten and more in the last WAM newsletter - https://www.smore.com/6rqae-wam-happenings
Back to School Craft
SAVE THE DATE - Preschool Fair
Support the Preschool Fair
The Preschool Fair is Saturday, October 24 from 10am-12pm at the Coffield Center in Silver Spring. And we need your help to make this event a huge fundraising success for WAM!
Here is a list of how you can help:
- Bake or buy a yummy treat for the event
- Volunteer on the day of the fair to help check in schools and attendees, man the food and drink tables, monitor the children’s craft table, set up or clean up
- Promote this event among your networks - friends, family, neighborhood list serves, pediatrician’s office, libraries and other places kids congregate
Allison will be in touch in September and October with more specifics on volunteering to help! Or you can email her at allisonnadelhaft@hotmail.com to volunteer!
Remember - the success of this event is directly tied to the fun activities WAM does throughout the year!
WAM friends
Get your WAM gear!
WAM friends
Book Recommendations
Book Recommendations by Elise Lee and Carrie Swann
Here are some of our favorite read aloud chapter books for young children that will also entertain adults!
- If penguins living in the ice-box and playing in snowdrifts in the living room would make your child smile, they will love Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater. It is a fun story with some illustrations and was loved by my then 4-year old.
- For a newer book, Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins is a story told by a little girl's toys (Toy Story style): a stuffed buffalo, a stuffed stingray, and Plastic - who isn't quite sure what she is. I recommend this for about ages 4+, as it held my young 3 year old's attention about half of the time.
- For animal lovers, Babe: The Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith is a fun story of a pig who becomes a sheep-dog. It introduces ideas about prejudice in a way that is easily accessible to children through the assumptions the collie has about the intelligence of pigs. Be warned, it uses the phrase "collie bitch" many times which you may choose to omit in your reading.
- Another classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is a great story and much, much less scary than the movie. The scary parts in the book are resolved within only a page or two. Even my 3 year old was engaged for the entire book, despite its 156 pages.
- Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a children's classic that my son enjoyed at 3 years old. However, there are hunting and butchering scenes which may upset your child and wild animals which could be frightening. You can pre-read or edit as you go. Overall, the stories of the family and daily life in the Big Woods in a time without modern conveniences are engaging for children and adults.
- Young Fredle by Cynthia Voigt is the story of an adventurous mouse who finds himself exiled from the kitchen to the strange new world outside. Between field mice, raccoons, and the household dog, it's hard to know who he can trust to help him make his way home.
- For an unlikely but true story of backyard wildlife, Rascal by Sterling North is a memoir of a kid's summer with his pet raccoon who sleeps indoors and comes along on the family vacation. Set against the backdrop of World War I, this is also a great audio book to entertain kids and adults on a road trip.
- Lastly, in the stuffed bear category are two classics, Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne and A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond. Winnie the Pooh chapter books were laugh out loud funny even for our 3 and 4 year olds. Paddington will charm slightly older children,
Service Projects
School Supplies - July
Canned Food - June
Showering those in need - August
A Wider Circle's Baby Registry on Amazon
link to the charity - http://awidercircle.org/get-involved/
Back to School LUNCH ideas
Transition Time - tip by Allison N
Lunch time is a big change for many kindergarteners. Most kids are used to eating with their small group in their classrooms, eating what mom packed them. Public School kindergarten provides a totally different experience for lunch and it can be overwhelming for kids at first. The kids will eat in a cafeteria with all the other kindergarteners. 100 kids in one room can provide a lot of distractions. There is a short time of 30 minutes to eat, with little to no encouragement from the Para Educators who monitor lunches. So, in the first few weeks, don’t be surprised if they come home with a lot of their uneaten lunch. So many distractions - a lot of kids, choosing where to sit, checking out everyone else’s lunch, some kids buying lunch, etc. A good suggestion is to provide them with protein packed lunches that you know they will eat. It's a long day, and while most schools have snack time, they really need to fuel up at lunch.
Pepperoni rolls
by Allison D
Take hot roll dough and place 3-4 slices of pepperoni in each roll. Bake as instructed. I use Pillsbury hot roll mix, found in the baking isle. You can also use frozen roll dough or your own homemade recipe. If using the Pillsbury mix I usually make smaller rolls doubling the amount of rolls suggested.
10 Easy ideas to make school lunches healthier
submitted by Susan CP
Other Recipes - two for families, one for parents
Black bean and corn quesadilla submitted by Kate S
Mash up a can of black beans, add corn from one ear of corn, some cilantro, juice of one lime and mix. Add this to a corn tortilla, add some cheese and either cook in oven or stovetop with some olive oil until desired crispness. Serve with salsa, sour cream or even guacamole- or nothing at all. Also serve with plain cheese quesadilla for those children who decide that black bean mush is totally disgusting :) It is delicious and super easy!
Mini Turkey Meatball - submitted by Kate S
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup bread crumbs
3 tablespoons ketchup
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 lb ground turkey
marinara sauce, optional (for serving)
Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil then spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, stir together the egg, garlic, bread crumbs, ketchup, parsley, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Add the ground turkey and gently mix until all of the ingredients are thoroughly combined. Shape the mixture into tiny meatballs. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for about 10 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the meatballs registers 165 F. Serve with toothpicks and marinara sauce for dipping, if desired.
Makes about 30 meatballs
Spiced Apple Cider Sangria submitted by Elise L
Apple Cider Sangria filled with hints of orange, cinnamon, and clove... Perfect for Fall! Doubling this recipe is highly recommended!
Ingredients:
For the Spiced Apple Cider:
2 cups apple cider (the real stuff - opaque in color & found in the refrigerator section)
1/3 cup sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon orange zest
2 orange slices (rounds)For the Spiced Apple Cider Sangria:
1 bottle inexpensive Spanish red wine (we used Tempranillo)
2 cups spiced apple cider (recipe above)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup brandyDirections:
For the Spiced Apple Cider:
Mix together all ingredients in a medium sized saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and then remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Strain before using.For the Spiced Apple Cider Sangria:
Mix ingredients together in a large pitcher and garnish with orange wheels and cinnamon sticks. To serve, pour over ice.
http://www.mylifeasamrs.com/2011/11/spiced-apple-cider-sangria.html
Get to know your fellow WAMmies!
Spotlight on..Brianna Schnaar
- Name: Brianna Schnaar
- Kid’s name and age: Avi (4) and Carmella (1.5)
Pets: Dog named Zuma
Occupation before kids: Environmental Scientist
How did you meet your significant other (SO)? at University of Arizona
What is the most embarrassing thing you've dealt with as a mom? So many types of embarrassment...publicly would have to be dragging Avi screaming down the steps of the Air & Space Museum while pushing Carmella down in the stroller. Lots of staring people.
When was the last time your kid(s) or SO made you laugh out loud...and what was it? At least one of them does this daily. Today at the playground Carmella followed her brother and started climbing "the spider web" (strung tight ropes) like she's done it a thousand times before. The bigger kids all parted and made room for her. I just couldn't believe it.
If you could give one piece of advice (or warning) to new moms, what would it be? Do what works for you, your partner, and kids. Everybody has a different way of doing everything and there isn't one right way.
- Describe your last family trip. To the beach with extended family. It was great. Also took a trip last weekend with just my husband and I, which was the first time in 4 years!
- How do you like to wind down once the kids are down for the night? Depends on the night - cleaning up, attempt at exercising, shower, book or tv. Some days, just straight to collapsing and internet or tv.
- What was the last movie you saw...and when was it?
Out of my house was Wild on vacation last Christmas and in my house was Welcome to Me last night. - Describe something about yourself that people might not know. I grew up in AZ, 10 miles from the Mexican border and have been in MD a year after moving from Santa Barbara, CA.
New Members - Welcome!
SEASONAL ACTIVITIES
Wheaton Area Moms
Email: wheatonareamoms@gmail.com
Website: http://www.wheatonareamoms.org/
Phone: 000000000000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/234406673318785/