The Penguin Pebble
February Newsletter 2021
Fredericksburg Preschool Programs
Email: wgcnews@cityschools.com
Website: https://wgeclc.fxbgschools.us/
Location: 210 Ferdinand Street, Fredericksburg, VA Suite 3
Phone: 540-372-1065
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fredheadstart
Oral Health
Watch and sing along:
Elmo is joined by families and some of his celebrity friends as he sings a song about the importance of brushing your teeth.
Cook's Corner
Strawberry and Banana Smoothies
Here is a delicious and healthy snack that children can make in a Preschool classroom or at home with their families.
Ingredients
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1/3 cup low-fat or non-fat yogurt
1/3 cup strawberries
1/2 medium size banana
4 ice cubes
Directions
Put all of the ingredients in a blender.
Cover the blender and blend until the mixture is smooth.
Makes 2 servings
Safety tip: An adult should oversee the use of the blender.
Source: The National Center on Early childhood Health and Wellness
Family Workshop
Tuesday, Feb 23, 2021, 10:30 AM
Virtual
Pandemic Friends: Socializing in COVID
Making friends is an important part of childhood. Children look forward to play time with other children and building potentially lifelong connections. They also learn important skills like cooperation, sharing feelings, and problem solving. Friendships have been shown to increase a person’s self-esteem, offers resources, has a positive impact on their overall health, and is even a factor in a person living longer.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been asked to keep our distance from others, wear masks and take other precautions to ensure safety. Families are worried about the impact this may have on their children’s mental health and socialization, but here are some safe ways to keep children connected.
1. Virtual Playdates – children love to see their friend’s faces, laugh together, show each other neat things they have and just talk. A virtual playdate can give them that time to freely interact without anything else planned and can be lots of fun to watch.
2. Video Activity Dates/Dinners – plan to do the same activity with another family at the same time or have a meal through a video call.
3. Live Movie Streaming – Some streaming services allow video streaming so you can watch the same movie or show with others and you can video chat to talk together while you watch. You can pop some popcorn or share another snack.
4. Pen Pals – children can write letters or draw pictures for each other. Getting the mail will be so much more fun when there’s a letter from a friend.
5. Dance Party – Have each child pick a song let them dance together through video.
6. Nature Walks or Bike Riding – getting some fresh air can let children spend time together in an open space. Make sure everyone agrees on the rules everyone must follow in advance.
7. Family Game Night – This can include extended family outside the home. Many board games have online versions and can be played in different places together.
Finding ways to help children make and keep friends while they are apart will make these relationships stronger when we can safely come back together and keep the blues away.