SPS Parents as Teachers
December 2018
Too Many Toys? Try These Gift Ideas!
Here's a few non-toy gift ideas for your kiddos
Lessons and Classes. Karate, swim lessons and dance are just a few ideas that provide an experience instead of a material object.
Photo Album. You probably have hundreds of pictures on your phone or Facebook page but it would be so much more fun for your child to have a photo album of family pictures or pictures of themselves having fun. For the younger babies, a book of faces is their favorite. For the toddlers, it's fun to see family and friend pictures that they can identify.
Puzzles. In the age of IPads and smart phones we sometimes forget to make sure our kiddos are working on those problem solving skills that also involve fine motor ability. Jigsaw puzzles are important for helping your child meet their milestones. You could also try a slightly more difficult version for the whole family to work on together.
Board games. There are so many choices for children's board games. Try a classic like Candyland and Hi Ho Cheerio or check out other ideas like Richard Scarry's Busy Town or Yeti in My Spaghetti. Start a family game night for making great memories and learning social and emotional skills.
Books. No explanation needed. A child can never have enough books.
Piggy Bank and Coins. This can be fun with supervision (small objects can be a choking hazard so watch your little one carefully!). The skill of getting the coins through the money slot is a great learning opportunity as is learning the value of coins and saving money.
Bath Set. This can include bubble bath or a special soap. Don't forget fun bath toys like foam letters or bath crayons. And it's always cute for a kiddo to have their own special towel and washcloth too!
Music.Try a fun new CD or even better...instruments to make their own music! A small drum, maracas, bells or even a kazoo can be a wonderful creative outlet.
Sleeping Bag and/ or tent. Children love having their own sleeping bag for sleepovers or even just a family camp out in the living room. A small tent can make a great indoor playhouse or reading area for all ages.
Memberships. Springfield has so many opportunities for awesome memberships for you and your family. Our Park Board has memberships at their family centers. There's the Dickerson Park Zoo, Discovery Center, Wonders of Wildlife and Itty Bitty City. Springfield's Little Theater sells season tickets... or you could try the MSU Ice Bears season tickets for something you might not have seen before!
Dress Up Clothes. These can be new sets or Halloween costumes you bought on clearance. You could also try thrift store or other used clothing ideas that can work for the important pretend play that kiddos begin in their toddler years.
Pajamas. This can be a fun gift for any age. Maybe a homemade robe or pj's with their favorite character... making it personal makes it more special.
These are just a few ideas... sometimes these non-toy gifts can be the most fun! We all remember those gift giving occasions when the cardboard box the toy came in was more popular than the new toy! Keep that in mind when your are struggling to get your holiday shopping done. Children benefit from our Presence more than our presents!
Inclement weather information
Please remember, if Springfield Public Schools is closed for weather related reasons, then you will need to communicate with your Parent Educator concerning your visit that day. If the roads are hazardous, most likely your visit will need to be rescheduled. Thanks!
Find Your Parent Educator by Elementary District
Bingham Marti Isbell mlisbell@spsmail.org
Bowerman & Robberson Cheryl Day cday@spsmail.org
Boyd & Bissett Jennifer Wright jlwright@spsmail.org
McGregor Shannon Perkins sperkins@spsmail.org
Cowden Mary Beth Jones mbjones@spsmail.org
Disney Angela Smith adsmith@spsmail.org
Field Jenny Hill jjhill@spsmail.org
Fremont Whitney Bryant wabryant@spsmail.org
Gray Lisa Cozby lcozby@spsmail.org
Harrison Laura Butler lybutler@spsmail.org
Hickory Hills Renee Thornton rthornton@spsmail.org
Holland Katherine Quinn kequinn@spsmail.org
Horace Mann Stacy Coiner slcoiner@spsmail.org
Jeffries Gina Thomas gthomas@spsmail.org
Mark Twain Lacey Hufford lrhufford@spsmail.org
McBride Kristi Delp kkdelp@spsmail.org
Pershing & Delaware Kylie Owensby keowensby@spsmail.org
Pittman Mallori Hunt mehunt@spsmail.org
Pl View & Truman Tamara Scully tnscully@spsmail.org
Portland Michele Nall mnall@spsmail.org
Rountree Deana Belote dmbelote@spsmail.org
Sequiota Angel Eakins afeakins@spsmail.org
Sherwood Robin Hopkins rahopkins@spsmail.org
Sunshine Alyssa Bell aabell@spsmail.org
Watkins Caitlin Culleny cmculleny@spsmail.org
Weaver Danielle Edwards daedwards@spsmail.org
Weller Lindsey Johnson lnjohnson@spsmail.org
Westport Jackie Lewis jlewis@spsmail.org
Wilder Debra Stange dgstange@spsmail.org
Williams & York Doris Shoemaker dcshoemaker@spsmail.org
If your child be attending Kindergarten in the Fall 2019 then join us for KPrep.
Delaware Dec 3 at 5:30 PM
Disney Dec 5 at 1:30 PM
Field Dec 6 at 6:30 PM
Fremont Dec 12 at 3:15 PM
Hickory Hills Dec 11 at 5:00 PM
Holland Dec 12 at 3:45 PM
Jeffries Dec 18 at 10:00 AM
Mark Twain Dec 13 at 3:45 PM
Pittman Dec 13 at 5:30 PM
Pleasant View Dec 17 at 6:00 PM
Rountree Dec 10 at 6:00 PM
Sequiota Dec 5 at 3:00 PM
Sherwood Dec 11 at 5:30 PM
Truman Dec 18 at 6:00 PM
Wanda Gray Dec 5 at 2:15 PM
Weaver Dec 11 at 3:00 PM
Weller Dec 12 at 5:00 PM
Westport Dec 13 at 4:15 PM
Wilder Dec 11 at 5:30 PM
Williams Dec 12 at 3:00 PM
York Dec 11 at 1:30 PM
Williams Dec 14 at 3:00 PM
York Dec 13 at 1:30 PM
Join your P.A.T. educator at a story time for ages birth to PreK!
Bissett at Library Station Dec 17 at 6:00 PM
Boyd at Library Station Dec 17 at 6:00 PM
Disney Dec 6 at 11:00 AM
Field Dec 12 at 9:00 AM
Fremont Dec 11 at 10:00 AM
Hickory Hills Dec 3 at 6:00 PM
Jeffries Dec 18 at 9:00 AM
McBride Dec 6 at 9:00 AM
Pittman Dec 14 at 10:00 AM
Rountree Dec 10 at 9:00 AM
Sequiota Dec 12 at 3:00 PM
Sherwood Dec 4 at 3:45 PM
Truman Dec 10 at 10:15 AM
Wanda Gray Dec 12 at 2:15 PM
Watkins Dec 5 at 3:00 PM
Weaver Dec 4 at 3:00 PM
Weller Dec 12 at 10:15 AM
Westport Dec 13 at 4:15 PM
Wilder Dec 11 at 11:00 AM
Williams at Library station Dec 17 at 6:00 PM
York at Library station Dec 17 at 6:00 PM
There are so many awesome winter holiday books. Here's a few ideas you might not have tried yet!
Teeny Tiny Infant and Toddler Yoga
Infant Yoga - 6 weeks to walking well
A FREE interactive parent child class that will involve music, movement and yoga. Please bring yoga mat, blanket for baby and small toy for baby. (Adults may want a pillow to sit on.)
Call 523-1160 for reservations
The Fieldhouse
Dec 10 at 5:30 PM
Toddler Yoga - Walking well through 2 years
A FREE interactive parent child class that will involve music, movement and yoga. Class is 45 minutes.
Call 523-1160 for reservations
The Fieldhouse
Dec 10 at 6:30 PM
Dec 14 at 9:30 AM
Dec 14 at 10:30 AM
Fieldhouse: 2235 West Kingsley (In Meeting Room. Entrance on far west side of the building)
PreSchool Yoga Ages 3 - 5
A FREE interactive parent child class incorporating yoga poses, calming techniques, music and fun.
Call 523-1160 to reserve your spot. Questions? Email Lacey at lrhufford@spsmail.org
Dec 3 at 10:00 AM at The Fieldhouse
Dec 14 at 6:00 PM at The Fieldhouse
Fieldhouse: 2235 West Kingsley (In Meeting Room. Entrance on far west side of the building)
A FREE interactive one hour playgroup for all ages. Open to the public so feel free to invite friends!
Ages Birth to Kindergarten
No reservation needed
Dec 7 at 10:15am & 1:15pm
The Library Center
Dec 14 at 10:15am & 1:15pm
Enrichment Alternatives
Library Center 4653 S Campbell
Enrichment Alternatives 1700 S Campbell Suite E
"Picking the Perfect Present" (for ages 15-20 month)
Article submitted by MSU student and PAT intern, Sherry Hodge
What is social/emotional development?
This area of development refers to a child’s growing ability to control and regulate their emotions, interact with others and build secure relationships. A child begins developing their emotions from birth but the ability to interact, share and communicate takes many years to develop. They count on your reactions and cues to understand positive and negative feelings.
Toys are important:
Toys can help play a role in teaching children about social and emotional skills. These toys and activities can be as simple as reading books to your child or spending one on one time with them. You can also buy toys that will promote this development. We know the holiday season is approaching and so below are some suggestions for great gifts to promote development!