Parents as Teachers
NKC Schools * November 2018
Family Connections!
November 15th, Drive-in Movie Night @ Gashland Elementary School. 500 NE 83rd St. Kansas City , MO 64118. Experts agree too much screen time for very young children can hinder their development. Learn how to make watching a movie with your child fun and interactive! Children will decorate their own boxcars before heading off to the "drive-in theatre" to enjoy a show and a snack. Please reserve your car today! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e4dafaf2da6fa7-drivein
December 6th, Rhythm & Music Johnny & Adam are back for another evening of music and entertainment as families learn about the importance of rhythm games & activities & join in on family sing-alongs with a variety of percussion instruments that people of all ages can use. Location TBD. Watch for more details coming soon.
9 Ways to Raise a Grateful Kid
According to research by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, "people who practice gratitude feel considerably happier (25%) than those in a control group; they are more joyful, enthusiastic, interested, and determined." An attitude of gratitude helps us thrive. Try these steps to instill a mindset of gratitude in your little ones.
- Say "Thank you." When "thank yous" are instilled in our vocabulary at home, a lifelong practice begins, even if it doesn't stick at first. You can gently restate a sentence with polite language inserted, or suggest saying "Thank you" together.
- Live it. Set an example and show appreciation by conveying you paid attention to real effort: "Your room looks so nice with the toys in their bins. I'm so happy that you remembered to put them away!"
- Teach through role play. If your little one is too shy to say "thank you" in a social setting, they can pretend to teach their stuffed animals or dolls to do so, while you play along.
- Create daily or weekly routines. A regular question, "What are you most thankful for today?" can serve as a comforting routine at bedtime or a highlight of a weekly dinner ritual.
- Give concrete examples. At dinner, you can play the Rose and Thorn game, where the person whose turn it is to speak holds a "rose" and tells about one rose (a good thing) and one thorn (a challenging thing). A metaphor like the rose helps children develop gratitude even when things aren't going their way.
- Set expectations when shopping. Melanie Etemad of Bryn Mawr, PA shared a useful approach that her husband, a psychiatrist, came up with when their daughter Elyse was just two: "We’d say today is a 'look' day. Just like going to the museum, we enjoy the beautiful things, but we aren't planning to buy anything. ... We also tried to ensure that there were more 'look' days than 'buy' days.
- Make giving and volunteering a habit. Set aside toys and clothing in good condition. Deliver the items to a deserving cause together. Talk about the process and why you care.
- Thank those who serve. Your example of acknowledging those who quietly make a difference in your life, from the bus driver to the person sweeping up the aftermath of a family lunch out, sends a powerful message to your children.
- Be patient. Kids can't be cajoled into showing appreciation, but your gentle efforts and examples will instill gratitude as a way of life.
Click here for the complete article. http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/article-ten-ways-raise-grateful-kid.html
Kool-Aid Playdough
1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup salt
1 packet of kool-aid
1 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Mix flour, salt, and kool-aid together in a large bowl. Add boiling water and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients. Stir together with a large spoon until all ingredients are mixed together. Once mixed together, pour out on the counter and knead for 3-5 minutes until dough-like in texture. (Caution this will be hot!) Store in a sealed bag or container for 2-4 weeks.
Sensory Night
Health and Safety
Tips to Keep Kids Warm All Winter
Whether winter brings severe storms, light dustings or just cold temperatures, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some valuable tips on how to keep your children safe and warm.
What to Wear
Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Always remember warm boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
When riding in the car, babies and children should wear thin, snug layers rather than thick, bulky coats or snowsuits. See Winter Car Seat Safety Tips for additional information.
Blankets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, sheepskins and other loose bedding should be kept out of an infant's sleeping environment because they are associated with suffocation deaths. It is better to use sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers or wearable blankets.
If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be thin and tucked under the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby's chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding materials.
Information provided by the CDC https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Winter-Safety.aspx
Repurposed Play
Stuck inside during this chilly fall days and looking for something fun to do? Grab a box or two and try out one of these ideas!
Tugging Box
Does your baby love to empty the wipes container or kleenex box? Create a tugging toy for your baby.
https://laughingkidslearn.com/diy-tugging-box-for-fine-motor-development/
Recyled Robots
Ball Maze
Reading Nook
Baby Ball Drop
Shoe Tying
Pretend Play Fun
Storytime and Playtime
Parents as Teachers staff will have a variety of toys to play with and/or check out immediately following story time at 11:00 on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. North Kansas City Public Library is located at 2251 Howell St, North Kansas City, MO 64116, across from Dagg Park.
Fall Dates:
November 7th & 28th
December 5th & 19th
Storytime begins at 11:00 with playtime immediately following from 11:30-12:30pm
Success By 6 Resource Center is Open with Extended Hours
Monday 8:30 - 11:30 & 2:30 - 6:30
Tuesday: 8:00 - 12:00
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 8:30 - 11:30 & 2:30 - 6:30
Friday: 8:00 - 12:00
We will be closed over Thanksgiving Break (Nov 21-23) and Winter Break (Dec 21 - Jan 7)
We are also closed when NKC Schools is closed due to inclement weather.
North Kansas City School District requires that all visitors present a valid driver's license or state ID to enter our facilities.