We are working on finalizing plans to allow the kids to celebrate before our holiday break. We are planning for the activities to allow for social distancing, but still be a lot of fun. One thing we do almost every year is a gift exchange between the children. We ask that each family bring in a gently used children's book for the exchange. Please keep your eyes peeled for a former favorite from around your house that you'd like to send in. We'll ask for them in December, and you can send the books unwrapped. Each child will wrap the book he or she brings in, and we'll help make sure they are safely delivered to a friend.

Please send your gently used book in by December 16th for our holiday party on December 18th.

If you aren't able to send a book, we will have extras available.

Our plans for a fun and safe party for the kids on December 18th are well under way. We are going with a reindeer theme, so there will be plenty of reindeer games! We are planning on just one edible treat, a pre-baked sugar cookie that the children will be able to decorate with some frosting and sprinkles at their own table. We haven't purchased the cookies yet, but if your child has any food allergies, we ask that you simply provide a regular snack for your child that day instead. All of the children will have access to their typical snack sent from home, and then those who are able will decorate their cookie in addition. This is the only activity that will involve eating.

Children will have the chance to mix up some wildlife friendly reindeer food - oats, birdseed, dried cranberries, and dried apricots are the ingredients. The kids will bring some home to sprinkle outside for the reindeer, so they aren't going to eat the items, but could have contact with them.

Several activities will involved wrapped candy canes - we're going fishing with them and making them into a craft, but not eating them.

Please let your BCBA know if you have any concerns relating to any of those ingredients prior to the party so we can plan accordingly.

As you know, it is starting to get chilly again! We are planning on continuing to take the children outside to play as much as possible throughout the winter. We will take them outside as long as the wind chill is above 20 degrees. This means kids need their gloves or mittens, hats, warm coats, and eventually boots and snow pants.

In Burton, we can play on our playground year round, so we definitely need the gear. In Brighton, we may decrease playing outside, but our children have to walk outside to get to the motor room, and we will still bundle up for that walk.

In both locations, going outside creates great opportunities for your child to practice putting on and taking off his own gear!

We will send winter gear home daily, so that you have it if you need it in the evenings or on the weekends.

An easy way to send it is to keep it in a reusable shopping bag with your child's name on it. Then we can pack it all up at the end of the day.

Please let us know if you have any planned upcoming absences due to the holidays, so that we may plan our staff schedule accordingly.

Here's a link to the CDC recommendations on holiday celebrations, as you consider your plans.

With the holidays approaching, we want you to know how much we appreciate you sharing your children with us every day of the year! We know that you have placed an enormous amount of trust in us, and we are humbled to spend this time working with your child and family.

At this time of year parents may feel they would like to thank the people who spend so much time with their children. While this may be a common and acceptable thing to do in a number of other settings, due to our professional ethics, we are unable to accept gifts from our families and we wanted to make sure you know that. The Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts and RBTs states clearly that we cannot ethically accept gifts. As we strive to perform to a high standard of practice, we feel it is important to preserve this code.

If you feel like you would like to give an extra special thank you to any of our staff, please know that we would love to hear your feedback on our parent surveys, be thrilled to receive a handwritten thank you note, or absolutely treasure a picture your child colors for us. Outside of those things, we cannot accept gifts.