Front office moving

As you may have noticed, there has been some activity in the front office over the last couple of weeks. We have been busy packing up in preparation for our move to our new location next door.  Once our move is completed, we will be located in the first classroom on the right upon entering the front door. This space was the former Nursery I classroom. The Accounting & Administrative Assistants (Janella and Jennifer) will be located in the new office.  The Parent Sign-In rosters will also move to this new location. 

The Center Nurse (Sheila) is also moving and will occupy the former front office.  

This move will help to better ensure the safety of the children by providing our office with a direct view of the front of the building at pick-up and drop-off times. It will also make all support staff more accessible to parents  by locating them in a central location and will give our administrative personnel more room for assisting parents as well as for filing and recordkeeping. Please stop by for a visit and see how things have changed.

Summer Camp 2004

Students enrolled in the School Age Unit have an exciting summer camp to look forward to once school ends for the year.  This year's –Summer Camp 2004” will include a virtual tour of –The Fifty States.”  Students will –visit” each state through arts, crafts, cooking and field trips.  This promises to be an exciting camp.  Your child is sure to learn a lot about our 50 states by participating in this year's summer camp.

Protect your child's teeth

To avoid early tooth decay in your child, don't give your baby or toddler a bottle of milk, formula or fruit juice between feedings or when you are putting them to sleep.  If your toddler finds comfort in sucking on a bottle, give him a bottle filled with plain water.

Meet Our Staff

Irma Bennett is the program manager at A Children's Place.  She was born and raised in Panama and has been at A Children's Place for three years.  She has worked in many of the classrooms, including the School Age, Early Childhood and Infant Toddler units.  She was a teacher for the Toddler's classroom for two years. 

–I have seen many children grow in this center and I am delighted to have been and continue to be a part of their progress and development,” she said.

Irma has a bachelor's degree in psychology and is credentialed as a Child Development Associate with an emphasis in Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood.

–Before I started working here, I taught for three years in Panama, until I got married and my family moved here,” she said.  –I have two children, and I stayed at home with my youngest child until she was 2, then I came to work at A Children's Place.”

Irma was promoted to the position of program manager in October 2003 and has been working as interim director since January 2004.

–I love this center and our parents and children,” she said.  –I look forward to meeting each of you.  Please stop by the office sometime for a chat.”  

 Hunting for Easter eggs

Toddlers look for hidden eggs during the Easter Egg Hunt held at A Children's Place.

Health NotesÄ

During their lifetime, children experience a variety of injuries À from a scraped knee, to a bruise on their arm, to a cut on their finger.  In some instances, your child will be content to have his –boo-boo” kissed so the hurt will go away.  At other times, however, a little more than a kiss is needed on your child's injury. Remember to follow these tips when dealing with life's little emergencies:

à  Bruises À Some injuries cause a discoloration of the skin.  Apply ice for the swelling.

à  Scrapes À These injuries occur when areas of the skin are scraped off, perhaps in a fall.  Clean the scrape with hydrogen peroxide and then apply an antibiotic cream and a bandage, at least for the first day to promote healing.

à  Cuts À These are more serious than scrapes, occurring when the skin is actually cut open.  Some cuts may need stitches to keep them closed while they heal.  You should have your child's pediatrician check any cuts that your child experiences.

A tetanus shot will protect your child from many of the harmful germs that may enter his body through the scrapes and cuts that he may incur.  If your child has not had a tetanus shot for at least five years, he probably needs one if he is injured.

Remember to monitor your child's wound as it heals.  If it starts oozing or the area around it becomes reddened or your child begins running a fever, he probably needs to be checked by his pediatrician.

Sheila VanHook, LPN

Welcome New Associates

Melany Philpot

Gena Cox

Yogurt Popsicles

For a nutritious cool-down when your child takes a break from outdoor fun, try this recipe, which is easy enough that your child can help: 

Ingredients:

1 C plain yogurt

1 banana, sliced

1 tsp. vanilla

1 C. fruit juice or fruit chunks

Blend all ingredients together and pour into small paper cups, then freeze.  Place a plastic spoon or popsicle stick in each cup when the yogurt mixture is half frozen.  To serve, turn the cup

Easter Party

Students  enrolled  in  the  Older  Two-Year-Old  Classroom enjoyed a party as part of their Easter activities.

Early Childhood Unit

The Young Three-Year-Old class had a flower box built in April to go outside on their patio. They have planted potato plants and marigolds and hope to be seeing some sprouts coming up soon. We will also be doing some –flower” activities in the coming months, so please stop by and see what's in bloom!

In May, the Four-Year-Old class will be learning about the circus. They will focus on all of the things that make up a circus, including the animals, clowns, trapeze artists and jugglers. The children are fascinated by exotic animals such as elephants, tigers and camels. By the end of the month, they hope to create their own circus and put on a show for the classroom.

School Age Child Care Unit

During Spring Break, the students in our unit were very busy.  They went swimming at McDowell Wellness Center, enjoyed a picnic at Millennium Park and visited with the residents at Danville Centre for Health and Rehabilitation.  While there, the students participated in an arts and crafts project with the residents.  Our unit is looking forward to this year's Summer Camp, details of which are on the front page.

This divider wall was recently built in the Crawler's classroom.

Infant and Toddler Unit

In April, a small partition was built in a portion of the Crawler's classroom to help keep our crawling babies safe during feedings and high traffic times. The wall was put in place to also help keep the children's play area clean and sanitary. So far it has been a success with our teachers and parents as they are happy that their little ones are clean and safe from big feet. The partition also has an added benefit- it is a great place for the babies to practice pulling up as they gain their balance for walking.

The Older Two-YearÀOld classroom, which opened in January, is also thriving.  The teachers have worked hard to create exciting learning environments for these children and we all agree that the children have benefited from the addition of this new classroom. Please stop by and see what we've done!

It is now time to rotate your child's extra change of clothing. With the summer-like weather, please bring cooler clothing for your child.

Spring Break activity

During Spring Break, the students in the School Age Unit visited  the residents at Danville Centre for Health and Rehabilitation.

Healthy eating habits

important for children

One of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to help him establish healthy eating habits.  It's a process that begins as soon as your child begins eating solid food and continues through adolescence.

Healthy eating habits are important for a number of reasons.  Perhaps the most important is that healthy eating habits may prevent your child from becoming overweight.  According to the American Dietetic Association, an estimated 20 percent to 30 percent of children are overweight.  Being overweight increases a person's risk for certain illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Here are some tips to help you establish healthy eating habits in your child:

à Insist that your child begin each day with breakfast, which provides nourishment and energy that your child will need for an

active day.  Studies show that children who eat breakfast do better in school.

à Involve your child in planning and

preparing meals.  Your child is more likely to eat something he has helped to prepare, and cooking also motivates him to try new foods.

à Establish a routine for meals and avoid

using the phone or watching television during mealtime.

à Encourage your child to include fruit in their daily diet and to reserve certain foods, such as chips, as an occasional treat only.

à Include healthy snacks as an important and necessary part of your child's diet.  Make sure you have healthy snack choices on hand, such as fruit, yogurt or vegetables and dip.

à Don't use foods such as dessert as a

reward or a bribe.

à Don't insist that your child –clean his plate.”  Rather, let him decide when he is finished eating.

Happy Birthday  

May 2

Brittany Tyler

May 16

Alisha Shepperson

June 8

Rebecca Lethgo

June 19

Jennifer Herring

Lori Stull

June 27

Sarah Holtzclaw

June 28

Sherry Prewitt